Miramichi, NB (Canada) meeting

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[2:20] I will now call this special council meeting for April 29th, 25th to order. We'll begin by acknowledging that the city of Marimouschie is situated in Magmahee, the ancestral and on-seated territory of the Magmah people. This territory is covered by the treaties of peace and friendship, first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources, but in fact recognized an ongoing relationship between nations. We are all treaty people.
[2:55] And with that, I will call the meeting to order and ask the clerk to please record the
[3:00] attendance.
[3:02] And I'll note in the recording of the attendance that this is the first official formal meeting
[3:08] for our two new members.
[3:09] So welcome one part time to Councillor Doyle and Councillor Rishardt.
[3:14] Now it's the real deal.
[3:17] So I'll ask for our motions to approve the agenda, please.
[3:21] a Deputy Mayor Quinn, seconded by Councillor Arseneau. On the question, all those in favor?
[3:27] Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Are there any conflicts of interest this evening?
[3:33] Seeing none, we'll move into our agenda, the management reports. The first item is 5A regarding
[3:43] the potential closure of a portion of Howard Street, Deputy Mayor Quinn.
[3:48] Thank you, Your Worship. I would move that Council proceed with option B is set out in management reports ENG-2025-09.
[4:00] Just to clarify, Council, I believe that the letters have been changed to numbers.
[4:05] Oh, I'm sorry.
[4:05] So are you seeking to proceed with option two?
[4:09] Correct. Sorry, I will apologize for that. I'll do it again.
[4:12] The council proceed with option number two, set out and manage to report ENG-2025-09 and I apologize, my bet.
[4:21] Thank you, seconded by Councillor King on the question.
[4:25] That Councillor DiPlacee.
[4:29] I'll be speaking in favor of the motion that Deputy Mayor Quinn had made.
[4:35] I will, I know that the option two had gone through a pretty significant revision from what's been made public.
[4:42] and I'd ask through the chair if Director Bognium could perhaps run through the revisions that were made for the design on keeping the road open.
[4:54] I hope so, other.
[4:57] Through the chair to Councillor Diplizio. Thank you.
[5:00] So in a previous discussion, I was asked to discuss some traffic safety calming measures with our consultant and then also look internally at some of the other options that we've used in the past.
[5:10] if the Howard Street were to remain open with the park.
[5:15] So the options that we received from our consultant, based on the recommendations, which are based on traffic volume counts and a few other things.
[5:24] They understood the set up of the park and what our intent was.
[5:27] So there are two recommendations include reduce the street width from 8 meters to 7 meters between Stanley and Henderson to slow some traffic down.
[5:34] And also to add three raised crosswalks, one being at Stanley, one at Henderson.
[5:38] and then one being in the, I guess, the middle of those two streets, which will provide access from the parking lot into the other side of the park where I do agree with those recommendations in the spirit of public safety, I believe more would be necessary.
[5:53] So there are a few other recommendations on top of that that we have provided, one being reduced to speed from 50 kilometers an hour into 30, similar to a school zone just to add another level of safety.
[6:04] at two speed reduction warning signs, which you do see in school zones.
[6:08] They flash a traffic on coming, just to remind them of the speed changes.
[6:12] And if the speed wouldn't be reduced, I would still recommend to have those up just your
[6:15] mind traffic of a 50 kilometer per hour zone.
[6:19] And then finally, a pedestrian crossing signal in the middle, not for all three race crosswalks,
[6:24] but for the one from the parking lot that accesses the park, which allows another level of safety for
[6:29] anybody looking to get from me this out of the park to have some flashing lights, which is another reminder for vehicles to slow down when people are trying to use that.
[6:37] So those were the five recommendations F this week, which remain open.
[6:44] Thank you for that, just to clarify, in the kind of analysis of that, I think it was 300 cars per day at status quo.
[6:53] Would we suspect there would be kind of reduction in traffic with those changes?
[7:04] Yes, when I initially had the traffic impact statement done, they kept a very conservative
[7:09] approach with the 300 vehicles.
[7:11] I know we counted and they counted and were very similar in our results.
[7:16] Basically, how they explained it to me is when a street is, well, I guess this would
[7:20] be open, but even still with the speed reductions, we'd expect some traffic behavior to avoid
[7:25] the area altogether because they don't want to slow down.
