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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS Minutes - 2017-10-30 FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 30, 2017 CITY OF KITCHENER The Finance and Corporate Services Committee met this date, commencing at 1:32 p.m. Present: Councillor S. Davey - Chair Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors, F. Etherington, Y. Fernandes, K. Galloway- Sealock, J. Gazzola, B. Ioannidis , S. Marsh, and D. Schnider. Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer M. Goldrup, Interim Deputy CAO, Finance and Corporate Services M. May, Deputy CAO, Community Services J. Miller, Executive Director, Office of CAO C. Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development C. Fletcher, Interim Executive Director, Infrastructure Services J. Readman, Interim Executive Director, Infrastructure Services L. MacDonald, Director, Legal Services/City Solicitor R. Hagey, Director, Financial Planning J. Evans, Director, Revenue/Deputy City Treasurer K. Carmichael, Interim Director, Transportation Services D. Fagerdahl, Manager, Financial Planning J. Sheryer, Assistant City Solicitor J. Bunn, Manager, Council & Committee Services/Deputy Clerk J. Rodrigues, Committee Administrator 1. FCS-17-173 - HOUSEKEEPING AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAW 2014-138 (RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP BY-LAW) AND BY-LAW 2014-142 (DOG DESIGNATION BY-LAW) The Committee considered Finance and Corporate Services Department report FCS-17-173, dated October 4, 2017 recommending an amendment to By-law 2014-138 (Responsible Dog Ownership By-law) and By-law 2014-142 (Dog Designations By-law). It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter would be considered at a Special Council meeting later this date. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis - it was resolved: That the draft by-law to amend By-law 2014-138 (Responsible Dog Ownership By-law) attached to Finance and Corporate Service Department report FCS-17-173 be enacted; and further, That the draft by-law to amend By-law 2014-142 (Dog Designations By-law) attached to Report FCS-17-173 be enacted. 2. FCS-17-171 - 2018 USER FEES The Committee considered Finance & Corporate Services Department report FCS-17-171, dated October 18, 2017 recommending approval of the 2018 user fees and charges. The Committee was in receipt of email correspondence from Jon Rehill, Fire Chief, indicating Item 800 has been removed from the 2018 User Fee Schedule. Mr. J. Readman responded to questions from the Committee regarding Water Service Fees. He indicated a new fee has been added to accommodate the installation of new twelve-inch water mains, which is an incremental increase from the ten-inch water mains. In response to questions from the Committee regarding the Committee of Adjustment fees for Minor Variance Fence and Sign applications, Mr. M. May stated the direction is to cover costs expended and indicated staff has not experienced a decrease in minor variance applications. He indicated there is a direct cost for advertising purchased but stated staff time required by Planning Services, Legislated Services, and By-law Enforcement can be attributed to the majority of the minor variance application fee. FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 30, 2017 - 43 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. FCS-17-171 - Mr. R. Hagey responded to a question from the Committee regarding rounding the meal ticket fee for the Meal Program. He explained all fees will be rounded to the closest five cents. In response to a question from the Committee regarding the Kitchener Utility Account Administration Fee, Mr. Hagey indicated this fee is collected for staff to administer and set-up new accounts in the utility account management system. Mr. D. Chapman provided additional details, stating the fee was introduced as it is common practice in other municipalities, including those in Waterloo Region. He advised an elimination or reduction of this fee would result in a substantial impact to the tax rate. Mr. May responded to questions from the Committee regarding Licensed Event fee and the Kitchen (cooking) Per Hour fee. He stated the proposed fees decrease would align the City with comparable industry pricing. He indicated a three-year plan was implemented to reduce the fees to match the rates of other facilities to attract more business to the City of Kitchener community centres and pools. Mr. May agreed to provide Council with additional information on the license fee. In terms of the kitchen per hour fee, Mr. May noted in recent years staff have experienced requests from community groups indicating interest in renting only the kitchen in community facilities. He stated this fee allows the community groups to rent the kitchen without charging the rental rate for the entire facility. Mr. Readman responded to a question regarding the proposed increase in the Electric Charging Station Rate per hour. He