PUBLIC MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING

GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE

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Council Chamber, City Hall
PRESENT:
  • 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
ALSO PRESENT:
  • City Manager J. Jorgenson
  • City Solicitor C. Yelland
  • City Clerk A. Tittemore
  • Deputy City Clerk S. Bryant

1.
CALL TO ORDER

 

2.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA

This item has attachments. 
1.Comments - Ari Avivi_Redacted.pdf
2.Comments - SeoRhin Yoo_Redacted.pdf
  • Moved By:Councillor Loewen
    1. That the following letters be added to Item 4.1:
      • Ari Avivi, dated June 14, 2023;
      • SeoRhin Yoo, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, dated June 14, 2023; and
    2. That the agenda be confirmed as amended.

    In Favour: (10)Councillor Davies, Councillor Jeffries, Mayor Clark, Councillor Donauer, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, Councillor Block, Councillor Gersher, Councillor Dubois, and Councillor Kirton
    Absent (1)Councillor Hill


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (10 to 0)

3.
DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

 

There no declarations of conflict of interest.

4.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE REPORTS

 

Mayor Clark provided opening commentary.

4.1
2024/2025 Budget Inflationary & Phase-in Decisions [GPC2023-0617]

This item has attachments. 
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

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.

Chief Financial Officer Hack presented the report with a PowerPoint.  A motion putting forward the recommendation was made.

Committee presented questions to the Administration regarding content in the reports and subsequent process to be followed.  Two recesses were taken during the discussion, from 10:35 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. and from 11:40 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.   All members of Council were in attendance following the recesses.  

  • Moved By:Councillor Gersher
    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.



  • IN DEFERRAL

    Moved By:Councillor Hill

    That Administration report back with a preliminary budget for 2024 & 2025 with a maximum 4% budget (property tax) increase in each year as a base for Council budget discussions.  The administration should review each business line and align priorities, as best possible, with the current 2022-25 Strategic Plan.  The proposed budget should include clear and transparent details of adjustments for each line so that Council will have all information to determine what the final decision will be for each business line.



  • APPEAL

    Moved By:Councillor Gersher

    That the ruling from the Chair that the deferral motion put forward by Councillor Hill is "in order" be overruled. 


    In Favour: (4)Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, Councillor Block, and Councillor Gersher
    Against: (7)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Councillor Jeffries, Mayor Clark, Councillor Donauer, Councillor Dubois, and Councillor Kirton


    DEFEATED (4 to 7)
  • Moved By:Councillor Loewen

    That the hour of the meeting be extended beyond 1:00 p.m. until the completion of the deferral motion and any motions arising from following that. 


    In Favour: (10)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Councillor Jeffries, Mayor Clark, Councillor Donauer, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, Councillor Block, Councillor Gersher, and Councillor Kirton
    Against: (1)Councillor Dubois


    CARRIED (10 to 1)

  • VOTE ON THE DEFERRAL MOTION


    In Favour: (5)Councillor Davies, Councillor Hill, Councillor Donauer, Councillor Dubois, and Councillor Kirton
    Against: (6)Councillor Jeffries, Mayor Clark, Councillor Loewen, Councillor Gough, Councillor Block, and Councillor Gersher


    DEFEATED (5 to 6)

    Councillor Dubois excused herself from the meeting at 1:35 p.m.


  • Moved By:Councillor Jeffries

    That Administration be directed to bring back enough options in future reporting in the coming months (in advance of final budget deliberations) that, if adopted by committee, would narrow the revenue gap to $11.5 million.



    The Chair ruled this motion to be out of order and therefore was not considered or voted on.


  • Moved By:Councillor Gough

    That Governance and Priorities Committee affirm a strategic inflation and phase-in and gradual service level review approach to budget preparations as started in the reports presented at the June 22 special budget meeting and that future deliberations of these reports provide, as best as possible, the gradual impacts the funding gap presented to GPC and the associated projected property tax impact.



    The Chair ruled this motion to be out of order and therefore was not considered or voted on.


  • Moved By:Councillor Loewen

    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 the Governance and Priorities Committee's process for budget preparations, and in order to be incorporated into civic administration’s options.



    The Chair ruled this motion to be out of order and therefore was not considered or voted on.


4.2
Community Support Business Line Information [GPC 2023-0614]

This item has attachments. 
1.Admin Report - Community Support Business Line Information.pdf
2.Append 1 - Community Support Business Line.pdf

A report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided.

Due to time constraints, this matter was not considered.  Administration confirmed that a revised version of the report will come forward to the July 25 special meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee.  

4.3
Saskatoon Fire Business Line Information Report [GPC2023-0618]

This item has attachments. 
1.Admin Report - Saskatoon Fire Services Business Line.pdf
2.Append 1 - Saskatoon Fire.pdf

A report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided.

Due to time constraints, this matter was not considered.  Administration confirmed that a revised version of the report will come forward to the July 25 special meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee. 

4.4
Arts, Culture and Events Venues Business Line Budgetary Information [GPC 2023-0614]

This item has attachments. 
1.Admin Report - Arts, Culture and Events Venues Business Line Budgetary Information.pdf
2.Append 1 - Arts Culture and Events Venues.pdf

A report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided.

Due to time constraints, this matter was not considered.  Administration confirmed that a revised version of the report will come forward to the July 25 special meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee. 

4.5
Taxation and General Revenues Business Line Budgetary Information [GPC 2023-0615]

This item has attachments. 
1.Admin Report - Taxation and General Revenues Business Line Budgetary Information.pdf
2.Append 1 - Taxation and General Revenue Business Line.pdf

A report of the Corporate Financial Services Division was provided.

Due to time constraints, this matter was not considered.  Administration confirmed that a revised version of the report will come forward to the July 25 special meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee. 

5.
ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting adjourned at 1:46 p.m.

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