February 6, 2023

Confirmation of Agenda

Council confirmed the agenda for the February 6, 2023 meeting, approving all items listed for discussion including any additional information and new business that was added.

WITH RESPECT to the February 6, 2023 City Council, we recommend that the agenda as printed, including any additional information and new business, be confirmed.

Council voted to reduce the Thunder Bay Police Services Board's 2023 budget by $25,000 as part of the overall budget approval process.

WITH RESPECT to Report 1/2023 (Corporate Services and Long Term Care - Financial Services) 2023 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget we recommend that the Thunder Bay Police Services Board budget be decreased by $25,000. Deferral Resolution – Amendment to Budget - Thunder Bay Police Services Board

Council postponed discussion of the Thunder Bay Police Services Board Budget to a later point in the meeting.

WITH RESPECT to the Thunder Bay Police Services Board Budget, we recommend to defer this item to later in the agenda.

Council directed administration to find $1 million in budget cuts to match a one-time withdrawal from the Vested Property Reserve Fund. A report with these reduction proposals must be presented by December 18, 2023.

WITH RESPECT to Report 1/2023 (Corporate Services and Long Term Care - Financial Services) 2023 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget we recommend that Administration be directed to report back to City Council on or before December 18, 2023 with reductions in the amount of $1,000,000 to equal the one-time allocation from the Vested Property Reserve Fund.

Jumbo Gardens Community Centre Closure - Item 13 - Schedule C

Council approved closing the Jumbo Gardens Community Centre at the end of May, with $10,000 allocated for the closure process.

WITH RESPECT to Report 1/2023 (Corporate Services & Long Term Care - Financial Services) 2023 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget we recommend that Item 13 on Schedule C "Close Jumbo Gardens Community Centre at end of May" of $10,000 be approved. Amendment - Jumbo Gardens Community Centre - Item 13 - Schedule C

Council voted to delay the closure of Jumbo Gardens Community Centre from May to December, giving the facility several additional months of operation before it shuts down.

WITH RESPECT to the Jumbo Gardens Community Centre closure, we recommend that the date be changed from May to December.

Council approved $10,000 in the 2023 budget to close Jumbo Gardens Community Centre by the end of December.

WITH RESPECT to Report 1/2023 (Corporate Services & Long Term Care - Financial Services) 2023 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget we recommend that Item 13 on Schedule C "Close Jumbo Gardens Community Centre at end of December" of $10,000 be approved.

Revote - Leaf & Yard Waste - Item 15 - Schedule D

Council approved deferring additional leaf and yard waste pickup services until 2024 instead of expanding the program this year, saving $80,000 in the 2023 budget.

WITH RESPECT to Report 1/2023 (Corporate Services & Long Term Care - Financial Services) 2023 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget we recommend that Item 15 on Schedule D "Defer Both Additional Leaf and Yard Waste Pick Ups Until 2024 with No Program Expansion" of $80,000 be approved.

Additional Reductions - Early Closure of Pools

Council approved closing indoor pools one hour earlier to save money. Canada Games Complex will save $10,395, while Volunteer Pool and Churchill Pool combined will save $17,700. The two locations were voted on separately, and Councillor Foulds did not vote on the Canada Games Complex item due to a conflict of interest.

WITH RESPECT to Item 6 on Schedule C, we recommend that reduced hours at indoor pools be approved to close one hour earlier,  Canada Games Complex - $10,395 (.2 FTEs)  Volunteer Pool and Churchill Pool - $17,700 (.4 FTEs). It was requested that Canada Games Complex and Volunteer Pool/Churchill Pool be voted on separately. Additional Reductions – Early Closure of Pools - Canada Games Complex Councillor Andrew Foulds declared a conflict and refrained from discussing and voting on the resolution relative to the Canada Games Complex.

Council approved reducing hours at the Canada Games Complex indoor pools to close earlier, saving approximately $10,395 annually by reducing staffing by 0.2 full-time positions.

WITH RESPECT to Item 6 on Schedule C, we recommend that reduced hours at indoor pools be approved to close earlier:  Canada Games Complex - $10,395 (.2 FTEs)

Council approved reduced operating hours at Volunteer Pool and Churchill Pool to close earlier, saving $17,700 annually and eliminating 0.4 full-time positions.

WITH RESPECT to Item 6 on Schedule C, we recommend that reduced hours at indoor pools be approved to close earlier:  Volunteer Pool and Churchill Pool - $17,700 (. 4 FTEs).

