HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS Minutes - 2018-01-15 - Budget - Public ConsultationFINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 15, 2018 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Finance and Corporate Services Committee met this date commencing at 7:03 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, and D. Schnider.
Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
L. MacDonald, Interim 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
C. Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development
R. Hagey, Director, Financial Planning
J. Rodrigues, Committee Administrator
1. DRAFT 2018 BUDGET PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Input regarding the
Councillor S. Davey welcomed members and advised this special meeting was being held to
receive input with respect to the draft 2018 Budget, stating there has been significant public
engagement within the Budget process to date.
Mr. R. Hagey provided opening remarks, advising there were a number of consultative
measures used to receive feedback from the public on the 2018 Budget, including: a dedicated
telephone line; email address; social media; a dedicated webpage on t
Engage Kitchener. He stated the most popular way the City received feedback was through
the budget survey posted on Engage Kitchener. He noted there was a significant increase in
the amount of feedback and input received during the 2018 Budget process in comparison to
2017. He provided the Committee with a summary of the 6-question budget survey and
responses received, noting the survey is discussed in Issue Paper BD07 with the new content
highlighted in yellow.
Councillor S. Davey advised eight delegations were registered to address the Committee this
date, stating in accordance with past Public Budget Input meeting procedures this would
permit the members of the Committee to ask questions for up to five minutes per delegation.
On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis
It was resolved:
Mr. Iain Klugman, Communitech, was in attendance to provide the Committee with a
and an overview of th
ndrd
investment in 2017 assisted to complete the retrofit of the 2 and 3 floors of the Hub to
facilitate more program space for startups and SMEs; relocate the main reception area to the
Tannery foyer; double the capacity for corporate innovation labs including the Digital Kitchener
Innovation Lab; and, add a meeting room in the new innovation wing. He advised
Communitech has a number of focuses in 2018, including: supporting high-growth in Internet
of Things (IoT) and big data companies; filling the talent gap; and, attracting the world to
Waterloo Region. He further noted Communitech is hosting the True North Conference in
downtown Kitchener with over 2,000 attendees. Mr. Klugman thanked the Committee for their
support, adding the Economic Development Strategy, along with the collective effort of
Council, City staff, and partners across the Region have transitioned downtown Kitchener into
a preferred destination.
Mr. Harald Drewitz addressed the Committee on the 2018 Budget noting concerns with:
FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 15, 2018 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER
1. DRAFT 2018 BUDGET PUBLIC CONSULTATION (CONTD)
increases in water and sewer rates and the continuation of the Downtown Development
Charge exemptions. He suggested further consideration be given to the Queen Street project
between Duke Street and Charles Street; another parking garage being included in the 10-year
Capital Forecast; and, relocating Rockway Senior Centre in the Capital Forecast from 2023 to
within the next three years. He commended both Mr. D. Chapman on his appointment as the
new Chief Administrative Officer and City staff on their recent winter maintenance activities.
Mr. David Marskell, THEMUSEUM, was in attendance to thank Council for their ongoing
in 2017
and plans for 2018, noting in 2017, THEMUSEUM unveiled the Canadian flag for the Canada
games, launched A Cause for Celebration: First Things First and the Quantum Age exhibitions,
launched the After Dark program, and received a number of accolades. He further advised
Award, and welcomed their millionth visitor. He advised a number of events have been
planned for the upcoming year, including: Digital Dynamics; Electric Circus; AltoCon; and,
THEMUSEUM Alternative Conference for Emerging Museum Professionals. He requested
deliberations.
Ms. Linda Jutzi, Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Area (BIA), addressed the
Committee on behalf of the BIA Board of Directors in support of the Queen Street Placemaking
Project. She provided an overview of the benefits of the project to the community and
downtown businesses and how the project
Ms. Sharon Giles, Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee, was in attendance to request
the City to undertake sidewalk snow removal as a result of the current inconsistent and unsafe
conditions for citizens with mobility challenges. She noted she does not believe Kitchener
residents will object to a small tax increase of approximately $26.00 per household.
Councillor Galloway-Sealock requested staff to prepare an Issue Paper on Winter
Maintenance Review and Sidewalk Snow Clearing for Final Budget Day on January 22, 2018.
Mayor Vrbanovic requested staff to include in the Issue Paper information with regard to
increasing transit in the winter months for residents in the community with accessibility needs.
