HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-08 FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 8.2014 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Finance and Corporate Services Committee met this date commencing at 9:06 a.m.
Present: Councillor S. Davey-Chair
Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors F. Etherington, Y. Fernandes, K. Galloway-
Sealock, J. Gazzola, B. loannidis, Z. Janecki, S. Marsh, D. Schnider, and P. Singh.
Staff: J. Willmer, Chief Administrative Officer
D. Chapman, Deputy CAO, Finance &Corporate Services
D. Tyagi, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services
M. May, Deputy CAO, Community Services
R. Regier, Executive Director, Economic Development
R. Hagey, Director, Financial Planning
J. Witmer, Director, Operations
H. Gross, Director, Engineering
L. Majcher, Manager, Strategy& Business Planning
D. Saunderson, Committee Administrator
1. FCS-14-133 - 2015 USER FEES
The Committee considered Finance and Corporate Services Department report FCS-14-133,
dated November 25, 2014 regarding the proposed fees and charges contained in the 2015
User Fee Schedule.
Mr. R. Hagey presented the proposed fees for 2015, advising that departments were provided
with a guideline to increase fees and charges by approximately 3% and in general, most fees
are increasing by this amount. He stated that the proposed increase is slightly higher than the
current rate of inflation of 2.3%. He indicated that the 3% increase serves to mitigate the
required 2015 property tax increase; and, to offset costs associated with implementing 2014
market salary adjustments for part-time staff who deliver community programs and services.
In addition, Mr. Hagey advised that although user fees are proposed to increase in 2015, in
order to ensure that programs and services remain affordable for low-income families, the draft
2015 Budget is also proposing an 11% increase to the Leisure Access Card (LAC) program.
Councillor P. Singh entered the meeting at this time.
Questions were raised regarding the number of people applying for the LAC Program and
whether anyone has ever been refused assistance. Mr. M. May advised that there were 4042
approved users of the LAC program in 2014, which was 1000 more users than in 2013. He
commented that no one ever been refused assistance. He stated that the LAC program has
always been identified as a top priority program by Council and if the budget allocation is
exhausted prior to the end of the year, staff seek funding from other sources to continue to
provide funding to those requiring assistance. Mr. May stated that Council, over the past 5
years have increased the LAC budget by approximately 70%. He indicated that the program
will require one or two years to become sustainable and until that point, staff will continue to re-
prioritize funds to cover any short fall that the program may have.
Mayor B. Vrbanovic expressed concerns with the proposed increase for meeting room rental,
at the Grand River Recreation Complex, listed as item 225 on the 2015 User Fee Schedule,
stating that the increase would eliminate a low-cost rental option within that facility. He
requested that staff reconsider the fee compared to meeting rooms at other City facilities.
Mayor Vrbanovic also requested additional information on Cemeteries Fee number 486,
stating that the increase, questioning whether the increase could be phased in over the next
couple years.
In response to questions, staff agreed to provide a 10-year comparison of tax rate increases
versus user rate increases prior to the December 15, 2014 Council meeting.
Questions were raised regarding Kitchener Minor Hockey and whether they receive operating
grant funding in addition to preferred rates for ice rentals. Mr. May advised that they do
receive an operating grant, noting that he was unsure how much they receive in grant funding
this date. He agreed to provide additional information on the grant allocation in relation to
being provided preferred ice rental rates.
FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 8.2014 -64- CITY OF KITCHENER
1. FCS-14-133 - 2015 USER FEES (CONT'D)
Councillor J. Gazzola questioned whether changes could be made to any of the user fees,
following approval at next Monday's Council meeting. He expressed concerns with approving
a proposed 0% increase to parking rates prior to seeing the proposed 2015 Enterprise Parking
budget. Mr. J. Wilmer advised that it is not desirable to change rates mid-year, but if it is
Council's will, rate changes could be made at a later date. He further advised that procedurally
if there was any concern with the proposed parking rates, Council could defer consideration of
that item to Final Budget Day.
Questions were raised with regards to new fee being proposed by Kitchener Utilities relating to
frozen water service thaw and how residents would be informed of the service. Mr. J. Witmer
agreed to follow up with Utilities to undertake a public awareness program using bill inserts to
advise residents of the service and associated fee.
In response to questions, Mr. Chapman advised that the proposed 2015 tax-supported budget
requires a 3% increase to user fees in order to achieve a levy increase at or below the rate of
inflation. A 1% adjustment to the user fee rates would equal approximately a $100,000.
adjustment to the tax base. He further advised that the proposed 3% increase is intended to
off-set the $300,000. market salary adjustment that occurred in 2014.
Councillor Y. Fernandes brought forward a motion to approve the recommendation as outlined
in Report FCS-14-133, with an amendment that the 3% increase proposed in the 2015 User
Fee Schedule attached to Financial Services Department Report FCS-14-133 for fees and
charges related to recreational programs shall be decreased to 2.5%.
Councillor J. Gazzola suggested that it would be his preference to see the rate increase for the
2015 user fees reduced from the proposed 3%to 2.0%.
In response to questions, Mr. Chapman noted for clarification, that if Council were proposing
changes to the proposed 3% increase in the 2015 User Fee schedule, any fees that were
proposed to be below 3% or above 3% would remain at the proposed rate as outlined in the
Schedule.
A motion was brought forward by Mayor B.Vrbanovic to amend Councillor Fernandes's motion
to further decrease the fees and charges related to recreational programs from 2.5%to 2.3%.
Councillor P. Singh advised that pending the outcome of the proposed amendments, it would
be his preference to see the proposed user fees for 2015 be set at 2.3%, which more closely
aligns with the current rate of inflation.
