The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, February 27, 2017

There were none brought forward from Consent.

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council approve the Consent Agenda, save and except those items brought forward for discussion. FORTHWITH

Yeas:Councillors Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:

Carried

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of February 27, 2017

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

The Budget Standing Committee (BSC) has reviewed the 2017 Draft Operating Budget and recommends the following:

That the 2017 Operating budget as presented be approved; and

That the by-law to deem one-third of the remuneration paid to Members of Council as expenses incident to the discharge of their duties be maintained; and

That the 2017 tax levy include a one-percent levy for infrastructure; and

That an Election (ER) Reserve be established; and

That beginning with 2019 operating budget, 25% of the anticipated election costs be allocated to the Election Reserve through the annual budget process; and

That a Litigation/Insurance (LI) Reserve be established; and

That a Meridian Centre Capital Fund (MCCF) Reserve be established; and

That a Meridian Centre Event Fund Reserve be established; and

That that a portion of the 2016 year end surplus be allocated to following reserves:

•         Tax Rate (TR) Stabilization Reserve $450,000; and

•         Winter Control Program (WCP) Reserve $150,000; and

•         Litigation/Insurance (LI) Reserve $200,000; and

•         Election (ER) Reserve $400,000; and

That Council approve the Waiving of Fees Policy, attached as Appendix 3; and

That Council approve an annual upset limit of $12,500 for 2017 and future years for waiving of fees; and

That the increased revenues from 2016 Planning fees be used for Amanda System upgrades to allow applicants to track both Planning and Building Permit applications and to also fund a Project Manager Contract position for one year that can perform the role of expediter for projects of significance; and

That a transitional grant program for 50% of the City’s portion of property taxes for ethno-cultural centres registered as charitable organizations and owning real property in the City of St. Catharines be approved and follow the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP) program rules and funds of $40,000 be provided for this initiative from the Civic Project Fund (CPF) in 2017; and

That an Application Expediter position be included in the 2017 budget and the cost for this position be shared by Planning and Building Services and Economic Development; and

That the Civic Square Study in the amount of $120,000 be funded by the Civic Project Fund; and

That the 2017 operating budget include the cost of a Quality of Life report; and

That Council direct LCS staff to continue to work with the Regional Clerk as it relates to costs and in-kind sharing with the Region of Niagara for the 2018 Municipal Election and that staff target a 30% cost recovery ratio; and

That $25,000 be included in the 2017 operating budget and to be funded from the Civic Project Fund for the purpose of doing community gardens within the City; and

That Council approve retaining an organizational effectiveness consultant to evaluate the Senior Management structure down to the Director and Deputy Director level with a maximum budget of $30,000; and

That a sub-committee made up of three BSC members and staff be formed that will review and approve the RFP for the study, as well as be the ongoing contact with the selected consultant and the recipient of the results and recommendations from the consultant; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-laws. FORTHWITH

...

Amendment One

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

That the Civic Square Study ($120,000 from the Civic Project Fund) be removed from the budget.

Yeas:Councillors Kushner, Sorrento, Stevens, Britton, Garcia, and Haywood

Nays:Councillors Phillips, Siscoe, Williamson, Bellows, Elliott, Harris, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Councillor Siscoe advised that, at the appropriate time, he will make the following amendment to his main motion: That the Civic Square Study be funded by the Civic Project Fund, to an upset limit of $120,000.

Amendment Two

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

That the $17,000 for the Quality of Life Study be removed from the 2017 budget.

Yeas:Councillors Kushner, Williamson, Britton, and Harris

Nays:Councillors Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Bellows, Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Amendment Three

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That $5,000 be added to the 2017 budget for the purchase of the Korean and Afghanistan plaques in front of City Hall.

Yeas:Councillors Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:

Carried

Amendment Four

Moved By:  Councillor Sorrento

That the 2017 budget be increased by $162,000 for new equipment purchases.

Yeas:Councillors Sorrento, Williamson, Bellows, Elliott, and Kushner

Nays:Councillors Stevens, Britton, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Phillips, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Mayor Sendzik left the chair, and Deputy Mayor Harris assumed the chair.

Amendment Five

Moved By:  Councillor Bellows

That Fire Services hire a Communicator to increase the complement by one in this division.

...

Moved By:  Councillor Sorrento

That this meeting of the General Committee recess and reconvene In-Camera for the purpose of discussing a personal matter about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

Carried

General Committee recessed to In-Camera at 9:26 p.m. and reconvened at 9:30 p.m.

Council now voted on the motion (Amendment Five)

Yeas:Councillors Bellows, Phillips, Stevens, and Harris

Nays:Councillors Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Siscoe, Sorrento, and Williamson

Lost

Mayor Sendzik resumed the chair

Amendment Six

Moved By:  Councillor Haywood

That the new permanent staffing position within the Mayor’s office be kept as a contract position.

Yeas:Councillors Haywood, Britton and Garcia

Nays:Councillors Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, Elliott, Harris, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Amendment Seven

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That $5,000 be added back into the 2017 budget for the Clean City Committee.

Yeas:Councillors Britton, Garcia, Harris, Kushner, Phillips, and Williamson

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Haywood, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Bellows, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Amendment Eight

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That the new chairs for the Burgoyne Woods Room at City hall be removed from the 2017 budget.

Yeas:Councillors Britton, Harris, Haywood, and Kushner

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Amendment Nine

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That the $10,000 for Building Repair Studies – Energy Audits be removed from the 2017 budget.

Yeas:Councillors Britton, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Sorrento, and Bellows

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Stevens, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Amendment Ten

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That the Customer Service Division of Corporate Support Services be reduced by $42,583.20, resulting in an increase equal to inflation.

