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MINUTES - General Committee - 20110228 TOWN OF AURORA SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OPERATING BUDGET Council Chambers Aurora Town Hall Monday, February 28, 2011 ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mayor Dawe in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Ballard, Gaertner, Gallo, Humfryes, Pirri, and Thompson MEMBERS ABSENT Councillor Buck OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Customer and Legislative Services/Town Clerk, Director of Building and By-law Services, Director of Planning and Development Services, Director of Corporate and Financial Services/Treasurer, Manager of Financial Planning, Financial Analyst/Budget Coordinator, Capital Asset Management Coordinator, and Council/ Committee Secretary Mayor Dawe called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. I DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. II APPROVAL OF AGENDA General Committee recommends: THAT the agenda as circulated by the Customer and Legislative Services Department be approved as presented, with the following amendment:  Withdrawn Delegation (a) Gordon Barnes, Representing Aurora Community Arboretum Re: Update on the 2011 Budget Request for the Aurora Community Arboretum CARRIED III DELEGATION (b) Mr. Dan Elliott, Director of Corporate & Financial Services/Treasurer Re: Update of 2011 Operating Budget Process and Adjustments To Date Mr. Dan Elliott presented the Town’s “History of Tax Rate Increases” that Council has approved over the last twenty years and explained that, had Council passed Special General Committee Meeting Minutes Operating Budget Monday, February 28, 2011 Page 2 of 3 an increase of 3.5% each year from 1991 through 2011, the same results would have been reached as in the current tax bill for 2011. He then presented the “Record of Approved Operating Adjustments as at February 28, 2011” and highlighted several items which had not yet been presented for adoption: CAO Advertising Savings; the addition of the Glass Drive design work; removal of the design for Tyler Street; and removal of the AFLC elevator. Mr. Elliott added that only the $15,000 advertising savings would create a favourable adjustment to the tax rate impact. He noted that the current tax impact to the Town rate would be 6.7% and the residential combined tax impact would be 3.1%. IV CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS 1. Memorandum from the Financial Analyst/Budget Coordinator Re: Operating Budget – Additional Information General Committee recommends: THAT the memorandum regarding Operating Budget – Additional Information be received for information. CARRIED 2. 2011 Operating Budget – Building & By-law Services Presentation by Ms Techa van Leeuwen, Director of Building and By-law Services Ms Techa van Leeuwen presented elements of the Building and By-law Services operating budget. She outlined the functions of Building Services, Building Code Review and Inspections, By-law Services, and Customer Service. Ms van Leeuwen reviewed their objectives for 2011 including improvements to organizational efficiency, positioning for the future, and client service and satisfaction initiatives. She provided an overview of the budgets for Building Services and By-law and Customer Services, including personnel costs, expenditures, permit and fee revenues, reserve fund, base pressures, efficiencies, reductions, enhancements, and forecast pressures. General Committee recommends: THAT the presentation by Ms van Leeuwen be received and referred to the budget discussions. CARRIED 3. 2011 Operating Budget – Customer & Legislative Services Presentation by Mr. John D. Leach, Director of Customer and Legislative Services/Town Clerk Mr. Leach presented elements of the Customer and Legislative Services operating budget. He outlined the functions of the department including Customer and Administrative Services, Legislative Services, and Purchasing. Mr. Leach reviewed their objectives for 2011 including participation in a joint N6 corporate insurance initiative, recruitment and training of advisory committee members, and review of the Procedural, Purchasing, and Records Retention By- laws and procedures. He provided an overview of the department’s budget including personnel costs, expenditures, revenue, base pressures, and enhancements. Special General Committee Meeting Minutes Operating Budget Monday, February 28, 2011 Page 3 of 3 General Committee recommends: THAT the presentation by Mr. Leach be received and referred to the budget discussions. CARRIED 4. 2011 Operating Budget – Planning & Development Services Presentation by Mr. Marco Ramunno, Director of Planning and Development Services Mr. Marco Ramunno presented elements of the Planning and Development Services operating budget. He outlined the functions of the department including Development Planning, Policy Planning and Geographic Information Systems, Heritage Planning and Urban Design. Mr. Ramunno reviewed their objectives for 2011 including plans for improved organizational efficiencies, positioning for the future, and client service and satisfaction. He provided an overview of the department’s budget including personnel costs, expenditures, revenues, base pressures, and forecast pressures. General Committee recommends: THAT the presentation by Mr. Ramunno be received for information and referred to the budget discussions. CARRIED V ADJOURNMENT General Committee recommends: THAT the meeting be adjourned at 8:26 p.m. CARRIED GEOFFREY DAWE, MAYOR JOHN D. LEACH, TOWN CLERK THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 28, 2011 WAS RECEIVED BY COUNCIL ON MARCH 8, 2011.