Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously set its position for the agglomeration council: exercise the five-month extension and authorize an additional $296,349.21, taxes included, for equipment rental at the Complexe environnemental de Saint-Michel. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the work is needed to prepare compost for use in the Parc Frédéric-Back and elsewhere in the city.
- The extension would keep Matériaux Paysagers Savaria ltée on the contract to rent a compost screener and a four-cubic-yard loader with an operator, from June 20 to October 15, 2026.
- The added spending would bring the contract total to $586,603.60, taxes included.
- The original contract followed a public call for tenders: two bids were received, one compliant. The materials do not say whether it was the lowest compliant bid.
What it means for you#
- Residents and taxpayers: The proposed extension would be paid for by the agglomeration through the city’s Environment and Ecological Transition Service budget. It does not create a direct payment or new service for residents.
- City services: If approved by the agglomeration council, the rented equipment and operator would support compost screening at the Complexe environnemental de Saint-Michel. City staff estimate about 450 hours of use.
Money#
The proposed additional cost is $296,349.21, taxes included; no overall cost estimate beyond the contract amounts is provided.
- The full $296,349.21 would be charged to the agglomeration for 2026.
- City staff say $270,606.33 net of tax rebates would come from the service’s operating budget, under technical services.
- The contract total after the extension would be $586,603.60, taxes included.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not compare the extension’s cost with other ways to screen or obtain compost.
- The estimate is about 450 hours; the materials do not say what the final hours or cost would be if use differs from the estimate.
Case for#
- City staff say the extension is needed to screen compost and clear space for the next season of autumn-leaf composting.
- Staff say the compost is used for Parc Frédéric-Back and other city needs. They also say refusing the extension could raise costs for buying compost or disposing of the material elsewhere.
Case against#
- The added amount is substantial, and the materials do not give a cost comparison with other options.
- The claimed higher costs if the extension is refused are not quantified in the materials.