1 00:01:35,534 --> 00:01:39,294 Welcome, everyone. It is Tuesday, January 13, from a special 2 00:01:39,294 --> 00:01:44,374 meeting of the council of municipality estrothroy. Caradock, roll call. 3 00:01:44,374 --> 00:01:48,334 All are present. Are there any declarations of pecuniary? Interest. 4 00:01:54,395 --> 00:01:56,235 Order to approve the agenda. I'm just going to ask 5 00:01:56,235 --> 00:01:59,755 when we get there that we let the police service 6 00:01:59,755 --> 00:02:02,675 present their budget before I speak to ours. Seem to 7 00:02:02,675 --> 00:02:05,115 want to keep the police service sitting around. We'll make 8 00:02:05,115 --> 00:02:13,717 that amendment. Motion to approve the agenda as amended. Deputy 9 00:02:13,717 --> 00:02:17,357 mayor. Seconded by councilor Pam in. All in favor? A 10 00:02:17,357 --> 00:02:21,812 motion carries. Item four, appointment of a chair. I'm actually 11 00:02:21,812 --> 00:02:24,012 not going to do that initially when this went out. 12 00:02:24,012 --> 00:02:27,452 I thought we'd be sitting as the budget committee, but 13 00:02:27,452 --> 00:02:30,052 we're actually. Sitting as a special meet at a council, 14 00:02:30,052 --> 00:02:32,132 so when I do want to speak, I'll. Be going 15 00:02:32,132 --> 00:02:35,769 down there, actually. The deputy mayor will act as chair 16 00:02:35,769 --> 00:02:39,877 for that portion of the meeting. Motion to go into 17 00:02:39,877 --> 00:02:45,417 closed session. Yeah, go ahead. Are we on or off? 18 00:02:45,417 --> 00:02:48,297 We're all in. I just asked for clarification on. That 19 00:02:48,297 --> 00:02:50,617 when you say you're going to come down, is that 20 00:02:50,617 --> 00:02:54,688 just to make a motion? No. You partake in the 21 00:02:54,688 --> 00:02:58,575 conversation? When I can speak from there. You just can't 22 00:02:58,575 --> 00:03:04,626 make the motion from there. Couch. I don't hate to 23 00:03:04,626 --> 00:03:06,586 use the word optics. You should sit down there and. 24 00:03:08,397 --> 00:03:11,317 Support staff. It is my proposed budget, so I just 25 00:03:11,317 --> 00:03:14,557 thought in order for things to move more slowly. Better. 26 00:03:14,557 --> 00:03:17,770 I'll just go sit down there when we present. The 27 00:03:17,770 --> 00:03:20,441 budget. I'm just going to ask for clarification. Yeah, go 28 00:03:20,441 --> 00:03:22,401 ahead. So there's no rule that says I have to 29 00:03:22,401 --> 00:03:28,713 do that. I'm just doing. Better. Yeah, okay, I got 30 00:03:28,713 --> 00:03:31,753 it. Because you're just presenting today. I'm just presenting councilor. 31 00:03:31,753 --> 00:03:34,553 That's why I decide to support and make it easier. 32 00:03:34,553 --> 00:03:38,754 I would do so. Motion to go in a closed 33 00:03:38,754 --> 00:03:42,154 session at 432 for the following what I'd have pursued 34 00:03:42,154 --> 00:03:48,319 is section 239. Two h. For the. Municipal act, as 35 00:03:48,319 --> 00:03:53,599 amended, regarding information explicitly supplied and confidence to the municipality 36 00:03:53,599 --> 00:03:57,106 by another level of government. M one item. Pursuant to 37 00:03:57,106 --> 00:04:00,586 section 239, two B of the act, as amended, regarding 38 00:04:00,586 --> 00:04:05,297 personal matters about identifiable individual. Individuals, including municipal or local 39 00:04:05,297 --> 00:04:09,737 board employees. Motion to go into close. That remedy. Site 40 00:04:09,737 --> 00:04:12,977 client, councilor Hippo, all in favor? That motion carries. Thank 41 00:04:12,977 --> 00:04:13,017 you. 42 00:15:39,654 --> 00:15:47,730 Everyone. Closed session adjourned. At 04:43 p.m. an. Open session. 43 00:15:47,730 --> 00:15:51,570 Resume council met in closed session and considered matters that 44 00:15:51,570 --> 00:15:54,490 it's not going to do so under the municipal act, 45 00:15:54,490 --> 00:15:59,106 and it's listed on tonight's council agenda. During the closed 46 00:15:59,106 --> 00:16:03,950 session. I have a few connections. One item. Regarding information 47 00:16:03,950 --> 00:16:11,430 supplied and competency municipality by another level of government. Direction 48 00:16:11,430 --> 00:16:15,270 was given to staff. One item presumed is section 239, 49 00:16:15,270 --> 00:16:19,390 two B of the act regarding personal matters about identifiable 50 00:16:19,390 --> 00:16:25,842 individual, including municipal employees. Direction was given to staff. Motion 51 00:16:25,842 --> 00:16:31,325 of the direction and closed session be approved. Deputy mayor, 52 00:16:31,325 --> 00:16:37,619 second by councilor pellet. All in favor? Motion carries. We 53 00:16:37,619 --> 00:16:42,896 are now going to recess. For. Until 515 or 05:00. 54 00:16:44,649 --> 00:16:53,889 Till 05:00. Recess until 05:00. All right. He goes pitball. 55 00:16:53,889 --> 00:17:00,643 Second by councilor can. All in favor ocean carriers? Yes. 56 00:31:41,195 --> 00:31:45,235 Welcome back, everyone. We'll now start with the budget presentation. 57 00:31:45,235 --> 00:31:48,755 We're going to start with the 2026 proposed police services 58 00:31:48,755 --> 00:31:58,587 budget. And just a comment. How this process is evolving, 59 00:31:58,587 --> 00:32:04,262 you'll know that. In. The capital portion of the police 60 00:32:04,262 --> 00:32:08,230 service budget. I had recommended not to go ahead. With 61 00:32:08,230 --> 00:32:13,759 the police annex, but yesterday. Few of us received a 62 00:32:13,759 --> 00:32:16,839 memo from the solicitor General, the minister of municipal affairs. 63 00:32:18,844 --> 00:32:20,844 Telling us that under the strong mayor powers that the 64 00:32:20,844 --> 00:32:23,970 mayor has, No business, for lack of a better word. 65 00:32:26,396 --> 00:32:28,956 For fingerprints on the fleet budget. It would be the 66 00:32:28,956 --> 00:32:33,836 normal course of action where council can make their recommendations, 67 00:32:33,836 --> 00:32:37,196 but that came yesterday. But I am seeking clarity on 68 00:32:37,196 --> 00:32:41,836 whether or not it spoke specifically. To operating, remove capital 69 00:32:41,836 --> 00:32:44,316 or both. So the deputy mayor was with me today 70 00:32:44,316 --> 00:32:48,173 when I spoke to the minister. Municipal affairs office. But 71 00:32:48,173 --> 00:32:52,970 again, just to point out how this whole process. Is 72 00:32:52,970 --> 00:32:55,370 kind of learn as you go on the full process. 73 00:32:57,243 --> 00:32:58,803 With that, I'm going to determine. We have Matt Alm. 74 00:32:58,803 --> 00:33:01,823 Do you want to come? Up, Matt. Matt hall, chair 75 00:33:01,823 --> 00:33:05,223 of the police board and chief Campbell and deputy chief 76 00:33:05,223 --> 00:33:08,583 Cushman. If he's needed, but I will turn it over 77 00:33:08,583 --> 00:33:12,103 to you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you. Rest 78 00:33:12,103 --> 00:33:14,383 of council for making the time to have me here 79 00:33:14,383 --> 00:33:16,063 today. This is the first time I've had the opportunity 80 00:33:16,063 --> 00:33:21,496 to speak with everybody. So. I'm just going to go 81 00:33:21,496 --> 00:33:24,056 over a few of the things that led up to 82 00:33:24,056 --> 00:33:26,776 kind of where we are with the budget this year. 83 00:33:26,776 --> 00:33:28,416 Make some comments and then I'll pass. It over to 84 00:33:28,416 --> 00:33:31,336 Chief Campbell, he can kind of do a deeper dive 85 00:33:31,336 --> 00:33:35,295 into the budget. So 2025 was a big year of 86 00:33:35,295 --> 00:33:39,588 growth for Stratford Caradox Police Service. We saw a large 87 00:33:39,588 --> 00:33:43,388 population boom in town, and with that we had necessitated 88 00:33:43,388 --> 00:33:48,805 us doing some hiring. Increase our staffing levels. A requirement 89 00:33:48,805 --> 00:33:51,325 under the Community Safety and Policing act is that the 90 00:33:51,325 --> 00:33:55,485 police board is required to ensure adequate and effective policing. 91 00:33:55,485 --> 00:33:56,685 So one of the ways that we have done that 92 00:33:56,685 --> 00:33:59,365 is to ensure that our staffing levels have kind of 93 00:33:59,365 --> 00:34:02,765 kept up with population growth, and that's what we saw 94 00:34:02,765 --> 00:34:10,558 in 2025. As well. Scps took on 911 services for 95 00:34:10,558 --> 00:34:16,392 middlesex county. Answering any 911 calls outside of Strathroy Caradock 96 00:34:16,392 --> 00:34:24,145 area. Another item. Is the ongoing planning for the expansion 97 00:34:24,145 --> 00:34:29,436 that the mayor mentioned. The board voted on that budget 98 00:34:29,436 --> 00:34:32,436 item in the January board meeting and approved it to 99 00:34:32,436 --> 00:34:35,974 move forward. To council approval. As well. One of the 100 00:34:35,974 --> 00:34:39,274 bigger factors. Leading up to our budget this year was 101 00:34:39,274 --> 00:34:42,194 the new collective agreement was ratified at the end of 102 00:34:42,194 --> 00:34:46,971 last year. A bit of a background on that. The 103 00:34:46,971 --> 00:34:53,659 previous collective agreement. Was from 2021 to 2025. So we 104 00:34:53,659 --> 00:34:58,062 all know 2021 was the beginning of Covid. We had 105 00:34:58,062 --> 00:35:01,422 just ratified a very fair deal for our officers. Modest 106 00:35:01,422 --> 00:35:05,012 increases throughout the year to keep up with inflation. As 107 00:35:05,012 --> 00:35:08,332 soon as Covid kind of ramped up, inflation took off, 108 00:35:08,332 --> 00:35:11,772 led the rising cost for everything. Struthercare police was tied 109 00:35:11,772 --> 00:35:15,052 to our collective agreement. But other services started to see. 110 00:35:15,052 --> 00:35:18,572 Higher increases that they were settling for kind of 2% 111 00:35:18,572 --> 00:35:22,092 more on average per year than what our officers were 112 00:35:22,092 --> 00:35:26,410 seeing. So what that did was last year when we 113 00:35:26,410 --> 00:35:30,130 started looking at comparator groups for our officers is we 114 00:35:30,130 --> 00:35:32,690 found that we were toward one of the, on the 115 00:35:32,690 --> 00:35:37,404 lower end of the provincial average for salaries. So, in 116 00:35:37,404 --> 00:35:40,244 order to ensure that we were remaining competitive and marketable, 117 00:35:42,098 --> 00:35:45,298 For recruitment, we understood that we needed to bring everybody 118 00:35:45,298 --> 00:35:49,378 up to a provincial average. So through the bargaining process. 119 00:35:49,378 --> 00:35:53,578 We agreed to a 6% 1st year pay hike just 120 00:35:53,578 --> 00:35:56,818 to get the officers up. And then modest increases out 121 00:35:56,818 --> 00:35:59,618 to that to keep up with inflation. We don't anticipate 122 00:35:59,618 --> 00:36:03,308 any. Further big jumps like that, but this is kind 123 00:36:03,308 --> 00:36:06,100 of a one off year. Where we're seeing that bigger 124 00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:11,525 increase. As well. Along with the increase in wages, there 125 00:36:11,525 --> 00:36:15,630 was an increase. In the benefit package, which led to 126 00:36:15,630 --> 00:36:18,950 increased operating costs. The recognition of mental health planned a 127 00:36:18,950 --> 00:36:23,350 bigger role and there was a corresponding increase in benefits 128 00:36:23,350 --> 00:36:28,618 provided to our officers. I always thought that. An ounce 129 00:36:28,618 --> 00:36:29,898 of prevention is worth the pounded care. So if we 130 00:36:29,898 --> 00:36:32,658 can take care of these problems, beforehand. You can keep 131 00:36:32,658 --> 00:36:35,178 officers on the job. It's better bang for your buck. 132 00:36:36,708 --> 00:36:38,468 That is about it for the kind of the high 133 00:36:38,468 --> 00:36:41,188 level stuff that led to where we are. With the 134 00:36:41,188 --> 00:36:46,165 budget. I will pass it over to the chief. He 135 00:36:46,165 --> 00:36:47,725 can kind of do a deeper dive into the numbers. 136 00:36:49,611 --> 00:36:52,056 And then open it up for questions. At the end. 137 00:36:52,056 --> 00:36:59,674 Thank you. First of all, 138 00:37:02,036 --> 00:37:05,699 Thanks. Jared hall. As I sit in here, my it 139 00:37:05,699 --> 00:37:10,779 director is getting me linked into the sharing my speaking 140 00:37:10,779 --> 00:37:14,888 notes. That will be made available to the rest of 141 00:37:14,888 --> 00:37:19,387 council. While he's doing that, I do have some quick 142 00:37:19,387 --> 00:37:22,602 summaries. I just wanted to sort of provide an opening 143 00:37:22,602 --> 00:37:27,648 sort of comment or statement to counsel. Certainly in regards 144 00:37:27,648 --> 00:37:31,368 to the 2026 budget presentation. So priorities from the office 145 00:37:31,368 --> 00:37:36,081 of the Chief. This is probably my 9th or 10th 146 00:37:36,081 --> 00:37:40,761 budget I've prepared as chief of the police service. Each 147 00:37:40,761 --> 00:37:44,544 and every time. I've tried to hit on being consistent, 148 00:37:44,544 --> 00:37:49,380 transparent. And equitable. We certainly want to operate as a 149 00:37:49,380 --> 00:37:55,020 trusted cooperative partner within the municipal landscape, working to establish 150 00:37:55,020 --> 00:37:59,620 and coordinate effective use of both human and financial resources 151 00:37:59,620 --> 00:38:03,780 that enhance community safety and well being across our municipalities, 152 00:38:03,780 --> 00:38:09,202 our regional borders and provincial landscape. Our community based police 153 00:38:09,202 --> 00:38:11,842 service strives to earn the trust and respect of all 154 00:38:11,842 --> 00:38:16,210 of our community. Members. And visitors alike as we work 155 00:38:16,210 --> 00:38:21,297 towards organizational excellence. In delivering the highest standards through professionalism. 