OTTAWA CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES 57
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
10:00 am
By Electronic Participation
This Meeting was held through
electronic participation in accordance with Section 238 of the Municipal
Act, 2001 as amended by the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020
The Council of
the City of Ottawa met on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, beginning at 10:00 AM. The
Mayor, Jim Watson, presided over the Zoom meeting from Andrew
S. Haydon Hall, with the remaining Members participating remotely by Zoom.
The Mayor, Jim
Watson, presided and led Council in a moment of reflection in honour of Rabbi Reuven
Bulka and Barbara McInnes.
All Members of
Council were present.
Confirmed as amended by the will of
Council to add a dissent from Councillor R. Chiarelli with respect to Item 14 in
the Minutes of the June 23, 2021 meeting.
No declarations
of interest were filed.
MOTION TO INTRODUCE REPORTS
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MOTION NO 57/1
Moved by Councillor
M. Fleury
Seconded by Councillor T. Kavangh
That Agriculture
and Rural Affairs Committee Report 23; Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste
Management Report 17; Planning
Committee Report 45; and the report from
the City Clerk entitled “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions
for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the
City Council Meeting of June 23, 2021” be
received and considered; and
That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to receive and
consider Finance and Economic Development Committee Report 27 and Transportation
Committee Report 20 due to the time sensitivity of the items contained in these
reports.
CARRIED
COMMITTEE REPORTS
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council:
a. Approve the proposed modifications to the
Official Plan for 200 Russ Bradley Road to permit a non-aviation related use
within the Carp Airport lands as detailed in Document 2;
b. Approve the proposed amendment to Zoning By-law
2008-250 for 200 Russ Bradley Road to re-zone from Air Transportation Facility
Zone, subzone B (T1B) to Air Transportation Facility Zone, subzone B with a
rural exception (T1B[xxx-r]-h) to add a cannabis production facility as a
permitted use as detailed in Document 3.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council:
1. Approve an amendment to the Official Plan
to revise Section 3.7 – Rural Designations as detailed in Document 1 – Details
of Recommended Official Plan Amendment,
2. Approve amendments to Zoning By-law
2008-250 under Sections 54 and 79, and all zones that permit an agricultural
use, as detailed in Document 2 – Details of Recommended Zoning, to permit
alignment with the 2020 Provincial Policy Statement provisions respecting
permissions for On-Farm Diversified and Agriculture Related uses,
3. Approve an amendment to the Site Plan
Control By-law 2014-256, as detailed in Document 3, to apply a site plan
control requirement to all On-Farm Diversified and Agriculture-related uses,
4. Approve an amendment to the Parkland
Dedication By-law 2009-95 as detailed in Document 4, to exempt on-farm diversified
uses and agriculture-related uses from parkland dedication requirements,
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CARRIED
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PLANNING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AS AMENDED
1. That Council approve amendments to Zoning By-law
2008-250, as shown in Document 1 and detailed in Documents 2 and 4, as
amended by the following:
a. that Document 4
be amended as follows:
i. by adding the
following to the row concerning Stacked Bicycle Parking: “-Renumber Section
111(8) as Section 111(8A) and add a new provision in Section 111 as follows:
“(8B) Despite
Table 111B, in the case of stacked bicycle parking, the minimum width of a
bicycle parking space is 0.37 metres.””
ii. by replacing the
text “(11) A maximum of 50% of the bicycle parking spaces required by this by-law
may be vertical or on the upper tier of stacked bicycle parking; the rest
must be horizontal spaces at ground level” with the following:
“(11) A minimum
of 50% of the bicycle parking spaces required by this by-law must be
horizontal spaces at ground level.”.
2. That Council
direct staff to engage in consultation with the community and bring forward a
separate report to Planning Committee and Council on August 26, 2021 or as
soon as possible thereafter with respect the maximum permitted height for 200
Lees Avenue.
3. That Council
approve that no further notice be provided pursuant to subsection 34 (17) of
the Planning Act.
4. That Council
consider the following recommendation, as referred by Planning Committee:
“THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that the amendments proposed to the flood plain overlay for
lands north of the Jock River in Documents 1 and 2 be removed.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that Committee recommend that Council direct staff to engage in consultation
with the relevant community association(s) and bring forward a separate
report to Planning Committee and Council in September 2021 or as soon as
possible thereafter with respect to the aforementioned updates to the flood
plain overlay for the lands north of the Jock River.
AND
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no further notice with respect to Report ACS2021-PIE-EDP-0027
as amended be provided pursuant to subsection 34 (17) of the Planning Act.”
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AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That Council
approve amendments to Zoning By-law 2008-250, as shown in Document 1 and
detailed in Documents 2 and 4.
2. That Council
approve amendments to Zoning By-law 2008-250, as shown in Document 1 and
detailed in Documents 3 and 4.
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Recommendation 4 reflects the resolution referred to Council by
Planning Committee for consideration pursuant to Planning Committee Motion No
PLC 2021-45/4 of June 24, 2021. This resolution was not adopted by Council.
The Committee Recommendations, as amended by the Planning Committees,
and as set out in full below, were put to Council:
1.
That Council approve amendments to Zoning By-law 2008-250, as shown in
Document 1 and detailed in Documents 2 and 4, as amended by the following:
a. that
Document 4 be amended as follows:
i.
by adding the following to the row concerning Stacked Bicycle Parking:
“-Renumber Section 111(8) as Section 111(8A) and add a new provision in Section
111 as follows:
“(8B) Despite Table
111B, in the case of stacked bicycle parking, the minimum width of a bicycle parking
space is 0.37 metres.””
ii.
by replacing the text “(11) A maximum of 50% of the bicycle parking
spaces required by this by-law may be vertical or on the upper tier of stacked
bicycle parking; the rest must be horizontal spaces at ground level” with the following:
“(11) A minimum of
50% of the bicycle parking spaces required by this by-law must be horizontal
spaces at ground level.”.
2.
That Council direct staff to engage in consultation with the community
and bring forward a separate report to Planning Committee and Council on August
26, 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter with respect the maximum permitted
height for 200 Lees Avenue.
