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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 1997-03-03 SCOUNCIL\1997-03-03-SPE MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER A special meeting of City Council was held at 2:15 p.m. this date and Chaired by Mayor R. Christy, with all members present. Notice of the special meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code. The purpose of the meeting was to deal with the recommendations of the Finance and Administration Committee of this date pertaining to the 1997 Operating and Capital Budgets. Council was in receipt of a summary report from P. Houston dated February 28, 1997, and a package of information reports from various City Departments requested during the review of the budgets by the Finance and Administration Committee. A discussion took place at the Finance and Administration Committee budget meeting held earlier this date with regard to Clause #20 of the Committee report, concerning a request by the Planning and Development Department for authorization to hire two contract Building/Plumbing Inspectors. Members of Council were in receipt of a 1996 activity survey, comparing Building Divisions in a number of municipalities in Ontario. Mr. J. Witmer, Chief Building Official, advised that at present, Kitchener is at construction levels comparable to 1989 when the Building Division had 10 staff compared to the present complement of 7.5. He also advised that the City is not presently performing all inspections under the Building Code. In response to earlier direction, Mr. McCabe advised that reallocation of work within the Planning and Development Department in order to assist with building inspections is not possible at this time. Mr. McCabe also advised that the $100,000.00 in new revenue which he previously brought forward could be used to offset the cost of the two contract employees, which is estimated at approximately $80,000.00 for the balance of this year. Councillor Jake Smola inquired whether a portion of the cost of contract staff could be taken from the Downtown account, since increased activity in the Downtown has required greater than anticipated involvement by Planning staff. Mr. J. Gazzola replied that most of the funds in this account have already been allocated to specific projects. Councillor T. Galloway advised that he does not support the staff request as the addition of two contract positions would result in Kitchener being at the Iow end of the range for permit inspections per employee. He suggested that a staffing reallocation could be pursued given the overall amount of money devoted to staffing in the Department. Councillor K. Redman offered the view that it is prudent to hire the contract employees at this time, especially since they will be devoted to addressing the inspection backlog. In response to a further question, Mr. Witmer advised that most of the municipalities which were contacted to compile the survey before Council this date indicated they were unable to keep up with the volume of inspections and were planning to request additional staff. He also pointed out that the inspection backlog is continuing to grow and should be addressed immediately. Moved by Councillor J. Ziegler Seconded by Councillor T. Galloway "That the report of the Finance and Administration Committee (Capital and Operating Budgets) of this date be adopted." Councillor B. Vrbanovic disclosed a pecuniary conflict of interest and abstained from all voting and discussion concerning Clause #17 of the report of the Finance and Administration Committee, as his wife is employed in the City's Information Services Division. Councillor K. Redman inquired as to Clause #18 of the report and the rationale for increasing the fee for the Legal Department's clearance letters from $50.00 to $60.00. Mr. J. Shivas replied that the fee has not been increased since 1991, noting that the proposed fee is $5.00 less than that presently charged by the City of Waterloo. Councillor Redman also inquired as to the term of the contract Building/Plumbing Inspectors referred to in Clause #20 of the report. Mr. McCabe replied that the request is for a one year contract, noting that an evaluation report will be brought back to Council at the end of 1997. Councillor B. Vrbanovic noted that Clause #21 should reflect that all grant appeals are being referred to the March 17, 1997, Community Services Committee meeting, including the proposed increase for Artworks and funding for the Mowat-Chandler Community Centre. The report was then voted on clause by clause. MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES - 10~- CITY OF KITCI:IENER Clause #17 - Carried. Balance of Report - Carried. Councillor B. Vrbanovic previously disclosed a pecuniary conflict of interest and abstained from all voting and discussion concerning Clause #17 of the report of the Finance and Administration Committee, as his wife is employed in the City's Information Services Division. On motion, the meeting adjourned. MAYOR CLERK FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE - OPERATING BUDGET That the 1997 department operating budgets, general expenses, revenues and grants resulting in a 1997 dollar levy for general purposes of $58,813,641 be approved. 2. That Council approve an decrease in the 1997 mill rate of approximately 0.04%. That in 1997, a $50.00 tax credit pursuant to the Municipal Elderly Residents Assistance Credit Program be approved but that no new names be added to the present list. 4. That in 1997, the Council Page honorarium remain at $60.00 per meeting. 