Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee

Report

Meeting #:5th Meeting of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee - BUDGET
Date:
-
Location:
Council Chambers
PRESENT:
  • Mayor E. Holder (Chair),
  • Councillors M. van Holst,
  • S. Lewis,
  • M. Salih,
  • J. Helmer,
  • M. Cassidy,
  • P. Squire,
  • J. Morgan,
  • S. Lehman,
  • A. Hopkins,
  • P. Van Meerbergen,
  • S. Turner,
  • E. Peloza,
  • A. Kayabaga,
  • and S. Hillier
ALSO PRESENT:
  • M. Hayward, A.L. Barbon, G. Bridge, B. Card, S. Datars Bere, J. Davies, A. Dunbar, J. Fleming, M. Galczynski, G. Kotsifas, L. Livingstone, D. MacRae, S. Mathers, J.P. McGonigle, J. Millson, K. Murray, D. O’Brien, M. Ribera, C. Saunders, S. Spring, M. Schulthess and B. Westlake-Power.

    The meeting is called to order at 10:03 AM, with all members present.


Councillor S. Turner discloses a pecuniary interest with respect to any matter specific to EarlyON funding by indicating that his spouse is an employee of Childreach. Councillor S. Turner further discloses a pecuniary interest with respect to any matter specific to the Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU), by indicating that the MLHU is his employer

Councillor J. Helmer discloses a pecuniary interest in any matters related directly to the National Golf Course Owners Association, by indicating that his father is a member of the Association.

Councillor P. Van Meerbergen discloses a pecuniary interest in any matters associated with childcare funding, by indicating that his spouse operates a daycare business.

Councillor A. Hopkins discloses a pecuniary interest in matters that may specifically reference Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 107, by indicating that her son is a member of Local 107.

Councillor S. Lehman discloses a pecuniary interest the discussion specific to proposed new Business Improvement Area (BIA) funds, by indicating that he is a member of the Downtown BIA.

  • Moved by:M. Cassidy
    Seconded by:S. Lewis

    That the following actions be taken with respect to the 2019 Annual Budget Update - Public Engagement:

    a)            that, on the recommendation of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, the staff report dated January 24, 2019 regarding public engagement for the 2019 Multi-Year Budget Update BE RECEIVED for information; and

    b)            the verbal update from Councillor J. Morgan and the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, with respect to direction arising from the January 17, 2019 Public Participation Meeting related to the Merrymount Children’s Centre funding request, BE RECEIVED for information.


    Yeas: (14)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, P. Van Meerbergen, E. Peloza, A. Kayabaga, and S. Hillier
    Recuse: (1)S. Turner

    Motion Passed (14 to 0)
  • Moved by:S. Turner
    Seconded by:A. Hopkins

    That the attached budget presentation from the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer BE RECEIVED.  


    Yeas: (15)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, P. Van Meerbergen, S. Turner, E. Peloza, A. Kayabaga, and S. Hillier

    Motion Passed (15 to 0)
  • That the following actions be taken with respect to the 2019 Annual Budget Update – Operating:

    a)       the following actions be taken with respect to the following Operating Budget Amendment Cases:

    i)               Business Cases #1 (Adjustments to Reduce the Tax Levy) - Net Impact $(1,072), #3 (Confidential - Labour Relations) - Net Impact $(2,000),  and #5 (Additional Land Ambulance Resources) - Net Impact $590, BE APPROVED;

    ii)        Business Case #2 (Cancellation of Planned 2019 Minimum wage Increase) - Net Impact $(521), BE APPROVED;

    iii)       Business Case #4 (Bicycle Lane Maintenance) - Net Impact $408, BE APPROVED;

    iv)       Business Case #6 (Safeguard Program - London Police Service) - Net Impact $161, BE APPROVED;

    v)       Business Case #7 (London Children's Museum - Funding Request)  - Net Impact $0, BE APPROVED, including the amended sources of financing for the Case ($1,500,000 – Economic Development Reserve Fund and $500,000 – Tourism Infrastructure Reserve Fund);

    vi)       Business Case #13 (Subsidized Transit for Seniors) - Net Impact $285, BE APPROVED;

    b)       the Hamilton Road Business Improvement Area (BIA) BE GIVEN a grant in the amount of $50,000 for 2019 to assist the BIA in their activities; it being noted that this is a 4 km, low assessment area with a 4.9% levy totaling only $70,000; it being further noted that the grant would be funded from the Community Investment Reserve Fund; and,

    c)       that $330,000 from Assessment Growth revenue BE ALLOCATED to the 2019 Budget in order to off-set the tax levy.


    Motion Passed

    Voting Record:


  • Moved by:J. Helmer
    Seconded by:S. Turner

    That Operating Budget Amendment - Case #7 (London Children's Museum - Funding Request), BE AMENDED, to revise the source of funding of the Case with $1,500,000 being funded from the Economic Development Reserve Fund, and $500,000 being funded from the Tourism Infrastructure Reserve Fund.


    Yeas: (12)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, P. Van Meerbergen, S. Turner, E. Peloza, A. Kayabaga, and S. Hillier
    Nays: (3)S. Lewis, M. Salih, and P. Squire

    Motion Passed (12 to 3)
  • Moved by:P. Van Meerbergen
    Seconded by:S. Lehman

    That the motion to allocate $330,000 from Assessment Growth Revenue to the 2019 Budget BE AMENDED to be $1,000,000 to the 2019 Budget amount. 


