Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting
Agenda

BCW#03-23

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 1:30 P.m. - 4:30 P.m.

Council Chambers

225 East Beaver Creek Road

Richmond Hill, Ontario

Chair, Joe DiPaola, Regional and Local Councillor

PUBLIC NOTICE

City facilities are open to the public to attend Council and Committee meetings. The public can observe meetings of Council and Committees by attending in-person or by viewing the livestream of the open session part of these meetings which can be accessed on the City’s website (Richmondhill.ca) or on the City’s YouTube page (linked from the City’s homepage).

Public Comments: The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda items by email to [email protected]. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Comments submitted will be provided to all Members of Council, are considered as public information and will be included on the public agenda posted to the City's website.

Delegations: Any person who wishes to speak to Council on agenda items must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Applications to appear as a delegation can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by using the on-line application form found on Richmondhill.ca. Delegations can be in person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as a delegation.

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1.

Adoption of Agenda

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

3.

Delegations

4.

Scheduled Business

4.1

SRCFS.23.007 - 2023 Draft Operating Budget

(Deferred from the February 7, 2023 Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting)

Staff will make the following presentations:

• Kelvin Kwan, Commissioner of Planning and Infrastructure - 2023 Draft Planning and Infrastructure Department Operating Budget
• Sherry Adams, Commissioner of Corporate and Financial Services - 2023 Draft Corporate and Financial Services Operating Budget
• Gigi Li, Director of Financial Services and Treasurer - 2023 Draft Corporate Accounts Budget
• Gigi Li, Director of Financial Services and Treasurer - 2023 Draft Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Budget

• a) That Staff Report SRCFS.23.007 regarding the 2023 Operating Budget be received;

  b) That the following staff recommendations be deferred to the February 14, 2023 Budget Committee of the Whole meeting for approval:

  1. That the 2023 City Operating Budget:

  i ) With a recommended budget increase of $4,674,300 and a total tax levy of $126,291,200 (excluding supplementary taxes),summarized in Appendix “A” to staff report SRCFS.23.007, be approved;

  ii) That the 2023 Senior Tax Assistance Grant increase to $420, be approved;

  iii) That the draft By-law 23-23, attached as Appendix “D” to staff report SRCFS.23.007, be referred to the February 22, 2023 Council meeting for adoption.

  2. That the Capital Asset Sustainability Fee 2023 budget increase of $1,216,000 and total fee levy of $8,984,500, be approved;

  3. That the draft By-law 24-23, attached as Appendix “E” to staff report SRCFS.23.007 for the 2023 Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Budgets, be referred to the February 22, 2023 Council meeting for adoption;

  4. That the Financial Outlook (attached as Appendix “C” to staff report SRCFS.23.007) be received for information; and

  5. That, as required by Ontario Regulation 284/09, Municipal Act 2001, the compliance report attached as Appendix “G” to staff report SRCFS.23.007 for expenses that have been excluded from the 2023 Draft Operating Budget, be approved.

4.2

SRCFS.23.005 - Municipal Elections Campaign Contribution Rebate Program

(Deferred from the February 7, 2023 Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting)

• a) That staff report SRCFS.23.005, regarding a Municipal Elections Campaign Contribution Rebate Program, be received;

  b) That Council provide direction on the implementation of a Municipal Elections Campaign Contribution Rebate Program for Richmond Hill.

4.3

SRCFS.23.010 - Reinstatement of Community Bulletin Board in the Liberal Newspaper

(Deferred from the February 7, 2023 Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting)

• a) That staff report SRCFS.23.010 regarding reinstatement of community Bulletin Board in the Liberal Newspaper, be received for information;

  b) That Council provide direction based on the options presented in staff report SRCFS.23.010.

4.4

Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor Chan - Public Consultation on Budget

Moved by: Regional and Local Councillor Chan

• WHEREAS Council is committed to open and transparent process in setting the annual Operating Budget to deliver quality programs and services to residents and businesses in the City of Richmond Hill;

  WHEREAS it has been the practice to hold public meetings for budget consultations with the community, and the City has previously conducted budget consultations in public spaces (shopping mall and library) and online surveys to reach out to residents in the past which were not the most effective method to consult for the City’s budget;

  WHEREAS the City has used “Citizen Budget”, an online interactive tool, for residents and businesses to provide input and contribute to the budgetary process at a time and place that is convenient to them;

  WHEREAS there is an opportunity to further demonstrate Council's commitment to engage the public in the annual process for setting the Operating Budget for the City by providing renewed public information and participation options; and

  WHEREAS it has been the practice of other municipalities to provide various levels of budget consultation and promotion as part of their respective annual process for Operating Budgets,

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

  That staff are requested to report back on a budget consultation plan for the 2024 Budget process, including the use of an online budget tool/survey before summer recess in 2023.

5.

Adjournment