[7:27] So I would suspect that number would drop, in either case whether it was closed or open with some safety measures in place.
[7:37] And that in itself would lay another layer of, there's an assumption there, but another layer of safety with the reduction in traffic as well.
[7:47] Appreciate that.
[7:48] Another element to why I will be supporting this is the, this was one of the first projects like this that I remember going out for a pretty genuine consultation.
[7:58] I credit the staff, I credit the communications department for going through that process, and it was Pulsum, it was educational, and I think through a consultation we have to be considerate to what we heard and what we heard from the community was that the majority from what I perceived wanted to stay open, so I think it's a it's a good result not only for the road and the safety and the risk level being mitigated, but also the consultation process that I think we, you know,
[8:28] I know we want to show a sense of respect and reward the community for engaging respectfully in that process.
[8:35] So I will be supporting the motion as presented.
[8:38] Thank you.
[8:40] Thank you, Councillor, W. Mayor Quinn.
[8:42] Yeah, thank you, Worship.
[8:43] I think by virtue of having made the motion, I'm going to speak obviously in support of.
[8:47] I'm going to say pretty much the same thing as Councillor Boise just said, comfortable with the levels of safety, both those recommended from outside of our building and those from Director Buckingham,
[8:55] be three additions to Councilor Deplacy's point, the assumption that folks will avoid it,
[9:00] so as to not slow down, therefore reducing the traffic and to Councilor Deplacy's point
[9:05] the perfect combination of community engagement and safety measures here, so I will obviously
[9:13] speak in support of option number two as outlined here.
[9:17] And with all the respect to Director Buckingham, a great idea to see, or I appreciate the great
[9:22] is that you do present to us so this is not so as to discourage and keep those coming
[9:27] and we'll deal with them in due course. Thank you.
[9:31] Thank you, Deputy Mayor Councillor King.
[9:35] Oh, just put the light on their Councillor.
[9:42] What's that?
[9:45] You got me all freaked out there. Anyway, I'm in favor of this motion that I can
[10:11] I would have to confer with the traffic engineer on this, they weren't full detail wasn't given in this option, so I would have to give back to you on that.
[10:21] Thank
[10:27] you very much.
[10:31] Matt, why did you take another meter out the side of the road?
[10:37] Through the chair of the Councillor King.
[10:39] So that was one of the recommendations provided by the traffic engineer.
[10:41] That is a method they use when drivers see a road become more narrow.
[10:48] It's a general behavior to slow down.
[10:50] So that's where that option came from.
[10:55] Thanks for the work you did on it.
[10:58] Thank you, Councillor King.
[10:59] Councillor Harris.
[11:02] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
[11:04] Um, I guess first, I guess I just want to go back to the night that this was that we had
[11:10] the, the Southern family, I guess, come in into Council after quite a hoopla, I guess before
[11:16] they spoke.
[11:17] And I just want to thank them for how, uh, how polite and how well you did address Council
[11:21] and, uh, you know, that does go a long ways and, uh, I, you know, from myself to you guys and
[11:27] your family.
[11:28] Thank you for doing that because that, and I think we all kind of needed that after what kind
[11:31] of went on and what the Mary had to put up with.
[11:33] So, I appreciate that.
[11:36] For the Howard Street Closure, I mean, I appreciate the staff
[11:39] bringing the recommendation, they did a great job,
[11:43] did go up for public consultation, you know,
[11:45] that's why I guess Council does go up for public consultation
[11:47] to see what's going to work in their neighborhood.
[11:50] And it wasn't here last week, but did get some updates on
[11:54] what Director Buckham was bringing back
[11:56] and did talk to a father in that area with three kids.
[12:00] and you know it seems that safety is a top priority for everybody and that's a
[12:05] top priority for us around this council so it's something that with the price
[12:09] difference it's nothing really even to concern ourselves with so I will be
[12:13] supporting this motion tonight but my biggest concern I was just to thank the
[12:16] some of the family for how they present themselves at night and I went a long ways
[12:19] with with me around this table. Thank you councillor councillor Arsano thank you
[12:26] I'm actually really appreciated this whole process.
[12:31] Director Buckingham surprised me when he first presented the initial recommendation around
[12:37] the road closure, but I actually enjoyed that process of you looking at it from a different
[12:43] perspective and making us look at it from a different perspective and then getting to engage
[12:48] with people and get their ideas and all of that.
