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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-07 FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 7, 2016 CITY OF KITCHENER The Finance and Corporate Services Committee met this date commencing at 9:35 a.m. Present: Councillor S. Davey - Chair Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors Y. Fernandes, F. Etherington, K. Galloway- Sealock, J. Gazzola, B. Ioannidis, S. Marsh, D. Schnider, Z. Janecki and P. Singh. Staff: J. Willmer, Chief Administrative Officer D. Chapman, Deputy CAO, Finance & Corporate Services M. May, Deputy CAO, Community Services C. Fletcher, Interim Executive Director, Infrastructure Services J. Readman, Interim Executive Director, Infrastructure Services H. Gross, Director, Engineering Services C. Tarling, Director, Legislated Services & City Clerk R. Hagey, Director, Financial Planning B. Bennett, Manager, Business Development C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator T. Brubacher, Committee Administrator Pursuant to Chapter 25 (Procedure) of the Municipal Code, a motion was brought forward by Councillor J. Gazzola to discuss Consent item 1 which was voted on and Carried. 1. CAO-16-032 - ROOFTOP SOLAR APPLICATIONS UNDER THE INDEPENDENT ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OPERATOR FEED IN TARIFF (FIT) PROGRAM - FIT 5 The Committee considered Chief Administrator’s Office report CAO-16-032, dated October 28, 2016, recommending supporting the construction and operation of projects under the province’s FIT Program to enable participants in the FIT Program to receive Priority Points under the FIT Program. It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter would be considered at the special Council meeting being held later this same date. On motion by Councillor Y. Fernandes - it was resolved: “WHEREAS capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the FIT Rules, Version 5.0; and, WHEREAS the Province’s FIT Program encourages the construction and operation of rooftop solar generation projects (the “Projects”); and, WHEREAS one or more Projects may be constructed and operated in the City of Kitchener; and; WHEREAS, pursuant to the FIT Rules, Version 5.0, Applications whose Projects receive the formal support of Local Municipalities will be awarded Priority Points, which may result in the Applicant being offered a FIT Contract prior to other Persons applying for FIT Contracts; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener supports the construction and operation of the Projects anywhere in the City of Kitchener, as outlined in Chief Administrator’s Office report CAO-16-032; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution's sole purpose is to enable the participants in the FIT Program to receive Priority Points under the FIT Program and may not be used for the purpose of any other form of municipal approval in relation to the Application or Projects, or for any other purpose. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution shall expire twelve (12) months after its adoption by Council.” FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 7, 2016 - 46 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. FCS-16-166 - 2017 USER FEE REVIEW The Committee considered Finance and Corporate Services Department report FCS-16-166, dated October 25, 2016 recommending approval of the 2017 user fees and charges. Mr. R. Hagey responded to questions regarding the use of 2% as the amount for inflationary fee increases. He stated that 2% was deemed to be a reasonable expectation for the coming year and explained that each area is responsible for identifying new fees based on the need for cost recovery and public requests for services. Councillor B. Ioannidis advised that he intended to amend the staff recommendation to increase fees by 1.75% for those items that are proposed to increase by 2%. Mr. M. May responded to questions regarding the use of City facilities for non-profit events. He noted that staff have heard this request from the community and will look at long range options in the coming year. He also explained that the new Kitchener Group Card is replacing the previous VIP program and will allow the programs to be available to an expanded number of people. He noted that a backgrounder on the Kitchener Group Card has been prepared and can be circulated to the Committee. The Committee discussed the proposed fees for cremation lots. Mr. May stated that the proposed fees are seeing a substantial increase due to market conditions and customer preferences. Mr. J. Willmer stated that while keeping fees low for cremation lots would encourage their use, it would also potentially serve to unfairly undercut the private sector providers. Mr. May agreed to provide Council with additional information comparing private sector rates with the City’s. In response to questions from the Committee, Mr. May agreed to provide additional details on the fees for the Fire Department response to provincial highways/truck, the amount charged by the Cities of Cambridge and Waterloo for site plan pre-consultation, and the tree conservation permit. In response to questions from the Committee, Mr. M. Seiling stated the possibility of an economic downturn was taken into consideration and based on the five year forecast the reduction in the building permit fee is sustainable. He noted this is the