General Purposes Committee Meeting Minutes - March 19, 2001

Date:

Monday, March 19^th, 2001

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt, Chair
Councillor Malcolm Brodie
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Lyn Greenhill
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai (4:33 p.m.)
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Harold Steves (4:35 p.m.)

Absent:

Councillor Linda Barnes

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:31 p.m.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, February 19^th, 2001, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR FOR 2001 - 2005
(Report: Mar. 8/01, File No.: 0950-01) (REDMS No. 304267)

It was moved and seconded

That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized, on behalf of the City, to enter into an agreement and appoint KPMG, LLP as the City's auditor and to provide audit services for the years 2001 - 2005, and that the annual fees for such services be in accordance with the terms of the proposal submitted by KPMG, LLP.

CARRIED

2001 OPERATING BUDGET AND 5 YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN
(2001 - 2005)
(Report: Mar. 14/01, File No.: 0985-01) (REDMS No. 310317)

(Councillor Kumagai entered the meeting at 4:33 p.m.)

The Director of Finance, Danley Yip, reviewed the report and responded to questions from Committee members on various aspects of the proposed 2001 operating budget and 5 Year financial plan, including such matters as:

the anticipated increase in salaries and benefits for fire fighters

the reduction in revenue from the Provincial Government for traffic fines

the rationale for the increase in the City's training and development budget by 48%, whether this increase was excessive, and whether this amount should be reduced to lessen the proposed property tax increase of 4.84%

the make-up of unplanned increases (Appendix C)

the impact which rising fuel and heating costs had had on the 2001 budget

the steps taken by City staff during the preparation of the proposed budget to reduce costs

the assumptions being made by staff with respect to specific budget increases to the year 2005 (Appendix E)

whether there would be reduction in the level of service to the community if the proposed 4.84% property tax increase was approved by Council

the proposal to use a portion of the 2000 and 2001 casino gaming revenue to help offset an increase in the budget.

(Councillor Steves entered the meeting at 4:35 p.m., during the above discussion.)

During the discussion, the request was made that staff insert a line in the property tax bill to indicate the cost of providing RCMP services in the City

It was moved and seconded

That the 2001 Operating Budget be approved as part of the 5 Year Financial Plan (2001-2005) with a property tax increase of 4.84% in 2001; and

That staff conduct a public consultation meeting in April 2001 to present the City's 5 Year Financial Plan (2001-2005) prior to the preparation of the 5 Year Financial Plan (2001-2005) Bylaw.

The question on the motion was not called, as the following referral motion was introduced

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated March 14^th, 2001, from the Director of Finance), regarding the 2001 Operating Budget and 5 Year Financial Plan (2001 - 2005), be referred to staff to provide information on:

the allocation of a portion of casino funding from 2000 and 2001 to help offset budget costs, and to indicate the impact which this would have on the budget ; and

projected expenses for 2002.

DEFEATED

OPPOSED: Cllr. Brodie
Dang
Greenhill
Johnston
Kumagai
Steves

The question on the main motion was then called, and it was CARRIED with Mayor Halsey-Brandt and Cllr. McNulty opposed.

Councillors Brodie and Dang both left the meeting (5:31 p.m.).

2001 CAPITAL BUDGET
(Report: Mar. 13/01, File No.: 0970-02-01) (REDMS No. 77894, 222622)

The Director, Engineering, Jeff Day, reviewed his report with the Committee and responded to questions on such matters as:

the rationale for proposing modifications and additions to the No. 7 Fire Hall

the work proposed for the Britannia Heritage Shipyard building and the Japanese duplex

the construction of a public washroom in Minoru Park near the Bowling Green Clubhouse

the rationale for not including the proposed renovations to the Brighouse Public Library in the 2001 proposed capital budget

whether a traffic signal was required for the intersection of No. 1 Road and Moncton Street

construction of Phase 1 of the Garden City Road extension.

(Councillor Brodie returned to the meeting at 5:35 p.m.; and Councillor Dang returned at 5:40 p.m., during the above discussion).

Clarification was provided during the discussion that staff would be reporting to Council on the proposed scope and conceptual designs of specific projects prior to undertaking any work.

It was moved and seconded

That the 2001 Capital Program (attached to the report dated March 13^th, 2001, from the General Manager, Finance & Corporate Services and the Director, Engineering) be adopted for inclusion in the 2001 5 Year Financial Plan (2001-2005) Bylaw; and

That staff be authorized to commence construction of the projects.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:54 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Monday, March 19^th, 2001.

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Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant