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<br />Report to Council <br />Report Number: CS 14-21 <br />Date: February 22, 2021 <br />From: Brian Duffield <br /> (Acting) Director, Community Services <br />Subject: Public Works Winter Activities update <br /> - Information Report <br /> - File: A-1440-21 <br />Recommendation: <br />1. That Council receive Report CS 14-21 regarding Public Works Winter Activities for <br />information. <br />Executive Summary: Community Services Department staff submitted Report to Council CS <br />31-19 on December 16, 2019 which described winter activities provided by Public Works and <br />recommended service level increases. Report CS 31-19, which was approved by Council through <br />Resolution #194/19, recommended that additional staff, vehicles, equipment and material <br />resources be phased in over 2020 and 2021 in order to provide an enhanced level of service with <br />respect to winter maintenance. To that end, the 2020 Capital and Current Budgets included the <br />associated costs for the first year of implementation. <br /> <br />At this time, staff are presenting this update report on year one activities prior the submission of <br />the 2021 Current and Capital Budgets which will complete the implementation of the Public Works <br />winter level of services enhancements. <br /> <br />Financial Implications: The equipment and vehicle costs reflected in the 2020 Capital Budget <br />were funded from the vehicle replacement reserve or other funding sources. By employing this <br />strategy, the City avoids debt interest costs. <br />Last April, financial report (FIN 05-20) provided a financial update on the impact of COVID-19 on <br />City operations. Under the direction of the previous CAO, senior staff implemented a cost <br />containment exercise that included delayed hiring of new budgeted staff as a cost saving strategy. <br />The effects of this cost containment strategy is reflected in the body of this report through cost <br />savings. All cost figures shown in this report are Net of HST. <br />Please see the description below for a summary of the costs incurred in 2020 to implement Public <br />Works winter level of service enhancements in year one. <br /> <br />Discussion: Staff were prepared and intended to implement the recommendations of <br />Report CS 31-19 phased in over 2020, and 2021, as detailed in the report. However, the City’s <br />response to COVID in 2020 changed these plans and staff deferred the start dates of new staff to