Decisions

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Received the presentation (October 22, 2024) from the Chair of the Board of Directors, OMERS Administration Corporation, the Vice President, Sustainable Investing, OMERS Administration Corporation, and the Vice President, Sustainable Investing and Operations, Oxford Properties, on OMERS Climate Action Plan to the City of Toronto for information.

George Cook, Chair of the Board of Directors, OMERS Administration Corporation, Katharine Preston, Vice President, Sustainable Investing, OMERS Administration Corporation, and Hala El Akl, Vice President, Sustainable Investing and Operations, Oxford Properties, gave a presentation on OMERS Update on the Climate Action Plan to the City of Toronto.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee will hear an update from the Chair of the OMERS Administration Corporation Board of Directors, the Chief Pension Officer, the Vice President, Sustainable Investing, and the Vice President, Sustainable Investing and Operations, Oxford Properties, on the OMERS Climate Action Plan and progress.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that: 

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Toronto Water, to enter into negotiations with Aclara Technologies LLC, as the manufacturer and exclusive supplier of the Meter Transmission Units, for the supply and delivery of additional Meter Transmission Units, and to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the outcome of those negotiations, and the strategies identified in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (October 7, 2024) from the General Manager, Toronto Water, and the Chief Procurement Officer, by the end of the first quarter 2025.

2. City Council adopt the Confidential Instructions to Staff as contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (October 7, 2024) from the General Manager, Toronto Water, and the Chief Procurement Officer.

3. City Council direct that Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (October 7, 2024) from the General Manager, Toronto Water, and the Chief Procurement Officer, remain confidential in its entirety as it contains information and Confidential Instructions to staff respecting a plan to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the City, and direct that the confidential instructions to staff, if adopted, be made public at the discretion of the City Solicitor.

4. City Council authorize the General Manager, Toronto Water, to negotiate, enter into and execute any agreements or amendments to agreements to procure, including by a non-competitive procurement, additional Meter Transmission Units and associated equipment from Aclara Technologies LLC, by or before June 30, 2025, to a maximum of $3,000,000, on terms acceptable to the General Manager, Toronto Water, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, in order to keep providing working meters and Meter Transmission Units for new builds and high volume users pending Council decision on a long term strategy.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recessed its public session to meet in closed session to consider this item as it pertains to a plan to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the City of Toronto.

The issuance of this non-competitive contract was a matter of extreme urgency. The rapidly increasing and premature failure of over 150,000 of the City’s 470,000 Meter Transmission Units, at a far greater rate than expected, has created a significant challenge for Toronto Water, requiring immediate action to support accurate, timely and efficient City water utility billing and customer service. This premature failure is expected to continue.

The purpose of this report is to advise City Council, in accordance with Chapter 195 of the Toronto Municipal Code, Procurement, Section 195-7.5, of a non-competitive emergency contract with Aclara Technologies LLC (Aclara) for the supply of initial replacement Meter Transmission Units at a total cost of $4,040,000 USD ($5,534,800 CAD), net of all applicable taxes and charges ($4,111,104 USD or $5,632,212. CAD, net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) issued pursuant to Purchase Order 6055735, as amended. This cost represents an agreed pro-rata warranty replacement cost for the failed Meter Transmission Units.

The issuance of the Purchase Order was a matter of urgency as the premature failure of the Meter Transmission Units was deemed an emergency by the General Manager, Toronto Water, under Chapter 195, Procurement, Section 195-7.1(G), and reporting back to City Council is required in accordance with Section 195-7.5, where the potential value of the non-competitive contract exceeds $500,000.

This report also seeks the necessary Council authorities to continue to address this on-going emergency, enabling Toronto Water to secure the materials and services required to maintain the level of service necessary to support City water utility billing based on actual consumption and associated customer service operations.

Additionally, this report provides an overview of the steps taken to manage this issue, and provides, in Confidential Attachment 1, information for consideration by Committee and City Council, and recommended Confidential Instructions to Staff.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the closure of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway, eastbound lanes only, from the Humber River to the Don Valley Parkway, including all ramps, and the Don Valley Parkway, northbound lanes only, from the F.G. Gardiner Expressway to Eglinton Avenue East, including all ramps, on Sunday, July 27, 2025 from 2:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., for the 2025 Toronto Triathlon Festival event;

2. City Council prohibit other road closures due to events or film permits on arterial roads bounded by Highway 401, Warden Avenue, Lake Ontario, Humber River, Queen Street / The Queensway, and Yonge Street, on Sunday, July 27, 2025 as they will be required to accommodate overflow traffic from the expressway closures resulting from the 2025 Toronto Triathlon Festival event; and

3. City Council require the organizer to pay, within 90 days of the City issuing an invoice, any costs incurred to the City to secure the work zones along the F. G. Gardiner Expressway during the F. G. Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation work.

