Attendance

Members of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee were present for some or all of the time periods indicated under the section headed “Meeting Sessions”, which appears at the end of the Minutes.

Confirmation of Minutes

On motion by Councillor Palacio, the Minutes of the meeting of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee held on April 8, 2009, were confirmed.

The Canadian Motorcycle Association (CMA) advising that the Board of Directors has awarded the first CMA Government Award to the City of Toronto in recognition of the enactment of a free parking for motorcycles policy in 2005 and requesting an opportunity to present the award.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council grant authority to enter into site plan agreements with the Regional Municipality of York and the Town of Markham, as well as any other agreements that may be required for development of the Milliken Pumping Station and Reservoir Expansion, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Technical Services, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, and to provide any security deposits that may be required by The Regional Municipality of York and the Town of Markham in order to obtain site plan approval for this development.

This report seeks authority for the City to enter into site plan agreements with the Regional Municipality of York and the Town of Markham, as well as any other agreements that may be required for development of the Milliken Pumping Station and Reservoir Expansion.

The purpose of this report is to provide Public Works and Infrastructure Committee members with an overview of the details of the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Collection Pilot in Multi-Unit Buildings. Eighteen (18) building locations have been selected from across the City to participate in the pilot in 2009.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council grant authority to the General Manager of Transportation Services to issue a Notice of Study Completion and to file the Project File for the Roncesvalles Avenue Streetscape Improvements Class Environmental Assessment Study in the public record for 30 days in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.

2.         The appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

A Class Environmental Assessment Study was undertaken to address opportunities for improvements to the public realm in conjunction with water and combined sewer upgrades and a reconstruction of streetcar tracks on Roncesvalles Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West.  The potential improvements were developed under the guidance of the Roncesvalles Village Streetscape Strategy, prepared by the Roncesvalles Village Business Improvement Area (BIA).  The evaluation of a reasonable range of alternative solutions, which included consultation with the public and review agencies, resulted in the following Recommended Design:

-           The removal of one travel lane in each direction, to provide one 4.3 metre traffic lane and a 2.0 metre parking lay-by on both sides of Roncesvalles Avenue;

-           The provision of transit platforms as an extension of the sidewalk to allow level boarding to new TTC transit vehicles; and

-           The widening of the boulevard in certain areas to increase public space and reduce crossing distances.

A Notice of Study Completion must now be issued and the Project File placed in the public record for a 30-day review period in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council adopt, in principle, the Toronto Walking Strategy actions contained in Appendix 1 to this report as an integrated approach for making Toronto a great walking city.

2.         City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to establish an inter-divisional Walking Strategy Team to be fully responsible for implementing the Walking  Strategy actions, with representation by the following City divisions and agencies:  City Planning; Public Health; Parks, Forestry and Recreation; Toronto Transit  Commission; Economic Development, Culture and Tourism; Municipal Licensing and Standards; Toronto Parking Authority; Toronto and Region Conservation Authority; Toronto Police Service; and Toronto Hydro.

3.         City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the inter-divisional Walking Strategy Team, to develop a detailed multi-year work plan to implement the actions recommended as part of the Toronto Walking Strategy, and report back to Council on short-term priorities as part of the 2010 budget review process.

4.         City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to produce annual Walking Strategy progress reports to document achievements and identify future priorities.

5.         City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to undertake the following Toronto Walking Strategy new actions to begin implementation of the Toronto Walking Strategy immediately:

a.         organize an annual Walking / Public Realm Forum, beginning in the Fall 2009, to engage City staff and Council, external stakeholders and Toronto residents in an ongoing dialogue about  actions to make Toronto a great walking city;

b.         launch a high-profile communications and engagement strategy to support the City's public realm initiatives and to encourage all Torontonians to walk as a part of everyday life;

c.         develop a program for creating walking routes and neighbourhood walking maps to encourage residents and visitors to get out and explore the city on foot, starting with 5 new featured routes by 2010;

d.         develop pilot projects to install and evaluate different measures and design options to improve the pedestrian environment including: the relocation of bicycle parking racks from narrow sidewalks/boulevards to alternative locations, and implement 10 locations in 2009 and 2010; and the introduction of “No Right Turn on Red” restrictions at strategic intersections beginning with 10 locations in 2010;

e.         work with Ryerson University and the University of Toronto to design and implement two pedestrian street projects by 2010; and

f.          develop and implement two public realm improvement plans per year in Tower Renewal and Priority Neighbourhoods, beginning in 2010, to create more walkable communities.

6.         The appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

The purpose of this staff report is to present the accompanying report, the Toronto Walking Strategy, which contains 46 actions for making Toronto a great walking city. The aim of the Walking Strategy is to build a physical and cultural environment that supports and encourages walking, including vibrant streets, parks, public squares and neighbourhoods where people will choose to walk more often. By envisioning a city where high-quality walking environments are seamlessly integrated with public transit, cycling and other sustainable modes of travel, the Strategy sets out a plan that will produce tangible environmental, health and social benefits for residents and visitors to Toronto.

