01/23/2024 - BudgetNiagara r
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MINUTES
City Council Budget
Meeting
3:00 PM - Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Council Chambers/Zoom App.
The City Council Meeting (Budget) of the City of Niagara Falls was called to order on Tuesday,
January 23rd, 2024, at 3:12 PM, in Council Chambers, with the following members present:
COUNCIL Mayor Jim Diodati, Councillor Tony Baldinelli, Councillor Lori Lococo,
PRESENT: Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg, Councillor Mona Patel, Councillor
Victor Pietrangelo, Councillor Mike Strange, Councillor Wayne Thomson
(all attending in person in Chambers)
Councillor Wayne Campbell (attended via Zoom)
STAFF Jason Burgess, Bill Matson, Erik Nickel, Tiffany Clark, Nidhi Punyarthi,
PRESENT: Shelley Darlington, Kira Dolch, Kathy Moldenhauer, Dale Morton, James
Dowling, Chief Jo Zambito (arriving at 4:20 PM) (all present in
Chambers)
Dave Etherington, Marianne Tikky, Serge Felicetti, Trent Dark (present
via Zoom)
1.
2.
3.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 3:12 PM.
IN CAMERA SESSION OF COUNCIL
2.1. In -Camera Resolution
Council moved to In -Camera meeting at 3:20 PM.
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
THAT Council enter into an In -Camera session.
Carried Unanimously
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Council resumed at 4:01 PM from the In -Camera meeting.
3.1. Council Minutes of January 16, 2024
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Wayne Thomson
THAT Council approve the minutes of the January 16, 2024 meeting as
presented.
Page 1 of 6
Carried Unanimously
4. DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
a) Councillor Lori Lococo declared a conflict of interest to #5.1 (Mayor's Proposed
Draft 2024 Tax Levy Supported Budget - Variance Analysis) and to #5.3
(Mayor's Proposed Draft 2024 Tax Levy Supported Budget) as it relates to the
Niagara Falls Art Gallery. Councillor Lococo is a board member of the Niagara
Falls Art Gallery and sits on the board as a resident. Councillor Lococo will
participate in the discussion in relation to the rest of the reports.
5. REPORTS
5.1 F-2024-03
Mayor's Proposed Draft 2024 Tax Levy Supported Budget -Variance Analysis
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
1. THAT Council RECEIVE report F-2024-03 Mayor's Proposed Draft 2024 Tax
Levy Supported Budget — Variance Analysis for information.
2. THAT Council APPROVE the 2023 budget reclassifications identified in
Attachment 13.
Ayes: Mayor Jim Diodati, Councillor Wayne Campbell, Councillor Victor
Pietrangelo, Councillor Mike Strange, Councillor Wayne Thomson,
Councillor Lori Lococo, Councillor Tony Baldinelli, Councillor Ruth -Ann
Nieuwesteeg, and Councillor Mona Patel
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 9-0 on a recorded vote
5.2. F-2024-04
2024 Budget Engagement Survey Results
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Mona Patel
1. THAT Staff Report F-2024-04, 2024 Budget Engagement Survey
Results BE RECEIVED as information.
Carried Unanimously
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
THAT Council direct Staff to send a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs
and Housing, bringing attention to the City of Niagara Falls' application to the
Housing Accelerator Fund; reinforcing our City's need for partnership from
other levels of government; and furthermore, seeking confirmation that the
City qualifies for funding and encouraging approval.
Carried Unanimously
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5.3. 2024 Operating Budget - PRESENTATION
Tiffany Clark, Director of Finance, presented the 2024 Operating Budget to
Council.
Councillor Tony Baldinelli left the meeting at 5:48 PM and returned at 5:52 PM.
Mayor Jim Diodati left the meeting at 5:48 PM and Councillor Pietrangelo
resumed as Chair of meeting.
Mayor Jim Diodati returned to the meeting at 5:54 PM.
Councillor discussion included the following items to be incorporated into a
future Councillor workshop:
• OLG funding
• Sole -Sourcing
• MAT charges
• Library locations
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Mona Patel
THAT Council receive the presentation by Tiffany Clark, Director of Finance, on
the 2024 Operating Budget.
