[1. Opening Statement]
[00:00:03]
AND I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE IS LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.
FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT'S BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIFE DENE FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, MATIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD TO THE AGENDA? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
[4. A presentation regarding Draft Budget 2023]
SO WE WILL HAVE OUR ONE AND ONLY ITEM, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE DRAFT BUDGET.2023 MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
IT'S AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TODAY TO PRESENT COUNCIL WITH THE DRAFT BUDGET.
BOY, NO GRASS UNDER YOUR FEET AS YOU'RE SWORN IN AND MERE HOURS LATER YOU'RE GETTING PRESENTED WITH THIS DRAFT DOCUMENT FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER THE CONTENT OF BEFORE DELIBERATIONS GET UNDERWAY IN DECEMBER.
THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT TAKES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT ACROSS ADMINISTRATION, OF COURSE, LED VERY ABLY BY MS. WOODWARD AND HER TEAM.
IT IS ALWAYS A BALANCING ACT AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED TODAY TO BEGIN TO UNPACK THIS FOR YOU AND TO SUPPORT THE DELIBERATIONS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE OVER THE NEXT MONTH. SO WITH PLEASURE, I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO MS. WOODWARD. THANK YOU.
AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO BUDGET 2023.
THE BUDGET PROCESS ITSELF IS ALWAYS CHALLENGING AND ADMINISTRATION ALWAYS WORKS DILIGENTLY TO PULL TOGETHER A SOLID FISCAL PLAN, A PLAN TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, AND A PLAN THAT IS BASED ON WHAT IS KNOWN AND WHAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN.
BUDGET 2023 AS COUNCIL'S MOST IMPORTANT ANNUAL POLICY DOCUMENT PROPOSES PLANS TO ENSURE THAT THE CORE AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES CAN BE DELIVERED IN A RELIABLE, COST EFFECTIVE MANNER, AND THAT THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT MAKE YELLOWKNIFE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE CAN BE DELIVERED TO PROVIDE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE BENEFIT.
FURTHERMORE, THE PLAN STRIVES FOR SUSTAINABILITY.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR.
YOU. AS ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY OF DECISION MAKING THAT ENSURES CONTINUED AND ONGOING DELIVERY OF SERVICE AND PROGRAMS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
BUDGETING ALWAYS INVOLVES UNCERTAINTY.
AND NEVER HAS THIS BEEN MORE APPARENT THAN IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
AND NOW, AS WE START TO EMERGE FROM THE COVID FOG, AS WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE REALITIES OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS THAT IT HAS HAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE, THIS UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES TO HAUNT US.
ENCOURAGING SIGNS THAT THE TOURISM SECTOR IS STARTING TO BOUNCE BACK.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY ON THE AQUATIC CENTER, THE CITY'S LARGEST CAPITAL PROJECT TO DATE, AND ONE THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
[00:05:06]
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS WAITING IN THE WINGS.BUDGET 2023 HAS TO BALANCE THESE TWO SIDES, AND IT'S A DIFFICULT BALANCING ACT.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION, WE'RE GOING TO RECAP THE BACKGROUND FACTORS THAT INFLUENCED BUDGET 2023.
LOOK AT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
PROVIDE A 300 OR 30,000 FOOT VIEW OF THE TOTAL REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
SO LET'S START WITH A BIT OF BACKGROUND.
BUDGET 2023 WAS BUILT ON FOUR PILLARS, ADHERING TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS AS DEFINED BY THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, FOLLOWING THE KEY PLANNING PRINCIPLES THAT COUNCIL ORIGINALLY ADOPTED TO GUIDE FISCAL DECISION MAKING IN THE COVID CONTEXT AND WHICH HAVE PROVEN TO REMAIN RELEVANT.
THE THIRD PILLAR IS ADDRESSING THE FUNDAMENTALS THAT PRIORITIZE CORE SERVICES.
AND FINALLY, THE FOURTH PILLAR CONSULTATION, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IN TUNE WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS.
TURNING NOW TO SOME OF THOSE FACTORS.
THE UNCERTAINTY THAT I MENTIONED A FEW MINUTES AGO, WE'RE STILL RIDING THAT COVID 19 ROLLER COASTER, AND THERE'S STILL A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING ITS CURRENT AND FUTURE ECONOMIC IMPACTS.