Implementing the Toronto Walking Strategy will require ongoing coordination between several City Divisions and Agencies. The Public Realm Section within the Transportation Services Division will lead an inter-divisional Walking Strategy Team to coordinate and monitor implementation of the Walking Strategy.  The Team will produce annual Walking Strategy progress reports that will identify both progress made and resources required to implement Walking Strategy projects, to be considered during the annual budget review process. This report recommends six “New Steps” for implementing the Walking Strategy, focussing on some of the immediate new priorities.

This report seeks City Council approval to update and replace previous pre-amalgamation agreements respecting streetcar/light rail track construction and maintenance responsibilities that existed between the TTC, the former Metropolitan Corporation and the former cities of Toronto and Etobicoke prior to January 1, 1998 with a new agreement in the form appended to this report.

The new agreement will help to clarify roles and formalize the division of TTC and City responsibilities from both a funding and an operational perspective.  This will ensure that many outstanding issues are better aligned with the current needs and practices.  

Construction signage in the City of Toronto is implemented through Project Sign Guidelines developed by Strategic Communications. Toronto Water uses these guidelines to design signage for capital projects longer than two weeks. The current guidelines provide all City divisions with a City of Toronto sign template and instructions to include construction information related to the timing of work, the kind of work being completed and the purpose of the improvement. In addition to the construction information, a City of Toronto message, “we’re under construction to serve you better”, is included on all templates.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Toronto Water, to procure the supply of alternate chemicals, services and related equipment required for the removal of phosphorus from sewage at all four wastewater treatment plants, either on a sole source basis or by such other means of procurement, in consultation with the Director of Purchasing and Materials Management, in such a manner and on such terms and conditions as he considers appropriate; until such time as either the industry supply of iron salts has returned to sustainable levels, or the expiration of the existing iron salts supply contract (December 31, 2010).

2.         Should the existing contract for supply of iron salts expire or should the supplier no longer be able to provide the contracted chemicals, then any unspent funds may be utilized to fund sole source purchases as per Recommendation 1.

3.         Subject to the adoption of Recommendation 1, the General Manager, Toronto Water, be authorized to execute one or more contracts and/or agreements on terms and conditions satisfactory to him and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, including any such contracts and/or agreements whose value may exceed $500,000.

4.         Staff report to Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the Fall of 2009 regarding the number and value of contacts entered into for alternative chemicals, services and related equipment.

The purpose of this report is to seek delegated authority for the General Manager, Toronto Water, to procure on a sole source basis the supply of alternate chemicals, services and specialized equipment, if necessary, used to remove phosphorus at the City’s four wastewater treatment plants.  The City has been using iron salts for many years as a method to treat sewage received at the plants in accordance with the Certificates of Approval as issued by the Ministry of the Environment.

Iron salts are a by-product of the steel manufacturing process and are used by municipal wastewater treatment plants across North America to remove phosphorus.  Phosphorus is a nutrient that if not controlled, can lead to a significant increase in algae growth within water bodies.  With a significant slowdown in the North American steel industry, there has been a sudden shortage of iron salts in the market.  This chemical is expected to remain in short supply until a number of North American steel mills resume production.   Alternate chemicals are more costly but are required as part of the wastewater treatment process to maintain regulatory compliance.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the use of funds available in the approved Toronto Water 2009 Capital Budget under WBS Element CWW473-01 Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection for acquisition of properties by Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), identified in the confidential list dated April 14, 2009, included as Attachment 1.

2.         TRCA complete the acquisitions according to the criteria set out in Executive Committee Report 14.1, adopted by City Council on November 19 and 20, 2007, in a form and manner acceptable to City officials.

3.         City Council authorize the public release of the confidential information contained in Attachment 1 after the acquisition of the properties by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has been completed.

4.         The appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

This report has been prepared jointly with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to provide an update on land purchased in 2008 using Toronto Water Capital funding and seek approval to revise the previously approved Property Acquisition List to add additional properties.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommended to the Budget Committee that:

1.         City Council approve an increase in the maximum contracted single stream recycling tonnage to be processed by Canada Fibers Ltd. by an additional 20,000 tonnes to 105,000 tonnes per year at an additional $16.00 per tonne above the current processing rate with CPI adjustments on the new tonnes effective January 1, 2010 and annually thereafter, all net of GST.

2.         City Council approve an increase in the maximum contracted source separated organic tonnage to be hauled and processed by OrgaWorld Canada Ltd. by 25,000 tonnes to 75,000 tonnes per year at a rate reduced by $5.00 per tonne from the current processing rate of $112.50 per tonne to $107.50 per tonne on both the currently committed tonnes and the new tonnes with CPI adjustments effective June 1, 2009 and annually thereafter and no change in the current contracted rate of $17.25 per tonne for haulage, all net of GST.

3.         Subject to the adoption of Recommendation 2, City Council approve a put or pay commitment of 70% of the full 75,000 tonnes until May 31, 2013, provided that OrgaWorld Canada Ltd. is capable of processing the full amount.

4.         Subject to the adoption of Recommendation 2, City Council authorize the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to exercise the two (2) option years from June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014 and June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015 with OrgaWorld Canada Ltd. as part of the agreement for increased capacity.

