MINUTES - General Committee - 20150126
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE – 2015 BUDGET
REVIEW MEETING REPORT
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Monday, January 26, 2015
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Dawe in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Gaertner, Humfryes,
Kim, Mrakas, Pirri, Thom, and Thompson
MEMBERS ABSENT None
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Building and By-law
Services, Director of Infrastructure and Environmental Services,
Director of Legal and Legislative Services/Town Solicitor, Director of
Parks and Recreation Services, Director of Planning and
Development Services, Manager of Financial Planning, Town Clerk,
and Council/Committee Secretary
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
1. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE THEREOF
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest
Act.
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legal and Legislative Services
with the following changes to the order of the agenda:
Section 4 “Public Consultation – Open Session – Opportunity for Members of the
Public to Provide Input Regarding the 2015 Budget” and Section 5 “Consideration of
Items” (Items 1 and 2) to be considered prior to Section 3 “Delegations”.
Special General Committee – 2015 Budget Review Meeting Report
Monday, January 26, 2015 Page 2 of 4
3. DELEGATIONS
Delegation (a) was considered following Section 4 “Public Consultation – Open Session –
Opportunity for Members of the Public to Provide Input Regarding the 2015 Budget” and
Section 5 “Consideration of Items” (Items 1 and 2).
General Committee approved, on a two-thirds vote, that the requirements of section 3.8(c)
of the Procedural By-law be waived to permit the delegation of Neil Garbe, Chief
Administrative Officer, and Dan Elliott, Director, Corporate & Financial Services, to speak
for more than five (5) minutes.
(a) Neil Garbe, Chief Administrative Officer, and Dan Elliott, Director, Corporate &
Financial Services - Treasurer
Re: Item 3 – Report No. CFS15-003 – Draft 2015 Business Plan with Operating
and Capital Budgets – Overview Report
Mr. Garbe presented a brief overview of the budget approach and context, with a
focus on balancing services with affordability while building financial sustainability,
including accountability and achievements in financial sustainability. He further
highlighted the corporate Key Performance Indicators of the organization, which
measure effectiveness, efficiency, and attitude.
Mr. Elliott reviewed elements of the annual budget process including development
and refinement of the process, issues for the 2015 operating budget, assessment
growth, and budget objectives. He provided further context including municipal tax
rate comparisons and history, salary and conference/training budgets, and elements
of the operating and capital budgets including tax rate pressures, the new Asset
Management Plan, and the Ten Year Capital Investment Plan.
General Committee received the comments of the delegation together with Item 3 –
CFS15-003 – Draft 2015 Business Plan with Operating and Capital Budgets –
Overview Report.
4. PUBLIC CONSULTATION – OPEN SESSION – OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE INPUT REGARDING THE 2015 BUDGET
This Section was considered prior to Section 3 “Delegations”.
No members of the public came forward to provide input regarding the 2015 Budget.
5. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS
Items 1 and 2 were considered prior to Section 3 “Delegations” and Item 3 was considered
following Section 3 “Delegations”.
Special General Committee – 2015 Budget Review Meeting Report
Monday, January 26, 2015 Page 3 of 4
1. CAO15-002 – Results of Citizen Budget Survey
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. CAO15-002 be received for information.
CARRIED
2. CFS15-004 – Proposed Changes to Annual Budget Approach and Timing
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. CFS15-004 be received; and
THAT staff be directed to implement the changes to the annual Budget process as set
out in this report; and
THAT Special General Committee (Budget) meetings be scheduled for Monday
September 28, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and Monday October 5, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., and that
the official meeting schedule of Council be amended accordingly.
CARRIED
3. CFS15-003 – Draft 2015 Business Plan with Operating and Capital Budgets –
Overview Report
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. CFS15-003 and accompanying presentation be received as an
overview of the 2015 Operating Budget and Capital Investment Plan; and
THAT the detailed Draft Capital Plan and departmental Operating Budgets be
reviewed at Special General Committee meetings scheduled over the period covering
from January through to March 2015; and
THAT, following the Budget deliberation meetings, staff prepare an updated
consolidated Budget report and presentation for Council reflecting all Budget changes
approved by General Committee.
CARRIED
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 p.m.
Special General Committee – 2015 Budget Review Meeting Report
Monday, January 26, 2015 Page 4 of 4
GEOFFREY DAWE, MAYOR STEPHEN M. A. HUYCKE, TOWN CLERK
THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE – 2015 BUDGET REVIEW
MEETING OF JANUARY 26, 2015 RECEIVED APPROVAL AND COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON FEBRUARY 10, 2015.