PUBLIC AGENDA - SPECIAL MEETING
GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE

Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 9:30 A.m. - 5:30 P.m.

Council Chamber, City Hall

Committee Members:

His Worship Mayor C. Clark, Chair
Councillor C. Block
Councillor T. Davies
Councillor R. Donauer
Councillor B. Dubois
Councillor S. Gersher
Councillor H. Gough
Councillor D. Hill
Councillor Z. Jeffries
Councillor D. Kirton
Councillor M. Loewen

1.
CALL TO ORDER

The Chair called the meeting to order on Treaty 6 Territory and the Traditional Homeland of the Métis People and confirmed roll call. He acknowledged Team Saskatchewan received 175 medals at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games.

3.
DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

4.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE REPORTS

4.1
2024/2025 Budget Information Update [GPC2023-0605]

1.Admin Report - 2024-2025 Budget Information Update.pdf

2.Comments - G Johnson_Redacted.pdf

3.Comments - Susan Lukiwski_Redacted.pdf

4.Comments - Doris Peters.pdf

5.Comments - Brynn Harris - Hamm_Redacted.pdf

6.Comments - Jason Aebig.pdf

A report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided along with the following letters:

Request to speak:
- Keith Moen, NSBA, dated July 19, 2023;
- Don Atchison, dated July 24, 2023;
Submitting comments:
- Gary Johnson, dated June 21, 2023;
- Susan Lukiwski, received June 28, 2023;
- Doris Peters, received June 30, 2023;
- Brynn Harris-Hamm, dated July 11, 2023;
- Jason Aebig, Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, dated July 18, 2023;
- Frank Jones, dated July 20, 2023;
- Warren Galenzoski, dated July 21, 2023;
- Terry Neefs, dated July 24, 2023.

Recommendation
That the information be received.
Recommendation
That a team of Council and Administration representatives meet with representatives of the Chamber and North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) to step through the feasibility of the NSBA and Chamber’s budget recommendations and that the Administration report back on the results of those meetings.
Recommendation
That City Council request of the Board of Police Commissioners that the Saskatoon Police Service budget be submitted earlier than the typical process in order to align with Governance and Priorities Committee's process for budget preparations, and in order to be incorporated into civic administration’s options.
Recommendation
That City Council request that the Saskatoon Library Board budget be submitted earlier than the typical process in order to align with GPC’s process for budget preparations, and in order to be incorporated into civic administration’s options.

4.2
2024/2025 Budget Inflationary & Phase-in Decisions [GPC2023-0617]

1.Admin Report - 2024 and 2025 Inflationary and Phase in Pressures.pdf

2.Admin Report - 2024 and 2025 Budget Reduction Allocations.pdf

3.Comments - Ari Avivi_Redacted(1).pdf

4.Comments - SeoRhin Yoo_Redacted(1).pdf

Due to time constraints at the June 22, 2023 Governance and Priorities Committee Special meeting, this matter was deferred to the July 25, 2023 Special meeting. A report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided along with an additional report of the Corporate Financial Services Division regarding budget reduction allocations.

The following letters were also provided:

Ari Avivi, dated June 14, 2023;
SeoRhin Yoo, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, dated June 14, 2023.

Recommendation
1. That the Administration be directed to include option 2 in the 2024/2025 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget; and
2. That the report of the Corporate Financial Services Division regarding the 2024 and 2025 budget reduction allocations be accepted as information.
Recommendation
1. That the step growth requirement for the Snow & Ice Phase in be reduced by 40% (not 50%), maintaining the 10-year timeline for the 2022 response payback and utilizing the additional 10% to build a base for future snow events.
Recommendation
2. That the re-phasing of the Snow & Ice Phase-in be included in the plans for future budgets beginning in 2026.
Recommendation
That the re-phasing of the Transit Bus Growth Allocation be included in the plans for future budgets beginning in 2026.
Recommendation
That the 2024/2025 planned phased-in for the future fire station of $1.26 million/year be reduced from 100% to 50% and be added back into the operating budget when the fire station opens in 2026.
Recommendation
1. That the Administration be directed to include option 2 in the 2024/2025 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget with the following amendments;
  - That the step growth requirement for the Snow & Ice Phase in be reduced by 40% (not 50%), maintaining the 10-year timeline for the 2022 response payback and utilizing the additional 10% to build a base for future snow events;
  - That the re-phasing of the Snow & Ice Phase-in be included in the plans for future budgets beginning in 2026;
  - That the re-phasing of the Transit Bus Growth Allocation be included in the plans for future budgets beginning in 2026; and
2. That the report of the Corporate Financial Services Division regarding the 2024 and 2025 budget reduction allocations be accepted as information.

