Minutes

General Committee

 

Finance & Administrative Issues                  Community Services Issues

Chair:              Deputy Mayor Jack Heath                            Chair:                      Councillor Alan Ho

Vice Chair:      Councillor Colin Campbell                             Vice Chair:              Councillor Alex Chiu

 

Environment & Sustainability Issues                        Building, Parks, & Construction Issues

Chair:              Councillor Valerie Burke                 Chair:                     Councillor Colin Campbell

Vice Chair:      Councillor Karen Rea                                      Vice Chair:              Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong

 

                                                                                                                       

                Alternate formats are available upon request.

 

 

Attendance

 

Mayor Frank Scarpitti Deputy Mayor Jack Heath Regional Councillor Jim Jones Regional Councillor Joe Li Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong Councillor Valerie Burke Councillor Alan Ho Councillor Don Hamilton Councillor Colin Campbell Councillor Amanda Collucci Councillor Logan Kanapathi Councillor Alex Chiu   Regrets Councillor Karen Rea

Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer Trinela Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services Catherine Conrad, City Solicitor Joel Lustig, Treasurer Andrea Tang, Manager of Financial Planning Dennis Flaherty, Director of Communications and Community Relations Sharon Laing, Director of Human Resources Alida Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator

 

The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 5:33 PM with Deputy Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair.

 

Disclosure of Interest

 

None disclosed.

 

 

 

 

 

1.         MINUTES OF THE MARCH 27, 2015
BUDGET SUB-COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes    Appendix A

 

Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the March 27, 2015 Budget Sub-Committee meeting be received for information purposes; and,

 

2)         That the 2015 Celebrate Markham Grants in the amount of $370,000.00 be approved as attached in Appendix A with the following amendments:

           

a)   That $5,400.00 from the Tony Roman Hockey Tournament be re-allocated equally to the following three events in addition to the amounts outlined in Appendix A:

·                    Thursday Night Summer Music Series – Unionville Bandstand

·                    Markham Village Festival

·                    Markham Jazz Festival

b)      That $5,000.00 from the Unity Festival be re-allocated to the Pan AM Global Fest on a one time basis.

Carried

 

 

2.         2015 BUDGET (7.4 & 7.5)

            Report     Appendices 1-7     Appendix 8

 

Joel Lustig, Treasurer addressed the Committee and briefly summarized the details outlined in the report.

 

There was discussion regarding whether the additional tax rate increase to fund the response and recovery costs associated with the December 2013 Ice Storm will be required in the future budgets.

 

The Committee requested that staff provide the details for the travel expenses in the amount of $40,720.00 under the 2015 Operating Budget – Library expense.

 

The Committee discussed the following relative to the 2015 Capital and Other Programs Budget:

·        #15181 Rouge River/Markham Golf Course Irrigation

·        #15297 Water Fountain Installation at Simonston Park

·        #15254 Corporate Accommodations

·        #15261 Operations Facilities - Fuel Facilities Improvements

·        #15266 Roofing Replacement Projects

The Committee inquired about the York Regions' and City of Markhams' severance policy.  Staff advised that councillors are entitled to one month's salary at current rates for each year served on council, up to a maximum of 18 months.

 

There was discussion with respect to tangible capital assets and the projected budget deficit for 2015.

 

Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton

Seconded by Councillor Valerie Burke

 

That staff be directed to report back to General Committee relative to the installation of a water fountain in Simonston Park prior to implementation.

Carried

 

Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci

 

1)         That the report dated March 31, 2015 entitled, “2015 Budget” be received; and,

 

2)         That Council approve a 2.34% tax rate increase to the City’s tax levy to support the City’s day-to-day operations; and,

 

3)         That Council approve an additional 0.16% tax rate increase to fund the response and recovery costs associated with the December 2013 ice storm (Year 2 of 3); and,

 

4)         That Council approve the 2015 Operating Budget for City services totalling $185,892,264; and,

 

5)         That Council approve the 2015 Library Operating Budget totalling $13,403,487, the principal components of which are detailed in Appendix 2; and,

 

6)         That the gross operating expenditures of $199,295,751 (Operating $185,892,264 + Library $13,403,487), (excluding the 2014 deficit), of which the principal components are detailed in Appendix 1, be funded from the following sources:

; and,

 

7)         That Council approve the remaining 2015 Capital Budget totalling $66,988,600 of which the projects are detailed in Appendix 3; and,

 

8)         That Council approve the 2015 Planning & Design Operating Budget totalling $8,212,073, (excluding the 2014 deficit), the principal components of which are detailed in Appendix 4; and,

 

9)         That Council approve the 2015 Engineering Operating Budget totalling $6,566,574, (excluding the 2014 deficit), the principal components of which are detailed in Appendix 5; and,

 

10)       That Council approve the 2015 Building Standards Operating Budget totalling $8,529,259, (excluding the 2014 deficit), the principal components of which are detailed in Appendix 6; and,

 

11)       That Council approve the 2015 Waterworks Operating Budget totalling $101,754,579, (excluding the 2014 adjustment), the principal components of which are detailed in Appendix 7; and,

 

12)       That upon finalization of the 2014 audited financial statements, the 2015 Operating, Planning & Design, Engineering, Building Standards, and Waterworks Operating Budgets be adjusted to reflect the 2014 operating results; and,

 

13)       That By-law 2002-276, a by-law to impose fees and charges for services or activities provided by the City of Markham, be amended to reflect the following changes in Finance and Tax fees and charges effective June 1, 2015:

 

a.       Ownership Change Administration Fee from $31.00 to $34.00

b.      Non-Property Tax related charge added to the tax account from $36.00 to $45.00

c.       Returned Cheque Fee from $36.00 to $40.00

d.      Tax Certificate from $60.50 to $76.00; and,

 

14)       That the Treasurer be authorized to set future increases for the above Finance and Tax fees and charges annually based on the change in the Consumer Price Index (Toronto All Items September -September) with such increases effective January 1 and rounded to the nearest half dollar; and,

 

15)       That a copy of the Budgets be made available to the public through the Clerk’s Department, the City website and each of the Markham Public Libraries; and,

 

16)       That the “Additional Financial Disclosure Requirements Pursuant to Ontario Regulation 284/09” be received for information purposes; and,

 

17)       That this report be brought forward to Council on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 for approval; and further,

 

18)       That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

Carried

 

 

Adjournment

 

Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci

 

That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 6:15 PM.

 

Carried