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MINUTES - Budget Committee - 20230109 1 Town of Aurora Budget Committee (Operating Budget Review) Meeting Report Date: Time: Location: Monday, January 9, 2023 6 p.m. Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall Council Members: Mayor Tom Mrakas (Chair) Councillor Ron Weese Councillor Rachel Gilliland Councillor Wendy Gaertner* Councillor Michael Thompson Councillor John Gallo Councillor Harold Kim Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer* Allan Downey, Director, Operations Robin McDougall, Director, Community Services Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services Techa van Leeuwen, Director, Corporate Services Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director, Finance Jason Gaertner, Manager, Financial Management Daniel Bitonti, Acting Manager, Corporate Communications Sandeep Dhillon, Senior Financial Management Advisor* Tracy Evans, Financial Management Advisor* Mohamedali Kamalia, Financial Management Advisor* Laura Sheardown, Financial Management Advisor* Michael de Rond, Town Clerk Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator *Attended electronically _____________________________________________________________________ 2 1. Call to Order The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. 2. Land Acknowledgement Budget Committee acknowledged that the meeting took place on Anishinaabe lands, the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island, recognizing the many other Nations whose presence here continues to this day, the special relationship the Chippewas have with the lands and waters of this territory, and that Aurora has shared responsibility for the stewardship of these lands and waters. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty lands of the Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams Treaties of 1923. 3. Approval of the Agenda Budget Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services. 4. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50. 5. Delegations None. 6. Consideration of Items 6.1 2023 Operating Budget - Business Plans and Presentations 6.1.1 Council (Binder Tab 6) Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director, Finance, presented an overview of the operating budget for Council, including a financial summary and proposed budget changes. Budget Committee recommends: 3 1. That the 2023 Operating Budget for Council as presented be tentatively approved. Carried 6.1.2 Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) (Binder Tab 7) Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director, Finance, presented an overview of the operating budget for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, including 2022 accomplishments, 2023 key objectives, financial summary, and proposed budget changes. Budget Committee recommends: 1. That the 2023 Operating Budget for Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) as presented be tentatively approved. Carried 6.1.3 Community Services (Binder Tab 8) Robin McDougall, Director, Community Services, presented an overview of the operating budget for the Community Services department, including 2022 accomplishments, 2023 key objectives, financial summary, and proposed budget changes. Budget Committee recommends: 1. That the 2023 Operating Budget for Community Services as presented be tentatively approved. Carried 6.1.4 Corporate Services (Binder Tab 9) Techa van Leeuwen, Director, Corporate Services, presented an overview of the operating budget for the Corporate Services department, including 2022 accomplishments, 2023 key objectives, financial summary, and proposed budget changes. Budget Committee recommends: 4 1. That the 2023 Operating Budget for Corporate Services as presented be tentatively approved. Carried 6.1.5 Finance (Binder Tab 10) Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director, Finance, presented an overview of the operating budget for the Finance department, including 2022 accomplishments, 2023 key objectives, financial summary, and proposed budget changes. Budget Committee recommends: 1. That the 2023 Operating Budget for Finance as presented be tentatively approved. Carried 6.1.6 Operational Services (Binder Tab 11) Al Downey, Director, Operations, presented an overview of the operating budget for the Operational Services department, including 2022 accomplishments, 2023 key objectives, financial summary, and proposed budget changes. Budget Committee recommends: 1. That the 2023 Operating Budget for Operational Services as presented be tentatively approved. Carried 6.1.7 Planning and Development Services (Binder Tab 12) Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services, presented an overview of the operating budget for the Planning and Development Services department, including 2022 accomplishments, 2023 key objectives, financial summary, and proposed budget changes. Budget Committee recommends: 5 1. That the 2023 Operating Budget for Planning and Development Services as presented be tentatively approved. Carried 6.1.8 Corporate Items (Binder Tab 13) Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director, Finance, presented an overview of the operating budget for Corporate Items, including a financial summary and proposed budget changes. Budget Committee recommends: 1. That the 2023 Operating Budget for Corporate Items as presented be tentatively approved. Carried 6.2 New Budget Requests Councillor Gallo inquired about the budget status of the Petch House, noting that a report to Council is pending. He expressed interest in exploring the feasibility and cost of installing outdoor boarded skating rinks Town-wide, and staff confirmed a report would be submitted for Council’s consideration by March 2023. Staff advised further on budget timing, creating project placeholders, and the in-year approval process. Councillor Weese suggested that, considering current weather patterns, the installation of an artificial ice rink be investigated as an alternative to natural ice rinks. Councillor Thompson suggested that future initiatives or capital projects in each ward be identified and included in the 10-year capital plan as placeholders for discussion, including a project for the installation of lights at the northeast corner of Bayview Avenue and Vandorf Sideroad. Councillor Gilliland expressed interest in considering council remuneration and projects for outdoor fitness parks, expansion of Industrial Parkway to include a multi-use path or extra lane to improve traffic flow and active transportation, and the installation of a washroom at Copland Park. Councillor Weese inquired about how active transportation is being managed relative to the Region’s plan and Town’s plan, and staff advised 6 that a report and active transportation plan would be brought forward for Council’s consideration by May 2023. Councillor Gallo inquired about the potential for an office budget for each Ward Councillor for expenditures within the ward such as communications and functions with residents. Staff advised that a report, including other municipality comparators on council remuneration and ward budgets, would be brought forward to an upcoming budget meeting. Councillor Kim referred to a park at Warren McBride Crescent and William Graham Drive where two tennis courts, which are smaller than regulation size, are relatively unused. He inquired about whether a future budget request could be considered to either standardize the tennis courts or convert them to pickle ball courts. Staff agreed to investigate the matter. 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.