SPC Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services Decisions in Brief
From the June 13, 2016 meeting
7.1.1 Transit IT Roadmap Update
Decision
*The committee received the report as information.
Background
*The report provides an interim update on the progress of three Transit IT initiatives introduced in February.
*A new service for Access Transit designed to decrease cancellation rates is on target for completion by October 2016.
*The initial phase of implementing a Business Intelligence initiative to facilitate the goal of increasing Transit ridership is on target for completion by June 30, 2016.
*The initial phase of implementing service improvements designed to enhance the real-time Open Data available to our citizens is on target for completion by June 30, 2016.
7.1.2 2015 Safety Performance and Absenteeism Report
Decision
*The committee received the report and recommend to City Council that the Board of Police Commissioners provide additional information on its action plans to reduce loss time injury and frequency.
Background
*Incidents of injury/illness from the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) decreased from 121 in 2014 to 102 in 2015. However, productive hours lost due to these injuries have increased from 19,016 to 21,236 hours.
*In 2015, the City and COS achieved a historical low for lost-time injury frequency of 3.70. This is a 20% decrease from the 2014 reported lost-time injury frequency of 4.60.
*In 2015, the COS total, as well as the City (18%), Boards (10%) and Police (25%), had reductions in lost-time injuries.
*There was an overall decrease of 11% in injury severity and the number of work days lost per 100 employees for COS.
*Overall, average days lost to absenteeism, total hours of absenteeism, and total costs of absenteeism was reduced in 2015. The City’s average days lost is below the Statistics Canada public sector.
*The majority of absenteeism is driven by short-term absences at 64% of total cost. Incidents of short-term absences continue to increase at the City.
*Costs, hours and incidents of medium-term absences continue to decrease over the last few years.
7.1.3 2015 Overtime Utilization Report
Decision
*The committee received the report as information.
Background
*Total overtime as a percentage of earnings has been trending downward since 2013. Overtime as a percentage of earnings is 5.33% (2015) down from 5.87% in 2014.
*The City has a number of services where fluctuations in workload is managed through overtime, such as demand (eg. transit services and light & power) and seasonal (eg. snow removal and road repairs).
*Fourteen job classifications (approximately 1,140 employees) accounted for 48% of the overtime amount.
*Average overtime decreased in 2015 by 9.2% from 5.87% (2014) to 5.33% (2015).
7.1.4 Saskatoon Light & Power 2015 Annual Report
Decision
*The committee received the report and resolved the Administration report on information regarding grants-in-lieu from other non-city utilities.
Background
*Our Customers – Electrical service reliability in 2015 was better than the Urban Average reported by member utilities in the Canadian Electricity Association.
*Our Finances – Saskatoon Light & Power provided a Return on Investment of $23,059,700 and paid Grants-in-Lieu of Taxes in the amount of $20,483,200, for a total financial benefit to the City of Saskatoon (City) of $43,542,900.
*Our People – There were four lost time injuries in 2015 for a total of 21.96 days.
*Our Work – Capital funding of $19,238,000 was provided to 35 capital projects.
*Our Environment – Saskatoon Light & Power began installing LED lights for all new development areas, reducing the amount of energy consumed. The Landfill Gas Power Station was in full operation in 2015 and a Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Demonstration project was initiated with two local partners.
*Our Challenges – Saskatoon Light & Power will focus on asset renewal in 2016 and report to City Council with an asset management report.
7.2.5 Martensville Wastewater Update
Decision
*The Committee is recommending to City Council:
- That the Administration be directed to continue working towards a service agreement with the City of Martensville for the provision of wastewater and water services as outlined in the report; and
- That the Administration report further with details on the final proposed agreement and rate structure.
Background
*In February 2014, City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding for providing wastewater and water services between Martensville and Saskatoon.
*The City of Martensville has applied to the federal government for infrastructure funding to construct a wastewater and additional water supply line connected to the City. If approved, it is anticipated that the project could be completed by 2019.
*Martensville will continue to use their existing lagoon to buffer wastewater flows and convey wastewater to Saskatoon during off-peak hours at night.
*A number of shared principles will ensure that utility rates for water and wastewater between the two cities will remain on a level field. Martensville rates will continue to be higher than those in Saskatoon and off-site levy rates for water and wastewater will be charged at a comparable rate.
*If all required approvals are received, this project is anticipated to be tendered in 2017, with construction in the 2018 to 2019 construction seasons.