TAMRMS#: B06
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RTSC Transition Team Update
Presented by: Trevor Duley, Manager, Governmental Relations, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
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1. That Council accept the Regional Transit Services Commission Transition Team update as information.
2. That Council move in camera to discuss a matter pursuant to Section 21 (Disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations) and Section 23 (Local public body confidences) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
3. That the Confidential Administrative Report and details of the in camera discussion remain confidential pursuant to Section 153(e) of the Municipal Government Act.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
The Regional Transit Services Commission (RTSC) Transition Team is comprised of elected officials from all 13 municipalities of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, tasked with creating a unified regional transit service that delivers efficient and affordable transit options to all citizens and ultimately improves the movement of people across the region.
The intention of this report is to brief Council regarding Phase 2B, prior to consideration of Phase 3 later in 2019. EY Consultants, who are project managing the initiative, will be on-hand to present to Council.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Strategic Priority #3: Building a Transportation Network: Integrated transportation systems.
Corporate Initiative 3.4) continue to pursue an Integrated Regional Transit Commission through the transition phase.
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On September 11, 2017 Council passed the following motions:
(AR 17-317):
That the Memorandum of Understanding created by the Joint City Manager’s Regional Commuter Service Task Force for the purpose of establishing a Regional Transit Services Commission be approved; and
That Council petition the Government of Alberta for regional collaboration financial assistance as per the mutual effort requirement of the signatories outlined in Section 8.4 of the Memorandum of Understanding; and
That, contingent upon the Government of Alberta committing regional collaboration financial assistance, that Council appoint two members to the Regional Transit Services Commission Transition Team as the City of St. Albert’s representatives.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The RTSC Project is scheduled into three (3) phases:
Phase 1: Governance Design (Complete): creation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the confirmation of a governance design for the process of creating a regional commission entity. All 13 municipalities approved the MOU by October 2018, thereby initiating Phase 2.
Phase 2A Planning (Complete): this phase focused on developing the work for Phase 2 related to the activities needed to establish the RTSC, including understanding operating conditions and municipal requirements. EY consultants were hired to support this phase, and Phase 2B.
Phase 2B Establishment and Transition (March 2019 - October 2019): during this phase of the project, an operational framework for the RTSC is being developed with specific considerations for strategy, transit service delivery, operating model, governance model, financials, and an implementation plan.
Phase 2 is being overseen by the RTSC Transition Team, represented by Councillor Wes Brodhead (the Chair) and Mayor Heron, as Councillor Brodhead’s alternate, on behalf of the City of St. Albert.
Phase 3 Service Operations (October 2019+): each Council will engage in deliberation and voting to confirm their involvement in the RTSC. Any municipality that does not signal their involvement will continue to operate independent transit service under their municipality. Following Council voting, an application will be made to the Government of Alberta to request to have the RTSC be formed.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
EY Consulting Team is engaging with member municipalities, the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board (EMRB), the Government of Alberta, and several academic and economic institutions through the duration of the Transition Team’s work.
Public engagement for this initiative will occur after completion of the Transition Team’s activities.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
For more detailed information of the Transition Team’s undertakings, it is recommended that Council move in-camera per Section 21 (Disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations) and Section 23 (local public body confidences) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as is consistent with what other municipalities in the region are doing for this initiative.
Financial:
None at this time.
Legal / Risk:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
None at this time.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
None at this time.
Report Date: July 8, 2019
Author: Trevor Duley
Department: Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble