Finance and Corporate Services Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

10

Date:

Tuesday, December 05, 2023

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 10:30 A.m.

Location:

Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Chair: Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, 
• Vice-Chair: Councillor Catherine Kitts, 
• Councillor Matt Luloff, 
• Councillor Laura Dudas, 
• Councillor Cathy Curry, 
• Councillor Glen Gower, 
• Councillor Tim Tierney, 
• Councillor Rawlson King, 
• Councillor Jeff Leiper, 
• Councillor Riley Brockington, 
• Councillor Shawn Menard, 
• and Councillor George Darouze 

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1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; information items not subject to discussion; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on December 6, 2023 in Finance and Corporate Services Committee Report 10.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on December 4, 2023, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on December 5, 2023.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

FCSC Minutes 9 – November 7, 2023

• Carried

4.

Finance and Corporate Services Department

4.1

2024 Draft Operating and Capital Budgets - Finance and Corporate Services Committee

File No. AACS2023-FCS-FSP-0016 - City-wide

The draft budget was tabled at the Council meeting of November 8, 2023. The Finance and Corporate Services Committee report on the draft budget will be considered by Council at its meeting of December 6, 2023.

Mr. Cyril Rogers, Interim General Manager and Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Corporate Services Department (FCSD) presented an overview of the Budget and answered questions from the Committee.  A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

The following staff were also present and responded to questions: 

•  Wendy Stephanson, City Manager
• Don Herweyer, General Manager, Planning, Real Estate & Economic Development, Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development
• David White, City Solicitor and Interim City Clerk
• Andrea Lanthier-Seymour, Chief Communications Officer, Public Information & Media Relations

The following members of the public spoke before the Committee and provided comments on the report recommendations:

• Vania Karam, Chair of Accessibility Advisory Committee*
• Kevin McHale, Executive Director, Sparks Street BIA and Mall Authority
• Sam Hersh
• Émilie Béland and Amélie Neault, Social Innovation Workshop (Atelier)
• Makayla Murengera 
• Christa Melki 

 [    * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

The following written submissions were received by, and are filed with, the Office of the City Clerk, and distributed to Committee Members: 

•    Email dated December 4, 2023 from French Language Services Committee

Following discussions and questions of staff and delegations, the Committee considered Motions No. FCSC 2023-10-01 to 02 and the following Direction to Staff:

DIRECTION TO STAFF (Councillor J. Leiper)

Sparks St Public Realm Plan 

The Sparks St Public Realm Plan was originally approved by Council in 2019, while the last major renewal for Sparks St was in 1989. Sparks St was the first public pedestrian only street in the country and is home to a variety of public assets, including the Bank of Canada museum, a wealth of public art and hosts key events such as Winterlude every year.

All reports that have been released on downtown revitalization, including the recent report from the Canadian urban institute on the state of Canada’s downtowns highlight public realm investment as one of the key pillars of successful downtown revitalization. Public realm enhancements have a proven positive impact on physical health, mental well being and public safety.

Significant public realm enhancement and investment have been shown to be one of the cheapest but most effective ways cities can increase private investment and development in an area. While other areas downtown have received significant investment in public realm with projects (Lansdowne, the Byward Market District Authority, the Byward Market Public Realm Plan) Sparks Street requires increased public realm investment to fulfill the vision of a revitalized downtown. 

1. That staff engage with the federal government to discuss the status of the Sparks Street public realm plan.
2. That staff report back to committee in Q2 2024 on the outcome of those discussions and updated costing for the Sparks Street public realm plan.
3. That staff prioritize interim repairs and improvements planned for Sparks St Public Realm as far as possible within existing resources in 2024 and provide the councillor’s office, the Spark Street BIA, and the Sparks Street Mall Authority of these efforts. 