[12:52] So, you know, although I really do enjoy the thought of the road closing and having the kids being able to wander freely, I did hear everybody.
[13:04] Both that night and since. And we'll be supporting as well to keep the road open.
[13:12] Thank you.
[13:14] Thanks, everyone. Not to be labored, I'll speak quickly to you.
[13:17] You know, I do think as the counselors have said, it's a lesson in good process
[13:22] And it has been from a start like I'll remind everyone that the design for the park is based on public consultation
[13:28] It's across from a youth park that was designed by the communities youth. These are the two parks. We're going to be connecting
[13:35] The community the neighborhood which is I mean people will know my neighborhood
[13:40] Councillor Placey's neighbourhood as well, everyone was very polite, genuinely engaged in that seeking information and sharing thoughts respectfully, and ultimately the option that it looks like we're going to be choosing tonight is better for it.
[13:54] There are more safety enhancements I want to note that the safety enhancements or components of this are actually exceeding what was recommended by the outside consultants.
[14:04] It's above and beyond on the safety for busy summer days and boys at busy down there, but also for the rest of the year, the community clearly will continue to have that through fair.
[14:17] So to me, it's a great process and a win-win, and I'm terribly excited to see the improvements this year, and then the splash pad coming to life and the future housing as well, really just completely renewing and transforming this area, which is really close to one of our downtowns too.
[14:32] So it's good for the community. It's good for local businesses. It's good for everyone.
[14:39] Sing nothing further. I'll call the vote. All those in favor? I opposed?
[14:45] Motion carries
[14:47] Next we move to and by the way, there are images of the enhanced option that's been just selected and maybe I'd ask that
[14:55] Director Buckingham can work with Ms. Harding to get those circulated to so the community will now
[15:00] So, what this is going to look like. Next is a motion regarding the asphalt patching program, Councillor Harris. Thank you, Worship. I move the 10.25 as usual, 9.30, ma'am, machine, municipal patching program, be awarded to by construction, pay the limited at a cost of $325 per ton, $325 for hand-laid material, HST included, $245 per ton, $245 for machine-laid material, HST included. Night repairs, if required, in the King George Highway, hand-laid at a cost of $30 per
[15:30] $350 per ton and machine-layed the cost of $300 per ton, HST included.
[15:37] Thank you.
[15:37] I'll look for a second or on the motion, Councillor Summers, on the question, all those in favour?
[15:48] I opposed, motion carries.
[15:51] Next is a motion regarding public work's materials supply and equipment rental rates.
[15:56] Councillor Doyle.
[16:02] move that tender number two five-zero-one-nine-city-of-mare machine municipal patching program be awarded to by construction and paving limited at a cost of $325 per tonne for hand-laid material HST included and $245 per tonne for machine-laid material HST included.
[16:22] it. Night repairs, if required, and King George Highway hand laid at a cost of $350 per
[16:28] ton, and machine laid at a cost of $300 per ton, HST included.
[16:36] Sorry, just being flagged by the click, there was a statement.
[16:38] That was a one-shit, not in what you did, but in.
[16:42] Okay, sorry, do you want me to start all over because I'd like to.
[16:51] I move that 10, 2, 5, 0, 2, 5, materials and equipment for public works department be awarded to the low bidder for the following HST extra.
[17:02] 250 cubic yards, 40 millimeter crushed gravel, North Shore construction, and it cost of $5,937.50.
[17:10] three hundred cubic yards of three quarter and screened stone north shore construction at $7,500 and
[17:17] 2,000 cubic yards of winter sand north shore construction $37,500
[17:22] Excavator brush cutter mulching head Delaway construction Delabay enterprise at $144 per hour
[17:29] Small crawler tractor by construction and paving $105 per hour.
[17:38] Okay. Thank you seconded by Councillor Somers
[17:42] on the question.
[17:45] Oh, Councillor Doe, do you want to speak on the motion? No. No. Okay.
[17:49] All those in favour? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.
[17:56] Now there's another motion. I guess there are three motions here.
[18:02] I know you're implicated
[18:03] in the first motion Councillor Rechar, but I do want to give you a chance to do one, too,
[18:07] if you'd like. I think it's okay that he makes it even though he's referenced. Yeah, so
[18:10] So, would you like to make the motion?
