MINUTES OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BUDGET MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL MINUTES OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BUDGET MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015 VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS

PRESENT WERE: Mayor Screech Councillor Mattson Councillor Rast Councillor Rogers Councillor Weisgerber

PRESENT ALSO: K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer S. Jones, Director of Corporate Administration P. Hurst, Fire Chief/Director of Protective Services J. Rosenberg, Director of Engineering L. Chase, Director of Development Services E. Bolster, Deputy Municipal Clerk

0 members of the public 0 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Screech called the meeting to order at 4:36 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Rast

THAT the agenda be approved as presented.

3. REPORTS

a) 2015-2019 Financial Plan Deliberations

a) Eagle Creek Property

The Chief Administrative Officer presented Council with information regarding a history of assessments for the Eagle Creek property as previously requested.

Council and staff discussed 2015 property taxes for the Eagle Creek property. A more detailed breakdown of the assessment increase for 2015 will be provided at the next budget meeting.

b) Budget Introduction

The Chief Administrative Officer noted that the 2015 draft budget includes a 5.0% tax increase consisting of 2.5% for Public Safety Building costs, 1.5% for a portion of the Greater Victoria Public Library funding transfer from Casino revenue to taxation and 1.1% for core operating costs, all of which are core budget items.

Council and staff discussed:

• property tax target percentage increase;
• review of non-core budget additions, specifically: Rudyard Road traffic solutions ($3,500 plus funds to implement a potential solution); GIS consultant ($13,500); Welland Legacy Park maintenance ($11,500); boulevards maintenance contract ($24,000); removal of $3,000 for bi-annual bridge inspection fees as this work was completed in 2014 and is not required in 2015; rain gardens ($3,000); and removal of the original trail connection in Portage Park to the E&N Rail Trail approved in 2014 as a different route was completed in 2014 ($3,000);
• review of capital budget: road reconstruction; annual pavement rehabilitation; traffic calming; bus shelters; structures (including the removal of Craigflower Bridge Railing improvements for $20,000); and electrical (street lighting, pedestrian crossing and seasonal lighting).

Staff will assign criteria such as "public safety", "Council mission/plan" and "contractual obligation" to each of the 2015 non-core items.

At the March 4th budget meeting, content proposed for consideration at the March 16th meeting will be discussed.

b) West Shore Parks and Recreation Society 2015 Budget

i) Letter dated December 1, 2014 from L. Barnes, Administrator, West Shore Parks and Recreation, Re: West Shore Parks and Recreation Society 2015 Budget

The Chief Administrative Officer and Council discussed the increased requisition for the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society budget. The Chief Administrative Officer noted that in 2014 the core budget was $680,300 and in 2015 the core budget is $706,923 with an additional $10,000 of non-core budget proposed to be allocated for replacement of the Belmont Skate Park.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rast SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

COW-04-15 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society 2015 Budget be approved. CARRIED

9. TERMINATION

MOVED BY: Councillor Rast SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT this meeting terminate. Time: 7:17 p.m. CARRIED