Item - 2015.EY9.25

Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council refer this Item to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, with a request that the General Manager, Transportation Services, report to the Committee for consideration with this matter, on the following:

a.  an explanation of the current process in place for utility cut operations

 

b.  a proposal to establish a notification process to affected Ward Councillors for 5 and 20 day utility cut permit applications

 

c.  consideration for increased enforcement and inspection of utility cut work during completion

 

d.  regular patrolling of completed work to ensure proper temporary standards

 

e.  procedures to work with individual utility companies/organizations to improve any systematic and consistent problems

 

f.  establishing appropriate fees for full cost recovery of all applicable permits

 

g.  a process for Transportation Services to initiate necessary repairs for completed temporary utility cuts and bill the affected utility company if not compliant with requests

 

h.  a provision that the surface will be returned to the original condition with the same quality of material within 18 months of the work being done

 

i.  the establishment of service levels for these repairs to be completed, within an acceptable number of months.  If this timeline cannot be met, appropriate provisions be available to outsource the work in order to reduce further potential damage to City roads.  The local Councillor should be kept informed throughout, with respect to the process and any delays in service level accomplishments

 

j.  provisions which identify the utility company, and the relevant contact person

 

k.  a notification process which includes all utility cuts, including those on private property.

Over the course of several weeks, my office has seen a growing number of grievances regarding the quality of curb and apron repairs being undertaken by Utility companies. Under TS 4.60.07.03 of the Engineering and Construction Services Division Standard Specifications for Road Works, Utility companies are required to meet a certain standard of quality when applying temporary pavement restoration of mixed asphalt by neatly matching the finished grade of existing pavement. After visiting numerous sites with constituents who have expressed their grievances with the quality of the temporary repair work being done, it is undoubtedly clear that there is negligence with the standard of quality required for temporary curb cut restoration.

Therefore, in an effort to hold Utility companies accountable to a higher standard of repair when conducting curb cut restoration work in the Etobicoke York district, applicants should notify and work with Councillors prior to cutting City infrastructure in their wards.