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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

This week on the Queen City Improvement Bureau, Aidan & I'll be talking about today's meeting & looking back at the 5 meetings worth of budget preview we've received & there'll be the usual nonsense. Thur at 7pm on 91.3FM CJTR @accessnowradio.ca #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

And if you're curious about what my view on the meeting was at 10:30am today, I did a Council & Coffee live stream which you can view here. Talks about water utility, Buffalo Pound & Economic Development Regina. www.youtube.com/live/FNTmpzw... #yqrcc

youtube.com

Council & A Coffee! Regina Executive Committee Oct 7 2026 - EDR & Utility rate increase

YouTube video by PD City Hall — Paul Dechene

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Council is now going on their latest mandatory break. I'm going to bounce now and do something else. Thanks everyone for following along. Always enjoy the company. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Vote on city's lead program report: unanimous. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores: It has been frustrating to work with the province recently. So I don't anticipate we'll see an improvement on this. I hope we can be more creative & audacious on how we deal with this. I want us to be a city that gets to safe drinking water at a faster pace. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores: Reality is many impacted people won't be at the outreach opportunities. But it comes back to whose jurisdiction it is. Dealing w/ landlords is provincial responsibility. But we already regulate short term rentals, for instance. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores: To me, this is something that warrants more urgency b/c at end of day we see this impact folks in our community who are less likely to advocate for themselves. I commend work that's been done on outreach. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores to close. This past few weeks we've talked a lot about impacts that things like this can have on people who have less control over their homes b/c they renting. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Froh is committing to do work offline w/ admin on looking at capital projects and how to prioritize various projects, including the lead replacement program. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin notes in option 4 that increasing replacement timeline to 7 (instead of 10) yrs would result in additional 3.35% on utility rate & 0.53% on mill rate. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Froh: Delegation puts onus on council. When I look at this, I see a utility and mill rate increase. But I also see paving road to the jail for $1.6mil & renovating this building for several million. I struggle w/ how to prioritize our capital plan when this [lead] is a priority. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: That's what option 4 is getting at there. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Froh: I spoke at utility budget on how these things work together. We want to stagger changing pipes while fixing roads to make this work cost effective. How can we boost investment in both? #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Froh: I struggle on how to advance this. What I see is some high level aggregate numbers. I'm in favour of accelerating timelines. I think it's the right thing to do ethically & morally & my residents say they're willing to invest in that. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Rashovich: I'm assuming that if someone is buying a house, they're notified of a lead connection? Admin: I don't know that it's required. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Rashovich: Is that carbon monoxide legislation is that provincial? City solicitor: Yes it is. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Rashovich: W/ carbon monoxide, I know it's mandatory to have a detector near a bedroom. B/c I think tenants should know. We have legislation on carbon monoxide. I don't know if we can pass something to mandate landlords to let people know they have lead connections. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Rashovich: My concern is when someone buys a house in an area and they know it has lead, then I don't think we have to subsidize that. If they didn't know, they I guess we should consider subsidizing. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: Finding that with our investigations, 20-30% of connections have not been lead but we are expecting that number will not remain that high. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Zachidniak: If received more money, would be able to more hydrovac investigation? Admin: Yes, that is what we're hoping to get with this recommendation. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Zachidniak: One delegation says that Regina has slowest lead removal program in western Canada? Admin: Will have to do jurisdictional study. Further west you go, more lead connections have been removed but fewer were installed & that relates to how those cities were built. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Zachidniak: Will admin communicate w/ Office of Residential Tenancy? Admin: We can undertake to do that. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Citysolictor: Mandating the landlord disclose, that responsibility would lie with the province. There could be more discussion w/ the province on this. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Zachidniak is asking about ability of city to mandate lead disclosure from landlords. Citysolicitor: Requirement the city has taken has been to supply this information to landlords AND to tenants. From city's perspective, that information is being provided. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Zachidniak: What is uptake on rebate for filter installation by a plumber? That's a new program, just wondering how it's working. Admin: We don't have that number b/c it's new in 2026. That number will be in the next report (in 2026). #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: The report today is for 2025 though it is coming in 2026. So far in 2026, we've removed 252. We've met the target of 220 but we will continue to do work into the fall as long as the weather holds. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Zachidniak: It says in report that only replacing the city side but not replacing the private side increases risk to residents. Why? Admin: When we replace a city-side line, it will disturb the private side connection as well & will release more lead into the line. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Zachidniak wants to know who will determine if orthophosphate will be added in 2027. Admin: The study we're doing is about the dosage. We expect it will be added. We are working w/ Buffalo Pound & they will make final decision w/ our input. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: Health Canada says there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. When we are talking to residents, whether through letters or in person, we are trying to convey that inforamtion. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores asks about health canada recommendations on orthophosphate… Admin: It is listed as one tool but not a total solution. They recommend removing lead lines. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: We don't have a full data picture but we are trying to reach residents who might be falling through the cracks. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: To do better to notify w/ tenants who might be exposed, we have sent letters to all suspected rental properties. When we see changes to water changes, we've sent follow up letters. And we've done proactive filter drops last year. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores: To your knowledge, does the province have any way to advocate or inform renters who are exposed to lead? Citysolicitor: Not aware of province providing any information to renters or putting any requirement on landlords. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: Our approach is to use the carrot, so if council approves the $5k max that will provide an incentive to landlords to replace private side connections. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores: Do we have any way compelling or persuading landlords that they disclose to tenant about public or private lead connections? Admin: There is nothing now that compels them. But we do have an app so that residents can punch in their address & find out. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores: Do we know which rental properties have lead connections? Admin: We do not have accurate information about the PRIVATE-side lead service connections. Only way to know is to to do water testing. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin on equity concerns: We're not picking locations not based on equity but on if a line has failed or as part of integrated service delivery model. We know that lead lines are in communities built pre 1960s & we note that often those are equity deserving neighbourhoods. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin notes that doing one-off lead removals is more expensive than doing as part of an overall plan. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores: What would be cost of delay? Admin: The cost of replacement is increasing. Went up in 2023 & 24 but have levelled off now. There are health impacts, there are no safe levels of lead & that is well researched. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: One thing different about Regina is our cast iron pipe replacement was done early, 1970s & 80s, but unfortunately the lead connections were not replaced at that time. Sktoon is removing lead connections along w/ water network renewal at same time. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Flores: Why can't we move at speed of other municipalities? Admin: We started the plan in 2021 & had a 15 year plan. There are options to speed that up. 7 year option is achievable but comes at a cost. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: City is making progress & taking steps to make sure city have information about how to reduce risk of lead exposure. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: We also recommend accelerating hydrovacc investigations to gain complete picture of remaining replacments by end of 2028. Also recommend a max homeowner contribution of $5k for replacement of private-side lead connection. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: Highlight from 2025 – removal of 327 lead connections, distributing 725 water filters, mailing over 3200 letters to owners & occupants w/ city-side lead connections. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Admin: The city is on track to hit the city's accelerated target of removing all city-owned lead service connections by 2036. There are approx 2000 city owned connections remaining in Regina. In 2025, we exceed our removal targets. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Delegations done. Admin is introducing the lead management report. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Mancinelli: Have you ever approached the rentalsman's office, the authority that oversees this? McDougald: No. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Mancinelli likes the idea of the city going out to event w/ book of locations w/ lead connections (the city did this at the Arts Fest street fair this year). #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Mancinelli: Rental office is provincial, we're municipal. Do you have other suggestions on how city can help educate? McDougald: Community Assns can put on things, but not everybody goes. They think it doesn't have anything to do w/ them b/c they don't have a clue. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

McDougald: I don't want people to put their health at risk not knowing they're getting poisoned every day. #yqrcc

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