Budget Committee

Meeting #:
Date:	Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Time:	9:30AM - 4:30PM
Location:	Online Video Conference

Members

• Mayor Bonnie Crombie, Chair
• Councillor Stephen Dasko, Ward 1
• Councillor Karen Ras, Ward 2
• Councillor Chris Fonseca, Ward 3
• Councillor John Kovac , Ward 4
• Councillor Carolyn Parrish, Ward 5
• Councillor Ron Starr, Ward 6
• Councillor Dipika Damerla , Ward 7
• Councillor Matt Mahoney, Ward 8
• Councillor Pat Saito, Ward 9
• Councillor Sue McFadden, Ward 10
• Councillor George Carlson, Ward 11

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1.

RECONVENE 

Mayor Crombie reconvened the meeting at 9:34 AM. Mayor Crombie noted which Service Area Presentations would be presented and noted the order as followed; MiWay, Roads, Culture, Fire and Emergency and Library.

2.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

3.

DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Nil.

4.

DEPUTATIONS

Considered on November 23:

4.1

Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer to provide Opening Remarks with respect to the 2021 Budget

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0022-2020
  Moved By Counicllor S. McFadden

  That the deputation by Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer providing opening remarks with respect to the 2021 Budget be received.

  Received

4.2

Andrew Grantham, Executive Director and Senior Economist, CIBC Capital Markets with respect to the Economic Outlook

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0023-2020
  Moved By Councillor K. Ras

  That the deputation and associated presentation by Andrew Grantham, Executive Director and Senior Economist, CIBC Capital Markets with respect the Economic Outlook be received.

  Received

4.3

Bonnie Brown, Director, Economic Development with respect to Mississauga’s Economic Update

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0024-2020
  Moved By Councillor P. Saito

  That the deputation and associated presentation by Bonnie Brown, Director, Economic Development with respect to Mississauga's Economic Update be received.

  Received

4.4

Jeff Jackson, Director of Finance and Treasurer to provide the 2021 Budget Overview

(Item 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 and 7.7)

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0025-2020
  Moved By Councillor K. Ras

  That the deputation and associated presentation by Jeff Jackson, Director of Finance and Treasurer with respect to the 2021 Budget Overview be received. 

  Received

5.

PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD - 15 Minute Limit

(Public Question Period will be considered at each Budget Committee Meeting Date)

Public Comments: Advance registration is required to participate and/or to make comments in the virtual public meeting. Any member of the public interested in speaking to an item listed on the agenda must register by calling 905-615-3200 ext. 5425 or at by Thursday, November 19, 2020 before 4:00PM.

Pursuant to Section 42 of the Council Procedure By-law 0139-2013, as amended:

Budget Committee may grant permission to a member of the public to ask a question of Budget Committee, with the following provisions:

1. The question must pertain to a specific item on the current agenda and the speaker will state which item the question is related to.
2. A person asking a question shall limit any background explanation to two (2) statements, followed by the question.
3. The total speaking time shall be five (5) minutes maximum, per speaker.

Glenn Voakes, Resident inquired about the budget, unspent capital, project process and infrastructure related to cycling and roads.  Geoff Wright, Commissioner of Transportation and Works and Helen Noehammer, Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Services responded by noting the capital budget for Active Transportation is approved on an annual basis and encompasses a list of capital projects.  The listed projects may encounter design challenges and/or coordination issues with the Province and/or the Region that may result in scheduling delays.  They also noted a report summarizing the status of each project is issued and helps determine whether the funding will be held or redelivered. 

Direction was given to staff to schedule a discussion with resident Glenn Voakes to address specific Active Transportation budget related questions.

 

Chris Mackie, Resident inquired about MiWay’s operating budget, reserve fund transfers and transit operator income.

 

Geoff Wright, Commissioner of Transportation and Works and Geoff Marinoff, Director of MiWay and Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer responded by noting the revenue targets for 2020 will not be met and will be utilizing the Safe Start Program to help fund the gap.  Mr. Marinoff further noted that the Provincial Gas Tax is used to offset operational expenses.  Mr. Marinoff also noted that overtime and retroactive pay contributed to annual income of some transit operators.  The Employment Standards Act overtime standards are hard-coded into the scheduling system.

 

Budget Committee recessed the meeting at 12:30PM.

Budget Committee reconvened the meeting at 1:02PM.

6.

CONSENT AGENDA

Considered on November 24

That the following matters be approved under the Consent Agenda, as listed on the November 24 and 30, 2020 Budget Committee agenda:  7.4, 7.5, 7.7 and 7.8.

Approved (Councillor Saito)

7.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED

(On November 23, 2020 Budget Committee to give direction to staff on the service
presentations that are required for the Budget Committee meetings on November 24 and 30,
2020)

7.1

Service Area Presentations (15 minutes for each presentation)

Considered on November 24 and/or November 30:

a) MiWay
b) Roads
c) Regulatory Services

d) Culture
e) Fire & Emergency Services
f) Mississauga Library
g) Recreation
h) Parks, Forestry & Environment

i) Facilities & Property Management
j) Information Technology
k) Legislative Services
l) Business Services

m) Land Development Services
n) City Manager’s Office
o) Financial Transactions
p) Mayor and Members of Council

q) Stormwater

 

MiWay

Presented by Geoff Marinoff, Director, MiWay

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised the following questions and concerns:

• The possibility of retrofitting electric outlets on hybrid buses;
• Transit operating adjustments;
• Impacts on ridership;
  • Health safety concerns;
  • Changing work and school pattern; and
  • Post pandemic;
• Offset PILT with transit operational efficiencies;
• Hiring freeze; and
• Diesel pricing.

Mr. Marinoff and Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer responded to questions from the Committee.

 

Received (Councillor Ras)

Recommendation BC-0033-2020

 

Roads

Presented by Mickey Frost, Director, Works Operations and Maintenance

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised the following questions and concerns:

• Funding for the full-time employees (FTEs);
• Automated speed enforcement;
• Traffic calming and management;
• Proposed new initiatives;
• The Street Lighting program;
• Fleet Maintenance;
• Neighbourhood speed program;
• Active Transportation;
• One side parking initiative in Ward 10;
• Winter maintenance for multi-use trails and bike lanes;
• Inquired whether the City or the Region’s budget covers city and regional intersectional roads.

Mr. Frost, Helen Noehammer, Director of Infrastructure Planning and Engineering Services, Andy Harvey, Director of Traffic Management and Municipal Parking, John Crozier, Manager of Fleet and Geoff Wright, Commissioner of Transportation and Works responded to questions from the Committee.

 

Received (Councillor Dasko)

Recommendation BC-0033-2020

 

Culture

Presented by Paul Damaso, Director, Culture

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised the following questions and concerns:

• MAT (Municipal Accommodation Tax) funding;
• Culture Grant Programs;
• Residential filming;
• Celebration Square technology upgrade;
• LAC (Living Arts Centre) grant;
• MSO (Mississauga Symphony Orchestra) agreement;
• Inquired how the City is measuring success and effectiveness of the virtual program transition.

 

Mr. Damaso and Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer responded to questions from the Committee.

 

Received (Councillor Dasko)

Recommendation BC-0033-2020

 

Fire & Emergency Services

Presented by Nancy Macdonald-Duncan, Fire Chief

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised the following questions and concerns:

• Call volumes;
• Fire Master Plan;
• Increased injuries and fatalities;
• Unintentional fire causes, such as electrical glitches, rodent infestation, over-heating chargers, etc.
• Types of calls – medical and/or fire;
• Paramedic and Fire co-stations;
• Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors;
• Public education;
• Home Safe Home Program;
• Basement Fires; and
• Service level impacts.

Ms. MacDonald-Duncan and Paul Mitcham, City Manager and CAO responded to questions from the Committee.

 

Councillor Dasko requested the call volume statistics from 2019 to 2020 that include the type of calls (medical and/or fire) and the numbers prior to and during the pandemic.

 

Direction was given to the Fire Chief to contact the Region of Peel Chief of Paramedics to further investigate the need and/or requests for future co-stations. 

 

Direction to staff was given to provide information on smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and public education pieces on common causes of fires in residential homes to be included in the Councillors’ newsletters.