Yeas:Councillors Britton, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, and Kushner

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Amendment Eleven

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That Transit 2017 budget be reduced by $100,346, resulting in an increase equal to inflation.

Yeas:Councillor Britton

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Amendment Twelve

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre 2017 budget be reduced by $197,899.72, resulting in an increase of 4%.

Yeas:Councillors Britton, Harris and Sorrento

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

The Mayor called for a motion to extend the curfew.

Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

Seconded By:  Councillor Harris

That the time is now 10:30 p.m. and Council has outstanding business, Council move to go beyond the curfew of 10:30 p.m. to complete the business at hand, but not later than 11:00 p.m. FORTHWITH

Carried

Mayor Sendzik left the chair, and Deputy Mayor Harris assumed the chair.

Amendment Thirteen

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That the AMO Conference, at an amount of $14,050, be removed from the 2017 budget.

Yeas:Councillor Britton

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, and Harris

Lost

Amendment Fourteen

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That the AMO Membership fee of $15,107 and OMERS Supplemental fee to AMO of $5,000, for a total of $20,107, be removed from the 2017 budget.

Yeas:Councillor Britton

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, and Harris

Lost

Councillor Kushner was not present for the vote

Amendment Fifteen

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That general City memberships in the 2017 budget be reduced by $8,293 to $0.

Yeas:Councillor Britton

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, and Harris

Lost

Councillor Haywood was not present for the vote

Amendment Sixteen

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That the Infrastructure Levy of $956,000 be removed from the 2017 tax levy.

Yeas:Councillor Britton

Nays:Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Mayor Sendzik, and Harris

Lost

Councillor Bellows was not present for the vote.

Mayor Sendzik resumed the chair.

Amendment Seventeen

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That $250,000 be transferred from the Tax Stabilization Reserve to reduce the 2017 Operating Budget.

Yeas:Councillors Phillips, Garcia, Harris, Kushner, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:Councillors Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, Britton, Elliott, and Haywood

Lost

2017 Operating Budget, as Amended

Councillor Britton requested the motion be split

That the 2017 tax levy include a one-percent levy for infrastructure.

Yeas:Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:Councillor Britton

Carried …

That the 2017 Operating Budget as presented be approved.

Yeas:Councillors Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:Councillor Britton

Carried …

That the by-law to deem one-third of the remuneration paid to Members of Council as expenses incident to the discharge of their duties be maintained; and

That an Election (ER) Reserve be established; and

That beginning with 2019 operating budget, 25% of the anticipated election costs be allocated to the Election Reserve through the annual budget process; and

That a Litigation/Insurance (LI) Reserve be established; and

That a Meridian Centre Capital Fund (MCCF) Reserve be established; and

That a Meridian Centre Event Fund Reserve be established; and

That that a portion of the 2016 year end surplus be allocated to following reserves:

•         Tax Rate (TR) Stabilization Reserve $450,000; and

•         Winter Control Program (WCP) Reserve $150,000; and

•         Litigation/Insurance (LI) Reserve $200,000; and

•         Election (ER) Reserve $400,000; and

That Council approve the Waiving of Fees Policy, attached as Appendix 3; and

That Council approve an annual upset limit of $12,500 for 2017 and future years for waiving of fees; and

That the increased revenues from 2016 Planning fees be used for Amanda System upgrades to allow applicants to track both Planning and Building Permit applications and to also fund a Project Manager Contract position for one year that can perform the role of expediter for projects of significance; and

That a transitional grant program for 50% of the City’s portion of property taxes for ethno-cultural centres registered as charitable organizations and owning real property in the City of St. Catharines be approved and follow the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP) program rules and funds of $40,000 be provided for this initiative from the Civic Project Fund (CPF) in 2017; and

That an Application Expediter position be included in the 2017 budget and the cost for this position be shared by Planning and Building Services and Economic Development; and

That the Civic Square Study be funded by the Civic Project Fund, to an upset limit of $120,000; and

That the 2017 operating budget include the cost of a Quality of Life report; and

That Council direct LCS staff to continue to work with the Regional Clerk as it relates to costs and in-kind sharing with the Region of Niagara for the 2018 Municipal Election and that staff target a 30% cost recovery ratio; and

That $25,000 be included in the 2017 operating budget and to be funded from the Civic Project Fund for the purpose of doing community gardens within the City; and

That Council approve retaining an organizational effectiveness consultant to evaluate the Senior Management structure down to the Director and Deputy Director level with a maximum budget of $30,000; and

That a sub-committee made up of three BSC members and staff be formed that will review and approve the RFP for the study, as well as be the ongoing contact with the selected consultant and the recipient of the results and recommendations from the consultant; and

That $5,000 be added to the 2017 budget for the purchase of the Korean and Afghanistan plaques in front of City Hall; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-laws. FORTHWITH

Yeas:Councillors Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:

Carried as Amended

That the report from Financial Management Services dated February 13, 2017, regarding the 2017 Capital Budget be referred to City Council for consideration after the Public Meeting scheduled for March 6, 2017 for which notice will be duly given. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

Directions have been noted and will be provided to the appropriate members of staff.

Prior to the meeting, Council was distributed the following correspondence for their information:

•         memorandum from the Senior Operations Manager, Transportation and Environmental Services, regarding basketball nets within the road allowance

•         memorandum from the Commissioner of Operations regarding the Lake Street Service Centre facility renovation and field operations consolidation

There was no scheduled In-Camera session for this evening.

There being no further items of business, General Committee adjourned at 10:59 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

Certified Correct:Confirmed by:

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Council CoordinatorMayor