• Report Recommendation
  

  That the Finance and Corporate Services Committee consider the relevant portions of the 2024 Operating and Capital Budgets and make recommendations to Council sitting in Committee of the Whole to be held December 6, 2023.
• Motion No. FCSC 2023 -10-01
  Moved by C. Kitts

  WHEREAS updated versions of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee budget books were issued after publication of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee agenda and distributed to Members of Council on December 4, 2023; and

  WHEREAS corrections have been made to the Non-Departmental Operating Resource Requirement to reflect corrections to Payments-in-Lieu of Taxation and Contribution to Tax Stabilization revenues that do not impact the overall Non-Departmental net requirement;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Finance and Corporate Services Committee receive and consider the revised FCSC Budget books, including revised pages 54, 56, 57, 101 (Pages 62, 63 and 64 in the French condensed book).

  Carried
• Moved by C. Kitts

  That the Finance and Corporate Services Committee recommend that Council, sitting as Committee of the Whole, approve the Finance and Corporate Services Committee 2024 Draft Operating and Capital Budget, as follows:

  1. Elected Officials - Operating Resource Requirement (page 3).
  2. Office of the City Clerk Budget, as follows;
     
     1. User fees (pages 7-8);
     2. Operating Resource Requirement (page 6);
  3. Legal Services Operating Resource Requirement (page 10)
  4. City Manager’s Office Operating Resource Requirement (page 13);
  5. Transit Services, Rail Construction Program Service Budget as follows:
     
     1. User fees (pages 17-19);
     2. Operating Resource Requirement (page 16); 
  6. Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department Budget, as follows:
     
     1. General Manager’s Office and Business and Technical Support Services – Operating Resources Requirement (page 21); 
     2. Economic Development and Long-Range Planning, as follows:
        
        1. User fees (page 24)
        2. Operating Resource Requirement (page 23);
     3. Corporate Real Estate Office, as follows:
        
        1. User fees (page 27);
        2. Operating Resource Requirement (page 26);
  7. Public Information and Media Relations - Operating Resource Requirement (page 29);
  8. Finance and Corporate Services Department, as follows:
     
     1. Human Resources Operating Resource Requirement (page 31);
     2. ServiceOttawa Operating Budget as follows:
        
        1. User fees (page 34);
        2. Operating Resource Requirement (page 33); 
     3. Information Technology Services – Operating Resource Requirement (page 36);
     4. Supply Services - Operating Resource Requirement (page 39);
     5. Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer and Business Support Services - Operating Resource Requirement (page 41);
     6. Financial Strategies, Planning and Client Services - Operating Resource Requirement (page 43);
     7. Revenue Services, as follows:
        
        1. User fees (pages 46-47);
        2. Operating Resource Requirement (page 45);
     8. Corporate Finance – Operating Resource Requirement (page 49);
     9. Payroll, Pensions and Benefits Services – Operating Resource Requirement (page 51);
  9. Non-Departmental - Operating Resource Requirement (revised pages 54-57). 
  10. Finance and Corporate Services Committee Capital Budget (page 58, individual projects listed on pages 107-113)
  Carried

4.2

Report on 2024 budget expenses pursuant to Ontario Regulation 284/09

File No.:ACS2023-FCS-FIN-0011 - Citywide

• Report Recommendations

  That the Finance and Corporate Services Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Adopt this report in accordance with Ontario Regulation 284/09.
  2. Approve that the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) / City Treasurer be delegated the authority to adjust the accrual budget to include any budget changes approved by Council as part of the final adopted budget, and to include the accrual budget presentation within the City of Ottawa’s final adopted 2024 budget book, for information purposes.
  Carried

4.3

Restatement of the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission Employees’ Pension Plan Text and Governance Plan

File No. ACS2023-FCS-FIN-0009 – City-wide

• Report Recommendation

  That the Finance and Corporate Services Committee recommend that Council approve the restatement of the Ottawa Carleton Regional Transit Commission Employees’ Pension Plan Text and Governance Plan.

  Carried

5.

Infrastructure and Water Services Department

5.1

Ᾱdisōke Project Update

File No.: ACS2023-IWS-IS-0001 - City-wide

• Report Recommendation
  That the Finance and Corporate Services Committee and Council receive this report for information.