explained this is an administrative change moving from kilowatt hours to an hourly charge. He noted fifty cents per hour is the equivalent to twenty cents per kilowatt hour, which he indicated is the same fee, just metered differently. He further advised unlike Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Inc., the City of Kitchener can no longer charge by kilowatt hour. In response to a question from the Committee regarding the Building Permit Application fees, Mr. May explained the Chief Building Official engaged the Waterloo Region Home Builder Association Liaison Committee, which agreed to reduce the fee in 2017 by 5% and remain fixed at that rate for 2018. He advised it is unknown at this time how many building permit applications will be received prior to the expiry of the Downtown Development Charges Exemption Program; however, staff is anticipating building revenue to increase in advance of 2019. He stated staff will review the building permit application fee and determine if a decrease or increase is necessary to ensure the Building Stabilization Reserve remains on target. Mr. Hagey indicated the Stabilization Reserve is currently above target, which resulted in a reduction in the building permit application fee. He indicated options were provided to the building industry in 2017 and the preference was to reduce the fee by 5% in 2017, which would remain constant for 2018, as opposed to 2% increases annually. In response to a question from the Committee regarding the 5% increase for Water Heater Rentals, Mr. Hagey indicated it has been common practice for Kitchener Utilities to increase these fees based on inflation periodically. He explained the 5% increase in 2018 approximates inflationary increases over the last three years. He advised after polling customers, the preference was to maintain larger periodic increases rather than smaller increases annually. Mr. May responded to a question from the Committee regarding the Affiliated Track and Field fee at Centennial Stadium. He stated the Waterloo Region Catholic School Board charges the user group this fee to rent St. David Catholic Secondary School. In response to a question from the Committee regarding the Busker fee, Mr. Bluhm agreed to provide additional information on the enforcement of this fee. Mr. Bluhm responded to a question from the Committee regarding the Dry Table Vendor fee at so each vendor is paying for the size of table they require. On motion by Councillor Y. Fernandes - it was resolved: FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 30, 2017 - 44 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. FCS-17-171 - That the proposed fees and charges contained in the 2018 User Fee Schedule attached to Finance and Corporate Services Department report FCS-17-171, be approved as amended; 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-17-179 - 152 SHANLEY STREET - TAX SALE The Committee considered Finance & Corporate Services Department report FCS-17-179, dated October 19, 2017 regarding the recommendation for the tax sale at 152 Shanley Street. Ms. J. Evans and Ms. L. MacDonald were in attendance and responded to questions from the Committee. Councillor S. Marsh suggested, and it was agreed, that Clause 3 should be amended to include the advertisement should be completed prior to the end of 2018. On motion by Councillor S. Marsh - it was resolved: That, upon the recommendation of the Treasurer, and as outlined in Finance and Corporate Services Department report FCS-17-179, staff be directed to complete the following with i. A Planning Division initiated neighbourhood charrette to be undertaken in the first half of 2018 to develop a vision/criteria to be used as the foundation for a City facilitated zone change and other possible planning approvals AFTER the successful sale of the property and upon receipt of a bona fide redevelopment proposal that meets the vision criteria; ii. Following the completion of the charrette Council authorizes the write-off of the interest that has and will accrue on the outstanding property taxes with respect to 152 Shanley Street up to the date the Notice of the advertisement of the property a second time under the tax sale process is to be sent to the persons with a registered interest in the property; iii. Advertisement of the property a second time under the tax sale process following 4. CAO-17-025 BUSINESS PLAN STATUS UPDATE AUGUST 2017 Pursuant to Chapter 25.10.9(1) of the Municipal Code, a motion was brought forward by Councillor Y. Fernandes to discuss an Information Item, which was voted on and Carried. The Committee report CAO-17-025, dated October 16, 2017 outlining the status of the projects on the City of Kitchener Business Plan. Mr. J. Readman, Ms. J. Miller, and Ms. C. Fletcher were in attendance and responded to questions from the Committee. 4. ADJOURNMENT On motion, this meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m. J. Rodrigues J. Bunn Committee Administrator Manager, Council and Committee Services/Deputy Clerk