11.3.15 Pollution Control Charge - Halifax Harbour Project
A staff report prepared for Dan English, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, regarding the above, was before Council for consideration.
MOVED by Councillors Stone and Read that:
1. Council approve Pollution Control Charges (PCC) as follows:
Billing Effective Date Rate
July 1, 1999 $.48/cubic metre
April 1, 2000 $.58/cubic metre
April 1, 2001 $.68/cubic metre
April 1, 2002 $.78/cubic metre
2. Council approve the establishment of a Water Treatment Plants Infrastructure Replacement Reserve to be funded by the PCC with annual contributions of $1,000,000, beginning in the Fiscal Year 99/00.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
With respect to the Regional Council minutes of April 6, 1999, previously approved, Councillor McInroy requested that an amendment be made to Item 12.5 - April 6, 1999 Committee of the Whole Recommendation - Halifax Harbour Solutions Project -Next Steps.
Councillor McInroy noted both he and Councillor Blumenthal voted against the motion; and, therefore, requested that the word "unanimously" be deleted.
MOVED by Councillors McInroy and Blumenthal that the Regional Council minutes of April 6, 1999 be amended to delete the word "unanimously" in the motion regarding Item 12.5 - April 6, 1999 Committee of the Whole Recommendation -Halifax Harbour Solutions Project - Next Steps.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
12.5 Report - Community Integration Funds (Herring Cove Area)
A staff report dated April 19, 1999 and entitled Community Integration Funds -- Herring Cove Area was submitted under the signature of Mr. Dan English, Acting Chief Administrative Officer.
MOVED by Councillor Adams, seconded by Councillor Walker that Council:
(1) approve, in principle, that the $5m community integration fund be moved to Phase 1 of the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project;
(2) direct the Director of Engineering and Transportation Services to begin discussions with the Halifax Regional Water Commission with respect to the design of the water extension;
(3) direct the Project Manager for the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project to begin communication with the community with the view of establishing the location for the future wastewater treatment plant.
THE MOTION WAS PUT AND PASSED.
12.5 April 6, 1999 COW Recommendation - Halifax Harbour Solutions Project -Next Steps
This matter was discussed during a Committee of the Whole Session held prior to the public session.
MOVED by Councillors Rankin and Greenough that the following Committee of the Whole recommendations regarding the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project be adopted by Regional Council:
THAT HRM reaffirm its intent to move forward (on the basis of Option D) with the Harbour Solutions Project on the basis that the entire project be undertaken if one-third cost sharing is received from a combination of the Provincial/Federal Governments; otherwise, the project may be scaled back to coincide with the two-thirds funding available from HRM sources; AND FURTHER, that HRM authorize the Harbour Solutions Project Manager to inform the successful RFQ respondents.
THAT staff be directed to undertake a review of the status of major water users currently exempt from payment of the pollution control charge on their water bills, with the results and recommendations to be reported back to Council.
THAT staff be directed to undertake a review of moving the Community Integration funding for Herring Cove to be immediately implemented to allow for extension of desperately needed water for this community. This will allow for lead time required by the Water Commission to make application to the URB.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
11.2.5 Halifax Harbour Solutions Project - RFQ Results and Short List
A staff report dated March 24, 1999 and entitled Halifax Harbour Solutions Project -- RFQ Results and Short List was submitted under the signature of Mr. K. R. Meech, Chief Administrative Officer.
MOVED by Councillor Hetherington, seconded by Councillor Greenough that Council approve the recommendations of the Selection Committee of the selected Proponent Teams, which are recommended for the short list for the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project in accordance with RFQ 98-114. The Proponents for the short list are as follows:-
Halifax Regional Environmental Partnership
Halifax WaterWorks Group
The Aquafax Group
Mr. Maurice Lloyd, Project Manager for the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project, provided a brief overview of the March 24 report and, in conjunction with the CAO, responded to questions from various members of Council.
Following a brief discussion, THE MOTION WAS PUT AND PASSED.
11.2.6 Halifax Harbour Solutions Project - Next Steps
A report dated March 24, 1999 and entitled Halifax Harbour Solutions Project, Next Steps was submitted under the signature of Mr. K. R. Meech, Chief Administrative Officer.
Mr. Maurice Lloyd, Project Manager for the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project (with the aid of overheads), provided a summary of the March 24 report and responded to questions from various members of Council.
