Minutes of Guelph City Council

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Remote meeting live streamed
on guelph.ca/live
Council:
  • Mayor C. Guthrie
  • Councillor P. Allt
  • Councillor B. Bell
  • Councillor C. Billings
  • Councillor L. Caron
  • Councillor C. Downer
  • Councillor D. Gibson
  • Councillor R. Goller
  • Councillor J. Gordon
  • Councillor J. Hofland
  • Councillor M. MacKinnon
  • Councillor D. O'Rourke
  • Councillor M. Salisbury
Staff:
  • S. Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer
  • C. Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services
  • J. Holmes, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services
  • T. Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
  • T. Baker, General Manager, Finance/City Treasurer
  • S. Dewar, General Manager, Guelph Paramedic Services
  • G. Matthews, General Manager, Parks
  • J. Regan, General Manager, Economic Development and Tourism
  • J. Rose, General Manager, Environmental Services
  • G. Clark, Manager Financial Strategy Long Term Planning
  • K. Newland, Manager Finance Client Services
  • S. O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
  • G. Meades, Council and Committee Coordinator
  • D. Tremblay, Council and Committee Coordinator

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (9:01)

Scott Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer, provided opening remarks for the 2022 and 2023 City Budget.

Tara Baker, General Manager, Finance/City Treasurer, presented on the budget strategy and overview.

Council recessed at 10:51 a.m.

Council reconvened at 11:00 a.m.

Colleen Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Public Services, presented on budget items related to the Building Our Future Strategic Pillar. 

Steve Kraft, Chief Executive Officer, Guelph Public Library presented on budget items related to the Guelph Public Library. 

Gordon Cobey, Chief of Police, Guelph Police Services presented on budget items related to the Guelph Police Services. 

Michelle Karker, Chief Executive Officer, and Norman Wolff Director of Finance and Operations, The Elliot Community presented on budget items related to The Elliot Community.

Council recessed at 12:48 p.m.

Council reconvened at 1:21 p.m.

Scott Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer, presented on items within the Powering Our Future Budget Pillar. 

Colleen Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Public Services presented on budget items related to the Navigating Our Future Strategic Pillar.

Jayne Holmes, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure Development and Enterprise presented on the budget items related to the Sustaining our Future Strategic Pillar.

Samantha Lawson, Chief Administrative Officer, Grand River Conservation Authority presented on budget items related to the Grand River Conservation Authority.

Council recessed at 2:46 p.m.

Council reconvened at 2:52 p.m.

Trevor Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services presented budgets items related to the Working Together for Our Future Strategic Pillar.

Trevor Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services provided closing remarks and next steps regarding the 2022, 2023 City Budget.

  • Moved ByCouncillor Goller
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allt

    That the following recommendations be referred to the December 2, 2021 City Council meeting:

    1. That the 2022/23 operating budget be approved at a gross expenditure budget of $481,067,796 and $500,734,742 with a 2022 property tax and payment-in-lieu of taxes levy requirement of $277,380,693 or 3.64 per cent over 2021 and a 2023 property tax and payment-in-lieu of taxes levy requirement of $293,153,601 or 4.69 per cent over 2022 inclusive of the following:
      1. 2022-23 fees, rates and charges, and inclusive of:
        1. A stormwater base charge of $7.00 per month equivalent residential unit or 9.37 per cent increase over 2021 and $7.60 per month equivalent residential unit or 8.57 per cent increase over 2022.
        2. A water and wastewater basic service charge for each of 2022 and 2023 equivalent to 2021 rates.
        3. A water volume charge of $1.87 per cubic meter, or 2.75 per cent increase over 2021 and $1.95 per cubic meter, or 4.28 per cent increase over 2022.
        4. A wastewater volume charge of $1.99 per cubic meter or 2.58 per cent increase over 2021 and $2.05 per cubic meter or 3.02 per cent increase over 2022.
      2. City service budget requirement, net of proportionate share of assessment growth, totaling an increased net levy requirement in 2022 of $5,570,312 or 2.10 per cent, and in 2023 of $7,905,919 or 2.85 per cent.
      3. Local Boards and Shared Services budget requirement, net of proportionate share of assessment growth, totaling an increased net levy requirement in 2022 of $4,066,841 or 1.53 per cent, and in 2023 of $5,093,182 or 1.84 per cent.
      4. Total transfers to/from Reserve and Reserve Funds in each of 2022 and 2023 in accordance with the reserve and reserve fund summary.
      5. No additional investment beyond base funding available for the Strategic City Building Investment Summary items.
    2. That the Guelph General Hospital levy in the amount of $750,000 be budgeted for the second of six years as approved on December 3, 2019, resulting in a net levy increase of 0.29 per cent.
    3. That the 2024–2025 operating budget forecast be received for information.
    4. That the 2022-2023 Capital Budget in the gross expenditure amount of $141,423,650 and $161,907,150 respectively and the required operating budget resulting from these projects totaling $2,099,910 and $919,340 respectively be approved, inclusive of the following:
      1. Funding transfers from capital reserve funds and other sources including partnerships and grants in each of 2022 and 2023.
      2. Available city building reserve funding will be applied to capital projects in prioritized order as listed in the Strategic City Building Investment Summary.

    5. That the 2024-2031 Capital Forecast in the gross amount of $1,736,763,840, be received for information with the following implications:
      1. Operating budget impact from this forecast totaling $8,417,210.
      2. A City Building Reserve Fund will reach a deficit position of $34.2 million by 2031.
      3. A 100RE Reserve Fund deficit position of $15.6 million by 2031.
      4. A debt forecast that leverages the City’s available capacity in the eight-year period.
    6. That the Downtown Guelph Business Association 2022 and 2023 budget with gross expenditures of $699,252 and $719,512 respectively, and a total levy of $660,000 and $679,800 respectively be approved.
    7. That the Health Care Spending (Fire) Reserve (#103), the Evergreen Donation Bequest Reserve Fund (#134) and the Community Paramedicine Reserve Fund (#348) be created, and that the name of Federal Gas Tax Reserve Fund be updated to the Canada Community-Building Reserve Fund (#343) and Appendix A of the Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy be amended accordingly.
    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron
    Carried (13 to 0)

Councillor O'Rourke notified there will be a Ward 6 Budget Town on November 24 from 7-9 p.m. Information can be found on their website

Councillor Allt notified that there will be a budget presentation during their Breezy Break event on Thursday November 18.

  • Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron

    That the meeting be adjourned. (3:19 p.m.) 

    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron
    Carried (13 to 0)