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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS Minutes - 2018-12-10FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 10, 2018 CITY OF KITCHENER The Finance and Corporate Services Committee met this date, commencing at 9:30 a.m. Present: Councillor S. Davey - Chair Mayor B. Vrbanovic, Councillors D. Chapman, K. Galloway-Sealock, J. Gazzola, B. Ioannidis, M. Johnston, S. Marsh, C. Michaud, D. Schnider and P. Singh. Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer M. May, Deputy CAO & General Manager, Community Services V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services R. Hagey, Director, Financial Planning N. Gollan, Manager, Stormwater Utility L. Walter, Interim Manager, Maintenance & Operations (Sanitary Stormwater) D. Saunderson, Committee Administrator Pursuant to Chapter 25 (Procedure) of the Municipal Code, a motion was brought forward by Councillor J. Gazzola to discuss Consent items listed on the agenda as items 1 and 2, which was voted on and Carried. 1. DSD-18-144 NOISE EXEMPTION MTO HIGHWAY 7/HIGHWAY 85 INTERCHANGE The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-18-144, dated November 20, 2018, recommending approval of a noise exemption for the preliminary detail design phase for the new Highway 7/85 Interchange. Mr. J. Readman was in attendance and responded to questions from the Committee. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis - it was resolved: That the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO) and its contractors be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 450 Noise of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code Article 6 Construction Work during the geotechnical and pavement investigation drilling for the preliminary detail design for the new Highway 7/85 Interchange in the City of Kitchener. The request for the noise by-law exemption is between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. for the period of January 7 to May 3, 3019, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-18-144. 2. DSD-18-168 DISASTER MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION FUND APPLICATION The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-18-168, dated November 22, 2018, Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund application. Mr. N. Gollan was in attendance and responded to questions from the Committee. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis - it was resolved: Mitigation and Adaptation Fund application and commits to providing relevant municipal funding; and further, That the Chief Administrative Officer or a General Manager is hereby authorized to execute the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) application, a DMAF Transfer Payment Agreement with Infrastructure Canada, and any other DMAF related documentation; said agreement and other related documentation to be to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-18- 168. 3. FIN-18-042 2019 USER FEES The Committee considered Financial Services Department report FIN-18-042, dated November 20, 2018, recommending approval of the 2019 user fees and charges. FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 10, 2018 - 29 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. FIN-18-042 2019 USER FEES Mr. R. Hagey presented the report, noting this is the first meeting of the 2019 Budget schedule. He indicated the fees are being considered this date to ensure they can be implemented for January 1, 2019. In response to questions regarding the Development Services user fees, Mr. J. Readman advised the Development Services Review (DSR) may not specifically address fees. He noted staff through that process are considering ways to improve, clarify and streamline processes where possible and that may include a review of the charges that is still to be determined. He further advised a report would be brought back to Council on the DSR which would address the full scope of the review. Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock questioned golf memberships, user fees identified as items 991 and 992 and questioned what the fees were for 2018. Mr. M. May advised the fees for youth memberships in 2018 were $404. He indicated staff have opted to split the fees into separate age categories in an effort to increase uptake for the Junior Novice and Atom age group. He stated there is a large membership base for the Junior Pee-wee, Bantam and Midget category and the increase in this membership is intended to balance the decrease in the younger age category. It was suggested, and staff agreed, to review the title of the golf memberships for juniors and whether it would be more appropriate to categorize the names using ages rather than Novice, Atom, etc. Questions were raised regarding bicycle parking for the Duke and Ontario parking garage as well as the Kitchener Market garage and whether consideration was being given to implementing secure bicycle parking in those garages in 2018. Mr. J. Readman advised staff will be reviewing the Cycling Master Plan in the up-coming year, noting that item can be discussed further with staff, adding that would not impact the user fees for parking as proposed. Councillor S. Marsh questioned the proposed Sidewalk Cutting user fees identified as items 1046 and 1047 and questioned whether residents were restricted to using the City for that type of work. Ms. D. McGoldrick advised that is currently the practise that the City completes all required sidewalk repairs. She indicated there is a mix of approaches currently being utilized by other municipalities, stating she could take that back to staff for further review. Questions were raised regarding parking rates and whether there had been more consideration given to flexible parking that would adjust with use. Mr. Readman advised there are a number of initiatives currently being undertaken to improve customer service related to parking, including paying by phone, which is anticipated to be completed in 2019, as well as a project currently being undertaken by Communitech regard flexible parking sensors. He stated he could follow- up with Communitech on the status of that project. Questions were raised regarding room rental fees. Mr. May advised staff in 2019 will be reviewing the Neighbourhood Association Policy as well as the Use of City Space Policy, which will review how rooms in the community centres are being allocated. A motion was brought forward by Mayor B. Vrbanovic to approve the recommendation as outlined in Report FIN-18-042. Councillor K. Galloway- to reduce the user fee identified as Item 991 - Golf Membership Junior Novice, Atom to $325. for 2019 and $350. for 2020; and, for user fee identified as item 992 - Golf Membership - Junior Pee-Wee, Bantam, Midget which shall be $425. for 2019 and $450. for 2020. Several members expressed concerns with reducing the rates for junior golf memberships without having additional information on the number of memberships sold within the newly proposed categories. Councillor Galloway-Sealock stated in her opinion her objective with her amendment is to reduce the increase being proposed to the golf membership for item 992 - Golf Membership - Junior Pee-Wee, Bantam, Midget as the increase being proposed is 10% for that membership. She agreed to withdraw the portion of her amendment that addressed 991 -Golf Membership Junior Novice, Atom. FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 10, 2018 - 30 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. FIN-18-042 2019 USER FEES Councillor J. Gazzola left the meeting at this time. Councillor K. Galloway-Carried. On motion by Mayor B. Vrbanovic - it was resolved: That the proposed fees and charges contained in the 2019 User Fee Schedule attached to Financial Services Department report FIN-18-042 be approved; save and except for the following: user fee identified as Item 992 - Golf Membership - Junior Pee-Wee, Bantam midget which shall be $425. for 2019 and $450. for 2020; and further, That Legal Services staff be directed to prepare the necessary by-laws to amend The City of Kitchener Municipal Code Chapters for fees and charges pertaining to licensing, planning applications, building permits and Committee of Adjustment applications. 4. DSD-18-167 DALEWOOD DRIVE SANITARY SEWER REPAIR The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-18-167, dated November 29, 2018 authorizing staff to proceed with the immediate repair of a segment of Sanitary Sewer on Dalewood Drive regarding a segment of Sanitary Sewer on Dalewood Drive that needs immediate repair. On motion by Councillor D. Schnider - it was resolved: That staff be directed to proceed with the immediate repair of a segment of Sanitary Sewer on Dalewood Drive to address ongoing sewage backup issues, with funding for the repair to be allocated from the Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Account, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-18-167. 5. ADJOURNMENT On motion, this meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. D. Saunderson Committee Administrator