Title
2017 BUSINESS PLAN (17-G-024)
1. That the 2017 tax-supported base operating budget for municipal operations, with total gross expenditures of $223.2 million and a net property tax levy requirement of $139.8 million, be approved with the following amendments to reflect changes since the 2017 Business Plan’s publication on January, 9, 2017:
a) That the budget for insurance premiums be reduced by $70,827;
b) That the Executive Management Team identify further reductions in the amount of $650,000 through sustainable expenditure reductions and/or increases in revenues and staff report back to General Committee for approval of the proposed list of reductions or increases in revenue prior to implementation;
c) That the net levy requirement in 2017 be increased by $1,000 associated with the estimated costs to enhance maintenance activities and/or increase service on the rental of temporary washroom facilities for Minet’s Point Park;
d) That the 2017 increase in the transfer to the Tax Capital Reserve related to amortization, be phased in with a contribution of $250,000 in 2017 and an additional $250,000 in 2018, resulting in a reduction in the 2017 net levy requirement of $750,000;
e) That the net levy requirement in 2017 be increased by $33,210 associated with providing security at City Hall to address the significant increase in the number of security-related incidents;
f) That the net levy requirement be increased by $32,800 in the Roads, Parks and Fleet Department accounts, to allow for enhanced sidewalk sweeping, street sweeping, power washing of sidewalks and alleyways, the collection of litter and illegally dumped materials, and removal of graffiti and flyers from City infrastructure within the core as well as the rental of an associated 300 series truck to accomplish same and the BIA be asked to contribute to 50% of the cost;
g) That the net levy requirement be increased by $29,000, representing $13,000 associated with an increase in the Roads, Parks and Fleet budget to allow for the retrofitting of approximately 35% of the existing in-ground garbage containers at waterfront and community parks and an additional $16,000 associated with the installation of an additional 14 in-ground waste receptacles per year in parks;
h) That the net levy requirement in 2017 be reduced by $156,000 related to debt servicing costs through the substitution of alternative sources of financing for $3.5M of the planned debenture issue in 2017;
i) That the net levy requirement in 2017 be increased by $18,000 associated with the installation and removal annually of additional speed cushions in each ward; and
j) That the net levy requirement in 2017 be increased by $2,500 associated with the acquisition of cigarette receptacles for the downtown core, to be installed and maintained by the Downtown BIA.
2. That the 2017 tax supported base operating budget for Barrie’s Service Partners presented on page 18 of the 2017 Business Plan, with total gross expenditures of $82.1 million and a net property tax levy requirement of $79.9 million, be approved with the following amendments to reflect changes since the 2017 Business Plan’s publication on January 9, 2017:
a) That the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport 2017 General Operating Levy Request be decreased from $425,732 to $423,279 resulting in a reduction of $2,453 to the net tax levy;
b) That the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority 2017 Asset Levy Request be decreased from $20,045 to $6,615 resulting in a reduction of $13,430 to the net tax levy;
c) That the tax supported net levy requirement for Barrie Police Service be reduced by $100,000 and the Board advise regarding the impacts to capital or operating budgets; and
d) That the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Grant Request be increased based on new information received, with a resulting net levy increase of $16,996.
3. That the New Investment and Service Recommendations associated with Operating Budget requests as outlined on page 21 of the 2017 Business Plan with a net tax cost of $473 thousand (operating), net water cost of $70.2 thousand (operating), net wastewater cost of $65.9 thousand (operating), net parking cost of $10.7 thousand (operating), and $57.8 thousand (capital), be approved with the following amendments to reflect changes since the 2017 Business Plan’s publication on January 9, 2017:
a) That Intake Form #20 regarding the Communications Operator (Fire) be added, resulting in a net levy increase of $63,660 for 2017.
4. That the Water base operating budget, with gross expenditures of $34.2 million and revenues of $34.2 million, be approved with the following amendments to reflect changes since the 2017 Business Plan’s publication on January 9, 2017:
a) That the budgeted water rate revenue be reduced by $125,136 with an equal-and-offsetting reduction to the contribution to Water Rate Reserves.
5. That the Wastewater base operating budget, with gross expenditures of $42.3 million and revenues of $42.3 million, be approved with the following amendments to reflect changes since the 2017 Business Plan’s publication on January 9, 2017:
a) That the budgeted wastewater rate revenue be reduced by $682,181 with an equal-and-offsetting reduction to the contribution to Wastewater Rate Reserves.