5. That the following 1997 budgets for municipal enterprises be approved: Annual Surplus Enterprise Revenue Expenses (Deficit) Sewer Surcharge $13,230,000 $13,713,000 $ (483,000 Equipment Fleet 11,428,000 11,428,000 0 Transit 14,912,000 20,556,000 (5,644,000 Gas Utility 51,511,000 52,584,000 (1,073,000 Water Utility 18,620,000 18,899,000 (279,000 Doon Golf Club 1,200,000 1,033,000 167,000 Rockway Golf Club 1,080,000 1,096,000 (16,000) $111,981,000 $119,309,000 $ (7,328,000) 6. That the following 1997 schedule of transfers be approved: Reserves and Reserve Funds 1997 1996 Transfer from Current Funds - Staff Training $ 74,000 $ 74,000 Project Lift Vehicles 35,000 52,239 Equipment Fleet 0 157,125 Election 0 74,600 109,000 357,964 Transfer to Current Funds - KEAP Program Tax Stabilization 45,000 45,000 1,307,000 1,600,000 1,352,000 1,645,000 Transfer to Capital - Parkland Reserve Fund Auditorium Ticket Fund 538,000 65,000 117,000 83,000 Net Transfers (from) to Reserves $(1,898,000) $(1,435,036) 7. That the following 1997 Board appropriations be approved: Name 1997 1996 Kitchener Public Library Board Centre in the Square Inc. $5,437,614 1,093,477 $6,531,091 $5,387,629 1,086,413 $6,474,042 8. That the following 1997 appropriations for contractual services be approved: Name 1997 1996 Pried Lift $ 638,767 $ 656,894 MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES - 104 - CITY OF KITCI:IENER MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF KITCI:IENER 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. REPORT ADOPTED BY COUNCIL Animal Control Services 325,676 322,452 $ 964,443 $ 979,346 That the following amounts be transferred from the Enterprises Accumulated Net Earnings to the General City Funds in 1997: 1997 1996 Gas Utility Water Utility Doon Golf Club Rockway Golf Club $4,391,394 $4,305,288 1,639,696 1,607,545 78,482 76,943 78,482 76,943 $6,188,054 $6,066,719 That the sum of $2,600,000 be transferred from the Gas Division Accumulated Net Earnings to provide for new Community Centres ($1,100,000), the Business Parks ($1,000,000) and Downtown Improvements ($500,000) respectively. That a transfer be made from the Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund to the 1997 Operating Budget in the amount of $1,307,000. That the sum of $1,172,000 relative to sewer and pumping station maintenance be transferred from the Public Works Operations budget to the Sewer Surcharge budget. That there be no increase in water and sewage rates in 1997. That the proposed $2,000.00 increase for meeting expenses in the 1997 Operating Budget for the Mayor's Office be eliminated. That $38,000.00 be added to the Special Events budget of the Parks and Recreation Department. That the Kitchener Public Library Board be asked to consider establishing a reserve fund to finance an alternate form of service delivery to replace the former bookmobile service, with said fund to be comprised of the proceeds from the sale of the bookmobile equipment as well as the revenue from non-resident user fees. That the Interim Chief Administrative Officer review the City's current job evaluation system and report on how it could be improved, and pending a decision on the future of the system, all evaluations and re-evaluations be forwarded to the Chief Administrative Officer who will in turn submit them for consideration at a meeting of Council in-camera; and further, That an additional report be submitted outlining how the job evaluation system has worked from the first of the recent series of department head retirements and subsequent departmental reorganizations up until the present. That effective March 10, 1997, the fee for the Legal Department's clearance letters in response to requests for release/compliance of development and subdivision agreements be increased from $50.00 to $60.00 That the 1997 Operating Budget for Council be reduced by a further $1,000.00 with this amount to come from Environmental Committee. That the 1997 Operating Budget for the Planning & Development Department be amended to reflect an additional staffing expenditure of approximately $80,000.00 to hire two (2) contract Building/Plumbing Inspectors in 1997, and also to reflect a corresponding increase in revenues of $80,000.00 for permit fees and $20,000.00 for letters of compliance. That all 1997 grant appeals, including consideration of any funding increase to the Artworks Festival as well as funding for the Mowat Chandler Community Centre, be deferred and referred to the March 17, 1997 Community Services Committee meeting, and that with regard to Artworks, a MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES -105- CITY OF KITCI:IENER MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF KITCI:IENER 22. 23. REPORT ADOPTED BY COUNCIL proposed 1997 budget and staff report be available at that time. That the City of Kitchener provide a loan of $16,000.00 to the Kiwanis Club to offset staff time devoted in 1996 to Kiwanis Park. That the overall staff salary envelope be reduced by $150,000.00 as a Council budget correction to more closely approximate the savings Council was led to expect as a result of the various, recent departmental reorganizations and employee buyout decisions. CAPITAL BUDGET 24. That the Capital Forecast 1997 - 2006 be approved on an "Actual Expenditure" basis with the total expenditures in each of the years 1997 - 2006 as follows: 25. 