THEN THERE'S THE GROWTH WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS AND ITS INHERENT PARADOX.
LIKEWISE, INCREASINGLY STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING IMPOSED BY EXTERNAL ENTITIES LIKE THE WCC.
PROJECTS LIKE THE GIANT MINE REMEDIATION AND THE ONGOING WORK TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S WATER LICENSE.
THERE'S A NEED TO LOOK AFTER WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
MAINTENANCE THAT IS COMPLICATED BY THIS GROWTH I JUST MENTIONED AND ALSO BY AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT LIES AHEAD.
AS I SAID EARLIER, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THE FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CITY.
THEN THERE ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF A NEARLY STAGNANT ASSESSMENT BASE.
THIS AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY IS FACING ONGOING PRESSURES FROM INFLATION, WHEN THE CITY IS MANAGING HEAVILY BURDENED STAFF RESOURCES AND THE CITY STILL NEEDS TO FILL ITS LEGISLATED REQUIREMENT TO DEVELOP A BALANCED BUDGET.
AND OF COURSE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE DELIVERING CORE AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
SO NOW THAT WE'VE SET THE STAGE BY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT LED TO WHERE WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, LET'S DIVE INTO THE RECOMMENDED CAPITAL INVESTMENTS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. EACH YEAR.
AND THIS IS DONE IN THE CONTEXT OF ITS TEN YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.
BUDGET 2023 FOCUSES ON UPGRADING AND REPLACING AGING INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN A SUSTAINABLE AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
THIS INCLUDES INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS CORE AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING FIRE AND AMBULANCE, WATER AND SEWER ROADS AND SIDEWALKS, AS WELL AS THE FACILITIES, PARKS, TRAILS AND PROGRAMS THAT MAKE YELLOWKNIFE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT.
[00:10:10]
EVERY CITY BUDGET IS A PLAN, THAT REFLECTS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE BEST POSSIBLE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME AND IS PREPARED. HOWEVER, WITH ANY PLAN, CIRCUMSTANCES EVOLVE AND CONDITIONS CHANGE BETWEEN THE TIME IT'S DEVELOPED AND ITS EVENTUAL EXECUTION. THIS HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY VIVID IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AS YELLOWKNIFE IN THE WORLD WEATHERED, THEN EMERGED FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.MANY OF THE CITY'S PLANS AND PROJECTS WERE HEAVILY IMPACTED BY THE RISING COSTS OF MATERIALS, DELAYS AND PRODUCT DELIVERY AND LABOR SHORTAGES ACROSS MANY SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.
THESE FACTORS DELAYED SEVERAL PROJECTS AND LARGER THAN USUAL AMOUNTS OF ALLOCATIONS WERE CARRIED FORWARD INTO 2022, AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT A SIMILARLY LARGE AMOUNT WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD INTO 2023.
THESE PROJECTS STILL NEED TO BE DONE AND WE'RE STILL COMMITTED TO DOING THEM.
IT'S JUST THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MORE OBSTACLES THAN USUAL AND THESE HAVE CREATED UNAVOIDABLE DELAYS.
INVESTMENTS TO SUSTAIN THE FACILITY.
ASSETS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT YELLOWKNIFE OFFERS HAVE COME TO VALUE.
WE'LL LOOK AT THE INVESTMENTS RECOMMENDED IN BUDGET 2023 IN TERMS OF THESE CATEGORIES, ALTHOUGH IN SOME CASES THE CLASSIFICATIONS MIGHT BE SOMEWHAT ARGUABLE BECAUSE AS YOU'LL SEE, SOME OF THE PROJECTS OVERLAP, OTHERS TOUCH MANY AREAS.
SO STARTING WITH CORE SERVICES FOR BUDGETING PURPOSES, WE CONSIDER CORE SERVICES TO BE WATER AND SEWER ROADS AND SIDEWALKS, FIRE AND AMBULANCE. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND ASSET MANAGEMENT.
INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO SUPPORT THE SAFE DELIVERY OF WATER AND SEWER SERVICES INCLUDE CONTINUED WORK ON THE LAGOON, SLUDGE REMOVAL, A CONDITION OF THE CITY'S WATER LICENSE.
IT INCLUDES, OF COURSE, ONGOING WORK ON THE SUBMARINE.