[18:14] Motion, MAN 225, the appointment of the External Board, Commission and
[18:18] Internal Committees, to put forward a motion that the following members of Council will be appointed non-voting city representatives on the organization's listed.
[18:28] Myself on the Mary-Marcee Regional Multicultural Association, Beaverbrook House, Councilor Peggy Doyle, W.S.
[18:38] That's Logan House, also Councillor Peggy Doyle. Potential motion that Mayor Adam Lourgey-
[18:43] Well, that's it, so we'll just do one at a time there, so yeah, so that's gone the question
[18:48] for this one.
[18:51] And this thing, nothing, I'll call the vote, I'll vote. Oh, second or sorry.
[18:56] It's me, it is, it is my, it is my first night also, yes. Second, my Councillor Harris, on
[19:01] the question, I guess just for reference to the public, there are a number of organizations
[19:06] that we appoint Councillors 2 across the community, typically often it goes hand in hand if we make financial contributions to those organizations, they're not voting members and we're renewing and replacing some of our appointees so the new Councillors, like the rest of us, we'll have some of those appointments in the community.
[19:27] Seeing nothing further, I'll call the vote.
[19:29] All those in favor?
[19:30] Aye.
[19:31] Opposed?
[19:31] Motion carries.
[19:33] And, Councillor, if you'd like to do the second motion, now we'll take that.
[19:37] Sure.
[19:38] Is there a potential motion that Mayor Adam Lorton be appointed to?
[19:43] City representative in the Mayor and Machine Transit Commission?
[19:47] Yes.
[19:48] That's great.
[19:49] Thank you.
[19:50] Seconded by Deputy Mayor Quinn, also just a bit of a cleanup because Councillor Summers
[19:54] was shuffled out of that role into another one, but this one fell off the list somehow, so
[19:59] that's why we brought this one forward.
[20:01] Seeing nothing else on the question, all those in favour?
[20:05] Aye.
[20:06] Opposed?
[20:07] Motion carries.
[20:08] And the third motion is regarding our internal standing committees.
[20:13] Councillor, you want to tackle that one too?
[20:15] Complete the set?
[20:16] that? Sure, yeah. So I'll put for a motion for Public Safety and Environment Committee
[20:25] to- Which is actually that for all of the committees, so for all of the committees.
[20:31] That the membership of council's standing committees be as follows.
[20:34] Okay, that the membership of the committee stands as follows. On the Public Safety and Environment
[20:39] Committee, Mayor Adam Lorden, Councillor Brian King, Mr. Chair, Councillor Peggy Doyle
[20:46] as Vice-Chair, Councillor Vierran Eersono, and Councillor Gyrochard, myself, on the Social and Economic Development Standing Committee, Mr. Mayor Adam Lorden,
[20:59] Councillor Ryan Summers as Chair, Councillor Gyrochard, myself as Vice-Chair, Deputy Mayor Patty Quinn, and Councillor Chad DePlaisey.
[21:09] As it comes to the Corporate Services and Planning and Standing Committee, Mr. Mayor Adam
[21:15] Lorton, Councillor Verna-Arsono as Chair, Councillor Jason Harris, Vice Chair, Councillor
[21:21] Ryan Summers, Councillor Peggy Doyle, and for our last committee, the Community Service
[21:29] Standing Committee, Mayor Adam Lorton, Councillor Chad DePlace as Chair, Deputy Mayor Patty Quinn
[21:37] then is vice chair, Councillor Jason Harris, Councillor Branking. So before the motion
[21:42] to prove that. Yes, thank you. I'll look for a seconder.
[21:46] Councillor DePlacey. And on the question, Councillor DePlacey.
[21:52] I just want to thank the two Councillors for reading their first motions and Councillor
[21:56] Rishore for reading all three and I think that's probably the toughest hat trick you've ever
[22:00] scored.
[22:03] There you go.
[22:04] I'll set
[22:08] them up for that one.
[22:10] I'm thinking of having further, I'll call the vote.
[22:12] All those in favour?
[22:13] Aye.
[22:14] Opposed?
[22:15] Motion carries.
[22:19] And now we'll ask for a motion to adjourn this meeting.
[22:22] Please, Councillor Arson, a seconded by Councillor Doyle on the question.
[22:27] All those in favour?
[22:28] Aye.
[22:29] Opposed?
