The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Members Present:
Absent: | Mayor Walter Sendzik (arrived at 3:38 p.m.) Councillors Mike Britton, David A. Haywood, Bill Phillips, and
Councillor N. Carlos Garcia |
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Officials Present: | Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services Jim Riddell, Director of Planning and Building Services David Oakes, Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Services Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk Margaret Kreuk, Budget Analyst Maggie Riopelle, Corporate Research Officer Rebecca Alfieri, Council & Committee Coordinator |
Committee Chair, Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 3:33 p.m.
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1. | Call the Meeting to Order |
Committee Chair, Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 3:33 p.m.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda for Wednesday, November 25, 2015, as presented.
Carried
3. | Declarations of Interest |
There were none declared.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
Budget Standing Committee, November 23, 2015
4.1. | Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services noted an amendment to the November 23, 2015 Minutes, Item 5.3 regarding Budget Night - Possible Changes to the Process, stating the second last sentence regarding questions and amendments to the budget to come to the Budget Standing Committee 'before' (not when) the public meeting is tabled...and should be reflected in the minutes. |
That the Budget Standing Committee approve the minutes of the meeting held on Monday, November 23, 2015 as amended.
Carried
5. | Discussion Items |
5.1. | Rates & Fees – Follow Up Items (attachments: Rates & Fees and Comparators)
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David Oakes, Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture explained the information contained in the memo regarding Private and Semi-private Swim Rates as well as the Non-resident Fees for Aquatics, confirming the challenge of charging the Non-resident rate, as the public uses friends and family's addresses when using City pools. Jim Riddell, Director of Planning and Building Services presented the Revised Planning Fees as shown in the report, as it was a direction of Council.
Mr. Riddell explained there are direct and indirect costs shown. Mr. Riddell availed himself to questions of the Committee.
Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services presented the Rates and Fees documents to the Budget Standing Committee. Questions were raised about the revenues shown for the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and being able to meet revenue figures in the Rates and Fees. Steve Solski, Executive Director, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre explained how these figures would be reached. The Committee accepted his explanation.
Moved By: Councillor Phillips
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Aquatics Rates and Fees as presented.
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the 2016 Schedule of Rates and Fees as amended; and
That staff proceed with review and refining the comparators of the rates and fees with a report to the Budget Standing Committee by September, 2016 for the 2017 Budget; and
That the 2016 Rates and Fees be referred to Council for approval.
Carried
Moved By: Councillor Britton as amended
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Cost Recovery Fees Review report as presented; and
That the City work towards an increase in cost recovery for processing planning applications:
Planning and Building Services recommends that fees for Zoning Amendment and Site Plan applications could be increased as follows:
Increase base Zoning Amendment application fees to $6,500 (a 30% increase over the 2015 rate of $5,000); and
Increase base Site Plan application fees to $5,330 (a 6.6% increase over the 2015 rate of $5,000); and
To reach cost recovery for Committee of Adjustment applications:
Increase Minor Variance application fees to $1,173 (a 15% increase over the 2015 rate of $1,020);
Increase Consent application fees to $1,450 (a 15% increase over the 2015 rate of $1,260); and
That in 2017, increase Committee of Adjustment fees by an additional 20%, undertake a city-wide comprehensive rates and fees review; and
That the committee increase the planning application fees by 30% for 2016; and
That this increase is used towards a full cost recovery study to investigate measures to achieve a full cost recovery model, subject to a report on direct costs to the Budget Standing Committee in the summer of 2016; and
That a further staff report by September of 2017 with the goal being that the implementation be for 2018 Rates and Fees.
Carried as Amended
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Operating Budget Revenue Summary as presented.
Carried
5.2. | Information Items |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Information Items, being the 2016 Proposed Meeting Schedule, 2015 Budget Standing Committee Schedule of Events, and Report Referrals to the Budget Standing Committee.
Carried
6. | Other Business |
That the next meeting date be set for December 15, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. with a back-up date of December 17, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. in case of unfinished business.
Carried
7. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, this meeting adjourned at 4:53 p.m.
Certified Correct: Confirmed by:
Council & Committee Coordinator | Committee Chair |