The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Members Present: | Councillor Mathew Siscoe, Chair Councillors Mike Britton, N. Carlos Garcia, David A. Haywood (arrived at 3:43 p.m.; left at 5:16 p.m.), Bill Phillips (left at 5:16 p.m.), and Mayor Walter Sendzik (arrived at 3:32 p.m.) |
| |
Officials Present: | Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services Monique Belair, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire and Emergency Management Services Larry Jones, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire and Emergency Management Services Phil Cristi, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Services Dan Dillon, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk Cindy Pfeffer, Manager of Corporate Communications Trish Cardwell, Manager of Customer Services 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 3:31 p.m.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
Seconded By: Councillor Britton
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda for the meeting of Wednesday, January 18, 2017, as presented.
Carried
3. | Declarations of Interest |
There were none declared.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
4.1. |
Seconded By: Councillor Phillips
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the minutes of its meeting held on Monday, December 12, 2016.
Carried
5. | Chair's Report |
The Chair advised the Committee there is a need to hold additional budget meetings. He asked the Committee to advise staff of their availability.
6. | Discussion Items |
6.1. | Corporate Services (Shelley Chemnitz) Departmental Budgets - Outstanding Information Items |
The Commissioner of Corporate Services, Shelley Chemnitz, provided an overview of the report regarding the outstanding information items as they relate to the departmental budgets. Various staff members were on hand to answer the Committee' questions.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the attached memorandums for information purposes. FORTHWITH
...
That the Budget Standing Committee refer the Fire Safety Public Educator report back to staff for more information regarding budgetary increases of 0%, inflationary, and inflationary +1%. FORTHWITH
Motion to Refer Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee refer the Fire Services Water Rescue Program report back to staff to provide a four year comparison of recoveries completed contrasted with how many lives have been saved, and also include information about comparable communities that offer this type of service; and
That staff be directed to investigate how the Swift Water Rescue Program came into existence without Council approval; and
That staff be directed to prepare a further report identifying fire programs and services that have been added over the last 10 years that did not come through Council for approval. FORTHWITH
Motion to Refer Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to include the Quality of Life report in the 2017 budget. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Garcia, Phillips, and Haywood
Nays: Councillors Britton and Siscoe
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to report back, before the tabling of the budget, on the feasibility of adding $50,000 to the Parks, Recreation and Culture Services budget from the Civic Project Fund for one year for community gardens, including how much it would cost to implement a community garden. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to prepare a follow up report on how an inflationary increase would affect the service levels of CitizensFirst. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, and Siscoe
Nays: Councillor Phillips and Mayor Sendzik
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to reach out to the police and school boards regarding the feasibility of a partnership with respect to school crossing guards. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
Moved By: Mayor Sendzik
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to change the advertising revenue target to $100,000 for advertising on City properties and consider adding the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre into the third party advertising contract. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the attached memorandums for information purposes. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
Councillors Haywood and Phillips left the meeting.
6.2. | Financial Management Services (Kristine Douglas) 2017 Non-Tax Revenue Projection Report |
The Director of Financial Management Services, Kristine Douglas, provided an overview of the 2017 Non-Tax Revenue Projection report. Ms. Chemnitz provided an overview of the Details of Proposed Tax Levy / Draft 2017 Median Household Impact City Portion, which was distributed to the Committee. The Committee Chair advised this reflects what has been presented to the Committee at this point. Ms. Douglas and Ms. Chemnitz answered the Committee's questions.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive this report for information purposes; and
That staff be directed to prepare a further report regarding tax appeals and write offs, including information on historic trend lines; and
That staff be directed to present possible reductions which would lead up to an overall (blended) net 2.1% increase. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.3. | Corporate Services (Shelley Chemnitz) 2017 Telephone Town Hall Results |
The Commissioner of Corporate Services, Shelley Chemnitz, advised the Committee that the Telephone Town Hall had more participants, responses and polling. She advised the information was contained within the report, and she would answer questions at the next meeting.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive this report for information purposes. FORTHWITH
Carried
7. | Information Items |
7.1. | Draft 2017 City Departmental Expenditure Budget (FMS) |
7.2. | Budget Committee Workplan 2016-2017 |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive Item 7.1, Draft City 2017 Departmental Expenditure Budget report, and Item 7.2, Budget Committee Workplan 2016-2017, for information purposes. FORTHWITH
Carried
8. | Other Business |
There was none.
9. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 5:47 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct:Confirmed by:
______________________________________________________
Council & Committee CoordinatorCommittee Chair