MOVED by Councillor Adams, seconded by Councillor Barnet that the matter be forwarded to a meeting of Committee of the Whole (to be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6) for further debate and questioning of staff.
Councillor Cooper asked that a report be prepared in time for the April 6 meeting to address the following:
(a) the relationship between the amounts raised on a yearly basis (i.e., the revenues) and the amount that will have to be paid by HRM in terms of capital charges, interest, etc.;
(b) a list of water users who are currently exempt from the payment of pollution control charges, together with the rationale for those exemptions.
(c) an indication of the existing systems that be slated for future capital improvements.
(d) assurance that no decision will be made on the Harbour Solutions project before Council has had an opportunity to see where this initiative fits with the proposed servicing strategy.
Concurring with Councillor Cooper's request for a staff report, Councillor Rankin indicated that he is concerned with the proposed administration of this project and, more specifically, with preserving the integrity of the collections process and the process for managing those collections over time. The Councillor made reference to what he called "the assured integrity" of the Halifax Regional Water Commission, given that the HRWC not only operates at arm's length but is also under the authority of the Utility and Review Board.
Councillor Sarto asked that the proposed staff report include the incremental costs of the project for both a 40-year and a 50-year period.
Councillor Hetherington asked that a list of all treatment plants to be governed by the proposed rates be supplied to members of Council for their reference.
THE MOTION WAS PUT AND PASSED with Councillors Dooks and Snow voting in opposition.
11.2.7 Amendment - Water Commission Legislation
This matter had been discussed during an In Camera meeting of Halifax Regional Council held earlier in the day.
MOVED by Councillor Hetherington, seconded by Councillor Greenough that Halifax Regional Council assume responsibility for Bill No. 63 regarding amendments to legislation pertaining to the Halifax Regional Water Commission and, in so doing, encourage the Provincial Legislature to give these amendments Third and final reading.
THE MOTION WAS PUT AND PASSED.
12.1 Councillor Barnet - Recommendations from the Halifax Regional Water Commission Sub-Committee on Harbour Clean Up
Councillor Barnet brought this item forward on behalf of Councillor Hetherington. The Councillor stated the following resolution is being put forward by the Water Commission clarifying Council's position with respect to the Water Commission being able to solicit a change to Bill 63 to allow them to participate in the bidding process:
Whereas:
1. On May 26, 1998, Council passed a motion authorizing the Halifax Regional Water Commission to get involved in the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project;
2. On September 30, 1998, Halifax Regional Municipality issued its Request for Qualifications for interested bidders on the Halifax Solutions Project;
3. On October 13, 1998, Halifax Regional Municipality issued Addendum No. 1 to the RFQ. In order to comply with Addendum No. 1 and continue its involvement in the Project, the Halifax Regional Water Commission must amend its incorporating statute: the Halifax Regional Water Commission Act;
4. Bill 63 was introduced into the Legislature in November of 1998 and was given First and Second Reading. It has passed the Committee on Private and Local Bills and the Committee of the Whole House. Bill 63 now awaits third reading, and, if passed, royal assent:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council supports the passage of Bill 63 and encourages the Provincial Legislature to bring Bill 63 to the floor for third reading at the earliest opportunity.
MOVED by Councillors Barnet and Rankin that Council support the preceding resolution.
Deputy Mayor Uteck suggested it may be appropriate to refer the matter to staff for a report in one week to provide legal and structural guidance. Councillor Barnet noted the Water Commission is only asking Council to confirm what it has already done. Mr. Meech advised that circumstances have changed and there is no chance of this being dealt with in the upcoming sitting of the Provincial Legislature. Therefore, it would not be a problem to defer this matter for a week to provide staff the opportunity for review. Councillor Barnet agreed to the referral.
MOVED by Councillors Barnet and Rankin that this matter be referred to staff for a report in one week.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED.
12.6 Councillor Adams: Water Services - Herring Cove
Councillor Adams requested a joint report (in consultation with Mr. Carl Yates, Halifax Regional Water Commission; Mr. George McLellan, Deputy CAO; and Mr. Maurice Lloyd,Halifax Harbour Clean-Up Project) outlining the steps necessary (including cost factors)to initiate the extension of water services to Herring Cove in anticipation of the siting of a water treatment plant.
