Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)Utility Coordination and Road Reinstatement Work -

Status Report.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following communication and report:

(i)(February 10, 1999) from Councillor Tom Jakobek, East Toronto, forwarding a communication (October 29, 1998) from Mr. R.G. Riedl, President, Enbridge Consumers Gas, with respect to cost saving opportunities for road reinstatement work in the City of Toronto; and requesting that this matter be placed on the agenda for discussion.

(ii)(April 14, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services responding to the communication dated October 29, 1998, from Enbridge Consumers Gas with respect to utility coordination and road reinstatement work, and providing information on the ongoing discussions between Works and Emergency Services Department staff, Enbridge Consumers Gas and the other major utility companies, including a joint review of different options for permanent pavement restoration after utility cuts are made; further advising that staff are working with all the major utilities to establish a new Public Utilities Coordinating Committee; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(b)Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having recommended to the Budget Committee the adoption of the following report:

(i)(March 16, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services responding to the direction of Council at its meeting on February 2, 3 and 4, 1999, that Clause No. 4 of Report No. 1 of The Works and Utilities Committee, entitled "Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreement - Pizza Pizza Limited", be struck out and referred back to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services for further consideration; advising the Works and Utilities Committee, the Economic Development Committee and the Budget Committee of the various impacts which would result from a unilateral termination of all existing Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements by January 1, 2000, as recommended by the Works and Utilities Committee, including the financial impact, potential impact on biosolids quality, legal implications and economic development impact; and recommending that:

(1)the City not proceed with the unilateral termination of all existing Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements by January 1, 2000;

(2)subject to approval of Recommendation No. (1), the current Compliance Program with Monetary Concession Policy be expanded to include not only new surcharge companies and existing surcharge companies facing substantial increase in surcharge, but also existing surcharge companies wishing to reduce or eliminate their surcharge assessments; and

(3)also subject to approval of Recommendation No. (1), the Committee adopt the recommendations contained in the report dated November 20, 1998, entitled "Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreement - Pizza Pizza Limited, 58 Advance Road", with terms and conditions satisfactory to the City Solicitor and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services.

(ii)(March 30, 1999) from the City Clerk advising that the Budget Committee on March29, 1999, referred the report dated March 16, 1999, from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services respecting Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements, to the Works and Utilities Committee for further consideration, to report thereon to the Budget Committee with a request that, when considering Recommendation No. (2) from a budgetary point of view, the same levels as 1998 be maintained.

(iii)(April 7, 1999) from the City Clerk advising that the Economic Development Committee at its meeting on March 29 and April6, 1999, had before it the report dated March 16, 1999, from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services respecting Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements, and that the Economic Development Committee supports the adoption of such report.

(iv)(January 29, 1999) from Ms. Anne Dubas, President, Local 79, Canadian Union of Public Employees, expressing concern with respect to the implications of the recommendations of the Works and Utilities Committee that Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements with existing industries be terminated by January 1, 2000; and noting that the agreements allow industries to discharge non-toxic wastes provided that they can be treated at the City's treatment plants, at a fee to offset operational costs of the plants, rather than through the purchase of their own individual, costly equipment.

(v)(February 1, 1999) from Mr. Frank Ingratta, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, advising that any proposal to replace Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements with an increased fee structure would have significant competitive implications to food processors in the City of Toronto; and noting that the beverage, brewery, confectionery, dairy, fruit and vegetable and meat processing sectors would all face significant cost increases on municipal water and wastewater charges which would make the food processing sector, one of Toronto's largest employers, uncompetitive, and which could lead to plant closures and reduce Toronto's ability to attract new food investment.

(vi)(February 1, 1999) from Mr. Russell Tabata, Director, Operations, Molson Breweries - Etobicoke, expressing concern with respect to the lack of consultation prior to the recommendation with regard to the elimination of sewer surcharges being presented to Toronto City Council; noting that Molson Breweries has been actively pursuing effluent reduction initiatives and has made significant progress towards reducing loading to the municipal sewer system, and further, that through a co-operative relationship with Toronto Works and Emergency Services, the surcharge agreement has provided a very effective and responsible strategy for the management of the treatable waste from the Etobicoke Brewery; and requesting the opportunity to meet with the Committee and staff to discuss this issue further.

(vii)(February 2, 1999) from Mr. Ken W. Holmes, Vice President - Operations, Campbell Soup Company Ltd., urging that the recommendation to terminate existing sewer surcharge agreements, and any related actions, be withdrawn immediately and deferred to permit a full dialogue between the City of Toronto and the affected businesses; expressing concern that there has been no consultation on this proposal and no notice of the City's intention to make changes to the Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreement; and advising that the sudden cancellation of this agreement does not permit sufficient time to identify and implement cost effective alternatives and, if adopted, will severely impact the future operation of the Toronto plant.

(viii)(February 23, 1999) from Mr. Charles Buehler, President, Organic Resource Management Inc., advising that the recommendations of the Works and Utilities Committee at its meeting of January 13, 1999, with respect to Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements, are unnecessary and financially damaging to many industries, in particular the food processing industries; and providing a background on municipal wastewater treatment services for the food processing and food services sectors, and arguments for maintaining the current system of agreements.

(ix)(April 21, 1999) from Ms. Karen Buck, Toronto, Ontario, respecting the financial implications of terminating Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements and making recommendations with respect thereto.

(x)(April 21, 1999) from Ms. Karey Shinn, Chair, Safe Sewage Committee, expressing concerns with respect to Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements and the draft Sewer Use By-law.

