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Home My WebLink About11/26/24 - Special Niagara MINUTES JqNADA p S ecial Council Meeting Capital & Parking Budgets 2:00 PM -Tuesday, November 26, 2024 Council Chambers/Zoom App. The Special Council Meeting of the City of Niagara Falls was called to order on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 2:22 PM, in Council Chambers, with the following members present: COUNCIL Mayor Jim Diodati, Councillor Tony Baldinelli, Councillor Chris Dabrowski, PRESENT: Councillor Lori Lococo, Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg, Councillor Mona Patel, Councillor Victor Pietrangelo, Councillor Mike Strange COUNCIL Councillor Wayne Campbell ABSENT: STAFF Jason Burgess, Bill Matson, Tiffany Clark, James Dowling, Kathy PRESENT: Moldenhauer, Kira Dolch, Erik Nickel, Shelley Darlington, Chief Jo Zambito, Travis Jeffrey, Heather Ruzylo Dave Etherington, Kent Schachowskoj (attended via Zoom) 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 2:22 PM. 2. DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST a) Councillor Victor Pietrangelo declared a conflict of interest to the following: • Montrose/Biggar Reconstruction • Lyon's Creek/Willowdell • South Hospital Secondary Plan (Councillor and his family own property that will be affected). • 2025 Rural Surface Treatment Program (Councillor's parents live on one of the affected rural road segments). 3. IN CAMERA SESSION OF COUNCIL 3.1. In-Camera Resolution - Special Meeting of November 26, 2024 3.2. In-Camera Resolution - Special Meeting of December 4, 2024 Moved by Councillor Mike Strange Seconded by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg THAT Council enter into an In-Camera session on November 26, 2024 and December 4, 2024. Carried Unanimously Page 1 of 5 4. REPORTS Council resumed open Council meeting at 5:03 PM. 4.1. F-2024-41 Mayor's Proposed Draft 2025 Parking Budget Moved by Councillor Mike Strange Seconded by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo 1. THAT Council APPROVE the three (3) new Full Time Equivalent (FTE) position requests outlined in attachment 2. 2. THAT Council APPROVE the closure and reallocation of the Parking Reserve Fund with $125,000 of the current funds to be transferred to the Parking Stabilization Special Purpose Reserve and the remainder to be transferred to the Parking - unallocated Capital Special Purpose Reserve. Should Council be satisfied all possible amendments have been considered: 3. THAT Council shorten the 30 day review period (November 8, 2024 to December 8, 2024), allowed under the Strong Mayors Act, by 12 days, such that the review period ends on November 26, 2024. No amendments were made and recommendation #3 has been approved to shorten the review period, then the budget will be deemed adopted as of November 26, 2024. Carried Unanimously 4.2. F-2024-42 2025 City of Niagara Falls Mayor's Proposed Capital Budget Moved by Councillor Mike Strange Seconded by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg 1. THAT list of projects proposed to be closed including the associated transfers to/from reserves and reserve funds, as outlined in Attachment 4, BE APPROVED; and 2. THAT the two (2) parks-related budget amendments to swap funding from capital special purpose reserves to OLG reserves, as outlined in Attachment 5, BE APPROVED; and 3. THAT the two (2) budget adjustments adding funds to existing projects and the three (3) new projects to undertake immediate work and facilitate the closure of exiting projects, as outlined in Attachment 6, BE APPROVED; and Page 2 of 5 4. THAT the three (3) budget amendments swapping Wet Weather Management Grant Funding from Niagara Region for Capital Special Purposes Reserves, out outlined in Attachment 7, BE APPROVED; and 5. THAT Council APPROVE the Community Decision Making Project (R&C-2024-20) to be undertaken on a 2-year cycle funded annually in the capital budget; and 6. THAT Council DIRECT staff to report back with a list of potential initiatives prior to the start of the next community decision making engagement exercise; and 7. THAT Council DIRECT staff to report back to Council for formal approval of debt financing outlined in Attachment 1, once the 2025 Mayor's Proposed Capital Budget has been deemed adopted; and Carried Unanimously Moved by Councillor Mike Strange Seconded by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg THAT Council APPROVE the two (2) new Full Time Equivalent (FTE) position requests as outlined in Attachment 8, fully funded by the capital budget. Carried (Councillor Lococo opposed). Moved by Councillor Mike Strange Seconded by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg THAT Council REFER any decision regarding an increase to the annual Capital Levy; and REFER this budgetary pressure to the operating budget process. Carried Unanimously Moved by Councillor Lori Lococo (pertaining to the NS&T Trail) WHEREAS over the next 10 years, this project is estimated to cost over $12 million in new capital. WHEREAS the funding will be paid for through Development Charges but there will also be operating costs for staff to maintain the trail. WHEREAS the Development Charges could be utilized for other growth projects that are needed. WHEREAS considering the hard economic times that the residents of Niagara Falls are experiencing, the budget should reflect needs instead of wants. THEREFORE be it resolved that this project be deferred. Page 3 of 5 Not Put. Moved by Councillor Lori Lococo Pertaining to the Civic Square Enhancements, WHEREAS considering the hard economic times that the residents of Niagara Falls are experiencing, the budget should reflect necessary capital projects. WHEREAS the staff report outlined the basic wedding services that people were looking for and that the additional expenses may not result in additional income. THEREFORE be it resolved that this project be deferred. Not Put. Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg THAT Council APPROVE an amendment to the 2025 Mayor's Proposed Capital Budget to add one project, for an accessible swing to be installed in the City with a project total of$150,000 to be funded from WonderFalls Pass Capital Special Purpose Reserve and Parks Capital Special Purpose Reserve. Carried Unanimously Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Lori Lococo THAT Council DIRECT staff to report back with recommendations to deal with the phragmites in the Fernwood subdivision stormwater management pond during the 2025 Tax Levy Supported Operating Budget deliberations in January 2025. Carried Unanimously Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange THAT Council shorten the 30-day review period (November 6, 2024 to December 5, 2024), allowed under the Strong Mayors Act, by nine (9) days, such that the review period ends on November 26, 2024. Amendments have been made, and as such, Council considered the following recommendation. Should the Mayor be satisfied that he will not exercise his veto rights to Council's amendments: THAT the Mayor SHORTENED his 10-day veto period by 10 days, by providing written documentation to members of Council and the Municipal Clerk to Page 4 of 5 shorten the veto period, such that the veto period ends on November 26, 2024, thereby allowing the Mayor's Proposed Draft 2025 Capital Budget to be deemed adopted on November 26, 2024. Carried (Councillor Lococo was opposed and Councillor Patel was absent from this vote). 5. RATIFICATION OF IN-CAMERA a) Ratification of In-Camera Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange Direction was provided to Staff on the matters discussed In-Camera. Carried Unanimously 6. BY-LAWS 2024- A by-law to adopt, ratify and confirm the actions of the City Council at its 119. meeting held on the 26th day of November, 2024. Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Tony Baldinelli THAT the by-law be read a first, second and third time and passed. Carried Unanimously 7. ADJOURNMENT a) Adjournment Moved by Councillor Chris Dabrowski Seconded by Councillor Tony Baldinelli That Council ADJOURN the meeting at 6:44 PM. Carried Unanimously t Mayor ity Clerk Page 5 of 5