REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: November 10, 2020 Report No. EPW-20-023
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering and Public Works
SUBJECT:
Title
Integrated Resource Management - Public Consultation and Next Steps End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council approve the following:
1. That Council receive the Summary and Public Consultation Report for information, as set out in Staff Report EPW-20-023.
2. That Council direct staff to prepare a budget request for the 2021-2025 Financial Plan for the development and implementation of a business case to seek an amendment to the Capital Region District Solid Waste Master Plan and make an application to Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for this initiative, as set out in Staff Report EPW-20-23.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2014, No. 2815
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Healthy, Livable and Diverse Community - develop and implement strategies that reduce impact on the environment consistent with our Climate Action Goals
Local Services and Infrastructure - identify long term financial requirements for local services and infrastructure, promote opportunities to share services where operationally and financially beneficial
BACKGROUND:
On July 6, 2020, EPW-20-19 was presented to Council for information (attachments 1 and 2). The report contained the Interim Technical Report on Integrated Resource Management (IRM). Due to the onset of COVID-19, no public engagement had occurred prior to this meeting. Council directed that public engagement be carried out as well as referring the report to the Environmental Advisory Committee for comment.
The Environmental Advisory Committee received the same presentation that Council had received on July 6, 2020. The Committee’s recommendation was: the consultant ensures the public engagement materials include strong visuals of the proposed system including the district energy component and more clearly explain the revenue sources and their degree of certainty.
The Township and the Consultant then proceeded to carry out a virtual public engagement process. This process involved presenting information on the Township’s website, an interactive meeting with the public (this was recorded for viewing by others) and an online survey. The information presented for consultation included:
• Online survey (four specific questions, one general comment question)
• Interim Technical Report - Attachment 1
• Presentation from July 6, 2020 Council meeting - Attachment 2
• Project overview - Attachment 3
• Township FAQs - Attachment 4
• Summary Report - Attachment 5
The online survey ran from September 7, 2020 to October 13, 2020. The information gathered was analyzed and is included in the Summary and Public Consultation Report (Attachment 6). A summary of the engagement process is:
• A total of 266 individuals started the survey
• A total of 230 individuals completed the survey
• A total of 86% (229 of the 266) reside in the Township
• A total of 13% (35 of the 266) reside within the CRD (Capital Regional District) but outside of the Township
• A total of 1% (2 of the 266) reside outside of the CRD
• A total of 8% (21 of the 266) reported owning a business located within the Township
A breakdown of the comments received for each question can be found in Attachment 7.
During the engagement period, staff also had conversations with representatives from the CRD and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOE). The purpose of these discussions was to determine what the next steps/requirements would be for the Township moving forward with this initiative.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
Staff’s recommendation is that the Summary and Public Consultation Report be received for information (Attachment 6).
With the acceptance of this report and further direction from Council, this initiative would move into the next stage for further study and the development of a business case.
The Township (as member of the CRD) operates under the Solid Waste Master Plan (Master Plan) that the CRD manages and is approved by MOE. In order to proceed with this initiative, the Township would have to undertake the following steps:
• Request and obtain an amendment to the existing Master Plan or the proposed Master Plan
• Once the amendment was received, present a business case to MOE demonstrating that the Township has met the requirements as detailed in Waste to Energy and Solid Waste Master Plan fact sheet (Attachment 8).
• Undertake the Waste Discharge Authorization Process (which may include Environmental Assessment Certificate) which would lead to an Operating Certificate.
The CRD is now undertaking the final step in the submission of new Master Plan for the region. This work includes: public consultation, consultation with municipalities, finalizing the Master Plan and submission to MOE for review/approval. Within this new plan is the call for a “in region” kitchen scraps and yard/garden processing facility. These two waste streams play a part in the feed stock for the initiative (Attachments 9.1 & 9.2).
In August 2020 the CRD closed a Request for Expression of Interest. Based on information from CRD staff, a report that discusses this process should be presented to the CRD early in 2021. There is the potential that a gasification technology may be the treatment technical maybe chosen if this project moves forward.
At this time, staff is not recommending moving forward with testing of the waste stream. The main reason is that this testing only confirms the suitability/quality of the waste stream to one type of gasification technology. This type of testing would be more appropriately done s work is carried out on the development of the business case for CRD/MOE in order to see how it applies to all potential suppliers (not one in particular).
2. Organizational Implications
Public engagement was undertaken by the Director of Engineering and Public Works and the Communications Manager in conjunction with the Consultant. Based on the direction provided by Council, moving forward with this initiative will impact the workload of the Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Financial Services, Director of Development Services, Director of Engineering and Public Works and the Communications Manager. The level of work assigned to each position will vary depending on the direction(s) provided by Council. The recommended course of action will impact the capacity of the Director of Engineering and Public Works without contracted services.
3. Financial Implications
The financial implications of this initiative were detailed in Interim Report that was presented with EPW-20-019.
Should Council provide direction to move forward with the development of a business case for this initiative, the expected expenditure for consultant fees would range between $75,000 to $100,000.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
The IRM philosophy and gasification has the potential to create a number of positives with respect to the environment. Both the CRD and MOE will be measuring these positives in comparison to the positives being planned for the new Master Plan that will be submitted to MOE. MOE will accept the initiatives that provide the greater positive impact on the environment.
5. Communication & Engagement
Once Council has provided direction, staff will inform the Consultant of the next steps. Staff will increase their communication with both the CRD and MOE to obtain further clarification of next steps and requirements. The public will have an opportunity to provide comment to Council during the 2021 Budget process through public feed back if the recommendation to prepare a budget request is approved.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council receive the Summary and Public Consultation Report for information, as set out in Staff Report EPW-20-023.
2. That Council direct staff to prepare a budget request for the 2021-2025 Financial Plan for the development and implementation of a business case to seek an amendment to the Capital Regional District Solid Waste Master Plan and make an application to Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for this initiative, as set out in Staff Report EPW-20-023.
3. That Council direct staff not to prepare a budget request for the 2021-2025 Financial Plan and not move forward with the development and implementation of a business case to seek an amendment to the Capital Regional District Solid Waste Master Plan and that an application for this initiative not be submitted to Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for this initiative.