The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Monday, November 28, 2016
Members Present: | Councillor Mathew Siscoe, Chair Councillors Mike Britton, N. Carlos Garcia, David A. Haywood, Bill Phillips (left at 5:46 p.m.), and Mayor Walter Sendzik (left at 5:18 p.m.) |
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Officials Present: | Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services Dave Wood, Director of Fire and Emergency Services/Fire Chief Brian York, Director of Economic Development and Government Relations Heather Salter, Interim Director of Legal and Clerks Services/City Solicitor Steve Solski, Executive Director of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Phil Cristi, Acting Director of Parks Recreation and Culture Services Cindy Pfeffer, Manager of Corporate Communications Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk Margaret Kreuk, Budget Analyst Maggie Riopelle, Corporate Research Officer Rebecca Alfieri, 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 3:30 p.m.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda as presented for the meeting of Monday, November 28, 2016.
Carried
3. | Declarations of Interest |
There were none.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
4.1. | Budget Standing Committee Meeting Minutes of November 14, 2016 |
Seconded By: Councillor Haywood
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the minutes of the meeting of the Budget Standing Committee held on Monday, November 14, 2016.
Carried
5. | Chair's Report |
The Chair notified the Committee that the Budget Standing Committee Meetings are now being live streamed.
6. | Discussion Items |
6.1. | Financial Management Services, Director (Kristine Douglas) Draft 2017 City Departmental Expenditure Budget |
Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services gave an overview of the Draft 2017 Department Expenditure Budget. The Budget Standing Committee discussed the report and Ms. Douglas answered questions from the Committee.
Councillor Britton asked that the minutes reflect he proposed a 1% budget guidance at the June 20, 2016 meeting, however the Budget Standing Committee voted in favour of Mayor Sendzik’s proposed 2% budget guidance.
That the Budget Standing Committee (BSC) receive the Draft 2017 City Departmental Expenditure Budget for information purposes. FORTHWITH
...
That staff provide a comparison by department of budget vs. forecast actuals, and variances for 2016, and of budget vs. actuals for years 2011 through 2015 for the January 16, 2017 Council meeting.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood
Nays: Councillors Phillips, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Lost
The Budget Standing Committee now voted on the original motion.
That the Budget Standing Committee (BSC) receive the Draft 2017 City Departmental Expenditure Budget for information purposes. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
6.2. | Financial Management Services, Director (Kristine Douglas) 1 - Third Quarter Operating Expenditure Summary 2 - Third Quarter Capital Project Report |
Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services, provided an overview of the reports regarding the Third Quarter Operating Expenditure Summary, and the Third Quarter Capital Project Report. Ms. Douglas answered questions from the Committee. Directions to staff have been noted and will be provided to the appropriate members of staff.
That the Budget Standing Committee (BSC) receive for information the Year-to-Date Report (YTD) for the third quarter of 2016. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee (BSC) receive for information the Third Quarter Capital Project report. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
6.3. | Departmental Budget Presentations 1 - CAO's Office, Communications (Cindy Pfeffer) 2 - CAO's Office, Economic Development and Tourism (Brian York) 3 - Fire and Emergency Management Services (Dave Wood) |
Cindy Pfeffer, Manager of Corporate Communications, gave an overview of the 2017 Communications Departmental Draft Budget, goals and actions, social media statistics, proposed budget highlights, and future challenges. Ms. Pfeffer answered questions from the Committee.
Brian York, Director of Economic Development and Government Relations, gave an overview of the 2017 Economic Development and Tourism Departmental Draft Budget, Economic Development's service levels, downtown highlights, tourism highlights, statistics, physician recruitment update, enterprise centre, goals and actions, proposed budget highlights, and future challenges. Mr. Wood answered questions from the Committee.
Dave Wood, Director of Fire and Emergency Services, gave an overview of the 2017 Fire and Emergency Services Departmental Draft Budget, service levels in the areas of training, suppression, and fire prevention, communications divisions, budget highlights, and future challenges. Mr. Wood answered questions from the Committee.
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 5:35 p.m. The Committee reconvened at 5:45 p.m.
Motion Arising from In-Camera
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the information provided during the
In-Camera session.
Vote was taken by show of hands
Carried
Mayor Sendzik and Councillor Phillips left the meeting and were not present for discussion nor the vote of this item.
Moved By: Councillor Britton
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Departmental Budget Presentations from the CAO's Office, Communications, the CAO's Office, Economic Development and Tourism, and Fire and Emergency Management Services; and
That staff prioritize revenue generation for Communications and set a target for additional revenue for 2017; and
That Communications report back on the costs and timing of including the standard of living report for 2017; and
That Fire and Emergency Management Services report back with additional costs required for educational full time officer and comparator municipalities. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.4. | CAO, Economic Development and Tourism Services (Brian York) Parks Recreation and Culture Services (Phil Cristi) Partnership Investment Opportunity: 2021 Canada Summer Games - Niagara Bid Committee Memorandum of Understanding |
Phil Cristi, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, gave an overview of the report regarding the Partnership Investment Opportunity: 2021 Canada Summer Games - Niagara Bid Committee Memorandum of Understanding. Mr. Cristi and Brian York, Director of Economic Development and Government Relations answered questions from the Committee.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the report for information purposes; and
That the Budget Standing Committee refer this report to Council for its consideration at the December 19, 2016 meeting; and
That a Debt Management Strategy be added to the report that goes to Council, with budget implications for this event to be brought before the BSC if the capital project is spread out over the four years. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, and Siscoe
Nays:
Motion to Refer Carried
7. | Consent Reports |
Note: The following two reports are for information purposes only for the November 28, 2016 BSC meeting - not for approval of the BSC
7.1. | 1 - Niagara Regional Housing Property Tax Exemption Analysis 2 - Financial Management Services, Billing - Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) Property Tax Exemption (Deferred by the Budget Standing Committee, October 17, 2016 to come back to the January 18, 2017 Budget Standing Committee meeting) |
That the Niagara Regional Housing Property Tax Exemption Analysis Plan, and the Financial Management Services report regarding Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) Property Tax Exemption reports be received for information purposes. FORTHWITH
Approved on Consent
7.2. | Budget Committee Workplan 2016-2017 |
That the BSC receive the revised 2016-2017 Budget Standing Committee Work Plan for information purposes. FORTHWITH
Approved on Consent
8. | Other Business |
8.1. | Budget Telephone Town Hall Discussion (Councillor Haywood) (Deferred by the Budget Standing Committee, November 14, 2016, Item 8.1) |
Councillor Haywood requested that the Budget Standing Committee have a discussion regarding the Telephone Town Hall prior to the event.
8.2. | Recreational Subsidization Rates (Councillor Haywood) (Deferred by the Budget Standing Committee, November 14, 2016, Item 8.2) |
Councillor Haywood requested this item be placed on the same agenda the Parks, Recreation and Culture Services 2017 Departmental Draft Budget presents to the Standing Budget Committee.
9. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 6:22 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct:Confirmed by:
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Council & Committee CoordinatorCommittee Chair