Finance and Corporate Services

Committee Minutes

Monday, August 11, 2025 at 3:00 P.m. - 4:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

City of Kitchener

200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7

Present:

• Mayor B. Vrbanovic
• Councillor S. Davey
• Councillor D. Schnider
• Councillor J. Deneault
• Councillor C. Michaud
• Councillor A. Owodunni
• Councillor P. Singh
• Councillor M. Johnston
• Councillor D. Chapman
• Councillor S. Stretch

Absent:

• Councillor B. Ioannidis

Staff:

• D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
• M. May, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrator
• V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services
• J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
• J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services
• B. Lam, Acting General Manager, Infrastructure Services
• C. Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development
• M. Love, Director, Strategic and Corporate Performance
• A. Hallam, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries
• E. Moorlag, Manager Service Coordination & Improvement (CSD)
• D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
• M. Blake, Committee Coordinator

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1.

Commencement

The Finance and Corporate Services Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 3:06 p.m.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None

3.

Consent Items

3.1

Idlewood Greenway, INS-2025-321

The Committee considered Infrastructure Services report INS-2025-321, dated July 15, 2025, recommending that 2026 funding of $5.36M be reallocated from the Middle Strasburg Naturalization project to the Idlewood Greenway project; and that the Idlewood Greenway funding in 2026 be preapproved for tender in 2025.

• On motion by Councillor S. Stretch

  it was resolved:

  "That 2026 funding of $5.36M be reallocated from the Middle Strasburg Naturalization project to the Idlewood Greenway project, as outlined in Infrastructure Services Department report INS-2025-321; and further,

  That the Idlewood Greenway funding in 2026 be preapproved for tender in 2025."

  Carried

3.2

Property Tax Exemption for Affordable Housing - Union Co-operative, FIN-2025-323

The Committee considered Financial Services Department report FIN-2025-323, dated July 16, 2025, recommending units that qualify as a Municipal Housing Project Facility be exempt from the City's portion of the property tax levy. 

• On motion by Councillor S. Stretch

  it was resolved:

  "That the draft by-law attached to report Financial Services Department report FIN-2025-323 as Appendix “A”, allowing units qualifying as a Municipal Housing Project Facility (as defined in By-law 2024-152) located at 475-477 Lancaster Street West to participate in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo’s Municipal Housing Facility Property Tax Exemption program and therefore exempting them from the City’s portion of the property tax levy, be approved."

  Carried

4.

Discussion Items

4.1

Strategic Plan Check-in Report - Insights and Adjustments at the Midway Mark, CAO-2025-312

The Committee considered Chief Administrative Office report CAO-2025-312, dated July 31, 2025, recommending minor amendments to the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.

Margaret Love, Director, Strategic and Corporate Performance presented the report, highlighting the purpose of the check-in, the approach,  In conclusion, M. Love noted the Strategic Plan is still relevant, noting small refinements are needed but not reinvention. M. Love and D. Chapman when responded to questions from the Committee. Helen Kerr, KerrSmith Designs was also in attendance to respond to questions from Committee as required.

Questions were raised regarding sports and recreation master plans and leisure facilities master plans and whether there was the possibility to due a smaller review process prior to 2027. M. Love noted with the Strategic Plan process for the next term of Council to begin in 2026, that would an opportunity for the new Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex (KIRC) to open next year, which will have a larger impact on those plans. M. Love stated she could take that question back to Community Services to have further discussions, but noting that facility will have a larger impact on those Master Plans. Mayor B. Vrbanovic requested that the master plans timelines be amended, rather than removed, to provide some further accountability to that matter. M. Love noted the staffing resources have been reallocated to the KIRC project which is impacting those projects moving forward. M. Love indicated staff would like to close out this Strategic Plan to see it in finality.

Mayor B. Vrbanovic stated rather than removing it, the recommendation could be amended to read as a referral rather than a removal. Mayor B. Vrbanovic noted he would be willing to move the recommendation when required.

Scott - REFER those Master Plans to the Development of the OF THE 2027-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN

C. Bluhm responded to questions from the Committee.

Scott - 47 Actions - can you highlight the highest costs - Cory - Downtown Safety ambassador program, BIA is finding part of that. That is the most cost significant at this moment.

A motion was brought forward by Mayor B. Vrbanovic to approve the recommendation as outlined in the report, including an amendment to the first recommended adjustment to the Strategic Plan to state "(1) Sport and Recreation Master Plan and (2) City-led Recreation & Leisure Program Review - REFER AND REVISIT AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2027-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN", rather than "(1) Sport and Recreation Master Plan and (2) City-led Recreation & Leisure Program Review - REMOVE AND REVISIT AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2027-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN."

Councillor M. Johnston entered the meeting at this time.

• On motion by Mayor B. Vrbanovic

  it was resolved:

  "That the following adjustments be made to initiatives contained within the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan as outlined in the jointly authored report between the City of Kitchener and KerrSmith Design, titled Kitchener’s Strategic Plan Check-in: Insights and Adjustments at the Midway Mark, dated July 24, 2025 and attached to Chief Administrative Officers report CAO-2025-312:

  (1) Sport and Recreation Master Plan and (2) City-led Recreation & Leisure Program Review – REFER AND REVISIT AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2027-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN; and,

  (3) Make it Kitchener 2.0 Scoped Refresh – Supporting Economic Resiliency and (4) Implementation of the Downtown Safety & Security Action Plan – ADD; and further,

  That staff be directed to take the following actions aimed at addressing additional strategic plan midway check-in insights, including: (1) further exploring the theme of social resilience, (2) supporting innovative and cost-effective service delivery through targeted Lean training and prioritized Innovation Lab projects, and (3) improving strategic goal reporting via refined indicators."

  Carried, as amended

4.2

Kitchener Indoor Recreation Facility Public Artwork Commission, DSD-2025-263

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2025-263, dated August 1, 2025, recommending that the commission and installation of a new artwork "Gidinawendimin" by Jackie Traverse, at the City of Kitchener's new indoor recreation complete at RBJ Schlegel Park, be approved; and That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to implement an agreement satisfactory to the City Solicitor, with the artists' representative, Highness Global Inc., outlining the obligations of the facility public art commission.

Andrea Hallam, Manager Arts and Creative Industries, presented the report. Elin Moorlag, Manager Service Coordination and Improvement, was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

Nigel Nolan, Director, Highness Global, addressed the Committee in support of the of staff recommendation and shared a video from Jackie Traverse thanking the City for the commissioning of her artwork. 

Councillor A. Owodunni entered the meeting at this time.

A. Hallam responded to questions about the process that was undertaken which resulted in the selection of the preferred artwork.

In response to questions, J. Readman advised the public art policy was reviewed and approved by Council in 2024. In response to further questions, E. Moorlag advised the artists considered all provided budgets related to their artwork proposals. In response to further questions, staff noted in the future a financial breakdown of the artwork commissions could be shared with Council in the future. E. Moorlag then responded to additional questions related to the commissioning process and the timelines for installation in relation to the facility opening.

• On motion by Councillor M. Johnston

  it was resolved:

  "That the commission and installation of a new artwork “Gidinawendimin” by Jackie Traverse, at the City of Kitchener’s new indoor recreation complex at RBJ Schlegel Park, be approved, as outlined in the Development Services Department report DSD-2025-263; and further,

  That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to implement an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, with the artists’ representative, Highness Global Inc., outlining the obligations of the facility public art commission."

  Carried

5.

Information Items

5.1

None.

6.

Adjournment

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 4:03 p.m.

 

Dianna Saunderson
Manager of Council/Committee Services & Deputy Clerk