156 00:38:23,009 --> 00:38:27,461 Dedication and empathy. And we are appreciative of the support 157 00:38:27,461 --> 00:38:30,821 and the governance offered by our police services. Board and 158 00:38:30,821 --> 00:38:35,141 the leadership of municipal Council, providing us with the appropriate 159 00:38:35,141 --> 00:38:40,957 resources to meet our ever changing demands. And challenges affecting 160 00:38:40,957 --> 00:38:47,362 community safety, both at the local, provincial, national. And it's 161 00:38:47,362 --> 00:38:50,002 safe to say, even more so now at the international 162 00:38:50,002 --> 00:38:53,803 level. So with that, I'm just going to sort of 163 00:38:53,803 --> 00:38:58,778 embark on. Kind of moving. Through some of my talking 164 00:38:58,778 --> 00:39:03,424 points in regards to this slide here. So with page 165 00:39:03,424 --> 00:39:13,303 two build. An appreciating. That in the last year, both 166 00:39:13,303 --> 00:39:17,484 municipal council and the police services board have undertaken. An 167 00:39:17,484 --> 00:39:21,604 exercise to build out a strong and robust strategic plan. 168 00:39:21,604 --> 00:39:27,220 Certainly our budget presentation. Aligned with the work that. Is 169 00:39:27,220 --> 00:39:31,403 captured in our strategic plan. At the police service, including 170 00:39:31,403 --> 00:39:36,110 alignment to our mission, the vision and the values. We 171 00:39:36,110 --> 00:39:40,959 also have. Some very important strategic pillars about effective stewardship 172 00:39:40,959 --> 00:39:46,918 of assets. Exemplary customer service. Promoting community safety, advancing technology 173 00:39:46,918 --> 00:39:50,731 and innovation. And certainly excellence in our people and our 174 00:39:50,731 --> 00:39:57,312 culture. Along with this, we have an organized. Organizational chart 175 00:39:57,312 --> 00:40:02,039 that represents the 42 uniform members. In 17 civilian members 176 00:40:02,039 --> 00:40:06,077 that make up our organization. In the next page. On 177 00:40:06,077 --> 00:40:08,877 page three, there's a bit of a review of some 178 00:40:08,877 --> 00:40:16,300 of the cost of policing. And this is spanning over 179 00:40:16,300 --> 00:40:21,908 a four year window from 2022 to 2025. In it, 180 00:40:21,908 --> 00:40:25,188 you'll see the revenues that we have worked with, the 181 00:40:25,188 --> 00:40:32,173 expenses that. We have incurred. That are broken down into 182 00:40:32,173 --> 00:40:36,893 various categories, including our general costs associated to our police 183 00:40:36,893 --> 00:40:41,653 services board, administrative cost, uniform costs and our civilian members. 184 00:40:43,309 --> 00:40:46,069 Over the course of the last four years, 2022 to 185 00:40:46,069 --> 00:40:50,789 2025, we have incurred surpluses. In each of those four 186 00:40:50,789 --> 00:40:54,453 years. A lot of that has to do with some 187 00:40:54,453 --> 00:40:59,890 of the increases in revenue that. We have built in 188 00:40:59,890 --> 00:41:04,294 and expanded over those years. Some of the savings on 189 00:41:04,294 --> 00:41:08,374 the expenses. As you can appreciate, a vast majority of 190 00:41:08,374 --> 00:41:11,934 our expenses are related to salaries and benefits and when 191 00:41:11,934 --> 00:41:16,838 we have the absence of members from active duty. Those 192 00:41:16,838 --> 00:41:20,820 are often the biggest areas where. We see an increase 193 00:41:20,820 --> 00:41:27,078 in savings in regards to. Normal or ongoing expenses. In 194 00:41:27,078 --> 00:41:30,278 regards to some of the cost of policing in regards 195 00:41:30,278 --> 00:41:37,455 to capital projects. Again, A four year overview. Of both 196 00:41:37,455 --> 00:41:44,143 the capital revenue and capital. Have occurred. That was me. 197 00:41:44,143 --> 00:41:49,600 Sorry. Again, showing where we landed, or, sorry, landed at 198 00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:57,151 the end of each particular year. This particular year. In 199 00:41:57,151 --> 00:42:04,801 our proposed budget. There are. Some fairly substantial increases. And 200 00:42:04,801 --> 00:42:09,155 again, the board. Chair has certainly highlighted some of those 201 00:42:09,155 --> 00:42:14,846 areas where some of the increases. Occurred. I'd like to 202 00:42:14,846 --> 00:42:18,336 give sort of just a quick review. Of both the 203 00:42:18,336 --> 00:42:22,616 revenue sources and the expense drivers in, particularly for the 204 00:42:22,616 --> 00:42:28,995 2026 year. In the one document that. Is here before 205 00:42:28,995 --> 00:42:33,126 you. See that we have been very aggressive in seeking 206 00:42:33,126 --> 00:42:40,215 grant funding opportunities to help fund. Our operations. Another area 207 00:42:40,215 --> 00:42:43,655 where we experience a fairly substantial increase in revenue within 208 00:42:43,655 --> 00:42:47,702 the provincial offenses. That is really money that is generated 209 00:42:47,702 --> 00:42:56,139 from ticket revenue, which pre Covid. Was. A fairly decent 210 00:42:56,139 --> 00:43:00,419 revenue number. Obviously, through the Covid period, it dropped off 211 00:43:00,419 --> 00:43:04,579 substantially and we're now starting to see that return to 212 00:43:04,579 --> 00:43:10,059 the pre Covid amounts the chair announced or talked about 213 00:43:10,059 --> 00:43:13,059 some of the expansion in our fire, dispatch and 911 214 00:43:13,059 --> 00:43:18,658 services. That has been very effective for our organization. In 215 00:43:18,658 --> 00:43:22,853 creating better levels of service. But. It also has Earth. 216 00:43:22,853 --> 00:43:27,582 The corresponding. Revenue sources that come with it, and we 217 00:43:27,582 --> 00:43:32,406 are always getting inquiries from other areas. About potential interest 218 00:43:32,406 --> 00:43:37,350 in expanding that area. Another area where we've seen or 219 00:43:37,350 --> 00:43:42,150 have recovered wage and salary or, sorry, salary and benefit. 220 00:43:42,150 --> 00:43:46,030 Cost is expanding our college Sakham and program at the 221 00:43:46,030 --> 00:43:49,910 Ontario Police College. We currently have four senior members who 222 00:43:49,910 --> 00:43:54,030 are on to condemns at the college where the police 223 00:43:54,030 --> 00:43:56,834 service is getting full. Cost recovery back on both salaries 224 00:43:56,834 --> 00:44:03,327 and benefits. And again. In 2026. We were successful in 225 00:44:03,327 --> 00:44:08,375 receiving. Ng nine one funding for the 2026 year, which. 226 00:44:10,385 --> 00:44:16,160 In our operating budget. Is actually being divided out. 570,000. 227 00:44:17,921 --> 00:44:23,881 In operational expenses, 832,000 will be incurred in capital expenses. 228 00:44:23,881 --> 00:44:27,401 It was a grant worth 1.4 million that we were 229 00:44:27,401 --> 00:44:31,001 successful in getting some of the expense drivers. I want 230 00:44:31,001 --> 00:44:35,094 to highlight that are in the 2026 budget. Salary increases 231 00:44:35,094 --> 00:44:37,854 tied to the new collective bargaining agreement. Again that the 232 00:44:37,854 --> 00:44:42,495 chair. Has skimmed over and talked about, and that's both 233 00:44:42,495 --> 00:44:46,632 in both our uniform and our civilian members. Another area. 234 00:44:48,429 --> 00:44:53,973 That's impacting expenses is our staffing model. I think it's 235 00:44:53,973 --> 00:44:56,293 not a surprise to most that council that over the 236 00:44:56,293 --> 00:44:58,773 last three to four years, we have gone on a 237 00:44:58,773 --> 00:45:04,579 recruiting campaign, hiring very young, new, inexperienced members. As they 238 00:45:04,579 --> 00:45:10,033 go through various class readjustments. Their salary has small bumps, 239 00:45:10,033 --> 00:45:13,033 and they go. So we're seeing those impacts starting to 240 00:45:13,033 --> 00:45:16,934 arrive. One of the areas in our operating budget this 241 00:45:16,934 --> 00:45:19,614 year where we noticed a big increase was in some 242 00:45:19,614 --> 00:45:22,854 of the benefit costs. There's been a new application of 243 00:45:22,854 --> 00:45:27,934 a new percentage increase that along with some recalculations regarding 244 00:45:27,934 --> 00:45:35,322 WSIB expenses that weren't being calculated. On. A previous. Graph 245 00:45:35,322 --> 00:45:39,082 that we were using have been corrected. And that explains 246 00:45:39,082 --> 00:45:41,762 why there has been some increases in some of those 247 00:45:41,762 --> 00:45:48,243 benefit costs. We've also moved. Or operationalize our axon suite 248 00:45:48,243 --> 00:45:52,415 of products. As we ventured into the use of axon 249 00:45:52,415 --> 00:45:55,375 products, including body war and cameras and in card cameras. 250 00:45:56,968 --> 00:46:00,608 Those were being captured in capital expenses through some discussions. 251 00:46:02,094 --> 00:46:04,454 And ongoing consultation with the director of finance. We have 252 00:46:04,454 --> 00:46:10,258 now operationalized those expenses, moving them into the operational. Budget 253 00:46:10,258 --> 00:46:15,175 areas. There has been obviously a corresponding reduction in capital 254 00:46:15,175 --> 00:46:18,975 cost and capital taxation as those have now been. Moved 255 00:46:18,975 --> 00:46:25,545 into the operations. We've also ventured in 2025. And obviously. 256 00:46:25,982 --> 00:46:30,700 Continuing on in 2026. The return of utilizing our own 257 00:46:30,700 --> 00:46:36,477 IT resources and staff within Strathori cared police service. We 258 00:46:36,477 --> 00:46:40,475 obviously operate a very unique industry. And the demands and 259 00:46:40,475 --> 00:46:48,449 the challenges. And our certainly use of technologies. Has sort 260 00:46:48,449 --> 00:46:53,929 of created an opportunity where we're best utilizing those resources 261 00:46:53,929 --> 00:46:58,764 inside our own organization. We're also into year two of. 262 00:47:00,521 --> 00:47:04,161 Accounting line where we are capturing any of the municipal 263 00:47:04,161 --> 00:47:12,611 administrative services that we are receiving, specifically HR. Activities. That 264 00:47:12,611 --> 00:47:15,411 occur through the director of HR and his team as 265 00:47:15,411 --> 00:47:19,805 they help support the police service. That line appears again 266 00:47:19,805 --> 00:47:25,490 in our operating budget. We've also created. A building debt 267 00:47:25,490 --> 00:47:30,955 repayment expense line in our operating budget. In anticipation of 268 00:47:30,955 --> 00:47:36,097 moving forward with our building annex. And again, I highlighted 269 00:47:36,097 --> 00:47:40,574 that. In our operating budget and capital budget for 2026. 270 00:47:42,252 --> 00:47:46,772 The separation of the NG 9111 grant funding that has 271 00:47:46,772 --> 00:47:50,110 occurred. I also want to sort of just take a 272 00:47:50,110 --> 00:47:54,110 little bit of time to speak to the building. Annex. 273 00:47:56,397 --> 00:48:00,757 Last Thursday at a police services board meeting, we received 274 00:48:00,757 --> 00:48:05,515 the final classity costing that was presented. At that meeting 275 00:48:05,515 --> 00:48:10,671 a motion. Was made and passed by the board that 276 00:48:10,671 --> 00:48:13,791 the board received the Strathary care dock police. Edition and 277 00:48:13,791 --> 00:48:18,631 renovation class a budget report for information and approve it 278 00:48:18,631 --> 00:48:22,647 for presentation to counsel for their approval. I want to 279 00:48:22,647 --> 00:48:25,887 highlight for the council the strong, positive position that the 280 00:48:25,887 --> 00:48:30,612 police service is in. We have over $1 million in 281 00:48:30,612 --> 00:48:37,443 police reserves. We have over $540,000 in development charges, money 282 00:48:37,443 --> 00:48:44,329 that. Is situated and available. To help us. Lessen some 283 00:48:44,329 --> 00:48:48,313 of the impacts in moving forward. On the building annex. 