    Yeas: (5)M. van Holst, P. Squire, S. Lehman, P. Van Meerbergen, and S. Hillier
    Nays: (10)Mayor E. Holder, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, J. Morgan, A. Hopkins, S. Turner, E. Peloza, and A. Kayabaga

    Motion Failed (5 to 10)
  • Moved by:J. Helmer
    Seconded by:M. Cassidy

    That Operating Budget Amendments included in Business Cases #1 (Adjustments to reduce the Tax Levy), #3 (Confidential - Labour Relations),  and #5 (Additional Land Ambulance Resources), BE APPROVED. 


    Yeas: (15)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, P. Van Meerbergen, S. Turner, E. Peloza, A. Kayabaga, and S. Hillier

    Motion Passed (15 to 0)
  • Moved by:S. Lehman
    Seconded by:P. Van Meerbergen

    That Operating Budget Amendments included in Case #2 (Cancellation of Planned 2019 Minimum wage Increase), BE APPROVED.


    Yeas: (9)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, P. Van Meerbergen, and S. Hillier
    Nays: (6)M. Salih, J. Helmer, A. Hopkins, S. Turner, E. Peloza, and A. Kayabaga

    Motion Passed (9 to 6)
  • Moved by:A. Hopkins
    Seconded by:S. Lewis

    That Operating Budget Amendments included in Case #4 (Bicycle Lane Maintenance), BE APPROVED.


    Yeas: (12)M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, S. Turner, E. Peloza, and A. Kayabaga
    Nays: (2)P. Van Meerbergen, and S. Hillier
    Absent: (1)Mayor E. Holder

    Motion Passed (12 to 2)
  • Moved by:M. Salih
    Seconded by:E. Peloza

    That Operating Budget Amendments included in Case #6 (Safeguard Program - London Police Service), BE APPROVED.


    Yeas: (14)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, S. Turner, E. Peloza, A. Kayabaga, and S. Hillier
    Nays: (1)P. Van Meerbergen

    Motion Passed (14 to 1)
  • Moved by:S. Hillier
    Seconded by:S. Lewis

    That Operating Budget Amendments included in Case #7 (London Children's Museum - Funding Request), BE APPROVED, as amended.


    Yeas: (15)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, P. Van Meerbergen, S. Turner, E. Peloza, A. Kayabaga, and S. Hillier

    Motion Passed (15 to 0)
  • Moved by:P. Van Meerbergen
    Seconded by:E. Peloza

    That Business Case #13 Subsidized Transit for Seniors, BE REFERRED to the next multi-year budget process, in order for all transit subsidies and fares to be reviewed in a comprehensive way.


    Yeas: (3)S. Lehman, P. Van Meerbergen, and E. Peloza
    Nays: (12)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, A. Hopkins, S. Turner, A. Kayabaga, and S. Hillier

    Motion Failed (3 to 12)
  • Moved by:M. van Holst
    Seconded by:M. Salih

    That Operating Budget Amendments included in Case #13 (Subsidized Transit for Seniors), BE APPROVED.


    Yeas: (13)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, S. Turner, A. Kayabaga, and S. Hillier
    Nays: (2)P. Van Meerbergen, and E. Peloza

    Motion Passed (13 to 2)
  • Moved by:P. Squire
    Seconded by:M. van Holst

    That the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to bring forward for Municipal Council’s consideration options that would result in a reduction of the proposed tax levy increase for 2019 to 2.4%; it being noted that Municipal Council will review the said options presented and all other budget matters to determine if it will implement a 2019 tax levy increase of 2.4%.


    Yeas: (5)M. van Holst, P. Squire, J. Morgan, P. Van Meerbergen, and S. Hillier
    Nays: (10)Mayor E. Holder, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, S. Turner, E. Peloza, and A. Kayabaga

    Motion Failed (5 to 10)
  • Moved by:M. van Holst
    Seconded by:Mayor E. Holder

    That the Hamilton Road Business Improvement Area (BIA) BE GIVEN a grant of $50,000 for 2019 to assist the BIA in their activities; it being noted that this is a 4km, low assessment area with a 4.9% levy totaling only $70,000; it being further noted that the grant would be funded from the Community Investment Reserve Fund.


    Yeas: (10)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, J. Morgan, A. Hopkins, P. Van Meerbergen, and S. Hillier
    Nays: (4)P. Squire, S. Turner, E. Peloza, and A. Kayabaga
    Absent: (1)S. Lehman

    Motion Passed (10 to 4)
  • Moved by:S. Lewis
    Seconded by:J. Morgan

    That $330,000 from Assessment Growth revenue BE ALLOCATED to the 2019 Budget in order to off-set the tax levy.


    Yeas: (12)Mayor E. Holder, M. van Holst, S. Lewis, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, P. Squire, J. Morgan, S. Lehman, A. Hopkins, P. Van Meerbergen, and S. Hillier
    Nays: (3)S. Turner, E. Peloza, and A. Kayabaga

    Motion Passed (12 to 3)
  • Moved by:A. Hopkins
    Seconded by:P. Van Meerbergen

    Motion to recess the meeting, until 10:00 AM, Monday, January 28, 2019.


    Motion Passed

    The Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee recesses at 4:12 PM.