[22:30] Motion carries.
[22:31] So, the special council meeting is adjourned and will immediately call to order at 6.25 p.m.
[22:40] Our council in committee meeting for April 29th, 2025.
[22:43] So we do have a couple of items on the public agenda and then a couple more on the committee
[22:49] of the whole agenda, start by asking the clerk to record the attendance and ask for a motion
[22:54] to approve the agenda.
[22:56] Deputy Mayor Quinn, seconded by Councillor Summers on the question, all those in favor?
[23:04] Aye.
[23:05] Opposed?
[23:06] Motion carries.
[23:07] Are there any conflicts of interest this evening?
[23:10] Seeing none, we'll move into our items.
[23:13] The first is amendments to the City of Mayor Machine Municipal Plan and Zoning By-law.
[23:20] I guess is that over to you, Mr. Mitt.
[23:22] Oh, it's a director McIntyre to tee that one up.
[23:27] Thank you, Mayor Lorton and members of council.
[23:31] In front of you have a manager report, a draft manager report, and I'm seeking if there's
[23:36] any additional information that you require in order to make a decision on this, to begin
[23:42] this process.
[23:43] So as you'll see, we receive correspondence from Justin Forbes, the director of planning
[23:49] for the Greater Mammarishi Regional Service Commission, and in that correspondence the
[23:56] Greater Mammarishi Regional Service Commission requires correspondence from the city of
[24:00] Mammarishi in order to begin any rezoning process they need basically authorization.
[24:06] So this man's report is to request council to begin that process.
[24:12] As you'll see there's eight recommendations, two of them related to our Housing Accelerator
[24:18] fund application which was approved and with course conditions and we need to start the process
[24:24] to see if the initiatives that have been listed there will be adopted by council in order
[24:33] for us to receive future year funding. Two of those initiatives are the four units
[24:39] as a right and the second one is modifications to the regional commercial zone which council
[24:44] Council has already approved, but we have not began the process yet because we are waiting
[24:49] for our half application to be considered. So those are two of the six. The other ones
[24:54] I would consider more housekeeping things and initiatives that will improve, I guess,
[25:02] reduce some red tape as it relates to housing developments in our community. And I'm just
[25:08] seeking if there's any other information that Council may require prior to bringing this
[25:12] back to regular council for a decision.
[25:16] Thanks, Councillor Arseneau.
[25:20] Thank you.
[25:21] Thank you for this.
[25:22] Just for a point of clarity, I guess.
[25:25] So right now those two conditions, we're going to start the process to have the discussions
[25:33] around them and see what direction we want to take for those two plus the other six.
[25:42] Through the chair to Councillor Arseneau, that is correct.
[25:45] Nothing has been done yet.
[25:48] This is the first step in beginning that process, having those discussions, having those
[25:54] public sessions in order to determine whether council wants the two that relate specifically
[25:59] to the half, which is the housing accelerator fund, and then the other six are again are
[26:06] are things that are being recommended by the Affordable Housing Committee that is set up by Council, also by planning services staff, but yes, this is step one.
[26:17] Because there are adjustments to the building by-law, they all require broad public notification, including the housekeeping ones.
[26:26] So the idea is we have to go through the process for the two half items, so let's put everything together
[26:32] So we don't, you know, have to do a whole citywide process again in three months for six cleanup items
[26:37] That's just but you don't we don't have to approve them all or none like we can within the eight as we go through the process
[26:46] Just you know choose to do some and and not others or all or none or or whatever
[26:52] Yeah
[26:54] Councillor Deplacey
[26:56] Just on the half and specifically the four units as of right we don't like with the new federal government coming in we don't anticipate any changes to or we've signed an agreement already and we're bound to it or I just I don't know where you probably yeah, I'll I get
[27:12] to take this one so I mean the federal liberals ran on a platform of keeping the housing accelerator program and enhancing it.
[27:20] So, and we have a contractual legal agreement already signed with them for over $3 million
[27:27] of funding in order to, you know, access that funding.
[27:32] One of the conditions on their end is to do a four as a right zone for service areas
[27:38] of the community.
[27:39] I know other communities across the country have gone through this and we've taken some lessons
[27:44] from how they've done it.