284 00:48:49,769 --> 00:48:54,969 We also have some understanding of the municipal debt structure 285 00:48:54,969 --> 00:48:59,485 and that. There is at current, a fairly low. Municipal 286 00:48:59,485 --> 00:49:03,101 debt ratio. We're also aware that there is a very 287 00:49:03,101 --> 00:49:07,621 attractive interest rate opportunity that presents itself for moving into 288 00:49:07,621 --> 00:49:12,409 the space of. Taking on additional debt. And we're also 289 00:49:12,409 --> 00:49:16,071 very aware that there is a favorable building market. That 290 00:49:16,071 --> 00:49:20,481 exists currently. Meaning there is really a low supply of 291 00:49:20,481 --> 00:49:24,451 projects. And a heightened interest in general contractors looking for 292 00:49:24,451 --> 00:49:27,891 projects. And that was made very clear last Thursday. During 293 00:49:27,891 --> 00:49:31,811 the presentation by Mr. Holt of Alink, who has been 294 00:49:31,811 --> 00:49:36,171 doing through his company a lot. Of work in prepping 295 00:49:36,171 --> 00:49:39,583 us. For getting to the stage where the building annex. 296 00:49:41,089 --> 00:49:48,341 Has the class a costing completed. Currently. The service. Has 297 00:49:48,341 --> 00:49:52,901 invested and paid for well over $200,000 in regards to. 298 00:49:54,497 --> 00:49:58,299 Money to get us to this stage. Of the costing. 299 00:50:00,320 --> 00:50:04,640 The demands for the facility annexation have not gone away, 300 00:50:04,640 --> 00:50:07,800 and I think it's important to maybe highlight for council 301 00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:11,520 and the community some of what those demands were our 302 00:50:11,520 --> 00:50:17,592 staffing, capacity growth not only in additional members. Challenges in 303 00:50:17,592 --> 00:50:21,032 spacing in regarding to work areas, change rooms, and certainly 304 00:50:21,032 --> 00:50:26,724 some of the parking limitations. We have. Operational readiness. Wintertime. 305 00:50:28,976 --> 00:50:33,376 Often brings about challenges we have with weather or inclement 306 00:50:33,376 --> 00:50:38,176 weather that challenges some of our operational readiness to respond 307 00:50:38,176 --> 00:50:42,896 to calls, an onsite training spaces. Currently, we do a 308 00:50:42,896 --> 00:50:45,856 lot of off site training where some of our members 309 00:50:45,856 --> 00:50:49,340 sometimes are taken outside of our community, just so. That 310 00:50:49,340 --> 00:50:50,860 they are able to complete some of the onsite train. 311 00:50:52,765 --> 00:50:56,845 Operational effectiveness. Our 911 center is a very limited space 312 00:50:56,845 --> 00:50:59,805 currently, and as we continue to take on more and 313 00:50:59,805 --> 00:51:04,509 more. Opportunities to provide services. It is a busy center 314 00:51:04,509 --> 00:51:09,106 in a very confined space. Additional to that is some 315 00:51:09,106 --> 00:51:12,826 of the challenges we have with our indoor it space 316 00:51:12,826 --> 00:51:16,441 just this past year we had. A couple of outages 317 00:51:16,441 --> 00:51:20,481 regarding overheating in a space as the it closet. As 318 00:51:20,481 --> 00:51:23,721 I like to call it is actually two former closets 319 00:51:23,721 --> 00:51:28,093 that have been constructed to create a space. For an 320 00:51:28,093 --> 00:51:32,045 IT server room. We're also up to looking to future. 321 00:51:33,874 --> 00:51:38,342 Proof our building through the service expansion. That involves expanding 322 00:51:38,342 --> 00:51:41,982 some of the community partner opportunities. One area that we 323 00:51:41,982 --> 00:51:46,411 have existing relationships is with probation. And as well as. 324 00:51:48,134 --> 00:51:51,694 A pre charge consultation. Crown, who spends time in our 325 00:51:51,694 --> 00:51:55,374 building two to three days a week. We have an 326 00:51:55,374 --> 00:51:58,334 opportunity to expand some of those partnerships and bringing in 327 00:51:58,334 --> 00:52:03,679 additional partners, including victim services. As well as expanding some 328 00:52:03,679 --> 00:52:08,130 of our dispatching service opportunities. I will also like to 329 00:52:08,130 --> 00:52:10,370 highlight that one of the areas that we have some 330 00:52:10,370 --> 00:52:14,814 challenges currently is with a virtual court suite. During the 331 00:52:14,814 --> 00:52:17,254 Covid time, we had more and more opportunities where we 332 00:52:17,254 --> 00:52:21,971 were being asked. To attend court virtually, and we have 333 00:52:21,971 --> 00:52:25,691 some challenges with our current setup just to meet the 334 00:52:25,691 --> 00:52:29,291 expectations. And requirement of the courtroom to ensure that we 335 00:52:29,291 --> 00:52:34,545 have a virtual. Court room in our building that is 336 00:52:34,545 --> 00:52:39,985 free of obstructions, challenges and other recording equipment that isn't 337 00:52:39,985 --> 00:52:45,503 permitted as far as when you are providing. Those. Opportunities. 338 00:52:45,503 --> 00:52:47,823 And more and more. We obviously are seeing more virtual 339 00:52:47,823 --> 00:52:51,983 bail hearings than opportunities that are occurring. In our facility. 340 00:52:54,328 --> 00:52:58,728 The next page after this highlights some of the grant 341 00:52:58,728 --> 00:53:04,077 funding that I reference. Again, this is an opportunity that 342 00:53:04,077 --> 00:53:08,437 we will continue to search and find rent funding opportunities 343 00:53:08,437 --> 00:53:13,732 whenever they are available. For our organization to lessen certainly 344 00:53:13,732 --> 00:53:19,603 some of the impacts in regards to taxation. And then 345 00:53:19,603 --> 00:53:23,958 the last page again. It's already been sort of highlighted. 346 00:53:25,770 --> 00:53:28,330 It's in relation to the authorities under the Community Safety 347 00:53:28,330 --> 00:53:33,450 Policing act about the responsibilities for funding and the approval 348 00:53:33,450 --> 00:53:36,610 pieces that have in both in the police services board 349 00:53:36,610 --> 00:53:40,443 and ultimately at council. With that, I will pause and 350 00:53:40,443 --> 00:53:46,643 certainly take questions from council in regards to our presentation. 351 00:53:46,643 --> 00:53:50,942 Thank you. Chief. Thanks, chair hall, any questions? For any 352 00:53:50,942 --> 00:53:57,627 of the two. Councilor Kenneth. Just, I guess, a general 353 00:53:57,627 --> 00:54:05,839 question. Is there a formula for? Police officers per x 354 00:54:05,839 --> 00:54:10,755 number of citizens or. I guess. How do you come 355 00:54:10,755 --> 00:54:17,019 up with staffing needs, especially. On the officer side. Of 356 00:54:17,019 --> 00:54:23,149 business. Through the mayor to councilor Kenneth. The traditional ratio 357 00:54:23,149 --> 00:54:26,629 was called a cop to pop or cop to pop 358 00:54:26,629 --> 00:54:31,696 ratio. So number of officers to a population. Over the 359 00:54:31,696 --> 00:54:34,942 last, I would say five to ten years. The industry 360 00:54:34,942 --> 00:54:38,391 had sort of moved away from. That index to more 361 00:54:38,391 --> 00:54:42,671 of a calls for service and what really provides adequate 362 00:54:42,671 --> 00:54:47,351 and effective policing response. Certainly what policing has evolved into 363 00:54:47,351 --> 00:54:50,773 over a number of years is. A bigger suite of 364 00:54:50,773 --> 00:54:55,654 services that you offer to your community. Outside of traditional 365 00:54:55,654 --> 00:54:58,374 law enforcement. We are obviously involved in mental health calls, 366 00:54:58,374 --> 00:55:03,214 homelessness, addiction, a lot of social unrest type calls. Those 367 00:55:03,214 --> 00:55:06,014 are activities that we are capturing on a day to 368 00:55:06,014 --> 00:55:08,894 day basis. To show what we are doing and how 369 00:55:08,894 --> 00:55:12,214 we are providing services to our community so we're trying 370 00:55:12,214 --> 00:55:15,886 to utilize that as a metrics. To be more reflective 371 00:55:15,886 --> 00:55:19,459 of what does adequate and effective policing look like? What 372 00:55:19,459 --> 00:55:22,579 are the community's expectations for a response time to get 373 00:55:22,579 --> 00:55:25,899 to calls for service as opposed to a cop to 374 00:55:25,899 --> 00:55:29,819 a pop ratio. I will highlight. I think one of 375 00:55:29,819 --> 00:55:34,299 the challenges to a cop to pop metrics is a 376 00:55:34,299 --> 00:55:38,559 community such as Sirothran Kerada. That has a lot of 377 00:55:38,559 --> 00:55:41,359 people that reside here, but maybe live or sorry that 378 00:55:41,359 --> 00:55:44,747 work outside the community. Conversely, we have a lot of 379 00:55:44,747 --> 00:55:46,307 people who don't live in our community that come into 380 00:55:46,307 --> 00:55:51,147 our towns, communities on a daily basis. To work, to 381 00:55:51,147 --> 00:55:56,160 go to school. To attend services, whether it's the hospital 382 00:55:56,160 --> 00:55:59,874 or other activities. So that's for me. It's a real 383 00:55:59,874 --> 00:56:02,194 moving target, and I don't. Think that that's a real 384 00:56:02,194 --> 00:56:06,634 accurate reflective ratio to use to come up with an 385 00:56:06,634 --> 00:56:14,135 adequate staffing number. Councilor hippel. Excuse me. Thank you. Through 386 00:56:14,135 --> 00:56:23,177 yourself to the chief. We're talking about junior officers. Graduating 387 00:56:23,177 --> 00:56:29,279 their way up over. The last few years. I guess 388 00:56:29,279 --> 00:56:32,559 with what councilor Kenneth was talking about a little bit. 389 00:56:32,559 --> 00:56:37,319 I'm curious how our compliment. How your compliment is at 390 00:56:37,319 --> 00:56:40,119 this time and are you happy with it and how 391 00:56:40,119 --> 00:56:45,125 you see us moving forward with who you have. Now. 392 00:56:46,491 --> 00:56:53,105 So through the mayor to councilor Hippol. We over the 393 00:56:53,105 --> 00:56:57,805 last number of years. As we have added some numbers 394 00:56:57,805 --> 00:57:01,245 incrementally, year over year, so that there wasn't. A large 395 00:57:01,245 --> 00:57:05,925 up sea impact on the budget with salary increases, so 396 00:57:05,925 --> 00:57:08,485 that was sort of one strategy we had was to 397 00:57:08,485 --> 00:57:14,518 grow slowly. But reflective of where we were with. Our 398 00:57:14,518 --> 00:57:21,479 increase in activities. We strategically looked at hiring younger. Less 399 00:57:21,479 --> 00:57:25,860 expensive members coming into the organization. I may get in 400 00:57:25,860 --> 00:57:31,141 trouble for making this analogy or reference, but. Our young 401 00:57:31,141 --> 00:57:36,974 members are like having. Puppies around. They are very engaged, 402 00:57:36,974 --> 00:57:44,606 very active. Wanting to be out doing things. And learning 403 00:57:44,606 --> 00:57:51,451 as we go. It's been beneficial because. It has created 404 00:57:51,451 --> 00:57:57,332 a culture within the organization. That has grown and has 405 00:57:57,332 --> 00:58:02,425 become. Stronger because of. I think where we've gone with 406 00:58:02,425 --> 00:58:07,325 our recruiting strategy. We've also targeted, and I mean in 407 00:58:07,325 --> 00:58:11,525 a good way. New members who have a long history 408 00:58:11,525 --> 00:58:15,485 to this community, perhaps grew up here, perhaps have moved 409 00:58:15,485 --> 00:58:20,071 here. Are connected to our community not only in working 410 00:58:20,071 --> 00:58:27,446 here, but. Through other areas. Family. Relationships activities which I 411 00:58:27,446 --> 00:58:32,283 think boasts well for our organization. We are happy with. 412 00:58:35,008 --> 00:58:37,768 Our complement numbers in how we have structured the organization. 413 00:58:39,401 --> 00:58:42,321 We run uniform divisions of six members, so 24 uniform 414 00:58:42,321 --> 00:58:46,487 members. I have two members dedicated for traffic enforcement. I 415 00:58:46,487 --> 00:58:50,407 have a dedicated community services officer who also doubles as 416 00:58:50,407 --> 00:58:53,407 a media officer, I have a member dedicated to mental 417 00:58:53,407 --> 00:58:57,746 health calls. So on any given day, I have at 418 00:58:57,746 --> 00:59:02,746 a disposal eight to nine uniform members available to provide 419 00:59:02,746 --> 00:59:07,306 services, frontline services, if required. We have a strong cachet, 420 00:59:07,306 --> 00:59:12,706 or core of criminal investigators, numbering up six that are 421 00:59:12,706 --> 00:59:16,666 involved. In our criminal investigation and help provide those additional 422 00:59:16,666 --> 00:59:21,307 support. Supports. I have a strong command staff team, and 423 00:59:21,307 --> 00:59:24,667 we feel we are very well positioned and very well 424 00:59:24,667 --> 00:59:29,312 staffed to provide the services. That we believe. That this 425 00:59:29,312 --> 00:59:36,335 community deserves. Thank you. Councilor Pammer, I'm just wondering if 426 00:59:36,335 --> 00:59:39,815 you could expand a little bit on the increases under 427 00:59:39,815 --> 00:59:44,495 it expense, particularly the three lines that have a 220% 428 00:59:44,495 --> 00:59:48,895 increase, 300% 352 could you explain why this year there's 429 00:59:48,895 --> 00:59:53,528 such a drastic change in those lines? Again. If you 430 00:59:53,528 --> 00:59:56,088 just give me a minute to grab my line by 431 00:59:56,088 --> 00:59:58,128 line sheet, I think I. Know which area is here. 432 00:59:58,128 --> 00:59:58,648 You might be rough. 