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September 12/05 Report
Start: 9:41 am. Adjourn: 12:19 pm
Present:
Councillors Mitchell (Chair), McCarthy (Vice-Chair), Braden, Collins, Bruckler, Ferguson, Jackson, Merulla.
Also Present:
- Councillor Bratina, Collins, Pearson
- Staff: Beth Goodger, Pat Parker, Jim Harnum and Brian Shynal, Public Works Dept.
- Media:
- Hamilton Spectator (McGuinness)
- Brabant (Werner)
- CHML (Mann)
- CFMU (Maggie)
- CATCH Report by Joan Roberts, Don McLean
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
List of 9 registered speakers wishing to speak in regards to item 9.1 on agenda and if approved will be item 9.1.1 concerning the City's new lateral sewer program.
Councillor McCarthy is bringing forth a motion with respect to whistle blowing at the railroad crossing at Parkside Rd., added as item 11.2 on the agenda
Councillor Mitchell (Chair),: a motion on "Caution - slow moving vehicles" signs, request from the Agricultural Committee. Staff to bring back a policy at future meeting on where they should be used.
(Braden/Bruckler) CARRIED
4. DELEGATION REQUESTS
(Braden/Bruckler) CARRIED
4.1 Kevin Dhinsa, August 29, 2005, concerning City report respecting sewers on Windemere Road which will be on upcoming Public Works, Infrastructure and Environment Committee Agenda.
6. CONSENT ITEMS
No discussion
(Merulla/Ferguson)
6.1 RECEIVED
6.2 CARRIED
6.1 Volunteer Committee Minutes - For Information:
(a) Hamilton Cycling Committee Minutes of June 1, 2005 Meeting
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-Hamilton%20Cycling%20Committee
%20Minutes%20-%20Jun%201,2005.pdf
(b) Hamilton Cycling Committee Minutes of July 6, 2005 Meeting
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-Hamilton%20Cycling%20Committee
%20Minutes%20-%20Jul%206,%202005.pdf
(c) Waste Reduction Task Force Minutes of April 20, 2005 Meeting
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-Waste%20ReductionTask
%20Force%20Minutes_4-05.pdf
(d) Waste Reduction Task Force Minutes of May 18, 2005 Meeting
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-Waste%20Reduction
%20Task%20Force%20Minutes_5-05.pdf
(e) Waste Reduction Task Force Minutes of June 15, 2005 Meeting
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-Waste%20Reduction
%20Task%20Force%20Minutes_6-05.pdf
(f) Solid Waste Management Master Plan Steering Committee Minutes of February 5, 2005 Meeting
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-SWMMP%20Steering
%20Committee%20Minutes%20February%202005.pdf
(g) Solid Waste Management Master Plan Steering Committee Minutes of April 12, 2005 Meeting
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-SWMMP%20Steering%20Committee
%20Minutes%20April%202005.pdf
(h) Solid Waste Management Master Plan Steering Committee Minutes of May 10, 2005 Meeting
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-SWMMP%20Steering
%20Committee%20Minutes%20April%202005.pdf
6.2 Spills Reports - (PW05108) - (City Wide)
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/
ClerkPDFs/Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-PW05108.pdf
7. DELEGATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.1 Ms. Cynthia Larsh, June 15, 2005, respecting driveway ramp approach and water pipe replacement. (Approved June 20, 2005.)
(Collins/Braden) Motion to Receive CARRIED
Ms. Larsh has 2 issues to address:
She feels there has been systemic discrimination because of where she lives.
"When a homeowner applies for a driveway ramp or for anything else, as a homeowner they are to be treated the same, regardless of whether down the mountain, in the core, on the mountain, it does not matter where they live."
2 nd issue is regarding the replacement of water pipes, and mentions that water pipes on the mountain have been replaced while downtown pipes have not.
Jim Harnum explains that some pipes have a different corrosion and are deteriorating at the rate of 30 - 35 years, some cast iron are lasting 75 -100 years, and some concrete pipes will last upwards of 100 years. So, because there are different types of pipes some will be replaced more frequently than others. This has nothing to do with where the pipes are, but has to do with the material in the pipes.
Ms Larsh states that "as far as the water pipes, there is no proof and I haven't seen or heard of any maintenance agreement that they are going to change or replace these pipes in the near future."
No questions from Staff or Councillors.
Time on this item: 12 minutes
8. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
8.1 Niagara-Hamilton WastePlan Update (no copy)
Powerpoint presentation by Pat Parker along with Drew ? of Region of Niagara - co-leads of the staff group of this project.
See report on CATCH website :
http://www.environmenthamilton.org/CATCH/articles/
art_0509/art_050912waste.htm
Length of presentation: 20 minutes
Discussion time: 37 minutes
(Jackson/Merulla) CARRIED
Motion: That a status report be brought back to this committee, within the next 90 days, on the City of Hamilton's closed landfills, outlining such things as the methodologies that have been used, costs incurred including future capital dollars being recommended, and external/internal conditions of each site.