4.3
Business Line Reports

4.3.1
Transportation Business Line Information [GPC2023-0703]

1.Admin Report - Transportation Business Line Information.pdf

2.Append 1 - Transportation Business Line.pdf

A report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided, along with the following letters submitting comments:

Robert Clipperton, Bus Riders of Saskatoon, dated July 20, 2023;
Mackenzie Burnett and Ines Sanchez-Rodriguez, Saskatoon Climate Hub, dated July 24, 2023; and
DeeAnn Mercier, Broadway Business Improvement District, Brent Penner, Downtown Saskatoon and Randy Pshebylo, Riversdale Business Improvement District, dated July 24, 2023.

Recommendation
That the Governance and Priorities Committee direct Administration to include Option 1 – Increase Parking Rates by $0.50/hour in the 2024/2025 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That subject to a report back from Administration on an appropriate policy change, that the $0.50/hour parking rate increase be directed in full to the Streetscape Reserve.
Recommendation
That the Governance and Priorities Committee direct Administration to include Option 2 – Implement Parking App Fees in the 2024/2025 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That the Governance and Priorities Committee direct Administration to include Option 3 – Reduce City Yard Security Funding in the 2024/2025 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 5.a in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 5.b in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 5.c in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 5.d in the report be included in the 2024/2025 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 5.d only be included in the 2024 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 5.d in the report only be included in the 2024 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 5.e in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 5.f in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget with an amendment to read expansion of Tier 1 service to Aspen Ridge and Brighton remain at the current service level in 2024.
Recommendation
That Option 5.g in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 5.h in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 6 - Reduce Snow and Ice Management Program Inflation in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That the snow program defer $53,900 of the inflation impact in 2024 reducing the amount from $353,900 to $300,000 and $44,600 in 2025 reducing the amount from $394,600 to $350,000.
Recommendation
That Option 6 - Reduce Snow and Ice Management Program Inflation in the report, as amended be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 7 – Reduce Street Cleaning and Sweeping Inflation in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 8.a in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.
Recommendation
That Option 8.b in the report be included in the 2024/25 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget.

4.3.2
Community Support Business Line Information [GPC2023-0616]

1.Admin Report - Community Support Business Line Information - 2.pdf

2.Append 1 - Community Support Business Line.pdf

Due to time constraints at the June 22, 2023 Governance and Priorities Committee Special meeting, this matter was deferred to the July 25, 2023 Special meeting. A revised report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided.

4.3.3
Saskatoon Fire Business Line Information Report [GPC2023-0618]

1.Admin Report - Fire Services Business Line Information - 2.pdf

2.Append 1 - Saskatoon Fire.pdf

4.3.4
Environmental Health Business Line Information [GPC2023-0701]

1.Admin Report - Environmental Health Business Line Information.pdf

2.Append 1 - Enviromental Health Business Line.pdf

A report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided along with a letter submitting comments from Mackenzie Burnett and Ines Sanchez-Rodriguez, Saskatoon Climate Hub, dated July 24, 2023.

4.3.5
Taxation and General Revenues Business Line Budgetary Information [GPC2023-0615]

1.Admin Report - Taxation and General Revenue Business Line Information - 2.pdf

2.Append 1 - Taxation and General Revenue Business Line.pdf

Due to time constraints at the June 22, 2023 Governance and Priorities Committee Special meeting, this matter was deferred to the July 25, 2023 Special meeting.

A revised report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided along with a letter submitting comments from DeeAnn Mercier, Broadway Business Improvement District, Brent Penner, Downtown Saskatoon and Randy Pshebylo, Riversdale Business Improvement District, dated July 24, 2023.