 

Received (Councillor Dasko)

Recommendation BC-0033-2020

 

Mississauga Library

Presented by Jennifer Sterling, Acting Director, Library 

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised the following questions and concerns:

• Upcoming projects and initiatives;
• Central Library renovations;
• Redeployment of staff during construction;
• Curbside pick-up;
• Virtual events;
• Decrease physical circulation to create more meeting spaces; and
• COVID impacts.

Ms. Sterling responded to questions from the Committee.

 

Received (Councillor Mahoney)

Recommendation BC-0033-2020

7.2

2021 Advance Project Approval

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised the following concerns:

• AM - Asset Management Program;
• Cycling Program Structures;
• Curbside Management study;
• West Credit Site; and
• Cooksville Creek Flood Storage Facility.

Gary Kent, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer, Geoff Wright, Commissioner of Transportation and Works and Jeff Jackson, Director of Finance and Treasurer responded to questions from the Committee.

 

Councillor Ras requested to have the Asset Management Plan removed from the 2021 List of Capital Projects for Pre-Approval.

 

Councillor Saito expressed concern surrounding the cost for the West Credit Site and requested that staff attempt to reduce the price of the site and to remove this project from the 2021 of Capital Projects for Pre-Approval.

 

Direction to staff was given to report back on the feasibility of reducing the financial cost of the West Credit Site.

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0026-2020
  Moved By Councillor K. Ras
  1. That the report of the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer dated November 4, 2020 and titled “2021 Advance Project Approval” be received for information.
  2. That staff proceed with tenders and proposals where required for the projects listed in appendix 1 in advance of 2021 budget approval, with the exception of the AM-Asset Management Program and the West Credit Site.
  3. That funding be approved in the amount of $ 18,070,100 regarding the projects listed in appendix 1, with the exception of the AM-Asset Management Program and the West Credit Sit, so that the projects may proceed in Q1 2021.

  YES (12)

  Mayor Crombie, Councillor S. Dasko, Councillor K. Ras, Councillor C. Fonseca, Councillor J. Kovac , Councillor C. Parrish, Councillor R. Starr, Councillor D. Damerla, Councillor M. Mahoney, Councillor P. Saito, Counicllor S. McFadden, and Councillor G. Carlson

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted), Recorded
  Carried (12 to 0)

7.3

2021 Budget Engagement Results

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and applauded the community participation and public educational pieces associated with the Budget Allocator tool. Members of the Committee also inquired how active transportation/cycling and environmental/climate change aspects are being captured in the tool.

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0027-2020
  Moved By Councillor K. Ras

  That the 2021 Budget Engagement Results report dated November 3, 2020 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer be received for information.

  YES (12)

  Mayor Crombie, Councillor S. Dasko, Councillor K. Ras, Councillor C. Fonseca, Councillor J. Kovac , Councillor C. Parrish, Councillor R. Starr, Councillor D. Damerla, Councillor M. Mahoney, Councillor P. Saito, Counicllor S. McFadden, and Councillor G. Carlson

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted), Recorded
  Carried (12 to 0)

7.4

2021 Budget Considerations (CONSENT)

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0028-2020
  Moved By Councillor P. Saito

  That the report dated November 4, 2020, entitled “2021 Budget Considerations” from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer be received for information.

  YES (12)

  Mayor Crombie, Councillor S. Dasko, Councillor K. Ras, Councillor C. Fonseca, Councillor J. Kovac , Councillor C. Parrish, Councillor R. Starr, Councillor D. Damerla, Councillor M. Mahoney, Councillor P. Saito, Counicllor S. McFadden, and Councillor G. Carlson

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted), Recorded
  Carried (12 to 0)

7.5

Provincial Budget – Property Tax Impacts (CONSENT)

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0029-2020
  Moved By Councillor P. Saito

  That the report of the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer dated November 10, 2020 entitled "Provincial Budget – Property Tax Impacts” be received for information.

  YES (12)

  Mayor Crombie, Councillor S. Dasko, Councillor K. Ras, Councillor C. Fonseca, Councillor J. Kovac , Councillor C. Parrish, Councillor R. Starr, Councillor D. Damerla, Councillor M. Mahoney, Councillor P. Saito, Counicllor S. McFadden, and Councillor G. Carlson

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted), Recorded
  Carried (12 to 0)

7.6

Low Income Seniors Tax Relief Threshold Levels

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and inquired about the uptake and if there is an application cap for the Tax Rebate Program for Low-Income Seniors. Connie Mesih responded by noting there is no application cap for the program and the uptake is increasing annually.

