The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutFCS Minutes - 2019-01-21 - Public BudgetSPECIAL FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 21, 2019 CITY OF KITCHENER The Special Finance and Corporate Services Committee met this date, commencing at 7:03 p.m. Present: Councillor S. Davey - Chair Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors D. Chapman, K. Galloway-Sealock, J. Gazzola, B. Ioannidis, M. Johnston, S. Marsh, C. Michaud, D. Schnider and P. Singh. Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer M. May, Deputy CAO & General Manager, Community Services V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services C. Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development R. Hagey, Director, Financial Planning D. Saunderson, Committee Administrator 1. DRAFT 2019 BUDGET PUBLIC CONSULTATION The Committee Paper BD15 (2019 Budget Public Input)16 2019 Budget. Councillor S. Davey welcomed members and advised this special meeting was being held to receive input with respect to the draft 2019 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 2019 Budget, including: a dedicated telephone line; email address; social media; a dedicated w Kitchener. He stated the most popular way the City received feedback was through the budget survey posted on Engage Kitchener. He provided the Committee with a summary of the 8- question budget survey and responses received are outlined in Issue Paper BD15 (2019 Budget Public Input). Ms. A. Peters, Communitech, expressed appreciation for the continued support and partnership with the City of Kitchener through the 2019 budget. Ms. E. Slofstra, CycleWR, Ms. L. Maxwell, Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region, Mr. M. Boos, Tri-Cities Transport Action Group (TriTAG), Mr. R. Suffling, Kitchener Easy Riders Bicycle Club, Messrs. J. Gibbons, C. Gibbons, and D. Brotherston addressed the Committee in support of They expressed support for various items including: protected bike lanes; Dutch roundabouts; proposed winter maintenance for bike lanes; as well as the three active transportation projects proposed for Belmont Avenue, Queens Boulevard and Water Street proposed within the 2019 budget. Mr. Boos stated the three streets proposed, along with the identified trail networks will create a more continuous network better connecting all the wards within the City. Ms. M. Patterson, REEP Green Solutions, addressed the Committee in support of two of the priority investments in the 2019 budget, the Corporate Sustainability Project (Energy Retrofit reserve fund) and the Urban Forest Strategy. Ms. H. Rutherford and Ms. K. Pearce, Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI), addressed the Committee in support of the draft budget measures environmental sustainability. Ms. Pearce stated the City of Kitchener is demonstrating leadership in addressing greenhouse gas emissions also helps to achieve a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) identified by United Nations Development Programme. She further advised there are 17 goals in total, which are intended to address areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace and justice, among other priorities. Ms. J. Haalboom addressed the Committee in support of establishing Energy Retrofit reserve fund, the Urban Forest Strategy and Low Impact Development (LID). She stated,in her opinion, SPECIAL FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 21, 2019 - 18 - CITY OF KITCHENER 1. DRAFT 2019 BUDGET PUBLIC CONSULTATION climate change is occurring with more demonstrated weather events, noting various flooding events evidence of climate change. She provided an example of permeable concrete, noting the groundwater and to reduce impervious surfaces. She further advised where development is being proposed, she would like greater consideration to reducing heat islands and increasing tree cover. Ms. M. Bowman addressed the Committee in favour of various items in the 2019 budget including: protected bike lanes; iron horse trail; traffic calming and winter maintenance in bike lanes. She further advised she would also like Council to consider revisiting the sidewalk winter maintenance program that was considered in 2018. Mr. C. Klaver, Lakeside Parking Working Group, addressed the Committee in support of the Urban Forest By-law that addresses trees on private property. He stated consideration should be given to imposing similar tree protection By-laws as adopted by the City of Cambridge and the City of Toronto. He further advised he would like Council to give consideration to implementing a rebate program for greater incentives to homeowners that addresses climate change, noting climate change needs to be a partnership between the City and its residents. He noted further support for the active transportation initiatives within the budget, as it would go to long-term goals in protecting the Ms. B. Robinson addressed the Committee regarding Inflow and Infiltration (I/I), which is water entering the sewer system that is being unnecessarily treated at the water treatment plant. She requested the City consider reviewing I/I in the future, as it may possibly make positive improvements on user rates. She further advised Council needs to consider affordability within the budget by not always looking at the budget line-by-line, but rather in a larger picture to seek greater efficiencies, noting a 1% change could make a significant impact. 2. ADJOURNMENT On motion, this meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. D. Saunderson Committee Administrator