WINNIPEG, MB - Changes being proposed to City Council’s Service Sharing Policy would allow the City to enter into agreements with neighbouring municipalities for the sewer services, while the City addresses an issue recently raised regarding the sharing of water services.
To manage growth in the Winnipeg Capital Region in a way that is environmentally and economically sustainable, Council approved a service sharing policy in December 2011. The policy laid a foundation for the City to enter into agreements with neighbouring municipalities.
Service sharing will use surplus capacity that exists in our utilities, while generating new revenue for the City to benefit taxpayers, and protecting the environment to benefit future generations.
The City of Winnipeg draws water from Shoal Lake on authority of an order from the International Joint Commission (IJC) dated January 14, 1914. The IJC has recently communicated with the City, highlighting certain issues regarding the City’s plans to enter into service sharing agreements for the provision of water services to neighbouring municipalities, that require further dialogue between the City and the IJC.
The report published today recommends that the Winnipeg Public Service be directed to prepare a submission to the IJC requesting an expedited decision with respect to the provision of water services by the City to neighbouring municipalities. Resolution of this issue would provide greater certainty to the City and to its Capital Region partners as they move forward to develop mutually-beneficial agreements that ultimately will contribute to protection of the environment.
Council approval is required for the Public Service to implement the recommendations in the report. Executive Policy Committee will consider the report at a special meeting on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.
Backgrounder
The City has surplus capacity in its sewer utilities. Sharing would benefit neighbouring municipalities, as they would not need to build multi-million dollar facilities to address current and future needs for sewer services. For example, much of the sewer infrastructure in regional municipalities includes the use of septic fields and tanks that are not as environmentally sustainable as multi-stage treatment plants.
The sharing of sewer services would provide additional revenues to the City of Winnipeg through increased sewer revenues, and revenue sharing by signatory municipalities. Additional sewer revenue would be reinvested in the City's sewer infrastructure, and revenue sharing would be directed to the Regional Roads Capital budget. This would benefit all Winnipeggers by broadening our revenue base.
The Capital Region is home to almost two-thirds of Manitoba's population. The area includes sixteen municipalities, with the City of Winnipeg as the principal investment and business centre.
In December 2005, Winnipeg City Council directed the Chief Administrative Officer to identify inter-municipal service sharing opportunities through an Expression of Interest process, and that the following five principles be used to guide the process, to ensure that service sharing agreements:
- are government to government;
- are consistent with the City's existing and future capacity to provide the service;
- are founded on a strong business case to ensure the efficient delivery of the service in the region;
- incorporate a joint planning agreement to manage development and related environmental concerns; and
- include a provision for tax/revenue sharing.
Particularly since 2005, steps have been taken towards strengthening cooperation among the Capital Region municipalities, including more effort on communication and establishing relationships, and support toward regional service sharing as well as joint land use planning. This direction aligns with the OurWinnipeg plan and the Complete Communities strategy document approved by Council.