Loading...
2000-10-30_Minutes 88-217 COMMON COUNCIL OCTOBER 30, 2000 At a meeting of the Common Council, held at the City Hall in the City of Saint John, on Monday, the thirtieth day of October, AD., 2000, at 6:00 o'clock p.m. present Shirley McAlary, Mayor Deputy Mayor Chase and Councillors Ball, Chase, Court, Desmond, Fitzpatrick, Titus, Trites, Vincent and White - and - Messrs. 1. Totten, City Manager; J. Nugent, City Solicitor; A Beckett, Commissioner of Finance and Commissioner of Corporate Services; P. Groody, Commissioner of Municipal Operations; Mrs. M. Munford, Common Clerk; and Ms. C. Mosher, Assistant Common Clerk. 1. MeetinQ Called To Order - Prayer Mayor McAlary called the meeting to order and offered the opening prayer. (Councillor White withdrew from the meeting). 2. Approval of Minutes On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor Vincent RESOLVED that minutes of the meeting of Common Council, held on October 23, 2000, be approved. Question being taken, the motion was carried. * Added Item The Mayor asked for Council's permission to read a proclamation on recycling week which was given to her earlier this date. On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor Titus RESOLVED that a proclamation on recycling week be added to the agenda of this meeting. Question being taken, the motion was carried. Mayor McAlary declared the month of November 2000 as Fundy Region Recycling Month on behalf of the Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission on its undertaking of a special promotion campaign on recycling and the use of drop-off depots. (Councillor White re-entered the meeting.) * Added Item On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick RESOLVED that the Municipal Advisory from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (copies of which were forwarded to Council members as an information item), regarding the Federal Election 2000: FCM Ten-Point Plan for Sustainable Communities, be added to the agenda of this meeting for consideration as item 7 A Question being taken, the motion was carried. 88-218 COMMON COUNCIL OCTOBER 30, 2000 3. Human Development Council - 2001 BudQet & Activities Read a letter from the Human Development Council submitting a brief summary of its activities and its budget for 2001, as well as information on the Council's Community Loan Fund and its promotion of social development in Greater Saint John; and requesting $46,000 ($38,000 in cash and $8,000 in kind for rent) for this fiscal year, the same level as last year. Susan Davis, President of the Human Development Council, introduced Daniel Goggin who, as a borrower from the Human Development Council's Community Loan Fund, spoke to Council about how this Fund assisted him in gaining employment by helping him to buy tools and getting a job he otherwise would not have had. Ms. Davis, using as a theme for her presentation "from a little money, a lot can happen", highlighted the above-mentioned correspondence, noting the request for 2001 of $46,000. Ms. Davis responded to questions in the above regard during which time she addressed the lack of response to the City Manager's directive for submission of a 2001 funding request at 10 percent less than the 2000 request on the basis that, in terms of staffing, the Executive Director was already working on a four-fifths basis as the Council could not afford to pay her for a five-day week; and, as for taking on additional projects, the organization was stressed just trying to continue with its work, with its three staff, a couple of project people and a number of volunteers. 4. Cherry Brook Zoo - 2001 BudQet & Future Of Zoo Consideration was given to correspondence from the Cherry Brook Zoo, previously submitted to Council on July 17, 2000, submitting its (a) Audited Financial Statement for fiscal year 1999, (b) Statements of Revenue and Disbursement for the current year, and (c) budget for the ensuing year / budget rationale. John S. Mackay, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cherry Brook Zoo Inc., noted the presence at the meeting of Leonard Collrin, Zoo Director and Chief Operating Officer; Lynda Collrin, Director of Zoo Development; Alice O'Neill, a Trustee and Volunteer Coordinator; and Shelley Rinehart, Trustee; and outlined the Zoo's history from its beginning as a private venture over twenty-five years ago to its relocation over twenty-three years ago to its present location in Rockwood Park at which time ownership of it was transferred in trust to the people of Saint John to be represented for operational purposes by a board of trustees. Mr. Mackay advised of the Zoo's four-fold mission of conservation, education, research and recreation, as well as its increased value over the past ten years from $400,000 to, with the completion of its latest project - the Vanished Kingdom, a facility valued at almost $2 million, with its operational funding derived from a variety of sources, including gate income, donations, retail sales, fund raising events and a grant from the