The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Monday, January 23, 2017
Members Present: | Councillor Mathew Siscoe, Chair Councillors Mike Britton (arrived at 5:37 p.m.), N. Carlos Garcia, David A. Haywood, Bill Phillips, and Mayor Walter Sendzik (arrived at 5:54 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 Steve Solski, Executive Director of FirstOntario 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 Chair, Councillor Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 5:34 p.m.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
- The Chair advised the Committee that Item 6.3, Parks Renewal Plan report, has been deferred to the meeting of January 25, 2017
- Councillor Garcia advised he would like to add a motion under Other Business regarding a report from Fire and Emergency Management Services
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda for the meeting of Monday, January 23, 2017, as amended.
Carried as Amended
3. | Declarations of Interest |
There were none declared.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
There are none at this time.
5. | Chair's Report |
The Chair advised that additional meetings will be added to the Budget Standing Committee schedule, with Wednesday, February 1, 2017, being one date.
6. | Discussion Items |
6.1. | Budget Presentations 1 - St. Catharines Transit Commission 2 - St. Catharines Public Library (NOTE: The items attached to the agenda were presented to Council at the meeting of December 5, 2016, and are for information purposes only. Updated presentations were given to the Budget Standing Committee on January 23, 2017.) |
1 - St. Catharines Transit Commission
Dave Sherlock, General Manager, along with Tim Luey, Manager of Finance and Administration, St. Catharines Transit Commission, presented the Commission's 2017 Budget to the Budget Standing Committee, which was presented to Council on December 9, 2016. Mr. Sherlock and Mr. Luey answered the Committee's questions.
2 - St. Catharines Public Library
Jack Foster, Business and Facilities Administrator, and Lilita Stripnieks, Chief Executive Officer, St. Catharines Public Library presented the Library's 2017 Budget to the Budget Standing Committee, which was presented to Council on December 9, 2016. Mr. Foster and Ms. Stripnieks answered the Committee's questions.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the presentations by the St. Catharines Transit Commission and the St. Catharines Public Library for information purposes; and
That the Budget Standing Committee direct the St. Catharines Transit Commission to review the budget and come back with a total increase of 2.1%, and include the actuals for 2016; and
That the Budget Standing Committee direct the St. Catharines Public Library to provide more information for the February 1, 2017 meeting regarding the change in salaries and benefits from 2015 to 2016; and
Further, that the Budget Standing Committee direct the Library to provide a full accounting of the reserves. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.2. | FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (Steve Solski) 2017 Budget - Additional Information Requests |
Steve Solski, Executive Director of FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, provided a brief overview of the memorandum regarding the additional information requested respecting the 2017 budget. Mr. Solski answered the Committee's questions.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the memorandum for information purposes; and
That the Committee direct staff to revisit the PAC budget to reach the original 12% target; and
That staff be directed to provide a further explanation for the increase in costs for concessions, marketing and consulting fees and provide additional information with respect to what ticket price increases will look like in the future and how they would impact the revenue drive. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
6.3. | Parks, Recreation and Culture Services (Phil Cristi) Park Renewal Plan |
During the Adoption of the Agenda, this item was deferred to the meeting of January 25, 2017.
6.4. | Legal and Clerks Services (Bonnie Nistico-Dunk) Municipal Elections and Cost Sharing with the Niagara Region |
Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk, provided an overview of the report regarding Municipal Elections and Cost Sharing with Niagara. She answered the Committee's questions.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the information contained in Report LCS-B002-2017, Municipal Election Expenses - Cost Sharing with the Region of Niagara; and
That the Clerk be directed to continue to work with the Regional Clerk as it relates to cost and in-kind sharing with the Region of Niagara for the 2018 Municipal Election; and
That staff target a 30% cost recovery ratio. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
7. | Information Items |
7.1. | Draft 2017 City Departmental Expenditure Budget (FMS) |
7.2. | Budget Committee Work Plan 2016-2017 |
The Budget Standing Committee had no comments, questions or concerns regarding the information items.
8. | Other Business |
8.1. | Service Levels - Fire and Emergency Management Services |
That, given its critical importance, the 10-year history of changes that have been made to FEMS service levels without Council approval, requested at the BSC meeting on January 18, 2017, be available for consideration prior to the budget deliberations; and
That the information provided include the 10 year average increase for Fire Services budget, a breakdown of the training schedule, a breakdown of the different services provided, identify what the cost per person per year is to maintain the certification for each service level provided (i.e. swift water, ice and rope rescues); and report back on any programs that have been deleted (i.e. HAZMAT). FORTHWITH
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
8.2. | Parks, Recreation and Culture Services and Economic Development Budgets |
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to not change the Parks, Recreation and Culture Services and Economic Development budgets as per the previous directions given to staff regarding their department budgets.
...
Moved By: Councillor Phillips
That the Budget Standing Committee suspend the rules in accordance with Procedural By-law 2015-170, as amended, article A4, Suspension of Rules, to consider the request at this time.
Carried
The Committee now voted on the main motion.
Yeas: Mayor Sendzik, Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
9. | Adjournment |
That, there being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct: Confirmed by:
______________________________ ______________________________
Council and Committee Coordinator Committee Chair