PUBLIC MINUTES

STANDING POLICY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT,

UTILITIES AND CORPORATE SERVICES

-
Council Chamber, City Hall
PRESENT:
  • Councillor S. Gersher, Chair
  • Councillor H. Gough, Vice Chair
  • Councillor T. Davies
  • Councillor D. Hill
  • Councillor M. Loewen
  • His Worship, Mayor C. Clark (Ex-Officio)
ALSO PRESENT:
  • General Manager, Utilities & Environment A. Gardiner
  • Solicitor B. Bleakney
  • Deputy City Clerk S. Bryant, in Council Chamber
  • Committee Assistant V. Saini, in Council Chamber

1.
CALL TO ORDER
 

The Chair called the meeting to order on Treaty 6 Territory and the Traditional Homeland of the Métis people and confirmed roll call of the members in attendance via teleconference.

2.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
This item has attachments. 

1.RTS John Penner - SOS Tree Coalition_Redacted.pdf
2.Comments Tom Gode - Dutch Elm_Redacted.pdf
3.RTS - Julie Adamson City Nature Challenge_Redacted.pdf
  • Moved By:Councillor Hill
    1. That the request to speak from John Penner, SOS Tree Coalition, dated December 2, 2021 be added to Item 6.2.1;
    2. That the request to speak from Julie Adamson, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc, dated November 16, 2021 regarding the City Nature Challenge be added as Item 6.3.2;
    3. That the letter from Tom Gode, SOS Tree Coalition, dated December 5, 2021 be added to Item 7.2.4;
    4. That the items with speakers be considered immediately following adoption of the minutes:
      1. 6.2.1 - John Penner;
      2. 6.3.1 - Julia Adamson; and
      3. 6.3.2 - Julia Adamson.
    5. That the agenda be confirmed as presented. 
    In Favour: (6)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3.
DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
 

There were no declarations of conflict of interest.

4.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
This item has attachments. 

1.Post-Meeting Minutes - EUCSP_Nov01_2021 - English.pdf
  • Moved By:Councillor Gough

    That the minutes of regular meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services held on November 1, 2021 be adopted.  

    In Favour: (6)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
 

6.
COMMUNICATIONS (requiring the direction of the Committee)
 

6.1
Delegated Authority Matters
 

6.2
Matters Requiring Direction
 

6.2.1
John Penner, SOS Tree Coalition - Tree Replacement Policy [File No. CK 4139-4]
This item has attachments. 

1.Comments - John Penner - SOS Tree Coalition_Redacted.pdf
2.RTS John Penner - SOS Tree Coalition_Redacted(2).pdf

A letter from John Penner, Board Member, SOS Tree Coalition, dated November 13, 2021, requesting Urban Forestry change its tree replacement strategy from an opt-in to an opt-out approach was provided, along with a request to speak dated December 2, 2021.

John Penner, Board Member, SOS Tree Coalition addressed the committee regarding this matter.

Due to technical difficulties the meeting recessed temporarily.

Discussion continued.

Director of Parks Crilly responded to questions of the committee. 

  • Moved By:Councillor Davies

    That the information be received and join the Urban Forestry Management Plan. 

    In Favour: (6)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

    Item 6.3.1 was considered next.


6.2.2
Justice Squad, Bethlehem Catholic High School - Mask Recycling [File No. CK 7830-1]
This item has attachments. 

1.Comments - Justic Squad - Mask Recycling_Redacted.pdf

A letter from the Bethlehem Catholic High School Justice Squad dated November 19, 2021 requesting funding for mask recycling boxes was provided.

General Manager Utilities, and Environment Gardiner presented the report and together with Director of Sustainability South responded to questions of the committee.

  • Moved By:Councillor Loewen

    That the information be received and forwarded to the Administration to respond to the writer regarding related City grant programs.

    In Favour: (6)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

    Item 7.2.1 was considered next.


6.3
Requests to Speak (new matters)
 

6.3.1
Julia Adamson, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. - World Environment Day - June 5, 2022 Tree Planting [File No. CK 150-1]
This item has attachments. 

1.RTS - Julia Adamson - Friends of the Afforsetation_Redacted.pdf

A letter and request to speak from Julia Adamson, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. dated November 21, 2021 was provided.

Julia Adamson, and Robert White, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.  addressed the committee regarding this matter and responded to questions of the committee.

General Manager Utilities and Environment Gardiner and Director of Parks Crilly responded to question of the committee. 

  • Moved By:Mayor C. Clark

    That the matter be referred to the Administration to work with the Friends of the Afforestation area regarding a proclamation and possible tree planting ceremony. 

    In Favour: (6)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

    Item 6.3.2 was considered next.


6.3.2
Julia Adamson, City Nature Challenge [File No. CK 150-1]
This item has attachments. 

1.RTS - Julie Adamson City Nature Challenge_Redacted(1).pdf

A letter and request to speak from Julia Adamson, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. dated November 16, 2021 was provided.

