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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-06-071 - Shared Services Roads Agreement Report To: Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: ~ Community Services Committee June 12, 2006 Ken Currier, Director of Operations Ken Currier All May 25, 2006 CSD-06-071 SHARED SERVICES ROADS AGREEMENT RECOMMENDATION: That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into an agreement with The Corporation of the City of Waterloo for the purposes of a reciprocal winter road maintenance and leaf collection for border area streets, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and further, That the Director of Operations or his designate be authorized to revise the maintenance schedules attached to the Reciprocal Winter Road Maintenance and Leaf Collection Agreement (attached as Schedule A and B in report CSD-06-071) from time to time as opportunities for further shared maintenance activities are entered into with the City of Waterloo. BACKGROUND: In January 2004 staff from the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo met to discuss the development of a shared services program between the two cities. Shared services initiatives were sought that would maintain three basic principles, accessibility, affordability and accountability to satisfy the taxpayers of both cities. Street maintenance of border area streets was one identified initiative that satisfied the criteria and would demonstrate the benefits of service rationalization and service efficiencies for both cities. Two specific areas of street maintenance were chosen for further investigation, winter road maintenance and leaf collection. During the winters of 2005 winter road maintenance was shared on border area streets and proved to be a success from a staff and public perspective. It was agreed at that time to formalize an agreement, documenting the work of each city in each others jurisdiction and to continue with furthering the program and implement leaf collection as the next shared service. Report No: CSD-06-071 REPORT: The Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo share 20 roads which link the two cities forming a seamless border for many of the area residents. The levels of service provided by each municipality are comparable for winter maintenance and leaf collection. Staff have developed routes for each maintenance function that ensures coordination of existing clearing and collection routes while no one city would be required to do more than the other. The schedule of maintenance routes and activities attached to the reciprocal agreement will be reviewed and revised each year as necessary. The agreement allows for a review of the shared services program and the agreement will be renewed annually unless notice is given by either municipality to end the agreement. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There are no additional financial obligations with this agreement. COMMUNICATIONS: Area residents that live on the routes that have been chosen to be part of the shared services program have been notified, indicating that they can expect to see crews from Waterloo performing road maintenance in Kitchener. The City of Waterloo will be seeking approval from their Council on June 12th, 2006 to enter into this agreement. CONCLUSION: The success of this shared services initiative will be evaluated by both municipalities and additional maintenance programs will be added as opportunities are identified. Keith Baulk, Acting General Manager Community Services