01/31/2023Npg,!aiMINUTES
SpeclCity Council
Meeting
4:00 PM - Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Council Chambers/Zoom App.
The City Council Meeting of the City of Niagara Falls was called to order on Tuesday, January
31, 2023, at 4:15 PM, in the 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
(Present in Chambers)
Councillor Wayne Campbell (Present via Zoom)
STAFF Jason Burgess, Margaret Corbett, Erik Nickel, Andrew Bryce, Tiffany
PRESENT: Clark, Nidhi Punyarthi, Shelley Darlington, Shawn Oatley, Heather
Ruzylo, Michael Stewart, Kathy Moldenhauer, Jo Zambito, Dale Morton
(Present in Chambers)
Serge Felicetti, Trent Dark, Dave Butyniec, Dave Etherington, Kent
Schachowskoj, Mat Bilodeau, Marianne Tikky, Ken Williams, Paul Brown
(Present via Zoom)
1 CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:15PM.
2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
2.1. Council Minutes of January 24, 2023
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Mona Patel
That Council approve the minutes of the January 24, 2023 meeting as
presented.
Carried Unanimously
3. DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
a) Councillor Victor Pietrangelo declared a conflict of interest to item #4.3 -
F2023-10 - Operating Budget. References to Montrose/Biggar Road
reconstruction project. Councillor's family owns land that will be affected.
b) Councillor Lococo declared a conflict of interest to any reference within F-2023-
10 Operating Budget to The Niagara Falls Art Gallery. Councillor Lococo sits
on the board as a resident.
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Mayor Diodati passed over to Councillor Pietrangelo to Chair the meeting at
4:20PM
4. REPORTS
4.1. F-2023-09
2023 Parking Budget
Moved by Councillor Wayne Thomson
Seconded by Councillor Lori Lococo
1. That Council APPROVE removing tiered fines in the Downtown and
Main/Ferry areas estimated to add $7,200 in revenue in 2023, instead
implementing a City wide fine structure and that staff be directed to
report back with necessary amendments to by-laws and Schedule of
Fees.
2. That Council APPROVE a 10% increase in parking fines estimated to
add $34,400 in revenue in 2023 and that staff be directed to report back
with necessary amendments to by-laws and the Schedule of Fees.
3. That Council APPROVE a 10% increase in parking permit fees
estimated to add $8,900 in revenue in 2023 and that staff be directed to
report back with necessary amendments to by-laws and the Schedule of
Fees.
4. That Council APPROVE an increase in the "Summer Flat Rate Parking"
from $10/day to $15-20/day estimated to add $10,000 in revenue in
2023 and that staff be directed to report back with necessary
amendments to by-laws and the Schedule of Fees.
5. That Council APPROVE adding additional on -street parking on
Fallsview Boulevard fronting Casino shops during the off season
estimated to add $14,400 of revenue in 2023.
6. That Council APPROVE extending on -street parking on Victoria Avenue
From Labour Day to May 24 (currently Thanksgiving to May 24 only)
estimated to add $6,000 in revenue in 2023.
7. That Council APPROVE the 2023 proposed parking budget as
presented including any approved amendments from recommendations
1-6.
Carried Unanimously (Councillor Campbell was absent for vote)
4.2. 2023 Operating Budget - PRESENTATION
Tiffany Clark, Director of Finance, presented the 2023 Operating Budget to
Council.
4.3 F-2023-10
2023 Tax Supported Operating Budget
Moved by Councillor Mike Strange
Seconded by Mayor Jim Diodati
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1. That Council APPROVE 2023 funding levels for Boards and Commissions, as
follows:
a. Niagara Falls Illumination Board - $45,978
b. Niagara District Airport Commission Operating - $190,014
c. Niagara District Airport Commission Capital - $130,133
d. Niagara Fall Public Library Board - $5,368,608
2. That Council APPROVE 2023 funding levels for Fee for Service groups, as
follows:
a. Animal Control Services - $556,670
b. Boy's & Girl's Club - $211,149
c. Downtown BIA (Santa Claus Parade & Sparkle Awards) - $22,000
d. Firemen's Park - $31,950
e. Niagara Falls Art Gallery - $28,000
f. Niagara Falls Concert Band - $3,600
g. Niagara Falls Ryerson Innovation Hub - $274,626
3. That Council APPROVE 2023 funding level for St. John Ambulance Water
Patrol totaling $32,900.