first time the fee for building permits was reduced since the current legislation was introduced in 2006. In response to a question from the Committee, Mr. May noted that By-law Enforcement staff are increasing the enforcement of unlicensed dogs and stated staff will work with the Humane Society on options for increasing compliance at the time of their contract renewal. Ms. C. Tarling responded to questions regarding the fee for a minor variance. She explained that staff considered allowing for different fees for different types of variances; however it was found that the amount of staff time that was involved did not vary enough to justify different categories. Mr. D. Chapman responded to a question regarding Item 1259 (various requests – detailed tax statement, utility receipt) as charged by the Revenue Division. He stated that staff can provide additional information on the number of requests that are received and the possibility of moving those requests to the City’s website. Ms. C. Fletcher responded to questions regarding items 1594 - 1597. She explained that the proposed fees will address services that are currently provided by Kitchener Utilities without cost recovery. The Committee requested that staff provide a detailed report on the proposed fees, including details on the costs that have been subsidized in the past, the criteria for when the frost charge will be levied, the impact of the frost charge on winter construction, and the frequency of broken or buried valve box repairs on private property, and how these costs are addressed by comparative utilities. On motion Councillor B. Ioannidis brought forward the recommendation contained in Report FCS-16-166, with all of the fees identified to increase at 2% to be limited to a 1.75% increase. FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 7, 2016 - 47 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. FCS-16-166 - 2017 USER FEE REVIEW (CONT’D) A motion was brought forward by Councillor S. Marsh to defer consideration of Items 1594 – 1597 to the November 21, 2016 Council meeting to allow time for additional information to be provided on the rationale and impacts of the proposed fees. Councillor S. Marsh’s deferral motion was then voted on and was Carried. In response to questions from the Committee, Mr. D. Chapman stated that the proposed rate reduction would remove approximately $25,000 from the budget. The following motion was voted on and was Carriedon a recorded vote with Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors Y. Fernandes, J. Gazzola, B. Ioannidis, S. Marsh, D. Schnider, and P. Singh voting in favour; and Councillors S. Davey, F. Etherington, K. Galloway-Sealock, and Z. Janecki voting in opposition. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis - it was resolved: “That the proposed fees and charges contained in the 2017 User Fee schedule attached to Financial Services Department Report FCS-16-166 be approved save and except for the following: That a 1.75% rate increase be implemented for all fees originally proposed to have a 2% increase; and, That consideration of Items 1594-1597 (New Sanitary or Storm and Water connections completed or upsized along LRT routes), be deferred to the November 21, 2016 Council meeting to allow for additional information to be provided on the rationale and impacts of the proposed fees; and, That any future user fees that are new should contain a detailed report (summary) as to why it’s being introduced; 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.” 3. FCS-16-153 - ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION - REEP GRANT REQUEST The Committee considered Finance and Corporate Services Department report FCS-16-153, dated October 3, 2016 recommending the allocation of $30,000 to the Waterloo Region Green Solutions, Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP). Ms. Mary Jane Patterson and Mr. Dave Blake provided a presentation on the REEP annual report and to request support for the Environmental Committee’s funding recommendation. They provided an overview of the work that is undertaken by REEP including piloting a Home Energy Coach, organizing consultation on climate change, and home energy audits. Mr. D. Blake stated that when the provincial government increased home renovation rebates but did not mention locally-owned natural gas utilities, they worked hard to advocate for ensuring that Kitchener residents could access those incentives. In response to a question from the Committee, Mr. D. Chapman stated that staff can investigate if it is permitted to provide funding for REEP from utility reserve funds for future years. The following motion was voted on and was Carried Unanimously on a recorded vote. On motion by Councillor S. Marsh - it was resolved: FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 7, 2016 - 48 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. FCS-16-153 - ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION - REEP GRANT REQUEST (CONT’D) “That subject to the 2017 budget deliberations, $30,000. be allocated to the Waterloo Region Green Solutions, Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP), as part of the Environmental Committee’s 2017 Operating Budget as outlined in Finance and Corporate Services Department report FCS-16-153.” 4.ADJOURNMENT On motion, this meeting adjourned at 11:12 a.m. T. Brubacher Committee Administrator