May 19/04 Report (no tape)
Scheduled 1:30 (actual start time 1:50) - 4:40pm

Committee members present :

• DiIanni
• Collins
• Ferguson
• Kelly
• Merulla

Absent: Jackson

Also present :

• Braden
• Pearson
• Whitehead
• Mitchell
• Horwath

Staff present :

• Peace, Acting City Manager;
• Rinaldo, General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services;
• J. Priel, General Manager, Social and Public Health Services;
• C. Graham, General Manager, Human Resources;
• L. Coveyduck, General Manager, Planning and Development;
• J. Kay, Acting General Manager, Emergency Services,
• Mario Joanette (Mayor's office),
• Kevin

Press present :

• Spectator (Chinta Puxley), CHML, CH TV (camera and reporter)

CHANGES TO THE AGENDA

• Item 6.2 a scheduled presentation by Mr. Fred Deys of HECFI was cancelled.
• Ferguson - motion Item 10.1 -establishment of a HECFI Implementation Committee.
• Added Private and Confidential Personnel Matter introduced as Item 13.1.

PUBLIC HEARINGS/DELEGATIONS

"6.1A" Implications for Hamilton: 2004 Province of Ontario Budget

This 'addition' was in response to a spontaneous request by the councillors, as the Ontario budget had just been released. The presentation and discussion by Joe Rinaldo touched on:

- Gas Tax monies ($ for Hamilton still unknown-depends on formula used -population or ridership, or combo of both. Some monies to arrive as early as October);

- Public Health (back to 75% = $6M addition);

- Capital improvements and Infrastructure (not much change);

- Income Support Payments, Lodging, ODSP and Shelters ($1.3M);

- Community Reinvestment Fund adjustment ("argued to give more"),

- AMO (will give notice before changing policy);

- MPAC (1. The assessment cycle - date - is changing from June 30 to Jan 1 st meaning no reassessment now till Jan 06. 2. Assessment averaging, which was to be over previous 3 years, has been cancelled);

- Tax classes (introducing legislation to allow graduated commercial/industrial tax rates, allowing sub-classes);

- Construction (new program - phasing out old program - which Rinaldo said was an "administrative nightmare");

- Fleet (new monies across the province for this);

- GO Transit (Lots of discussion and questions about this - Discussion as to whether there's enough 'GO' monies coming from Development Charges - $34 old amount - and confusion as to whether Hamilton and Toronto 'pays' or is exempt. conclusion: to invite General Manager of Go Transit to a future Public Works, Infrastructure and Environment Committee to address issues affecting Go Transit to and from Hamilton including costs - DiIanni's suggestion, as he's heard all their arguments and wants a particular GO contact - 'Gary' - to come and explain. He feels that the need to 'have the figures in front of them' before discussing further.);

- GTA Pooling and Social Services Inequity in Hamilton : No change mentioned in budget. The 19.5 million expected from Provincial Government - how to be disbursed - request clarification from the Province. Impact on current and capital budget. Lots of discussion re: need for timely commitment from the Province re sustained mechanism for funding of social services. Rinaldo says he's met with the Province on this and they promised that this will be addressed after the Provincial Budget. DiIanni said that a Minister has told him that there "is a commitment to enhance the strength of our budgets going forward." Kelly : "put the government's feet to the fire on this." Collins was concerned that Hamilton won't know details of ongoing funding commitments for this in time for the next budget round and tried to extract a promise from the Mayor that they would have the details 'prior to a certain date'. DiIanni responded: "Yes." (emphatically) to this.

