Town of Newmarket

Minutes

Special Committee of the Whole - Electronic

Meeting #:
Date:	Monday, November 09, 2020
Time:	1:00 P.m. - 3:00 P.m.
Location:	Streamed live from the Municipal Offices 395 Mulock Drive Newmarket, ON L3Y 4X7

Members Present:

• Mayor Taylor
• Deputy Mayor & Regional Councillor Vegh
• Councillor Simon
• Councillor Woodhouse
• Councillor Twinney
• Councillor Morrison
• Councillor Kwapis
• Councillor Broome
• Councillor Bisanz

Staff Present:

• J. Sharma, Chief Administrative Officer
• E. Armchuk, Commissioner of Corporate Services
• P. Noehammer, Commissioner of Development & Infrastructure Services
• I. McDougall, Commissioner of Community Services
• L. Lyons, Director of Legislative Services/Town Clerk
• M. Mayes, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
• A. Walkom, Legislative Coordinator
• J. Grossi, Legislative Coordinator

​For consideration by Council on November 23, 2020. 
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 PM.
Mayor Taylor in the Chair.

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1.

Notice

Mayor Taylor advised that the Municipal Offices were closed to the public and that this meeting was streamed live at Newmarket.ca/meetings. Residents who would like to provide comment on an item on this agenda were encouraged to provide their feedback in writing through email to Legislative Services at or by joining the meeting electronically through video or telephone. He advised residents that their comments would form part of the public record.

2.

Additions & Corrections to the Agenda

None.

3.

Conflict of Interest Declarations

None.

4.

Presentations

4.1

Fiscal Strategy - Next Steps

Note: This item was dealt with under item 6.1. Please see item 6.1 for motion. 

The Chief Administrative Officer provided an introduction to the Fiscal Strategy presentation and the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer.

The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer outlined the link between the fiscal strategy and Council's strategic priority pillar entitled Long-term Financial Sustainability. He further reviewed the comparative fiscal diagnostics including a report card addressing the Town of Newmarket's fiscal capacity, infrastructure density, and reserve balances. The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer provided an overview of the fiscal strategy recommendations provided by Bill Hughes, the consultant present at the Council Workshop on September 28, 2020. Lastly, he presented the proposed implementation targets for the remainder of 2020 and through 2023, and outlined how specific recommendations would be addressed with policy and future staff reports. 

Members of Council queried Staff regarding the impact on future capital projects in relation to the fiscal strategy recommendations, the fiscal strategy report card, and possible asset replacement fund uses. 

4.2

2021 Preliminary Draft Tax-Supported Operating Budget

The Chief Administrative Officer provided an introduction to the 2021 preliminary draft tax-supported operating budget presentation.

The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer outlined the updates to budget considerations since the October 5, 2020 Committee of the Whole Meeting including the fiscal strategy recommendations, Central York Fire Services (CYFS) 2021 draft budget, and capital spending authority. He further reviewed the impacts that COVID-19 has had on the 2020 budget and advised that it will have no direct impact on the 2021 budget. The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer outlined the budget impact on an average residential property regarding the proposed property tax increase, water and wastewater fees, and stormwater charges. He provided an overview of the tax-supported operating budget by governance body and their allocation of budget increase including growth. The decision packages included in the base budget were reviewed, and the decision packages included in the growth budget were further explained.  

The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer provided Council with options to consider regarding the base tax rate, COVID-19 related contingencies, and the asset replacement fund (ARF). He concluded the presentation by outlining the next steps in the 2021 budget process and highlighted important future dates. 

Members of Council queried staff regarding the CYFS draft 2021 budget, options to reduce ARF contributions, and the base tax increase. They further discussed the fiscal strategy recommendations, Provincial funding opportunities related to property taxes, and best practices in other municipalities.

5.

Deputations

None.

6.

Items

6.1

Fiscal Strategy - Next Steps

• An alternate motion was presented and is noted below in bold.

  Moved by: Councillor Kwapis
  Seconded by: Councillor Bisanz
  1. That the presentation provided by the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer regarding Fiscal Strategy - Next Steps be received; and, 
  2. That the report entitled Fiscal Strategy – Next Steps dated November 9, 2020 be received; and,
  3. That Council endorse the implementation plan for the Fiscal Strategy as outlined in this report; and,
  4. That the Treasurer be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  
  
  
  Carried

6.2

2021 Preliminary Draft Tax-Supported Operating Budget

• An alternate motion was presented and is noted below in bold. 

  Moved by: Councillor Twinney
  Seconded by: Councillor Broome
  1. That the presentation provided by the Director of Financial Services regarding the 2020 Preliminary Draft Tax-Supported Operating Budget be received; and,
  2. That the report entitled 2021 Preliminary Draft Tax-Supported Operating Budget Report dated November 9, 2020 be received; and,
  3. That subject to any additional direction from Committee, that the proposed budget be incorporated into the Draft Budgets to be presented to Committee of the Whole on December 7, 2020; and,
  4. That Staff report back to Council with an additional option to reduce the 2021 tax increase by 1%; and,
  5. That the Treasurer be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  
  
  
  Carried

7.

Closed Session

Mayor Taylor advised that there was no requirement for Closed Session.

8.

Adjournment

• Moved by: Councillor Woodhouse
  Seconded by: Councillor Bisanz
  1. That the meeting be adjourned at 3:31 PM. 
  
  
  
  Carried