WATER INTAKE LINE REPLACEMENT ALLOCATIONS FOR LINEAR WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE REPLACEMENT.
THOSE ARE MORE MODEST THAN IN RECENT YEARS BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO SHIFT THE FOCUS TO OUR ABOVEGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS TO ADDRESS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE WATER LICENSE, INCLUDING THE FIDDLERS LAKE TREATMENT SYSTEM.
EXPENDITURE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SUPPORT ROADS AND SIDEWALKS WILL BE IN THE FORM OF ANNUAL INVESTMENTS FOR PATCHING TO MAINTAIN THE SERVICEABILITY STANDARDS OF THE CITY'S STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
THERE WILL BE SPENDING ON PAVING IN 2023 AND 2025 AND REGULAR ALLOCATIONS TO INCREMENTALLY IMPROVE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS. THE MAIN INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICES IS FUNDING FOR 2023 AND 2024 TO PROCEED WITH THE FIRE HALL EXPANSION AND RENOVATION.
THESE WILL BE AN ALLOCATION FOR COMMUNITY ENERGY PLAN PROJECTS IN 2024.
[00:15:03]
MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY.OOPS. AND AS COMMITTEE IS AWARE, THE DELIVERY OF EVERY CITY PROGRAM AND SERVICE DEPENDS ON ASSETS, AND IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THOSE ASSETS BE MANAGED PROPERLY.
THEREFORE, BUDGET 2023 INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE BIG PICTURE WORK TO FORMALIZE, ADVANCE AND INTEGRATE ASSET MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AT THE CITY.
SORRY. THESE INVESTMENTS WILL BE AUGMENTED BY ONGOING, PREDICTABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ASSET INVESTMENTS TO MAINTAIN AND RENEW MAJOR GROUPS OF ASSETS, INCLUDING INVESTMENTS TO RENEW FIRE HALL EQUIPMENT.
SORRY. MY MOUSE IS BEING VERY STRANGE TONIGHT.
AND INVESTMENTS TO INCREMENTALLY RENEW AND GROW THE CITY'S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE THAT IT SECURELY AND RELIABLY MEETS THE GROWING NEEDS THAT ARE BEING PLACED ON IT.
AND LOOKING AHEAD FURTHER BUDGET 2023 RECOMMENDS AN INVESTMENT TO OBTAIN EXTERNAL EXPERTISE TO CONDUCT A HIGH WATER LEVEL IMPACT STUDY TO ASSESS ITS EFFECT ON MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE, MUNICIPAL PROPERTY AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATER IN ORDER TO HELP THE CITY PLAN AND ADAPT TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE BIG TICKET ITEM IS, OF COURSE, THE AQUATIC CENTER ON TRACK TO BE COMPLETED IN 2024.
THERE ARE ALSO ALLOCATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARBOR PLAN IN OR STORY OF ANN ARBOR IN 2020 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CURLING RINK BRINE LINE NEXT YEAR AND THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A LIBRARY OR ART CENTER IN 2025.
I'M SORRY. AS ADDITIONAL WORK AND EFFORT ARE REQUIRED BEFORE PLANS CAN ACTUALLY BE ADVANCED.
NOTABLE AMONG THIS WORK IS THE IMMINENT STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT OF THE EXISTING RUTH INCH MEMORIAL POOL BUILDING, WHICH WILL HELP INFORM DECISIONS AROUND REPROFILING THAT FACILITY AND FURTHER REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE RECENTLY COMPLETED ARTS AND CULTURE MASTERPLAN THAT WILL HELP INFORM LONGER RANGE PLANS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE RECOMMENDED INVESTMENTS FOR ANNUAL IMPROVEMENTS TO OUTDOOR RECREATION SPACES, INCLUDING PLANS TO INSTALL SAFETY FENCING AT THE FOOT STEEL BALL DIAMOND TO PURCHASE AN AMPHITHEATER COVER FOR SAMBA CAY TO REPLACE THE ROTARY WATERFRONT DOCK, RESURFACE THE NIVEN LAKE TRAIL AND RENOVATE THE TURF AT FOREST DRIVE, PARK AND PARKER PARK.
THERE ARE ALSO ALLOCATIONS FOR THE REGULAR RENEWAL OF PARK EQUIPMENT WITH REPLACEMENTS AT THE LATHAM ISLAND MULTI SPORT PARK COURT, FOREST DRIVE, PARK SCHOOL, DRAW PARK ST JOE'S PARK HALL.