433 01:00:13,491 --> 01:00:14,731 Behind door number three, apparently. 434 01:00:38,247 --> 01:00:44,527 So through the mirror to Councillor Pamer. I think the 435 01:00:44,527 --> 01:00:47,734 three areas that. You might be referencing is information technology. 436 01:00:50,286 --> 01:00:57,214 Contracted it and the. Axon Alpr. So the first two, 437 01:00:57,214 --> 01:01:02,894 the 180,226, actually correspond directly to the NG 911 funding. 438 01:01:04,872 --> 01:01:08,392 So the grant that we received, I think I highlighted 439 01:01:08,392 --> 01:01:13,778 earlier that. 1.4 million grant funding. Some of it has 440 01:01:13,778 --> 01:01:20,313 been divided into. Operational expenses. And some have been divided 441 01:01:20,313 --> 01:01:24,233 out into capital expenses. The increases in those two areas, 442 01:01:24,233 --> 01:01:30,793 up to 180,226. Are directly related to the NG 9111 443 01:01:30,793 --> 01:01:34,033 project, so those are really one time, one year expense. 444 01:01:34,033 --> 01:01:37,713 Increases that are covered are offset by the grant funding. 445 01:01:37,713 --> 01:01:41,601 The 320,000. Is the moving of the axon from the 446 01:01:41,601 --> 01:01:47,407 capital into the operational. Pieces. And so that taxation funding 447 01:01:47,407 --> 01:01:51,242 that had been occurring. On the capital side has now 448 01:01:51,242 --> 01:02:01,040 been adjusted. Into the operational side. Any other questions? Councilor 449 01:02:01,040 --> 01:02:04,018 Derbyshire. Thank you. To the chief. That was kind of 450 01:02:04,018 --> 01:02:10,027 my question. Was the NZ 91111? It takes, Grant. And 451 01:02:10,027 --> 01:02:12,587 basically pays for itself. It doesn't really cost us to 452 01:02:12,587 --> 01:02:17,098 run that program. Should it almost be its own separate? 453 01:02:18,814 --> 01:02:21,526 Kind of project over here. Make it a little easier, 454 01:02:21,526 --> 01:02:24,534 a little clear as to. What it kind of does 455 01:02:24,534 --> 01:02:29,567 with its operation and its expenses. Or is it actually 456 01:02:29,567 --> 01:02:34,435 all part of. Your whole budget. I guess to me. 457 01:02:34,435 --> 01:02:37,275 I thought it was somewhat of a separately run kind 458 01:02:37,275 --> 01:02:42,179 of program. But within the police services. I don't want 459 01:02:42,179 --> 01:02:44,499 it skewing your numbers. I guess when we look at 460 01:02:44,499 --> 01:02:49,910 it, right. Basically, it's money in, money out. Then that 461 01:02:49,910 --> 01:02:52,510 works. But as it increase, it looks like your budget 462 01:02:52,510 --> 01:02:56,462 is taking a real big increase. Even though. It's kind 463 01:02:56,462 --> 01:03:00,136 of doing that on its own, I guess. Would be. 464 01:03:00,136 --> 01:03:02,843 Maybe I'm not being clear. But I guess I just 465 01:03:02,843 --> 01:03:05,243 like to see NG 911 kind of broken down in 466 01:03:05,243 --> 01:03:09,341 its own operation. And expenses, I guess, would be. What 467 01:03:09,341 --> 01:03:11,341 I was getting at, whether that's an option or not. 468 01:03:12,887 --> 01:03:17,106 So through the mayor to councilor Derbyshire. Certainly. First of 469 01:03:17,106 --> 01:03:20,900 all, It's been a long, ongoing project. This is maybe 470 01:03:20,900 --> 01:03:26,769 year three of the NG 9111. Funding envelope. The previous 471 01:03:26,769 --> 01:03:32,012 two years. When the it at Town hall was running 472 01:03:32,012 --> 01:03:36,133 the project. That's where the revenues were showing and the 473 01:03:36,133 --> 01:03:39,253 expenses were showing. I certainly appreciate, I think, what you're 474 01:03:39,253 --> 01:03:44,827 referencing. And we've tried to be transparent. And show where 475 01:03:44,827 --> 01:03:49,452 those expenses are occurring. In regards to the work that 476 01:03:49,452 --> 01:03:55,432 is being undertaken. We are hoping that through the work 477 01:03:55,432 --> 01:03:58,552 of our it staff that we will be able to 478 01:03:58,552 --> 01:04:02,432 get to the finish line, hopefully in 2026. So this 479 01:04:02,432 --> 01:04:06,192 may just be a one year sort of. Cycle where 480 01:04:06,192 --> 01:04:09,072 we only have to show these numbers. I think maybe 481 01:04:09,072 --> 01:04:12,392 going forward, if it spills. Into 2027. Maybe we can 482 01:04:12,392 --> 01:04:17,554 give some. Consideration. To pushing those out into additional GL 483 01:04:17,554 --> 01:04:21,910 lens. Follow up council jury. Yeah, and just on that, 484 01:04:21,910 --> 01:04:24,630 I guess, through you to our director of finance. Now. 485 01:04:26,204 --> 01:04:28,804 Was this? The grants that we didn't meet and had 486 01:04:28,804 --> 01:04:35,110 to give back. In previous years. So. Yes, through the 487 01:04:35,110 --> 01:04:39,502 chair, the council. We got grant money expecting to do 488 01:04:39,502 --> 01:04:44,248 all this work. The issue. Is, and the chief can 489 01:04:44,248 --> 01:04:47,128 attest to this, is there's a limited number of vendors 490 01:04:47,128 --> 01:04:51,516 for these projects. And all those vendors. Excuse me. Those 491 01:04:51,516 --> 01:04:54,436 vendors are going after each of the police services, so 492 01:04:54,436 --> 01:04:57,356 whoever is highest in the ready. That's who gets them. 493 01:04:57,356 --> 01:05:01,430 So that's why we ended. Up refunding, but. As you 494 01:05:01,430 --> 01:05:05,310 just heard, we got 1.4 million this year to finish 495 01:05:05,310 --> 01:05:07,310 that project. So in essence, we're getting that money back. 496 01:05:08,838 --> 01:05:14,062 Councilor willsey. Got two questions. One of them was kind 497 01:05:14,062 --> 01:05:18,996 of triggered by Councillor Derby's question. When we looked through. 498 01:05:18,996 --> 01:05:23,580 We know that we're expanding dispatch services. We're doing. All 499 01:05:23,580 --> 01:05:28,255 for the county now, and that continues to grow. The 500 01:05:28,255 --> 01:05:30,615 question that sparked my interest is that he was explaining 501 01:05:30,615 --> 01:05:32,895 that the NG 911 wouldn't make sense to have that. 502 01:05:34,560 --> 01:05:37,400 Separate either as, like, a sub budget of yours, because 503 01:05:37,400 --> 01:05:40,720 right now we've got approximately $10. Million budget only $8 504 01:05:40,720 --> 01:05:42,840 million is coming tax because you're getting the revenue for 505 01:05:42,840 --> 01:05:44,880 doing the 911 calls, and I know that works out 506 01:05:44,880 --> 01:05:48,240 to be almost a wash, but would it? Make sense 507 01:05:48,240 --> 01:05:50,200 so that when the public's looking at it, we don't. 508 01:05:52,157 --> 01:05:55,077 See the dispatch portion as a policing cost, but that's 509 01:05:55,077 --> 01:05:57,677 a self funding. It can be. A sub department or 510 01:05:57,677 --> 01:06:01,560 something just for clarity and optics to see that. We're 511 01:06:01,560 --> 01:06:03,800 not paying our police department 10 million a year out 512 01:06:03,800 --> 01:06:07,280 of a $24 million. Legend. That's my first question, so 513 01:06:07,280 --> 01:06:09,780 maybe I'll let you respond to that. So through the 514 01:06:09,780 --> 01:06:17,330 mayor to Councilor Wilsey. So the operation, obviously, of the 515 01:06:17,330 --> 01:06:21,610 911 center is part of police operations, obviously one of 516 01:06:21,610 --> 01:06:29,349 their roles. Is as police dispatchers. Again. We try to, 517 01:06:29,349 --> 01:06:34,278 I think. It's pretty obvious. We tried to create some 518 01:06:34,278 --> 01:06:39,686 revenue streams regarding. The additional services, obviously, that we run 519 01:06:39,686 --> 01:06:43,857 both. In fire dispatch at the county level, as you 520 01:06:43,857 --> 01:06:47,657 mentioned, answering 911 calls at the county level, saving city 521 01:06:47,657 --> 01:06:53,672 of London. I guess we are trying to be transparent 522 01:06:53,672 --> 01:06:59,874 in showing that there is. This revenue that is created. 523 01:07:01,591 --> 01:07:07,822 Through those activities. As well as. Creating some very distinct. 524 01:07:09,543 --> 01:07:15,046 Expense lines for our civilian. Members. In the operating budget 525 01:07:15,046 --> 01:07:20,062 to outline what costs we are incurring from. A staffing 526 01:07:20,062 --> 01:07:25,877 component. In addition to some of. The hardware software costs 527 01:07:25,877 --> 01:07:31,289 that appear in our IT related budget. So I think 528 01:07:31,289 --> 01:07:35,425 that's what we're trying to accomplish. Is by. Showing where 529 01:07:35,425 --> 01:07:40,008 we are as far as bringing in revenue. To run 530 01:07:40,008 --> 01:07:45,086 the organization as well as where those expenses occur. Willsy. 531 01:07:45,086 --> 01:07:46,406 And as a follow up, I think you've done a 532 01:07:46,406 --> 01:07:49,668 good job. Like myself, where I look at the budget 533 01:07:49,668 --> 01:07:51,428 and I can see the revenue. I know what finance 534 01:07:51,428 --> 01:07:53,188 I'm looking for. I kind of know how to separate 535 01:07:53,188 --> 01:07:55,228 that out and back it out. From it. But if 536 01:07:55,228 --> 01:07:57,428 the general public, or someone who's not a counselor or 537 01:07:57,428 --> 01:07:59,628 somebody who hasn't spent hours looking at your sheets. They're 538 01:07:59,628 --> 01:08:01,628 not going to know that, so. It was more of 539 01:08:01,628 --> 01:08:03,868 a formatting question, not how you're doing it, but if 540 01:08:03,868 --> 01:08:06,308 we can just make that easier. And then that way 541 01:08:06,308 --> 01:08:10,615 it's easy. We can know what's. Dispatch and. What's policing? 542 01:08:10,562 --> 01:08:15,596 Same budget, everything else. Just displayed differently. The second question 543 01:08:15,596 --> 01:08:20,720 I had was towards. The annex. I see it's not 544 01:08:20,720 --> 01:08:24,338 in your capital budget for this year. So I'm just 545 01:08:24,338 --> 01:08:27,418 wondering what your plan is as far as the police 546 01:08:27,418 --> 01:08:29,058 board. When you would want to go forward with that. 547 01:08:29,058 --> 01:08:31,218 Is that something? A 2026 project? We're going to see 548 01:08:31,218 --> 01:08:35,256 later. Is it 27? Is it 28? It's not in 549 01:08:35,256 --> 01:08:37,976 this year's capital, so I'm just wondering what the. Plan 550 01:08:37,976 --> 01:08:39,656 is on when you feel like you'd want to be 551 01:08:39,656 --> 01:08:42,776 moving forward with that, given your other comments earlier tonight. 552 01:08:44,128 --> 01:08:46,608 I'll help you. It was in the police service board. 553 01:08:46,608 --> 01:08:51,730 Budget reference. The police service board? Approved it. Until I 554 01:08:51,730 --> 01:08:55,370 got the memo from this list or general telling me 555 01:08:55,370 --> 01:08:58,130 strong mayors have no ability to touch the capital. It's 556 01:08:58,130 --> 01:09:00,490 actually me cousin Wilson who took it out of the 557 01:09:00,490 --> 01:09:03,810 town. Budget. So now I think it has to go 558 01:09:03,810 --> 01:09:06,010 back in, given the memo we have today, but. It 559 01:09:06,010 --> 01:09:10,606 initially was in the police service board. Okay, because their 560 01:09:10,606 --> 01:09:15,520 capital budget that they presented here. It's not here. The 561 01:09:15,520 --> 01:09:18,400 one that's in their item. Okay, they only have 1.4. 562 01:09:18,400 --> 01:09:22,384 Million of capital for the year. On that question, then 563 01:09:22,384 --> 01:09:27,972 they do want to do it in 26. Council, Brandon. 564 01:09:31,176 --> 01:09:33,616 It was the intention of the board to go ahead 565 01:09:33,616 --> 01:09:36,616 with the capital expenditure in 2026 with the class a 566 01:09:36,616 --> 01:09:40,523 costing and go to tender as soon as possible. And 567 01:09:40,523 --> 01:09:45,603 then the mayor did what he did. And then yesterday, 568 01:09:45,603 --> 01:09:49,923 January 12, we received a memo from the solicitor general. 