The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Monday, October 17, 2016
Members Present:
Absent: | Councillor Mathew Siscoe, Chair Councillors Mike Britton (arrived at 5:05 p.m.), David A. Haywood,
Councillor N. Carlos Garcia |
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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 Jim Riddell, Director of Planning and Building Services 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 5:02 p.m.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
2.1. | • The City Clerk advised the Committee that Councillor Haywood had notified the City Clerk prior to the meeting that he would be pulling Item 7.3 from the Consent Agenda for Discussion. |
Seconded By: Mayor Sendzik
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda as amended for the meeting of Monday, October 24, 2016.
Carried
3. | Declarations of Interest |
There was none.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
4.1. | Budget Standing Committee Minutes of September 19, 2016 |
Seconded By: Mayor Sendzik
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the minutes of the meeting of the Budget Standing Committee held on Monday, October 24, 2016.
Carried
Chair's Report |
There was none.
6. | Discussion Items |
6.1. | St. Catharines Transit Commission 2017 New Crosstown Service Proposal |
Dave Sherlock, General Manager, St. Catharines Transit Commission provided an overview of the report regarding St. Catharines Transit's 2017 New Crosstown Service Proposal, and addressed the Committee regarding concerns raised about Sunday Paratransit Service. Mr. Sherlock answered questions from the Committee, and confirmed that St. Catharines Transit will be presenting at the Council Meeting of December 5, 2016.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the report regarding 2017 New Crosstown Service Proposal for consideration. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Haywood, Phillips, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
6.2. | Financial Management Services, Billing Sub Class Tax and Vacant Unit Reductions for Commercial and Industrial Property |
Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services, provided an overview of the report regarding Sub Class Tax and Vacant Unit Reductions for Commercial and Industrial Property. Ms. Douglas answered questions from the Committee.
Moved By: Councillor Britton
That the Budget Standing Committee request that the Region approve the subclass tax rate of 30% across the board. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Haywood, Phillips, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
6.3. | Financial Management Services, Billing Request for Niagara Region to Consider a Charitable Tax Rebate Program for Ethno Cultural Organizations
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Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services, provided an overview of the report regarding the Request for Niagara Region to Consider a Charitable Tax Rebate Program for Ethno Cultural Organizations. Ms. Douglas answered questions from the Committee.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive this report for consideration; and
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to connect with the Ethno Cultural Organizations to comment within 30 days regarding the report and recommendations submitted at the next Budget Standing Committee meeting, November 14, 2016. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Haywood, Phillips, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried as Amended
6.4. | Financial Management Services, Billing Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) – Property Tax Exemption |
Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services, provided an overview of the report regarding NRH – Property Tax Exemption. Ms. Douglas notified the Committee that the Niagara Region's Corporate Services Committee will be meeting regarding the NRH - Property Tax Exemption on October 19, 2016. Ms. Douglas answered questions from the Committee.
That the Budget Standing Committee receives the report related to NRH property tax exemption for information and consideration. FORTHWITH
...
That the Budget Standing Committee defer the report entitled "Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) Property Tax Exemption" to the Committee meeting of November 14, 2016, to allow for information to come forward from the October 19, 2016, Niagara Regional Corporate Services Committee meeting.
Motion to Defer Carried
6.5. | Financial Management Services, Accounting and Budget Clerk Memorandum - Capital Budget Forecast and Deferred Projects (Item 7.3 moved from Consent) |
Staff answered questions of the Committee regarding the memorandum about Capital Budget Forecast and Deferred Projects.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the memorandum regarding the Capital Budget Forecast and Deferred Projects. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Phillips, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays: Councillor Haywood
Carried
7. | Consent Reports |
7.1. | Memorandum: Fire and Emergency Management Services Expenditure Comparison 2000-2016 |
Items 7.1 and 7.2 were voted on together. See Item 7.2.
7.2. | Memorandum: Student and Casual Trends 2014-2016 |
That the Budget Standing Committee defer Item 7.1, Memorandum - Fire and Emergency Management Services Expenditure Comparison, and Item 7.2, Memorandum - Student and Casual Trends 2014-2016 to the Budget Standing Committee meeting of November 14, 2016.
Motion to Defer Carried
7.3. | Brought forward for discussion - See Item 6.5 Memorandum: Capital Budget Forecast and Deferred Projects |
8. | Other Business |
There was none.
9. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 6:07 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct:Confirmed by:
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Council & CommitteeCommittee Chair
Coordinator