Finance and Corporate Services

Committee Minutes

Monday, October 28, 2024 at 3:00 P.m. - 4:30 P.m.

Council Chambers - Hybrid

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 P. Singh
• Councillor B. Ioannidis
• Councillor M. Johnston (virtually)
• Councillor D. Chapman
• Councillor S. Stretch

Absent:

• Councillor A. Owodunni

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
• D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services
• C. Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development
• J. Dueck, Director, Culture and Entertainment
• A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk
• D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
• M. Mills, Committee Coordinator

---

1.

Commencement

The Finance and Corporate Services Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 3:09 p.m.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None.

3.

Consent

3.1

Advisory Committees 2022-2024 Term Extension, COR-2024-465

The Committee considered Corporate Service Department report COR-2024-465, dated October 4, 2024 recommending the appointment of members to the City's Advisory Committees and Quasi-Judicial Tribunals for the 2022-2024 term be extended until successors are appointed. 

• On motion by Councillor S. Stretch

  it was resolved: 

  "That the appointment of members to the City’s Advisory Committees and Quasi-Judicial Tribunals for the 2022-2024 term be extended until successors are appointed, as outlined in Corporate Services Department report COR-2024-465."

  Carried

3.2

2024 Artist in Residence Appointment - DSD-2024-376

The Committee considered Development Service Department report DSD-2024-376, dated September 27, 2024 recommending the appointment of Ellie Anglin as the 2024 Artist in Residence and authorization for the Mayor and Clerk to execute an agreement related to the appointment.

• On motion by Councillor S. Stretch

  it was resolved: 

  "That Ellie Anglin be appointed as the 2024 City of Kitchener Artist in Residence as recommended by the Public Art Working Group and Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, as outlined in Development Services Department report, DSD-2024-076; and further,

  That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, with Ellie Anglin, outlining the obligations of the Artist in Residence appointment."

  Carried

4.

Discussion Items

4.1

Corporate Policy Update, New, Amended and Repealed Policies, COR-2024-018

The Committee considered Corporate Service Department report COR-2024-018, dated December 12, 2023 recommending new policies required by legislation and proposed updates to the Corporate Policy be approved; and further, that policies no longer required be repealed. 

A. Fusco provided a presentation on this matter and responded to questions from the Committee.

• On motion by Mayor B. Vrbanovic

  it was resolved:

  "That the housekeeping edits to the Master Policy and proposed updated corporate policy template, attached as Appendix 'A' to Corporate Services Department report COR-2024-018 be approved; and,

  That the corporate policies listed in Appendix 'B' of Corporate Services Department report COR-2024-018 be amended or repealed; and,

  That the Pregnancy and Parental Leave Policy for Members of Council, attached as Appendix 'C' to Corporate Services Department report COR-2024-018 be approved; and further,

  That the Council Staff Relations Policy attached as Appendix 'D' to Corporate Services Department report COR-2024-018 be approved."

  Carried

4.2

Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, Operating Model, DSD-2024-281

The Committee considered Development Service Department report DSD-2024-281, dated October 7, 2024 recommending the operating model for the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts be approved; and authorization for rental agreements and rental fees for the Centre be delegated to the Director of Culture & Entertainment or designate; and further, that the Director of Culture & Entertainment be authorized to enter into an agreement with Green Light Arts, for the delivery of mentorship services to organizations renting space in the Centre.

J. Dueck provided a presentation on this matter and responded to questions from the Committee. C. Bluhm was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

S. Varteniuk, JM Drama Alumni, provided comments in support of the recommendation noting additional metrics such as the number of days the Centre is used in a year and, the involvement of community stakeholders in the hiring of Staff should be considered in future iterations of the operating model.

Councillor P. Singh entered the meeting at this time.

J. Hall, provided comments on behalf of the City's Arts and Culture Advisory Committee in support of the recommendation.

M. White and C. Lowerison, Green Light Arts, provided comments in support of the recommendation and responded to questions from the Committee. In response to questions from the Committee, M. White and C. Lowerison noted support for a report outlining the outcomes of the operating model, being brought back to the Committee for consideration a year after the model has been implemented.

Councillor M. Johnston left the meeting at this time.

It was requested that Staff report back to the Committee a year following the implementation of the proposed operating model.

• On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis

  it was resolved: 

  "That the operating model for the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts be approved, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2024-281, subject to final ratification of the 2025 budget; and,

  That the Director of Culture & Entertainment be authorized to enter into an agreement with Green Light Arts, for the delivery of mentorship services to renting organizations until June 30, 2026, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and further,

  That approval authority for rental agreements and rental fees for the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts be delegated to the Director of Culture & Entertainment or designate."

  Carried

5.

Information Items

5.1

None.

6.

Adjournment

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.

 

Marilyn Mills

Committee Coordinator