Minutes of a Special Committee of the Whole Budget Meeting held Monday, April 13, 2015

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL MINUTES OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BUDGET MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015 VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE - COUNCIL CHAMBERS

PRESENT WERE: Mayor Screech Councillor Rast Councillor Rogers Councillor Weisgerber

REGRETS: Councillor Mattson

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 J. Lockhart, Senior Accountant S. Vella, Accounting Clerk E. Bolster, Deputy Municipal Clerk

1 members of the public 0 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Screech called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Rast

THAT the agenda be approved as presented. CARRIED

3. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

5. REPORTS

a) Continued 2015-2019 Financial Plan Deliberations

The Chief Administrative Officer discussed the changes to the Core Operating Budget; Non-Core Operating Budget; and Capital Budget with the Committee, specifically the new additions being:

Core Operating Budget

• Other Revenue Engineering - $44,200;
• Fire Cable expenditure - $1,600; and
• Investment Interest Revenue - $25,000.

Non-Core Operating Budget

• Edward Park - $1,000; and
• IT Contracted Services - $10,000 (80% tax).

Capital Budget:

• Mellor Park Playground Equipment - $10,000 (developer contribution).

The Chief Administrative Officer noted that the 2015 draft budget includes a 4.4% tax increase consisting of 2.5% for public safety building costs, 1.5% for the library transfer to tax, and 0.4% for core operating costs. A 2.6% tax increase is required for non-core budget items for a total tax increase of 6.95% (6.96% for Class 2 cap).

Grants-in-Aid:

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Weisgerber

COW-10-15 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that the following 2015 Grants-in-Aid be approved:

CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Weisgerber

COW-11-15 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that $1,000 be added to the Grant-in-Aid budget from Casino funds. CARRIED

Lifecycles Project Society:

At a previous Council meeting, Council passed a resolution that up to $7,500 in matching funds be included in the 2015 Financial Plan Bylaw in response to the funding request by LifeCycles Project Society should this society be successful in its "TD Green Streets" 2015 grant application. The Chief Administrative Officer noted that the grant was not approved; however, LifeCycles Project Society would still like to have access to the $7,500 as described in the Parks Operating budget for improvements to Welland Legacy Park.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Weisgerber

COW-12-15 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that $7,500 (Casino funds) be used for pruning of trees and fencing in Welland Legacy Park with the remainder to be used for LifeCycle Project Society's capital requests within this Park.

CARRIED

Parks Equipment Reserve:

The Chief Administrative Officer clarified that the Parks and Recreation Equipment Reserve funds can be used to purchase parks and recreation equipment including parks playground equipment as well as park mobile equipment.

Mellor Park

The Director of Engineering noted that there is approximately $20,500 to do work in Mellor Park with $10,000 of that being a developer contribution and the remainder a carry-forward from 2014. There was some discussion about the community's requirements and it was noted that the Parks, Recreation and Environment Advisory Committee has expressed its willingness to canvass the neighbourhood. It was agreed that prior to the expenditure of funds that the matter be brought back to Council.

Addition to One Time Capital:

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Mayor Screech

COW-13-15 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that $5,000 (Casino fund) be allocated as a one-time expenditure in 2015 for the planting of specimen trees in View Royal Park. CARRIED

Operating Budget - Reduction Options:

The Chief Administrative Officer noted that the current tax increase is 6.95%; 1% is equal to $61,700.

The Committee and staff discussed moving the following from taxation to surplus as the funding source:

• Traffic counting for Traffic Calming Policy - $4,000;
• Replace skylights in the Parks building - $3,000;
• Welland Legacy Park - $4,955 and $2,650; and
• Edward Park - $1,000.

These amendments would reduce the required tax increase to 6.7%. The impact of this tax increase to some residential properties and some businesses will be analyzed and brought to the Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled for April 14, 2015.

b) Property Tax Distribution

1. Report dated March 30, 2015 from the Director of Finance

The Chief Administrative Officer summarized the report for the Committee.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rast SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT the report dated March 30, 2015 from the Director of Finance titled "property Tax Distribution" be received for information.

CARRIED

6. QUESTION PERIOD

7. TERMINATION

MOVED BY: Councillor Rast SECONDED: Councillor Weisgerber

THAT this meeting terminate. Time: 5:59 p.m. CARRIED