PUBLIC MINUTES

STANDING POLICY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT,

UTILITIES AND CORPORATE SERVICES

Tuesday, January 09, 2024 at 9:30 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Council Chamber, City Hall

PRESENT:

• Councillor H. Gough, A/Chair
• Councillor T. Davies
• Councillor S. Gersher
• Councillor D. Hill, via teleconference
• Councillor M. Loewen, via teleconference at 9:34 a.m.
• His Worship, Mayor C. Clark (Ex-Officio)

ALSO PRESENT:

• Councillor B. Dubois, via teleconference
• General Manager, Utilities & Environment A. Gardiner
• Solicitor B. Bleakney
• Deputy City Clerk S. Bryant
• Committee Assistant P. Walter

---

1.

CALL TO ORDER

The Deputy City Clerk called the meeting to order on Treaty 6 Territory and the Traditional Homeland of the Métis People and confirmed roll call.

2.

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

City Council, at its Regular Business meeting held on September 27, 2023, made the following appointments for 2024:

SPC on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services

• Councillor T. Davies
• Councillor S. Gersher
• Councillor H. Gough
• Councillor D. Hill
• Councillor M. Loewen

The Committee was requested to appoint a Chair and Vice-Chair for 2024. Councillor Gough was Chair and Councillor Loewen was Vice-Chair for 2023.

• Moved By: Councillor Gough

  That Councillor Loewen be appointed Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services appoint to November 20, 2024.

  In Favour: (5)	Councillor Davies, Councillor Gersher, Councillor Gough, Councillor Hill, and Mayor C. Clark
  Absent (1)	Councillor Loewen

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• Moved By: Councillor Davies

  That Councillor Gough be appointed Vice Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services appoint to November 20, 2024.

  In Favour: (5)	Councillor Davies, Councillor Gersher, Councillor Gough, Councillor Hill, and Mayor C. Clark
  Absent (1)	Councillor Loewen

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

  Councillor Gough assumed the Chair.

  
  

3.

CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA

• Moved By: Councillor Gersher
  1. That the following letters submitting comments be added to Item 8.2.1:
     • Tom Gode, SOS Trees Coalition, dated January 7, 2024;
     • Julia Adamson, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., dated January 8, 2024;
  2. That the agenda be confirmed as amended. 

  In Favour: (5)	Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
  Absent (1)	Councillor Loewen

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4.

DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of conflict of interest.

5.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

• Moved By: Councillor Davies

  That the minutes of regular meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services held on December 5, 2023, be adopted.

  In Favour: (5)	Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
  Absent (1)	Councillor Loewen

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

7.

COMMUNICATIONS (requiring the direction of the Committee)

7.1

Requests to Speak (new matters)

7.2

Delegated Authority Matters

7.3

Matters Requiring Direction

8.

REPORTS FROM ADMINISTRATION

8.1

Decision Reports

8.2

Approval Reports

8.2.1

Approval of Site Enhancement Design and Construction for Richard St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area [EUCS2023-0406]

A report of the Utilities and Environment Division was provided along with the following letters submitting comments:

• Tom Gode, SOS Trees Coalition, dated January 7, 2024; and
• Julia Adamson, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., dated January 8, 2024.

General Manager, Utilities and Environment Gardiner presented report and responded to questions of the Committee.

Councillor Loewen entered the meeting at 9:34 a.m. during the presentation of the matter.

• Moved By: Mayor C. Clark

  That the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities, and Corporate Services recommend to City Council that the design and construction of the 2024 RSBBAA Site Enhancement Project be approved.

  In Favour: (6)

  Councillor Davies, Councillor Gersher, Councillor Gough, Councillor Hill, Councillor Loewen, and Mayor C. Clark

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.2.2

Long Term Organics Processing Options - Low Carbon Economy Challenge Application [EUCS2024-0102]

A report of the Utilities and Environment Division was provided along with a letter submitting comments from Julia Adamson, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., dated November 23, 2023.

General Manager, Utilities and Environment Gardiner presented the report and responded to questions of the Committee along with Director of Water and Waste Operations Lemke. 

• Moved By: Councillor Loewen
  1. That the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services recommend to City Council that the Administration be directed to include a City-owned Organics Processing Facility for submission to the Low Carbon Economy Challenge Fund; and
  2. That the future decision report include consideration of and potential mitigation requirements related to odour nuisance for nearby land users with particular attention to residential and that experiences from other jurisdictions and relevant regulations be provided as context.

  In Favour: (6)

  Councillor Davies, Councillor Gough, Councillor Gersher, Councillor Hill, Councillor Loewen, and Mayor C. Clark

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.3

Information Reports

8.3.1

Referral List – Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services – January 2024 [EUCS2024-0101]

A report of the Utilities and Environment Division was provided and presented by General Manager, Utilities and Environment Gardiner.

• Moved By: Councillor Davies

  That the information be received.

  In Favour: (6)

  Councillor Davies, Councillor Gersher, Councillor Gough, Councillor Hill, Councillor Loewen, and Mayor C. Clark

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.

MOTIONS (NOTICE PREVIOUSLY GIVEN)

10.

URGENT BUSINESS

11.

GIVING NOTICE

12.

IN CAMERA SESSION (if required)

13.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 10:02 a.m.