Amendment to Budget - Thunder Bay Police Services Board

Council voted to reduce the Thunder Bay Police Services Board's 2023 budget by $25,000. This cuts funding from the police department's overall operating and capital budget.

WITH RESPECT to Report 1/2023 (Corporate Services and Long Term Care - Financial Services) 2023 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget we recommend that the Thunder Bay Police Services Board budget be decreased by $25,000. Amendment – Thunder Bay Police Services Board

Council increased the budget cut to the Police Services Board honorarium from $25,000 to $44,000, leaving a total honorarium budget of $31,000. The Police Services Board will decide how to distribute this amount among its members and chair.

WITH RESPECT to the Thunder Bay Police Services Board honorarium budget, we recommend that the reduction be changed from $25,000 to $44,000, which provides a total budget of $31,000

• the Thunder Bay Police Services Board determine the level of honorarium per member and per chair.

Council cut the Thunder Bay Police Services Board's honorarium budget by $44,000, bringing it down to $31,000 total. The board will now decide how to distribute this money among its members and chair.

WITH RESPECT to Report 1/2023 (Corporate Services and Long Term Care - Financial Services) 2023 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget we recommend that the Thunder Bay Police Services Board honorarium budget be decreased by $44,000 which provides a total budget of $31,000

• the Thunder Bay Police Services Board determine the level of honorarium per board member and per board Chair.

Operating & Capital Budget Report 1/2023 Amended Resolution

Council approved Thunder Bay's 2023 operating and capital budgets totaling $346.4 million in general municipal spending, plus budgets for water, wastewater, waste management, and marinas. The motion also approved numerous user fee increases averaging 3-5% across city services including transit, recreation, parking, utilities, and long-term care.

WITH RESPECT to Report R 1/2023 (Corporate Services and Long Term Care - Financial Services), we recommend that the proposed 2023 Operating and Capital budgets for tax and rate supported operations be approved as outlined in this report

