WORKS AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE

A G E N D A

Date of Meeting:Wednesday, January 13, 1999Enquiry:Ms. Trudy Perrin

2nd Floor, City Hall

100 Queen Street West

Toronto

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PURSUANT TO

THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT.

DEPUTATIONS.

List to be distributed at meeting.

DEPUTATION ITEMS.

1.ENVIRONMENT DAYS.

DEPUTATION ITEM - SCHEDULED FOR 10:00 A.M.

(DEFERRED FROM LAST MEETING)

General Manager,

Solid Waste Management Services

(November 18, 1998)

Respecting the cost of Environment Days, as requested by the Committee at its meeting of November 4, 1998; outlining concerns expressed by some Councillors with respect to Environment Day promotional funding; and recommending that the payment for Environment Day advertisements in a Councillor's constituent newsletter be increased in accordance with the recommended payments for different size advertisements stated in this report.

1a.Councillor Norm Kelly,

Scarborough Wexford

(November 27, 1998)

Outlining deficiencies in the 1998 Environment Day program, in particular with respect to promotional costs and the elimination of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection from single-Councillor Environment Days; and urging the Committee to:

(1)instruct staff to retroactively compensate all Councillors who used their newsletters to promote Environment Days (subject to the $500.00 limit);

(2)recommend and support access to HHW disposal to the residents of all wards; and

(3)ensure that department guidelines and decisions reflect Council's direction.

1b.Commissioner of Works and

Emergency Services

(December 31, 1998)

Responding to the direction of City Council at its meeting on November 25, 26 and 27, 1998, with respect to Clause No. 1 of Report No. 10 of The Works and Utilities Committee, entitled "Environment Days", that the following Recommendation No. (2) of the Committee be struck out and referred to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services for a report to the Committee on a revised distribution program:

"(2)that the following recommendation be added thereto:

"(4)should Councillors wish to distribute blue boxes, grey boxes, water kits, peak pails or composters free of charge at the Environment Days, they agree to reimburse the Department from their office budget for the price that would have been charged to residents for the units.";

advising that free distribution of blue boxes, grey boxes, water efficiency kits and peak pails at Environment Days would result in an estimated operating budget increase of $150,000.00 per year, and noting that such free distribution has not been recommended due to concerns about misuse of free units, inventory control problems and increased cost; and recommending that this report be received for information.

2.LIQUOR AND WINE CONTAINER DEPOSIT/RETURN BY-LAW.

DEPUTATION ITEM - SCHEDULED FOR 10:30 A.M.

Commissioner of Works and

Emergency Services

(January 5, 1999)

Recommending that:

(1)City Council repeal By-law No. 448-1998, being the licensing by-law imposing the deposit/return requirement on liquor and wine vendors, given the enactment of the regulation amending Ontario Regulation 27/96;

(2)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be authorized to review the eligibility criteria and funding commitment related to the Ministry of Environment's Blue Box funding plan and report back to Works and Utilities Committee; and

(3)the City Solicitor be authorized to introduce the necessary Bill to effect the foregoing repeal.

COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS.

3.HARMONIZATION OF SERVICE LEVELS FOR

WASTE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION.

(DEFERRED FROM LAST MEETING)

General Manager,

Solid Waste Management Services

(November 27, 1998)

Recommending, based on the comments received at an informal meeting of the Works and Utilities Committee held on November 25, 1998, to review the issues and options discussed in this report, that:

(1)existing service levels for waste and recycling collection be continued into 1999, except for harmonization of the following services, which are to be referred to North York Community Council for comments before consideration by the Works and Utilities Committee:

(a)effective April 1, 1999, on an interim basis, the North York Community Council Area be provided with once-a-week garbage collection and bi-weekly recycling collection, with twice-a-week garbage collection retained from the last week of June to the last week of August at an estimated annual cost savings of $1.0 million; and

(b)effective April 1, 1999, optional rear and side yard collection service provided at an additional fee be terminated;

(2)effective January 2, 1999, rear and side yard collection service be provided at no direct charge to all residents in low density properties who, on the basis of a doctor's certificate, lack sufficient mobility to carry waste materials to curbside, and who do not live in a residence with a fully able person, at an estimated additional annual cost of $50,000.00;

