STANDING POLICY COMMITTEE DECISIONS IN BRIEF

October 13, 2015 Committee Meeting

SPC on Environment, Utilities & Corporate Services  

7.2.1 2016 Green Cart Program (Matters Requiring Direction)

*The Committee is recommending to City Council at the 2016 Business Plan and Budget Review meeting that the 2016 Green Cart program allow subscribers to include food waste.
*The Committee further resolved that the Administration report to the 2016 Budget meeting with options for funding the expanded program without increasing the fees to users for the 2016 season.

Background
*Subscribers to the current Green Cart program were surveyed in July 2015. The results revealed high satisfaction with the current program with 70% having an interest in including food waste.
*Survey results also indicated that almost 90% of subscribers are satisfied with the frequency of pick-up (biweekly). Program cost is cited as an important consideration.
*The Administration recommends that the 2016 Green Cart program continue with biweekly collection from early May to early November, allowing food waste to be included.
*A rate increase to $70/subscriber is required to make the Green Cart program cost recovery for 6,000 subscribers.
*Education on how to minimize odours generated by the Green Cart program will be developed.

7.2.4 2015 Update to Our Environment: The City of Saskatoon’s Environmental Leadership Report (Matters Requiring Direction)

*The report will be forwarded to City Council for information.

Background
* The 2015 update to the City of Saskatoon’s ‘Our Environment’ Report is provided in the form of an online reporting tool highlighting the status of 12 selected indicators representing the key components of the state of Saskatoon’s environmental health – air, land, water and waste.
*Key findings include:

• The waste diversion rate for 2014 of 22.5% was relatively unchanged from the 2013 rate of 22.7% and needs improvement to meet the target of 70%.
• The amount of landfilled residential waste per capita is down to 249 kilograms per capita in 2014 from 340 kilograms per capita in 2007.
• The percentage of residents choosing to walk, cycle or take transit to work has been relatively stable between 11.5% and 14.4 % for the past two decades and needs improvement to meet the target of 20%.
• Saskatoon’s air quality has been showing a slow downward trend over the past decade, with the average Air Quality Index ranking as ‘Good’ over the past 5 years, down from the ranking of ‘Excellent’ that it has for the previous 5 years.
• The water quality both upstream and downstream of Saskatoon has consistently ranked as Good in the Water Quality Index since 2005.
• The amount and distribution of new development investment has been added as a baseline indicator and illustrates that investment in development activities are balanced across the city.

7.2.7 Parks Design, Construction, and Maintenance – Civic Service Review (Matters Requiring Direction)

*The report will be forwarded to City Council recommending:

• That the improved efficiencies and effectiveness in delivering the service as outlined in the report be received as information;
• That the Service Level for Parks Pathway Snow Clearing be increased to include snow clearing services to 14 kilometres of Naturalized Park pathways;
• That the Service Level for Shelterbelt/Buffer Strip Maintenance be increased so that a proactive service level that includes mowing, trimming and garbage pick-ups within the shelterbelt areas can be established; and
• That the Administration report on a Park Infrastructure Asset Management Plan including a funding strategy to achieve desired service levels.

Background
*The report provides an overview of the Parks Division Civic Service Review. The review explored opportunities for improvement within the design, construction, and maintenance of civic parks and open spaces. Implementation of these findings will improve service to citizens, increase the efficiency of park design, construction and maintenance, and improve accuracy in budgeting for the Parks Division. Additionally, the report recommended Service Levels for Parks Pathway Snow Clearing and Shelterbelt/Buffer Strip Maintenance.