  Received

6.

Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department

6.1

2022 Business Improvement Area and Sparks Street Mall Authority - Annual Reports and Audited Financial Statements

File No. ACS2023-PRE-EDP-0052 – City-wide

• Report Recommendations

  That the Finance and Corporate Services Committee recommend:

  1. Council receive the 2022 Business Improvement Area and Sparks Street Mall Authority Annual Reports and Audited Financial Statements.
  2. Direct that the report be submitted to Council for consideration at its meeting of December 6, 2023.
  Carried

7.

Councillors' Items

7.1

Motion - Luloff - Right of Way Land Exchange – 1015 Tweddle Road

ACS2023-OCC-CCS-0126-V2

During consent agenda, Councillor M. Luloff noted that he would be withdrawing his motion. The motion was withdrawn the with will of committee.

• THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Finance and Corporate Services Committee  recommend that Council direct the General Manager of Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department, contingent upon the conclusion of the process to have that area of the Jeanne d’Arc ROW adjacent to 1015 Tweddle that has been identified as being redundant (as shown on the attached sketch, and held on file with the City Clerk) declared surplus and being closed, entering into an agreement with the owner of 1009 Trim to convey the redundant Jeanne d’Arc ROW adjacent to 1015 Tweddle Road to become part of 1015 Tweddle Road to allow for it to be developed as part of the project once the LRT encumbrance is lifted in exchange for the Owner conveying to the City the area of the site along the east side of Tweddle Road to provide for the City to improve Tweddle Road for pedestrians and cyclists between Jeanne d’Arc and Petrie Island.

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the owner of 1015 Tweddle assume all costs (survey, legal and registration costs) that would be incurred to implement the land transfer. 

  Withdrawn

8.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

9.

Information Previously Distributed

9.1

AMO Annual General Meeting and Conference 2023 Member of Council Delegate Report (Councillor Kitts)

File No. ACS2023-OCC-CCS-0159

10.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

There were no Notices of Motion.

11.

Inquiries

There were no Inquiries.

12.

Other Business

12.1

Kanata North Nuisance Mosquito Control Program

ACS2023-OCC-CCS-0163 - Ward 4 – Kanata-North

Councillor C. Curry introduced a motion to add an item onto the Finance and Corporate Services Committee agenda.

Mr. Cyril Rogers, Interim General Manager and Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Corporate Services Department and Mr. David White, City Solicitor and Interim City Clerk responded to questions. 

At the conclusion of questions to staff, the report recommendations were then put before Committee and were Carried as presented.

• Report recommendations

  1. That the Finance and Corporate Services Committee recommend that Council approve a community-wide vote to determine support for continuation of the Kanata North Nuisance Mosquito Control Program and area-specific levy, as detailed in this report.
  2. That the Finance and Corporate Services Committee direct that the report be submitted to Council for consideration at its meeting of December 6, 2023.
• Motion No. FCSC 2023 10-03
  Moved by C. Curry

  WHEREAS the Kanata North Nuisance Mosquito Control Program has operated in Ward 4 – Kanata North since 2016;

  WHEREAS the program is funded through an area-specific levy applied to Ward 4 – Kanata North residents;

  WHEREAS Ward 4 – Kanata North residents approve or reject the area-specific levy;

  WHEREAS Council approval is required to conduct a community-wide vote in order to determine support for the program;

  WHEREAS Finance and Corporate Services Committee next convenes on 6 February 2024;

  WHEREAS Council next convenes on 7 February 2024, should the associated report not rise at Council on 6 December 2023;

  WHEREAS consultation must commence in Q1 2024 to allow for a timely roll-out of the program should community approval be granted;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the report from Councillor Curry Kanata North Nuisance Mosquito Control Program (ACS2023-OCC-CCS-0163) be added onto the agenda for Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting of December 5, 2023, pursuant to Subsection 89(3) of the Procedure By-law.

  Carried

13.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

February 6, 2024

The meeting adjourned at 11:38 am.