Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:BCW#02-19
Date:
-
Location:
Council Chambers
225 East Beaver Creek Road
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Committee Members Present:
  • Mayor Barrow
  • Regional and Local Councillor DiPaola
  • Councillor Beros
  • Councillor Muench
  • Councillor West
  • Councillor Chan
Regrets:
  • Regional and Local Councillor Perrelli
  • Councillor Liu
  • Councillor Cilevitz

 


Committee consented to recess the meeting between 3:37 p.m. and 3:54 p.m.

  • Moved by:Councillor Beros

    That the agenda be adopted as distributed by the Clerk with the following addition:

    a) Presentation by Steve Kraft, Fire Chief, regarding the Fire and Emergency Services Master Plan - Item 4.4

    Carried Unanimously

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest by members of Council under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

There were no delegations.

David Dexter, Director, Financial Services and Treasurer, made a presentation regarding the 2019 draft Operating Budget. He highlighted the operating budget process and direction, and the economic climate and growth indicators that impacted the budget. He reviewed the proposed total operating budget for 2019 and advised that it was being presented in three main components: Town Services, Richmond Hill Public Library Board, and Fire Master Plan.

D. Dexter provided an overview of the 2019 operating budget expenditures and revenues; base expenditure, revenue and legislated pressures; 2019 annualizations; budget pressures including growth and new staffing requests; and unsustainable funding sources.

D. Dexter reviewed the capital asset sustainability strategy, tax impact for the average single detached residential property, 2020 to 2022 financial outlook, tax rate stabilization reserve outlook, and the 2019 draft Water, Wastewater and Stormwater budgets.

  • Moved by:Councillor Chan

    a) That the presentation by David Dexter, Director of Financial Services and Treasurer, regarding an overview of the 2019 draft Operating Budget be received.

    Carried Unanimously

David Dexter, Director, Financial Services and Treasurer, made a presentation regarding the residential tax bill. He provided an overview of how the residential tax bill is divided, 2019 blended tax rate increase, and 2018 tax bill for the average single detached residential property in Richmond Hill compared to neighbouring municipalities. D. Dexter explained the reassessment process used by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), reassessment shifts, and the Tax Rate Policy set by the Region of York.

  • Moved by:Mayor Barrow

    a) That the presentation by David Dexter, Director of Financial Services and Treasurer, regarding the Residential Tax Bill be received.

    Carried Unanimously

Louise Procter Maio, Chief Executive Officer, Richmond Hill Public Library, and Stephen Chait, Richmond Hill Public Library Board member, made a presentation regarding the 2019 draft Operating Budget for the Richmond Hill Public Library Board.

S. Chait acknowledged the members of the Richmond Hill Public Library Board, provided an overview of their purpose and community value, and highlighted 2018 accomplishments and use indicators.

L. Procter Maio reviewed the Library Board governance under the Public Libraries Act; functional areas including customer experiences, community connections, technologies, content and administration; 2019 priorities and budget principles. She provided an overview of the 2019 draft operating budget for the Richmond Hill Public Library Board, noting budget pressures, base pressures, annualizations, and new/growth pressures. She concluded the presentation by highlighting the value of the Richmond Hill Public Libraries to the community.

  • Moved by:Councillor Beros

    a) That the presentation by Louise Procter Maio, Chief Executive Officer, Richmond Hill Public Library, regarding the 2019 draft Operating Budget for the Richmond Hill Public Library Board be received;

    b) That the 2019 draft Operating Budget for the Richmond Hill Public Library Board be approved at an increase of 2.4% from the 2018 operating budget, and the Board determine where to allocate the budget increase.

    Carried

Steve Kraft, Fire Chief, made a presentation regarding the Fire and Emergency Services Master Plan. He advised that Dillon Consulting was retained to prepare the Fire and Emergency Services Master Plan for the Town of Richmond Hill, and provided an overview of the implementation plan and recommendations in the proposed plan. S. Kraft reviewed the approved requests from Phase 1 of the implementation in 2017, and proposed requests for Phase 2 and Phase 3 to be implemented by 2023.

  • Moved by:Councillor Muench

    a) That the presentation by Steve Kraft, Fire Chief, regarding the Fire and Emergency Services Master Plan, be received with thanks.

    Carried Unanimously
  • Moved by:Councillor Muench

    b) That the 2019 business case for 4 firefighter positions in the Community Services Department 2019 draft Operating budget be approved.

    Motion Failed to Carry on a Tie Vote
  • Moved by:Mayor Barrow

    b) That the 2019 business case for 6 firefighter positions in the Community Services Department 2019 draft Operating budget be approved.

  • Moved by:Councillor Beros

    That the motion by Mayor Barrow relating to the business case for firefighter positions in the Community Services Department 2019 draft Operating Budget be deferred to the February 19, 2019 Budget Committee of the Whole meeting.

    Motion Failed to Carry on a Tie Vote
  • Moved by:Mayor Barrow

    b) That the 2019 business case for 6 firefighter positions in the Community Services Department 2019 draft Operating budget be approved.

    Motion Failed to Carry on a Tie Vote
  • Moved by:Mayor Barrow

    a) That the 2019 Town Operating Budget:

    i. Summarized in Appendix 'A' to staff report SRCFS.19.005, with a recommended budget increase of $3,328,700 and a total tax levy of $114,973,200 (excluding supplementary taxes), be adopted subject to the following adjustments:

    1. Deletion of a permanent full time staff position in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer 2019 draft Operating Budget (Director of Communications);

    2. Reduction of the Richmond Hill Public Library Board's 2019 draft net budget from 5.9% to 2.4%.

    ii. That the 2019 Seniors Tax Assistance Grant be increased to $399;

    iii. That draft By-law 14-19, attached as Appendix 'D' to staff report SRCFS.19.005, as amended, be enacted to adopt the 2019 Town Services Operating Budget.

    b) That the Capital Asset Sustainability Fee budget increase of $1,116,400 and total fee levy of $4,231,600 for the 2019 taxation year, be adopted;

    c) That draft By-law 15-19, attached as Appendix 'E' to staff report SRCFS.19.005 be enacted to adopt the 2019 Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Budgets;

    d) That the Financial Outlook, attached as Appendix 'C' to staff report SRCFS.19.005, be received;

    e) That, as required by Ontario Regulation 284/09, Municipal Act 2001, the compliance report attached as Appendix 'G' to staff report SRCFS.19.005 be approved for expenses that have been excluded from the 2019 Draft Budget.

    Carried Unanimously
  • Moved by:Councillor Muench

    That the meeting be adjourned 

    The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

    Carried Unanimously