The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, December 12, 2016

The Committee Chair, Councillor Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 3:35 p.m.

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda for the meeting of Monday, December 12, 2016, as presented.

Carried

There were none declared.

There were none.

The Chair had nothing to report at this time.

1 - Operations Commission - Transportation and Environmental Services

Dan Dillon, Director of TES, provided an overview of the department and the draft departmental budget which contained a 3.07% increase over last year's budget. Mr. Dillon answered the Committee's questions.

2 - Operations Commission - Parks, Recreation and Culture Services

Phil Cristi, Director of PRCS, provided an overview of the department and the draft departmental budget which contained a 0.99% increase over last year's budget. Mr. Cristi answered the Committee's questions.

3 - Planning and Building Services

Jim Riddell, Director of PBS, provided an overview of the department and the draft departmental budget which contained a 0% increase over last year's budget. Mr. Riddell answered the Committee's questions.

Moved By:  Mayor Sendzik

That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Draft Departmental Budget presentations from Transportation and Environmental Services, Parks, Recreation and Culture Services and Planning and Building Services; and

That the Committee direct TES to prepare an additional report showing federal funding and how it looks against the budget; and

That staff be directed to have a discussion with the St. Catharines Downtown Association regarding the possibility of cost sharing street sweeping in the downtown area; and

That TES be directed to bring back the budget with more savings, while including (1) reinstating the deferral of improvements to City Hall (meeting rooms); and (2) reinstating the deferral of the energy audit back in to the budget, and include information on the energy audit (referencing the streetlight conversion to LED) that reflects the savings; and

That PRCS be directed to remove the Meridian Centre out of the PRCS budget and create its own line item; and

That PRCS defer the summer closure of Bill Burgoyne Arena for lacrosse usage, approximately $7,000 for June and July; and

That PBS be directed to include an Application Expediter position in the budget for PBS and for Economic Development, splitting the cost; and

That the Committee direct that the dollar impact of deferred items be included in department presentations; and

Further, that the Civic Square Study come out of the Civic Project Fund. FORTHWITH

...

Councillor Britton asked that the PBS budget be voted on separately. Councillor Haywood asked that all three be voted on separately.

That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Draft Departmental Budget presentation from Transportation and Environmental Services; and

That the Committee direct TES to prepare an additional report showing federal funding and how it looks against the budget; and

That staff be directed to have a discussion with the St. Catharines Downtown Association regarding the possibility of cost sharing street sweeping in the downtown area; and

That TES be directed to bring back the budget with more savings, while including (1) reinstating the deferral of improvements to City Hall (meeting rooms); and (2) reinstating the deferral of the energy audit back in to the budget, and include information on the energy audit (referencing the streetlight conversion to LED) that reflects the savings. FORTHWITH

Yeas:Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, and Chair Siscoe

Nays:

Carried

That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Draft Departmental Budget presentation from Parks, Recreation and Culture Services; and

That PRCS be directed to remove the Meridian Centre out of the PRCS budget and create its own line item; and

That PRCS defer the summer closure of Bill Burgoyne Arena for lacrosse usage, approximately $7,000 for June and July. FORTHWITH

Yeas:Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, and Siscoe

Nays:

Carried

That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Draft Departmental Budget presentation from Planning and Building Services; and

That PBS be directed to include an Application Expediter position in the budget for PBS and for Economic Development, splitting the cost; and

That the Committee direct that the dollar impact of deferred items be included in department presentations; and

Further, that the Civic Square Study come out of the Civic Project Fund. FORTHWITH

Yeas:Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Garcia and Siscoe

Nays:Councillors Britton and Haywood

Carried

This item was deferred to the meeting of December 13, 2016.

This item was deferred to the meeting of December 13, 2016.

This item was deferred to the meeting of December 13, 2016.

There was none.

Moved By:  Councillor Haywood

There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

Carried

Certified Correct:                                                       Confirmed by:

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Council & Committee Coordinator                             Committee Chair