December 15, 2015
Budget Standing Committee
The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Members Present: | Mayor Walter Sendzik (left at 4:20 p.m.) Councillors Mike Britton (arrived at 3:09 p.m., left at 4:36 p.m.), N. Carlos Garcia, David A. Haywood (arrived at 3:07 p.m.), Bill Phillips, and Mathew Siscoe (Chair) | ||
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Officials Present: | Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services Bryan Shynal, Commissioner of Operations Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services David Oakes, Director of Parks Recreation and Community Services Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services Steve Solski, Executive Director of FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk Maggie Riopelle, Corporate Research Officer Rebecca Alfieri, Council & Committee Coordinator | ||
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Call the Meeting to Order | |||
Committee Chair, Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 3:05 p.m.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda for Monday, December 15, 2015, as presented.
Carried
Declarations of Interest |
There were none declared.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
4.1. |
That the Budget Standing Committee approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, November 25, 2015.
Carried
Discussion Items |
5.1. | 2016 Municipal Grant Program Review |
Councillor Siscoe declared a conflict of interest (pecuniary) as his wife sits on the board of Niagara Folk Arts Festival and left the chair.
Vice Chair Councillor Britton took the chair.
Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services gave an overview of the Municipal Grant Program, comparators and staff recommendations for 2016. Committee discussed the report and recommendations.
Councillor Haywood requested motions be voted on separately.
That staff remove the Niagara Wine Festival from receiving City funding, but to allow for in kind services; and
That the funds saved from this be reallocated to the SCCIP program.
Yeas: Councillor Haywood
Nays: Councillors Garcia, Phillips, Britton and Mayor Sendzik
Lost
That staff remove half of the City funding that the Niagara Folk Arts Festival receives; and
That those funds saved from this be reallocated to the SCCIP program.
Yeas: Councillors Haywood and Britton
Nays: Councillors Garcia, Phillips, and Mayor Sendzik
Lost
Councillor Siscoe took the chair.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive and accept the findings of the Municipal Grant Program Review; and
That the Budget Standing Committee request staff remove the amount allocated for Habitat for Humanity for 2016; and
That staff report back on how to implement the recommendations from the Cultural Funding Task Force; and
That staff report back on the policy and philosophy of grants and include the Civic Projects Fund; and
Further that staff report back to the Budget Standing Committee on what it would look like if funds taken from the Civic Project Fund, be put back into the 2016 tax base.
(this was show of hands only – no recorded votes)
Carried
5.2. | Reserves and Reserve Funds |
Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services gave an overview of the existing Reserves and Reserve Funds and explained the recommended new reserves.
Councillor Haywood requested to go In-Camera for discussion of the following purpose:
• labour relations or employee negotiations regarding Fire Emergency Services
Budget Standing Committee recessed to the In-Camera session at 3:50 p.m. In-Camera session adjourned at 3:56 p.m. and Budget Standing Committee reconvened.
Councillors Garcia and Siscoe were noted as opposed to the cut to the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Operational Sustainability Reserve.
Mayor Sendzik was not present for the vote.
Moved By: Councillor Britton
That staff approve the FirstOntario Capital Sustainability Reserve, but eliminate the recommended FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Operational Sustainability Reserve; and
That staff hold surplus operating funds over 1% to be considered during Budget deliberations regarding the Tax Rate (TR) Stabilization Reserve; and
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to have 100% of the five year rolling average included in the Target Level for the Winter Control Program Stabilization Reserve.
Yeas: Councillors Garcia, Haywood, Britton, Phillips and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
Infrastructure Levy |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the report from staff as requested which details the concept of an infrastructure levy; and
That the Budget Standing Committee support the staff recommendation for the infrastructure levy in principle; and
That further consideration of the establishment of the levy be given during budget deliberations (ex: core services)
Yeas: Councillors Garcia, Haywood, Britton, Phillips and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
Upcoming Meeting Schedule |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Operating Budget Timetable, with the possible addition of an extra Budget Open House in Port Dalhousie and Merritton.
Carried
Information Items |
6.1. | • Reports Referral's to the Budget Committee • 2016 Budget Committee Work Plans |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the information items as presented.
Carried
Other Business |
There was none.
8. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, this meeting adjourned at 4:37 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct: Confirmed by:
Committee Chair | Council & Committee Coordinator |