The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Members Present: | Councillor Mathew Siscoe, Chair Councillors Mike Britton (arrived at 3:36 p.m.), N. Carlos Garcia, Matthew Harris (left at 4:01 p.m.), David A. Haywood, and Mayor Walter Sendzik (arrived at 4:05 p.m., left at 5:07 p.m.) |
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Officials Present: | Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services Bryan Shynal, Commissioner of Operations Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services Dan Dillon, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services Brian York, Director of Economic Development and Government Relations Phil Cristi, Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Services Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk Leah LaPlante and Rebecca Alfieri, Council & Committee Coordinator |
Call the Meeting to Order |
The Committee Chair, Councillor Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 3:33 p.m
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda for the meeting of Wednesday, April 12, 2017, as presented.
Carried
Declarations of Interest |
There were none declared.
4. | Adoption of Minutes |
There were none.
5. | Chair's Report |
The Chair requested that if the Committee members have any issues they would like addressed during Budget meetings, to please bring them forward in ample time to the attention of the Commissioner's office.
6. | Discussion Items |
6.1. | Financial Management Services, Director (Kristine Douglas) Allowable Investments and Potential Revenue Sources (Deferred by BSC at meeting of January 25, 2017) |
The Director of Financial Management Services, Kristine Douglas, provided an overview of the Allowable Investments and Potential Revenue Sources. Ms. Douglas answered questions from the Committee.
That this report be received for information; and
That staff provide an update to the BSC on shared services.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Harris, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried as Amended
6.2. | Financial Management Services, Director (Kristine Douglas) Multi-Year Budget – 2018 to 2020 (Deferred by BSC at meeting of February 13, 2017) |
The Director of Financial Management Services, Kristine Douglas, provided an overview of the Multi-Year Budget – 2018 to 2020. Ms. Douglas answered questions from the Committee.
That the Budget Standing Committee (BSC) receive the report for information purposes; and
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to report back regarding equipment operations and building and maintenance; and
That the overall expenditure increase from the prior year be no higher than inflation; and
Further that staff report back on how inflation is measured and why.
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Councillor Haywood requested each amendment be voted on separately.
That the Budget Standing Committee (BSC) receive the report for information purposes.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to report back regarding equipment operations and building and maintenance.
Yeas: Councillor Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
That the overall expenditure increase from prior year be no higher than inflation; and
Further that staff report back on how inflation is measured and why.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
6.3. | Commissioners Office (Shelley Chemnitz) Organizational Effectiveness Sub-committee Selection |
That Budget Standing Committee Councillors Britton, Siscoe and Garcia be appointed to the Organizational Effectiveness Sub-Committee.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
6.4. | Corporate Services, Commissioner (Shelley Chemnitz) 2017 Budget Standing Committee Schedule of Events and Public Engagement Initiatives |
The Commissioner of Corporate Services, Shelley Chemnitz, provided an overview of the 2017 Budget Standing Committee Schedule of Events and Public Engagement Initiatives. Ms. Chemnitz answered questions from the Committee.
That the Budget Standing Committee receive this report and adopt the 2017 meeting schedule for the 2017 calendar year.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
6.5. | Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Acting Director (Phil Cristi) Tree Management Framework - Private Tree Program Information (Referred by Council to the BSC at the meeting of March 20, 2017) |
The Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Phil Cristi, provided an overview of the Tree Management Framework - Private Tree Program Information. Mr. Cristi answered questions from the Committee.
Councillor Siscoe requested that the Updated - Tree Management Framework - Private Tree Program Information report be brought back to the Council Meeting of April 24, 2017.
That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to amend the private tree purchase program to be a ‘Challenge’, to set the budget at 10% of the annual tree budget; and
That the trees be free, and be sapling size as opposed to seedlings; and
That staff refer to the London program for reference; and
That staff seek partnerships with the private sector to support the ‘Challenge’; and
Further that an update report come back in November 2017.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
6.6. | Commissioners Office (Shelley Chemnitz) Outstanding Discussion - February 8, 2017 The Commissioner of Corporate Services, Shelley Chemnitz, provided an overview of the Outstanding Discussion Items from the meeting of February 8, 2017 that were deferred for future discussion. |
That the Budget Standing Committee receive the memo from the Commissioner’s Office regarding Outstanding Items - Feb 8, 2017 for information purposes; and
That the Operating Expenditures update to the Budget Standing Committee summary report include information regarding Fire Emergency Services overtime costs; and
That staff report on the feasibility if the culvert conversion budget line goes unused, that the remainder is used to proactively convert ditches to culverts; and
Further that staff consider the funding of traffic calming expenditures and bike lanes within the established road improvement budgets.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
That the Budget Standing Committee defer the discussion item regarding official budget documents being distributed to the public prior to review by the Budget Standing Committee.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, and Siscoe
Nays:
Motion to Defer Carried
7. | Other Business |
The Budget Standing Committee Chair requested that all Other Business and Report Requests be voted on all together.
7.1. | Neighbourhood Organization Fund (Councillor Siscoe) |
7.2. | Third Party Facility Management - Bill Burgoyne Arena (Councillor Siscoe) |
7.3. | Shared Service Delivery (Councillor Siscoe) |
7.4. | Facility Management - Information Request (Councillor Britton) |
7.5. | Hydro Money (Councillor Siscoe) (money getting repatriated to the City with the cancellation of the Shickluna project, as well as the feasibility of an incentive program for affordable housing units in the CIP, using a portion of those repatriated funds) |
That the Budget Standing Committee directs staff to prepare reports back to the Committee on the following:
• Item 7.1 - Neighbourhood Organization Fund
• Item 7.2 - Third Party Facility Management - Bill Burgoyne Arena
• Item 7.3 - Shared Service Delivery
• Item 7.4 - Facility Management - showing what building it is, the yearly expenses/revenue and the upcoming capital for those buildings
• Item 7.5 - Hydro Money - money getting repatriated to the City with the cancellation of the Shickluna project, as well as the feasibility of an incentive program for affordable housing units in the CIP, using a portion of those repatriated funds
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That staff report back on what the cost would be if the taxable benefit of staff parking be removed from benefits and how many people it would affect.
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That staff report back regarding a status update on arena usage with respect to two closed pads and partnerships with other community stakeholders with regards to new ice pads.
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That staff report back regarding Information Technology update with respect to IOS including costs.
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That staff provide an update on the number of City employees in all areas including contract employees and Performing Arts Centre employees on how they have shifted over the past ten years.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, and Siscoe
Nays:
Carried
8. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 5:18 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct:Confirmed by:
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Council & Committee CoordinatorCommittee Chair