The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Monday, May 09, 2016
Members Present: | Mayor Walter Sendzik (left at 4:21 p.m.) Councillors Mike Britton, N. Carlos Garcia, David A. Haywood, Bill Phillips, and Mathew Siscoe (Chair) |
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Officials Present: | Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services Dan Dillon, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk Margaret Kreuk, Budget Analyst Maggie Riopelle, Executive Research Assistant Rebecca Alfieri, Council & Committee Coordinator |
Call the Meeting to Order |
Committee Chair, Councillor Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 3:04 p.m.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda as presented for the meeting of Monday, May 9, 2016.
Carried
3. | Declarations of Interest |
There were none declared.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
4.1. | Budget Standing Committee, April, 25, 2016 |
That the Budget Standing Committee approve the minutes of the meeting held on Monday, April 25, 2016.
Carried
Chair's Report |
There was no report.
6. | Discussion Items |
6.1. | Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services Re: Terms of Reference Amendments |
Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services, provided an overview of the revised Terms of Reference.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the recommended amendments to the Terms of Reference for consideration as follows:
That the Capital Budget for Water and Wastewater, be added to the Terms of Reference under ‘Other’; and
That the processes of the Budget Standing Committee align with Council’s strategic Plan also be added to the Terms of Reference; and
That the Budget Standing Committee hold monthly meetings; and
That the composition of the Budget Standing Committee be an odd number of members by having one less member on the committee; and
That ‘Budget Guidance’ be amended to read ‘Expenditure Increase’; and
That the Budget Guidance (Expenditure Increase) be determined by the Budget Standing Committee and be sent to Council for approval; and
That community stakeholder consultations be added to the formal budget process; and
That an asset management subcommittee made of community leaders be created to make recommendations on the fate of City assets in collaboration with assets staff have identified; and
That Budget Guidance be on the Corporation as a whole; and
Further, that Budget Guidance be by each department separately.
...
Councillor Britton requested the Committee vote on each part of the motion separately.
That the Capital Budget for Water and Wastewater, be added to the Terms of Reference under ‘Other’.
Carried
That the processes of the Budget Standing Committee align with Council’s strategic Plan also be added to the Terms of Reference.
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee hold monthly meetings.
Carried
That the composition of the Budget Standing Committee be an odd number of members by having one less member on the committee.
Lost
That ‘Budget Guidance’ be amended to read ‘Expenditure Increase’.
Carried
That the Budget Guidance (Expenditure Increase) be determined by the Budget Standing Committee and be sent to Council for approval.
Carried
That community stakeholder consultations be added to the formal budget process.
Carried
That an asset management sub-committee made of community leaders be created to make recommendations on the fate of City assets in collaboration with assets staff have identified; and
That the Budget Standing Committee defer this item until after the community stakeholder consultations take place.
Motion to Defer Carried
That Budget Guidance be on the Corporation as a whole.
Carried
That Budget Guidance be by each department separately.
Lost on a Tie
That the Budget Standing Committee refer back to staff for a report on what a zero based budget looks like, to include corporate best practices.
Carried
Budget Standing Committee - Philosophy Discussion (April 25, 2016, Motion passed by the Budget Standing Committee: "That the Committee direct staff to include on the agenda for May 9, 2016, a discussion of the Committee's philosophy") |
The Chair clarified the purpose of the discussion on the Committee's mandate.
That the Budget process begin with 2016 expenditure increase, as is, and any and/or all additional increases and/or decreases be explained including staff moves within the corporation.
....
That The Budget Standing Committee defer this item to the Budget Guidance meeting of June 20, 2016.
Carried
6.3. | Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Support Services Re: Budget Community Consultation - Tentative dates: May 18, 2016 (Public), May 25, 2016 (Business Leaders), and May 31, 2016 (Social and Ethno-Cultural Groups) |
That the Budget Standing Committee approve the recommended scheduled dates for public consultations being May 25, 2016 for Business Leaders, May 31, 2016 for Social and Ethno-Cultural groups, with the Public engagement being held in June, 2016; and
That the Budget Standing Committee hold no public survey and the chair provide the necessary meeting structure during the public consultations to encourage input and feedback from the attendees; and
Further, that invitations sent by staff encourage participants to raise comments or concerns related to the organization or groups they serve.
Carried as Amended
6.4. | Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services Re: Removal of Non-Required Reserves and Reserve Fund Accounts |
Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services provided an explanation of the Reserve Balances and reasons for closures. Ms. Douglas answered questions from the Committee.
That the Budget Standing Committee approve the closure of the fourteen (14) Reserves and Reserve Funds listed in the Table 1 below; and
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Reserves and Reserve Funds March 31, 2016, balances for information; and
That the Budget Standing Committee support the recommendation to not charge the $1 surcharge on tickets for non-sporting events at the Meridian Centre.
Carried
6.5. | Bryan Shynal, Commissioner of Operations Re: Facility Surplus Update: Category 3 Buildings, Haig Bowl Arena |
Dan Dillon, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services provided an overview of the Category 3 Facilities - Status Update report, and included the status of the Haig Bowl (Category 2), stating a report would be coming forward from the Recreation Facilities and Programming Master Plan Implementation Advisory Committee (RFPMPIAC) following their May 17, 2016 meeting. Mr. Dillon advised a memo would be provided to the Budget Standing Committee with the outcome of the meeting on May 10, 2016, regarding the Morningstar Mill. Mr. Dillon answered questions from the Committee regarding the different facilities.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Category 3 facilities update for information purposes.
Carried
7. | Information Items |
7.1. | Revised 2017 Work Plan |
That the draft budget be brought back to the Budget Standing Committee by the November 28, 2016 Committee meeting.
Carried
7.2. | Budget Standing Committee Schedule |
That the Budget Standing Committee meeting Schedule continue to remain as is with monthly meetings.
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee move the start time of meetings to 3:30 p.m., starting with the June 20, 2016 meeting.
Carried
8. | Other Business |
There was none this evening.
9. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, this meeting was adjourned at 5:04 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct: Confirmed by:
Council & Committee Coordinator | Committee Chair |