[27:46] so it can actually be done in ways that are minimally disruptive and we already allow three
[27:53] as a right in most areas of the community but that work will be further defined in terms of exactly
[27:59] how we would propose it if the process is initiated because that will be go that will go through
[28:04] the planning services as well as the Affordable Housing Committee will bring back a recommendation
[28:09] for how that should look to the council as part of the process, and for public review as well.
[28:18] So you said that the city signed an agreement already with the city if we did do the four residential units as a right.
[28:28] So what if the community doesn't want it?
[28:33] What if council doesn't want it?
[28:35] We just what we signed an agreement, are we bound to that agreement?
[28:38] Well, it's one of the eight items that we have said we would do an exchange for the money.
[28:46] So how it typically has worked in all the communities is you sign the contract.
[28:51] Then you'll have to go through the by-law review and ultimately, yes, if we decide not
[28:58] to pursue it in any form, then it would be declining to receive the $3 million federal funding.
[29:05] So that means you take the 8 out of 8 or you can take 7 out of 8.
[29:11] You do, you must do some element of all 8 and like we got to choose many of the 8 we built
[29:19] them ourselves which will all come back in detail to the council for review and approval still.
[29:25] But that is one of their hard line conditions. Yeah, so that's why at the manager's recommendation
[29:31] We've got to proceed with this republic by-law process because we won't spend, start spending any money on any of the items until we know that we're committed to this.
[29:44] Because in other communities that have decided against it, they had to give the money back.
[29:48] Okay, so it's possible that you give the money back then.
[29:52] Yeah, we haven't, we have the first year of money already on hand, but we won't spend any.
[30:00] Until we know that work, this is the only one that requires a public process. The rest will just come through council votes. Can I ask one more question? Of course. When you're doing public consultation, is it done here or is it done and say we used to do them when we're doing the municipal plan? It was done at the Kins Center, so more people could be involved and more people could speak on it. Is that what we're planning on doing? Are we doing it here? I don't think it's been defined yet. I give that one to the clerk, but part of this motion,
[30:29] will be to initiate the process, including coming up with the proposed structure of the public engagement.
[30:36] Yeah, and I think that in the past, when we've done these things to your point, if we expect bigger engagement, we will go off-site so that the venue can accommodate.
[30:48] That comes, Laura Sharer.
[30:50] Mr. Mayor, I have a question regarding if the council did decide to give the funds back, and other in some other cities.
[30:59] There was a ruling that, if they opt out of the program that they could be opting out of future funds given by the government.
[31:07] With their size of our community or the population here would be forfitting the option to apply for additional funds in the future.
[31:19] Let someone else speak to this if they want to, but at this point it's a maybe, like right now we'll go through this process and the $3 million of housing accelerator money is directly correlated to the decision that we'll make.
[31:34] Outside of that like additional future like federal provincial infrastructure funding programs are currently in the process of being finalized and that there are elements within those programs.
[31:46] programs that either strongly encourage or require you to have this.
[31:51] So this is another one of those things where now that the federal election dust is settling,
[31:55] like actually both the Liberals and the Conservatives were aligned in different ways,
[32:00] making us do that, and so the final program has not been signed yet.
[32:07] That's going to be the six or seven year Chiff funding program that will allocate
[32:12] state, most of the federal provincial infrastructure money over the next six or seven years, although
[32:18] in that program we may be on the bubble because there was a population threshold that they
[32:25] were considering that you may have to do the four as a right only if you were above, might
[32:30] have been 25,000. So we're kind of on the bubble in that regard, but there's no ink dry on
[32:36] any other programs, but they are heading in that direction. It's clear that federal governments
[32:40] and both of the parties agree that they want to see these types of developer friendly processes put in place so
[32:47] that they don't have to come and rezone for those types of housing developments.
[32:53] Sorry if that's.
[32:57] But I guess tonight it's sort of just here I guess to ask about additional information or to vote to send
[33:06] it up if we would so that we'll vote on it at the next regular special meeting to officially start
[33:11] that process, then there'll be more details brought back to council because there's going
[33:16] to have to be details of some of these six items, including the four as a right, like how
[33:20] are we going to present that, and also then defining what the public process will be and
[33:26] all that will come back to council for a review before it's actually started at Councillor
[33:31] your place.
[33:31] I would make a motion to move it up to the next level of council.
[33:36] Perfect.
[33:36] Thank you, seconded by Councillor Arseneau.