569 01:09:51,807 --> 01:09:56,377 Indicating that. The mayor cannot just arbitrarily take that out 570 01:09:56,377 --> 01:10:01,436 of a police board capital budget. So I guess in 571 01:10:01,436 --> 01:10:07,923 terms of process right now, It really should. Be in 572 01:10:07,923 --> 01:10:13,825 this budget as presented today. But given what happened yesterday 573 01:10:13,825 --> 01:10:17,794 from the sister general, that's what changed things. So the 574 01:10:17,794 --> 01:10:21,954 board voted to go ahead with it. The Merrick pulled 575 01:10:21,954 --> 01:10:25,394 it. The solicitor general has said strong mayors can't do 576 01:10:25,394 --> 01:10:29,405 that. There wasn't enough time. I guess maybe. To update 577 01:10:29,405 --> 01:10:32,325 or change all of that for today, but I know 578 01:10:32,325 --> 01:10:34,485 the board has voted to go. Ahead with it. And 579 01:10:34,485 --> 01:10:38,005 it's the board's expectation that given the information from the 580 01:10:38,005 --> 01:10:42,415 solicitor general that. The capital. Request from the police board 581 01:10:42,415 --> 01:10:48,025 be put in front of council. And. That council. Would 582 01:10:48,025 --> 01:10:52,425 then vote on the overall police board package, but not 583 01:10:52,425 --> 01:10:56,543 individual line items, just the total amount. It's been kind 584 01:10:56,543 --> 01:11:01,249 of a moving target with this new budget process. And 585 01:11:01,249 --> 01:11:06,450 regulations coming out kind of on the fly. But that's 586 01:11:06,450 --> 01:11:09,662 where we are. And I know we've been shooting a 587 01:11:09,662 --> 01:11:12,022 lot of texts around saying, okay, well, in light of 588 01:11:12,022 --> 01:11:14,022 what the mayor did. In light of what the celestial 589 01:11:14,022 --> 01:11:17,702 general did. Where are we today? In terms of approving 590 01:11:17,702 --> 01:11:22,778 a police. Board a budget. It's my understanding that with 591 01:11:22,778 --> 01:11:24,978 the wish of the police board before the mayor acted, 592 01:11:24,978 --> 01:11:26,738 that that come in front of this body today, and 593 01:11:26,738 --> 01:11:28,418 it would be the idea that if we were approving 594 01:11:28,418 --> 01:11:32,378 the police board budget that we'd be doing everything that's 595 01:11:32,378 --> 01:11:34,898 on paper. Here. And in addition, the idea would be. 596 01:11:37,060 --> 01:11:39,980 Giving the green light to the class A costing going 597 01:11:39,980 --> 01:11:44,642 to the final stages. For request, for proposals to be 598 01:11:44,642 --> 01:11:49,042 put out, for tendering to happen, and for construction to 599 01:11:49,042 --> 01:11:54,595 begin. In this favorable construction season. Right now. As the 600 01:11:54,595 --> 01:11:58,958 chief was saying. So I don't know where we are 601 01:11:58,958 --> 01:12:01,158 tonight in terms of a vote, that's up for? I 602 01:12:01,158 --> 01:12:03,518 guess the mary's chair of council determine where we are. 603 01:12:05,346 --> 01:12:07,706 But the idea was that we would be recommending as 604 01:12:07,706 --> 01:12:09,866 a police board that we go ahead. With project in 605 01:12:09,866 --> 01:12:15,889 2026. Just for everybody. That memo wasn't aimed just at 606 01:12:15,889 --> 01:12:18,289 the mayor of Strasbourne. That went everywhere. There are some 607 01:12:18,289 --> 01:12:22,409 mayors who've done some rather drastic things. To the police 608 01:12:22,409 --> 01:12:26,132 by themselves anyways. Go ahead, councilor. So I guess just 609 01:12:26,132 --> 01:12:28,452 as a follow up to that, then being into your 610 01:12:28,452 --> 01:12:33,220 budget. Mr. Mary. You could say that. You just want 611 01:12:33,220 --> 01:12:34,940 to without calling specific lineup. It was just give them. 612 01:12:36,926 --> 01:12:39,006 Their call it twelve and a half million they're asking 613 01:12:39,006 --> 01:12:41,326 for and say that's why you got to figure out 614 01:12:41,326 --> 01:12:43,846 how you're going to spend it, and you're not saying 615 01:12:43,846 --> 01:12:45,526 different live Ms. You could still say that and keep 616 01:12:45,526 --> 01:12:49,346 the budget the same as you've done it. Or you 617 01:12:49,346 --> 01:12:51,386 could say, have your extra. So, ten and a half 618 01:12:51,386 --> 01:12:57,520 million. Yeah. So I did see clarity today from the 619 01:12:57,520 --> 01:13:00,000 ministry. As I said, clarity on whether or not it's 620 01:13:00,000 --> 01:13:02,680 operating capital. The deputy mayor is with me and heard 621 01:13:02,680 --> 01:13:05,960 the conversation, so I expect over the next day or 622 01:13:05,960 --> 01:13:10,000 so to get clarity that it's both capital and operating. 623 01:13:10,000 --> 01:13:13,686 I suspect it is both. Before we pull the trigger 624 01:13:13,686 --> 01:13:16,945 on anything. They just want to ensure they were referencing 625 01:13:16,945 --> 01:13:24,470 both. Custard Pelletman strictly from a process perspective, since you're 626 01:13:24,470 --> 01:13:31,931 only presenting the budget tonight. We could add the request 627 01:13:31,931 --> 01:13:35,611 in. We're not deciding that we're approving anything. Tonight. That 628 01:13:35,611 --> 01:13:40,560 is correct. Council still has the authority to say yay 629 01:13:40,560 --> 01:13:44,940 or nay to the final number only. So I would 630 01:13:44,940 --> 01:13:50,320 suggest that we added in. As the board had originally 631 01:13:50,320 --> 01:13:53,000 requested. It's not like it's a new project. It's not 632 01:13:53,000 --> 01:13:56,530 like we didn't know. It wasn't happening. We all know 633 01:13:56,530 --> 01:14:00,331 that the costing was being done. So I would suggest 634 01:14:00,331 --> 01:14:04,032 we just added it in the request. If you require 635 01:14:04,032 --> 01:14:05,672 that as a motion, then we're not going to take 636 01:14:05,672 --> 01:14:08,792 any motions at council. This is just presentation. It'd be 637 01:14:08,792 --> 01:14:13,346 further. Bring motions and that towards it, but we know 638 01:14:13,346 --> 01:14:18,465 it's out there. Councilor Derbyshire. Thank you. I'm not going 639 01:14:18,465 --> 01:14:24,379 to pick a part line items. I just want to 640 01:14:24,379 --> 01:14:28,782 start by saying this is a budget meeting. What I 641 01:14:28,782 --> 01:14:31,782 bring forward doesn't mean this is what I want to 642 01:14:31,782 --> 01:14:33,742 happen. I just want to point out some budget things. 643 01:14:35,162 --> 01:14:38,722 So I realize it's a place service board, and trust 644 01:14:38,722 --> 01:14:40,482 me, I don't really. Want to anger the police service. 645 01:14:42,277 --> 01:14:44,444 But. I do want to make some points as a 646 01:14:44,444 --> 01:14:50,687 counselor. That when I look at. The 8.9 million from, 647 01:14:50,687 --> 01:14:55,090 I'm going to say, the 2025 budget. Just because I 648 01:14:55,090 --> 01:14:59,735 don't know exactly where that number ended up. And I 649 01:14:59,735 --> 01:15:02,375 take that number. And I don't think NG 9111 had 650 01:15:02,375 --> 01:15:04,615 any money in there. But I could be exactly wrong. 651 01:15:04,615 --> 01:15:08,895 I don't know. I divide that by 10,500 households, which 652 01:15:08,895 --> 01:15:12,477 is about what we have in stratroy care, doc. Is 653 01:15:12,477 --> 01:15:14,197 as close as I can get because, again, we don't 654 01:15:14,197 --> 01:15:20,509 have all those numbers. I get $857 per household for 655 01:15:20,509 --> 01:15:25,433 this service, which. Probably is not bad. I'm going to 656 01:15:25,433 --> 01:15:28,273 go with the comparator because I heard that earlier from 657 01:15:28,273 --> 01:15:31,953 the chair where he compared wages. If I go to 658 01:15:31,953 --> 01:15:37,826 our comparator of the OPP. Their 2025 cost per household 659 01:15:37,826 --> 01:15:43,702 was 399. So I just want us to be aware. 660 01:15:45,062 --> 01:15:49,156 Of where that is and what we're getting. For the 661 01:15:49,156 --> 01:15:54,453 extra money. And. I totally understand. How long the service 662 01:15:54,453 --> 01:15:57,973 has been here. We all have a deep attachment to 663 01:15:57,973 --> 01:16:01,613 it, but I preference this to? I'm going to use 664 01:16:01,613 --> 01:16:05,202 the farming. Term a combine. I've always driven a combine. 665 01:16:05,202 --> 01:16:07,802 I've always owned a combine. A combine now is a 666 01:16:07,802 --> 01:16:11,838 million dollars. So I don't have the acres anymore to 667 01:16:11,838 --> 01:16:17,469 justify the million dollar combine. It's cheaper and more cost 668 01:16:17,469 --> 01:16:21,669 effective for my farm to hire my neighbor. His trucks, 669 01:16:21,669 --> 01:16:26,448 his trailers. And have that done that way. That doesn't 670 01:16:26,448 --> 01:16:28,608 mean I don't want to sit in that combine and 671 01:16:28,608 --> 01:16:30,248 combine and. I don't want to see it in my 672 01:16:30,248 --> 01:16:35,213 shit. The emotional attachment to a combine. I get it. 673 01:16:35,213 --> 01:16:39,242 Emotional attachment to the police force. I get it. But 674 01:16:39,242 --> 01:16:42,282 from a business standpoint and a numbers standpoint, I do 675 01:16:42,282 --> 01:16:45,602 believe this is something that honestly before we spend $9 676 01:16:45,602 --> 01:16:50,032 million on an expansion. This is something that really needs 677 01:16:50,032 --> 01:16:55,448 to be considered. From a business standpoint, not from. I 678 01:16:55,448 --> 01:16:57,008 used to work here. This is the greatest. We do 679 01:16:57,008 --> 01:17:01,000 have great people working here. I don't want to downplay 680 01:17:01,000 --> 01:17:04,967 that. From a cost comparison. It doesn't work. And doesn't 681 01:17:04,967 --> 01:17:10,519 it work? I do think that. 's a big gap. 682 01:17:10,985 --> 01:17:14,378 We're not talking 50 or $60. That's a lot per 683 01:17:14,378 --> 01:17:19,737 household. But again, like I say, I just want to 684 01:17:19,737 --> 01:17:22,017 have a conversation about it. I don't want it to 685 01:17:22,017 --> 01:17:24,137 be like, oh, Derbyshire wants to get rid of the 686 01:17:24,137 --> 01:17:26,777 cops. I want to have an op. Sorry? The police. 687 01:17:28,775 --> 01:17:38,083 Ended there. Any other call, Counselor Hippel. Through yourself. Actually, 688 01:17:38,083 --> 01:17:42,267 I assumed that someone would bring that up because. These 689 01:17:42,267 --> 01:17:45,787 are things that happen in communities when you have your 690 01:17:45,787 --> 01:17:51,022 own. Police force and comparators are good things. You need 691 01:17:51,022 --> 01:17:52,822 to talk about it. It needs to. Be brought up. 692 01:17:52,822 --> 01:17:57,805 It needs to be discussed. And whether it's personal or 693 01:17:57,805 --> 01:18:01,651 it's just numbers. It's still one of those things where 694 01:18:01,651 --> 01:18:05,638 you do even though you can't compare. It because. It's 695 01:18:05,638 --> 01:18:08,358 monetary and it's a business versus the personal side of 696 01:18:08,358 --> 01:18:11,638 it, I think. It's hard not to sometimes. Only because. 697 01:18:12,940 --> 01:18:15,900 With the amount of, and I am going to use 698 01:18:15,900 --> 01:18:20,473 the mental health issues that we have. I don't know, 699 01:18:20,473 --> 01:18:25,230 outside communities, because. I would be stepping outside my boundary 700 01:18:25,230 --> 01:18:29,601 there. But within our municipality, the issues that we have. 701 01:18:31,249 --> 01:18:35,340 It does. Bringing the personal side into it almost. As 702 01:18:35,340 --> 01:18:40,039 necessary, because. They understand the community they know the community 703 01:18:40,039 --> 01:18:42,639 they've been in, the community they work in. The community. 704 01:18:42,639 --> 01:18:45,439 They know the businesses, they know the people. And you 705 01:18:45,439 --> 01:18:48,119 have to have to have a bit of that personal 706 01:18:48,119 --> 01:18:51,079 side of it to bring it into the comparators. That's 707 01:18:51,079 --> 01:18:53,319 all I'm saying. But I do get what you're saying, 708 01:18:53,319 --> 01:18:57,711 because if you don't, have the conversation. You can't talk, 709 01:18:57,711 --> 01:19:01,031 right? But that's the only reason I wanted to say 710 01:19:01,031 --> 01:19:05,421 something. Because it's good to bring them both together. Councilor 711 01:19:05,421 --> 01:19:08,221 McGuire and councilor Pelletman, and we'll wrap up this portion. 712 01:19:09,659 --> 01:19:13,851 Thank you. So. It's always the conversation to have, and 713 01:19:13,851 --> 01:19:16,967 we've seen it happen across the province. Many, many times. 714 01:19:18,602 --> 01:19:21,562 But I will say the comparison of the OPP to 715 01:19:21,562 --> 01:19:25,402 Strathroy caradok play. Surface is an apples and an oranges 716 01:19:25,402 --> 01:19:29,207 comparison. Yes, they both say police on their shoulders, but. 717 01:19:30,999 --> 01:19:33,479 The way they do their work is completely different. So 718 01:19:33,479 --> 01:19:37,279 the OPP province wide. So if you're taking. If they're 719 01:19:37,279 --> 01:19:40,679 giving you a province wide number, that would be vastly 720 01:19:40,679 --> 01:19:43,559 different. Than their number if they were policing in a 721 01:19:43,559 --> 01:19:47,519 municipality. And we know that from looking where they've taken 722 01:19:47,519 --> 01:19:53,151 over communities such as orange. Orangeville. I'm going from memory. 