Administration and Finance Committee Minutes

Tuesday, December 06, 2022 at 1:00 P.m. - 3:00 P.m.

Council Chambers/Electronic

Members Present:

• K. Redman, 
• D. Craig, 
• R. Deutschmann, 
• J. Erb, 
• S. Foxton, 
• M. Harris, 
• C. Huinink, 
• C. James, 
• J. Liggett, 
• D. McCabe, 
• J. Nowak, 
• N. Salonen, 
• S. Shantz, 
• B. Vrbanovic, 
• K. Williams, 
• and P. Wolf

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 M. Harris called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m.

2.

Land Acknowledgement

Chair M. Harris provided a land acknowledgment.

3.

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

None declared.

4.

Presentations

There were no presentations.

5.

Delegations

5.1

Martin Levesque, Rector, and Jane Mitchell, All Saints' Anglican Church 

Martin Levesque, Rector and Jane Mitchell from All Saints' Anglican Church appeared before the Committee seeking relief from development charges for the construction of a new church and community centre.

In response to the Committee, M. Levesque confirmed that roughly 12,000 square feet of the space is for the community centre. He shared that the programs would include open gym night every Friday, where youth of the area who have no gathering spaces, can come together. M. Levesque also confirmed that everyone is welcome to use the space and that the church has been intentional to create as visual story to show that everyone is welcome, such as through the reconciliation walkway which is orange with white feathers. 

In response to the Committee, M. Levesque confirmed that the development charges are $400,000, with $230,000 being from the Region of Waterloo and the remaining being from the City of Waterloo. M. Levesque stated that the church is making the development charges relief request to the City of Waterloo as well and that the City has been quite supportive. He also confirmed that the church is working with not for profits within the Region, who are supported by the Region of Waterloo, to deliver services in this space, which is where the intersection between the church's community centre and the Region occurs.

The Committee directed staff to come back with a report during the 2023 budget process with other funding options that may be considered, as well as information on how many other groups may have similar asks.  

B. Vrbanovic left the meeting at 1:31 p.m.

6.

Consent Agenda

There were no requests to remove items from the Consent Agenda.

• Moved by D. Craig
  Seconded by S. Foxton

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

  Carried (16 to 0)

6.1

Strategic Focus - Responsive and Engaging Public Service

6.1.1

COR-TRY-22-091, 2023 Temporary Borrowing By-laws

• Moved by D. Craig
  Seconded by S. Foxton

  That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo authorize the Chief Financial Officer, by By-law, to borrow funds in 2023 as required on a temporary basis to meet operating and capital expenditure requirements, as set out in report COR-TRY-22-91 dated December 6, 2022.

  Carried

6.1.2

COR-ADM-22-003, Use of Delegated Authority for Procurement Matters During the Lame Duck Period

7.

Regular Agenda

7.1

Strategic Focus - Thriving Economy

7.1.1

COR-ADM-22-004, Bill 23 Financial Impacts in Waterloo Region

Craig Dyer, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer provided an overview of Bill 23 Financial Impacts in Waterloo Region, noting that Bill 23 affects the long term capital program and that the impacts are going to be felt over a long period of time. He also expressed concerns that the building of homes may actually be slowed down due to municipal tax flow and that growth is no longer paying for growth, but rather tax payers will pay more for growth. A copy of the presentation is attached to the minutes. 

In response to the Committee, C. Dyer noted that Council will need to make some decisions around the next development charge by-law, as the current by-law expires on July 31, 2024, at which point staff will have gone through an analysis and have a much better understanding of the impacts. C. Dyer noted that staff will update Council as work continues.

The Committee also noted that Bill 23 impacts more than financials and the importance of not losing sight of those impacts as well, such as the environmental impacts.

Councillor James introduced an amendment to the staff recommendation. 

• Moved by C. James
  Seconded by J. Erb

  WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo recognizes that there is a housing inventory crisis and an affordability crisis; and

  WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo is the only municipality in Canada that relies almost entirely on groundwater for its water supply, groundwater recharge areas which cross multiple municipal boundaries are protected by the Regional Official Plan. As a result of the passing of Bill 23, communities in the Region of Waterloo are particularly vulnerable to a fragmented approach to protecting ground water recharge areas; and

  WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo delivers numerous services, including transit, regional roads, wastewater facilities, and housing that are closely tied to regional scale land use planning strategies, particularly as they affect the location, density and structure of urban development; and

  WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo Regional Official Plan provides policies and strategies to protect land and natural ecosystems that replenish our ground water and reduce carbon emissions, while supporting the efficient growth of vibrant communities and a strong, resilient economy; the loss of a regional planning framework for the Region of Waterloo could negatively impact future generations; and

  WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo has received endorsement and support from two First Nations, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River in support of our Regional Official Plan amendment which is unprecedented; and WHEREAS Bill 23 is legislation that will now have severe negative implications to the Region of Waterloo planning authority, the current Waterloo Regional Official Plan, Conservation Authorities Act, Development Charges Act, Municipal Act, New Homes Construction Licensing Act, Ontario Heritage Act, Ontario Land Tribunal Act, Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, Planning Act, and the Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions Act; and

  WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo is preparing comments on Bill 23 that will be submitted to the province with the understanding that the timing of the introduction of the Bill has not allowed for a thorough and comprehensive review and response by Waterloo Region Council within the original due date given that the first regular meeting is December 6; and

  WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo acknowledges the affordable housing crisis and has developed a comprehensive housing strategy that already exceeds provincial recommendations; and WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo relies on development charges to provide the infrastructure required to support growth and new housing, for new residents and growing businesses, proposed changes would therefore jeopardize the ability to finance and construct the very infrastructure needed to build more housing; and WHEREAS Bill 23 will impact city and regional finances and limit the ability of the region to properly invest in infrastructure to serve new homes, creating an increased tax burden on rate payers in the region; and WHEREAS BILL 23 does not address the current labour shortage that currently exist within the industry and does not mention how it will address the current labour shortage; and

  THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Region of Waterloo requests that the Province of Ontario to reconsider Bill 23 and extend the consultation period on potential legislation, regulatory, policy, and amendment to allow for fulsome municipal consultation; and

  THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Region of Waterloo requires the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing identify and outline the processes and proposed outcomes of this bill in relation to the affordable housing crisis experienced across Ontario and its mitigating effects.

  THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Region of Waterloo requests that the Provincial and Federal governments develop sustained infrastructure funding to meet the needs of growing communities and avoid shifting burden of growth to existing taxpayers. That might mitigate some of the worst of the financial impacts of Bill 23.

  BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution and report COR-CFN-22-04, Bill 23 Financial Impacts in Waterloo Region, dated December 6, 2022, be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, local and area MPPs, area Municipal Councils, as well as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario and Ontario Big City Mayors.

  Carried (16 to 0)

7.2

Strategic Focus – Responsive and Engaging Public Service

7.2.1

CAO-SPL-22-009, Strategic Plan 2023-2027

Jenny Smith, Director Corporate Strategy and Performance provided an overview of the Region's strategic planning framework, including community engagement and outreach. A copy of the presentation is attached to the minutes. 

• Moved by C. James
  Seconded by P. Wolf

  That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo approve the approach, timeline and supporting principles for the development of the new Corporate Strategic Plan 2023-2027 as outlined in CAO-SPL-22-009, December 6, 2022.

  Carried (15 to 0)

8.

Information/Correspondence

8.1

Council/Committee Tracking List

Received for information.

9.

Other Business

9.1

Councillor Michael Harris Notice of Motion

Regional Chair Redman assumed the Chair.

M. Harris introduced a motion to rescind and repeal a prior decision to extend post-service benefits to Regional Councillors, which was passed on November 8th, 2022. 

In response to the Committee, C. Dyer confirmed that the recommendations made by the Citizen Advisory Committee would be for the next council and that the Advisory Committee would not be struck immediately post 2023 budget, but rather in the next year or two. 

The Committee discussed and deliberated the motion, including amending the motion to specify that the Advisory Committee would be struck in the third year of this term of Council.

R. Deutschmann introduced an amendment to the motion to include that the Advisory Committee must not consider post service life-time benefits for Councillors that would be fully paid for the by the Region. The Committee discussed and deliberated the proposed amendment, with concerns raised regarding tying the Advisory Committee's hands, possibly eliminating things they may want to consider, and the appropriateness of this being included in the motion rather than in the terms of reference for the Advisory Committee, which outlines scope. 

In response to the Committee, Kim Bellissimo, Commissioner Human Resources and Citizen Service clarified that the amendment would not impact the Councillor's ability to purchase their own benefit package post service, which the Councillor would fully pay for.

R. Deutschmann asked for a recorded vote regarding the amendment. 

• Moved by M. Harris
  Seconded by J. Nowak

  Whereas the Council of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo deems it both appropriate and expedient to rescind and repeal a prior decision to extend post-service benefits to Regional Councillors which was passed on November 8th, 2022 (“the Decision”);

  Therefore, be it resolved that the Regional Municipality of Waterloo hereby enacts as follows:

  1. That the Decision be rescinded, and that staff be directed not to proceed with the implementation of a post-service continuous benefit plan for Council with the Region’s insured benefit carrier as described in report HRC-TOR-22-003 on November 8, 2022;
  2. That the extension of current benefits to past service Councillors, as described in report HRC-TOR-22-003 on November 8, 2022 be ended on December 31, 2022; and
  3. That staff be directed to prepare a Terms of Reference for a Citizen Advisory Committee, in the third year of this term of Council, to study and provide recommendations to Council regarding the remuneration and benefits for Members of Regional Council, including an analysis of comparator jurisdictions, to be presented to the Administration and Finance Committee; and
  4. That the Citizen Advisory Committee Terms of Reference must not consider post service life-time benefits that would be fully paid for by the Region.
  Carried (15 to 0)
• Amendment:
  Moved by R. Deutschmann
  Seconded by D. Craig

  That the motion be amended to add the following:

  4. Citizen Advisory Committee Terms of Reference must not consider post service life-time benefits that would be fully paid for by the Region.

  In Favor (14)	J. Erb, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. McCabe, J. Liggett, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams
  Opposed (1)	J. Nowak

  Carried (14 to 1)

10.

Next Meeting - January 10, 2023

11.

Adjourn

• Moved by N. Salonen
  Seconded by D. Craig

  That the meeting adjourn at 2:48 p.m.

  Carried (15 to 0)