[33:38] On the question, all those in favour?
[33:40] Aye.
[33:42] Opposed?
[33:43] Motion carries.
[33:45] Great.
[33:46] Next is a motion regarding a tender or a ton of motion, but it's an item on a tender for bus purchase.
[33:54] This is probably back over to you, Director McTavish.
[33:56] I would imagine.
[33:58] Yes.
[33:58] Thank you, Mayor Lourden.
[34:00] So again, in front of you have a draft banter report for the results of our tender for our 24 passenger transit vehicle.
[34:09] For the past, this is our 5th tender for these buses, so we received some funding through the integrated bilateral agreement, which is a federal program ministered through the province of Brunswick, which at the time provided us with a 40% of what a 2021 bus cost as you can imagine prices have gone up and everything from groceries to gas and it hasn't buses haven't been left alone either.
[34:38] So when we first started this program, we were estimating the cost of a bus that
[34:43] around $110,000.
[34:44] And as you can see from our tender results in just four years, they've escalated almost
[34:49] to double.
[34:50] So when we increased our budget this year based on the prices last year, and we were still
[34:57] – I was quite shocked when I seen the prices this year, but I do understand there's probably
[35:01] some tariffs that are taking place here too, because some of those parts and components
[35:05] would be shipped from the United States.
[35:09] However, we did reach out to the Regional Development Corporation and
[35:14] our IBA program allows us to receive a maximum of 40% of the eligible costs.
[35:22] And when we did the math and we reached out, they agree that we can
[35:26] access additional funding through the IBA, but the consequence of that will be that
[35:33] And the final year, we may not have a lot of money left for the purchase of that bus if we tap into that but as you'll see in my recommendation, I am recommending that we do that for this year to offset the shortfall in the budget versus the tender price and consider either budgeting more next year or there is another program that we applied for or approved for and I'm just waiting on the details of what we can get that so that we might be able to stack those two.
[36:02] to leave our contribution alone, but receive additional funding from the federal government through the Canadian Public Transit Fund, which again we have been allocated approximately $80,000 a year for the next 10 years under that program, but again it's capped at 40% federal component, but I think we can use one or the other to certainly for our capital needs moving forward.
[36:32] And again, this is here in case there's any additional information that you require to
[36:36] make a decision on this.
[36:38] Yes, so I guess as to be clear, and I'd ask the manager to confirm this, but as a tender
[36:44] item, this will come for a vote, so there's not a matter of sending it up, but it still comes
[36:49] here to ask if there's any additional information that any member of council would like to have.
[36:54] And it comes because it's over the cost.
[36:57] normally they would just go straight to council attendor items.
[37:01] Councillor Harris.
[37:02] Thank you Mayor Lord.
[37:04] Director Gorman, what's the way you want us to go here?
[37:10] Through the Chair to Council Harris, exactly with what Director McTavish is recommending that
[37:16] we're going to pursue the IBA for additional funding and or the other available funding that's
[37:25] through transit buses as well.
[37:27] We'll pursue that first, and if not, we would look at, like I said, there's always a reconciliation
[37:34] at the end of the day with all the capital projects where there's surpluses in some capital
[37:39] projects, and it's usually enough to offset deficit in another capital project.
[37:47] Yeah, I mean, from the chair, there's no additional information I appreciate it, and Director
[37:52] McCabish, I appreciate the approach to, like, while I never liked the idea of dipping in, you
[38:00] It's just delaying the pain in some ways, because we need to keep replacing these buses.
[38:05] The transit's a man as increased, and it's reference in your report.
[38:08] The bridge closure is going to increase demand even more.
[38:12] But knowing that there's another additional fund out there that we could access, it's not
[38:19] necessarily just robbing next year's money, ideally we'll borrow from it and replace it with
[38:25] the additional funds that you've identified.
[38:26] So look forward to seeing this come to Council to vote.
[38:33] No, it's automatic, yeah.
[38:35] Okay, so if no additional information is required then those are the only two public items this evening.
[38:43] So I'll ask for a motion to move to committee the whole.
[38:46] Please, Deputy Mayor Quinn, seconded by Councillor Arseneau on the question, all those in favor.
[38:52] I posed, motion carries, so we will say goodbye to the live stream and move to committee the whole.
[39:20] But you know what? I think almost all of them have been under this year by my count so far, other than this one.