Finance and Corporate Services

Committee Minutes

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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 B. Ioannidis
  • Councillor M. Johnston
  • Councillor D. Chapman
  • Councillor S. Stretch
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
  • A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk
  • R. Bustamante, Director Planning & Housing Policy/City Planner
  • R. Hagey, Director, Financial Planning & Asset Management
  • S. Saleh, Director Revenue
  • D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
  • S. Van Schyndel, Real Estate Specialist
  • M. Blake, Committee Coordinator

The Finance and Corporate Services Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 1:31 p.m.

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2025-276, dated authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to execute an agreement with 114-120 Victoria Street South Inc. and Glovebox (2019) Inc. for 120 Victoria Street South related to Brownfield remediation and a tax incremental grant.

S. Van Schyndel, Real Estate Specialist, R. Bustamante, Director, S. Saleh and J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services were in attendance and responded to questions from the Committee. 

Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillor P. Singh entered the meeting at this time.

Councillor P. Singh left the meeting at this time.

Councillor S. Stretch and M. Johnston entered the meeting at this time.

Questions were raised about the Brownfield Remediation program as it relates to both Item 3.1 and 3.2 for the properties municipally addressed as 20 Victoria Street South and 108 Garment Street on the agenda this date. In response to questions, J. Readman provided an overview of the Region of Waterloo's involvement in the program, noting that the City would only fund the city's property tax portion, that the Regional portion of property taxes would need to be addressed by the Region of Waterloo.

  • On motion byCouncillor A. Owodunni

    It was resolved:

    "That the Brownfield Remediation Program Application for 120 Victoria Street South, received from 114-120 Victoria Street South Inc. and Glovebox (2019) Inc. dated July 6, 2018, be approved; and,

    That in exchange for a completed and filed Record of Site Condition for the subject property, the owner will be provided a tax incremental grant on the redevelopment of the property in the form of a rebate issued on a proportionate basis, annually, on City taxes in an amount equal to 100% of the City of Kitchener Tax Increment; and,

    That the City Tax Increment be defined as the difference between the City of Kitchener portion of real property taxes for the 2018 taxation year and the new City of Kitchener portion of real property taxes levied as a result of a new assessment by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) following completion of the project as compensation for the remediation of the above subject lands; and,

    That the City property tax increment grant is not to exceed $346,552.00 based on today’s estimated City tax increment; payable over a 3-year period; and,

    That the Region of Waterloo Brownfield Coordinator be circulated a copy of any decision made by Kitchener City Council regarding this Application; and further,

    That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an Agreement, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, with 114-120 Victoria Street South Inc. and Glovebox (2019) Inc., to implement the provisions of the Brownfield Financial Incentive Program Application for 120 Victoria Street South, as outlined in the Development Services Department report DSD-2025-276."

    Carried

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2025-275, dated May 9, 2025, authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to execute an agreement with t114-120 Victoria Street South Inc. for 108 Garment Street related to Brownfield remediation and a tax incremental grant.

  • On motion byCouncillor A. Owodunni

    It was resolved: 

    "That the Brownfield Remediation Program Application for 108 Garment St, received from 114-120 Victoria Street South Inc. dated November, 2018, be approved; and,

    That in exchange for a completed and filed Record of Site Condition for the subject property, the owner will be provided a tax incremental grant on the redevelopment of the property in the form of a rebate issued on a proportionate basis, annually for a period not to exceed 2 years, on City taxes in an amount equal to 100% of the City of Kitchener’s portion of the Tax Increment; and,

    That the City Tax Increment be defined as the difference between the City of Kitchener portion of real property taxes for the 2018 taxation year and the new City portion of real property taxes levied as a result of a new assessment by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) following completion of the project as compensation for the remediation of the above subject lands; and,

    That the City of Kitchener property tax grant is not to exceed $404,778.00 based on current estimated City tax increment; payable over a 2-year period and,

    That the Region of Waterloo Brownfield Coordinator be circulated a copy of any decision made by Kitchener City Council regarding this Application; and further,

    That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an Agreement, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, with 114-120 Victoria Street South Inc., to implement the provisions of the Brownfield Financial Incentive Program Application for 108 Garment Street, as outlined in the Development Services Department report DSD-2025-275."

    Carried
  • On motion byCouncillor A. Owodunni

    it was resolved:

    "That the corporate policies listed in Appendix 'A' to Corporate Services Department report COR-2025-269 be amended and repealed; and further,

    That the by-law attached as Appendix 'B' to Corporate Services Department report COR-2025-269, to amend Chapter 620 of The City of Kitchener Municipal Code with respect to Demolition Control, be enacted."

    Carried

The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-2025-254, dated May 1, 2025, recommending MuniPaaS Corporation, King City, Ontario, as the sole implementation vendor for the City's customer relationship management platform.

  • On motion byCouncillor A. Owodunni

    it was resolved:

    "That MuniPaaS Corporation, King City, Ontario, be the sole source provider for licensing, implementation and support services for Salesforce Case Management as the City’s customer relationship management platform, at their quoted price of $327,000, plus H.S.T. of $42,510, for a total of $369,510, for a three (3) year term plus two (2) optional one (1) year terms, provided a satisfactory contract is executed, as outlined in Community Services Department report CSD-2025-254."

    Carried

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2025-278, dated June 5, 2025, recommending approval of the purchase order increase issued to Sona Constructor for additional costs related to the rehabilitation of the Carson Drive Sanitary pumping Station.

  • On motion byCouncillor A. Owodunni

    it was resolved:

    "That the Purchase Order issued to Sona Constructor be increased by $75,000.00 to account for additional construction costs related to the rehabilitation of the Carson Drive Sanitary Pumping Station, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2025-278."

    Carried

The Committee considered Financial Services Department report FIN-2025-255, dated May 20, 2025, recommending approval of the Asset Management Plans as outlined in the report.

R. Hagey, Director, Financial Planning & Asset Management, provided an overview of the report and responded to questions from the Committee. D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

Councillor P. Singh entered the meeting at this time.

  • On motion byCouncillor P. Singh

    it was resolved:

    "That the Asset Management Plans for all City of Kitchener assets as attached to Financial Services Department report FIN-2025-255, be approved."

    Carried

The Committee considered Financial Services Department report FIN-2025-274, dated May 14, 2025, regarding direction for enhancing the City's e-billing promotion efforts as outlined in Option #3 in the Report.

S. Saleh, Director, Revenue Division, provided an overview of the report and responded to questions from the Committee

It was suggested that special events would be a good audience to help further promote e-billing and further suggested potentially running a contest between the wards to try to promote and achieve uptake in e-billing. In response to further questions, S. Salah stated staff could review options for a bill credit for those people who do opt-in to electronic billing.

A motion was brought forward by Councilor P. Singh to approve the recommendation as outlined in report FIN-2025-274, including an amendment to direct staff to report back prior to the end of 2027 on the progress related to targeted marketing campaigns and the continued uptake on e-billing.

  • On motion byCouncillor P. Singh

    it was resolved:

    "That staff be directed to enhance the City’s e-billing promotion efforts (Option #3) through targeted marketing campaigns to further increase the adoption of paperless billing, as outlined in Financial Services Department report FIN-2025-274; and further,

    That staff be directed to report back prior to the end of 2027 on the progress related to targeted marketing campaigns and the continued uptake on e-billing."

    Carried, as amended

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 2:24 p.m.

 

Dianna Saunderson
Manager of Council/Committee Services & Deputy Clerk