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Home My WebLink AboutSpecial Council Minutes - Budget March 6, 2024 Cape Breton Regional Municipality Special Council Meeting Minutes March 6, 2024 9:38 a.m. at City Hall Council Chambers Council Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill Councillor Gordon MacDonald Councillor Earlene MacMullin Councillor Steve Gillespie Councillor Eldon MacDonald Councillor Glenn Paruch Councillor Steve Parsons Deputy Mayor James Edwards Councillor Ken Tracey Councillor Darren Bruckschwaiger Councillor Lorne Green Staff Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer John MacKinnon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Technology Jennifer Campbell, Chief Financial Officer Christa Dicks, Municipal Clerk Demetri Kachafanas, KC, Regional Solicitor Wayne MacDonald, Director of Engineering and Public Works Kirk Durning, Director of Recreation, Parks and Grounds, and Buildings and Facilities Deanna Evely, Director of Human Resources Robert Walsh, Chief of Police Mark Bettens, Fire Chief and Director of Fire and Emergency Services Karen Neville, Acting Director of Planning and Development/Senior Planner Stephen MacKinnon, Deputy Chief of Police Reg Hutchings, Superintendent Chris March, Deputy Fire Chief Craig MacNeil, Deputy Fire Chief Ray Boudreau, Senior Manager of Engineering and Public Works Paul MacDonald, Facilities Manager Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 2 of 11 Greg Campbell, Manager of Technical Support Services - Utilities Matt Viva, Manger of Wastewater Operations Kathy Donovan, Manager of Transit and Fleet Maintenance Francis Campbell, Manager of Solid Waste Adam MacNeil, Manager of Finance Jennifer Collins, Supervisor of Water Utility Cory Youden, Supervisor Engineering Services Jenna MacQueen, Communications Advisor Rob MacNamara, Communications Advisor - Mayor's Office Kirk MacNeil, Financial Services Clerk, Engineering and Public Works Kelly McDonald, Administrative Assistant - Clerk's Office Sharon MacSween, Senior Administrative Assistant/Recording Secretary Absent Councillor Cyril MacDonald (Regrets) Councillor Darren O'Quinn (Regrets) The following does not represent a word for word record of the proceedings of this meeting. The agenda, reports, supporting documents, information items circulated, and video (if available) are online at verw.v..fir_„_c_b_rrr�..,..n_s c.. .. Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill called the meeting to order. Land Acknowledgement Roll Call 1. Approval of Agenda Motion Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Deputy Mayor Edwards, to approve the March 6, 2024 Special Council Agenda for Budget Deliberations as presented. Motion Carried Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 3 of 11 Mayor McDougall-Merrill acknowledged that the budget deliberations are the last of the current Council's term and expressed thanks for the amount of work contributed noting pressures from Fiona and Snowmageddon. Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer, acknowledged that this budget is the best presented to date, since 2007. This is a balanced Operating Budget which includes a decreased tax rate and an over $70 million Capital Budget while maintaining Borrowing Policy requirements. 2. DRAFT Capital Budget 2024-2025 Wayne MacDonald, Director of Engineering and Public Works introduced the Capital Budget programs and highlighted the following: Existing municipal assets Municipal infrastructure needs analysis for the future projects including: • Sydney Harbour West Wastewater Collection treatment Project Total $3,095,004 • Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure Project total $27,595,271 • Charlotte Street Revitalization Project total $3,500,000 • Washbrook - Floodwater Intensity Mitigation Project - Fish Habitat Program $176,000 Local Roads Paving $6,200,000 • Collector Roads Paving $2,400,000 • Sidewalk Renewals $500,000 • ] Class Roads (initial paving) matched funding with the Province $300,000 • ] Class Roads (initial paving) - Phase 7 $2,175,000 Active Transportation $1,000,000 Municipal Capital Growth Program $11,900,000 Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 4 of 11 • Infrastructure Investment Program - I&I Reduction and Disaster Mitigation $450,000 • Parks & Grounds: Park Upgrades, Renwick Brook Pedestrian Bridges and Community Initiative Projects $2,500,000 • Building Updates: City Hall, General Building Repairs, Energy Upgrades for various sites and Fire Buildings Repairs $2,650,000 • Port of Sydney - South Dock Repairs $5,470,000 • Transit Electrification (Year 1 of 3) EV Maintenance Facility Detailed Design & Construction ICP $4,000,000 • Transit and Accessible Transit $4,150,000 • Fleet $2,100,000 • Fire Services Fleet $1,800,000 • IT/Tech Projects - Council Chambers Tech Upgrades $200,000 Councillor Steve Gillespie arrived at 10:04 a.m. Following the presentation Councillor Parsons discussed financing of $2,000,000 would be required to finish off the ] Class Roads and noted that 52% of CBRM revenue is received from the former County property owners. Motion Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Councillor Gillespie, to support the ask of $2,175,000 to finish the remainder of the fifteen (15) ] Class Roads in CBRM contingent upon the Province matching the funding commitment. Discussion: • Lake Road, Victoria Mines is a ] Class Road however it is not included on the ] Class Road list. The Director of Engineering and Public Works advised that he will obtain and provide additional information on Lake Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 5 of 11 Road. Further he advised that when the decision on ] Class Roads was made, there were a number of roads that were older than 1980 and not included on the list. • Municipal road standards • Current cost for paving per kilometer • ] Class roads are not CBRM roads. CBRM cannot borrow to cover costs. The options are to draw from operating reserve or by increase to the tax rate • Intent is to cover the cost of paving existing ] Class roads and not to take over responsibility of the ] Class roads Motion Carried Discussion continued regarding the following: • Supplier for Fleet purchases • George D. Lewis demolition and redevelopment • South Dock at the Port of Sydney, future plan and funding • Local beautification projects and sidewalks • Diesel busses and EV (Electric Vehicles), emissions, climate change and incentives Council recessed