Loading...
2002-09-28_Minutes 89-290 COMMON COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 28, 2002 At a meeting of the Common Council, held at the City Hall in the City of Saint John, on Saturday, the twenty-eighth day of September, AD. 2002, at 8:00 o'clock a.m. present Shirley McAlary, Mayor Deputy Mayor White and Councillors Ball, Chase, Court, Desmond, Fitzgerald and Teed - and - Messrs. P. Woods, Deputy City Manager; J. Nugent, City Solicitor; A Beckett, Commissioner of Finance and Commissioner of Corporate Services; G. Yeomans, Comptroller; B. Belyea, Budget Officer; Ms. S. Greer, Communications Officer; 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, noting that its purpose was to hear presentations as part of the 2003 budget process. 2. Human Development Council Susan Davis, President of the Human Development Council (HDC) was present at the meeting, along with a delegation of people in support, and, having noted the Human Development Council's Impact statement and proposed 2003 budget (copies of which were distributed to the Council members at this meeting), summarized what the Human Development Council could do in the community with Council's support. Cathy Wright, Executive Director of the Human Development Council, highlighted some of the HDC's accomplishments through programs that help to alleviate poverty, connect people to information, provide access to credit, build community businesses, engage youth and affect policy development; and Peter Buck, Treasurer, in addressing the Human Development Council's proposed 2003 budget, advised that the HDC viewed the City of Saint John as one of its core funders and one of its partners in ensuring that it could carry out its work and that, while last year the HDC was able to make up the funds that the City cut through donations from the Sir James Dunn Foundation and the Sisters of Charity and through staff's work in obtaining funds for some project work, the Human Development Council in 2003 was requesting the City to maintain its current level of cash funding of $19,500, a significant portion of the Human Development Council's budget; and indicated that, if the City chose to eliminate its contribution to the HDC, it would leave a significant hole in the organization and the HDC would have to question its ability to carry on the work that it does. (Councillor Ball entered the meeting during the above presentation.) Mr. Buck, in response to questions, noted the City's in-lieu contribution to the Human Development Council in the form of rent and the cash contribution requested from the City of $19,500 and, with regard to 2002 revenue of $15,961 and the 2003 projected revenue of $3,000 under Projects & Publications, advised that this revenue was obtained through Ms. Wright's efforts through Federal and Provincial contacts and was what the HDC would rely upon to make up any deficit, although funding could not be counted on as it would depend on what was available. On motion of Councillor Fitzgerald Seconded by Deputy Mayor White RESOLVED that the 2003 budget presentation on behalf of the Human Development Council be referred to the City Manager. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 89-291 COMMON COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 28, 2002 3. The Bovs And Girls Club Of Saint John. Inc. Consideration was given to information from The Boys and Girls Club of Saint John, Inc., including its Financial Statements to December 31,2001, quotes from various organizations with respect to recreation and elements essential to the successful development of children and youth, a September 2002 Program Fact Sheet and City of Saint John funding support from 1980 to 2002. C. P. Theriault, President of the Board of Directors of The Boys and Girls Club of Saint John, Inc., noted that, while the Club over the past 20 years has received grants from the City in excess of $90,000 representing 45% of the Club's operating budget, the $32,500 grant in 2002 represented 6.5% of the Club's operating budget which has gone from $150,000 to in excess of $500,000; and highlighted statistics from the Program Fact Sheet. With regard to the Club's 2003 budget, Mr. Theriault advised that, while the Club did not yet have a 2003 budget breakdown, Council could use the 2002 budget operating budget and mirror that, removing from it the $32,500 grant from the City which would mean, with the Club's 2002 deficit of $62,500, a deficit of $100,000 and the Club would have to cut major portions of its programs which would affect the children on a daily basis. Mr. Theriault referenced a petition with over 890 signatures and read excerpts from letters in support of the Club; and introduced Club youth members Brandon Smith, Daniel Crowe, Ronald Mayes, Jennifer MacDonald, Jason MacDonald and Jeffrey MacDonald, a Club staff member and volunteer Amanda Shea, and former Club and Alumni member Carol Fitzpatrick, all of whom related to Council their views and experience with respect to the Saint John Boys and Girls Club. During discussion Mr. Theriault indicated his intent to submit the Club's 2003 budget projections by Monday or Tuesday, and Debbie Cooper, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club, related her views on the importance of youth centres in the community and the manner in which the Boys and Girls Club partnered with the City's community centres. (Councillor Teed withdrew from the meeting.) On motion of Councillor Fitzgerald Seconded by Deputy Mayor White RESOLVED that the 2003 budget presentation on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club be referred to the City Manager. Question being taken, the motion was carried. (Councillor Teed re-entered the meeting.) 