723 01:19:53,151 --> 01:19:55,871 Ten years ago. But there's a number of you go. 724 01:19:55,871 --> 01:19:57,431 Back and you can look and then you can start 725 01:19:57,431 --> 01:20:00,831 to see. We compare the policing costs in a community. 726 01:20:02,591 --> 01:20:06,351 So opt is not a comparator for strategy. Caradok police. 727 01:20:06,351 --> 01:20:11,051 It never has been. There are comparators that they use 728 01:20:11,051 --> 01:20:15,368 that would give you a better judgment. So. That scale 729 01:20:15,368 --> 01:20:20,079 that suddenly tipped one way. I don't want the conversation 730 01:20:20,079 --> 01:20:24,263 to start from that point because. That's not councilor coffin. 731 01:20:26,189 --> 01:20:34,358 Councilor Pellkman. I do understand there's a cost difference. 732 01:20:37,175 --> 01:20:42,035 From my time on the board. That promise might cost 733 01:20:42,035 --> 01:20:46,518 difference include. Places like Adelaide, Mag. Where there's not a 734 01:20:46,518 --> 01:20:50,184 whole lot of activity. Versus our municipality. And one of 735 01:20:50,184 --> 01:20:52,784 the factors that you have to include is the fact 736 01:20:52,784 --> 01:20:56,359 that we have a hospital here, and I myself. When 737 01:20:56,359 --> 01:21:01,983 my mom was a frequent visitor to the hospital. Witnessed 738 01:21:01,983 --> 01:21:07,153 four officers having to stand. Over. A person they had 739 01:21:07,153 --> 01:21:10,073 brought in because he needed to be restrained and they 740 01:21:10,073 --> 01:21:14,750 couldn't leave. Until. Whatever episode he was having. That's a 741 01:21:14,750 --> 01:21:16,670 cause that a lot of municipalities don't have to bear. 742 01:21:20,285 --> 01:21:28,207 Certainly things that you have to bring in discussion. Like, 743 01:21:28,207 --> 01:21:32,527 we probably would still have to update our police station 744 01:21:32,527 --> 01:21:35,331 because they wouldn't be able to use. The one out 745 01:21:35,331 --> 01:21:37,811 of may have for the ingredients and service and the 746 01:21:37,811 --> 01:21:42,212 increase in service or whatever. Service you get. Depends on 747 01:21:42,212 --> 01:21:47,884 what you negotiate. And if you negotiate the bare bottom, 748 01:21:47,884 --> 01:21:49,684 there's going to be times where there'll be no police 749 01:21:49,684 --> 01:21:55,198 officers. In our municipality. I'm not sure that that's something 750 01:21:55,198 --> 01:21:58,998 that we want. I know. Just speaking from one example, 751 01:21:58,998 --> 01:22:02,479 from a business side of things. When I was working 752 01:22:02,479 --> 01:22:07,329 for Superstore. There are full time security people at Superstore. 753 01:22:07,329 --> 01:22:10,769 We were a target for professional fees. Where people would 754 01:22:10,769 --> 01:22:18,743 regularly walk out with $1,000 plus worth of groceries. In 755 01:22:18,743 --> 01:22:24,868 an op environment. We would have to sit on that 756 01:22:24,868 --> 01:22:29,973 thief that was caught with two staff members. Until an 757 01:22:29,973 --> 01:22:32,653 officer was available, which could be five or 6 hours, 758 01:22:32,653 --> 01:22:36,533 whereas with the municipal service that is not a cost 759 01:22:36,533 --> 01:22:38,693 that they would have to bear their officer there almost 760 01:22:38,693 --> 01:22:43,928 immediately. So there's lots of things to consider. It's the 761 01:22:43,928 --> 01:22:46,863 discussion that ever takes place. It's not just about the 762 01:22:46,863 --> 01:22:49,783 final number. It's about what kind of service you want. 763 01:22:51,226 --> 01:22:53,626 And what kind of services you have to provide in 764 01:22:53,626 --> 01:22:59,747 the community. And one thing that I will say? For 765 01:22:59,747 --> 01:23:04,198 having your own service. And this discussion really came out. 766 01:23:05,927 --> 01:23:10,446 When. The carting issue was a big issue about ten 767 01:23:10,446 --> 01:23:14,437 years ago. Is carding didn't take place in the Strathroy 768 01:23:14,437 --> 01:23:18,725 caradock because. Our members knew who the people were. And 769 01:23:18,725 --> 01:23:20,925 if they were pulling somebody over, it wasn't. Because it 770 01:23:20,925 --> 01:23:23,285 was based on the race. It was because they knew 771 01:23:23,285 --> 01:23:27,579 they weren't from our municipality. Just the fact that they 772 01:23:27,579 --> 01:23:31,339 know the people. And I'll always say I never had 773 01:23:31,339 --> 01:23:36,322 an appreciation until. Spending the time in the police services 774 01:23:36,322 --> 01:23:39,762 board how much discretion an officer has to use in 775 01:23:39,762 --> 01:23:45,379 a heartbeat. That affects someone's life. And I'm not sure. 776 01:23:46,529 --> 01:23:50,075 That if it was one of my children. At the 777 01:23:50,075 --> 01:23:52,878 age of 18 or 20. That I want an officer 778 01:23:52,878 --> 01:23:56,398 that doesn't know the community dealing with the situation that 779 01:23:56,398 --> 01:23:59,735 they've been in because they made a mistake. I would 780 01:23:59,735 --> 01:24:01,415 rather have an officer that knows in her stands or 781 01:24:01,415 --> 01:24:04,746 a community deal with them that's a personal point. But 782 01:24:04,746 --> 01:24:08,506 the discretion that the officers got to use in very 783 01:24:08,506 --> 01:24:13,005 short time period at the time of the incident. Is 784 01:24:13,005 --> 01:24:16,403 immense and. You also want to make sure that they 785 01:24:16,403 --> 01:24:19,283 have the resources available to them that shouldn't. Incident occur 786 01:24:19,283 --> 01:24:23,002 in your own home? That they have the time to 787 01:24:23,002 --> 01:24:26,682 be thorough and not make a mistake so that if 788 01:24:26,682 --> 01:24:30,587 something does go to court. It doesn't fall apart because 789 01:24:30,587 --> 01:24:36,100 the officer made a mistake on the scene. Scenes. Those 790 01:24:36,100 --> 01:24:40,211 are all great points. They're all personal, they're all emotional. 791 01:24:42,018 --> 01:24:44,098 The Orangeville case. I just want to clarify. I spoke 792 01:24:44,098 --> 01:24:50,145 with Orangeville directly. Orangeville saved $4.5 million. You don't want 793 01:24:50,145 --> 01:24:53,263 to get into that. The other thing is. We can't 794 01:24:53,263 --> 01:24:55,783 change one line item here. So you all talk about, 795 01:24:55,783 --> 01:24:57,703 oh, we're getting this service and we're getting this and 796 01:24:57,703 --> 01:24:59,743 we're getting that. But you say OpP might not do 797 01:24:59,743 --> 01:25:03,143 that, but on the other hand, you'll say, well, Opp 798 01:25:03,143 --> 01:25:05,503 will build the service. Or you can build whatever service 799 01:25:05,503 --> 01:25:09,905 you want, right? So on one hand, we're like, OPP 800 01:25:09,905 --> 01:25:12,265 might not do that for us, but if you build 801 01:25:12,265 --> 01:25:15,025 the same service and do the same comparison and come 802 01:25:15,025 --> 01:25:17,985 up with the same money all you're left with are 803 01:25:17,985 --> 01:25:20,265 these same stories where you go, well, I just want 804 01:25:20,265 --> 01:25:23,585 a friendly. Face. I get it. When I spoke to 805 01:25:23,585 --> 01:25:27,647 the OPP about it, they said they. Will transfer our 806 01:25:27,647 --> 01:25:32,462 officers to OPP officers if they wanted. I'm just saying, 807 01:25:32,462 --> 01:25:35,742 take the emotion out of it and look at it 808 01:25:35,742 --> 01:25:38,462 from a business. Standpoint. And if you want to compare 809 01:25:38,462 --> 01:25:41,702 apples to apples, then build the program like this and 810 01:25:41,702 --> 01:25:43,862 say to the op? Here's what we want. What's it 811 01:25:43,862 --> 01:25:48,662 cost? That's apples to apples, because police officers are police 812 01:25:48,662 --> 01:25:50,862 officers and they're all trained and they're, all going to 813 01:25:50,862 --> 01:25:53,729 do the same. Due diligence that they are trained to 814 01:25:53,729 --> 01:25:56,969 do and be the people they are, whether it says 815 01:25:56,969 --> 01:26:00,249 op or stratford care dock on their sleeve because that's 816 01:26:00,249 --> 01:26:02,129 what they sign up for. And that's what they go 817 01:26:02,129 --> 01:26:06,210 through school for. So that's all I'm saying to you. 818 01:26:06,210 --> 01:26:08,650 We could build this program and opp. Could say, yeah, 819 01:26:08,650 --> 01:26:12,410 it's $900 per household. Now we know we're getting better 820 01:26:12,410 --> 01:26:16,896 service, better deal, better whatever. Out of our people. I 821 01:26:16,896 --> 01:26:19,509 don't want this to be. Derbyshire wants to get rid 822 01:26:19,509 --> 01:26:22,189 of our police force. I want it to be looked 823 01:26:22,189 --> 01:26:26,429 at like it's? A business. Which it is. That's all 824 01:26:26,429 --> 01:26:30,584 I'm asking. Don't. Put the whole emotional. Thing into it. 825 01:26:32,395 --> 01:26:34,755 Thanks, councilor. And I think it's okay to say cops. 826 01:26:34,755 --> 01:26:37,915 I don't think. You'll be offended by it. Chief deputy 827 01:26:37,915 --> 01:26:43,463 chief chair hall, thank you for attending night and. We'll 828 01:26:43,463 --> 01:26:51,275 reconvene. Thank you. So. 829 01:26:55,283 --> 01:26:57,963 I should tell you, chief, in 1 minute I'm going 830 01:26:57,963 --> 01:26:59,683 to come back and ask to sit where you are. 831 01:27:01,567 --> 01:27:04,007 Sit and listen to ours. We'll now move to the 832 01:27:04,007 --> 01:27:07,807 2026 proposed budget and with that I'm going to ask 833 01:27:07,807 --> 01:27:09,567 the deputy mayor to take the chair seat. 834 01:27:21,753 --> 01:27:28,219 What do we do? Can I just ask something before 835 01:27:28,219 --> 01:27:34,955 we move on to the next one? What did we 836 01:27:34,955 --> 01:27:38,595 establish with what we're doing with this police service board 837 01:27:38,595 --> 01:27:42,395 meet or this police budget. Is it coming back as 838 01:27:42,395 --> 01:27:45,155 the one that was voted in by the board, or 839 01:27:45,155 --> 01:27:46,875 are we to work off of this for the next. 840 01:27:49,266 --> 01:27:52,759 Till the next meeting. What did we determine out of 841 01:27:52,759 --> 01:27:55,919 what happened here? Because they said this budget isn't right. 842 01:27:55,919 --> 01:27:59,803 So what are we doing? Not through you. To whoever 843 01:27:59,803 --> 01:28:03,357 wants to answer that. That's a really good question. And 844 01:28:03,357 --> 01:28:06,397 probably that gentleman standing up back there and rejacket. Should 845 01:28:06,397 --> 01:28:08,317 answer that one for us. We'll just wait for him 846 01:28:08,317 --> 01:28:11,197 to take the seat. Yeah. No, just before we moved 847 01:28:11,197 --> 01:28:13,397 on to our budget. I just wanted to know, how 848 01:28:13,397 --> 01:28:16,277 do we. Analyze that one going forward, whether or not 849 01:28:16,277 --> 01:28:18,597 we're going to put the cost of the building into 850 01:28:18,597 --> 01:28:24,653 that document. Which I understand what you're asking. Different back 851 01:28:24,653 --> 01:28:27,653 here. And thank for the question. I can answer that 852 01:28:27,653 --> 01:28:31,373 chair. There are two ways that could go, counselor. 