Item - 2018.PW29.3
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on May 22, 2018 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on May 8, 2018 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on May 22, 2018.
PW29.3 - Improving Accountability in the Utility Cut Process
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on May 22, 23 and 24, 2018, adopted the following:
1. City Council approve the incorporation of the Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines, set out in Attachment 1 to the report (April 24, 2018) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, as amended by Parts 1.a. to 1.f. below, into the Municipal Consent Requirements adhered to by all Utility companies; the Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines are amended as follows:
a. Bullet 4 of "the General Placement Practices: Above Ground Plant" on page 6 to now read:
- For any above ground plant all utility companies must provide aesthetic treatment options and alternate location options when submitting an application to the City.
b. the lead in phrase in the "General Placement Practices: Notification / Sign Off - Above Ground Plant Notification" on page 8 to now read:
- A notification to the affected property owner(s) is recommended for any above ground plant when:
c. Bullet 3 of the "General Placement Practices: Notification / Sign Off - Above Ground Plant Notification" on page 8 to now read:
- When any equipment is placed in front of a park, Parks Supervisor, Councillor, Neighbourhood Association and Business Improvement Area if one is present must be notified.
d. the lead in phrase to the "General Placement Practices: Notification / Sign Off - Above Ground Plant Concurrence" on page 8 to now read:
- A concurrence sign off from the affected property owner(s) or an authorized representative is recommended for any above grade plant when fronting a property and:
e. Deleting Bullet 1 of the "Design Placement Considerations: Residential - Above Ground Structures" on page 10:
Bullet to be deleted:
- Consider a smaller or below grade equipment instead.
and inserting the following new Bullet 1:
- Must provide justification for the size of equipment, and why it cannot be installed below ground.
f. Bullet 9 of the "Design Placement Considerations: Public Spaces – Parks and Parkettes, Community and Open Spaces" on page 12 to now read:
- When any equipment is placed in front of a park, Parks Supervisor, Councillor, Neighbourhood Association and Business Improvement Area if one is present is must be notified.
2. City Council request the Ontario Energy Board and the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission to review and update their safety standards, for above and below-grade utility infrastructure plants; such review to include Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requirements, age-friendly design, risks to public safety, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, and impacts to public realm and safety which may be specific to areas of high density.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-114538.pdf
Attachment 1 - Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-114552.pdf
Communications (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/cc/comm/communicationfile-82981.pdf
(May 23, 2018) E-mail from Brian Rice, Streetscape and Operations Manager, Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area (CC.New.PW29.3.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/cc/comm/communicationfile-82998.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council amend bullet 4 of "the General Placement Practices: Above Ground Plant" on page 6 of Attachment 1 - Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines to the report (April 24, 2018) from the General Manager, Transportation Services so that it now reads as follows:
- For any above ground plant that have an overall foot print (including protective measures) larger than 1m x 1m x 1m all utility companies must provide aesthetic treatment options and alternate location options when submitting an application to the City.
2. City Council amend the lead in phrase in the "General Placement Practices: Notification / Sign Off - Above Ground Plant Notification" on page 8 of Attachment 1 - Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines to the report (April 24, 2018) from the General Manager, Transportation Services so that it now reads as follows:
- A notification to the adjacent affected property owner(s) is recommended for any above ground plant when:
3. City Council amend bullet 3 of the "General Placement Practices: Notification / Sign Off - Above Ground Plant Notification" on page 8 of Attachment 1 - Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines to the report (April 24, 2018) from the General Manager, Transportation Services so that it now reads as follows:
- When any equipment is placed in front of park, opposite residential homes and has an overall foot print larger than 1m x 1m x 1m, Parks Supervisor, Councillor, Neighbourhood Association and BIA if one is present is recommended to be must be notified.
