Finance and Corporate Services

Committee Minutes

Monday, November 08, 2021 at 12:30 P.m. - 3:30 P.m.

Electronic Meeting

Present:

• Mayor B. Vrbanovic
• Councillor S. Davey
• Councillor D. Schnider
• Councillor J. Gazzola
• Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock
• Councillor P. Singh
• Councillor B. Ioannidis
• Councillor M. Johnston
• Councillor D. Chapman
• Councillor S. Marsh

Absent:

• Councillor C. Michaud

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
• L. MacDonald, City Solicitor
• B. Gilmore, Fire Chief
• B. Rowland, Director, Corporate Communications and Marketing
• K. Kugler, Director Sport
• M. Hildebrand, Director Neighbourhood Program & Services
• D. Murray, Director, Technology Innovation & Services
• C. Tarling, City Clerk
• E. Robson, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries
• C. Boomer, Election Project Manager
• R. Morgan, Capital Investment Advisor
• K. Varin, Public Programs Administrator
• D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
• S. Goldrup, Committee Administrator

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1.

Commencement

The Finance and Corporate Services Committee held an electronic meeting this date, commencing at 12:32 p.m.

2.

Consent Items

2.1

None.

3.

Discussion Items

3.1

DSD-2021-173 - Public Art Sculpture "Moments", McLennan Park and Public Art Policy Amendment

The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2021-173 dated October 20, 2021 recommending approval of the deaccessioning and disposition of the public art sculpture 'Moments' located in McLennan Park and an amendment to the Public Art Policy. Emily Robson, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries and Karoline Varin, Public Programs Administrator were in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

It was requested and staff agreed to provide a follow up report once the art piece has been removed.

• On motion by Councillor P. Singh

  it was resolved:

  "That the deaccessioning and disposition of the sculptural public artwork titled “Moments”, located in McLennan Park, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2021-173, be approved; and,

  That the disposition methods prioritize an option that seeks to keep the work in the public sphere; and further,

  That Public Art Policy GOV-COR-816 be amended, as outlined in Report DSD-2021-173, to include a new section 4.19 identifying the reasons and process for deaccessioning artwork from the city’s public art collection."
  

  Carried

3.2

FIN-2021-57 - 2022 User Fees

The Committee considered Financial Services Department report FIN-2021-57 dated October 20, 2021 recommending approval of the 2022 user fees and charges. Ryan Hagey presented the report and responded to questions from the Committee. Justin Readman, Denise McGoldrick, Bob Gilmore, Kim Kugler, Christine Tarling, 

Mayor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time.

Mayor B. Vrbanovic brought forward an amendment to refer user fees outlined in items 863 to 871 related to cricket pitches and items 1471 related to patio agreements be referred to Council to provided staff an opportunity to review the financial impacts if the user fees were not increased for the 2022 budget.

In response to questions, J. Readman advised the Planning Division is currently undertaking a review on all the fees related to development applications, noting staff anticipate reporting back in 2022 on that fee review including recommendations.

In response to questions, J. Launtenbach agreed to follow up with additional information regarding the number of tax certificates that are requested yearly and possible impacts on making changes to those fees.

Mayor B. Vrbanovic's referral amendment was then voted on and was Carried.

• On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis

  it was resolved:

  "That the proposed fees and charges contained in the 2022 User Fee Schedule attached to Financial Services Department report FIN-2021-57 be approved, save and except for the following:

  • • items 863 to 871 related to cricket pitches; and,
    • item 1471 related to patio agreements, which were referred to November 22, 2021 Council meeting to allow staff an opportunity to review the financial impacts if the user fees were not increased for the 2022 budget; and further,

  That Legal Services staff be directed to prepare the necessary by-laws to amend The City of Kitchener Municipal Code Chapters for fees and charges pertaining to licensing, planning applications, building permits and Committee of Adjustment applications."

  Carried

3.3

DSD-2021-162 - Brownfield Financial Incentive Program Review

The Committee considered Development Services Department report dated September 16, 2021, recommending an amendment to the Brownfield Financial Incentive Program as outlined in the Report. Robert Morgan presented the report and responded to questions from the Committee. 