3.
That Council approve that no further notice be provided pursuant to
subsection 34 (17) of the Planning Act.
CARRIED with Councillors C. McKenney, C.A. Meehan, S. Menard, J.
Leiper,
T. Kavanagh and D. Deans dissenting on the amendments proposed to
the flood plain overlay for lands north of the Jock River
DIRECTION TO STAFF
That when Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development receives
an application to alter a floodplain, that city staff request that the relevant
Conservation Authority reach out to residents and communities that could
potentially be affected; that the Conservation Authority provide confirmation that
public outreach was completed; and that city staff notify the area Councillor
of the consultation.
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PLANNING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AS AMENDED
That Council approve:
1. an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 relating to
various sections of the By-law, as detailed in Document 1, as amended by
the following:
a. that Section 106
of Document 1, be amended as follows:
i. delete Section
106(2)(c) and renumber accordingly;
ii. amend Section
106(3) by adding a new clause (c) as follows:
“(c) is not abutting
or near a wall, column or similar surface that obstructs the opening of the
doors of a parked vehicle or limits access to a parking space, in which case
the minimum width is 2.6 metres.”
2. that no further
notice be provided pursuant to subsection 34 (17) of the Planning Act.
AGRICULTURE AND
RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That Council approve
an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 relating to various sections of the
By-law, as detailed in Document 1.
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MOTION
NO 57/2
Moved by Councillor G. Gower
Seconded by Councillor J. Leiper
WHEREAS Report
ACS2021-PIE-EDP-0028 (the “report”), among other things, proposed changes to
Section 133 of the Zoning By-law respecting secondary dwelling units including
new limits on maximum floor area and the number of bedrooms within a secondary
dwelling unit; and
WHEREAS
significant concerns have been expressed with these elements of the proposed
new Section 133, and the impacts that these may have on the viability of secondary
dwelling units; and
WHEREAS in
light of these concerns, additional time is required for Council to make an
informed decision on appropriate standards for size restrictions for secondary
dwelling units;
THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the proposed provisions for Section 133 respecting Secondary
Dwelling Units, being item (6) in “Document 1 - Details of Recommended
Zoning” of the report, be removed from the report and that Staff bring a separate
report on this matter for consideration at a future meeting of Planning
Committee, and Council; and
THEREFORE BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the related by-law in the Motion to Introduce By-laws for
this meeting of Council be replaced with a revised by-law entitled “A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250
to implement zoning changes related to parking and other zoning provisions to
clarify their intent and remove redundancies.” which omits the above-described
secondary dwelling unit provision amendments; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there be no further notice with
respect to the amendments described in the report, as amended, pursuant to Subsection
34 (17) of the Planning Act.
CARRIED
The
committee recommendations, as amended by Motion No. 57/2, were then put to
Council and CARRIED.
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AS AMENDED
That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 to
redesignate properties affected by Official Plan Amendment 180, to Rural
Countryside (RU) or Agricultural (AG) zone as detailed in Documents 1 and 2;
and
That Document 1 of this report be amended by removing the map
located on Page 12 from the lands to be affected by this Zoning By-law Amendment.
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CARRIED
STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT REPORT 17
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council:
1. Approve the vision statement, guiding
principles and goals of the Solid Waste Master Plan as described in this
report and outlined in supporting Document 1; and,
2. Receive the Solid Waste Master Plan Phase
2 report and supporting documents relating to the City of Ottawa’s long-term
waste management needs, the high level long list of options to meet future
needs, and the evaluation process to evaluate the options, attached as
Document 2 through Document 4, for information.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That Council delegate the authority to the General
Manager of the Public Works and Environmental Services Department to
negotiate, finalize and execute a short-term, two-year residential curbside
collection contract with each of the existing curbside collection service
providers, including the In-House Collections Group, in accordance with
section 22(1)(d) of the Procurement By-law, and as described in this report.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That Council authorize the Director, Corporate Real
Estate Office to enter into an agreement to remediate the Hickory Street
Right of Way between Champagne Avenue and the Light Rail Transit Corridor, as
outlined in this report.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council:
1. Approve the Better Homes Loan Program
attached as Document 1 and as summarized in this report;
2. Provide delegated authority to the Chief
Financial Officer/Treasurer and the City Solicitor to negotiate, execute and
implement the Funding Agreement with the FCM subject to any loan being at zero
per cent interest;
3. Provide delegated authority to the Chief
Financial Officer/Treasurer and the City Solicitor to negotiate and execute a
Funding Agreement with VanCity Community Investment Bank as provided in
Document 4;
4. Provide delegated authority for Chief
Financial Officer/Treasurer and General Manager (GM) of Planning Infrastructure
Economic Development (PIED), to approve loan disbursements within the VanCity
Funding Agreement;
5. Provide delegated authority to the Chief Financial
Officer/Treasurer to open separate capital accounts for the loan funds and
the grant funds for tracking and reporting purposes;
6. Approve the creation of a Loan Loss
Reserve Fund as described in Document 1 and provide delegated authority to the
Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer to transfer funds, as required, as described
in this report;
7. Provide delegated authority to establish
and amend the Better Homes Loan Program interest rates and administrative
fees to the Chief Financial Officer;
8. Provide delegated authority to amend the
Better Homes Loan Program documents and delivery contracts to the GM of PIED;
9. Provide delegated authority to the
General Manager of PIED to negotiate and execute the Service Agreement with
EnviroCentre as provided in Document 2 and as summarized in this report
10. Approve a Local Improvement Charge (LIC)
program bylaw to advance energy efficiency, renewable energy and water
conservation in alignment with municipal goals and policies and in accordance
with provincial legislation, as provided in Document 1 and as summarized in
this report;
11. Provide delegated authority for the General
Manager (GM) of Planning Infrastructure Economic Development (PIED), along
with the City Solicitor, to list special charges bylaws on Council agenda, and
provide a list of the affected properties to the relevant Ward Councillor;
and
12. Direct staff to report back to Committee
and Council in 2024 on the results of the program with recommendations for a
continued program.