CRESCENT PARK AND JOSEPHINE WALZER PARK.
PLANNED FOR THE TERM OF THIS BUDGET AS WELL.
AND OF COURSE, NONE OF THE FACILITIES OR ANY GROWTH OR DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT LAND.
THE CITY'S LAND DEVELOPMENT FUND SUPPORTS THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LAND FOR RESALE.
AS USUAL, BUDGET 2023 INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANNUAL EXPENDITURES FROM THIS FUND FOR THE PURPOSES OF CREATING AREA DEVELOPMENT PLANS, LAND ACQUISITION AND INITIAL LAND DEVELOPMENT.
AS WELL. THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS TO USE CAPITAL FUNDS TO TACKLE THE SURVEYING ASSOCIATED WITH COMMISSIONERS LAND TRANSFER TO THE CITY FOR THE CITY'S OWN PURPOSES. BUDGET 2023 ALSO CONTAINS A RECOMMENDATION THAT FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING THE DELIVERY OF PROGRAMS.
[00:20:02]
ITS ANNUAL ALLOCATION FOR IMPLEMENTING THE ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS.THESE LAST FEW SLIDES PRESENTED THE RECOMMENDED CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE FAIRLY BROAD LENSES OF CORE SERVICES, FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS. TO TAKE YOU ONE SMALL STEP INTO THE WEEDS.
THIS IS, OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF THE AQUATIC CENTER.
MOST OF THE CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO OCCUR IN 2023.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT LITTLE TINY SLIVER OF ASSET MANAGEMENT REFLECTS ONLY THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BEING RECOMMENDED FOR ADVANCING THE FORMALIZATION OF ASSET MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE RECOMMENDED ACQUISITIONS AND REPLACEMENTS OF ASSETS OR THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING THESE EXISTING ASSETS AS THESE COSTS ARE INCORPORATED INTO INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE COSTS.
BY THEN, THE BULK OF THE AQUATIC CENTER CONSTRUCTION WILL BE COMPLETE, ALTHOUGH THE FIRE AND AMBULANCE SEGMENT IS STILL A LITTLE LARGER THAN USUAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE'LL SEE THE BULK OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THAT EXPANSION.
WE SEE THE DRINKING WATER SEGMENT START TO BULK UP A BIT AS WORK ON THE SUBMARINE LINE RAMPS UP.
THINGS SHIFT AGAIN IN 2025 WHEN THE AQUATIC CENTER AND FIRE HALL EXPANSION ARE COMPLETE AND THE WORK ON THE SUBMARINE WATER SUPPLY LINE IS EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY.
SO THOSE ARE THE MAJOR INVESTMENTS RECOMMENDED FOR BUDGET 2023.
BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT HAPPENING ON THE OPERATIONAL FRONT.
SO LET'S TURN NOW TO SOME OF THE ITEMS OF NOTE.
CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE FALL OF 2024.
SO WE'LL START TO SEE HIGHER COSTS AND REVENUES AT THAT TIME WITH THE FULL ANNUAL EFFECT TO BE EVIDENT FROM 2025 ONWARDS.
AS WELL AS A ONE TIME INVESTMENT TO UPDATE THE CITY'S CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, THE POSITION CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
NOW LET'S TAKE A BRIEF LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES STAFFING REQUIREMENTS REFLECTED IN BUDGET 2023.
AS WE SAW EARLIER, THE CITY'S POPULATION HASN'T REALLY GROWN A LOT IN RECENT YEARS, BUT THERE'S BEEN SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN OTHER AREAS AND THAT HAS CREATED MOUNTING PRESSURES. INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICE AND PROGRAM DEMANDS, LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND STAKEHOLDER EXPECTATIONS HAVEN'T STOOD STILL.
THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE.
IN ITS ONGOING EFFORTS TO MEET THESE.
GROWING REQUIREMENTS WHEN BUDGET 2021 CAME FORWARD.
WAS BEING DEVELOPED, I SHOULD SAY.
ADMINISTRATION IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF NEW POSITIONS.