(3)effective April 1, 1999, replacement blue and grey boxes be provided to residents at a charge of $5.00 per box for pick-up at service yard and Civic Centre locations, and that green boxes be replaced with grey boxes as required, at an estimated saving of $120,000.00 per year;

(4)medium and high density residential buildings receiving municipal bulklift collection service be required to rent bulklift garbage bins from the City, as a condition of receiving garbage and recycling collection service from the City, at a rental fee sufficient to offset the cost of both bulklift garbage bins and recycling containers, subject to a further report on implementation issues to be submitted within approximately six months; and

(5)staff undertake the evaluation of the options for service harmonization outlined in this report with respect to:

(a)frequency of garbage, recycling and yard waste collection for low density and medium density residential properties which receive curbside collection;

(b)the provision of blue bags and other recycling support services to high density residential properties which receive bulklift collection;

(d)the provision of waste management services to small commercial properties and institutional properties, including consideration of full cost recovery user fees; and

(e)the number of industrial properties where municipal collection is proposed to be terminated and the method of phase out;

and that a report be brought forward in approximately six months.

4.ADVERTISING ON LITTER CONTAINERS AND

CONSOLIDATION OF MANAGEMENT OF LITTER CONTAINERS.

(DEFERRED FROM LAST MEETING)

General Manager,

Solid Waste Management Services

(November 17, 1998)

Recommending that:

(1)the Works and Emergency Services Department put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) in early 1999 for the supply, installation, and maintenance (excluding emptying) of new litter containers which include an advertising component to replace existing litter containers at various locations within the road allowance in the City of Toronto;

(2)no additional pilot programs be approved until the results of the above-noted RFP have been received;

(3)when existing pilot programs terminate, the successful proponent(s) from the RFP in Recommendation No. (1) be required to provide litter containers in the pilot areas under the same terms and conditions stipulated in the RFP;

(4)the collection of waste from, and the maintenance of litter containers within the road allowance be consolidated into the Solid Waste Management Services Division; and

(5)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, submit a report to the Urban Environment and Development Committee with recommendations on a policy framework for advertising on litter containers within the road allowance and on a consultation process with Community Councils.

4a.City Clerk

(December 14, 1998)

Advising that the East York Community Council on December 9, 1998, had before it a communication dated December 3, 1998, from Councillor Betty Disero requesting the East York Community Council to provide comments to the Works and Utilities Committee with respect to advertising on new garbage receptacles; and further advising that the East York Community Council:

(1)wishes to participate in such project and, further, recommends that a Request for Proposals (RFP) may be the best way for the City to proceed; and

(2)received the aforementioned communication.

4b.City Clerk

(December 16, 1998)

Advising that the Scarborough Community Council on December 9, 1998, had before it a communication from Councillor Betty Disero requesting that the Community Council consider the issue of advertising on garbage receptacles as a pilot project in Scarborough and forward any comments thereon to the Works and Utilities Committee; and further advising that the Scarborough Community Council has concerns respecting the impact of these types of containers on its neighborhoods, and suggests to the Works and Utilities Committee that it not let one large contract for the City but, rather, come forward with recommended districts for the implementation of this proposal.

5.INDUSTRIAL WASTE SURCHARGE AGREEMENT - PIZZA PIZZA LIMITED (WARD 2).

(DEFERRED FROM LAST MEETING)

Commissioner of Works and

Emergency Services

(November 20, 1998)

Recommending that staff be authorized to enter into an Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreement with Pizza Pizza Limited, 58 Advance Road, under terms and conditions satisfactory to the City Solicitor and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services.

6.CONTAMINATION OF RECYCLABLES AT MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL LOCATIONS IN THE SCARBOROUGH COMMUNITY COUNCIL AREA.

Commissioner of Works and

Emergency Services

(December 23, 1998)

Respecting ongoing contamination and noncompliance problems respecting recycling at multi-unit residential locations through the Scarborough Community Council area; and recommending that:

(1)staff be authorized to enforce Scarborough By-law No. 24478 with respect to the removal of waste collection services from multi-unit residential locations in the Scarborough Community Council area not fully participating in the City's recycling program;

(2)Councillors be appraised of the affected locations in their Ward; and

(3)the City of Toronto's new waste management by-law include a provision that any multi-unit residential location that does not establish, operate and maintain a valid recycling program be subject to the removal of all municipal waste management services.