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0030-2020
  Moved By Councillor P. Saito

  That the report of the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer dated October 27, 2020 entitled “Low Income Seniors Tax Relief Threshold Levels” be received for information.

  YES (12)

  Mayor Crombie, Councillor S. Dasko, Councillor K. Ras, Councillor C. Fonseca, Councillor J. Kovac , Councillor C. Parrish, Councillor R. Starr, Councillor D. Damerla, Councillor M. Mahoney, Councillor P. Saito, Counicllor S. McFadden, and Councillor G. Carlson

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted), Recorded
  Carried (12 to 0)

7.7

Continuous Improvement Update (CONSENT)

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0031-2020
  Moved By Councillor P. Saito

  That the report titled “Continuous Improvement Update” dated November 3, 2020 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer be received for information.

  YES (12)

  Mayor Crombie, Councillor S. Dasko, Councillor K. Ras, Councillor C. Fonseca, Councillor J. Kovac , Councillor C. Parrish, Councillor R. Starr, Councillor D. Damerla, Councillor M. Mahoney, Councillor P. Saito, Counicllor S. McFadden, and Councillor G. Carlson

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted), Recorded
  Carried (12 to 0)

7.8

Municipal Act Reporting Requirements Under Ontario Regulation 284/09 (CONSENT)

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0032-2020
  Moved By Councillor P. Saito

  That the report dated October 16, 2020, entitled “Municipal Act Reporting Requirements Under Ontario Regulation 284/09” from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer be approved.

  YES (12)

  Mayor Crombie, Councillor S. Dasko, Councillor K. Ras, Councillor C. Fonseca, Councillor J. Kovac , Councillor C. Parrish, Councillor R. Starr, Councillor D. Damerla, Councillor M. Mahoney, Councillor P. Saito, Counicllor S. McFadden, and Councillor G. Carlson

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted), Recorded
  Carried (12 to 0)

8.

PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD - 15 Minute Limit

Chris Mackie, MIRANET inquired about the associated costs of the new Fire Stations, travel response time, evacuation procedure for high-rise buildings and the station renovations.

 

Nancy Macdonald-Duncan, Fire Chief and Shari Lichterman, Commissioner of Community Services responded by noting the costs include cleaning, utilities, crew and vehicles. Ms. Macdonald-Duncan noted that the City is not meeting the 90^th percentile travel response time and plans to utilize the public education and proactive inspections to fill the gap.  Paul Mitcham, City Manager and Geoff Wright, Commissioner of Transportation and Works also responded by noting that the traffic congestion plays a huge part in response times.  Ms. Macdonald-Duncan further responded by noting the high-rise building evacuation procedure includes a Fire Safety Plan that consists of building construction requirements, such as sprinklers, fire shelters and non-combustible materials.  Ms. Lichterman and Ms. Macdonald-Duncan also noted that certain stations depending on the renovation scope would be required to close for a period of time and exploring all options such as temporary housing on the renovated station grounds or redeploying to other stations.

 

Direction was given to staff to provide associated costs with Fire Station 120 to Mr. Mackie.

 

Councillor Damerla departed the meeting 2:08PM prior to Public Question Period.

9.

CLOSED SESSION

Considered on November 30, 2020:

(Pursuant to Subsection 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001)

9.1

Labour Relations or Employee Negotiations: 2021 Total Compensation

• RECOMMENDATION BC-0034-2020
  Moved By Counicllor S. McFadden

  That the closed session presentation with respect to the 2021 Total Compensation be received.

  YES (12)

  Mayor Crombie, Councillor S. Dasko, Councillor K. Ras, Councillor C. Fonseca, Councillor J. Kovac , Councillor C. Parrish, Councillor R. Starr, Councillor D. Damerla, Councillor M. Mahoney, Councillor P. Saito, Counicllor S. McFadden, and Councillor G. Carlson

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted), Recorded
  Carried (12 to 0)

10.

RECESS

 2:27PM (Councillor Mahoney)