26. Year Total Capital Expenditures (In Thousands Of Dollars) 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 $ 32,142 37 052 32 940 35 962 33 535 31 734 31 649 38 447 28 817 29,394 Total $331,672 And further, that the Commissioner of Finance be authorized to prepare a Forecast on an "Approved Required" basis and submit same to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. That $3,350,000 of debenture financing be approved for the following projects included in the Capital Forecast for the year 1997, term not to exceed 10 years: Project Tax Base Related: New cost of Fire Station #7 New cost of Fire Station #4 Fire Truck replacement New cost of Community Centre/Country Hills New Transit Buses Replace Waterproofing Membrane/Duke & Ontario Garage Replacement and acquisition of Street Lighting Road reconstruction/Krug Street Debenture Required $ 700,000 269,000 526,000 1,050,000 108,000 137,000 240,000 320,000 $3,350,000 That the following projects included in the Capital Forecast for the year 1997 be financed through an appropriation of Capital from Current Funds in the 1997 Current Budget, namely: MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES -106- CITY OF KITCI:IENER MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF KITCI:IENER 26. (Cont'd) REPORT ADOPTED BY COUNCIL (In Thousands of Dollars) General City Page # Dollar Amount Boards Kitchener Public Library: Annual Provision Computer Upgrade Stanley Park Library Improvements The Centre in the Square: Annual Provision Roof Replacement 2 2 2 3 3 8O 25 5O 109 5O 314 Human Resources PeopleSoft System 4 $ 34 Economic Development Industrial Business Parks 5 5O4 Finance Equipment Software AV Equipment Computer Infrastructure Provision 9 6 9 9 14 2O5 5O 262 531 Fire Computer Upgrades Various 10 150 10 104 254 General Services & City Clerk's Records Management Regular Fleet 15 14 5 95 Building Services 18 158 619 Energy Management Miscellaneous Geographic Information System General Contingency Software Conversion-Mainframe Homer Watson House Repairs Rockway Gardens 25O 296 2OO 25 3O 801 Parks & Recreation Parks Operations Arts & Culture City Events Aquatics Seniors/Special Needs Community Development Auditorium/Farmers' Market Athletics/Arenas/Design 2O 22 23 26 24 25 27 29 631 43 19 195 34 119 811 673 2,714 Cemeteries MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES -107- CITY OF KITCHENER MARCH 3, 1997 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES -107- CITY OF KITCHENER 26. (Cont'd) Plannin.q Public Works Administration Storm Drains Street Improvements Street Lighting Transit Total General City REPORT ADOPTED BY COUNCIL 35 69 36 175 39 168 40 1,900 45 123 47 158 2,524 $ 8,364 27. Municipal Enterprises Golf Courses Doon Rockway Gasworks Downtown Improvements New Community Centres Business Parks Various Gas Projects 33 1 26 34 $ 38 59 97 5OO 1,100 5 1,000 52 3,663 Waterworks 48 1,903 Sewer Surchar.qe Sanitary Sewers: Various Sewer Projects 38 2,073 Total Municipal Enterprises $10,336 That the following projects included in the Capital Forecast for 1997 be financed from the Lot Levy Reserve Fund, namely: Department Project Page # Amount Kitchener Public Library New Library Site Stanley Park Library 2 200,000 250,000 Fire Station #7 10 109,000 Station #4 10 97,000 Parks & Recreation Major Park Development General Park Development Park Frontage Charges Community Centre Provision 20 140,000 2034,000 20 122,000 26 225,000 Public Works King Street Doon Village Road 43 Detweiler Greenway Development Charge Study City Share of Subdivisions Bus Shelters Expansion Buses Transit Terminals Huron Road Extension 40104,000 124,000 381,261,000 3610,000 36100,000 47 47 47 42 4,000 299,000 56,000 75,000 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 3, 1997 - 108- CITY OF KITCI:IENER SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 3, 1997 - 108- CITY OF KITCI:IENER REPORT ADOPTED BY COUNCIL 27. (Cont'd) Gen Services/Clerk's Fleet Replacement Equipment 18 364,000 Projects with Lot Levy Funding - Front End Financing with credit: 3,690,000 Public Works Detweiler Greenway 38 Middle & South Strasburg Trunk Block Line Road East Old Chicopee Drive 20,000 38 305,000 40 3,053,000 40 375,000 $3,753,000 And further, that it is understood that none of the above noted projects will be commenced unless there are sufficient uncommitted monies in the Lot Levy Reserve Fund to complete them, otherwise the above projects will be front end financed by the appropriate Developers. 28. That a transfer of $117,000 to the Capital Fund be authorized from the Auditorium Capital Reserve Fund and further that a transfer of $538,000 to the Capital Fund be authorized from the Parkland Reserve Fund. 29. That an amount of $400,000 be transferred to the Capital Fund from the General City Capital Surplus. 30. That Item #18 (Stanley Park Library) on the Lot Levy Priority List be moved to priority #10, with the balance of the projects renumbered accordingly. 31. That the amount budgeted in 1997 for a skateboard park be increased from $60,000.00 to $150,000.00 pending receipt of a staff report on the location of such a facility, the willingness of community members to assist in funding, and an evaluation of the facility constructed in Whitehorse. 32. That $55,000.00 be added to the 1997 Capital Budget for the Parks and Recreation Department in order to construct a major sign on the Doon Valley Golf Course at Highway 401 in order to advertise the municipality. 33. That $50,000.00 be debited from the Capital Contingency and be allocated to unspecified development of the community trail network. 34. That $15,000.00 be returned to the Street Resurfacing General Provision of the Capital Budget using funds from the General Contingency.