Item - 2015.BU3.1

Tracking Status

BU3.1 - 2015 Rate Supported Budgets - Toronto Water and 2015 Water and Wastewater Rates and Service Fees

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Deferred
Wards:
All

Public Notice Given

Committee Decision

The Budget Committee:

 

1.  Deferred consideration of the the item until the February 4, 2015 meeting of the Budget Committee along with the following motion:

 

Motion 1 by Councillor Layton

 

"That City Council direct that, effective April 1, 2015, City Council approve that the industrial waste surcharge program formula for the calculation of surcharge fees be applied to all treatable parameters that exceed the sewers by-law limits, instead of only the one parameter that exceeds the sewer by-law limits by the greatest amount, allowing full cost recovery for the wastewater services provided by the City, such surcharge to be phased in over a six year period to mitigate impacts to existing companies."

 
2.  Requested the staff to submit the following Budget Briefing Note:

 

a.  the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the General Manager, Toronto Water, provide a briefing note highlighting the impacts of a water rate increase to major, large industrial employers and the economic competitiveness and economic development rationale to lowering the water rate.

Decision Advice and Other Information

The General Manager, Toronto Water gave a presentation on Toronto Water Budget - Staff Recommended Operating Budget, Capital Plan and Water Rate.

Origin

(January 13, 2015) Report from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer and the General Manager, Toronto Water

Summary

This report presents the recommended 2015 water and wastewater consumption rates and service fees arising from concurrent adoption of the recommended 2015 Toronto Water Operating and Capital Budgets.   

 

Council, as part of last year's budget process, directed that the capital plan prepared for the 2015 budget process be premised on 8% water and wastewater consumption rate increases for 2015-2017, in order to reinstate approximately $1 billion in capital funding lost from a systematic decline in consumption and to fund emerging projects.

 

Accordingly, this report recommends an 8% water and wastewater consumption rate increase for all metered and flat rate consumers, effective March 13, 2015.  In addition, this report recommends inflationary fee increases for certain water and wastewater services, reflecting cost recovery for these services.

Background Information

(January 13, 2015) Report and Appendix A from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer and the General Manager, Toronto Water on 2015 Water and Wastewater Rates and Service Fees
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74693.pdf
Appendix B - 2015 Water Rates for Metered and Flat Rate Customers
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74694.pdf
Appendix C - 2015 Water and Wastewater Service Fees
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74695.pdf
(January 23, 2015) Notice of Public Meeting - 2015 Water and Wastewater Rates and Service Fees
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74974.pdf
(January 23, 2015) Notice of Public Meeting - 2015 Water and Wastewater Rates and Service Fees - Appendix A - Water and Wastewater Consumption Rates
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74975.pdf
(January 23, 2015) Notice of Public Meeting - 2015 Water and Wastewater Rates and Service Fees - Appendix B - Water Services Fees
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74976.pdf
(January 27, 2015) Presentation from Toronto Water - 2015 Recommended Operating Budget, Capital Plan and Water Rate
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-75051.pdf
(January 19, 2015) 2015 Staff Recommended Capital Budget - Toronto Water (Analyst Notes)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74873.pdf
(January 19, 2015) 2015 Staff Recommended Operating Budget - Toronto Water (Analyst Notes)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74874.pdf
(December 17, 2014) 2015 Capital Budget Briefing Note #1 - Basement Flooding Protection Program - Project List: 2015 to 2019
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74819.pdf
(December 17, 2014) 2015 Capital Budget Briefing Note #2 - Water Meter Program
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74840.pdf

Communications

(January 26, 2015) Letter from Paul Scrivener, Director of External Relations, Toronto Industry Network (BU.New.BU3.1.1)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/comm/communicationfile-50738.pdf

Speakers

Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker
Councillor Janet Davis
Councillor Gord Perks

Motions

Motion to Set Committee Rule moved by Councillor Shelley Carroll (Carried)

That the procedures be varied to permit Councillor Layton to make a motion on this Item.


1 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Mike Layton (Referred)

That City Council direct that, effective April 1, 2015, City Council approve that the industrial waste surcharge program formula for the calculation of surcharge fees be applied to all treatable parameters that exceed the sewers by-law limits, instead of only the one parameter that exceeds the sewer by-law limits by the greatest amount, allowing full cost recovery for the wastewater services provided by the City, such surcharge to be phased in over a six year period to mitigate impacts to existing companies.


2 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)
That the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the General Manager, Toronto Water, provide a briefing note highlighting the impacts of a water rate increase to major, large industrial employers and the economic competitiveness and economic development rationale to lowering the water rate.

Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Jan-29-2015

Result: Carried Majority Required - BU3.1 - Crawford - motion 2
Total members that voted Yes: 4 Members that voted Yes are John Campbell, Gary Crawford (Chair), Justin J. Di Ciano, James Pasternak
Total members that voted No: 2 Members that voted No are Shelley Carroll, Mike Layton
Total members that were Absent: 1 Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti

3 - Motion to Refer Motion moved by Councillor Gary Crawford (Carried)

That motion 1 by Councillor Layton be referred to the February 4, 2015 meeting of Budget Committee

Declared Interests

The following member(s) declared an interest:

Councillor Mike Layton - as it relates to Toronto Water, as his partner works for an organization that receives grants from the City to operate the Blue Flag program.

1a - Basement Flooding Protection - Infrastructure Upgrades New Study Areas and Progress Update

Origin
(December 18, 2014) Report from the General Manager, Toronto Water
Summary

The purpose of this report is to advise City Council on the city wide expansion of the Basement Flooding Protection Program.  This report details the boundaries of new study areas, the proposed schedule for completion of the new studies, and provides a ward by ward update regarding infrastructure upgrade accomplishments.

Background Information
(December 18, 2014) Report and Schedule A from the General Manager, Toronto Water on Basement Flooding Protection - Infrastructure Upgrades New Study Areas and Progress Update
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74680.pdf
Schedule B - Ward by Ward Summaries - Environmental Assessment Study and Construction Program Progress
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-74682.pdf
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council