City; and, in relating the reasons for his conclusion that the Zoo could not survive without ongoing municipal support for operations, advised of the anticipation of ending this year with an operating deficit of $36,000 and, without the City grant, of a projected deficit for 2001 of $150,000, thus it would be irresponsible for the Board of Trustees to continue to try to operate the Zoo under such conditions and, even if it tried, without demonstration of a stable source of operational funding, the Zoo would not be accredited for 2001. Mr. Mackay also advised that, in order to retire the deficit and balance the operating budget, the Zoo required a grant of $150,000 for 2001; and concluded that, without the City grant, the Cherry Brook Zoo could not continue to operate and, for his part, he would not preside over an inevitable decline into increasing debt, loss of accreditation and deterioration of quality standards and, in the absence of a stable source of operational funding from the City, he saw no alternative but to recommend to the members of the Board of Trustees that they resign from a task which was clearly impossible and return the facility to the City of Saint John for disposal in whatever manner Council may deem appropriate. Ms. Collrin responded to questions on the Zoo's operation, including gate revenue to date, the accumulated deficit, the comparison of the Cherry Brook Zoo to the zoo in Moncton, accreditation, the possible effect of a ten percent reduction in funding from the City, and the number of paid visitations to the Zoo and fees charged for admission and, in the latter regard advised of the Zoo's purchase of a cash register this year that would track all admissions to the Zoo including family visits and also that she could provide information to the Council members on visitation. 88-219 COMMON COUNCIL OCTOBER 30, 2000 5. Saint John Transit Commission - 2001 BudQet Read a letter from the Saint John Transit Commission submitting (1) a commentary on its 2000 Operating Budget; (2) the 2001 Operating Budget; (3) projections of revenues and expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2000; (4) the 2001 Capital Budget request; and (5) factors requiring capital contributions from the City of Saint John. Andrew Britton, Chairman of the Saint John Transit Commission, recognized the presence at the meeting of Commission members Vice Chairman Susan Isaacs-Lubin, Commissioner Donald McKim, Commissioner Dawson Moyer and Councillor Titus, as well as General Manager Frank McCarey and Comptroller Wayne Thorne; and advised that, next year, a fare increase of 20 cents per ride would be required to offset increasing expenses with respect to fuel and an aging fleet. Mr. Britton noted the Commission's request for expense funding for 2001 of $2,050,000, the same level as last year, as well as the ability of the Commission to operate about 60% of its costs from its operations, the funding level requested being below the average level of subsidy for transit systems in Canadian cities of similar size. Mr. McCarey, in his comments, addressed the need to increase the adult fare to $1.75 from $1.55 in order to maintain the same level of service and advised that the Commission, if it were faced with a budget cut, had provided the City Manager with a list of routes that the Commission would have to look at cutting depending on the level of the budget cut. Mr. McCarey, noting the dramatic increase in fuel costs, advised that the Commission was able to avoid a fare increase mid-term this year because it did so well with revenue generated through charters during the cruise ship visits. On a capital budget issue relating to the purchase of new buses, Mr. McCarey advised of a possible opportunity for access to infrastructure funding for technological improvements under the Green Plan which would require City participation on a one-third basis, and responded to questions on the Transit Commission's operation during which time he apprised Council of the effect on routes, riders and employees to save $297,000 worth of costs, wages and fuel. In response to a request for a comparison of bus fares among other cities of the same size, Mr. McCarey advised that he had a comparison for all of Canada and could provide that for the Council members. 6. Greater Saint John Economic Development Commission (Enterprise Saint John) - 2001 BudQet Consideration was given to a letter from Greater Saint John Economic Development Commission, Incorporated (Enterprise Saint John) submitting its proposed budget for the year January 1 to December 31, 2001 which contemplates three scenarios: Option "A" - maintaining the municipal contribution at 2000 levels, Option "B" - reducing the contribution by 1 0%, and Option "C" - increasing the contribution to allow for the implementation of submitted proposed growth strategy for Greater Saint John as recently presented to the regional Councils. Stephen MacMackin, Chair; Paul O'Hara, Vice Chair; Stephen Carson, General Manager; and Tom Gribbons, Board member, of Greater Saint John Economic Development Commission, Incorporated; and Anne Hickey of Human Resources Development Canada, were present at the meeting in the above regard; and Mr. MacMackin, through a computer-aided presentation, reviewed the Greater Saint John community's economic progress over the past several years, the proposed growth strategy, and the three 2001 budget options for Enterprise Saint John as set out in the above correspondence representing funding from the City of Saint John of $413,140, $371,826, and $563,373, respectively for Options "A", "B" and "C". Mr. MacMackin responded to questions in the above regard. 