6. That the Parking Operations base budget, with gross expenditures of $2.4 million and gross revenues of $2.4 million, be approved.
7. That the 2017 new Capital Budget requests of $79.8 million be approved with the following amendments since the 2017 Business Plan’s publication on January 9, 2017:
a) That the Sandringham Drive New Trunk Watermain - Big Bay Point to Mapleview project 2017 budget amount be removed from the list of 2017 new Capital Budget requests as this project was pre-approved on the November 2016 Capital Status Report;
b) That the Ashford Drive and Madelaine Drive New Transmission Watermain - Big Bay Point to Mapleview project 2017 budget amount be removed from the list of 2017 new Capital Budget requests as this project was pre-approved on the November 2016 Capital Status Report;
c) That the Bell Farm Road ROW Expansion - St. Vincent to Duckworth project 2017 budget amount be reduced from $100,000 to $70,000 as $30,000 of the funding was pre-approved on the November 2016 Capital Status Report with funding from Development Charges (DCs) ($19,500) and Tax Capital Reserve ($10,500);
d) That the Harvie Road and Big Bay Point Road New Crossing - Highway 400 project 2017 budget amount be reduced from $2,171,600 to $871,000 as $1,300,000 of the funding was pre-approved on the November 2016 Capital Status Report with funding from DCs ($871,000) and Tax Capital Reserve ($429,000);
e) That the Harvie Road ROW Expansion - Essa to Bryne project 2017 budget amount be reduced from $3,554,900 to $3,504,900 as $50,000 of the funding was pre-approved on the November 2016 Capital Status Report with funding from DCs ($32,500) and Tax Capital Reserve ($17,500);
f) That the following project be added to the 2017 new Capital Budget list: Year Round Downtown Market - Financial and Technical Study, in the amount of $100,000 to be funded from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve;
g) That the funding source for capital project number 000468, Mapleview Drive East New Transmission Watermain - Yonge to Prince William be changed to Developer Front Ending (Annex) - Developer Build, to reflect the change from a City-build project to a Developer-build project;
h) That the North Shore Trail New Water Access Points - Sam Cancilla Park, St. Vincent Square and Nelson Square project be removed from the 2017 new Capital Budget requests and deferred with the design phase in 2018 and construction phase in 2019, as the City was unsuccessful in its Community Infrastructure Program Canada 150 grant application, and therefore to proceed, the project would require an additional $192,500 in funding from the Tax Capital Reserve;
i) That the Collier Centre New Office Accommodation Project (page 117) with a total cost of $1,765,000 be deleted from the 2017 Capital Plan, representing a reduction of $1,263,740 from the Tax Capital Reserve and $501,260 from the Development Charges Reserve;
j) That the Transit Terminal Demolition and Services Upgrade Project identified as Option #2 in the memorandum from Corporate Facilities dated February 6, 2017, with an estimated cost of $747,534 be added to the 2017 Capital Plan, to be funded from the Strategic Priorities Reserve;
k) That the funding source for capital project Z237 concerning the St. Vincent Park Washroom Building Replacement (page 130) with a cost of $200,000 be changed from the Tax Capital Reserve to the Parkland Reserve; and
l) That the scope of capital project 000018 concerning the Long Range Waste Management Plan Update - Sustainable Waste Management Strategy (page 100) be reduced to address only critically needed update aspects with a $100,000 budget, representing a reduction of $150,000 funded from the Tax Capital Reserve; and
m) That a Traffic Calming capital project with an estimated cost of $80,000 be added to the 2017 Capital Plan for the acquisition of an addition set speed cushions and associated signage for each ward, to be funded from the Tax Capital Reserve.
8. That staff in the Finance Department be authorized to increase the Sea Cadets Building Rehabilitation project budget to $60,000 to be funded from the Marina Reserve (13-04-0420).
9. That, consistent with the Capital Project Control Policy, the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Capital Budget relating to new 2017 capital projects of $32.2 million in 2018, $4.4 million in 2019, $95 thousand in 2020, and $55 thousand in 2021 be approved and the 2017-2021 Capital Budget items not requiring approval, be received as forecast information.
10. That the expenditure of funds not occur for the following capital project(s), if approved as part of the 2017 capital budget, until related actions have been completed:
a) The presentation of a separate report to the Infrastructure, Investment and Development Services Committee for capital project 000282 concerning the Operations Centre Building Renovation (page 126) with a project cost of $600,000 (funded $420,000 from the debenture proceeds and $180,000 from DC reserves Tax (annex)) with a recommendation that is approved for implementation; and
b) The presentation of a separate report to the Infrastructure, Investment and Development Services Committee for capital project 000283 concerning the Operations Satellite Yard New Building Development (page 128) with a project cost of $250,000 funded DC reserves Tax (annex), with a recommendation that is approved for implementation.
