MINUTES - General Committee - 20111219
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE
MEETING REPORT
CAPITAL & OPERATING BUDGET REVIEW
& PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Monday, December 19, 2011
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mayor Dawe in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Ballard,
Gaertner, Humfryes, Pirri, and Thompson
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillors Buck and Gallo
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Corporate and
Financial Services/Treasurer, Director of Customer and
Legislative Services/Town Clerk, Director of Infrastructure
and Environmental Services, Director of Parks and
Recreation Services, Director of Planning and
Development Services, Manager of Financial Planning,
Program Manager of Customer Service, 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.
CARRIED
III PUBLIC CONSULTATION – OPEN SESSION – OPPORTUNITY FOR
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE INPUT REGARDING THE
2012 BUDGET
No members of the public came forward.
Special General Committee Meeting Report
Capital & Operating Budget Review & Public Consultation
Monday, December 19, 2011
Page 2 of 5
IV DELEGATIONS
(a) Irene Clement, Representing Aurora Community Arboretum (ACA)
Re: ACA Accomplishments and Projects for 2012
Ms Clement provided background information regarding the Aurora Community
Arboretum, which was established in 1996 and covers over 100 acres of Town
parkland located between St. John’s Sideroad and Wellington Street East. She
reviewed the Arboretum’s growth under the first five-year agreement of 1997-
2001 and the second five-year agreement of 2002-2006. Ms Clement noted that
the Master Plan was approved by Council in 2006, which includes Flora Aurora
as a focal area within the Arboretum, and there is currently a ten-year agreement
in place for 2007-2017. She reviewed their highlights and accomplishments
since 2007, the plans for 2012 and the next five years, as well as the long-term
vision. Ms Clement presented the 2012 Budget plans and noted they have
reduced their request from $100,000 to $50,000. She advised that the goal with
Flora Aurora is to establish a natural community icon, to be completed within five
years, and to have an annual Arboretum and Blossom Festival. Ms Clement
thanked Council for their support and added a special thanks to Aurora staff
members, Jim Tree, Parks Manager, Sara Tienkamp, Parks Supervisor, and Al
Downey, Director of Parks and Recreation Services for their support.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
V CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS
1. Memorandum from the Director of Infrastructure & Environmental Services
Re: Capital Requests and Long-term Status of 52 and 56 Victoria Street
General Committee recommends:
THAT the memorandum regarding Capital Requests and Long-term
Status of 52 and 56 Victoria Street be received for information.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Capital Project 72064 – 52 Victoria Parking Lot be deferred.
CARRIED
2. Memorandum from the Director of Infrastructure & Environmental Services
Re: Capital Project 31025 – Surface Treatment, Old Bloomington Road
General Committee recommends:
THAT the memorandum regarding Capital Project 31025 – Surface
Treatment, Old Bloomington Road be received; and
THAT Capital Project 31025 – Surface Treatment, Old Bloomington Road
be cancelled.
CARRIED
Special General Committee Meeting Report
Capital & Operating Budget Review & Public Consultation
Monday, December 19, 2011
Page 3 of 5
3. Project 12019 – 15059 Leslie Street Servicing
General Committee recommends:
THAT the funding model for Project 12019 – 15059 Leslie Street Servicing
be amended to provide that the total funding of $6,000,000 be funded fully
from the Development/Sale of Municipal Lands reserve fund, instead of
$4,000,000 from the Development/Sale of Municipal Lands reserve fund
and $2,000,000 from the Hydro Sale Investment Contribution reserve fund.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Project 12019 – 15059 Leslie Street Servicing be approved as
amended.
CARRIED
4. Project 73085 – Arboretum Development
General Committee recommends:
THAT the 2012 funding for Project 73085 – Arboretum Development be
amended from $100,000 to $50,000.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Project 73085 – Arboretum Development be approved as amended.
CARRIED
The Committee recessed at 7:33 p.m. and reconvened at 7:36 p.m.
5. Project 73161 – Multi-Purpose Field – Stewart Burnett
General Committee recommends:
THAT Project 73161 – Multi-Purpose Field – Stewart Burnett be deferred
to the General Committee meeting of February 7, 2012.
DEFEATED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Project 73161 – Multi-Purpose Field – Stewart Burnett be approved
subject to a further financial report from staff with only the design
work to proceed prior to such report.
CARRIED
Special General Committee Meeting Report
Capital & Operating Budget Review & Public Consultation
Monday, December 19, 2011
Page 4 of 5
6. 2012 Capital Investment Plan – Growth & New Capital Projects
General Committee recommends:
THAT the balance of the 2012 Capital Investment Plan – Growth & New
Capital Projects, being Project 14035 – Document Management, Project
14053 – Fibre Optic Infrastructure, Project 14058 – Eclipse Project
Portfolio Management, Project 34628 – Sidewalk Extension Program, and
Project 73164 – Accessible Playground – Stewart Burnett, be approved as
presented.
CARRIED
7. 2012 Capital Investment Plan – Studies & Other Capital Projects
General Committee recommends:
THAT Project 12010 – Economic Development Strategy, Project 34705 –
Develop Design Criteria for LED Lighting, and Project 81011 – Growth-
Related Studies – Community Improvement Plan be approved as presented.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Project 31053 – Salt Management Plan be approved as presented.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Project 31106 – Condition Assessment Report on Town Retaining
Walls be approved as presented.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Project 43039 – Backflow Prevention Program be approved as
presented; and
THAT, as part of the staff report to Council, staff be directed to bring back
options for funding the retrofit.
CARRIED
8. 2012 Operating Budget – Corporate Expenses & Revenues
Presentation by Dan Elliott, Director of Corporate & Financial
Services/Treasurer
Mr. Elliott presented elements of the Corporate Expenses & Revenues Operating
Budget which contains items that are Corporation-wide in nature and difficult to
associate with a specific department. He reviewed line items of net corporate
expenses and revenues and the summary of variances.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the presentation by Mr. Dan Elliott be received; and
Special General Committee Meeting Report
Capital & Operating Budget Review & Public Consultation
Monday, December 19, 2011
Page 5 of 5
THAT the 2012 Operating Budget – Corporate Expenses & Revenues be
approved as presented.
CARRIED
9. Memorandum from the Director of Infrastructure & Environmental Services
Re: Bullfrog Power Procurement
General Committee recommends:
THAT the memorandum regarding Bullfrog Power Procurement be
received; and
THAT staff be directed to report back providing alternative initiatives
before the expiry date of the current contract with Bullfrog Power.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT $100,000 of the Town’s current surplus be put toward the 2012 Budget.
DEFEATED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the motion to adjourn be tabled.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Treasurer provide Council with advice and present options, with
commentary, respecting potential reductions to the 2012 Budget to reduce
the tax rate pressure.
DEFEATED
VI ADJOURNMENT
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
CARRIED
GEOFFREY DAWE, MAYOR JOHN D. LEACH, TOWN CLERK
THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING OF DECEMBER
19, 2011 WAS RECEIVED BY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 24, 2012.