Cover Image

The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

 

Members

Present:

Mayor Walter Sendzik

Councillors Mike Britton (arrived at 3:11 p.m.), N. Carlos Garcia,

David A. Haywood (arrived at 3:12 p.m.), Bill Phillips, and

Mathew Siscoe (Chair)

 

Officials

Present:

Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer

Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services

Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk

Margaret Kreuk, Budget Analyst

Maggie Riopelle, Corporate Research Officer                        

Deanna Haine, Council & Committee Coordinator

 

1.

Call the Meeting to Order

Committee Chair, Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 3:07 p.m.

 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda for the meeting of Wednesday, February 3, 2016.

Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest

There were none declared.

 

4.

Adoption of Minutes

 

4.1.

Budget Standing Committee minutes of January 26, 2016 and January 28, 2016

 

Moved By:  Mayor Sendzik

That the Budget Standing Committee approve the minutes of the meetings held on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, and Thursday, January 28, 2016.

Carried

 

5.

Chair's Report

The Chair had nothing to report at this time.

 

6.

Discussion Items

 

6.1.

Staff Complement Update Report

Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services

(Deferred by the Budget Standing Committee at the meeting of January 28, 2016)

Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services, provided an overview of the staff complement stating any requests have been deferred to a future budget year. The 2016 draft budget does not include an increase to staffing. The Commissioner advised the focus for 2016 will be to work through the consolidation of the two operations divisions.

 

Moved By:  Mayor Sendzik

That the Budget Standing Committee receive the report from the Commissioner of Corporate Services regarding the staff complement update.

Carried

 

6.2.

Corporate Revision List and Revenue Budget

Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services

Items attached to the agenda include:

         Revision List, including Departmental Information Memos

         Revenue Budget

         Overall Tax Impact Summary

Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services, and Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services, provided a summary of the items attached to the agenda regarding the (1) corporate revision list and revenue budget memorandum, (2) revenue summary, and (3) overall tax impact summary.

 

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That the Budget Standing Committee receive the information from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Director of Financial Management Services regarding the corporate revision list and revenue budget.

Carried

 

 

 

 

 

6.3.

Grants Report

Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services

(including Additional Information regarding SCCIP)

Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services, provided an overview of the grants and cultural funding report, which included the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP) funding details, and the Civic Project Fund.

 

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That the Budget Standing Committee refer the report to staff to come back with a three-year implementation plan, commencing in 2016 and ending in 2018, to achieve the $3.28 / capita for the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program; and

That the funding source include special event parking fees of $1 and ticket event fees of $1; and

That the contribution from the Civic Project Fund increase to $50,000.

Motion to Refer Carried

 

6.4.

Infrastructure Levy Update

Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services

Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services, provided an overview of the infrastructure levy.

 

Moved By:  Mayor Sendzik

That the Budget Standing Committee accept the infrastructure levy as part of this year’s formula.

Carried

 

6.5.

Revised Budget Standing Committee Schedule

 

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That the Budget Standing Committee approve the updated meeting schedule and include a meeting to be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and

That the Budget Standing Committee cancel the budget meeting scheduled for February 4, 2016.

Carried

 

 

 

 

7.

Information Items

 

7.1.

Items attached to the agenda include:

         Report Referrals to the Budget Standing Committee

         2015-2016 Budget Standing Committee Work Plan

         Resident emails to the Budget Standing Committee

 

 

8.

Other Business

 

8.1.

Green Advisory Committee Budget

 

Moved By:  Councillor Haywood

That the Green Advisory Committee budget be increased to $38,000 from $20,000.

Carried

 

8.2.

2016 Draft Budget vs. 2015 Actuals

 

Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to prepare a comparison report of the 2016 Draft Budget and the 2015 Actuals.

Carried

 

8.3.

Dunlop Drive and West St. Catharines Older Adult Centres

 

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to not close the Dunlop Drive and West St. Catharines Older Adult Centres one hour early.

Carried

 

8.4.

Request to Move In-Camera

 

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That the Budget Standing Committee move In-Camera for the purpose of discussing items related to labour relations or employee negotiations.

Carried

The Budget Standing Committee meeting recessed at 4:49 p.m. to
In-Camera session and reconvened in open session at 5:02 p.m.

 

 

 

9.

Motion Arising from In-Camera Session

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That the Budget Standing Committee receive the information obtained In-Camera regarding labour relations or employee negotiations.

Carried

 

10.

Adjournment

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 5:02 p.m.

Carried

 

 

Certified Correct:       Confirmed by:

Council & Committee Coordinator

Committee Chair