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CARRIED
Committee recommendations
That Council approve:
1. an amendment to the Official Plan, Volume
2a, Montreal Road District Secondary Plan, for 2 Montreal Road and 3 Selkirk
Street, with site specific policies and increased building height, as
detailed in Document 2; and
2. an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250
for 2 Montreal Road and 3 Selkirk Street, to permit a three-tower mixed-use
development, as detailed in Document 4.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law
2008-250 for 216 Murray Street to permit an eight-storey mixed-use building
containing a Community Health and Resource Centre and 48 residential dwelling
units, as detailed in Document 2.
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CARRIED
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AS AMENDED
That Council approve:
1. an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for
20 Mountain Crescent for minor provision changes associated with a 12-storey
high-rise apartment, by reducing the setback for the high-rise portion of the
building from 11.5 metres on the north and south sides to 5.5 metres; to
increase the permitted height from 36 metres to 39 metres, and to lift the
holding symbol ‘h’, as detailed in revised Document 2; and
2. that no further notice be provided pursuant
to subsection 34 (17) of the Planning Act.
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CARRIED
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COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council approve that:
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1. the Tourist
Information Kiosk fees, as contained in Schedule B of the Encroachments on
City Highways By-law (No. 2003-446), except for the permit processing fees,
be waived for tourism operators; and
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2. the
anticipated forecasted revenue loss of $15,000 be recovered from the Provincial
Safe Restart program, and should it not be eligible, from the overall 2021
Right of Way, Heritage and Urban Design Service Area operating position.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law
2008-250 for 2261 O’Toole Road, for the purposes of rezoning a portion of the
lands from Agricultural (AG), to Agricultural Subzone 5 (AG5), to prohibit
residential uses on the retained farmland, as detailed in Document 2.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council approve the installation of all-way
stop controls at the intersection of Gregoire Road and Marvelville Road/Route
400.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That Council endorse the proposed amendment under
Section 34 of the Clean Water Act, to revise the Mississippi-Rideau Source
Protection Plan to add a new municipal well system for the Municipality of
North Grenville into the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan and Assessment
Reports.
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CARRIED
PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT 45
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council approve:
1. an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 319, 325 and
327 Richmond Road, 381 Churchill Avenue North, and 380 Winona Avenue to
permit a nine-storey mixed-use building with at-grade commercial uses and
residential dwelling units in the upper storeys, as detailed in Document 2;
and
2. that the implementing Zoning By-law not proceed to
Council until such time as the agreement under Section 37 of the Planning
Act is executed.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law
2008-250 for 1277 Woodroffe Avenue, to permit two long semi detached
dwellings, as detailed in Document 2.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council:
1. authorize the City and delegate authority
to the General Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development
Department, to enter into a Front-Ending Agreement with Fernbank Road
Landowners Group for the design and construction of:
a) a 600-millimetre diameter Collector Trunk
Sanitary Sewer on Goldhawk Drive from Abbott Street to Cope Drive, then along
future Cope Road, from Goldhawk Drive to Shea Road and continue on future
Cope Drive to Fernbank Road to an upset limit of $7,118,711 plus applicable taxes
and indexing, and
b) a 600-millimetre diameter Collector Trunk
Sanitary Sewer on Fernbank Road for 156 metres, as outlined in this report,
to an upset limit of $1,378,404 plus applicable taxes and indexing, with a
total upset limit of $8,497,115 , in accordance with the Front-Ending Agreement
Principles and Policy set forth in Documents 1 and 2 and with the final form
and content being to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor;
2. authorize the financial disbursement to
reimburse the design and construction costs incurred by Fernbank Road
Landowners Group pursuant to the execution of the Front-Ending Agreement; and
3. authorize the creation of a budget for
the design and construction work required per the Front-Ending agreement.
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CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
That Council delegate authority to the General
Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department, to
enter into a Front-Ending Agreement for the following location:
a) Roundabout at Perth Street and Meynell Road/Oldenburg
Avenue (2019 DC item #1.11.5 - 2024 Intersection Control Measures) to be
front-ended by Caivan at an upset limit of $3,999,455 (plus applicable H.S.T.)
with reimbursement to occur in 2024.
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CARRIED
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council approve the Summaries of Oral and Written Public Submissions
for items considered at the City Council Meeting of June 23, 2021, that are
subject to the ‘Explanation Requirements’ being the Planning Act,
subsections 17(23.1), 22(6.7), 34(10.10) and 34(18.1), as applicable, as
described in this report and attached as Documents 1 and 2.
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CARRIED
MOTION NO 57/3
Moved by Councillor
M. Fleury
Seconded by Councillor T. Kavanagh
That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Report 23; Standing
Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management Report 17;
Finance and Economic Development Committee Report 27; Planning Committee Report
45; Transportation Committee Report 20 and the report from the City Clerk
entitled “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to
the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of June
23, 2021”; be received and adopted as amended.
CARRIED
MOTIONS OF WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN
PREVIOUSLY GIVEN
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MOTION NO 57/4
Moved by Councillor M. Fleury
Seconded by Mayor J. Watson
WHEREAS the City of Ottawa Recreation Culture and Facility
Services (RCFS) is proposing the installation of two ground signs with message
centres, one on the Daly Avenue frontage and one on the Nicholas Street frontage,
three signs on the stone pillars of the perimeter fence of the Daly Avenue frontage
and 3 additional signs on the stone pillars of the perimeter fence on the
Nicholas Street frontage, and two illuminated wall signs on the Arts Court
property at 2 Daly Avenue; and
WHEREAS the proposed signs are of a scale that will be effective
for wayfinding at this City facility and will add to the contemporary nature of
Arts Court within the heritage building; and
WHEREAS message centres are prohibited on properties
designated as or within 30 metres of a property designated as a heritage building,
message centres must not be more than 40% of the size of the ground sign, are
not permitted on a staircase, or located within 60m from another message centre
on the same street frontage; and
WHEREAS the
Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law (2016-326) prohibits signs on a fence; and
WHEREAS the building is designated under Part IV of the Ontario
Heritage Act, the Sign By-law prohibits the illumination of wall signage,
unless it is external and downward facing, on or within 30 metres of a heritage
designated property; and
WHEREAS Heritage staff do not object to the application;
and
WHEREAS staff have advised that the new signage is beyond
what can be approved under the Minor Variance Delegated Authority permitted in
the Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law and that Council-direction is warranted.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council approve an exception
to Sections 83, 120(c)(d), 131(f) and Table 122 1B End Note 4, of the Permanent
Signs on Private Property By-law (By-law 2016-326), as amended, to allow the
installation of two ground signs with message centres, one on the Daly Avenue
frontage and one on the Nicholas Street frontage, three signs on the stone pillars
of the perimeter fence of the Daly Avenue frontage and 3 additional signs on
the stone pillars of the perimeter fence on the Nicholas Street frontage, and
two illuminated wall signs at Arts Court (2 Daly Avenue), as detailed in the
document attached[2].