3. 4. 5 & 6 On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor Ball RESOLVED that the 2001 budget presentations on behalf of the Human Development Council, the Cherry Brook Zoo, the Saint John Transit Commission, and Greater Saint John Economic Development Commission, Incorporated (Enterprise Saint John), be referred to the City Manager. 88-220 COMMON COUNCIL OCTOBER 30, 2000 Question being taken, the motion was carried. 7. Unconditional Grant FundinQ 2001 Read a letter from Mayor McAlary submitting a copy of a signed facsimile letter from The Honourable Norman Betts, Minister of Finance, advising that, for the 2001 calendar year, the unconditional grant for the community will be $19,120,190, which is 10 percent less than the payment received for 2000. The Mayor noted that the City had yet to receive from the Province the amount of the tax base. (The Mayor withdrew from her place at the Council table and took Deputy Mayor Chase's place at the Council table whereupon Deputy Mayor Chase assumed the chair. ) On motion of Mayor McAlary Seconded by Councillor White RESOLVED that the City Manager be requested, upon receipt from the Province of the amount of the City's total tax assessment base, to prepare a draft budget holding the present tax rate of $1.725 and to submit it to Council indicating the budget requests and proposed cuts. Question being taken, the motion was carried. (The Mayor returned to her place at the Council table and reassumed the chair and Deputy Mayor Chase returned to his place at the Council table.) (Councillor Vincent withdrew from the meeting.) *7A. Municipal Advisory On Federal Election 2000: FCM Ten-Point Action Plan For Sustainable Communities On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase RESOLVED that Common Council adopt the FCM Ten-Point Action Plan for Sustainable Communities and forward it to the Federal election candidates in the constituency of Saint John and ask them to support the Ten-Point Plan and to obtain the support of their national parties. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 8. Release Of Condition - Sewer Line 55-65 St. James Street Read a report from the City Manager submitting correspondence from the City Solicitor advising of his review of a request from Bill Teed for the City to release a condition of a deed to the property at 55-65 St. James Street which the City sold to Mike Cavanagh Homes Inc. as it relates to Lot Part 99-1A, and that Council has the authority to alter its resolution of December 16, 1996 so as to relieve the owner of the Lot from the obligation respecting the sewer line which is set out in the January 30, 1997 deed for this property; also advising that, if the letter accurately describes Peter Hanlon's description of the situation, vis a vis the sewer, then relieving Lot Part 99-1A from those terms would be of no consequence; and setting out a resolution which would be in order for Council to adopt. On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase RESOLVED that Common Council amend its December 16, 1996 resolution, dealing with the property at 55-65 St. James Street, by releasing Lot Part 99-1A on the subdivision plan entitled "Subdivision Plan 500121 N.B. Ltd." dated November 5, 1999, certified correct by Hughes Surveys & Consultants Ltd. and filed in the Saint John County Registry Office as number 10635028 on November 15, 1999, from the terms and conditions contained in the January 30, 1997 deed from the City. 88-221 COMMON COUNCIL OCTOBER 30, 2000 Mr. Totten, in response to Councillor Fitzpatrick's question of whether or not there was a deadline for sealing off the existing sewer line when the property was sold, advised that he was unable to respond and added that, if the motion were approved, it would be up to City staff to go back to Mr. Cavanagh and have him undertake to do the work on the lot in question. Councillor Fitzpatrick expressed concern that, as Mr. Cavanagh has sold the property to another individual, the sewer line might not get sealed off and damage could be caused. On motion of Councillor Fitzpatrick Seconded by Councillor Court RESOLVED that the above matter be laid on the table pending a report from the City Manager. Question being taken, the tabling motion was carried with Deputy Mayor Chase and Councillors Ball and Desmond voting "nay". Adjournment The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. Common Clerk