4. That Council not APPROVE the closure of the Niagara Falls Lion's outdoor
pool located at 4981 Drummond Rd estimated to reduce expenditures by
$65,000, and continue with its use in 2023.
5. That Council not APPROVE the closure of the EE Mitchelson outdoor pool
located at 3750 Springdale Ave. estimated to reduce expenditures by
$65,000, subject to a report coming back to Council that will detail any
expenditures required to open the pool.
6. That Council APPROVE a reduction in Museum hours at the Battleground and
Willoughby Museum's estimated to reduce expenditures by $10,000.
7. That Council APPROVE staff in increasing dry floor utilization at the Gale
Centre during the summer, estimated to increase revenue by $15,000.
8. That Council APPROVE the reduction of Spooky Award prizes, paid
advertising and transportation by 50% estimated to reduce expenditures by
$3,000.
9. That Council APPROVE staff to work with Nustadia Media and add of 1-2
monitors at Recreation and Culture Facilities to display advertising estimated
to increase revenue by $10,000.
10.That Council APPROVE a reduction in the City's beautification service level to
remove any Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) from the scope, estimated to
reduce expenditures by $20,000.
11.That Council APPROVE a reduction in splash pad hours from 9:OOam to
8:OOpm (11 hours) to 10:30am to 7:30pm (9 hours) estimated to reduce
expenditures by $10,000.
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12.That Council APPROVE the addition of a licence fee to Sidewalk Cafe's in the
amount of $35 per square meter, estimated to increase revenue by $30,000
and the staff be directed to report back with any necessary amendments to
by-laws and the Schedule of Fees.
13.That Council APPROVE the addition of an application fee structure for Special
Event Applications to assist with administrative costs in processing the
application as follows:
a. $100 per application from small events
b. $250 per application for medium events
c. $500 per application for large events
estimated to increase revenue by $10,000 and that staff be directed to report
back with any necessary amendments to by-laws and that Schedule of Fees.
14. That Council APPROVE staff to charge the following fees for Preventable
False Alarms as approved in the 2023 Schedule of Fees, estimated to
increase revenue by $120,000:
a. No charge for the first two alarms, written warning after second alarm
b. $300 for the third alarm
c. $400 for the fourth alarm
d. $800 for the fifth alarm
with the alarms being calculated based on the calendar year commencing
January 1st.
15.That Council acknowledge the approved fees for Training Ground Rentals as
approved in the 2023 Schedule of Fees, estimated to increase revenue by
$30,000.
16. That Council APPROVE a reduction of 50% of the Debt Placeholders Budget
from a levy impact of $668,186 to $334,093.
17.That Council APPROVE a reduction of 50% of the increase in the Fleet
Replacement Reserve contribution from a levy impact of $1,547,601 to
$773,801, reducing the transfer to Capital Special Reserves from $3,449,850
to $2,676,049.
18. That Council APPROVE the hiring of 6 probationary Fire Fighters to backfill
long term leaves of absence and that Council APPROVE a reduction of
$200,000 from the Firefighter Suppression Overtime Budget from $1,700,000
to $1,500,000.
19. That Council APPROVE a 2023 tax levy increase related to operating
revenues and expenditures of $5,854,016.
20. That Council APPROVE a reduction of 50% of the proposed 1`)/0 Special
Capital Levy from $787,254 to $393,627.
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21.That Council APPROVE the additional Special Capital Levy of $393,627as an
addition to the Capital Levy to fund Asset Management initiatives as
mandated by the Province of Ontario.
22.That Council APPROVE the 2023 Tax Supported Operating Budget with a Net
Levy Requirement of $84,973,020 inclusive of the additional Special Capital
Levy.
A recorded vote was requested by Councillor Wayne Thomson.
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 Mayor Jim Diodati
Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange
That Council receive the correspondence for information.
Carried Unanimously (Councillor Campbell was absent for vote)
5. BY-LAWS
2023- A by-law to adopt, ratify and confirm the actions of City Council at its meeting
009. held on the 31st day of January, 2023.
Moved by Mayor Jim Diodati
Seconded by Councillor Wayne Thomson
That the by-laws be read a first, second and third time and passed.
Carried Unanimously
6. ADJOURNMENT
a) Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Mona Patel
Seconded by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
That Council adjourn the meeting at 6:13PM.
Carried Unanimously
ayoror
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City Clerk
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