The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Monday, November 14, 2016
Members Present:
Absent: | Councillor Mathew Siscoe, Chair Councillors Mike Britton, N. Carlos Garcia, Bill Phillips, and Mayor Walter Sendzik
Councillor David A. Haywood |
| |
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 |
The Committee Chair, Councillor Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 5:00 p.m.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
That, due to the absence of Councillor Haywood, the Budget Standing Committee defer Items 8.1 and 8.2 to the next meeting.
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda for the meeting of Monday, November 14, 2016, as amended.
Carried as Amended
3. | Declarations of Interest |
There were none.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
Budget Standing Committee Minutes of October 17, 2016
4.1. |
Seconded By: Councillor Garcia
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the minutes of the meeting of the Budget Standing Committee held on Monday, October 17, 2016.
Carried
5. | Chair's Report |
The Chair provided a brief report.
6. | Discussion Items |
6.1. | Parks, Recreation and Culture Services - (Phil Cristi) Waiving of Fees Policy |
That the Budget Standing Committee (BSC) approve the Waiving of Fees Policy; and
That the BSC direct staff to provide an upset limit of $12,500 for 2017 and future years for waiving of fees; and
That staff monitor Council approved amounts; and
That the BSC direct staff to provide an annual report to summarize all requests to waive fees and the amount of waived fees approved; and
That the BSC direct staff to remove from the Waiving of Fees Policy Item 2, (Applicants may request for a maximum of two City fees to be waived for any given festival or event), listed under Waiving of Fees; and
That the BSC direct staff to notify the organizations and festivals listed in the background of this report, and any other relevant organizations, of the new policy and its submission deadlines; and
Further, that the BSC direct staff to remove from the Waiving of Fees Policy Item 7 (Organizations that are denied may appeal the decision by making a presentation to the Social Sustainability Committee (SSC). The SSC shall determine if the appeal can be referred to City Council for reconsideration.), listed under General Principles, to allow new events to request the waiving of fees even if they missed the deadline, as long as funding is still available. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Phillips, Mayor Sendzik, and Chair Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.2. | Planning and Building Services (Jim Riddell and Judy Pihach) Options for Allocations of Revenues from 2016 Planning Fees |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive and approve this report; and
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to include language in the contract for the Project Manager to ensure the individual can perform the role of expediter for projects of significance; and
That the Amanda System upgrade allow applicants to track both Planning and Building Permit applications.
...
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to use the funds toward an Economic Development Expediter position as opposed to a contract Project Manager position.
Yeas: Councillor Britton
Nays: Councillors Garcia, Phillips, Mayor Sendzik, and Chair Siscoe
Amendment Lost
That the Budget Standing Committee move to In-Camera for advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.
Carried
The Committee recessed to the In-Camera session at 5:57 p.m. The Committee reconvened at 6:04 p.m.
Moved By: Councillor Phillips
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the information provided during the In-Camera session.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Phillips, Mayor Sendzik, and Chair Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
The Budget Standing Committee now voted on the original motion as amended.
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Garcia, Phillips, and Chair Siscoe
Nays: Councillor Britton
Carried as Amended
6.3. | Financial Management Services (Kristine Douglas) Internal Audit Function - Further Information |
That the report respecting the alternatives for an internal audit function be received for information; and
That staff be directed to prepare a further report that addresses the first item requested at the August 29, 2016 meeting of the Budget Standing Committee, that being an evaluation of the alternatives for conducting a complete organizational effectiveness study combined with a core services review; and
That staff be directed to specifically look at the City of Mississauga and investigate if there are any other results from communities that have completed reviews and include their costs and savings; and
That staff be directed to include the Comprehensive Outline of Internal Operations Savings for the City of Guelph; and
Further, that the report come back to the Budget Standing Committee on January 25, 2017.
Yeas: Councillors Phillips, Britton, Garcia, Mayor Sendzik, and Chair Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.4. | Memorandum Fire and Emergency Management Services Expenditure Comparison 1977-2016 (Update of deferred Memo of October 17, 2016) |
That the BSC receive the report for information; and
That staff be directed to prepare a report projecting what FEMS total expenses in 2016 would have been had the City had a hybrid force that included professional firefighters and a complement of volunteer firefighters at 30%, 50% and 70% of the total force; and
That staff be directed to report on the roadblocks and challenges, as well as the solutions, with this proposal of a partial volunteer system.
Yeas: Councillors Garcia, Phillips, Britton, Mayor Sendzik, and Chair Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.5. | Financial Management Services (Kristine Douglas) Request for Niagara Region to Consider a Charitable Tax Rebate Program for Ethno-Cultural Organizations (Referred at the meeting of October 17, 2016; Memo and Report attached to agenda) |
Whereas several ethno-cultural groups operating in the City of St. Catharines are registered as charitable organizations and own real property for the purposes of providing meeting spaces and cultural services to the community; and
Whereas real property valuations and tax classifications can create a financial burden on ethno-cultural charitable organizations and the City has limited policy options to provide assistance; and
Whereas the City of St. Catharines tax policy guidance is set forth by Niagara Region;
Therefore Be It Resolved that St. Catharines City Council request that Niagara Regional Council support the consideration of a tax rebate program for ethno-cultural centres registered as charitable organizations and owning real property in the City of St. Catharines in the development of the 2017 tax policy with the purpose of providing an increased tax rebate program for cultural groups registered as a charitable organization; and that a financial impact and implementation report be presented to the Regional Budget Committee for consideration in the 2017 tax policy; and
That the BSC direct staff to create a transitional grant program for 50% of the city's portion of property taxes for those same ethno-cultural centres under the SCCIP program rules; and
Further, that the money be added into the SCCIP program and included in the budget. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Phillips, Mayor Sendzik, and Chair Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.6. | Memorandum Student and Casual Trends, 2014-2016 (Deferred at the meeting of October 17, 2016) |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the memorandum regarding student and casual trends for information purposes.
Yeas: Councillors Phillips, Britton, Garcia, Mayor Sendzik, and Chair Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.7. | Budget Committee Workplan 2016-2017 (following Item 6.6, the Committee moved this item from Consent Item 7.1 to Discussion) |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the 2016-2017 Work Plan for information purposes; and
That the Legal and Clerks Services departmental budget presentation be moved from November 28 to December 13; and
That staff be directed to include the comprehensive asset management plan on the work plan, including updates on the Morningstar Mill and Robertson Hall; and
Further, that staff be directed to forward their own list of recommended buildings for public and private partnerships or ones that should be surplus.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Phillips, Mayor Sendzik, and Chair Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
7. | Consent Reports |
7.1. | Budget Committee Workplan 2016-2017 |
That this item be moved from Consent to Discussion. (See Item 6.7.)
Carried
8. | Other Business |
8.1. | Budget Telephone Town Hall Discussion (Councillor Haywood) |
During Adoption of the Agenda, this item was deferred to the next meeting.
8.2. | Recreational Subsidization Rates (Councillor Haywood) |
During Adoption of the Agenda, this item was deferred to the next meeting.
9. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct:Confirmed by:
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Council CoordinatorCommittee Chair