at 11:04 a.m. Council reconvened at 11:34 a.m. Discussion continued following recess and included: • Current stock, and long term and short term for bus fleet including charging EVs, Transit partnerships and pressures • Diesel buses, manufacturing scheduling, future availability • Upcoming Port of Sydney workshop to discuss the Lease with CBRM and 5 Year Plan Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 6 of 11 • Actuals of the staff overtime during Fiona and Snowmageddon broken down by department for the weather events • Library Project funding and future requirements • City Hall replacement generator, plaza deck, parkade and parking • Active Transportation (AT) and sidewalks After discussion, the following motions were put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Deputy Mayor Edwards, to approve the draft Capital Budget for 2024-2025 in the amount of $79,656,275. Motion Carried Motion Moved by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Paruch, to approve a Temporary Borrowing Resolution in the amount of $9,211,250. Motion Carried Motion Moved by Councillor Gillespie, seconded by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, to approve the transfer from operating reserve $200,000 for Council Chambers Technology upgrades $50,000 and ] Class Road Contribution $150,000. Motion Carried Motion Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, to approve the: • Transfer from Capital Reserve $2,600,000 for: • Active Transportation Projects $250,000 (SSGF Funding) Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 7 of 11 • Sidewalks rehabilitation $500,000 (SSGF Funding) • Renwick Brook Pedestrian Bridge $850,000 (SSGF Funding) • Building upgrades $1,000,000 Motion Carried 3. DRAFT Operating Budget 2024-2025 Jennifer Campbell, Chief Financial Officer, reviewed her presentation and operating budget highlights. She spoke to the following: • Balanced operating budget of $178,082,548 (2.3% increase) • CPI, and other supply issues continue to impact areas of fuel, electricity, contracted services, and other agreements tied to CPI. • 4 permanent full-time positions added to address increases in service delivery pressures: • EMO Coordinator • Bylaw enforcement officer • Fleet manager • Transit Technical support • 2 funded term positions: • Planner (funded by Housing Accelerator Fund) • Technology - Project manager (funded by Municipal Innovation Fund) • Mandatory Employment Related Benefits (MEPC) increase in CPP and WBC rates and reversal of previous year's $437K pension contribution holiday. • Transition of waste-water operations to utility model • $1M capital out of operating to offset capital budget pressures due to borrowing policy limits. • $715,389 Operating Deficit for 2022-23 to be funded by operating reserve. Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 8 of 11 • Changes in tax rates: • $.025 decrease in hydrant rate • $.015 increase in transit rate • $.0254 provincial corrections rate elimination • $.0486 provincial housing rate elimination • $.191 sewer rate elimination • Decrease in tax rates exceeds the increase in taxable assessment, resulting in an overall decrease in tax bills to most residents • Review of the combined rates for commercial and residential The CFO provided a detailed review of the $178M proposed operating budget, an overview of the summary across the organization with budget changes by expenditure type including significant changes to specific departmental budgets. Following the presentation by the Chief Financial Officer, discussion took place regarding: • Work by staff preparing the budget • Staffing • Council Chambers upgrades • Accelerator fund • Sponsorship and the Emera Centre • Cost recovery for Police Operational Budget • Street light costs • Formula for education costs to the province is based on CBRM tax assessment rate and not the number of students • Wastewater rates • Minimum tax Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 9 of 11 • Low-Income Tax Exemption Policy and research to take place by Chief Financial Officer to make recommendations for amendments prior to fall application process • Destination Cape Breton: funding, marketing levy, on going discussions regarding a MOU • Phone (internet, Wi-Fi, cell and landline phones) and security costs • Policing 100 series (Federal) highways • Police operational budget: cost recovery and fees for services • Bylaw and parking enforcement • Citizens Guide Council recessed at 1:00 p.m. Council reconvened at 2:08 p.m. After Council reconvened from lunch, discussion continued regarding: • Fuel costs • Solid waste: heavy garbage and regular collection, transfer and disposal of waste to Guysbourough and tenders • Street light ownership, LED lights, trends i.e. solar lighting, power rates and Issue Paper requests on the topic • wastewater and water utility and user pay comparison requested based on property assessments • Wastewater Discharge Bylaw Amendment process delayed and if it does not pass, an amended budget will be brought back to Council and the tax rate will be reset including a recalculation for residents with sewer service • Transit funding and user fee adjustment including recommendations for smart card development between universities and CBRM • Bylaw enforcement regarding Charlotte Street and downtown kiosks Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 10 of 11 After the discussion, the following motions were put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, seconded by Deputy Mayor Edwards, to approve the Operating Budget for 2024-25 of $178,082,549 and associated tax rates as presented. Motion Carried Motion Moved by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Tracey, to approve the Transfer from operating reserve in the amount of $610,000. Motion Carried Motion Moved by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Gillespie, to approve Funding the 2022-23 Operating Deficit of $715,389 from Operating Reserve. Motion Carried Mayor McDougall-Merrill acknowledged that this is final budget of this Council's term. She thanked and commended the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and staff for their efforts that focus on public service and a budget that is reflective by ensuring the required services and support are there for the public. Meeting adjourned at 2:32 p.m. Special Council Meeting - Minutes March 6, 2024 Approved December 10, 2024 Page 11 of 11 Cecil P. Clarke Mayor Christa Dicks Municipal Clerk /SIM