6.1 Presentation: Canadian Federation of Independent Business respecting performance of local governments and areas of infrastructure:
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
Strategic-Planning-Budgets/2004/May19/
Item%206.1%20-%20Presentation.pdf

The presentation was by Judith Andrews and Jim Bennett, Canadian Federation of Independent Business respecting performance of local governments and areas of infrastructure. The delegation provided an overview of the results of a survey conducted of small business which addressed issues such as: tax burden of Canadians, taxing powers of local governments, priority tax reductions, views on municipal issues. Somewhat of a complaint directed at the City. Not much discussion in response. Ferguson , who is a member of CFIB, commented on a questionnaire that was sent to him by CFIB. "It bothered me that the interview process starts off on negative.the questionnaire's leading". From CFIB he wants "solutions, not problems". Whitehead says he doesn't agree with all of CFIB's philosophy and makes the comment that it's interesting that Council gets many presentations by business (Chamber of Commerce), unions etc, but not many from residents, and wanted remind folks of the lower ability to pay in Hamilton and the average income ($32,000).

PRESENTATIONS

7.1 Requests for Access to Information under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FCS04069):
Staff report:

http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports
/ Strategic-Planning-Budgets/
2004/May19/
FCS04069%20Freedom%20of%20Information
%20Process.pdf. A presentation was made by Salter Hayden (man), a new deputy clerk, although the report was prepared by Charlene Touzel, Co-ordinator of Elections and Freedom of Information.

Discussion: Merulla : Budgetary items - not public? Staff (woman - Charlene Touzel?): "Harms" in giving out certain information.follow legislation. Discussion of Merulla's FoI request re: the Water/Sewage costs and the need for Councillors to use the FoI instead of just getting information from staff as requested. DiIanni: "finds it strange.not forthcoming." Merulla: This is what he's "trying to expose."

Motion : (Ferguson/Collins)

1. That Section 8(c) of Report 01-36 of the Committee of the Whole for 2001 adopted by City Council on November 27, 2001, http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/archives/
   committee-of-the-whole/2001/nov21/Report%2001-036.pdf
   which delegates the powers and duties under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, be amended to delete reference to the Committee of the Whole and read as follows: "8. (c) That pursuant to Section 49(1) of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the powers and duties under the said Act be delegated to the City Clerk, the Deputy City Clerk/Manager of Elections, the Co-Ordinator of Elections and Freedom of Information and the Access and Privacy Officers for the City of Hamilton, subject to the condition that the City Clerk shall refer any request for access to a record to the Corporate Administration Committee for consideration and decision where he/she is of the opinion that a decision to grant or to refuse the request could have significant consequences for the interests of the Municipal Corporation."
   
   
2. That the City Clerk provide quarterly reports to the Corporate Administration Committee on the number of formal FOI requests received, the information requested, and the status and disposition of the requests.

CARRIED.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

8.1 Hamilton Future Fund March 31, 2004 Investment Update
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
Strategic-Planning-Budgets/2004/May19/FCS04068%20Hamilton%20
Future%20Fund%20Mar%2031%202004%20Investment
%20Update.pdf

Recommendation : That Report FCS04068 "Hamilton Future Fund March 31, 2004, Investment Update", be received for information.
CARRIED

MOTIONS

10.1 HECFI Implementation Committee
Motion: (Ferguson/Merulla)

(a) That the Strategic Planning and Budgets Committee receive the Final Report as submitted by KMPG respecting HECFI Operations;

(b) That an Implementation Committee be established to oversee the recruitment of members to a new HECFI Board and to oversee the HECFI Transition process.

(c) That the Implementation Committee be composed of the following: Andrew Skrypniak ,Bill Tidball, Mayor Larry DiIanni or designate, Councillors Chad Collins, Bill Kelly, Murray Ferguson, Terry Whitehead, Dave Mitchell Guy Paparella and other staff as required.

(d) That the Implementation Committee report back to the SP&B Committee by July 14, 2004.

CARRIED.

The Committee moved In Camera to deliberate a personnel matter at 3:50 and reconvened at 4:35.

Motion : (Ferguson/Kelly)
That Mr. Glen Peace be appointed City Manager for the City of Hamilton subject to a mutually agreed upon contract being entered into and reported back on to the Strategic Planning and Budgets Committee.

CARRIED.

Committee adjourned at 4:40 p.m.