853 01:28:37,254 --> 01:28:42,649 Counselor could bring. An amendment forward to add it in. 854 01:28:42,649 --> 01:28:45,569 That's one way. The second way is I could. Get 855 01:28:45,569 --> 01:28:49,209 my response back from the minister of municipal affairs saying 856 01:28:49,209 --> 01:28:51,649 that I had no business taking it. Out and put 857 01:28:51,649 --> 01:28:54,409 it back in. So we all know that for the 858 01:28:54,409 --> 01:28:59,468 next meeting. So there's. Two ways I could go. Well, 859 01:28:59,468 --> 01:29:02,331 I just want to ask this. If your proposed budget, 860 01:29:02,331 --> 01:29:04,811 which I understand, you shouldn't have taken the line bar 861 01:29:04,811 --> 01:29:08,011 out, right? But if your budget is, we're only giving 862 01:29:08,011 --> 01:29:11,423 you 10 million this year. Would that mean? You put 863 01:29:11,423 --> 01:29:14,383 that line budget back in and you say you find 864 01:29:14,383 --> 01:29:19,266 out. Because that's what council, that's what we would have 865 01:29:19,266 --> 01:29:21,506 the right to do, is say we're only going to 866 01:29:21,506 --> 01:29:26,292 give you 10 million or ten point whatever million. Or 867 01:29:26,292 --> 01:29:30,333 can the mayor not do that at all? Strictly a 868 01:29:30,333 --> 01:29:33,853 council thing, so. Yeah, it's strictly. It would be strictly 869 01:29:33,853 --> 01:29:37,013 a castle thing under. The strong mayors, it's going to 870 01:29:37,013 --> 01:29:40,693 say 100% certain that the strong mayor can't. Touch the 871 01:29:40,693 --> 01:29:45,807 operating budget, which I didn't do. Probably about 95% of 872 01:29:45,807 --> 01:29:49,847 the strong mayor can't touch the capital, so that's pretty 873 01:29:49,847 --> 01:29:52,513 well been determined. I guess my question is, does the 874 01:29:52,513 --> 01:29:56,384 strong mayor have the same authority? Over that budget that 875 01:29:56,384 --> 01:29:58,784 council would have. If not, then it has to go 876 01:29:58,784 --> 01:30:02,603 back to what they voted on. Yes. Answer your question 877 01:30:02,603 --> 01:30:06,123 directly. I have no authority over the police. Okay, so 878 01:30:06,123 --> 01:30:08,363 then there's not even a debate. We just get the 879 01:30:08,363 --> 01:30:12,048 one that they want presented to us. And then it's 880 01:30:12,048 --> 01:30:14,248 council's duty to do whatever they want with it. Yes. 881 01:30:14,248 --> 01:30:19,595 Okay. Just give me one moment here. I see. I 882 01:30:19,595 --> 01:30:24,374 want to ask Rob a question. It seems to me 883 01:30:24,374 --> 01:30:33,607 that if. There's. Refreshing. It should just be put back 884 01:30:33,607 --> 01:30:38,116 in. I did hear the question pulled by the mayor 885 01:30:38,116 --> 01:30:43,863 when he was talking to the ministry. And I was 886 01:30:43,863 --> 01:30:45,463 doing a lot of reading on it today after talking 887 01:30:45,463 --> 01:30:48,583 to Bowen and watching the emails go back and forth. 888 01:30:48,583 --> 01:30:51,463 Here's my take of it. You may not agree, but 889 01:30:51,463 --> 01:30:55,543 I believe that when the police service is board pushed 890 01:30:55,543 --> 01:31:00,590 a budget through to us, That is the one we 891 01:31:00,590 --> 01:31:04,559 should be dealing with tonight. Which is inclusive of the 892 01:31:04,559 --> 01:31:12,221 10.5 and change. For the building annex. It's not in 893 01:31:12,221 --> 01:31:18,831 there. I know. I understand. That's what I'm saying. It 894 01:31:18,831 --> 01:31:23,791 should be that document. It would be 12 million. The 895 01:31:23,791 --> 01:31:26,271 total capital. Right. Well, you would add that line item 896 01:31:26,271 --> 01:31:29,551 back in. So the line item for. The building annex. 897 01:31:29,551 --> 01:31:31,751 I think what we're going to find out coming back 898 01:31:31,751 --> 01:31:35,031 and the way I feel about it anyways is not 899 01:31:35,031 --> 01:31:38,351 because I'm sitting here, but sitting down there. Is that 900 01:31:38,351 --> 01:31:46,556 the billing annex number should appear. In that document. And 901 01:31:46,556 --> 01:31:49,156 then if, because we're not supposed to take line items 902 01:31:49,156 --> 01:31:55,115 up and it's lineup. So it should be there. That 903 01:31:55,115 --> 01:31:57,195 being said, the next part of this process after tonight. 904 01:31:59,035 --> 01:32:03,555 Is council sitting and we do the written amendments that 905 01:32:03,555 --> 01:32:08,610 process. And that's when we could start adjusting not line 906 01:32:08,610 --> 01:32:14,507 items, but. Total budget. So the budget then goes. From. 907 01:32:15,851 --> 01:32:20,508 Ten point whatever. To 21 million because the building has 908 01:32:20,508 --> 01:32:23,348 to go back into it. It's been approved by the 909 01:32:23,348 --> 01:32:30,486 board, councilor pammer. So my question then is. Or my 910 01:32:30,486 --> 01:32:35,930 comment or question is why? So we're looking at. The 911 01:32:35,930 --> 01:32:40,394 budget presented tonight is not the correct budget. It's not 912 01:32:40,394 --> 01:32:43,408 going to be the actual budget. So why would we 913 01:32:43,408 --> 01:32:46,524 spend time. When all the numbers are going to change 914 01:32:46,524 --> 01:32:50,044 significantly and how we use reverse, et cetera, is there 915 01:32:50,044 --> 01:32:54,179 any point? And even looking at this budget tonight, does 916 01:32:54,179 --> 01:32:58,819 the mayor who's proposing the budget wish to withdraw and 917 01:32:58,819 --> 01:33:01,259 then resubmit. It just seems odd to me. We're going 918 01:33:01,259 --> 01:33:03,859 to talk. About. We're going to be at $10 million 919 01:33:03,859 --> 01:33:10,169 out in this. Can I answer that? John has his 920 01:33:10,169 --> 01:33:15,096 hand up, so. Fair question, counselor. I think. It does 921 01:33:15,096 --> 01:33:18,736 affect it. But again, I'm not going to withdraw the 922 01:33:18,736 --> 01:33:22,706 budget because the majority of it. Is. In this, the 923 01:33:22,706 --> 01:33:26,186 poll. So I'm here after reading or getting the memo 924 01:33:26,186 --> 01:33:32,930 from two ministers. My hat is as strictly as. The 925 01:33:32,930 --> 01:33:38,059 present. The municipal budget this evening. The police budget. I 926 01:33:38,059 --> 01:33:40,539 mean, we know there's going to be $12 million that 927 01:33:40,539 --> 01:33:43,499 we're probably going to have to put into it. There's 928 01:33:43,499 --> 01:33:47,899 a chance they may come. Back and say, yes, mayor, 929 01:33:47,899 --> 01:33:50,659 you can remove a capital item at that point in 930 01:33:50,659 --> 01:33:53,260 time. I will be leaving it out, and I'll leave 931 01:33:53,260 --> 01:33:54,860 it up to the will and council. To put it 932 01:33:54,860 --> 01:33:59,282 back in. If that's the ruling by the ministry. So 933 01:33:59,282 --> 01:34:01,602 if they were to come back, that chance. Where they 934 01:34:01,602 --> 01:34:07,002 say, yes, strong mirrors can remove capital items. That item 935 01:34:07,002 --> 01:34:08,842 would still remain out. And then it would be the 936 01:34:08,842 --> 01:34:11,922 will of council. So just 1 second, John, can we 937 01:34:11,922 --> 01:34:14,122 move forward with the idea because they don't know exactly 938 01:34:14,122 --> 01:34:16,482 how this is going to laid and all we're. Really 939 01:34:16,482 --> 01:34:18,882 doing. Tonight is receiving these presentations. That's all you're doing. 940 01:34:20,549 --> 01:34:24,531 Okay, but hang on. So then what we do is 941 01:34:24,531 --> 01:34:26,771 move forward tonight because we have another budget in front 942 01:34:26,771 --> 01:34:29,443 of us. In due course, we're going to find out 943 01:34:29,443 --> 01:34:31,563 whether or not that line item could ever be removed. 944 01:34:32,869 --> 01:34:35,389 If it could not be removed, then the budget goes 945 01:34:35,389 --> 01:34:39,309 back to what Matt hauled and his board. Submitted to 946 01:34:39,309 --> 01:34:43,933 counsel. And at the worst, we have to call a 947 01:34:43,933 --> 01:34:47,720 quick meeting to receive that. Budget, put a motion in 948 01:34:47,720 --> 01:34:54,393 place. To assume. It, and then. We'll continue on with 949 01:34:54,393 --> 01:34:56,913 the process of having our meetings and doing the written 950 01:34:56,913 --> 01:35:01,751 amendments. If the 10 million goes back in your debt 951 01:35:01,751 --> 01:35:05,311 schedule is wrong, all your numbers start to change. Because 952 01:35:05,311 --> 01:35:10,758 you're adding 10 million into the budget. Our municipal budget. 953 01:35:11,950 --> 01:35:15,232 So every number that you've put up. Not every number, 954 01:35:15,232 --> 01:35:18,512 but so many of them will change. Cost to change 955 01:35:18,512 --> 01:35:20,912 or your percentage has to. Change, you're going to increase. 956 01:35:22,542 --> 01:35:27,593 Your chair. Because I can explain that. Go ahead. John. 957 01:35:27,593 --> 01:35:28,873 And then we got to find a way to move 958 01:35:28,873 --> 01:35:31,033 forward because the clock is ticking and we're getting over, 959 01:35:31,033 --> 01:35:37,988 John. Thank you very much. If that's okay. The annex, 960 01:35:37,988 --> 01:35:46,670 the renovation. There's money in police service reserves, and the 961 01:35:46,670 --> 01:35:49,750 rest would be borrowed over time, it would change the 962 01:35:49,750 --> 01:35:53,583 debt schedules. However, it would not change the levy. Okay. 963 01:35:53,583 --> 01:35:56,023 The amount of money that's being asked for on the 964 01:35:56,023 --> 01:35:57,983 levee is going to remain the same in terms of 965 01:35:57,983 --> 01:36:01,503 this year municipal budget so it's 9.88. I think and 966 01:36:01,503 --> 01:36:04,983 it have about the same amount, say a 2% increase, 967 01:36:04,983 --> 01:36:09,715 a 2% effect on the overall budget. So whether the 968 01:36:09,715 --> 01:36:12,515 capital budget goes ahead or it doesn't go ahead for 969 01:36:12,515 --> 01:36:16,410 the renovation, The levy on the police budget is going 970 01:36:16,410 --> 01:36:20,387 to remain the same at 9.88. So it's not going 971 01:36:20,387 --> 01:36:23,227 to change the numbers for this year, just not taxes. 972 01:36:24,872 --> 01:36:27,672 Grant, you have a final word? I just have something 973 01:36:27,672 --> 01:36:33,136 else on it. Councilor Willie. I'm using everybody's first name. 974 01:36:33,136 --> 01:36:35,616 My apologies. Mine was on a different but related point 975 01:36:35,616 --> 01:36:39,321 not necessarily on the police annex. Which is on the 976 01:36:39,321 --> 01:36:41,281 budget pieces that we came through. There's a number where 977 01:36:41,281 --> 01:36:44,761 the titles of the documents are draft and there's typos 978 01:36:44,761 --> 01:36:50,604 and there's incomplete paragraphs. And descriptions aren't there. And the 979 01:36:50,604 --> 01:36:52,764 tax calculation. I'm going to use the agriculture one. That 980 01:36:52,764 --> 01:36:56,644 was off as well. The debt schedules are including interest 981 01:36:56,644 --> 01:37:00,975 and principle and the outstanding. Principle. At the end of 982 01:37:00,975 --> 01:37:03,695 the year, the numbers are wrong. There's mistakes on half 983 01:37:03,695 --> 01:37:05,535 of the documents that are in front of us and 984 01:37:05,535 --> 01:37:09,074 they say all draft and template. I just want to 985 01:37:09,074 --> 01:37:11,394 ask again. Is the mayor comfortable that these are the 986 01:37:11,394 --> 01:37:13,514 documents he wants, counsel? To look at with all of 987 01:37:13,514 --> 01:37:16,274 those errors in them. And that's what we're going to 988 01:37:16,274 --> 01:37:18,954 review when we're already changing? Councilor. What? I'm comfortable doing 989 01:37:18,954 --> 01:37:24,206 this. Evening is presenting the budget as proposed. I'm very 990 01:37:24,206 --> 01:37:27,595 comfortable presenting the numbers. So in terms of typos, If 991 01:37:27,595 --> 01:37:29,955 they're going to change somebody's mind is what the numbers 992 01:37:29,955 --> 01:37:32,675 are. I'll. Grant that there may be the word draft, 993 01:37:32,675 --> 01:37:37,363 or maybe. Grammatical errors. But, councilor, I'm here tonight to 994 01:37:37,363 --> 01:37:40,483 present a proposed budget, and that is. The key word 995 01:37:40,483 --> 01:37:45,226 is proposed. Things like looking at the possibility of the 996 01:37:45,226 --> 01:37:48,266 annex. We'd have other meetings that are to come up. 997 01:37:48,266 --> 01:37:52,483 So if there are any concerns regarding. Grammatical errors or 998 01:37:52,483 --> 01:37:56,883 typos or numbers that may be incorrect, bring them forward 999 01:37:56,883 --> 01:37:59,683 to the director. Of finance or the manager of finance. 1000 01:37:59,683 --> 01:38:04,243 Buy them here tonight, Jared, just to present a proposed 1001 01:38:04,243 --> 01:38:08,099 draft. Budget. That's what I'm prepared to do. Chair. Okay. 1002 01:38:09,506 --> 01:38:11,466 Present your budget. Thank you. And I do, by the 1003 01:38:11,466 --> 01:38:15,407 way, I just want to comment. I do. Understand. Like 1004 01:38:15,407 --> 01:38:18,419 everybody. The questions and for life, or better word, the 1005 01:38:18,419 --> 01:38:22,912 Yanks regarding. The strong mayor powers and presenting the budget 1006 01:38:22,912 --> 01:38:26,591 I have just tried to follow. The process that's laid 1007 01:38:26,591 --> 01:38:30,613 out, and that is. The responsibility of the merit to 1008 01:38:30,613 --> 01:38:33,053 present a proposed budget. So that's what I am here. 1009 01:38:33,053 --> 01:38:35,413 To do this evening, but I'm going to start just. 1010 01:38:35,413 --> 01:38:36,853 I want to go over some. Numbers, and I'm going 1011 01:38:36,853 --> 01:38:38,573 to turn it over to Lindsay to go through and. 1012 01:38:40,073 --> 01:38:41,993 I want to thank the finance staff. I want to 1013 01:38:41,993 --> 01:38:46,953 thank director Dacon, manager Lasky, Lindsay and Amy for being 1014 01:38:46,953 --> 01:38:48,673 a great help. They've put up with a lot of 1015 01:38:48,673 --> 01:38:53,033 questions, even. As late as this morning or my coffee. 1016 01:38:53,033 --> 01:38:56,113 I ask some questions, so I am going to start. 