P. Singh brought forward an amendment to direct staff to review and report back on possible options to repurpose the proposed 10% reduction for the Brownfield Incentive program to another community benefit type program, affordable housing being suggested as a possible option and report back in early 2022.

P. Singh's amendment was voted on and was Carried.

• On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis

  it was resolved:

  "That the Brownfield Financial Incentive Program be amended by eliminating the 10% allowance for indirect costs, as described in Development Services Department report DSD-2021-162; and further;

  That staff be direct staff to review and report back on possible options to repurpose the proposed 10% reduction for the Brownfield Incentive program to another community benefit program, affordable housing being suggested as a possible option and report back in early 2022."

  Carried

3.4

COR-2021-26 - 2022 Municipal & School Board Election - Alternative Voting Methods

The Committee considered Corporate Services Department report COR-2021-26 dated October 28, 2021 regarding the authorization of a by-law for alternative voting methods for the 2022 municipal and school board election. The Committee was also in receipt of written submission from Luke Taylor, Dave Ockwell-Jenner and Maddy Currie in opposition to the staff recommendation. Cody Boomer presented the report and responded to questions from the Committee. Christine Tarling was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. 

Doug Suerich addressed the Committee in opposition to the recommendation outlined in report COR2021-26 and responded to questions from the Committee. D. Suerich stated if an alternative voting method is being considered he suggested using mail-in ballots.

On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis -
it was resolved:

“That an in-camera meeting of Finance and Corporate Services Committee be held this date to consider a matter subject a security of property matter as authorized by Section 239 (a)of the Municipal Act, 2001 related to the consideration of the subject matter.”

The Committee recessed at 2:17 p.m. and reconvened at 2:56 p.m., chaired by Councillor S. Davey with all members present.

Mayor B. Vrbanovic brought forward a motion to direct staff to proceed with a paper ballot election including decentralized tabulators for the 2022 Municipal Election; and to further direct staff to review an option for a mail-in ballots registration program and to report back on possible logistics to this alternative voting method for the November 22, 2021 Council meeting.

Mayor B. Vrbanovic requested a recorded vote.

Councillor C. Michaud left the meeting at this time.

Councillor J. Gazzola requested each clause be voted on separately.

Clause 2 related to mail-in ballots was voted on and was Carried unanimously on a recorded vote.

The following motion was then voted on and was Carried a recorded vote.

• On motion by Mayor B. Vrbanovic

  it was resolved:

  "That staff be directed to proceed with a paper ballot election including decentralized tabulators for the 2022 Municipal Election, outlined in Corporate Services Department report COR-2021-26; and further,

  That staff be directed to review an option for a mail-in ballots registration program and to report back on possible logistics to this alternative voting method for the November 22, 2021 Council meeting."

  In Favour (9)	Mayor B. Vrbanovic, Councillor S. Davey, Councillor D. Schnider, Councillor J. Gazzola, Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock, Councillor P. Singh, Councillor B. Ioannidis, Councillor D. Chapman, and Councillor S. Marsh
  Contra (1)	Councillor M. Johnston

  Carried (9 to 1)

3.5

COR-2021-28 - Digital Kitchener and Innovation Lab Update

The Committee considered Corporate Services Department report COR-2021-28 dated October 25, 2021 regarding receipt of the Digital Kitchener and Innovation Lab update. Dan Murray was in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.

P. Singh brought forward a motion to defer consideration of report COR-2021-28 to the December 6, 2021 Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting, noting due to time constraints this date, there was not the opportunity to have a fulsome discussion on the matter.

• On motion by Councillor P. Singh

  it was resolved:

  "That the following matter be deferred to December 6, 2021 Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting:

  That Corporate Services Department report COR-2021-28 - Digital Kitchener and Innovation Lab Update be received for information."

  Carried

4.

Information Items

4.1

None.

5.

Adjournment

On motion, this meeting adjourned at 3:48 p.m.

 

Dianna Saunderson
Manager, Council/Committee Services & Deputy Clerk