(c)Cleaning and Cement Mortar Lining of Existing

Watermains at Various Locations Within District 4 -

Award of Contract No. SC9980WS Phase I (Various Wards) -

Tender No. 33A-1999.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having awarded the contract as recommended in the following joint report, in accordance with By-law No. 57-1998, the Interim Purchasing By-law, as amended:

(April 7, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer recommending that Contract No. SC9980WS - Tender No.33A-1999 for the cleaning and cement mortar lining of existing water mains at various locations be awarded to Fer-Pal Construction Limited, in the total amount of $1,627,975.15 including all taxes and charges being the lowest Tender received.

(d)Cleaning and Cement Mortar Lining of Existing

Water Mains at Various Locations Within District 3 -

Award of Contract No. NY9980WS (Various Wards)

Tender No. 58-1999.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having awarded the contract as recommended in the following joint report, in accordance with By-law No. 57-1998, the Interim Purchasing By-law, as amended:

(April 7, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer recommending that Contract No. NY9980WS - Tender No.58-1999 for the cleaning and cement mortar lining of existing water mains at various locations be awarded to Fer-Pal Construction Limited in the total amount of $1,461,197.35 including all taxes and charges being the lowest Tender received.

(e)Compost Give-Away Days.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report for information; and having directed that a copy thereof be forwarded to the Scarborough Community Council:

(i)(April 7, 1999) from the City Clerk advising that the Scarborough Community Council, at its meeting held on March 30, 1999, directed that the Works and Utilities Committee be requested to re-establish the "compost give-away" days conducted by the former City of Scarborough Council, and direct the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to report to the Scarborough Community Council on a method of accomplishing this event.

(ii)(April 19, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services responding to the request from the Scarborough Community Council, and updating the Committee on guidelines related to requests from Councillors for delivery of finished compost to locations other than Environment Days; and recommending that this report be received for information and forwarded to the Scarborough Community Council.

(f)Works Best Practices Program - Status Report.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report:

(April 7, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services providing an overview of the Works Best Practices Program, along with the progress to date and an outline of the workplan for completion of the program, including benefits tracking; advising that at this point, program implementation is proceeding as planned, and benefits achieved to date are well ahead of the planned targets; that the 1999 workplan includes key procurements necessary to continue WBPP implementation, in keeping with the business case and planned achievement of benefits; and that further work area implementations will occur in the latter half of the year, initiating WBPP Phase 2, the major implementation thrust of the program; noting that the next status report will be submitted in the fall of this year; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(g)Consulting Services -

Water Pollution Control Treatment Plants.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report:

(April 6, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services providing an update on the annual expenditures pertaining to existing long-term engineering consulting services agreements for the three major Water Pollution Control Treatment Plants, identifying actual annual expenditures for 1992 to 1997 and estimated expenditures for 1998; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(h)Blue Box Collection for Townhomes and

"Flower Pot" Collection System.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report; and having requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to submit a report to the Committee at its meeting scheduled to be held on July 14, 1999, on the financial implications and recommendations with respect to alternatives to the "flower pot" bins:

(April 9, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services responding to requests for information with respect to collection of recyclable materials from single family townhouses and the automated recycling collection system in use in the North York Community Council area using round plastic containers ("flower pots"), as requested at the joint meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee and the Works and Utilities Committee on service harmonization held on March 16, 1999; advising that there are still a number of inconsistencies with respect to material collection service delivery across the City of Toronto, and that in the coming months, staff will endeavour to develop and recommend a common set of criteria governing material collection, in an effort to harmonize service delivery; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(i)National Climate Change Process.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following communication:

(undated) from Councillor Jack Layton, Don River, respecting the National Climate Change Process - Municipalities Table Meeting, held in Victoria on March 7, 1999; and outlining some key developments in the National Climate Change Process of relevance to the City.

(j)Water Treatment Process and Water Quality Analyses.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having:

(1)received the following report;

(2)requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to submit a report to the Committee on the enactment of a Bill by City Council entitled the "Safe Drinking Water By-law" that provides for yearly public notification, commencing in the year 2000, to the residents of the City with regards to the contents of the water produced at each of the City's water treatment facilities; on the contents of the notification; and, in order to minimize costs, on the notification taking place through the following:

(i)a dedicated page within the "Water Watch" publication currently produced by the City and distributed to all households in the City of Toronto;

(ii)a notification sent out to all City Councillors' offices for potential inclusion into their publications;

(iii)a yearly limited series of advertising in community newspapers (as decided by the General Manager, Water and Wastewater Services, in consultation with the Chair of the Works and Utilities Committee);

(iv)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Finance, reporting back to the Works and Utilities Committee with regard to the inclusion of this report with a water bill; and

(v)whatever other means deemed useful by the General Manager, Water and Wastewater Services; and

(3)requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and/or the Medical Officer of Health to submit a report to the Committee on pesticide testing results in the City's watersheds, for example, at the mouth of the Don River, and on the implications of the findings of such tests; and that the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority be invited to participate in compiling test results and offering their commentary on those results:

(i)(April 14, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services providing information on the water treatment process, quality assurance methods and an assessment of the drinking water quality analyses and trends over the past ten years, as requested by the Committee at its meeting of September 9, 1998; advising that the City uses standardized and accepted processes and materials for the treatment of lake water to produce water that is safe to drink, and maintains a comprehensive water quality program, which in terms of scope and frequency surpasses regulatory requirements by a wide margin; noting that while there has been a steady improvement in the quality of drinking water over the past ten years, Water Supply endeavours to improve the quality of potable water on a continuous basis; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(ii)motion by Councillor Bill Saundercook, York Humber, respecting the enactment of a Bill by the City of Toronto entitled the "Safe Driving Water By-law", which would provide for yearly public notification with respect to the City's drinking water.