4. Cherry Brook Zoo Inc. Consideration was given to a letter from Cherry Brook Zoo Inc. submitting its (a) Audited Financial Statements for the last fiscal year, (b) statements of anticipated receipts and disbursements for the current year, and (c) the budget for the ensuing year. Lynda Collrin, Director of Zoo Development/Primatologist; John Mackay, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alice O'Neill and Yvonne Hutton, Volunteer Coordinators and Board Members of Cherry Brook Zoo Inc.; were present at the meeting in the above regard and Ms. Collrin, through a computer-aided presentation, reviewed the Zoo's mission statement, four-fold mandate and history, as well as its accomplishments and contribution and benefits to the community; and provided an overview of grants from the City of Saint John to the Zoo from 1992, with a 2003 grant being questionnable. Ms. Collrin advised that the Zoo, in 2002, not only managed to survive but managed to payoff the close to $20,000 deficit it had been carrying and that, in 2003, the Zoo, would raise through revenue $186,100 of its $285,930 budget, thus the need for funding toward the shortfall. Ms. Collrin, in response to questions, advised that measures were taken mostly in the staff area in trying to bring in at least a balanced budget for this year and, as for funding from other municipalities in the area, indicated that the difficulty the Zoo ran into there was that the other municipalities felt that it was a Saint John Zoo; and, on the status of the Zoo in 2003 should the City of Saint John provide no funding, advised that the problem was getting to next year as revenues were at their lowest in January, February and March while costs were at the highest, and that what Council had before it 89-292 COMMON COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 28, 2002 at this time was what the Zoo considered to be a status quo budget - what was actually needed to operate the Zoo as it was now; although as to what the Zoo could get by with doing more with staff through layoff and possibly a cut back on hours, indicated that she could guarantee that the Zoo would remain because of the staff there who were willing to take a double workload, volunteers willing to help with fund-raising activities, and a Board that was constantly seeking alternative funding. On motion of Councillor Ball Seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald RESOLVED that the 2003 budget presentation on behalf of Cherry Brook Zoo Inc. be referred to the City Manager. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 5. Saint John Horticultural Association Consideration was given to Saint John Horticultural Association's (1) list of projected revenue and expenditures for the present year ending December 31, 2002, and (2) estimates of revenue and expenditures for the year 2003 indicating a deficit of $56,280 if the Pubic Gardens were operated by the Association in the upcoming year. Wallace MacMurray, President of the Saint John Horticultural Association, accompanied by Board members Robert Capson and Patrick Watt and Superintendent of Operations at Rockwood Park Geoffrey Spear, were present at the meeting, and Mr. MacMurray addressed the Association's history, referencing a 1967 agreement with the City; commented on the Association's request to the City for $56,000 in 2003 and the effect on the Association's operation of the Public Gardens and Rockwood Park Campground without the City's grant, as well as on the Association's efforts with respect to the Lily Lake Pavilion; and requested the City to continue its investment in the Association. Mr. Capson reviewed the Association's estimates of revenue and expenditures for 2001 and 2002 as submitted during which time he indicated that, while revenue increased in 2002, an $8,000 operating deficit was anticipated based on current projections which was probably one the Association could absorb and hopefully make up in future years of operation. With regard to 2003, Mr. Capson noted the projected increase in campsite income to $200,000 based on an increased fee structure to help offset budgetary deficits and a decline of investment by Council in the Association, and that the 2003 budget did not include any investment from the City, although it showed a deficit of $56,000, one that the Association could not absorb; and indicated that the Association, having this year obtained a charitable registration number, intended to use that to help in the way of community donations and public funding. Mr. Capson spoke to the difficulty of operating in a deficit position, with the little money left having to be redirected to shutting down the operation of the greenhouse and/or the campground, and maintaining minimal heat and maintenance to prevent substantial damage to the facilities, and the need for the Association to spend substantial volunteer time and energy in redeveloping and assessing the feasibility of its operation in the immediate term; and requested, in order for the Association to operate in 2003, an investment that would allow the Association to balance its budget and, in addition, for the years 2004 through 2006, a decreased investment from the Municipality while the Association hopefully increased revenue generation through its operations; and re-iterated that, without the requested investment, the Association could not operate the Public Gardens and the Rockwood Park Campground, and would be forced to cease operations of one of these areas or drastically reduce services primarily in the form of staff layoff which would impact operations so that the Association could no longer provide flowers to the City, cut lawns and maintain the flower beds in the Public Gardens and reducing operation of, or possibly closing, the Campground until the Association got reorganized. Mr. Capson commented on the Association's attempts to finalize partnerships that would provide the necessary funding to renovate the Lily Lake Pavilion, having currently committed $500,000 toward this project through various sources in the City; and advised that the Association's ability to become self-sustaining and not to have to request any funding from the City would be dependent on the re-opening of the Pavilion. Patrick Watt related information on the financial benefits to the City of the Rockwood Park Campground and a renovated Lily Lake Pavilion. Members of the delegation replied to queries with respect to the Rockwood Park Campground in terms of usage and the rate structure in comparison to other campgrounds in the Province, and a request was made for clarification of the 89-293 COMMON COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 28, 2002 revenue and expenditures as the amounts did not appear to add up to the totals indicated. (Councillor Fitzgerald withdrew from the meeting.) On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor Ball RESOLVED that the 2003 budget presentation on behalf of the Saint John Horticultural Association be referred to the City Manager. Question being taken, the motion was carried. (Councillor Fitzgerald re-entered the meeting.) 6. Saint John Transit Commission Consideration was given to the Saint John Transit Commission's presentation with regard to its 2003 operating budget request, outlining the history of operating grants and the operating challenges, and including performance indicators comparing its results to the industry average for all of Canada and for Canadian cities with populations between 50,000 and 150,000; requesting a 2003 operating grant of $2,284,683, representing a $250,000 increase over 2002; and including a reduced 2003 budget of $1,910,000, representing a 6% reduction of the 2002 budget from the $2,285,000 required to operate at the same service level, and a list of the proposed route changes, which would represent a reduction of approximately 8 positions, in order to meet the reduced budget. Andrew Britton, Chairman of the Saint John Transit Commission, appeared before Council and, having noted the presence at the meeting of Commission members Douglas Finlay and Douglas Fifield, and General Manager Frank McCarey, as well as Tony Freake, President of the Transit Union, spoke to the necessity in 2002, because of growing financial pressures, to reduce its Saturday service, increase its fares by 25 cents to a regular adult fare of $2 and introduce a monthly pass as a means of mitigating the fare increase and keeping the most loyal passengers riding the bus, as well as to the Transit Commission's success in finding new ways to increase revenue and decrease costs; and commented on the Commission's budget request of $2,284,683 as well as on the effect on revenue and services of a reduced budget of $1,910,000. Mr. McCarey, referring to the history of the operating grants, pointed out that, had the CPI index been followed from 1995, the operating grant would have been in the area of about $2,250,000 and the Commission's 2003 request was less than that even though over that period of time the fleet average age has almost doubled and there has been about a 20% increase in the average age of its workforce; and reviewed the performance indicators, as well as the major items influencing the increase in the 2003 budget request, and the proposed route changes that would result with a $1,910,000, or 6% reduced, budget. Mr. McCarey, in response to questions, commented on the affect on service if Council gave the Commission the same amount in 2003 as it did in 2002, as well as on the Commission's support through services to the Saint John Handi-Bus operation. On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor Ball RESOLVED that the 2003 budget presentation on behalf of the Saint John Transit Commission be referred to the City Manager. Question being taken, the motion was carried. Adjournment The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. Common Clerk