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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-17-062 - Authorization to Sign Community Energy Investment Strategy Amendment REPORT TO:Council DATE OF MEETING: June 26, 2017 SUBMITTED BY:Alain Pinard, Director of Planning PREPARED BY:Sarah Brown, Senior SustainabilityPlanner, 519-741-2200 x 7068 WARD(S) INVOLVED:All DATE OF REPORT:June 16, 2017 REPORT NO.:CSD-17-062 SUBJECT:Authorization to Sign Collaborative AgreementAmendment - Community Energy Investment Strategy ___________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized on an ongoing basis to sign any necessary minor amendments, from time to time to ensure completion of the project, to the existing collaborative agreement with the Region of Waterloo, City of Waterloo, City of Cambridge and all of the local utilities regarding the preparation of a Community Energy Investment Strategy, subject to the satisfaction of Legal Services. BACKGROUND: In 2015, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, along with area municipalities and local utilities, were awarded funding under the Ontario Ministry of Energy Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) programpromoting community-scale energy planning to prepare an integrated Community Energy Investment Strategy (CEIS).The direction to complete the CEIS originatesfrom the Regional and City Official Plans, along with the Community Climate Action Plan for Waterloo Region (CCAP). On August 24, 2015, Councilreceived Report CSD-15-072 andapproved a recommendation to authorize signing of acollaborative agreement between the City of Kitchener, City of Cambridge, City of Waterloo,Region of Waterloo, Energy+ (formerly Cambridge & North Dumfries Hydro), Kitchener Utilities, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro, Union Gas, and Waterloo North Hydro regarding the preparation of the CEIS.A minor amendment is required to this agreement as further described in this report. REPORT: The Region of Waterloo holds a Provincial Funding Agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Energy regardingthe grant awarded for this project. They havereceived approval from the Ministry to extend the end date from October 31, 2017to March 15, 2018in order to allow the project team to complete all phases of the project including further stakeholder engagement. In turn, an amendment is required to theCEISagreement that exists between the local partner organizations(listed above). *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 6.- 1 2 The primary purpose of the recommendation of this report is to complete the authorization to sign any amendments to the existing agreement thatmeet the satisfaction of Legal Services so that the project can continue. The following housekeeping items will be addressed bythe amendments currently proposed to theagreement: Changeall references to the project end date from October31, 2017 to March 15, 2018; and, Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro Inc., has changed its name to Energy+ Inc. and any reference to Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro Inc. in the Agreement shall be replaced by Energy+ Inc. All other provisions of the Agreement remain unaffected and in full force and effect. Next Steps: Development of the strategy is expected to continue throughout this year with a full version prepared and presented for endorsement tomunicipalAdvisory Committees and Councilsin late 2017/early 2018. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the city’s strategic vision through the delivery of core service and is related to Strategic Priority #4 – Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Kitchener’s financial contribution towards thecollaborative project was fulfilledin 2016. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM – this report is intended to INFORM. Ithas been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of the council meeting. REVIEWED BY: Jim Edmondson, Interim Director, Kitchener Utilities Brandon Sloan, Manager, Long Range & Policy Planning Larry G. Tansley, Assistant City Solicitor ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO (Community Services) 6. - 2