HOWEVER, DURING DELIBERATIONS, COUNCIL DID DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL HUMAN RESOURCES OR SAFETY OFFICER POSITION IN HUMAN RESOURCES. BUT JUST BECAUSE ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T BRING THE REQUIREMENTS FORWARD THAT YEAR DOESN'T MEAN THEY WENT AWAY.
SO BUDGET 2022 INCLUDED THE EQUIVALENT OF 11 NEW POSITIONS, INCLUDING FOUR FIREFIGHTERS.
[00:25:07]
IN PREPARATION FOR BUDGET 2023 ADMINISTRATION.AS IN RECENT YEARS, CAREFULLY REVIEWED THE IDENTIFIED POSITIONS, THE NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF AND EVALUATED THEM USING A STRUCTURED MATRIX THAT CONSIDERED THINGS LIKE HOW THE RULES ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S MANDATE AND WITH COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES, HOW ASPECTS LIKE IMPACT AND STAKEHOLDER PRIORITY, AS WELL AS RISK AND ASSET MANAGEMENT FACTORS.
THE DRAFT BUDGET 2023 DOCUMENT INCORPORATED THE NEED FOR FIVE NEW POSITIONS.
SO THAT BROUGHT THE TOTAL STAFF GROWTH IN BUDGET 2023 TO 6 POSITIONS.
FIVE OF THESE POSITIONS ARE TO BE FUNDED FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
THE ASSET MANAGER, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITION IN COMMUNITY SERVICES WILL ALLEVIATE A HUGE ROADBLOCK IN THIS GROUP'S ABILITY TO PROGRESS ALONG THE CITY'S ASSET MANAGEMENT ROADMAP.
THE EMERGENCY DISPATCHER POSITIONS ARE NEEDED TO MEET MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE WELL-BEING OF STAFF, CITIZENS AND VISITORS.
THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER POSITION IS IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO GROWING WORKLOAD ARISING FROM HIGH TURNOVER AND UNPRECEDENTED HIRING CHALLENGES THAT IN MANY CASES REQUIRE SEVERAL POSTINGS FOR EACH VACANCY.
WITHOUT ASSURANCES THAT THE APPLICANTS WILL EVEN SHOW UP FOR THE INTERVIEWS.
THE ARTS AND CULTURE POSITION.
THE NEED FOR THIS MANAGER OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE AROSE FROM THE INCREASING DEMANDS IMPOSED ON THE CITY BY EXTERNAL AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE INVOLVED IN OUR WATER LICENSE.
NEXT UP, A LOOK AT WHAT THESE CAPITAL O&M AND STAFFING PLANS ALL ADD UP TO.
BIG PICTURE, REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
AS USUAL, THE TOP THREE CONTRIBUTORS PROPERTY TAXES, USER CHARGES AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS.
IF ALL OF THE RECOMMENDED OUTCOMES ARE PURSUED.
2023 EXPENDITURES ACROSS ALL FUNDS ARE EXPECTED TO TOTAL ALMOST $153 MILLION.
BUT WHEN AMORTIZATION AND DEBT REPAYMENT ARE CONSIDERED, ALONG WITH THE RECOMMENDED USE OF MONEY FROM A COUPLE OF FUNDS, THE DIFFERENCE IS REALLY ONLY 420,000. IT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG NUMBER, BUT IT'S 0.275% OF THE CITY'S TOTAL EXPENDITURES.
SO THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED IS ESSENTIALLY CONSIDERED TO BE BALANCED.
BUT WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN TO THE AVERAGE RATEPAYER? LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS, STARTING WITH USER FEES.
THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND, WHICH PAYS THE COSTS OF HANDLING THE COMMUNITY'S GARBAGE, RECEIVES ITS REVENUES FROM FEES COLLECTED ON WATER BILLS AND TIPPING. BUDGET 2023 RECOMMENDS AN 11% INCREASE IN THESE FEES IN EACH OF 2023 AND 2024, FOLLOWED BY A 2% INCREASE IN 2025.
THE 11% INCREASE MIGHT SEEM RATHER HIGH, BUT BUDGET 2022 RECOMMENDED A 10% INCREASE IN THESE FEES.
SO THIS IS REALLY JUST A MINOR ADJUSTMENT.
WHICH FINANCES THE WATER AND SEWER SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
MOST OF ITS REVENUES, OF COURSE, COME FROM FEES COLLECTED ON MONTHLY WATER BILLS AND BUDGET.