CARRIED
MOTIONS REQUIRING SUSPENSION OF THE RULES
OF PROCEDURE
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MOTION NO 57/5
Moved by Mayor J. Watson
Seconded by Councillor J. Leiper
That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to consider the following
Motion, in order to ensure a timely funding allocation for the Chief William Commanda Bridge multi-use pathway and rehabilitation
project, allowing for the project to proceed to construction when permits and
approvals have been confirmed.
WHEREAS the City has been asked to rename the Prince of Wales Bridge
to the “Chief William Commanda Bridge”; and
WHEREAS William Commanda served as Chief of the Kitigan Zibi
Anishinabeg First Nation from 1951 to 1970, was an Algonquin elder, a spiritual
leader, a promoter of environmental stewardship, a great bridge builder between
nations, and was awarded the Order of Canada in 2008 for his dedication and
outstanding service to his people; and
WHEREAS in keeping with its powers set out in the Municipal Act, 2001,
Council may assign a commemorative name by resolution, notwithstanding the
provisions included in the Commemorative Naming Policy; and
WHEREAS through the City’s commitment to Reconciliation, Council
approved in 2018 the City of Ottawa’s Reconciliation Action Plan, which
addresses the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action; and
WHEREAS the City completed a consultation on the renaming, which occurred between May 21 and June
20, 2021, where the public overwhelmingly supported the renaming proposal (33
in favour; 6 opposed; 2 out of scope); and
WHEREAS the City of Ottawa has applied for financial support under
the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada Plan
(ICIP) for the Chief William Commanda Bridge multi-use pathway and rehabilitation project on the currently inactive railway bridge that would serve as an
interprovincial link for commuting and recreational cyclists, cross-country skiers
and visitors, until the structure is once again used as a rail transit
connection; and
WHEREAS the update memorandum on the Environmental Assessment (EA) and
Design, circulated to Council on July 5, 2021, confirmed that the project’s EA and
design has been completed, and that almost all permits and approvals have been received;
and
WHEREAS engagement and consultation have been an integral part of
the project’s EA and design process, as input from key stakeholders, including Algonquin
partners and the public, is key to the success of the project; and
WHEREAS the
total estimated project budget for the multi-use pathway and rehabilitation project is $22,591,000, of which the municipal portion is $13,978,600; and
WHEREAS $5,002,000 of the municipal portion for pier work was
approved by Council as part of previous years’ capital budgets, and the
remaining City funding required for the project totals $8,976,600 and is
proposed to be funded as follows: $6,459,000 from Development Charges, as
identified in the Background Study, and $2,517,600 from Transit Reserves, as
the bridge is identified and protected in the Transportation Master Plan as a
future rail transit facility;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council approve that:
1)
the Prince
of Wales Bridge be named the “Chief William Commanda Bridge”;
2)
the remaining
municipal funding portion for the Chief William Commanda Bridge multi-use pathway and rehabilitation project, totaling $8,976,600, be funded as
follows, and as per Document 1:
a.
$6,459,000
from Development Charges; and
b.
$2,517,600
from Transit Reserves;
3)
One per
cent of the construction cost estimate for the multi-use pathway be dedicated to
Indigenous art ($94,000), where Staff in in Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services
will work with our Algonquin partners to showcase Indigenous culture through
the proposed art; and
4)
the tender include
requirements for
the successful contractor to engage with Algonquin communities to identify
Indigenous companies and individuals that could be offered employment
opportunities throughout the project; and
5)
Staff
proceed with the delivery of the project upon receipt of all permits and
approvals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council direct the General Manager,
Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development and the Chief Financial
Officer/Treasurer to finalize and execute the terms and conditions of the
funding agreement with Infrastructure Canada for the federal share of the
funding for this project.
Document 1 – Funding Strategy for the Chief William Commanda Bridge (Prince of Wales
Bridge) Multi-Use Pathway
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Total Project Cost
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910270
POW MUP
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908990
Pow Pier Work
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Total Budget Required
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22,591,000
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12,128,000
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10,463,000
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Existing City Funding – Transit
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5,002,000
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540,000
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4,462,000
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Additional City Funding Required (Council
approval required):
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Development Charges
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6,459,000
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3,664,000
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2,795,000
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Transit
Reserves
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2,517,600
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3,274,400
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(756,800)
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Federal PTIS Funding (Council approval to
proceed with federal funding was provided via the December 9, 2020 motion
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8,612,400
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4,649,600
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3,962,800
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Total After Adjustment
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22,591,000
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12,128,000
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10,463,000
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CARRIED with Councillor C.A. Meehan dissenting.
MOTION NO 57/6
Moved by Councillor
J. Cloutier
Seconded by
Councillor C.A. Meehan
That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to
consider the following motion in order to allow staff of the Office of the
Auditor General to commence audit work related to the zero-emission buses
project in a timely manner.
