Administration and Finance Committee Minutes

Tuesday, October 04, 2022 at 9:15 A.m. - 10:45 A.m.

Council Chambers/Electronic

150 Frederick Street, Kitchener, Ontario

Members Present:

• K. Redman, 
• B. Vrbanovic, 
• D. Jaworsky, 
• E. Clarke, 
• G. Lorentz, 
• H. Jowett, 
• J. Erb, 
• J. Nowak, 
• K. McGarry, 
• L. Armstrong, 
• M. Harris, 
• S. Shantz, 
• S. Strickland, 
• S. Foxton, 
• and T. Galloway 

Members Absent:

• K. Kiefer 

Should you require an alternative format or a copy of the official minutes please contact the Regional Clerk at Tel.: [phone], TTY: 519-575-4605, or

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1.

Call to Order

Chair H. Jowett called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m.

2.

Land Acknowledgement

Chair H. Jowett provided a land acknowledgment.

3.

Declarations of Pecuniary Interest under the “Municipal Conflict of Interest Act”

None declared.

4.

Presentations

5.

Delegations

6.

Consent Agenda Items

7.

Request to Remove Items from Consent Agenda

8.

Motion to Approve Items or Receive for Information

B. Vrbanovic joined the meeting at 9:23 AM. ()

• Moved by E. Clarke
  Seconded by L. Armstrong

  That the Consent Agenda items be received for information and approved.

  Carried

8.1

Strategic Focus - Thriving Economy

8.1.1

COR-ITS-22-002, SWIFT Broadband Project - Final Report

9.

Regular Agenda Items

9.1

Strategic Focus - Thriving Economy

9.1.2

COR-CFN-22-026, 2023 Budget Update

Craig Dyer, Commissioner, Corporate Services/Chief Financial Officer, provided a 2023 Plan & Budget Update presentation that is attached to the official minutes. 

C. Dyer provided an overview of various factors that are affecting the 2022 Budget process:

• Inflation
• Fuel Prices
• Government of Canada 10-year Bond Yield (Impacts the Region's cost of borrowing)
• Cost of capital projects materially higher
• Additional 2023 service expansion plans
• Climate Action Investments
• Senior government funding cuts and shortfalls

Staff are anticipating a tax levy in the range of 11-15% for Regional services. Waterloo Regional Police Services are beginning Budget discussions with a proposed 8% increase. Economic conditions are placing massive pressure on regional service costs. The gap between public expectations and the Region's capacity to fund the expected government services has reached critical levels.

In response to questions from the Committee, C. Dyer explained that other municipalities of similar size to Waterloo Region are being affected by 15-20 key factors while beginning their 2023 budget process. Some of those factors include decreased public transit ridership, homelessness, emergency shelter systems, addiction and mental health services, cost of borrowing, COVID-19 response etc. Many of these are services that were never intended to be paid for through property taxation. 

9.1.1

CAO-SPL-22-007, Setting the Context - Regional Strategy Refresh

Connie MacDonald, Chief Communications & Strategy Officer, spoke about the Region's growth challenges and the effect those challenges will have on the 2023 Strategic Plan refresh and the 2023 Budget processes.

Close to one million people will call Waterloo Region home by 2051. This is exciting growth but will put pressure on the Region's essential services.

Rod Regier, Commissioner, Planning, Development and Legislative Services, spoke about a diverse, equitable, sustainable and thriving vision for Waterloo Region. 

The annual rate of growth across Waterloo Region has been just under 2%, one of the highest growth rates in Canada. This can be challenging to the way that we deliver services, but also presents a significant opportunity. It helps create a situation where the Region can respond more progressively, build urban infrastructure to address communities and build neighbourhoods that are vibrant and sustainable.

R. Regier summarized a number of considerations for the 2023 Plan and Budget process and the 2023 Strategic Plan Refresh, including:

• The Region's commitments to decrease greenhouse gas emissions
• Global income and wealth inequality
• United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• Economic Development, Industry and Infrastructure
• Relationships with Indigenous communities
• Creating 15 minute neighbourhoods
• Protection of agriculture resources and the natural heritage systems
• Affordable housing
• Transformational climate action

Several members of the Committee thanked staff for the informative presentation and requested that the presentation slides be shared with community groups, organizations and be available on the Region's website.

9.2

Strategic Focus – Healthy, Safe and Inclusive Communities

9.2.1

PDL-CAS-22-009, Proposed Procedural By-Law

William Short, Director, Council and Administrative Services/Regional Clerk shared a brief presentation to the Committee regarding the proposed changes to the Procedural By-law. The presentation is attached to the minutes.

The proposed changes to the Procedural By-law are intended to modernize it by increasing inclusivity and accessibility, incorporate electronic participation guidelines that were approved by Council in August 2022, remove duplication, implement best practices determined by the pilot project, provide clear language. Best practices from other Regions were consulted and incorporated into the staff recommendation and if approved, can be adopted at the November 8, 2022 Special Council meeting.

• Moved by S. Foxton
  Seconded by J. Nowak

  That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo direct the Regional Clerk to issue public notice of its intention to, on November 8, 2022:

  1. Repeal By-Law Number 00-031, as amended, of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, A By-Law to Govern the Proceedings of the Council and its Committees; and
  2. Approve the proposed Procedural By-law provided in Appendix B of Report PDL-CAS-22-009 dated October 4, 2022, to be effective on November 15, 2022.
  Carried

10.

Information/Correspondence

10.1

Council/Committee Tracking List

Received for information.

11.

Other Business

12.

Next Meeting- November 8, 2022

13.

Adjourn

• Moved by M. Harris
  Seconded by B. Vrbanovic

  That the meeting adjourn at 10:45 a.m.

  Carried