11. That effective May 1, 2017, By-law 2016-011, as amended, be repealed and replaced with a by-law incorporating the fees and charges presented in the 2017 Business Plan, with the following amendments to reflect changes since the 2017 Business Plan’s publication on January 9, 2017, pages 307-347:
a) That a new user fee entitled Development Charge (DC) Credit Agreement Administration Fee be approved and added to the Finance section of the User Fees By-law, in the amount of $5,000;
b) That the proposed 2.5% increase in water rate revenue be reduced to 2% through the adjustments to the residential and non-residential fixed and volumetric water user rates; and
c) That the proposed 5% increase in wastewater rate revenue be reduced to 3% through the adjustments to the residential and non-residential wastewater user rates.
12. That pursuant to Ontario Regulation 284/09, Staff Report EMT001-17 serve as the method for communicating the exclusion of the following estimated expenses from the 2017 Business Plan:
a) Amortization expense - $51 million;
b) Post-employment benefit expenses - $2.6 million; and
c) Solid waste landfill closure and post-closure expenses - $50 thousand.
13. That staff be authorized to submit applications for grants that would reduce expenditures associated with projects, programs and services approved as part of the operating and Capital Budgets.
14. That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute any agreements that may be required to accept grant funding from other levels of government or other partners to reduce expenditures associated with programs, services and/or capital projects.
15. That staff be authorized to submit applications for grants that would reduce future capital expenditures, fund service enhancements or enable capital projects to be advanced and a report be presented prior to the execution of any agreement associated with the acceptance of such grant.
16. That staff in the Finance Department be authorized to establish a “Growth Management” reserve.
17. That staff in the Finance Department be authorized to establish a “Legal Contingency” reserve with a maximum permitted end-of-year balance of $500,000.
18. That the contribution to the County of Simcoe Capital Reserve be decreased by $100,000.
19. That a review of Planning and Building Services Department fees be undertaken to identify opportunities to increase cost recovery and reduce reliance on tax rate funding through an enterprise model, and report back to General Committee.
20. That staff in the Legislative and Court Services Department review opportunities to enhance enforcement and increase cost recovery associated with illegal signs and property standards violations including but not limited to the implementation of a sign permit fee system and report back to General Committee.
21. That the innovations and efficiencies of staff continue to be encouraged by Council and staff provide memorandums and/or reports to General Committee on a quarterly basis with respect to such innovations and/or efficiencies achieved throughout the organization in order to highlight these initiatives.
22. That staff in Environmental Services expedite the BIA and Waterfront portion of the Waste Rationalization Study to provide for the receipt of recommendations related to this area prior to the completion of the remainder of the report and the replacement/rationalization of waste receptacles in the third quarter of 2017.
23. That staff in Roads, Parks and Fleet, Environmental Services and Culture Departments report to the Community Services Committee on the cost and benefit of waste/recycling trailers for all major community and sporting events, including potential costs to the City and/or event organizers, in an effort to alleviate the short-term placement and overflowing of the green metal bins on the waterfront for events.
24. That staff in the Finance Department examine strategies to substantially reduce the forecasted debenture requirements for 2018-2021 as presented in the capital plan, and report and report back to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee.
25. That $1,600,000 be transferred from the Industrial Land Reserve to the Strategic Priorities Reserve.
26. That staff in the Engineering Department provide a memorandum for Council’s consideration on February 13, 2017 concerning opportunities to advance the capital projects or portions thereof associated with the widening of Essa Road between Anne Street and Fairview Road to 2017.
27. That the Treasurer be authorized to make the necessary alterations to the transfer to and/or from reserves to reflect changes since the 2017 Business Plan’s publication on January 9, 2017.
28. That Debenture financing as identified in the Capital Budget be approved.
29. That a letter be sent to County Council, requesting that the County’s capital request from the City of Barrie not exceed $2.5M on average over the next 5 years.
30. That staff report to the General Committee in the third quarter of 2017 regarding the status of the capital plan and the potential to reinstate any capital projects deferred or deleted in accordance with direction provided as part of the 2017 Business Plan and Capital Plan.
31. That the City Clerk be authorized to prepare all necessary by-laws to implement the above recommendations. (17-G-024)