Infrastructure and Corporate Services Committee Meeting

The Infrastructure and Corporate Services Committee discussed landfill governance and reporting, truck traffic and road safety on Dingman Drive, annual approvals for traffic signals and pedestrian crossovers, consultant procurement practices, and the city's investment portfolio report. Members also reviewed property acquisition and expropriation steps tied to road projects.

Topics Discussed

LANDFILL GOVERNANCE AND REPORTING

Councillor Jerry Pribil asked when a new landfill operating committee would be created. Staff said the committee is "currently under review with the Ministry of Environment" as part of a broader Indigenous communities communication plan. Ms. Chambers said, "We're waiting to hear back for approval from [the province] and once that approval is received then we would go forth and canvas the related Indigenous communities if they'd like to form and join our committee." She said the timing depends on provincial approval and could take "a few months" or longer.

Pribil also raised concerns about public access to landfill-related reporting. Staff said links to W12A-related reports would be provided to the Planning and Environment Committee chair going forward.

DINGMAN DRIVE ROAD SAFETY AND TRUCK TRAFFIC

Pribil pressed staff on safety conditions on Dingman Drive, saying the "roads are narrow, there are no sidewalks, there is nothing between the street and pedestrians." He also read a resident statement opposing truck traffic: "No trucks should be allowed on the street. No entrances and no exits. This road was not designed for such traffic. It was not properly paved to take on all this traffic. The truck should be taking Wellington and not cutting through the subdivisions."

Asked whether heavy trucks are permitted on Dingman Drive, staff said they are, subject to Highway Traffic Act rules. Staff said identified operating routes to the landfill use Wonderland Road, Wellington Road and Manning Drive, but added that Dingman Drive is designated a rural thoroughfare intended to carry through movement of vehicles, farm equipment, freight and goods.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS, PEDESTRIAN CROSSOVERS AND PROPERTY ACQUISITION

The committee approved new traffic signal installations and pedestrian crossover requests through the city's annual review process. Staff said requests will continue to be accepted through the Service London portal, and noted that locations approved in earlier years but still in design or construction are not included in the current report.

During discussion of item 2.9, a councillor asked whether money for property acquisitions on Western Road, Sarna Road and Philip Aziz Avenue had already been budgeted, saying, "So when I look to since 2022 to now the investment portfolio looks like it's up about $300 million. Is that budgeted? Do we know where we were expecting to be at this point?" Staff clarified that the item before committee was procedural, not a new funding approval. Mr. McCrae said, "The purpose of this report is for the purposes of the property acquisition and expropriation process. So it there's no financial commitment being requested here."

CONSULTANT PROCUREMENT AND LIMITED TENDERS

On items 2.7 and 2.10, Councillor Susan Stevenson questioned the practice of awarding contract administration and site inspection work to the same consultant that completed the design work without a new competitive process, asking whether that reflected a policy change or an ongoing practice. Staff said the approach is an authorized limited tender under both the previous and current procurement policy and described it as standard engineering practice. Staff said using the original designer helps ensure construction matches the specifications and is "to the city's financial advantage … and to ratepayers advantage as well."

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO REPORTING

The committee reviewed the city's annual investment portfolio report covering about $1.8 billion and more than 180 securities. One councillor said the public report was too limited, arguing that with "180 different investment securities" and "1.8 billion of taxpayer money," council should receive more than "one line or two lines."

Staff said they are open to enhanced reporting if council directs it and described the current report as a high-level summary. Staff also said about 95 per cent of the portfolio relates to reserve funds, and that the city has not adopted Ontario's prudent investor model because doing so would transfer control to an outside board and cannot be reversed.

Councillor Skylar Franke said, "I'm going to vote no and then I'll look to see if there's a motion or support on council to do a more enhanced reporting as some other municipalities are doing, especially when there's a lot of talk about that right now and a lot of desire from the public."

Motions

• Items 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 2.6, 2.8 and 2.9 — Carried 5-0
• Item 2.10: Annual investment portfolio report — Carried 4-1

Attendees

• Councillor Jerry Pribil
• Councillor Susan Stevenson
• Councillor Skylar Franke
• Ms. Chambers
• Mr. McCrae
• Mr. Murray
• Mr. Ray
• Mr. Ry