Council Info - Jan. 16, 2019
Public consultations approved for Consumption and Treatment Services
Council approved a number of actions related to opioid Consumption and Treatment Services in Waterloo Region:
- 149 Ainslie Street, Cambridge was eliminated as a candidate location for Consumption and Treatment Services due to poor layout.
- Staff will move forward with public consultations related to sites for Consumption and Treatment Services (modified phase 2b), including the possibility of considering locations beyond the four recommended sites.
- The Region will submit a letter of intent to the province outlining the Region’s process to date, next steps, and our intention to apply to operate a site.
The candidate locations include:
- 115 Water Street North, Kitchener
- 150 Duke Street West, Kitchener
- 105 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
- 150 Main Street, Cambridge
Local hospitals have expressed full support for consumption sites in Waterloo Region but are unable to accommodate services at their sites. Regional staff will move forward with public consultation to gather input from residents, site neighbours and other stakeholders about benefits, concerns and risks of the proposed locations. Staff will report back to Community Services Committee in the early spring.
Region wants to assume control of ambulance dispatch
The Region of Waterloo will formally make a request to the province to assume operational control of local ambulance dispatch operations. Ambulance dispatch services for Waterloo Region were moved to Hamilton from Cambridge in December 2018 due to staffing shortages. Both Ambulance Communication Centres are operated and funded directly by the province. The Region is asking to assume operational control of the local ambulance dispatch functions to ensure the most cost effective, efficient and responsive dispatching of ambulances throughout the service area. A number of other Ontario municipalities (e.g. Toronto, Ottawa, Niagara Region) directly operate ambulance dispatch and remain 100 per cent funded by the province.
Council votes unanimously against Planning Act changes
Regional Councillors do not support Planning Act changes proposed under Bill 66 and will be sending that message to the province. Bill 66, also known as Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, allows for changes to the Planning Act. Regional Council has formally rejected these changes because it would allow municipalities to approve projects that are exempt from policies like the Clean Water Act, the Greenbelt Act, the Places to Grow Act and others. In addition, Bill 66 doesn’t require public consultation. The Region will reaffirm its support for meaningful public consultation on all land use planning and continue to support appropriately managed growth that achieves the protection of drinking water, farmland and sensitive natural areas.
Tenders/Contracts:
The following tenders/contracts were approved by Council:
- $6,744,000 to Nova Bus, a division of Volvo Group Canada Inc. for 12 replacement transit coaches and name Nova Bus the vendor of record for all transit coaches for a five year period.
- $2,197,500 to Jacques Daoust Coatings Management Inc. for recoating of the Laurel water tank standpipe to prevent erosion.
- $1,856,566 to Veolia Water Technologies Canada Inc. for the supply of tertiary disc filters for the Galt wastewater treatment plant in Cambridge.
- $746,267 to IBI Group to provide engineering consulting services for environmental assessment, preliminary design, detailed design contract administration and construction inspection services for University Avenue improvements from Albert Street to Weber Street in Waterloo.
- $647,542 to Parkway Ford for 13 commercial ¾ ton cargo vans with tradesman conversion.
- $307,227 to Altec Ltd. for a hybrid aerial truck (fleet replacement) and as the vendor of record for all hybrid aerial trucks for a five year period.
Next Council meeting:
February 6, 2019 at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact:
Bryan Stortz, Director, Corporate Communications, 519-575-4408
Regional Clerk’s Office, 519-575-4400