[00:30:02]
2023 ASSUMES THAT THE FEES WILL REMAIN AT THE 22 LEVELS, WHICH ARE ACTUALLY THE SAME AS THE 2021 LEVELS, BECAUSE THAT FUND IS IN GOOD SHAPE.FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS ARE LOOSELY FUNDED ON A USER PAY BASIS.
AND AS IN MANY OF THE RECENT YEARS, BUDGET 2022 ASSUMES A 3% ANNUAL INCREASE IN THESE FEES.
LOOKING BACK A BIT, WHEN BUDGET 2020 CAME FORWARD, THE INITIAL TAX RATE INCREASE WAS 8.48%.
BY UNFLATTERING $1.12 MILLION IN CAPITAL MONEY AND ELIMINATING THE TRANSFER TO CAPITAL COUNCIL REDUCED THIS TAX INCREASE TO 1.63%. HOWEVER, THESE WERE ONE TIME MANEUVERS.
THERE IS NO MORE CAPITAL FUNDING TO FREE UP WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING SERVICE DELIVERY.
AND FAILING TO TRANSFER MONEY TO THE CAPITAL FUND IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE.
A YEAR LATER, WHEN BUDGET 2021 CAME FORWARD, THE INITIAL TAX RATE WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 11.92%, REFLECTING THE ACCUMULATED EFFECTS OF COVID AND GENERAL INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.
IN THIS MANNER, THEY WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE INCREASE TO 2.5%.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, THIS WAS A ONE TIME SOLUTION.
THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT HAS DEFINITIVELY STATED THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY MORE COVERT FUNDING.
LAST YEAR, WHEN BUDGET 2022 WAS DRAFTED, IT REFLECTED THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT STILL EXISTED AT THE TIME THE EFFECTS OF COVID AND THE ORGANIZATION'S NEED FOR STAFF.
THIS RESULTED IN AN INITIAL TAX RATE INCREASE OF 13.44%.
BRINGING DOWN THE ANTICIPATED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE TO 5.53%.
LAST YEAR, WHEN BUDGET 2022 WAS IMPLEMENTED, IT PROJECTED A 2023 TAX INCREASE OF 9.69% AND A 2.37% INCREASE IN 2024.
WHEN WE FIRST DRAFTED BUDGET 2023 WITH UPDATED INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
IN ORDER TO RAISE THE REQUIRED REVENUES TO PROCEED WITH THE SERVICE DELIVERY PLANS IN BUDGET 2023.
THE ANTICIPATED TAX INCREASE WAS 11.85% IN 2023, FOLLOWED BY INCREASES OF 6.39 AND 5.24%. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE HEALTHY BALANCE IN THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND AND THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL'S APPETITE TO REDUCE THE BALANCE OF THIS FUND, TO BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S BUDGET POLICY.
THE BUDGET 2023 DOCUMENT REFLECTS A DRAWDOWN OF THE GENERAL FUND TO REDUCE THE TAX INCREASES.
SPECIFICALLY, IT CALLS FOR ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO BE PULLED FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN 2023 TO BRING THE TAX INCREASE FOR THAT YEAR DOWN TO 7.47%. THEN IT CALLS FOR $1 MILLION TO BE DRAWN DOWN FROM THE GENERAL FUND THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
THAT WILL RESULT IN A TAX INCREASE OF 9.89%, LEAVING AN INCREASE IN 2025 OF 6.04%.
DRAWING DOWN THE GENERAL FUND WILL NOT ONLY TEMPER THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES, BUT IT WILL ALSO BRING THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE TO WITHIN THE 15% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES IDENTIFIED AS THE UPPER LIMIT FOR THIS FUND IN THE CITY'S BUDGET POLICY.
[00:35:02]
WHAT THIS TRANSLATES TO FOR INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS DEPENDS, OF COURSE, ON THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.HERE WE SEE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WITH THREE SAMPLE ASSESSED VALUES.
WE CAN SEE THAT MONTHLY CHANGES RANGE FROM ABOUT $9 FOR A $250,000 ASSESSMENT TO $24 A MONTH FOR A $650,000 ASSESSMENT.
THE IMPACT FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS WILL, OF COURSE, BE DIFFERENT.