• the 2023 General Municipal Tax Supported Operating Budget be approved at $346,401,200 gross and $255,661,800 net
• the following Business Improvement Area levies be approved: 1. Waterfront District B.I.A. $ 106,500 2. Victoria Avenue B.I.A. $ 57,500
• the 2023 General Municipal Tax Supported Capital Budget be approved at $66,944,700 gross with financing as follows: Capital Financed by the Tax Levy (before EIRP and Debenture) 22,161,900 Enhanced Infrastructure Renewal Program (EIRP) 8,107,400 Less Debenture Debt (12,004,400) Net Capital Financed by the Tax Levy $18,264,900 Debenture Debt (Annual) $7,284,400 Debenture Debt (Special – Victoriaville Phase I) $4,720,000 Reserve & Reserve Funds: Fire Training Centre 55,000 Capital General 600,000 Capital Transit 320,000 Corporate Information Technology 3,204,000 Clean Green and Beautiful 220,000 Corporate Energy Innovation 45,000 Dedicated Gas Tax (Obligatory) 1,298,315 EMS Vehicle & Equipment 860,400 Fire Equipment 55,250 Fuel Farm 60,000 Municipal Accommodation Tax 700,200 Canada Community Building Fund (Obligatory) 7,438,600 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) 10,000,000 Recreation Trails 39,500 Whalen Building 280,000 $25,176,265 Subsidy: Disaster Mitigation & Adaptation Funding 568,000 Federal Grants – Green and Inclusive Community Building (GICB) Program 3,047,520 FedNor Grant 1,000,000 Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) 4,208,077 Provincial Grants – Miscellaneous 483,150 $9,306,747 Other Sources: Capital carry forward 32,000 Loan to Parking 441,000 Recoveries and fees 1,664,400 Other 54,988 $2,192,388 Total 2023 Gross Tax Supported Capital Budget $66,944,700 AND THAT contributions to Capital reserve funds be approved at $12,356,000
• contributions to Obligatory Capital Reserve Funds be approved at $17,142,300
• the 2023 Solid Waste (Landfill Operations) Operating Budget be approved at $3,375,000 gross expenditure and $322,700 net income, with a contribution to the Landfill reserve fund to result in $0 net profit
• the 2023 Solid Waste (Landfill Operations) Capital Budget be approved at $1,824,400 gross, with the Landfill reserve fund as the source of financing
• the 2023 Wastewater Operating Budget be approved at $17,359,700 gross expenditure and $4,466,100 net income, with a contribution to the Sewer Rate reserve fund to result in $0 net profit
• the 2023 Wastewater Capital Budget be approved at $11,243,600 gross, with financing from the Sewer Rate reserve fund ($6,555,600), debenture debt ($3,000,000), Disaster Mitigation & Adaptation grant funding ($742,000), third party contributions ($646,000) and transfer from the Land Development Account ($300,000)
• the 2023 Waterworks Operating Budget be approved at $21,416,500 gross expenditure and $7,746,500 net income, with a contribution to the Waterworks reserve fund to result in $0 net profit
• the 2023 Waterworks Capital Budget be approved at $11,482,300 gross, with financing from the Waterworks reserve fund ($7,282,300) and debenture debt ($4,200,000)
• the 2023 Prince Arthur’s Landing – Boater Services Operating Budget be approved at $373,900 gross expenditure and $140,300 net income, with a contribution to the Marina (Boater Services) reserve fund to result in $0 net profit
• the 2023 Prince Arthur’s Landing – Boater Services Capital Budget be approved at $60,000 gross, with financing from the Marina (Boater Services) reserve fund ($60,000)
• the following User Fee increases and new fees be approved; 1. City Solicitor & Corporate Counsel – 3% increase to registration of subdivision and condominiums 2. City Solicitor & Corporate Counsel – registrations increase of 5.1% 3. City Solicitor & Corporate Counsel – 3% increase in legal fee deposits 4. Office of the City Clerk - $25 increase to marriage licence; 5. Child Care – 5.0% increase in fees for children not eligible for Canada Wide Early and Child Care (CWELLC) program; 6. Transit – on average 3% increase in transit user fees; 7. Recreation & Culture – various user fee changes on average 3.0% increase; 8. Recreation & Culture – various new user fees such as one month rates for aquatics, various types of swimming lessons, fitness and annual membership fees; 9. Recreation & Culture – various new fees related to Live on the Waterfront; 10. Recreation & Culture – various new art class fees; 11. Revenue – new master card reversal fee; 12. Long Term Care and Senior Services – Jasper Place single & double tenant fees – per day to increase 2.6%; 13. Long Term Care and Senior Services – fees for extra tenant meals (per meal) to increase 1.6% and guest meals (per meal) to increase 1.5%; 14. Engineering – various new user fees for Engineering Administration; 15. Parks – various user fee changes on average 5.0% increase; 16. Parks – various new user fees related to water connection fees, docking fees, seasonal applications Administration fees, golf cancellation fees, shared options for golf cart seasonal passes; 17. Solid Waste – multi-residential and commercial pickup fees to increase by $0.50 per pickup; 18. Solid Waste – tonnage charge for loads over 120kg to increase by 3% from $84.09 to $86.61/tonne; 19. Solid Waste – other user fee changes including dumping charges (excluding passenger vehicles), non-residential user pay schedule (per trip), special commodities over 200kg and minimum charge and weight certificate for vehicle for waste requiring pit handling increased by approximately 3% on average; 20. Solid Waste – new minimum charge fees, plus general dumping fee rate for both asbestos and international waste disposal; 21. Parking Authority – parkade monthly rates will increase from $65.00/month to $67.50/month; 22. Parking Authority – surface lots monthly rate increase from $53.00/month to $55.00/month; 23. Parking Authority – maximum daily rate at parkade increased from $6.50/day to $7.00/day; 24. Parking Authority – new minimum daily user fee of $2.50 at parkades for first two hours; 25. Waterworks fixed and volumetric charges to increase by 3.0% effective April 1, 2023; 26. Other Waterworks charges related to consumption and services to be increased by 3.0% effective April 1, 2023; 27. Wastewater surcharge to remain at 90% of water fixed and volumetric charges; 28. Prince Arthur’s Landing – boater services fees to increase by 5% on average effective April 1, 2023
• any necessary By-laws be presented to Council for ratification including By- laws related to user fee changes.

Ratifying Resolution

Council approved two ratifying resolutions: one related to a government funding announcement and one appointing a member to the Thunder Bay Police Services Board.

THAT the following ratifying resolutions be introduced, read, dealt with individually: 1. Report 2023CLS.006 - Funding Announcement – Government of Canada 2. Board Appointment - Thunder Bay Police Services Board