HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS Minutes - 2017-01-16 - Public Budget
FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 16, 2017 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Finance and Corporate Services Committee met this date commencing at 7:02 p.m.
Present: Councillor S. Davey - Chair
Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors F. Etherington, Y. Fernandes, K. Galloway-
Sealock, J. Gazzola, B. Ioannidis, Z. Janecki, S. Marsh, D. Schnider 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
J. Miller, Executive Director, Chief Administrators Office
C. Bluhm,Interim Executive Director, Economic Development
R. Hagey, Director, Financial Planning
D. Saunderson, Committee Administrator
1. DRAFT 2017 BUDGET - PUBLIC CONSULTATION
The Committee was in receipt this date of an Issue Paper entitled “BD13 (2017 Public Budget
Input – Updated)” summarizing the public input received as of January 11, 2017 regarding the
2017 Budget.
Councillor S. Davey welcomed members of the public and advised this special meeting was
being held to receive input and feedback with respect to the draft 2017 Budget. He stated
public consultation is the foundation of the Budget process and recognized the importance of
reaching as many citizens as possible to provide input and engage Council. He commented
the intent of this meeting was to hear from the public, noting he circulated possible meeting
procedures to members of Council prior to this meeting. He further advised there were seven
delegations registered to address the Committee this date.
On motion by Councillor D. Schnider -
it was resolved:
“That members of Council be limited to one round of questions per delegation with a
total time allocation of five minutes and to limit all questions to those of clarification.”
Mr. R. Hagey provided opening remarks, advising there were a number of consultative
measures used to receive feedback from the public on the 2017 Budget, including: public
meetings; a dedicated telephone line; email address; mail; interactive budget calculator; social
media; and, Engage Kitchener. He noted Council is anticipated to finalize the 2017 Budget on
January 23, 2017.
Mr. David Marskell, THEMUSEUM, advised he was in attendance this date as a follow-up from
the presentation he made on December 5, 2016 at the Community and Infrastructure Services
Committee meeting related to their Tier 1 Community Grant appeal. He requested Council, as
part of the 2017 budget deliberations, increase THEMUSEUM’s operating grant by $10,000. to
$12,000.
Mr. Iain Klugman, Communitech, was in attendance to request funding support from the City in
2017 in the amount of $300,000. He provided a brief overview on the initiatives Communitech
has completed to date, noting the City’s $300,000. investment in 2016 helped: support 10 new
small and medium-sized enterprises employing 95 people; create space for four accelerator
programs; provide new training rooms; add capacity for seven new corporate innovation labs;
and add space for 40 additional desks for co-working companies. He indicated they are
requesting a similar investment for 2017 in the amount of $300,000. to assist in completing the
necessary renovations on the first floor of the Hub, which would help to increase capacity for
corporate innovations labs to 25. He indicated the remaining renovations will help to double
Communitech’s capacity by 2020.
In response to questions, Mr. Klugman advised that the City’s investment would also help to
support the Municipal Innovation Lab, which is proposed to be located at the Hub in 2017.
FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE
JANUARY 16, 2017 - 5 - CITY OF KITCHENER
1.DRAFT 2017 BUDGET - PUBLIC CONSULTATION (CONT’D)
Ms. Lisa O’Connell, Pat the Dog Theatre Creation was in attendance in support of the appeal
filed by their organization related to their Tier 1 grant recommendation. She requested Council,
as part of the 2017 budget deliberations, to consider an increase to their Tier 1 Community
grant allocation from $4,040. to $10,000. She noted the request of $10,000. reflects the
amount her organization was previously given by the Creative Enterprise Initiative (CEI).
Mr. Al Hayes, Chamber Physician Recruitment Program, addressed the Committee in support
of the Physician Recruitment Program. He provided a brief overview of the Program, noting
since its initial inception, the Program has helped to reduce the number of residents without
family doctors from approximately 40,000 to approximately 15,000. He indicated 20% of the
Program budget is funded by the areas municipalities, which assists in leveraging the
remaining 80% from local organizations. He stated the City, for the past five years, has
provided a grant to the Chamber in the amount of $20,000.; $10,000. for physician recruitment
and $10,000. for specialist recruitment, and requested the same funding allocation for 2017.
Dr. John Heintzman, Grand River Hospital, addressed the Committee on behalf of the
Specialist Recruitment Program. He requested continued funding in 2017, for a total allocation
of $20,000.; $10,000. for physician recruitment and $10,000. for specialist recruitment.
Mr. Mike Boos addressed the Committee in support of the Iron Horse Trail improvements. He
stated Council previously approved an Improvement Strategy for the Iron Horse Trail, which
was split into three phases for upgrade/improvement. He indicated work is already being
planned for the central section; however the northern section has temporarily been put on hold
to coordinate with the Region of Waterloo on a water main reconstruction project. He
requested Council give further consideration to the third phase of the Improvement Strategy,
being the southern section of the Iron Horse Trail in 2017. He stated in his opinion,
improvements to the Trail would improve the connections with the future LRT stations and
would be a major attraction item for residents when deciding where to live and work.
Mr. Harald Drewitz addressed the Committee in opposition to the proposed tax rate levy
increase of 1.75%, noting the increase does not factor in the increases being imposed in the
user rates for water, stormwater and sanitary utilities. He expressed concerns with the budget
impacts resulting from WSIB claims and the use of taxpayers’ dollars for the Canada Summer
Games bid. He further advised in his opinion, the budget impact on residents should not
exceed 1.75%, including the utility user rates.
2.ADJOURNMENT
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
D. Saunderson
Committee Administrator