THAT COVERS THE LAST OF TODAY'S AGENDA ITEMS. A SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT'S NEXT.
WE WILL PREPARE RESULTS OR ANSWERS.
I'M SORRY. WE'LL PREPARE THE ANSWERS AND POST THEM TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
DECEMBER 5TH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH ARE SET ASIDE FOR DELIBERATIONS.
THE EIGHTH IS RESERVED JUST IN CASE YOU NEED EXTRA TIME.
APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 12.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS WOODWARD.
YEAH, AND JUST TO NOTE, THE COUNCIL'S ALSO GOING TO BE DOING A FEW MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS.
SO IF YOU'RE OUT DOING YOUR YOUR CHORES, YOU CAN JUST STOP IN AND CHAT WITH US.
THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE TWO LUNCH HOUR SESSIONS.
SO. AND JUST TO NOTE, FOR COUNCIL, AS MISS WOODWARD SAID, WILL BEGIN DELIBERATIONS ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 5TH AT 530, AND THEY'LL SEND A BIT OF A DETAILED WHAT PAGE WE START.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO JUST FLAG, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THOSE FORECASTS OF THE UPCOMING YEARS, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE A PROJECTION OF NEW GROWTH ASSESSMENTS.
WHEN YOU GO TO TWO MORE FORWARD, THIS ONE HERE, THIS 2024 AND 2025 TAX INCREASE DOESN'T FORECAST ALL THE NEW BUILDS THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO OUR ASSESSMENT.
IS THAT CORRECT? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
BUT DON'T START SWEATING WHEN YOU SEE THE 9.8%.
THERE'S LOTS OF STUFF THAT CAN CHANGE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW.
COUNCILOR PAYNE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
DO WE HAVE THAT NUMBER YET? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S BALLPARK 300,000, BUT I'LL ASK MS. WOODWARD BECAUSE SHE CALCULATES IT RIGHT DOWN TO THE EXACT FIGURE.
THANK YOU. THIS YEAR, WE'RE ANTICIPATING A 1% TAX INCREASE IS EQUAL TO $343,700.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MISS WOODWARD? IT COMES FROM MCLENNAN.
WHEN WE'RE SUBMITTING QUESTIONS.
IS IT BETTER TO DO IT SORT OF ONE AT A TIME, UNDER A DIFFERENT HEADER OR BULK? JUST LIKE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS AT ONCE FOR SURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE WILL TAKE THEM IN WHATEVER ORDER YOU WANT TO SEND THEM TO US.
IF YOU SEND US A LONG LIST OF RANDOM QUESTIONS, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
[00:40:02]
PEOPLE THAT ARE THINKING MANY OF THE SAME QUESTIONS.SO WE'LL JUST PUT WHAT THE QUESTION IS AND WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? NO, I THINK YOU'VE COVERED IT.
THANK YOU. AND ON THE WEBSITE NOTES BUDGET.
THE DRAFT 2023 BUDGET IS NOW UP AS WELL AS THIS POWERPOINT.
SO I KNOW THAT FOLKS WERE KIND OF MADLY SCRAMBLING AND TAKING PHOTOS AND ALL THAT STUFF OF THE SLIDES, BUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET THE SCREEN CAPTURES RIGHT FROM IT'S ALREADY POSTED ON THE WEBSITE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR HENDRICKSON.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S A BIT OF A NICHE, ONE THAT POPS OUT.
IS THIS JUST THE CENTER SQUARE MALL PARKING LOT OR IS THIS OTHER PARKING LOTS IN TOWN? AND HOW DOES THAT ACTUALLY IMPACT IN THE GRINCH? LIKE THE BIGGER SCHEME OF THINGS? JUST YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS THINK OF YOUR TAX THINGS YOU'RE TRYING TO SEEK LESS OF AND YOU GIVE, YOU KNOW, MORE LENIENCY TO THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT MORE OF, LIKE HOUSING AND BUSINESSES. AND SO I'M JUST KIND OF WONDERING HOW THAT ONE RATE IS VERY NICHE IN THE WORKINGS OF ALL OF THIS.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS WOODWARD.
THANK YOU. THAT IS A RATHER UNIQUE ASSESSMENT CLASS.
AND YES, IT ONLY APPLIES TO THE CENTER SQUARE PARKADE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ADMIN? ONE QUESTION I HAD AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT TONIGHT.