He further indicated an update on the expected date for the Provincial winter maintenance
standards would be beneficial to include in the Issue Paper.
Councillor Etherington advised residents have expressed willingness to pay upwards of $50.00
for sidewalk snow clearing.
Ms. Gehan Sebah was in attendance to request the City to undertake sidewalk snow removal.
She stated in her opinion, requiring homeowners to remove snow on City sidewalks is an
unfair burden, especially to those unable to remove the snow themselves.
Councillor Galloway-Sealock requested the Issue Paper to include the history of sidewalk
snow clearing in the City of Kitchener, the approximate cost of sidewalk snow clearing per
household, the work staff is currently undertaking to address this matter, an update on the
Provincial maintenance standard timeline, consideration towards possible implementation of
sidewalk snow removal as part of the 2018 budget, and information on public engagement to
date.
Ms. C.
She further advised the Provincial maintenance standards are anticipated to be released at the
end of the first quarter of 2018. She indicated in anticipation of the release of the Provincial
maintenance standards, staff is undergoing a comprehensive winter maintenance review,
which incorporates sidewalks, roads, and snow loading. She noted the comprehensive review
will likely come before Council in June, 2018, indicating the review will also include the impact
of the ION operations, potential for efficiencies in winter maintenance practices, and
opportunities for pilot projects. She noted the comprehensive review will be formulated into
winter maintenance options for C
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1. DRAFT 2018 BUDGET PUBLIC CONSULTATION (CONTD)
objection to including the history of winter maintenance in the City and the process staff is
currently undergoing as part of the comprehensive review in the Issue Paper; however, she
stated she is hesitant to include costing as the review has yet to be completed.
Councillor D. Schnider requested staff to include information regarding contracting winter
maintenance services and if this option provides any cost-savings to the City.
Ms. Fletcher advised contracting winter maintenance services would be included in the options
provided to Council in the comprehensive review.
Councillor S. Marsh requested snow removal of crosswalks in school zones to be included in
the comprehensive winter maintenance review.
Mr. Marcus Drasdo addressed the Committee in support of the creation of a new permanent
Active Transportation Planning Project Manager full-time equivalent at the City. He noted the
City currently has one full-time Project Manager who is accompanied by co-op students. He
advised an additional full-time Project Manager would provide the opportunity to maximize
funding opportunities from other levels of government, design and implement a minimum grid
in a timely manner, and the creation and implement of a Complete Streets Policy in the City of
people travelling by vehicle.
Mr. Craig Robson, Robson Carpenter LLP, addressed the Committee on behalf of RBJ
Schlegel Holdings Inc., Cook Homes Limited, and Mattamy Homes, in favour of advancing
development charge funds from 2022 to 2018 in the Middle Strasburg Sanitary Sewer
(MSTSS) capital project. He advised a portion of the sewer is under Fischer-Hallman Road,
which
improvements at Bleams Road and widening of Fischer-Hallman Road. He advised the work
has to be completed between the months of July to September, as required by the Province
due to environmental concerns with the Strasburg Creek. He stated the proposed 2018 Capital
Budget allocates $213,000. of funding for the construction of a small section of the MSTSS on
Fischer-Hallman Road, noting staff at the City are now recommending completing the design
and construction of the MSTSS under the Fischer-Hallman right-of-way in July and September
2019, which will cost an additional $680,000. He further advised his clients are willing to enter
into a credit refund agreement (CRA) with the City that would include a repayment schedule for
the additional money being requested.
Councillor Galloway-Sealock requested an Issue Paper on the Middle Strasburg Trunk
Sanitary Sewer for Final Budget Day on January 22, 2018, indicating design completion and
construction at the same time as the Region In response to
questions, Mr. Hagey advised the DC Reserve is not currently in a deficit. He noted one of the
objectives Council set in the 2014 DC By-law review was to achieve a positive balance at the
end of 2019. He indicated if development charge funds are advanced and there is no CRA, this
would result in a deficit of approximately $680,000. in the DC Reserve. He advised if the
development charge funds are advanced and there is a CRA, the deficit of approximately
$680,000. would be eliminated. He further advised there is risk if the development charge
funds are advanced and the CRA is not either approved by Council or agreed to by the
developer group represented by Mr. Robson.
2. ADJOURNMENT
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 9:09 p.m.
J. Rodrigues
Committee Administrator