4. City Council amend the lead in phrase to the "General Placement Practices: Notification / Sign Off - Above Ground Plant Concurrence" on page 8 of Attachment 1 - Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines to the report (April 24, 2018) from the General Manager, Transportation Services so that it now reads as follows:
- A concurrence sign off from the adjacent affected property owner(s) or an authorized representative is recommended for any above grade plant when fronting a property and:
5. City Council delete bullet 1 of the "Design Placement Considerations: Residential - Above Ground Structures " on page 10 of Attachment 1 - Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines to the report (April 24, 2018) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:
bullet to be deleted:
- Consider a smaller or below grade equipment instead.
and insert the following new bullet 1:
- Must provide justification for the size of equipment, and why it cannot be installed below ground.
6. City Council amend bullet 9 of the "Design Placement Considerations: Public Spaces – Parks & Parkettes, Community & Open Spaces " on page 12 of Attachment 1 - Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines to the report (April 24, 2018) from the General Manager, Transportation Services so that it now reads as follows:
- When any equipment is placed in front of a park opposite of residential homes and has an overall foot print larger than 1m x 1m x 1m, Parks Supervisor, Councillor, Neighbourhood Association and BIA if one is present is recommended to must be notified.
7. City Council request the Ontario Energy Board and the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission to review and update their safety standards, for above and below-grade utility infrastructure plants. Such review to include Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requirements, age-friendly design, risks to public safety, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, and impacts to public realm and safety which may be specific to areas of high density.
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) May-24-2018 12:05 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - PW29.3 - Adopt the item as amended |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 35 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Jim Hart, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, Neethan Shan, David Shiner, Michael Thompson, Lucy Troisi, Jonathan Tsao, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 9 | Members that were absent are Jon Burnside, Vincent Crisanti, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Michelle Holland, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, John Tory |
Declared Interests (City Council)
Mayor John Tory - due to his previously disclosed involvement in the Rogers family of companies.
PW29.3 - Improving Accountability in the Utility Cut Process
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:
1. City Council approve the incorporation of the Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines, set out in Attachment 1 to the report (April 24, 2018) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, into the Municipal Consent Requirements adhered to by all Utility companies.
Origin
Summary
The City of Toronto is currently experiencing an unprecedented period of growth --with the GTA expected to grow from 6.7 million in 2016 to 9.6 million on 2041. In order to keep pace with this growth, upgrades to below-ground utilities are frequently required, impacting the surface of the Toronto's 5,600 kilometres of roads.
Typically, utility companies conduct work and then make temporary pavement repairs so that the area is passable until a permanent restoration can be completed. Although the utility companies fund all permanent restorations, the paving work is conducted by Transportation Services staff or their contractors with a goal of having the permanent restoration completed within two (2) years after the utility cut permit has been issued. Due to the long lead time between when the temporary and permanent pavement repairs occur, utility cuts have long been a concern to communities who want final restoration to the pavement, curbs, sidewalks, and sod in their neighborhoods as quickly as possible.
Transportation Services has revised the process for completing utility cut repairs in order to provider a higher quality of service to communities and a more straightforward final restoration process for the utilities. This report provides an overview of these recent process changes by City staff, defines a plan to eliminate the backlog of utility cut repairs that have developed, and improves the accountability of utility companies to complete their permanent restorations quickly and to a high quality standard.
In particular, this report provides an overview of the:
- historic utility cut process;
- challenges encountered with the current process; and
- the process improvements developed in response, including:
- allowing utility companies to carry out permanent repairs;
- improvements to the manner in which residents are notified of pending work;
- initiation of a consultant assignment in Q1 2018 to address the repair backlog;
- modifications to the inspection process;
- the development of Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines; and
- implementation of a short-stream utility fee and maintenance fees for pavers.
The combination of these process changes will improve the condition of Toronto's roads, ensure proper notification to residents impacted by work, provide greater clarity to industry, and enhance staff's ability to manage the utility cut process.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-114538.pdf
Attachment 1 - Universal Equipment Placement Guidelines
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-114552.pdf