Special Council - February 29, 2024

Meeting #:

Date:

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 4:30 P.m.

Location:

Haldimand County Administration Building

Council Present

S. Bentley, Mayor
S. Patterson, Councillor
J. Metcalfe, Councillor
D. Lawrence, Councillor
M. Trainer, Councillor
R. Shirton, Councillor
P. O'Neill, Councillor

Staff Present

C. Case, Chief Administrative Officer
M. Evers, General Manager, Community & Development Services
T. Haedrich, General Manager, Engineering & Capital Works
M. Jamieson, General Manager, Corporate & Social Services
D. McKinnon, General Manager, Public Works Operations
M. Merritt, General Manager, Financial & Data Services
M. Brousseau, Chief Information Officer/Manager, Innovation & Technology Services
C. Burke, Senior Financial Analyst
J. Gallagher, Manager, Emergency Services/Fire Chief
H. Love, Supervisor, Budget & Financial Planning &
J. Misner, Manager, Facilities, Parks, Cemeteries & Forestry Operations
A. Moore, Administrator, Grandview Lodge
S. Page, General Manager, Health & Social Services
L. Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development & Tourism
C. Curtis, Municipal Clerk

A.
Call to Order

Mayor Bentley called the Special Council meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.

B.
Land Acknowledgement

Councillor O'Neill read the Land Acknowledgement statement.

C.
Roll Call

The Mayor and all Members of Council were in attendance.

D.
Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

None.

C. Case, Chief Administrative Officer, provided an overview of the tax supported operating budget development and review process. She stated that the 2024 budget increases are largely the result of inflationary and economic increases, with relatively few new initiatives. There was a focus on strategic objectives of growing the economy, maintaining healthy communities, and providing efficient local government. The net budget is over 86 million dollars 59% funded through property taxes, and the remainder funded through other sources. It represents a proposed 4.43% increase to the total levy.

Proposed property tax increases for 2024 from surrounding municipalities were used to provide context for the proposed Haldimand County increases.

2.
Presentation - Overview of the 2024 Draft Tax Supported Operating Budget

1.2024 DRAFT Tax Supported Operating Budget.pdf

M. Merritt, Chief Financial Officer spoke to the current financial pressures on municipalities across the province. He indicated there will be a report to review the budget guidelines this summer.

H. Love, Supervisor Budgets & Financial Planning , provided an overview of the budget guidelines and unbudgeted expenditures. She reviewed the financial analysis undertaken when preparing the operating budget, noting major drivers, assessments and tax impacts, and
potential future impacts

Council asked questions and received answers regarding:

Outstanding POA fines, including past years
Physician recruitment strategy
A summary of staffing changes
If there will be any reductions in services with this budget
Update on the forestry program, specifically planting of trees
If reserves from the Hydro Legacy Fund could be utilized to reduce the proposed tax rate
Update on Municipal Property Assessment Corporation assessment schedule

3.
Operating Budget Review

H. Love, Supervisor Budgets & Financial Planning, provided a detailed review of the tax supported operating budget.

Council asked and received answers on the following:

Status and clarification of the Community Vibrancy Fund (CVF) Program
Increase of legal services fees
Contracted services for evasive species management
Changes to baseball diamond user fees
Cost of the Bi-Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey
Clarification on the Innovation Fund for technology
Options available to the municipality for courthouse security
Costs incurred due to climate change
Costing for Grand River Conservation Area and Long Point Region Conservation Area
Clarification on the maintenance and cost-savings of roads administration
Clarification on funding for school crosswalk workers
Clarification on costing of Brooks Road Landfill
Improvements of Wi-Fi at Grandview Lodge
Clarification on Ontario Works funding from the Province of Ontario
Summer arena ice rental and availability
Performance Reviews for Non-Union Employees

Mayor Bentley called a recess at 11:50 a.m.

Council resumed at 1:00 p.m.

1.
EMS-01-2024 Community Paramedic Enhancements

1.EMS-01-2024 Community Paramedic Enhancements.pdf

J. Gallager, Manager, Emergency Services/Fire Chief, provided a high-level overview of Report EMS-01-2024

Resolution23-24
Moved By:Councillor Metcalfe
Seconded By:Councillor Patterson
1. THAT Report EMS-01-2024 Community Paramedic Enhancements be received;
2. AND THAT the revisions to the MOHLTC Community Paramedic – Long-Term Care Funding allocation as outlined in Report EMS-01-2024 be approved;
3. AND THAT the budget as outlined in Report EMS-01-2024 for Community Paramedic – Long Term Care be approved;
4. AND THAT the 2024 Tax Supported Capital Budget be amended to include the one-time purchase of one (1) Community Paramedic Vehicle, diagnostic equipment, and office equipment, including two (2) laptops, (1) Cell Phone for new staff at a total cost of $136,800 with 100% of the cost being covered by the MOHLTC Community Paramedic Funding;
5. AND THAT the 2024 Tax Supported Operating Budget include ongoing capital contributions to the Capital Replacement Reserve - Ambulance Fleet at a cost of $11,250, with 100% of the cost being covered by the MOHLTC, pending continuation of the MOHTCL funding;
6. AND THAT the 2024 Tax Supported Operating Budget include a Council approved initiative to add 2.0 FTE Permanent Community Paramedics, at a cost of $254,570, and related expenses for materials required for continual execution of the Community Paramedic Program at an annual estimated cost of $15,500, with 100% of the cost being covered by MOHLTC.
CARRIED