(McCarthy/Braden)
Motion to Receive the presentation
9. DISCUSSION ITEMS
9.1 City's New Sewer Lateral Management Program (TOE02203c) - (City Wide)
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-TOE02203c.pdf
(List of 9 speakers on this issue - 8 actually spoke. Many of their questions/remarks are covered in Appendix A of the report.)
- happy to work with system that was to be put in place if he had confidence in the proposal - would like to see more talk, more involvement with private sector of experienced people that know the city best.
- main point use existing contractors that you have at hand immediately - have vehicles, equipment, dispatch and knowledge - 2 contractors working on their own are going to be in a major panic
- table the proposal - Hamilton has about 75 contractors with 3-10 trucks, if all work together, using wealth of experience - make job more efficient
- table program for further discussion - city the first response for all plugged sewer laterals - department is unaware of the vast majority of calls for sewer lateral blockages that are general maintenance cleaning
- main danger of proposed program will cause extinction of many companies - the ratio to find a broken sewer is approximately 175 sewer cleanouts to 1 break - presently city does not pay for the 175, but would according to the new proposal - new program is an example of the public trying to get something for nothing - contractors integrity is challenged daily - existing program allows for healthy competition among Hamilton contractors - reconsider and table this new proposal to allow for further discussion
Councillor Collins to Jim Harnum : first point of contact - difficulties/challenges
Harnum : Will have dispatchers trained with script of questions; in event of storm conditions, it's recognized that city can't handle the volume of calls, homeowners would be informed they have an option to either wait on a queue for one of the 6 crews to respond or contact a phone book listed plumber to do the work, and city would reimburse, given the same level of service and problem would be on public property.
Collins : Some individuals make take full advantage of this service and you would be responding to calls where in the past we haven't. Can you respond how that might impact our budget.
Harnum : We've developed a "waiver" which the homeowner will sign - if the problem is on their property and there is nothing wrong with the city's portion, they will be charged the full fee of the staff coming out to respond. The homeowner, on the telephone, will have to make a choice to have city respond or call a plumber.
Councillor Braden : ". you mentioned you would be prepared to discuss ways of controlling costs. We're interested in saving costs" and asks presenter to send the information on this to the Clerk.
Councillor Merulla asks Harnum for clarification in respect to a part of a presentation that says the new program will "force homeowners to repair their sewer lines" and will be a burden to lower income taxpayers.
Harnum : Homeowners will have a choice on work to be done, will be a benefit to homeowners as they will pay nothing if the problem is on city property. If on private property they will be invoiced, and through our hiring the city will get better prices having a large contract with 2-3 contractors.
- free enterprise has been removed from the equation - if the city feels it has lost control of costs, these issues should be discussed with all contractors and city staff - please reconsider and table the new program
- because of lengthy experience sees many problems with the proposed bylaw and ask the committee to table this proposed bylaw and have further input with the contractors that are here today
Merulla asks Harnum : How confident are you that the numbers that you presented (in the report) so that in a year from now you won't be coming back over budget?
Harnum : These are estimates driven by the amount of calls. . This July was not a slow month .we are confident in the numbers that we have, but we will look to this year as a learning experience, and . it may have to be revisited. We've done research on the numbers as well as consulted with the industry . and with the homeowners, we have feed back from them and for the last 2 years the homeowners have been demanding that we change this program. We have had 2 meetings with the contractors.
Merulla inquires of contractor why these issues were not brought forward at the meetings. The presenter responds that they were brought forward at a meeting with the other contractors.
Merulla questions the implications if this proposal is tabled. Harnum answers that considerable staff time has been spent developing the program, including consultation, and the by-law with legal services, tender request is currently out, so it would mean they would be starting from scratch. Suggests moving forward and reporting back to this committee sometime before 2007 budget to give an update. Merulla queries presenter about rotary roster. Presenter reveals that the contractors were never aware city was getting into sewer cleaning. Always been lateral repair. Tender revealed it included sewer cleaning. It effects all the contractors here today. Presenter also contends that the group of contractors were not given much time to meet and discuss implications of addition of sewer cleaning.
Mitchell states that since the program has already been passed by Council, so the tabling would have to be done at the next Council meeting - Wed. Sep. 14/05. And at that council meeting there is a change to have the program implemented the end of October, allowing for more time to verify facts and figures.
- negative impact on city due to loss of business, downsizing meaning unemployment, tenders possibly awarded to business outside Hamilton meaning income will flow outside the city, increase in city payroll to handle citizen complaints, taxpayers money wasted on invalid calls, disputes of why there is a problem, potential for disputes between the homeowner and the city re where is the problem really located
- reject this program, maintain the status quo, and if part of the problem for the city is controlling costs, suggests using a price menu - requests that the proposal be tabled for further study
Harnum responds that he has just been given the information that the tender is not out as yet (apologizes), so proposes that this program be delayed until November 30 to allow for staff to meet and discuss some of the issues brought forward today.
Councillor Pearson 's major concern is that when this program is implemented, the public will be absolutely made aware of who is responsible for the work, and she will support a tabling motion at council.
Councillor Jackson states that he will support staff's work on this by-law. Also that revealed today there is cost containment issues with the city, cost repairs each year are going up, solutions with the city previously have been short term. Staff propose some additional upfront costs, potentially, but long term will save money and provide better customer service/less frustration by homeowners. Jackson states he will support the tabling at council to change to November 30.
Harnum replies: "proposes this program move ahead and try to incorporate in this program, not changing the concept of this program being the public portion and the private portion, some of the ideas the contractors have brought forward today. . not revamping . we've gone through a public process and Council has adopted this program. .we're talking about delivery of the program and how we can be more inclusive of the contractors in implementing this by-law that staff and legal department have worked so diligently on for the last 5 months."
Mitchell reads the motion going to Council: "The city proceed with the implementation of the sewer lateral management program as approved by Council March 23, 2005."
Mitchell : We need an amendment to this that would say "continue on and report back to on the concerns that were brought forward today."
(Jackson/Ferguson) CARRIED
(Time spent on this item: 1 hr, 16 min.)
9.2 Purchase of Three Replacement Heavy Duty Loaders (PW05112) - (City Wide)
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-PW05112.pdf
( Braden/Collins) CARRIED (no discussion)
10. OUTSTANDING BUSINESS LIST UPDATES
The following Item has been completed - remove from list:
10.1 DARTS Program accountability measures - (Item Q) Report Pwo5075 approved by Committee of the Whole June 30, 2005 - motion to remove
10.2 Reinstated budget and actual numbers - 2004 list of positive variances for fleet facilities (Item W) - Report FCS05049 was approved by Strategic Planning and Budgets Committee on May 18, 2005 - motion to remove
10.3 Wireless installations on City water towers - (Item Y) - Report PW05074 was approved by COW and Council on July 13, 2005 - motion to remove
10.4 Petition requesting stop control at Melvin and Airdrie - (Item EE) - Stop control approved by Committee of the Whole on August 10, 2005 - motion to remove
10.5 Petition requesting stop control at Huxley and Maple - (Item GG) - Stop control approved by Committee of the whole on August 10, 2005 - motion to remove
The due dates of the following items need to be updated:
10.1 Report on financial implications of various noise mitigation options (Including Glen Castle, Forest Hill, Brookstream, etc.) - (Item H)
Staff (Mike ): "We are still undergoing the program. We have about 8 homes that are ready for approval, and as such, I believe it was direction of Council to report, back in June, to report back on the cost of this program. 100 homes have been taken care of in full. That's the reason for the extension."
(talking off mic)
10.7 Policy respecting removal of trees on public property posing threat to public safety or property - (Item AA)
Brian Shynal : This item has been included in the consolidation of the public trees by-law which we have been drafting for sometime now. . available for Oct. 17 PWIE agenda.
(Merulla/Bruckler) CARRIED
11. MOTIONS
11.1 Speed Limit on Highway 56 between Guyatt Road and Cemetery Road
(Braden/Bruckler) CARRIED
(a) That the speed limit on Highway 56 between Guyatt Road and Cemetery Road be set at 60 km/h; and
(b) That a by-law to amend the City of Hamilton By-law 01-215 be passed and enacted"
http://www.myhamilton.ca/Hamilton.Portal/Inc/PortalPDFs/ClerkPDFs/
Public-Works/2005/Sep12/Sep12-Motion%20-%20Item%2011.1.pdf
11.2 (added to agenda)
Councillor McCarthy : Whistle blowing at Parkside Drive
(Braden/Bruckler) CARRIED
McCarthy: The related material dealing with this issue be presented to the Committee which speaks about being able to apply for the anti-whistling at intersection of Parkside Drive. It's really to get the process underway in Public Works and Canadian Rail. Issue outstanding is about a driveway owned by an independent business was sitting too close to the rail line. It has since been moved back, changed, and that was supposed to initiative the no-whistling, so we're just starting the process all over again.
(Braden/Ferguson) CARRIED
Added agenda item: "Slow moving vehicle" sign
Sign brought in for display. Mitchell : Agricultural Rural Affairs Committee requested they be used in Hamilton. Brian Shynal: "I left a hand-written staff report on your desk. It was directing staff to prepare policy recommendations for future PWIE consideration governing the placement of such signs in the road areas."
Councillor Ferguson suggests to follow other jurisdictions, and post signs outside businesses that attract slow-moving vehicles, such as elevators, farm equipment dealerships, and even city yards. (He has a list of 10.)
ADJOURNMENT
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