Councillor F. Etherington indicated that he would like to provide notice that he intends to bring
forward a motion as part of the 2015 Budget deliberations to increase the proposed LAC
budget by an additional $10,000.
Mayor Vrbanovic's amendment was voted on and was Carried on a recorded vote, with Mayor
B. Vrbanovic and Councillors S. Marsh, P. Singh, F. Etherington, B. Ioannidis, D. Schnider and
K. Galloway-Sealock voting in favour; and, Councillors J. Gazzola, Z. Janecki, Y. Fernandes
and S. Davey voted in opposition.
The following motion was then voted on and was Carried on a recorded vote, with Mayor
B. Vrbanovic and Councillors S. Marsh, F. Etherington, S. Davey, B. Ioannidis, D. Schnider,
K. Galloway-Sealock, Y. Fernandes and P. Singh voting in favour; and Councillors J. Gazzola,
Z. Janecki and voted in opposition.
On motion by Councillor Y. Fernandes-
it was resolved:
"That the 3% increase proposed in the 2015 User Fee Schedule attached to Financial
Services Department Report FCS-14-133 for fees and charges related to recreational
programs shall be decreased to 2.3%; and,
FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 8.2014 -65- CITY OF KITCHENER
1. FCS-14-133 - 2015 USER FEES (CONT'D)
That the remaining proposed fees and charges contained in the 2015 User Fee
Schedule, attached to Report FCS-14-144, be approved; and,
That the Manager of Cemeteries be directed to forward the Cemetery Tariff of Fees and
Charges to the Ministry of Government Services - Cemeteries Regulation Unit for filing;
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."
2. CAO-14-046 - REVIEW OF INPUT RECEIVED ON THE 2015 BUSINESS PLAN
The Committee considered Chief Administrator's Office report CAO-14-046, dated November
27, 2014 regarding the projects proposed for the 2015 Business Plan.
Ms. L. Majcher presented the report, noting at the November 12, 2014 Council Strategy
Session, new and returning members generated 88 ideas as input into the 2015 Business
Plan. She noted of those ideas, 36 items were identified as work currently in progress and 50
ideas were identified as potential new work. She stated of those 50 new ideas the
recommendation outlined within the report represents the top 12 ranked ideas that staff are
seeking Council approval to include as part of the 2015 Business Plan.
At the request of Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock staff agreed to report back at a future
Committee meeting on Item 26, under Part B of Appendix A, relating to the development of a
Tree Management Policy/By-law to control the removal of mature trees on private property.
Questions of clarification were requested regarding Item 8 (traffic calming design features in
the development of new neighbourhoods) from the list of Top 12 Priorities and whether that
was already being completed as part of the development process. Mr. J. Witmer advised that
staff have proposed additional work regarding that priority. He agreed to follow up with the
Director of Transportation Services and report back prior to next Monday's Council meeting.
In response to questions regarding the 2014 Post Election review process, Mr. D. Chapman
advised that staff anticipate bringing forward a Post-Election Debrief report in the first quarter
of 2015.
Mayor B. Vrbanovic requested clarification on Item 15 (establishing an advanced
manufacturing incubator) under Part D of Appendix A, indicating that he had heard interest
from the community regarding this item and questioned whether staff would continue pursuing
the community interest even though the item did not make the list of Top 12 Priorities. Mr. R.
Regier advised that consideration of that item could potentially be included as part of the
development of Kitchener's Economic Development Strategy (KEDS).
Questions were raised regarding the feasibility for adding additional items to the Top Priorities
for completion in 2015. Mr. Chapman advised that a motion could be put forward to include
the item as part of the 2015 Business Plan. At the request of Mayor Vrbanovic, Mr. Chapman
agreed to investigate the scope of work for Items 24 and 27 under Part D, Appendix A to
determine the feasibility of moving than forward.
In response to questions, Mr. Chapman and Ms. Majher advised that there are limited
resources due to a number of major projects currently being undertaken to be able to include
Items 13 and 14 under Part D, Appendix A for completion in 2015. Councillor S. Marsh
questioned whether information existed with regards to Item 14 and how this could be
communicated to residents in 2015. Mr. Chapman agreed to investigate additional
opportunities to communicate information already collected on how the City's tax dollars are
being spent.
FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 8.2014 -66- CITY OF KITCHENER
2. CAO-14-046 - REVIEW OF INPUT RECEIVED ON THE 2015 BUSINESS PLAN (CONT'D)
Questions were raised regarding Item 5 from the list of Top 12 Priorities and whether additional
budget allocations would be required to complete this initiative. Mr. M. May advised that staff
would be bringing forward a recommendation at budget time for consideration regarding that
priority item.
The following motion was then voted on and Carried unanimously on a recorded vote.
On motion by Councillor K. Gal loway-Sealock-
it was resolved:
"That the ideas listed in Part A of Appendix A, as attached to Chief Administrator's
Office report CAO-14-046, be confirmed and included as `in progress' projects in the
2015 business plan,with the appropriate adjustments in scope; and,
That that ideas listed in Part B of Appendix A, as attached to Report CAO-14-046, be
endorsed and managed as core services; and,
That staff be directed to include projects in the 2015 business plan that address Council
ideas listed in Part C of Appendix A, as attached to Report CAO-14-046; and,
That ideas listed in Part D of Appendix A, as attached to Report CAO-14-046, be
referred to the Strategy Session on April 27, 2014 as part of the Strategic Planning
process for 2015-2018; and further,
That if it is deemed that #8 (traffic calming design features in the development of new
neighbourhoods) should be removed from the list of Top 12 Priorities, then staff be
directed to report back to the December 15, 2014 Council meeting on the feasibility of a
proposed alternative action item in 2015."
3. ADJOURNMENT
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 11:41 a.m.
D. Saunderson
Committee Administrator