4.
Resolution Approval

Resolution24-24
Moved By:Councillor Lawrence
Seconded By:Councillor O'Neill
1. THAT the 2024 Draft Tax Supported Operating Budget document be received;
2. AND THAT the 2024 Tax Supported Operating Budget, as amended, be approved at a net levy of $86,097,640;
3. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2024 Public Health be transferred to or from the Contingency Reserve;
4. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2024 Social Assistance be transferred to or from the Social Assistance Stabilization Reserve;
5. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2024 Child Care be transferred to or from the Social Assistance Stabilization Reserve;
6. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2024 Social Housing be transferred to or from the Social Housing Reserve;
7. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2024 Library Operations be transferred to or from the Library Reserve Fund;
8. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2024 Emergency Measures operations be transferred to or from the Climate Change and Emergency Response Reserve;
9. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from the remaining 2024 Tax Supported Operations, be transferred to or from the Contingency Reserve;
10. AND THAT a user fee by-law #2459/23 be amended to reflect all new and revised user fees as included in the budget;
11. AND THAT the budget for Hagersville Business Improvement Area be approved with a levy requirement of $14,400;
12. AND THAT the budget for Dunnville Business Improvement Area be approved with a levy requirement of $31,740;
13. AND THAT the budget for Caledonia Business Improvement Area be approved with a levy requirement of $52,950;
14. AND THAT the revised salary grid framework covering non-union employees, presented through Report HRD-08-2023, be formally adopted with an effective date of March 9, 2024.
CARRIED
Amendment:
Resolution25-24
Moved By:Councillor Patterson
Seconded By:Councillor Shirton
THAT the 2024 Draft Tax Supported Operating Budget be amended as follows:
- Page # 153, Emergency Measures
• Decrease the amount of Expenditures by $150,000, related to the Climate Change and Emergency Response Reserve;
- Page # 162, Policing
• Increase the amount of Expenditures by $150,000, related to anticipated Court Security Monitoring Enhancement costs.

CARRIED

Resolution26-24

Moved By:Councillor Trainer

Seconded By:Councillor Metcalfe

THAT as the following initiatives have been approved in the 2024 Tax Supported Operating Budget:

Permanent, Full-time Administrative Assistant, Financial & Data Services;
Permanent, Full-time Service Desk Analyst, Innovation & Technology Services;
Permanent, Full-time GIS & Solutions Analyst, Innovation & Technology Services;
Permanent, Part-time Administrative Assistant, Economic Development & Tourism;
Permanent, Full-time Business Retention & Expansion Project Manager, Economic Development & Tourism;
Student, Building & Municipal Enforcement;
Student, Public Works Operations Administration;
Permanent, Full-Time Nurse Practitioner, Grandview Lodge;
Community Paramedic Enhancements – Vehicle, Equipment and Staffing,

the following additions to the Capital Budget are approved:

	IT	Furniture	Vehicle	Equipment	Total
FIN - PFT Administrative Assistant	5,000	0	0	0	$5,000
ITS - PFT Service Desk Analyst; PFT GIS & Solutions Analyst	10,000	10,000	0	0	$20,000
EDT - PPT Administrative Assistant	5,000	10,000	0	0	$15,000
EDT - PFT Business Retention & Expansion Project Manager	5,000	0	0	0	$5,000
BME - Student	5,000	10,000	0	0	$15,000
PWO - Public Works Admin Student	0	10,000	0	0	$10,000
GVL - PFT Nurse Practitioner	5,000	10,000	0	0	$15,000
EMS – CP Enhancements	6,800	0	90,000	40,000	$136,800
Total Capital Amendments	$41,800	$50,000	$90,000	$40,000	$221,800
Capital Replacement Reserve - General		40,000	0	0	$60,000
Provincial Grant Funding	11,800	0	90,000	40,000	$141,800
Capital Replacement Reserve - Information Technology	25,000	0	0	0	$45,000
Building Permit Cost Stabilization Reserve Fund	5,000	10,000	0	0	$15,000
Total Funding	$41,800	$50,000	$90,000	$40,000	$221,800

CARRIED

Resolution27-24
Moved By:Councillor Lawrence
Seconded By:Councillor Patterson
1. THAT the Treasurer's Report included in the 2024 Draft Tax Supported Operating Budget document be received;
2. AND THAT, as a result of financial reporting amendments under the Public Sector Accounting Board guidelines, expenditures for amortization expenses related to capital assets, post employment benefits and solid waste landfill closure and post closure expenses, as outlined in the Treasurer's Report, have been excluded from the 2024 Tax Supported Operating Budget.
CARRIED