2014-12-10_Minutes--Procès-verbal
2014-1
Committee of the Whole Open Session
December 10, 2014
Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting Open to the Public
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 5:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
Present: Mayor Mel Norton
Deputy Mayor Rinehart, and Councillors Farren, Fullerton, Lowe, MacKenzie, McAlary,
Merrithew, Norton, Reardon and Strowbridge
- and –
P. Woods, City Manager; G. Yeomans, Commissioner Finance and Administrative
Services; J. Nugent, City Solicitor; J. Hamilton, Commissioner Growth and Community
Development; Neil Jacobsen, Commissioner of Strategic Services; K. Clifford, Fire Chief;
P. Ouellette, Executive Director; J. Taylor, Common Clerk; P. Anglin, Deputy Common
Clerk
1. Meeting Called To Order
The Mayor called the Committee of the Whole Open Session meeting to order.
2. 2015 Operating Budget
The City Manager provided the context of the budget, a plan of action expressed in numbers
and the key policy document of any elected body as it determines the use of public funds.
The proposed framework sets out the principles of the budget. Councillors added the following
principles to the proposed framework:
revenue generation
ROI, including social returns
evidence based decision making
manage / reduce our debt
stable service levels
rules / norms of municipal budget allocation
what can we invest in to grow our future (may be a capital budget principle)
The City Manager provided commentary on the draft 2015 budget:
reduced activity in building permits
reduced activity in parking rentals
property values do not cover inflation
high grant support makes the City vulnerable to a change in government policy / the City
is the largest recipient
The overall impact is a preliminary shortfall of $2.2 million based on the current tax rate of
$1.7850
2014-2
Committee of the Whole Open Session
December 10, 2014
The City Manager commented on the committeed operating expenditures which constitute 40%
of the budget.
The City Manager asked for Council direction on time sensitive or significant issues:
transit
fire
grants
policing
Responding to questions on the 2015 operating costs for transit to maintain the same
schedules, Mr. McCarey stated the Commission would require $5.9 M.
The City Manager offered to provide a reference point to deliver a balanced budget, from his
perspective at a future meeting, should Council want this.
3. Next Budget Meeting
th
The next budget meeting is scheduled Saturday, December 13 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
4. Adjournment
On motion of Councillor McAlary
Seconded by Councillor Lowe
RESOLVED that the meeting of December 10, 2014 be adjourned.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
The Committee of the Whole Open Session meeting of December 10, 2014 was adjourned at
7:20 p.m.
Common Clerk