WHEREAS on June 23, 2021, Council
approved the Transit Commission Report 12, which provided: “That the City
purchase zero-emission buses for all future transit bus fleet needs, on the
basis that (a) buses are available to meet the City’s operational needs, including
the buses’ functionality in Ottawa’s winter, and as informed, for each year’s
order of buses, by the accumulated experience with zero-emission buses already
in the OC Transpo fleet, and (b) subject to financial arrangements on terms and
conditions acceptable to the City so that the purchase, transition, operation,
and support is affordable under the City’s Long Range Financial Plan (LRFP) for
Transit”; and
WHEREAS the General Manager,
Transportation Services, was delegated the authority, with the concurrence of
the City Treasurer, to negotiate and enter into an acceptable long-term financing
arrangement with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), together with executing
any amendments or supplementary agreements, to have no net effect on the
transit LRFP, subject to stacking rules and acceptable risk transfer; and
WHEREAS the General Manager,
Transportation Services, was delegated the authority, with the concurrence of
the City Treasurer, to negotiate and enter into a funding agreement for a
minimum of 35 percent of implementation costs with Infrastructure Canada and
any related parts of the federal government, together with executing any
amendments or supplementary agreements consistent with the terms outlined in this
report and as described in this report, to have no net effect on the transit
LRFP, subject to stacking rules and acceptable risk transfer; and
WHEREAS, the General Manager,
Transportation Services, was delegated the authority to negotiate and enter into
an appropriate agreement with Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. and/or its subsidiaries,
as described in the above-noted Transit Commission report, for energy supply, the
provision of backup power, and the supply and operation of charging infrastructure
for the battery-electric buses; and
WHEREAS, the General Manager, Transportation
Services, and Chief Procurement Officer be authorized to conduct a procurement
process for the multi-year provision of up to 450 battery-electric buses, as
outlined in the report, with annual orders being subject to approval by the
Transit Commission and Council in the annual capital budget; and
WHEREAS prior
to concluding the agreements and arrangements with the Canada Infrastructure
Bank, Infrastructure Canada and the Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc., that the General
Manager, Transportation Services, report back to the Transit Commission to
provide an overview of the tentative agreements and funding arrangements prior
to or as part of the 2022 budget approval; and
WHEREAS on May 12, 2021 Council
approved the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) 2021 Interim Audit Workplan;
and
WHEREAS the Auditor General By-Law No.
2021-05, Section 11 – Annual Audit Plan, Subsection (3) states that, “no
deletions or amendments to the annual plan shall be made except by the Auditor
General”; and
WHEREAS the Audit Committee Terms of
Reference, SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES (6) states that the Audit Committee: “Review
and recommend to Council, the annual Audit Plan submitted by the Auditor
General and any subsequent adjustments from the Office of the Auditor General”;
and
WHEREAS in a memo[3] to Council, dated July 6, 2021 and
found at Attachment 1, the Auditor General describes the risks to the City’s
administration regarding the above-noted agreements and respective financial
commitments of this project and the value-added of having the OAG include this
project as part of the 2021 Interim Audit Workplan;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that City Council approve
the amendment to the to the Office of the Auditor General’s 2021 Interim Audit
Workplan to include an audit of the zero-emission buses project.
CARRIED
MOTION NO 57/7
Moved by Councillor R. Chiarelli
Seconded by Councillor J. Harder
That the
Rules of Procedure be suspended to consider the following motion so that the
work may proceed without delay.
WHEREAS the City
is undertaking and integrated road reconstruction project in the Bel Air community in Ward 8; which
includes the reconstruction of Bel Air beginning in 2021; and
WHEREAS the project limits for the Bel Air Integrated Sewer Replacement Project includes reinstating some private approaches
on Bel Air Drive, Bedbrooke Street and Field
Street; and
WHEREAS some of
the driveway widths within the project limits are not in full conformance with the City’s
front yard parking
restrictions and the City Private
Approach By-Law; and,
WHEREAS, for
existing properties, front yard parking restrictions and private approach
by-law are normally enforced
only on a complaint-driven basis;
and
WHEREAS there
have been no complaints with respect to non-compliant driveways (private
approaches) or front-yard parking
in this area;
and
WHEREAS the area
residents support providing relief for residents with existing driveways (private approaches) while
acknowledging that any future driveways (private
approaches) and front-yard parking must be in accordance with City by- laws;
THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that Council approve that, in respect of the rehabilitation of Bel Air and its scope,
private approaches be reinstated as they were immediately
prior to the reconstruction of this
street.
CARRIED
MOTION NO 57/8
Moved by Mayor J. Watson
Seconded by Councillor T. Tierney
That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to consider the following
Motion:
WHEREAS the City of Ottawa has submitted previous applications for
infrastructure funding opportunities from federal and provincial programs, such
as Infrastructure Canada’s Investing in Canada Plan; and
WHEREAS infrastructure investments have detailed eligibility requirements
and constrained project delivery timelines; and
WHEREAS these types of applications usually require a Council authorization
in order to apply and a municipal by-law or Council resolution is required to
execute the agreements; and
WHEREAS the City anticipates that infrastructure funding opportunities
may present themselves over the summer, giving the City an opportunity to advance
priority projects that may be shovel-ready;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that City Council delegate the authority to
the General Manager of Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development, with
the concurrence of the Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer, and in
consultation with applicable General Managers, to submit an application on
behalf of the City of Ottawa for infrastructure funding that may become
available between the Council meetings of July 21 and September 8, 2021, and
seek Council approval to execute the agreement with the provincial and/or
federal governments, if successful.
CARRIED
Council recessed at 11:10 AM due to technical
difficulties associated with the Zoom meeting, and resumed at 11:18 AM.
NOTICES OF MOTION (FOR CONSIDERATION AT
SUBSEQUENT MEETING)
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MOTION
Moved by Councillor Dudas
Seconded by Councillor T. Tierney
WHEREAS the future Montreal LRT Station is next to a city-owned
parcel of land at municipal address 2275 Montreal Road, which is located at the
north-east corner of the onramp off of St. Joseph Boulevard onto Regional Road
174,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council direct Planning, Infrastructure
and Economic Development Staff and Corporate Real Estate Office staff to
investigate the potential for a Transit Oriented Development, including
opportunities for affordable housing, mixed-use, or employment at that
location, and report back on their findings by Q1 2023, taking into account the
need for a bus loop on the site.