IT'S MORE LIKE A QUESTION I'LL ASK WHEN WE GET THERE.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
THERE'S BEEN SOME VERY DELIBERATE DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE PAVING PROGRAM ITSELF, AND I WILL SEE IF MR. GREEN WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN WEIGHING AND HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE THE EFFICIENCY FOR THE CITY.
SURE. THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
IT SURROUNDS A COUPLE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
ROLL OUT HUGE, LARGE SCALE PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE BOTH STAFF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.
ANOTHER PORTION OF THAT FUNDING IS LARGELY 7575 CENT DOLLARS FROM THE ICP PROGRAM THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FOR INVESTING IN CANADIAN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN.
SO TAKING THOSE THOSE THREE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION IS WHY IT'S KIND OF FRONTLOADED INTO 2023.
AND THE TWO YEARS AFTER THAT WILL BE IT'LL SEE MINIMUM PAVING IN THE CITY TO FORTUNATELY OR UNFORTUNATELY, CONCENTRATE ON LARGER PROJECTS.
THANK YOU. SEEING NOTHING FURTHER RIGHT NOW.
COUNCILOR HENDRICKSON, IF NO ONE'S ALSO GOING TO GO, IS GOING TO GO JUST IN PREPARATION FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, I ACTUALLY WENT BACK AND I WATCHED THIS MEETING FROM 2018 AS THE NEW COUNCIL THEN WAS, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE NEXT BUDGET AND ALL BEFORE COVID.
BUT SOMETHING THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED AT THAT TIME WAS THAT THE CITY HAD BEEN DOWNGRADED BY MOODY'S.
AND HAPPILY, THAT WENT UP A YEAR LATER.
BUT JUST IF YOU COULD EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ON JUST THE IMPACTS OF THESE PAST DECISIONS AS YOU WERE SHOWING IN YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT, TRYING TO KEEP THE TAX INCREASES LOWER AND HOW THAT'S IMPACTING ON THE PROPOSALS THAT YOU'RE PRESENTING THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU, MS. BASSI-KELLETT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE AN INITIAL REACTION TO THAT EXCEPT TO SAY THAT WE DO TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OVER THE YEARS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM MOODY'S AND OTHERS WHEN THEY'RE ASSESSING OUR CREDIT RATINGS AND WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THEY MAKE, LIKE IT IS VERY GOOD TO HAVE REASONABLE STABILITY IN THE NUMBERS
[00:45:08]
IN TERMS OF TAX INCREASES.THERE WERE A NUMBER OF YEARS WHERE THE CITY HAD ZERO TAX, 0% TAX INCREASES AND THAT ACTUALLY RESULTED IN A NET DECREASE WHICH REALLY CAME HOME TO ROOST IN FUTURE YEARS.
AND THOSE WERE THINGS THAT WE'VE CERTAINLY HAD TO CATCH UP ON.
MS.. WOODWARD, YOU ARE OUR EXPERT ON THIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE.
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF WHAT GETS CUT FIRST IS MAINTENANCE.
AND NOW, AS WE'RE STARTING TO TAKE A MORE ASSET MANAGEMENT CENTRIC VIEW OF THINGS, WE REALIZE THAT IT'S JUST A SHORT TERM MEASURE THAT WE WILL PAY FOR DOWN THE ROAD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
SO IT'S NOT NOT GREATLY APPRECIATED.
AND WE CAN'T BE SPENDING LIKE DRUNKEN SAILORS IF WE DON'T HAVE MONEY COMING IN.
NEVER EASY DECISIONS THAT THAT GET MADE.
I'M SURE WE'VE GOT A WHOLE ROUND OF THEM COMING UP.
I AM JUST WONDERING WHERE TRANSIT FALLS IN THIS BUDGET.
GOTCHA. PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S MOSTLY THE CONTRACTED SERVICE.
IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN, MOVED BY.
I WILL GET EVERYBODY'S LAST NAMES.
ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. WE CAN BE ADJOURNED.
AND WE WILL SEE EVERYBODY NEXT MONDAY AT NOON AND ENJOY THE LONG WEEKEND.
REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES THIS FRIDAY STARTS, I THINK, AT 10 A.M.
AT THE CENTER PATH IF FOLKS ARE INTERESTED.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.