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Home My WebLink About01-21-2025 Niagara MINUTES JCqNAD Cit Council Bud et A Meeting 4:00pm -January 21, 2025 Council Chambers/Zoom App The City Council of the City of Niagara Falls was called to order on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 4:00 PM, in the Council Chambers/Zoom App, with the following members present: COUNCIL Mayor Jim Diodati, Councillor Tony Baldinelli, Councillor Lori Lococo, PRESENT: Councillor Chris Dabrowski, Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg, Councillor Mona Patel, Councillor Victor Pietrangelo, Councillor Mike Strange COUNCIL Councillor Wayne Campbell ABSENT: STAFF Jason Burgess, Bill Matson, Heather Ruzylo, Tiffany Clark, Kathy PRESENT: Moldenhauer, Shelley Darlington, Jo Zambito, Nidhi Punyarthi, Kira Dolch, James Sticca, Erik Nickel, Dale Morton, Mathew Bilodeau Trent Dark, Kent Schachowskoj, Gerald Spencer, Angela Davidson (attending via Zoom app.) 1. CALL TO ORDER The City Council meeting was called to order at 4:43 PM. 2. IN CAMERA SESSION OF COUNCIL Bill Matson, City Clerk, addressed Council to inform that the In-Camera meeting was no longer necessary. As such, the resolution did not need to be passed. 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1. Council Minutes of January 13, 2025 Moved by Councillor Mike Strange Seconded by Councillor Tony Baldinelli THAT Council ADOPT the minutes of January 13, 2025 as presented. Carried Unanimously 4. DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST a) Coucillor Pietrangelo declared a conflict of interest with the meeting minutes from January 13, 2025. He indicated that the conflict is with By-Law 2025-009 (part of Item #16 on the January 13, 2025 Council meeting agenda). Councillor Pietrangelo declared that he owns property that this By-Law will affect. b) Councillor Pietrangelo declared a conflict of interest to Report CS-2025-02 (Item #5.5), Attachment 6, as the Councillor's parents live on one of the rural road segments identified for resurfacing. c) Councillor Lococo declared a conflict of interest with the budget Item #5.4, Report CS-2025-03, Commissions, Fees for Service, Grants and Honorariums for Fee for Service for the Niagara Falls Art Gallery in the amount of $28,000.00. Councillor Lococo declared that she sits on the board as a resident. 5. REPORTS 5.1. CS-2025-07 2025 Budget Engagement Survey Results Moved by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange It is recommended: THAT Council RECEIVE Report CS-2025-17, 2025 Budget Engagement Survey Results for information. Carried Unanimously 5.2. CS-2025-01 Staff Proposed 2025 Tax Levy Supported Budget - Variance Analysis Moved by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg Seconded by Councillor Tony Baldinelli 1. THAT Council RECEIVE Report CS-2025-01 Staff Proposed 2025 Tax Levy Supported Budget—Variance Analysis for information. 2. THAT Council APPROVE the 2024 budget reclassifications identified in Attachment 8. Carried Unanimously 5.3. PRESENTATION - 2025 Operating Budget Tiffany Clark, Director of Finance, presented the 2025 Operating Budget to Council. Frank De Luca of 4341 Kilman Place addressed the Mayor, Tiffany Clark and Council regarding the tax levy increase. Mr. De Luca suggested several ways to decrease the tax levy (ie, cut spending on non-essentials and selling any property that can be developed, including parking lots). Mr. De Luca expressed his thoughts of the City restructuring and merging with other cities. Moved by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange THAT Council receive the 2025 Operating Budget presentation for information. Carried Unanimously 5.4. CS-2025-03 2025 Boards and Commissions, Fee for Service, Grants and Honorariums Recommendations Councillor Nieuwesteeg left Chambers at 6:30pm and returned at 6:38pm. Councillor Pietrangelo left Chambers at 6:32pm and returned at 6:35pm Councillor Baldinelli left Chambers at 6:48pm and returned at 6:51pm Dan Bordenave, from the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub, was in attendance virtually and responded to Councillor's questions pertaining to the Innovation Hub. Angela Davidson, Manager of Business Development, addressed Council adding background to the value and partnerships the City has with the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub and how it is a great extension of the City's services. She also mentioned that many of Business Development's clients utilize the services that Business Development and the Innovation Hub offers. Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange THAT Council APPROVE the 2025 funding levels and classifications for Boards and Commissions, Fee for Service, Grants and Honorariums as presented on Attachment 1 with the exception of the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub. Carried Unanimously (Councillor Lococo declared a conflict of interest to the discussion of the Niagara Falls Art Gallery). Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange THAT Council APPROVE the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub funding request for 2025 of$700,000 as presented on Attachment 1 to be 100% funded by the OLG reserve. Carried (Councillor Lococo Opposed) 5.5. At 6:53 PM, Tiffany Clark requested a 15 minute recess to gather updated budget information in reference to Item #5.5 on the agenda. Mayor Diodati announced we would take a recess and readjourn at 7:10pm. Council readjourned at 7:13pm. CS-2025-02 Mayor's Proposed 2025 Tax Levy Supported Budget Moved by Councillor Mike Strange Seconded by Councillor Tony Baldinelli 1. THAT Council RECEIVE the Mayor's Proposed 2025 Tax Levy Supported Budget with revenues and expenses each totaling $164,148,925 as per attachment as revised. 2. THAT Council APPROVE the use of reserve funding as outlined in attachment 3. 3. THAT Council APPROVE the new staffing requests identified in attachment 5 4. THAT Council APPROVE a 2025 tax levy increase related to operating revenues and expenditures of$3,580,031 (3.9%). 5. THAT Council APPROVE a 2025 tax levy increase related to capital of $910,256 (1.0%) AND that Council APPROVE a capital budget amendment of$900,000 to increase the Rural Surface Treatment Program from $750,000 to $1,650,000 as identified in the amended Capital Budget Worksheet in attachment 6. 6. THAT Council APPROVE the 2025 net tax levy of$95,515,912. Should Council be satisfied all possible amendments have been considered: 7. That Council shorten the 30 day review period, allowed under the Strong Mayors Act, by 24 days, such that the review period ends on January 21, 2025. If no amendments have been made and recommendation #7 has been approved to shorten the review period, then the budget will be deemed adopted (i.e. approved) as of January 21, 2025 If amendmentshave been made, Staff request that the Mavorplease consider recommendation #8 (if no amendments, recommendation #7 is not applicable). See below. Carried (Councillor Lococo opposed). Referencing recommendation #8: 1. Should the Mayor be satisfied that he will not exercise his veto rights to Council's amendments: 2. 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 21, 2025, thereby allowing the Mayor's Proposed 2025 Tax Levy Supported Budget to be deemed adopted on January 21, 2025. Mayor Diodati announced that he would sign the written documentation to confirm that he would not be exercising his power to veto the 2025 Tax Levy Supported Budget. Moved by Councillor Mona Patel Seconded by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg THAT Council waive the Notice of Motion requirements within the Procedural By-law to allow for an immediate motion, being; THAT Council send a resolution to the Province, in particular Paul Calandra, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for the Province of Ontario, for a full review of the Governance Model and the provincial committee overseeing the study on regional governance in Niagara, in hopes of stopping the duplication of services by lowering the number of politicians and staff currently working in all of Niagara for long-term fiscal sustainability AND to report back to the City of Niagara Falls with any findings, and; THAT this motion be sent to the Niagara area Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) and local area municipalities in the Niagara Region. Carried Unanimously 6. COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS OF THE CITY CLERK 6.1 Memo -to Chair and Members of the Library Board - 2025 Capital Budget Attached is a memo to the Niagara Falls Library Board regarding a revised version of their 2025 Capital Budget. Recommendation: THAT Council APPROVE the Niagara Falls Public Library's Capital Budget. 6.2. Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Attached is a memo from the Director of Finance, Tiffany Clark, to Members of Council regarding the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub's Financial Information. Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange THAT Council approve items #6.1 & #6.2. Carried Unanimously Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange THAT Council waive the procedural by-law to allow for an additional motion AND THAT Council grant a leave of absence for Councillor Wayne Campbell for medical reasons. Carried Unanimously Coucillor Lococo asked to put it on record that she was opposed to the budget for the reason of wanting the budget sustained or reduced. She also stated that she encourages Councillors to come up with ideas throughout the year and not just at budget time, about how we can reduce and enhance services and come up with more revenue. 7. RATIFICATION OF IN-CAMERA Nothing to ratify. 8. BY-LAWS 2025- A by-law to adopt, ratify and confirm the actions of the City Council at its 012. meeting held on the 21st day of January, 2025. Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange THAT the by-law be read a first, second and third time passed. Carried Unanimously 9. ADJOURNMENT 9.1 Adjournment Moved by Councillor Mike Strange Seconded by Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg THAT Council ADJOURN the meeting at 7:40 PM. Carried Unanimously t6 ‘7)/ L" v`" `' Mayor �C- ity Clerk