4. City Council forward the Item to the Toronto Transit Commission and Metrolinx and request the General Manager, Transportation Services coordinate with Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission to ensure that no planned closures are scheduled on July 27, 2025, that would limit public transit during the marathon and contribute to traffic congestion.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council's authority to close portions of the eastbound lanes on the F.G. Gardiner Expressway and northbound lanes on the Don Valley Parkway for the Toronto Triathlon Festival event for 2025. The proposed route of the 2025 Toronto Triathlon Festival event will remain the same as 2024.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council endorse, in principle, the road safety project on Parkside Drive, as described on pages 5 through 16 in the revised report (October 17, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, including a bikeway, intersection safety improvements at Lake Shore Boulevard West and Bloor Street West, new and updated Toronto Transit Commission bus stops, and designated turning lanes at intersections.

Parkside Drive is a major arterial road that serves as the eastern boundary of High Park and provides multi-modal connections to key destinations in the city with residential frontage on the east side. As directed by Council in November 2021, the Parkside Drive Study was initiated to explore possible design changes that could improve safety and mobility along the corridor with a focus on people walking, cycling and other vulnerable road users, as a companion to the High Park Movement Strategy. Over the last three years several improvements have been made to the roadway to manage vehicle speeds and improve road user safety.

The Parkside Drive Study builds on community advocacy for improved road safety. In the last ten years there were seven collisions that resulted in five serious injuries and three fatalities. All seven collisions involved vulnerable road users. Narrow and missing sidewalks, lack of bikeways, excessive vehicular speeds and aggressive driving, and a history of collisions resulting in fatality or serious injury are frequently heard concerns. The Parkside Drive Study recommendations support the City's Vision Zero Road Safety Plan efforts to implement changes that would prevent serious injuries and fatalities on our streets.

This report summarizes the findings from the Parkside Drive Study and seeks City Council endorsement in principle of the study recommendations to implement a road safety focused redesign project. Preliminary design and consultation for the road safety project on Parkside Drive have been completed, and installation is targeted for the near-term (2025 - 2027). The Parkside Drive road safety changes would add 3.8 lane kilometres (1.9 centreline kilometres) of new bikeways, reconstruct the Lake Shore Boulevard West intersection and improve vulnerable road user connections to the Martin Goodman Trail and include design changes to decrease motor vehicle speeds.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommend that:

1. City Council request the Toronto Parking Authority Board of Directors to:

a. Review and consider a universal security protocol for their garages and parking lots; and

b. Provide a summary of the current security approach and assessment framework used to allocate security resources at Toronto Parking Authority facilities. 

As the City of Toronto’s appointed "Nighttime Economy Champion" I am writing to express my concern regarding the current state of nighttime security at Green P parking facilities. As you may be aware, many businesses in Toronto rely on these facilities for their customers, and the safety of both vehicles and patrons is a critical concern.

I have had interactions with numerous businesses during the past year who have expressed their desire for increased security measures after 9:00 p.m. They have cited instances of safety concerns which have negatively impacted their business operations.

I believe implementing regular patrols of Green P parking facilities after 9:00 p.m. would significantly enhance the safety and security of these locations. This would not only benefit businesses but also provide peace of mind for patrons who use these facilities.

I understand Green P operates a large network of over 300 parking facilities, each with its own unique security risks. However, I believe a standardized approach to nighttime security, would be beneficial. I recommend Toronto Parking Authority review universal security standards and guidelines to identify best practices which could be applied across its entire network.

I urge the Committee to consider this matter and take steps to enhance nighttime security at Green P parking facilities. This would be a valuable investment in the safety of our community and would help to support the continued success of local businesses.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommend that:

1. City Council endorse the application under the Province of Ontario's Community Sport and Recreation Investment Fund: Stream 1 - Repair and Rehabilitation for the Jack Goodlad Park Basketball Court Rehabilitation project, and direct the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to submit the City's application to the Community Sport and Recreation Investment Fund.

As part of the 2024 Ontario Budget, the province launched a cost-shared program, Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund that provides funding to municipalities to revitalize sport and recreation facilities.

Each municipality is allowed to advance one project per stream. Under Stream 1: Repair and Rehabilitation, I am recommending that the City advance the basketball court rehabilitation work planned at Jack Goodlad Park.

Jack Goodlad Park is included within the Kennedy Park Ionview Parkland Study area, which has identified opportunities for improvements of outdoor community recreation facilities at this location. This project is eligible for the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, Stream 1 - Repair and Rehabilitation.

Under the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund application guidelines, Council endorsement is a mandatory requirement for the funding consideration.