MINUTES OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BUDGET MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2016

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL MINUTES OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BUDGET MEETING

HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2016 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 M. Dillabaugh, Director of Finance J. Cochrane, Executive Assistant

0 members of the public 0 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Screech called the meeting to order at 5:18 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Rast

THAT the agenda be approved as presented.

3. MAYOR'S REPORT

Mayor Screech discussed his objective to develop a budget with minimal tax increases and no cuts to services.

4. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

6. REPORTS

a) 2016 - 2020 Five Year Financial Plan Deliberations

The Director of Finance gave a presentation regarding the 2016 – 2020 Five Year Financial Plan including:

• the accumulated surplus at December 31, 2014 is $1,364,780 for the General Fund and $1,540,042 for the Sewer Fund;
• the estimated 2015 operating surplus is $215,000 for the General Fund and $50,000 for the Sewer Fund; and
• taxation from non-market change (new assessment) for 2016 is estimated at $249,400 with approximately 50% of that – or $121,893 – being attributable to the Eagle Creek Village development.

Core Operating Budget Changes:

The Director of Finance noted that the 2016 draft budget includes a 12% tax increase for core items comprising:

• 1.25% for General Government;
• 1.1% for Protective Services – Fire & Emergency Planning;
• 2.47% for Protective Services – Building & Bylaw;
• 1.5% for a portion of the Greater Victoria Public Library funding transfer from Casino revenue to taxation; and
• 5.85% for Transportation.

The following proposed changes to the operating budget were reviewed:

• Legal – for both civil and bylaw matters: addition of $50,000
• Membership and Subscriptions – including SVIEDA: addition of $11,221
• Salaries and Benefits – Administration and Finance: addition of $29,737
• Contracted Services – Information Technology for Microsoft licenses: addition of $11,500
• Firefighter Turnout Gear: addition of $10,000
• Firefighter Education and Training – increased training standards with changes to the Playbook: addition of $5,000
• Salaries and Benefits – Firefighters: addition of $50,088
• Public Safety Building Services and Supplies: addition of $5,000
• Bylaw Enforcement: addition of $3,512
• Salaries and Benefits (Transportation): addition of $15,357
• Contracted Services/Supplies – Portage Park: addition of $10,020
• Roads Patching: addition of $35,000
• Line Painting - Thermoplastic: addition of $15,000
• Boulevard Maintenance: addition of $19,000
• Boulevard Trees: addition of $20,000
• Boulevard Water/Irrigation Systems: addition of $38,000
• Rain Gardens and Annual Maintenance – new program: addition of $35,000
• Drainage – new dredging program requested in 2015: addition of $20,000

Council and staff discussed the increase in legal costs; changes to wages for firefighters; the timing of revenue to be generated from the Public Safety Building rental suites; taxation to accommodate the decrease in building permit revenue; and the animal control contract.

Individual "Project Overview Statements" for Transportation items were reviewed to evaluate increases for: roads patching; thermoplastic line painting; curb maintenance; trees; irrigation systems; rain garden maintenance; and dredging.

It was noted that some items are too small to be on the capital projects list – for example curbs. As well, the Director of Engineering stated that some of the projects listed are to prolong the life expectancy of infrastructure – for example road patching – and he is hesitant to remove them from the budget as replacement costs will come more quickly and be much higher if assets are not maintained. However, some work can be done now for a few years to get "caught up" and then the programs could move to be bi-annual such as dredging of retention ponds.

The level of usage of the Canteen Composting site in Esquimalt by View Royal residents was discussed and the Director of Engineering noted that he would provide data to confirm the usage.

Council discussed the possibility of reducing services; deferring work; using other funding sources to cover some of the additional Transportation costs instead of a tax increase; and the potential to schedule work to stretch costs over two or three years.

Priorities of liability and contractual obligations were noted and the importance of these items was discussed in relation to items that are strictly aesthetic.

Staff will review the Transportation Project Overview Statements to provide a summary of items that could be phased in over several years or eliminated and the possible ramifications for Council's consideration.

7. QUESTION PERIOD

8. TERMINATION

MOVED BY: Councillor Rast SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT this meeting terminate. Time: 8:01 p.m.

CARRIED