Julia Adamson, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. addressed the committee regarding this matter and responded to questions of the committee. 

  • Moved By:Councillor Gough

    That the information be received and forwarded to the Administration for engagement with the Friends of the Afforestation Area.

    In Favour: (6)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

    Item 6.2.2 was considered next.


7.
REPORTS FROM ADMINISTRATION
 

7.1
Information Reports
 

7.2
Approval Reports
 

7.2.1
P.02516 Develop Enterprise Management Strategies Request for Funds [File No. CK 261-1]
This item has attachments. 

1.Admin Report - P.02516 Develop Enterprise Management Strategies Request for Funds.pdf

A report of the General Manager, Utilities and Environment was provided.

Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Anger presented the report.

  • Moved By:Councillor Loewen

    That the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities, and Corporate Services recommend to City Council that funding of $861,000 be transferred from the CIS Systems Development Reserve to P.02516 Develop Enterprise Management Strategies.

    In Favour: (6)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.2.2
Curbside Organics Program Waste Bylaw Change [File No. CK 7830-7 x7830-1]
This item has attachments. 

1.Curbside Organics Program Waste Bylaw Change.pdf
2.Append 1 - Curbside Organics Program Implementation Program.pdf

A report of the General Manager, Utilities and Environment was provided.

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

  • Moved By:Councillor Gough

    That the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities & Corporate Services recommend to City Council:

    1. That Bylaw No. 8310, The Waste Bylaw, 2004, be replaced with a new waste bylaw as proposed in this report; and
    2. That the City Solicitor be requested to prepare the new waste bylaw.
    In Favour: (5)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    Absent (1)Mayor C. Clark
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

    The meeting recessed at 10:58 a.m. and reconvened at 11:08 a.m. with all members in attendance, with the exception of Councillor Davies.


7.2.3
Sanitary Sewer Charge Exemption Authority Delegation [File No. CK 1905-2]
This item has attachments. 

1.Admin Report - Sanitary Sewer Charge Exemption Authority Delegation.pdf

A report of the General Manager, Utilities and Environment was provided.

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

  • Moved By:Councillor Loewen

    That the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services recommend to City Council:

    1. That approval for sanitary sewer exemption charges be delegated to the Administration; and
    2. That Bylaw No. 9466, The Sewage Use Bylaw, 2017, be amended by the City Solicitor, to include the ability of the General Manager of Utilities and Environment, or designate, to approve requests for sewer service charge exemptions, subject to the request being aligned with the Bylaw.
    In Favour: (4)Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    Against: (1)Councillor Hill
    Absent (1)Councillor Davies
    CARRIED

    Councillor Davies returned to the meeting at 11:12 a.m.


7.2.4
Implementation of a $50 Flat Fee for Elm Disposal at the Landfill and Enhanced Education [File No. CK 1905-1 x4200-4]
This item has attachments. 

1.Admin Report - Implementation of a $50 Flat Fee for Elm Disposal at the Landfill and Enhanced Elm Disposal Education.pdf
2.Append 1 – Addition Information on Option 3D Eliminate Special Handling Fee, add $50 Flat Fee .pdf
3.Append 2 - Further Education and Communications.pdf
4.Comments Tom Gode - Dutch Elm_Redacted(1).pdf

A report of the General Manager, Utilities and Environment was provided, along with communication from Tom Gode, dated December 5, 2021.

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

  • Moved By:Councillor Gough

    That the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services recommend to City Council that the Administration proceed with the approach outlined in this report including: research and implementation of $50 flat fee for landfill loads that are primarily elm wood; enhanced education to mitigate the spread of Dutch Elm Disease; and piloting a comprehensive behaviour change program targeting proper elm wood disposal.

    In Favour: (6)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.3
Decision Reports
 

7.3.1
Options for Groundwater Protection [File No. CK 7500-0]
This item has attachments. 

1.Admin Report - Options for Groundwater Protection.pdf
2.Append 1 - Groundwater Information.pdf
3.Append 2 - Options analysis.pdf
4.Append 3 - Engagement Summary.pdf
5.Append 4 - Triple Bottom Line Implications.pdf

Watershed Protection Manager Yobb provided an overview of the report with a PowerPoint and responded to questions of the committee. 

  • Moved By:Councillor Hill

    That the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services recommend to City Council that:

    1. A bylaw be created to prohibit new domestic-purpose pumping wells within city limits (Option A3); and
    2. A new development standard be created for monitoring wells installed, maintained, and decommissioned during the land development process (Option B1).
    In Favour: (6)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Mayor C. Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, and Councillor Gersher
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.
MOTIONS (NOTICE PREVIOUSLY GIVEN)
 

9.
GIVING NOTICE
 

10.
URGENT BUSINESS
 

11.
IN CAMERA AGENDA ITEMS
 

12.
ADJOURNMENT
 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

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