Other Items Considered by the Committee

 (a)Deposit/Return System for Alcoholic

and Non-Alcoholic Beverage Containers.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report and communication; and having directed that such report and communication be referred to Council for consideration with this matter at its special meeting to be held on April 28, 1998 (Clause No. 1 of Report No. 3A of The Works and Utilities Committee):

(i)(April 16, 1998) from the City Solicitor respecting a deposit/return system for beverage containers and measures that can be undertaken with respect to licensing at the retail or distribution level, as requested by the Committee at its meeting on March 25, 1998; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(ii)(April 20, 1998) from Mr. Robert G. Power, Outerbridge, Miller, Sefton, Willms & Shier, Barristers and Solicitors, in response to the Committee=s invitation to appear before the Committee at its meeting on April 22, 1998, advising that he would not be available to attend the meeting due to a prior out-of-town commitment; and providing arguments for the City of Toronto to pursue a deposit/refund system within its jurisdiction, despite any regulatory restrictions that the City may currently face.

Councillor Judy Sgro, North York Humber, appeared before the Works and Utilities Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

(b)Status and Reconfirmation of Stormwater Group.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having:

(1)deferred consideration of the following communication until its next meeting, scheduled to be held on May 20, 1998, as a deputation item; and

(2)requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to submit a report thereon to such meeting:

(April 21, 1998) from Ms. Joyce McLean, City of Toronto Stormwater Group, respecting the background and status of the Stormwater Group, formed as an advisory group to the former City of Toronto in October 1996, pursuant to an Exemption Order issued by the Minister of Environment and Energy for the Western Beaches Storage Tunnel Environmental Assessment; and recommending that:

(1)City Council adopt the Committee Report and its recommendations as previously adopted by Toronto City Council in the July 14, 1997 minutes;

(2)City Council reinstate the Stormwater Group as the City=s primary advisory Committee on stormwater management with:

-the appointment of one or more City Councillors as chairs(s);

-the reappointment of current members, and additional members to be considered to reflect the wider constituency of the new city; and

-staff resources, including administration services, from Parks and Recreation, Works and Emergency Services, and Urban Development and Planning, to be allocated to the Committee; and

(3)the Stormwater Group meet with and coordinate planning and information with the (former Metro) Wet Weather Master Planning process and report back to the Works and Utilities Committee.

(c)Deep Lake Water Cooling Project.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having:

(1)deferred consideration of the following report until its next meeting, scheduled to be held on May 20, 1998, as a deputation item;

(2)requested that any proponents of deep lake water cooling be advised accordingly; and

(3)requested the Chair of the Committee to consult with the Members of Council serving on the Boards of the Toronto Hydro-Electric Commission and the Toronto District Heating Corporation with respect thereto:

(i)(April 7, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead for Water and Wastewater providing an update on the status of the Deep Lake Water Cooling Project; advising that the innovative project is expected to have environmental and economic benefits to the City; further advising that a pre-design study and Class Environmental Assessment is underway to allow public input and confirm project viability while maintaining the security and integrity of the water supply system; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(ii)(April 21, 1998) from Mr. Tony O=Donohue, President, Environmental Probe Ltd., requesting the opportunity to address the Committee with respect to the Deep Lake Water Cooling Project, and requesting that the report dated April 7, 1998, from the Interim Functional Lead for Water and Wastewater be listed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Committee as a deputation item.

(d)Interim Purchasing By-law.

 The Works and Utilities Committee reports having referred the following communications to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, with a request that he:

(1)meet with interested parties, including the Toronto Hydro-Electric Commission with respect to negotiations that are taking place with the Commission; and

(2)submit a report to the Committee on a tendering policy, taking into consideration any relevant policies before the Corporate Services Committee and the brief prepared by the Metropolitan Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association, such report to be listed as a deputation item.

(i)(March 12, 1998) from the City Clerk forwarding a copy of Clause No. 1 contained in Report No. 2 of The Corporate Services Committee, headed AInterim Purchasing By-law@, which was adopted, as amended by City Council on March 4, 5 and 6, 1998, and a copy of By-law No. 57-1998, enacted by Council on March 6, 1998.

(ii)(February 18, 1998) from Mr. Salvatore Morra, Executive Director, Metropolitan Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association, forwarding a brief prepared by the Metropolitan Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association entitled ARunning Water: Best Practices in Standardized Construction Contracts in the New City of Toronto@, and advising that the City has the opportunity to bring its sewer and watermain construction contract language and practices into line with best practices in Canada, resulting in lower costs and no negative impact on services.

(iii)(March 11, 1998) from Mr. Jacques Daoust, President, Engineered Coatings Ltd., respecting the ability of amalgamated public sector agencies to expand Tender Restriction Clauses in former tendering policies to new areas within the new City of Toronto; expressing concern about restricting those who can bid on taxpayer funded projects; and requesting a commitment in developing a fair tendering policy.

(iv)(March 12, 1998) from Mr. John Mohle, Wellington Construction Inc., advising that Wellington Construction Inc. supports an open tendering policy, that the company has constructed municipal contracts as a major portion of its works, and that its employees as taxpayers should be able to work on taxpayer funded projects.

(v)(March 23, 1998) from Mr. Joe D=Alessandro, President, Duplex Electrical Ltd., supporting an open tendering policy with regard to non-union and union trades; and advising that restrictive clauses in job tenders would result in job layoffs, and that as these are taxpayer funded projects, they should be open to all qualified contractors, not just those that are unionized.

(vi)(April 1, 1998) from Mr. Rod Shantz, President, RodCo Mechanical Inc., respecting tendering policies for projects in the Toronto District School Board and City of Toronto amalgamated areas; and expressing support for an open tendering policy and the elimination of restrictive clauses in any legislation.

(e)Waste Watcher Recycling Program.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having been advised by the Chair of the Committee that a cheque in the amount of $21,000.00 had been forwarded to the Works and Emergency Services Department by CSR: Corporations Supporting Recycling, as a contribution towards funding for the Waste Watcher Recycling Program.