MOTION
Moved
by Councillor J. Leiper
Seconded by Councillor C. McKenney
WHEREAS the opioid crisis is one of the largest public
health emergencies of our lifetime, with a death on average about every two
hours and a death toll of 21,174 in the last five years (January 2016 to
December 2020); and,
WHEREAS other countries have significantly reduced
drug-related fatalities with reforms such as legal regulation of illicit drugs to
ensure safe supply and decriminalization for personal use; and,
WHEREAS the federal government has indicated it is premature
to discuss these measures until there are comprehensive supports for people to
get well; and,
WHEREAS supports are needed, but measures that save lives
are essential if people are to survive and access supports; and,
WHEREAS the Ontario’s Big City Mayors have called on the
federal government to decriminalize controlled substances and the Canadian
Association of Chiefs of Police has stated that they agree the evidence
suggests “decriminalization for simple possession as an effective way to reduce
the public health and public safety harms associated with substance use”, causing
the government to indicate that it is now “deliberating” over decriminalization;
and,
WHEREAS the overdose crisis rages, showing few signs of
abating, including in Ottawa which had 127 opioid-related deaths in 2020 – an
increase of 95 percent from a year earlier.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Ottawa City Council direct
Mayor Watson to write on its behalf to the Government of Canada requesting that
it declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency so that it is
taken seriously and funded appropriately; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council request that the Government
of Canada immediately seek input from the people most affected by this crisis
and meet with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive,
pan-Canadian overdose action plan, which includes comprehensive supports and
full consideration of reforms that other countries have used to significantly
reduce drug-related fatalities and stigma, such as legal regulation of illicit
drugs to ensure safe supply of pharmaceutical alternatives to toxic street
drugs, and decriminalization for personal use.
MOTION
Moved by Councillor R. King
Seconded by Councillor G. Gower
WHEREAS the Rockcliffe
Park Residents’ Association on behalf of the Village of Rockcliffe Park has
filed an application for the commemoration of Rockcliffe Park as a Historic District
of National Significance with the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
(the “Board”); and
WHEREAS an
endorsement from the municipality is required as part of this application; and
WHEREAS The
Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District comprises the entire former
village of Rockcliffe Park and was designated under Part V of the Ontario
Heritage Act in 1997 for its rare and significant approach to estate layout
and landscape design; and
WHEREAS one of
the objectives of the Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District Plan is to
conserve and enhance Rockcliffe Park’s unique character as a planned and
designed 19th century community characterized by its narrow curving roads,
without curbs or sidewalks, large lots and gardens and buildings set within a
visually continuous green landscape; and
WHEREAS Historic
districts constitute appropriate subjects for commemoration by the Board and
are classified as geographically defined areas which create a special sense of
time and place through buildings, structures and open spaces modified by human
use and which are united by past events and use and/or aesthetically, by
architecture and plan; and
WHEREAS such
commemoration does not provide additional regulatory authority on the part of
the municipality or that of the federal government in respect of such sites.
THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that Council endorse the application by
the Rockcliffe Park Residents’ Association for the commemoration of Rockcliffe
Park as a Historic District of National Significance under the present
legislation, being the Historic Sites and Monuments Act R.S.C., 1985, c.
H-4.
MOTION
Moved
by Councillor S. Menard
Seconded by Councillor J. Leiper
WHEREAS the new OP is expected to guide growth
in the City of Ottawa for the next 25 years
WHEREAS robust modelling is needed for residents
and stakeholders to understand the likely changes and impacts of proposed
Official Plan (OP) policies as it relates to meeting growth management goals;
and
WHEREAS the city has not yet shared this modelling,
many communities and residents are inferring or guessing as to whether the OP
is likely to reach our intensification objectives, and
WHEREAS without this modelling residents have
limited ability to gauge whether the new OP policies will permit or enable zoning
that can be absorbed in neighbourhoods; and
WHEREAS the draft new OP included a minimum
density requirement of 80 DUs/NHa, and PIED has indicated that they have “done
the math”, with respect to the removal of this policy from the new OP and that
it is still possible to meet our growth targets; and
WHEREAS the draft new OP also included language
that would allow upzoning within neighbourhood residential streets up to 4
storeys to meet growth management objectives, and it is critical to understand
the likely development potential in new dwelling units for OP policies; and
WHEREAS once policy language in the OP is
adopted, the City is usually wedded to applications that meet the OP language,
regardless of the zoning, so that built form under the OP becomes essentially
“as of right”, which is why rationale, supported by modelling, that
demonstrates likely outcomes is so critical; and
WHEREAS in the last year, many requests have
been made for the City to share its modelling including public statements to
the effect that modelling analysis done by PIED has been robust and an integral
part of the analysis in support of OP policies, and
WHEREAS communities were expecting to see
modelling when the draft OP was released;
WHEREAS the City needs to share the modelling
that is underpinning/informing new OP policy and should provide a reasonable
amount of time to review it before the OP proceeds to Planning Committee in
order to demonstrate to residents and stakeholders that the proposed OP
policies are the right ones and critical to building understanding and support
for this OP;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Ottawa
share its modelling of New OP policies publicly as soon as possible within the
month of July so that enough time is afforded to residents to review it and
demonstrate a real intent to provide meaningful engagement on the modelling,
given the City’s current expedited timeline for the OP.
MOTION
Moved
by Councillor S. Menard
Seconded by Councillor J. Leiper
WHEREAS big cities
who consider expanding their urban boundaries also ensure the costs for such
expansions are estimated and noted publicly prior to a decision on expansion;
and
WHEREAS Ottawa is a big city in Canada; and
WHEREAS at the July 6, 2021 meeting of FEDCO, the Report on Budget
Directions indicated that the City of Ottawa should “achieve fiscal discipline...”
and “....help Council mitigate tax increases to an acceptable level”
WHEREAS The staff report on the New Official Plan Growth Management Strategy
presented to Council on May 27, 2020 recommended the inclusion of between 1,350-1,650
gross hectares of new urban residential and employment land; and
WHEREAS the report did not include any estimates on the cost to taxpayers
to build and maintain new infrastructure to support development on greenfield
parcels over the long-term, as compared to augmenting existing infrastructure
in the built-up area; and
WHEREAS recent analysis on growth patterns in cities across the
country show that a centrally focused development pattern is more financially
efficient than large expansion scenarios, resulting in a net increase of city
revenues of 8% and a decrease in tax pressures on residents;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Ottawa provide a public
estimate of the costs for urban boundary expansion in respect to
new infrastructure creation, operation and maintenance over the time
horizon of the new Official Plan, and that this information be presented to the
joint Committee and Council as part of the report back on the final draft
of the New Official Plan.