Carried Unanimously
5.4 F-2024-07
Mayor's Proposed Draft 2024 Tax Levy Supported Budget
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
That Council APPROVE the following:
• For 2024 only, adding back the 2024 OLG subsidy reduction of $565,000 to the
Mayor's proposed budget reducing the impact by 0.65%.
• Adding back the 2024 debt placeholder deferral of $260,000 adding 0.30% to
the levy impact.
• Adding back part of the 2023 fleet deferral totaling $305,000 adding 0.35% to
the levy impact.
THEREBY, keeping the operating increase at 3.5%.
Ayes: Mayor Jim Diodati, Councillor Wayne Campbell, Councillor Victor
Pietrangelo, Councillor Mike Strange, Councillor Wayne Thomson,
Councillor Lori Lococo, Councillor Tony Baldinelli, Councillor Ruth -Ann
Nieuwesteeg, and Councillor Mona Patel
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 9-0 on a recorded vote
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
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Seconded by Councillor Mona Patel
THAT a 1.5% temporary 20 -year hospital levy not be phased in equally over three (3)
years.
Carried Unanimously
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange
THAT Council direct Staff to add 0.45% back into the budget for Fleet replacement.
Carried (Councillor Lococo was opposed to the vote).
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
THAT staff be DIRECTED to find sustainable savings or revenue increases of $1.0
million that can be enacted in the 2025 budget to better achieve budget sustainability.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Moved by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
Seconded by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
That Council shorten the 30 day review period, allowed under the Strong Mayors Act,
by 15 days, such that the review period ends on January 23, 2024.
Carried Unanimously
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Tony Baldinelli
That Council RECEIVE the Mayor's Proposed Draft 2024 Tax Levy Supported
Budget with revenues and expenses each totaling $150,477,067 as per
attachment 1.
2. That Council APPROVE the use of reserve funding as outlined in attachment 2.
3. That Council APPROVE the 2024 staff recommended funding levels and
classifications for Boards and Commissions, Fee for Service, Grants and
Honorariums as presented on Attachment 7, totaling $8,055,345 of which
$7,072,446 will be funded by the tax levy, representing an increase in tax levy
funding of $192,119 (0.2% tax levy impact) from prior year. For clarity, these
recommendations are already included in the Mayor's Proposed Budget
recommendations.
Council called for a 10 minute recess at 7:55 PM.
Council resumed at 8:07 PM.
Ayes: Mayor Jim Diodati, Councillor Wayne Campbell, Councillor Victor
Pietrangelo, Councillor Mike Strange, Councillor Wayne Thomson,
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Councillor Tony Baldinelli, Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg, and
Councillor Mona Patel
Nays: Councillor Lori Lococo
CARRIED (Councillor Lococo opposed to the vote). 8-1 on a recorded vote
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Wayne Thomson
That a 2024 tax levy increase related to operating revenues and expenditures of
$3,402,914 (3.95°/x) BE APPROVED
That the 2024 net tax levy of $89,505,600 BE APPROVED.
That the Mayor consider shortening his 10 -day veto period by 10 days, by providing
written documentation to members of Council and the Municipal Clerk to shorten the
veto period, such that the Veto period ends on January 23, 2024, thereby allowing the
Mayor's Proposed Draft 2024 Tax Levy Supported Budget to be deemed adopted on
January 23, 2024.
Ayes: Mayor Jim Diodati, Councillor Wayne Campbell, Councillor Victor
Pietrangelo, Councillor Mike Strange, Councillor Wayne Thomson,
Councillor Tony Baldinelli, Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg, and
Councillor Mona Patel
Nays: Councillor Lori Lococo
Carried (Councillor Lococo was opposed to the vote). 8-1 on a recorded vote
6. BY-LAWS
2024- A by-law to adopt, ratify and confirm the actions of the City Council at its
015. meeting held on the 23rd of January, 2024.
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
THAT the by-law be read a first, second and third time and passed.
Carried Unanimously
7. ADJOURNMENT
a) Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Tony Baldinelli
Seconded by Councillor Wayne Thomson
THAT Council adjourn the meeting at 8:20 PM.
Carried Unanimously
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Mayor
City Clerk
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