The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Members Present:
Absent: | Councillor Mathew Siscoe, Chair (arrived at 3:56 p.m.) Councillors Mike Britton, N. Carlos Garcia, Bill Phillips, and Mayor Walter Sendzik
Councillor David A. Haywood |
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Officials Present: | Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services Bryan Shynal, Commissioner of Operations Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services Heather Salter, Interim Director of Legal and Clerks Services Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services Steve Solski, Executive Director of Performing Arts Centre 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 Vice-Chair, Councillor Britton, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 3:33 p.m.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
The Clerk, Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, advised of the following additions to tonight's agenda:
• three items that were deferred from December 12, 2016 meeting:
- 6.2 – Corporate Services, Commissioner – Telephone Town Hall Format and Polling Questions
- 7.1 – Financial Management Services, Director – Draft 2017 City Departmental Expenditure Budget; and
- 7.2 – Budget Committee Workplan 2016-2017; and
• an In-Camera item, a verbal report from the Director of Corporate Support Services regarding labour relations or employee negotiations and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agendas for the meeting of Tuesday, December 13, 2016, as amended.
Carried as Amended
3. | Declarations of Interest |
None were declared at this time.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
4.1. |
Seconded By: Councillor Garcia
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the minutes of the meeting held on Monday, November 28, 2016.
Carried
5. | Chair's Report |
There was no Chair's report this evening.
6. | Discussion Items |
6.1. | Departmental Budget Presentations 1 - Legal and Clerks Services (Heather Salter) 2 - Performing Arts Centre (Steve Solski) 3 - Corporate Services Commission, Corporate Support Services (Jeanette Pillitteri) 4 - Corporate Services Commission, Financial Management Services (Kristine Douglas) |
1 - Legal and Clerks Services
Heather Salter, Interim Director of Legal and Clerks Services/City Solicitor, provided an overview of the department and the draft departmental budget which contained a 1.76% increase over last year's budget. Ms. Salter answered the Committee's questions.
Councillor Siscoe, Chair, arrived and assumed the chair.
Moved by Councillor Britton
That the Budget Standing Committee recess to In-Camera session for the purpose of discussing labour relations or employee negotiations as it pertains to school crossing guard wages.
Carried
The Budget Standing Committee recessed to the In-Camera session at 4:06 p.m. The Committee reconvened in open session at 4:12 p.m.
Motion Arising from In-Camera Session
Moved by Councillor Britton
That the Committee receive the information from the City Clerk regarding labour relations as it relates to school crossing guard wages and benefits.
Carried
The meeting continued with the next staff presentation
2 - FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Steve Solski, Executive Director, provided an overview of the department and the draft departmental budget which contained a 31.56% increase over last year's budget. Mr. Solski answered the Committee's questions.
3 - Corporate Services Commission, Corporate Support Services
Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services, provided an overview of the department and the draft departmental budget which contained a 1.41% increase over last year's budget. Ms. Pillitteri answered the Committee's questions.
4 - Corporate Services Commission, Financial Management Services
Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services, provided an overview of the department and the draft departmental budget which contained a 0.54% increase over last year's budget. Ms. Douglas answered the Committee's questions.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Departmental Budget Presentations from Legal and Clerks Services, the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, Corporate Support Services, and Financial Management Services; and
That the Committee direct LCS staff to add back into the budget one-quarter of the money for elections and look at best practices of other municipalities, including looking at cost sharing; and
That LCS staff be directed to send a letter from the Committee to the Region asking about cost recovery for municipal elections; and
That LCS staff be directed to investigate whether or not to set up a litigation reserve; and
That staff be directed to look at the funding options used in comparator municipalities for the school crossing guard program; and
That staff be directed to develop a five year forecast for expenses and revenue for the PAC; and
That staff be directed to change the negative figures presented in the PAC slideshow so it is presented in a similar format to the other departmental budgets; and
That the Committee direct that the budget be sent back to PAC staff and report on what it would look like with 12% and 24% increases to net expenditures; and
Further, that the Committee direct CSS staff to illustrate where the savings are coming from this year to compensate for the 7.1% increase, including consolidation information such as efficiencies and value for dollar. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.2. | St. Catharines Public Library and St. Catharines Transit Commission Budgets - Referred to Budget Standing Committee by Council December 5, 2016 Note: Discussion required regarding bringing Library and Transit to BSC for presentations - tentative January 23 (Shelley Chemnitz) |
That the Budget Standing Committee request the St. Catharines Public Library Board and the St. Catharines Transit Commission present to the Committee. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.3. | Corporate Services, Commissioner Telephone Town Hall Format and Polling Questions (Deferred by the Budget Standing Committee at the meeting of Dec. 12/16) |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the information from the Commissioner of Corporate Services regarding the Telephone Town Hall format and polling questions. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
7. | In-Camera Session |
7.1. | Move to In-Camera to Approve In-Camera Minutes of November 14 and November 28, 2016 |
That the Budget Standing Committee recess to the In-Camera session.
Carried
The Budget Standing Committee recessed to the In-Camera session at 6:23 p.m. The Committee reconvened in open session at 6:42 p.m.
7.2. | Motion Arising from In-Camera Session Corporate Support Services Verbal Report regarding Labour Relations or Employee Negotiations and Advice that is Subject to Solicitor-Client Privilege, including Communications Necessary for that Purpose |
That the Budget Standing Committee does now reconvene from the In-Camera session; and
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the verbal report from the Director of Corporate Support Services regarding labour relations or employee negotiations and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
8. | Information Items |
8.1. | Draft 2017 City Departmental Expenditure Budget (FMS) (Deferred by the Budget Standing Committee at the meeting of December 12, 2016) |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive Financial Management Services' Draft 2017 City Departmental Expenditure Budget.
Carried
8.2. | Budget Committee Workplan - 2016 / 2017 (Deferred by the Budget Standing Committee at the meeting of December 12, 2016) |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the Budget Committee Workplan 2016-2017; and
That staff be directed to provide, via a memorandum, the estimated 2017 revenue projections prior to the Telephone Town Hall meeting.
Carried
9. | Other Business |
9.1. | Replacement of Furniture at Kiwanis Aquatics Centre |
That staff be directed to review the feasibility of replacing the furniture at the Kiwanis Aquatics Centre by using $9,000 from the 2017 Capital Budget to add to the existing amount in the 2016 Capital Budget in order to purchase the furniture now, and report back as soon as possible.
Carried
10. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct:Confirmed by:
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Council & Committee CoordinatorCommittee Chair