MOTION TO INTRODUCE BY-LAWS
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MOTION NO 57/9
Moved by Councillor
M. Fleury
Seconded by Councillor T. Kavangh
That the by-laws
listed on the Agenda under Motion to Introduce By-laws, Three Readings, be read
and passed, as amended.
CARRIED
BY-LAWS
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THREE READINGS
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2021-213.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2017-180 respecting
the appointment of Municipal Law Enforcement Officers in accordance with
private property parking enforcement.
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2021-214.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change
the zoning of lands in the rural area impacted by Official Plan Amendment 180.
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2021-215.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to
implement omnibus amendments and to amend technical anomalies and make minor
corrections to the zoning of various properties throughout the
City.
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2021-216.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change
the zoning of the lands known municipally as 216 Murray Street.
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2021-217.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change
the zoning of the lands known municipally as 2261 O'Toole Road.
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2021-218.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to
implement zoning changes related to parking and other zoning provisions to
clarify their intent and remove redundancies.
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2021-219.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend the Official Plan for the City
of Ottawa to permit On-Farm Diversified Uses and Agricultural-Related Uses in
rural areas.
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2021-220.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2009-95 regarding parkland
dedication relating to on-farm diversified and agriculture-related uses.
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2021-221.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2014-256 entitled,
“A by-law of the City of Ottawa designating the area within the territorial
limits of the City of Ottawa as an area of site plan control” as it relates
to on-farm diversified and agriculture related uses.
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2021-222.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to permit On-Farm
Diversified Uses and Agricultural-Related Uses in Rural and Agricultural Zones
in the City.
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2021-223.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change
the zoning of the lands known municipally as 20 Mountain Crescent.
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2021-224.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend the Montreal Road
District Secondary Plan of Volume 2A of the Official Plan for the City of Ottawa
to increase the maximum building height and to add a site specific policies
for the lands municipally known as 2 Montreal Road and 3 Selkirk Street.
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2021-225.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change
the zoning of the lands known municipally as 2 Montreal Road and 3 Selkirk Avenue.
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2021-226.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change
the zoning of the lands known municipally as 1277 Woodroffe
Avenue.
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2021-227.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change
the zoning of the lands known municipally as 78, 84, 86 and 88 Beechwood Avenue.
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2021-228.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend the Official Plan for
the City of Ottawa to add a site-specific policy for
the lands municipally known as 200 Russ Bradley Road within the
Carp Airport designation.
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2021-229.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change
the zoning of the lands known municipally as 200 Russ Bradley
Road.
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2021-230.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to levy an annual amount upon colleges
and universities for the year 2021.
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2021-231.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to levy an annual amount upon Ottawa
Carleton Detention Centre for the year 2021.
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2021-232.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to levy an annual amount upon public
hospitals or provincial mental health facilities for the year 2021.
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2021-233.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to levy an annual amount upon provincial
education institutions for the year 2021.
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2021-234.
A By-law of the City of Ottawa to provide for modifications to the existing
Faulkner Municipal Drain in Lot 25, Concession V, Lot 25, Concession VI, Lots
23 through 25, Concession VII. Lots 22 through 25, Concession VIII, Lots 20 through
26, Concession IX and Lots 20 through 26, Concession X, Rideau-Goulbourn
Ward, former Township of Goulbourn in the City of Ottawa and to repeal By-law
No. 2003-579.
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2021-235.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law 2016-326, being the regulation of permanent signs
on private property, to address technical anomalies.
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2021-236.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to provide for the erection of stop
signs, establishing an all-way stop at the intersection of Gregoire Road and
Marvelville Road/Route 400.
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2021-237.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to change
the zoning of the lands known municipally as 319, 325 and 327 Richmond Road,
381 Churchill Avenue North, and 380 Winona Avenue.
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2021-238.
A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 to remove the
flood plain on lands north of the Jock River between Highway 416 and the
Fraser-Clarke Drain in accordance with permits issued and updated mapping
received from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.
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CARRIED
MOTION NO 57/10
Moved by Councillor
M. Fleury
Seconded by Councillor T. Kavangh
That the
following by-law be read and passed:
To confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting of July 7, 2021.
CARRIED
Councillor M. Fleury (OCC 21-09)
Over the last year, there has no doubt
been an increase in 311 call volumes. To have a better understanding of service
being provided to residents via the 311 call center, could City Staff provide a
breakdown of the following data (period of January 2021-present) ?
·
Average number
of daily calls
·
Increase in
daily calls compared to the previous year
·
Average call wait
time, for the caller, during the week (AM and PM)
·
Average call
wait time, for the caller, on weekends (AM and PM)
·
What was the longest
wait time period during the week (date, time, and length of wait)
·
What was the
longest wait time period during the weekend (date, time, and length of wait)
Councillor K. Egli (OCC 21-10)
Following Canada Day, my office received
numerous complaints regarding the setting off of fireworks. A number of these
complaints were related to fireworks being set off on school board properties.
The complaints related to the time of day that fireworks were used as well as
the unsafe manner they were used including in close proximity to private homes.
Can staff please provide information as
to the following:
- Are there existing City policies or procedures
that speak to when and how fireworks can be set off on school board
properties?
- Please inform
Council what steps were taken by By-law in advance of Canada Day to advise
the various school boards about concerns related to fireworks use on their
properties. Further, please advise Council of the response of the various
school boards.
- Can staff also set out how they might
be able to work with the school boards going forward to coordinate better
enforcement around fireworks related issues such as noise, time of day
utilized and inappropriate or unsafe use.
