SPC Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services Decisions in Brief
From the November 14, 2016 Meeting
8.1.1 Civic Operations Centre (COC) Construction Update
Decision
*The Committee received the report as information.
Background
*In October of 2014, City Council approved the award of the Request for Proposal for the COC, Phase One, to Integrated Team Solutions (ITS). This Team will design, build, finance and maintain the new Saskatoon Transit Facility, and design, build, finance, maintain and operate the permanent Snow Management Facility.
*Construction is progressing as expected and all activities are on track for Substantial Completion on December 31, 2016.
8.1.2 Remai Modern Construction Update
Decision
*The Committee received the report as information.
Background
*Construction of the EllisDon contract is approximately 97% complete.
*The Contractor is estimating that the building construction will be complete early 2017, as long as the project does not experience delays going forward.
*Secondary contracts outside of the EllisDon scope include furniture, signage and lighting.
*The Gallery is managing the contracts for the shell (Feature) gallery and restaurant fit-out. They are responsible for the move, transition, art preparation and the opening.
*The building opening is dependent upon the construction schedule.
*The Administration continues to do everything possible to prudently manage the contract with EllisDon and protect the City’s interests.
*The projected funding shortfall continues to be between $2.5 and $4.5 million considering all factors.
8.1.3 City Plan for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action
Decision
*The Committee received the report as information.
Background
*The Aboriginal Awareness Program is an education program for employees that shares the history of residential schools, their impact, and open dialogue on reconciliation in the workplace.
*The program involves a multi-year strategy to train all permanent staff with completion expected in 2019.
*The fall 2016 Leadership Forum included a presentation to raise awareness and understanding across the City’s 400 senior managers and supervisors. Program development is being guided by the community and community partnerships.
*The program will also be supplemented with a TRC Resource Kit, the City’s corporate training programs, and a supervisor/manager refresher course.
8.2.2 Service Saskatoon Progress Report and 2017 Plan
Decision
*The report has been forwarded to the 2017 Business Plan and Budget Deliberations
Background
*A new division called Service Saskatoon was created in early 2016 and the Service Saskatoon model was launched to the public in April 2016.
*The new model of citizen service is a City-wide shift in delivery of frontline service, response to service and information requests, and improvement of services into the future.
*The technology centre piece of the new model will be a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that will prioritize requests and give citizens ways to monitor progress of their service request/inquiry.
*Changes to the main floor of City Hall will provide a one-stop experience for citizens, making it easier to access services and information.
*Saskatoon is becoming involved in the open data movement and will engage with interested parties in providing information and data files using web-based open data.
*Service Saskatoon is responsible to ensure that website and digital information management is executed and provide support to other divisions across the corporation to manage and maintain quality control.
8.2.3 Aquatic Invasive Species: Response to PARCS
Decision
*The Committee forwarded the report to City Council for information and asked the Administration provide a report containing more detail in terms of specific local impacts and resources required.
*The report has been referred to the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee to review and report back to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities, and Corporate Services with input.
Background
*The Committee received a letter from PARCS on May 9, 2016, asking for support, by motion, and with a letter to the Premier, for a comprehensive systematic border inspection program for invasive mussel species that are commonly carried on boats.
*The City receives drinking water from the South Saskatchewan River. Lake Diefenbaker, upstream of the city along the river, is at risk for aquatic mussel infestation.
*The City does not currently have programming targeted at educating residents about aquatic invasive mussels as it is a member of the South Saskatchewan River Watershed Stewards (SSRWSI), which receives funding from the province to carry out an awareness campaign about aquatic invasive mussels within our watershed.
*The province has installed a sign outside of city limits on Highway 11 to Prince Albert and has offered additional free highway signs to the City to help raise awareness of aquatic invasive mussels.
8.2.4 Recovery Park Next Steps
Decision
*The report has been referred to the 2017 Business Plan and Budget deliberations.
Background
*Recovery Park will be a one-stop recycling and waste facility near the City landfill that will support waste diversion.
*KPMG conducted market sounding of businesses across Canada to determine a business case and options for delivery models for Recovery Park.
*The Administration has been working on a traffic model and site design for Recovery Park. There is sufficient capital funding in place to proceed with the first phase of Recovery Park.
*The private sector is interested in investing in the Organics waste stream if minimum volumes of organic waste can be guaranteed by the City.
*The Administration has identified a number of opportunities to improve the efficiency of the Green Cart Program in 2017.