7.LESTER B. PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT- NOISE MONITORING STUDY - TERMS OF REFERENCE AND COST ESTIMATE

Commissioner of Works and

Emergency Services

(December 22, 1998)

Respecting a study to address the concerns of Toronto residents within the Lester B. Pearson International Airport operating area with respect to the noise impact resulting from the airport operation; and recommending that:

(1)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be authorized to engage a consultant to carry out a study as outlined in the proposed terms of reference shown in this report at an estimated cost of $25,000.00 subject to approval of Council and the 1999 Budget process; and

(2)the Greater Toronto Airports Authority be requested to reimburse the City for this expense.

8.REBATE OF SEWAGE SURCHARGE ON THE WATER RATE FOR

TORONTO DISTRICT HEATING CORPORATION.

(DEFERRED FROM LAST MEETING)

Councillor Dennis Fotinos, Davenport, and

Councillor Ila Bossons, Midtown

(December 1, 1998)

Respecting the consumption of water by the Toronto District Heating Corporation and the program for the rebate of the sewer surcharge on the water rate, which provides an incentive to major water consumers not to send water for treatment that does not require treatment; and recommending that the Toronto District Heating Corporation be granted a rebate of the sewage surcharge on its water rate.

9.DRINKING WATER TASTE AND ODOUR CONTROL OPTIONS.

(DEFERRED FROM LAST MEETING)

Commissioner of Works and

Emergency Services

(November 19, 1998)

Providing information on options to eliminate or reduce the occurrences of an unpleasant taste and odour in drinking water and a strategy to address this issue in the future, as requested by the Committee at its meeting on September 9, 1998; advising that a feasibility study will be undertaken to determine an effective interim solution, and that funding has been allocated in the 1999 Capital Works Program to implement an interim solution at an estimated cost of $7 million, pending confirmation by the feasibility study; and recommending that this report be received for information.

10.EASTERN BEACHES WATER QUALITY - EFFECTIVENESS OF THE KENILWORTH AVENUE AND MACLEAN AVENUE DETENTION TANKS (WARD 26).

(DEFERRED FROM LAST MEETING)

Executive Director, Technical Services

Works and Emergency Services

(October 26, 1998)

Respecting the postings that occurred at the Eastern Beaches during the 1998 swimming season, and the effectiveness of the Kenilworth Avenue and Maclean Avenue detention tanks in improving the water quality at the Eastern Beaches; advising that by examining the conditions that existed prior to the construction of the two detention tanks, it can be seen that these facilities have had a profound impact on reducing the frequency the provincial guideline was exceeded at the Eastern Beaches, and thereby the need for the Medical Officer of Health to post these beaches; further advising that although other environmental factors can result in short-term impaired water quality, the detention tanks have provided a significant benefit to the Eastern Beaches; and that in comparison, from 1995 to 1998, the Western Beaches, which are still affected by sewer discharges, have been posted for more than 65 percent of the time during the swimming season; and recommending that this report be received for information.

11.HOLLICK V. TORONTO - KEELE VALLEY LANDFILL CLASS ACTION.

City Solicitor

(January 4, 1999)

Respecting legal proceedings commenced by the plaintiff in February 1997 alleging damage to a class of persons living near the Keele Valley Landfill Site as a result of the operation of the site; advising that the City of Toronto sought leave to appeal to the Divisional Court from the certification of the proceedings as a class action, which was granted and heard in September 1998; forwarding a copy of the decision handed down by the Ontario Divisional Court on December 17, 1998, and further advising that the Court was unanimous in setting aside the certification order, dismissing the plaintiff's cross appeal and awarding the City of Toronto $15,000.00 in legal costs; noting that the plaintiff is now seeking leave to appeal the decision, and that legal staff will continue to take such steps as may be required to defend against this lawsuit and will report back on future developments; and recommending that this report be received for information.

ANY OTHER MATTERS.