11/28/2023Niagara MINUTES
,alts Special City Council Meeting
✓ CANADA
3:00 PM - Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Council Chambers/Zoom App.
The Special City Council Meeting of the City of Niagara Falls was called to order on Tuesday,
November 28, 2023, at 3:10 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members
present:
PRESENT: Mayor Jim Diodati, Councillor Tony Baldinelli, Councillor Lori Lococo,
Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg, Councillor Mona Patel, Councillor
Victor Pietrangelo, Councillor Mike Strange, Councillor Wayne Thomson
(All present in Chambers)
Councillor Wayne Campbell (present via Zoom)
STAFF Jason Burgess, Bill Matson, James Dowling, Tiffany Clark, Paul Brown
PRESENT: (present for #5.2), Erik Nickel, Chief Jo Zambito, Nidhi Punyarthi, Kathy
Moldenhauer, Shelley Darlington, Margaret Corbett (present in
Chambers).
Kira Dolch, Kent Schachowskoj, Andrew Bryce (present via Zoom).
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 3:10 PM.
2. DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None to report.
3. MAYOR'S REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
a) Mayor Jim Diodati provided an update of the following recent events:
Grey Cup Sports Tourism Summit with Minister Lumsden [photo]
CFL Awards Presentation [photo]
-Also attended by Councillors Strange, Patel, Baldinelli
CFL Grey Cup Game [photo]
-Also attended by Councillors Patel and Strange
Santa Claus Parade & Christmas Tree Lighting [photo]
-Also attended by Councillors Patel, Nieuwesteeg, Strange, Baldinelli, Lococo
and Pietrangelo
Zonta's 16 Days of Activism for Gender Equality [photo]
-Also attended by Councillor Patel
Wayne Campbell Bridge Housing Building — Sign Unveiling [photo]
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-Honouring Councillor Wayne Campbell
oHelga, Leigh in attendance
-Also attended by Councillors Thomson, Lococo, Nieuwesteeg, Baldinelli,
Patel, Strange and Pietrangelo who came at the very end
Business Happenings—grand openings: [photos for each]
-Falls Best Authentic Chinese & Japanese Cuisine
oAlso attended by Councillors Baldinelli, Patel and Strange
•Fallsview Towns
oAlso attended by Councillors Patel and Nieuwesteeg
-Drummond Medical Centre and Simon's Drug Store
oAlso attended by Nieuwesteeg, Baldinelli and Patel
•Framar
oAlso attended by Nieuwesteeg, Baldinelli and Patel
-Overtime Sports Lounge
oAlso attended by Councillors Baldinelli, Nieuwesteeg, Patel and Thomson
-Cafe Dalbodre
oAlso attended by Councillors Baldinelli, Thomson, Nieuwesteeg, Patel
-Grand Re -Opening of the Nearly New Thrift Store
oAlso attended by Councillor Patel.
Flag Raisings: [photos for each]
-AIDS Awareness Week World AIDS Day and Aboriginal AIDS Awareness
Week
oAlso attended by Councillors Thomson and Patel
-Wrapped in Courage Flag to promote Gender Equality
oAlso attended by Councillors Patel and Nieuwesteeg
b) The next Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at
1:00 PM.
4. APPOINTMENTS
4.1. Appointment Request - City Property Tax Increase
Mohsen Alghazali, resident of the City of Niagara Falls, presented a petition to
Council regarding the most recent property tax increase. Another resident,
Frances Cortese, addressed Council on this same issue and submitted a
petition.
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Tony Baldinelli
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THAT Council receive the presentation by Mohsen Alghazali and Frances
Cortese, both residents of Niagara Falls speaking about their concerns
regarding the most recent property tax increase.
Carried Unanimously (Councillor Campbell was absent from the vote).
5. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
5.1. F-2023-34
Strong Mayors Act - Update to Budget Process
Moved by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
Seconded by Councillor Mike Strange
THAT Council RECEIVES for information report F-2023-34 Strong Mayors Act
- Update to Budget Process.
Carried Unanimously (Councillor Campbell was absent from the vote).
5.2. F-2023-33
Mayor's Proposed Draft 2024 Parking Budget
Tiffany Clark, Director of Finance and Paul Brown, Manager of Parking
Services, presented the 2024 Parking Budget.
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
1. THAT Council makes amendments (if any) to the Mayor's Proposed
Draft 2024 parking budget, by way of resolution, during this Special
Meeting of Council (November 28, 2023); and
2. FURTHER, should Council be satisfied all possible amendments have
been considered, that by way of resolution, Council shorten the 30 day
review period, allowed under the Strong Mayors Act, by 25 days, such
that the review period ends on November 28, 2023.
Carried Unanimously (Councillor Campbell was absent from the vote).
5.3. F-2023-36
2024 City of Niagara Falls Mayor's Proposed Capital Budget
James Dowling, Senior Manager of Capital Accounting, presented the 2024
City of Niagara Falls Mayor's Proposed Capital Budget to Council.
Councillor Lococo requested that Staff provide a different explanation of the
budget increases to the public.
Direction to Staff: That budget increases for households be explained per
$1,000 so residents can multiply that based on their own assessment, in an
effort to provide the public with a better understanding of the property tax
increase.
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Councillor Pietrangelo inquired about debenturing for large capital projects and
was pleased that staff already have a guiding principle in place.
NS &T Rail Trail
The primary objective of this project is to develop a city-wide trail that will link
downtown Niagara Falls with nearby communities, connect parks and open
spaces, and enhance recreation, tourism and active transportation
opportunities across the City.
Councillor Pietrangelo requested an update and asked for staff to provide
recommendations as to how the trail could be funded.
Direction to Staff: That Staff report back to Council in the early New Year,
information pertaining to the pricing for the NS&T Rail Trail for Phase 1 and
Phase 2.
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Ruth -Ann Nieuwesteeg
1. THAT the Mayor's Proposed 2024 Capital Budget report, presentation
and accompanying material BE RECEIVED; and
2. THAT the projects swaps, closures and transfers to/from reserves and
reserve funds, as outlined in Attachment 1, BE APPROVED; and
3. THAT staff BE DIRECTED to report back to Council for formal approval
of debt financing outlined in Attachment 2, once the 2024 Mayor's
Proposed Capital Budget has been deemed adopted; and
4. THAT Council makes amendments (if any) to the 2024 Mayor's
Proposed Capital Budget, by way of resolution, during this Special
Meeting of Council (November 28, 2023); and
5. FURTHER, should Council be satisfied all possible amendments have
been considered, that by way of resolution, Council shorten the 30 day
review period, allowed under the Strong Mayors Act, by 25 days, such
that the review period ends on November 28, 2023.
Carried (Councillor Lococo was opposed and Councillor Campbell was
absent from the vote).
6. BY-LAWS
2023- A by-law to adopt, ratify and confirm the actions of the City Council at its
115. Special meeting held on the 28th day of November, 2023.
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Wayne Thomson
THAT the by-law be read a first, second and third time and passed.
Carried Unanimously (Councillor Campbell was absent from the vote).
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7. ADJOURNMENT
a) Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Victor Pietrangelo
Seconded by Councillor Mona Patel
THAT Council adjourn the meeting at 5:41 PM.
Carried Unanimously (Councillor Campbell was absent from the vote).
—ay -®r
ity Clerk
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