5.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to enter into any necessary amending agreements with both Canada Fibers Ltd. and OrgaWorld Canada Ltd. to reflect Recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 4, and otherwise on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

6.         City Council:

a.         extend the existing authority of the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services to negotiate and enter into amending agreements with the City’s current SSO processing contractors and/or negotiate and enter into agreements with other SSO processing contractors as required to meet the City’s SSO (including SSO digestate) processing needs for terms up to December 31, 2015 on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor,  provided that the prices do not exceed the increased processing fees identified in Attachment 1 – Confidential Information; and

b.         authorize the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services to negotiate and enter into amending agreements with the City’s current SSRM processing contractors and/or negotiate and enter into agreements with other SSRM processing contractors as required to meet the City’s SSRM processing needs for terms up to December 31, 2015 on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor,  provided that the prices do not exceed the processing fees identified in Attachment 1 – Confidential Information.

7.         City Council amend the 2009 Approved Operating Budget for Solid Waste Management Services by increasing expenditures in Cost Centre SW0751 (MRF: Single Stream - Dufferin) by $1,008,410.; by decreasing expenditures in Cost Centre SW0476 (MWPF-DUFFERIN) by $218,750 and by increasing revenue in Cost Centre SW0751 (MRF: Single Stream - Dufferin) by $789,660.

8.         Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (April 21, 2009) from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, remain confidential in its entirety, in accordance with the provisions of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, as it relates to the security of the property of the municipality or local board.

The purpose of this report is to request authority to amend the contracts with Canada Fibers Ltd. to process additional Single Stream Recyclable Material (SSRM) and with OrgaWorld Canada Ltd. to process additional Source Separated Organics (SSO) and to receive authority to negotiate further amending SSRM and SSO contracts or enter into new agreements as necessary to ensure the City has sufficient available processing capacity for SSRM, SSO and SSO digestate.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council grant authority that Anthratech Western Inc. (AWI) be specified as the Sole Source supplier for the provision of eighteen (18) new Pheonix low profile filter underdrain systems, including supply and delivery of all materials, equipment, components, and accessories, as well as installation and related field services (supervision and testing), in the construction tender documents for the R. L. Clark WTP Process Equipment Upgrade Project.

The purpose of this report is to seek authority to specify a Sole Source supplier, Anthratech Western Inc. (AWI), for the provision of eighteen (18) low profile filter underdrain systems, installation, supervision, and field testing services in the construction tender documents for the R. L. Clark Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Process Equipment Upgrade project.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council approve the reallocation of funds in 2009 in the amount of $800,000.00 net of GST to CWW024-02 Highland Creek TP Plant Services from CWW036-03 Highland Creek Treatment Plant – Thermal Technology, Phase 1.

2.         City Council award Contract 08FS-62WP, Tender Call 236-2008, for the Highland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant – Plant Instrumentation and Paging Services to Quantech Electrical Contractors Limited in the total amount of $3,199,333.33, net of GST, being the lowest compliant bid received.

The purpose of this report is to advise on the results of the Tender Call 236-2008 issued for the Highland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant – Plant Instrumentation and Paging Services, in accordance with specifications as required by Technical Services and request authority to award a contract to the recommended bidder.

The purpose of this report is to advise on the over expenditure of Contract No. 47010956, by $908,333.96 net of GST, which represents a 2.2% increase of the current contract value of $40,847,791.95 net of GST. This increase is a result of extra work required to complete the city wide maintenance and operation of electrical traffic control devices to the contract end date of January 31, 2009.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council grant authority to the General Manager of Transportation Services to issue a Notice of Study Completion and to file the Environmental Study Report for the Jarvis Street Streetscape Improvements Class Environmental Assessment Study in the public record for 30 days in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, subject to the amendment of the Environmental Study Report to indicate that Alternative Design Solution 1, which includes the provision of exclusive bicycle lanes on Jarvis Street, is the Recommended Alternative.

2.         The appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

In 2001, the Culture Section completed a study entitled, “Canada’s Urban Waterfront – Waterfront Culture and Heritage Infrastructure Plan” that identified Jarvis Street as one of seven cultural corridors within the City of Toronto.  In preparing a heritage plan for Jarvis Street, the Culture Section undertook a Streetscape Study that identified the need to narrow Jarvis Street to accommodate improvements to the public realm within the existing right-of-way.  A Traffic Feasibility Study, completed by the Transportation Services Division in 2005, concluded that it was feasible to narrow Jarvis Street.

A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study has been undertaken to develop streetscape improvement plans in conjunction with lane arrangement modifications on Jarvis Street from Bloor Street East to Queen Street East.  The EA study included the identification and evaluation of a reasonable range of alternatives in consultation with the public and review agencies.  The resulting Recommended Design is to narrow Jarvis Street from five (5) lanes to four (4) lanes by removing the centre reversible lane and widening the east sidewalk and remaining four (4) lanes.  This will enable improvements to the public realm along Jarvis Street.

A Notice of Study Completion must now be issued and the Environmental Study Report filed in the public record for a minimum 30-day review period in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.