Councillors J. Leiper and C. McKenney (OCC 21-11)
Councillors across the City received a very high volume of complaints
in 2021 about fireworks during the July 1 holiday period. Media have reported
that: “From Canada Day until July 5, bylaw received about 179 complaints compared
to 113 last year, according to the City of Ottawa. There were 31 complaints in
2019.”
Residents have increasingly expressed their discomfort with the
effects of “backyard” fireworks. In light of this, could staff please outline
based on a multi-jurisdictional review what permit and regulation frameworks
are in place that would suggest a potential list of best practices if City
Council were to determine such a framework would be appropriate.
The meeting adjourned
at 11:34 am.
_______________________________
_______________________________
CITY
CLERK MAYOR
M E M O / N O T E D E S E R V I C E
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To / Destinataire
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Mayor and Members of Council
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From / Expéditeur
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Nathalie Gougeon, Auditor General
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Subject / Objet
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Background for the Amendment to the
OAG’s 2021 Interim Auditor Workplan
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Date: July 6, 2021
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PURPOSE
The purpose of
this memo is to provide background information for a proposal to amend the Office
of the Auditor General’s (OAG) 2021 Interim Audit Workplan, to
be considered at Council on July 7, 2021.
BACKGROUND
On June 23, 2021, Council approved Transit Commission Report 12;
“That the City purchase zero-emission buses for all future transit bus fleet needs,
on the basis that (a) buses are available to meet the City’s operational needs,
including the buses’ functionality in Ottawa’s winter, and as informed, for
each year’s order of buses, by the accumulated experience with zero-emission
buses already in the OC Transpo fleet, and (b) subject to financial
arrangements on terms and conditions acceptable to the City so that the purchase,
transition, operation, and support is affordable under the City’s Long Range
Financial Plan (LRFP) for Transit”.
Furthermore, the following delegated
authorities were granted:
·
the
General Manager, Transportation Services, was delegated the authority, with the
concurrence of the City Treasurer, to negotiate and enter into an acceptable
long-term financing arrangement with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB),
together with executing any amendments or supplementary agreements, to have no
net effect on the transit LRFP, subject to stacking rules and acceptable risk
transfer;
·
the
General Manager, Transportation Services, was delegated the authority, with the
concurrence of the City Treasurer, to negotiate and enter into a funding
agreement for a minimum of 35 percent of implementation costs with Infrastructure
Canada and any related parts of the federal government, together with executing
any amendments or supplementary agreements consistent with the terms outlined
in this report and as described in this report, to have no net effect on the
transit LRFP, subject to stacking rules and acceptable risk transfer; and
·
the
General Manager, Transportation Services, was delegated the authority to
negotiate and enter into an appropriate agreement with Hydro Ottawa Holding
Inc. and/or its subsidiaries, as described in the report, for energy supply,
the provision of backup power, and the supply and operation of charging
infrastructure for the battery-electric buses.
Prior to concluding the agreements and arrangements with the Canada
Infrastructure Bank, Infrastructure Canada and the Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.,
the General Manager, Transportation Services, is to report back to the Transit
Commission to provide an overview of the tentative agreements and funding arrangements
prior to, or as part of, the 2022 budget approval.
The Auditor
General has performed a preliminary review of the following risks identified by
Senior Management linked to this project:
·
With no data on the
long-term reliability of battery-electric buses operating in a climate similar
to Ottawa’s, there is a risk that these buses will not perform as anticipated,
particularly in the later years of their serviceable life. This can impact
service;
·
If continued
advancements in battery technology are not realized, there is a risk that the
battery-electric buses would not be able to service all of OC Transpo’s
existing schedule blocks, which would require shorter blocks to be scheduled,
and higher operating costs as buses return the garage more often, or require
in-field charging;
·
There are also
currently only limited supply options for battery-electric 60-foot articulated
and double-decker buses. If options for these high-capacity buses to meet OC
Transpo’s service needs do not come to market, a higher number of 40-foot buses
could be used to provide the same capacity, at a higher operating cost;
·
There is also a
risk that federal government policy may shift over the 15 years required to
complete the transition of the entire fleet, leaving a funding shortfall; and
·
The
recommendations related to financing are based on conditions not yet fully
finalized with Infrastructure Canada and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
The initial risks
identified by Senior Management, coupled with the significant investment that City
administration is planning to make over the course of 2022-2027 and its
importance towards the achievement of the 2019-2022 environmental stewardship
objective, warrants the attention of the OAG. Initial discussions have occurred
between the Auditor General, the City Manager and the General Manager, Transportation
Services, whom welcome our audit.
CURRENT STATUS
It is anticipated
that a motion will be brought to Council on July 7, 2021, to consider the amendment
of the OAG’s 2021 Interim Audit Workplan to include an audit of the
zero-emission buses project.
The motion is recommended
for the following reasons:
·
The current audit
workplan does not include an audit of this nature and requires approval by Council
to amend the audit workplan;
·
Given the tight
timelines Management is working towards and associated risks, the OAG staff
will be working practically in tandem with Management. The OAG will commence
audit procedures as Management completes key milestones of this project to
identify significant risks, issues or gaps and bring forward recommendations. The
scope of the audit will be defined once a risk assessment has been completed by
the OAG.
·
This motion will
enable the OAG to immediately commence the identifications of resourcing needs
for this audit, work towards aligning with management’s project timeline and
commence planning of the audit.
It is important to
note that this engagement is an audit and not a consulting engagement as the
Auditor General By-Law No 2021-05 does not permit consulting engagements to be
performed by the Auditor General. The Office of the Auditor General will
maintain responsibility for establishing the scope of the work and report on
the findings of work performed back to the Audit Committee and Council.
NEXT STEPS
·
The OAG will
continue to work with Senior Management to understand the project timelines,
risks and key deliverables to further define the scope of the audit.
·
The OAG will report
back to the Audit Committee and Council on findings noted during the audit.
Should you have any questions on the proposed
course of action or this memorandum, please contact Nathalie Gougeon, Auditor
General.