1017 01:38:56,113 --> 01:39:00,366 Because now, knowing that. The mayor doesn't really have much 1018 01:39:00,366 --> 01:39:06,043 input or say. Into the police budget, I may have 1019 01:39:06,043 --> 01:39:09,363 asked to have that line item removed separately from what 1020 01:39:09,363 --> 01:39:13,088 I want to propose tonight. Because. Strong air is strictly 1021 01:39:13,088 --> 01:39:17,135 responsible for. The municipal budget. I just want to point 1022 01:39:17,135 --> 01:39:19,215 out and not begin to pick on my friends and 1023 01:39:19,215 --> 01:39:22,655 the police or the police board, which I'm a member 1024 01:39:22,655 --> 01:39:29,766 of. The 4.5% increase that we're proposing. 2.92 increase is 1025 01:39:29,766 --> 01:39:37,241 from policing. Only one point. 6%. Is municipal budget. So 1026 01:39:37,241 --> 01:39:39,321 if we were to go back and present this to 1027 01:39:39,321 --> 01:39:42,674 the public, whatever the number may be. May ask to 1028 01:39:42,674 --> 01:39:48,852 report. That separately of 1.6%. That is, the tax rate 1029 01:39:48,852 --> 01:39:53,210 increase or the municipal portion of the budget. A couple 1030 01:39:53,210 --> 01:39:55,490 of other numbers I want to point out before I 1031 01:39:55,490 --> 01:40:01,299 proceed, because the county today. Did approve. Their increase, which 1032 01:40:01,299 --> 01:40:07,098 is 3.78. We'll all recall that the municipal portion is 1033 01:40:07,098 --> 01:40:14,562 57%. 32% is the county and 10%. Is education tax. 1034 01:40:16,115 --> 01:40:21,435 When you roll all of those in. 3.8% increase on 1035 01:40:21,435 --> 01:40:24,431 the tax bill. Me, that seems to be a fairly 1036 01:40:24,431 --> 01:40:29,092 responsible budget. But I'm not going to go through the 1037 01:40:29,092 --> 01:40:31,212 entire presentation. I believe Lindsey would do that. But I 1038 01:40:31,212 --> 01:40:33,212 just want to tell you what my thought process was. 1039 01:40:35,156 --> 01:40:38,196 And this will answer the question as why I removed. 1040 01:40:40,041 --> 01:40:42,521 The police annex do. Things went through my mind. I 1041 01:40:42,521 --> 01:40:44,761 am aware of Councilor Derbyshire. I remember. The line you 1042 01:40:44,761 --> 01:40:48,516 used. We have a pretty good credit card. But you 1043 01:40:48,516 --> 01:40:50,996 don't want to run it up. So I did remove 1044 01:40:50,996 --> 01:40:53,796 a couple of things. From debt and you look at 1045 01:40:53,796 --> 01:40:58,797 the original documents. Staff had proposed Head street. I believe 1046 01:40:58,797 --> 01:41:02,277 that was a $6 million pen. Maybe eight is rather 1047 01:41:02,277 --> 01:41:06,082 significant. There are a few things that I feel we 1048 01:41:06,082 --> 01:41:09,202 need to do before we proceed with any big debt. 1049 01:41:10,906 --> 01:41:12,346 Again. Councilor Derbyshire is right. We have a credit card. 1050 01:41:13,962 --> 01:41:17,082 You'll see reference in the document both the debt policy 1051 01:41:17,082 --> 01:41:21,185 we need to complete the debt. Policy. We need to. 1052 01:41:22,831 --> 01:41:26,351 Complete the asset management plan. We need to understand what 1053 01:41:26,351 --> 01:41:30,511 all the projects are, rather than every year. Going through 1054 01:41:30,511 --> 01:41:34,432 picking and choosing plans. We need to project. We need 1055 01:41:34,432 --> 01:41:38,032 to have a four year, multi year budget on capital 1056 01:41:38,032 --> 01:41:41,352 so that was my thought process on the debt. I 1057 01:41:41,352 --> 01:41:44,090 am aware of those things. We have spent a lot 1058 01:41:44,090 --> 01:41:49,721 of money in the past few years. On capital. Roads, 1059 01:41:49,721 --> 01:41:52,995 fire stations. I just think we need to take a 1060 01:41:52,995 --> 01:41:55,515 bit of a pause on our debt. Really understand where 1061 01:41:55,515 --> 01:42:01,357 we are before we proceed any further. There was. One 1062 01:42:01,357 --> 01:42:03,477 other part that I had my finger on, and that 1063 01:42:03,477 --> 01:42:10,846 was. On parks and recreation. Every year we move. Aside 1064 01:42:10,846 --> 01:42:13,726 projects on parks and back. You look at some of 1065 01:42:13,726 --> 01:42:19,560 the projects. They've been lingering since 2020. Those weren't initially 1066 01:42:19,560 --> 01:42:24,047 approved. If you recall too. We had asked for parks 1067 01:42:24,047 --> 01:42:26,807 and get the wrong term, director Lilborn, but a part 1068 01:42:26,807 --> 01:42:33,324 condition report. That wasn't in the initial pass from staff. 1069 01:42:33,324 --> 01:42:37,404 I asked that all those items be put back in, 1070 01:42:37,404 --> 01:42:41,761 and I did so by asking. Let's use reserves. We 1071 01:42:41,761 --> 01:42:46,481 have a fairly healthy reserves of parks and recreation, but 1072 01:42:46,481 --> 01:42:49,801 to have items sit for five, six years and not 1073 01:42:49,801 --> 01:42:53,800 action them. That doesn't seem right to me. That was 1074 01:42:53,800 --> 01:42:56,480 one place where I had my finger on is let's. 1075 01:42:57,919 --> 01:43:02,174 Get those projects done and. I've kept an email under 1076 01:43:02,174 --> 01:43:05,854 my blotter on my desk since August from the folks 1077 01:43:05,854 --> 01:43:09,206 that are. The adult baseball that you got a Yorkview 1078 01:43:09,206 --> 01:43:12,846 park for, I believe ten years they've been asking for 1079 01:43:12,846 --> 01:43:16,805 another field fence and a warning track. Number of times. 1080 01:43:17,979 --> 01:43:20,699 This year, games are postponed because the dugouts and the 1081 01:43:20,699 --> 01:43:25,346 clay. They weren't initially in there. Let's put them in 1082 01:43:25,346 --> 01:43:28,026 part of what we have. To do is be aware 1083 01:43:28,026 --> 01:43:32,301 of what the community wants. The other finger that I 1084 01:43:32,301 --> 01:43:37,011 had on the pie, if you will, was 137. Frank 1085 01:43:37,011 --> 01:43:42,331 Street Council had initially approved $500,000 to go towards that 1086 01:43:42,331 --> 01:43:47,477 project. I asked that we include another $500,000. Taking money 1087 01:43:47,477 --> 01:43:50,997 out of reserves. Let's complete that project. Need to complete 1088 01:43:50,997 --> 01:43:55,398 that project for two reasons. It's important for us as 1089 01:43:55,398 --> 01:43:58,789 a. Municipal staff or run out of space here. We 1090 01:43:58,789 --> 01:44:03,127 all know that it's part of the service strategy. But 1091 01:44:03,127 --> 01:44:04,487 the community is asking for that to be done. So 1092 01:44:04,487 --> 01:44:07,167 when I went through the budget, I looked at it 1093 01:44:07,167 --> 01:44:11,461 from debt and what the community wants. Another area where 1094 01:44:11,461 --> 01:44:16,254 I put. My. Use term where I asked to be 1095 01:44:16,254 --> 01:44:20,640 included. Were for the two new staff members initially. Staff 1096 01:44:20,640 --> 01:44:22,600 left that out. I said we need to put those 1097 01:44:22,600 --> 01:44:25,680 back in because they're part of a strategy. We created 1098 01:44:25,680 --> 01:44:30,594 a strategy. A long term stopping strategy. To deviate from 1099 01:44:30,594 --> 01:44:33,194 that. We've made a plan. So the two that I 1100 01:44:33,194 --> 01:44:36,034 said we. Should be back in. We're the asset manager. 1101 01:44:36,034 --> 01:44:40,114 I believe that's needed. And also. The communications person. So 1102 01:44:40,114 --> 01:44:44,953 in terms of the overall. Budget. That was the influence, 1103 01:44:44,953 --> 01:44:47,073 if you will, a strong mayor. I put it on 1104 01:44:47,073 --> 01:44:50,810 just two things. Just watch your debt. Let's get the 1105 01:44:50,810 --> 01:44:54,843 debt policy in place. Let's understand the asset management. Let's 1106 01:44:54,843 --> 01:44:58,705 create a four year long term strategy. And let's do 1107 01:44:58,705 --> 01:45:01,265 some things for the community that they can see. Things 1108 01:45:01,265 --> 01:45:05,848 like parks. And that's all over. That's not just strategy 1109 01:45:05,848 --> 01:45:08,888 and War II in places there are parks that need 1110 01:45:08,888 --> 01:45:12,408 to be fixed. So that's what I did. Chair. So 1111 01:45:12,408 --> 01:45:14,688 with that. I'll turn over to Lindsay if you want 1112 01:45:14,688 --> 01:45:17,854 to go through the presentation. And I don't think we 1113 01:45:17,854 --> 01:45:21,014 need to do the death by PowerPoint chair, but we 1114 01:45:21,014 --> 01:45:22,694 can do it at a high level if you wish. 1115 01:45:24,429 --> 01:45:28,807 That would be better. Thank you. I know you. Hey. 1116 01:45:28,807 --> 01:45:31,407 Good evening, mayor, members of council. Thank you for having 1117 01:45:31,407 --> 01:45:35,047 me here tonight to present. This is my first council 1118 01:45:35,047 --> 01:45:37,647 presentation, so bear with me as I'm working through a 1119 01:45:37,647 --> 01:45:42,389 little bit of nerves, trying my best. Okay, so the 1120 01:45:42,389 --> 01:45:45,109 purpose of tonight's meeting, we're going to provide an overview 1121 01:45:45,109 --> 01:45:50,335 of. The proposed 2026 municipal budget. Although the overall responsibility 1122 01:45:50,335 --> 01:45:53,335 for the budget has now changed under the new legislation, 1123 01:45:53,335 --> 01:45:56,575 the journey we've followed this far. In preparing the budget 1124 01:45:56,575 --> 01:46:00,801 has been the same. Staff have worked collaboratively with the 1125 01:46:00,801 --> 01:46:03,921 mayor to prepare a budget that aligns with the municipality's. 1126 01:46:03,921 --> 01:46:08,801 Strategic priorities, supports essential services and delivers value for residents 1127 01:46:08,801 --> 01:46:13,033 of Strathricare. So our agenda for this evening includes a 1128 01:46:13,033 --> 01:46:15,393 quick recap of the budget process under the new strong 1129 01:46:15,393 --> 01:46:19,793 mayor powers comments on the overall economic and policy context. 1130 01:46:21,401 --> 01:46:25,878 A discussion of key financial challenges and strategic opportunities. And 1131 01:46:25,878 --> 01:46:27,958 what we're all here for, of course, the presentation of 1132 01:46:27,958 --> 01:46:30,838 the budget and we'll. Wrap up with some comments on 1133 01:46:30,838 --> 01:46:34,366 what it means for property owners in our community. And 1134 01:46:34,366 --> 01:46:38,189 provide a timeline for some next steps. So the December 1135 01:46:38,189 --> 01:46:40,989 15 meeting of council, you received a guide to the 1136 01:46:40,989 --> 01:46:44,229 strong mayor's budget. Providing information on the new legislation and 1137 01:46:44,229 --> 01:46:49,786 its impact on the budget process. Following the new framework, 1138 01:46:49,786 --> 01:46:53,106 our goal for this evening is to complete step one. 1139 01:46:53,106 --> 01:46:56,186 The mayor is introducing the proposed budget to council. At 1140 01:46:56,186 --> 01:46:58,746 the end of the presentation, we'll circle back to the 1141 01:46:58,746 --> 01:47:01,906 timeline and requirements for council, how we're going to move 1142 01:47:01,906 --> 01:47:04,607 forward. With the remaining steps and the budget goes up. 1143 01:47:06,552 --> 01:47:10,032 The 2026 proposed budget was prepared. Keeping in mind the 1144 01:47:10,032 --> 01:47:14,312 realities of our current economic landscape, we must consider the 1145 01:47:14,312 --> 01:47:17,832 impact of inflation and interest rate pressures. We're in competition 1146 01:47:17,832 --> 01:47:21,712 with other municipalities. For available funding for the province, and 1147 01:47:21,712 --> 01:47:27,251 increasingly it's on an application basis. We just don't get 1148 01:47:27,251 --> 01:47:30,411 sums of money. We have to apply for it provincially 1149 01:47:30,411 --> 01:47:34,211 and. Locally, we're seeing housing and demographic shifts, and through 1150 01:47:34,211 --> 01:47:38,011 asset management planning, we're increasingly aware of infrastructure funding gaps. 1151 01:47:40,049 --> 01:47:43,089 The municipality is facing incremental pressures which are driving up 1152 01:47:43,089 --> 01:47:46,609 the cost of operations there's. An expectations to maintain or 1153 01:47:46,609 --> 01:47:49,649 increase our levels of service, often with the same or 1154 01:47:49,649 --> 01:47:55,980 a decrease. In amount of resources. The service delivery review 1155 01:47:55,980 --> 01:47:59,460 that was conducted recently highlighted the need for additional staff. 1156 01:47:59,460 --> 01:48:01,820 If this was outlined in the four year staffing plan 1157 01:48:01,820 --> 01:48:05,047 that was presented to council. Under the plan to maintain 1158 01:48:05,047 --> 01:48:08,047 council's desired levels of service, it was recommended that six 1159 01:48:08,047 --> 01:48:12,047 new positions be created in 2026. But keeping in mind 1160 01:48:12,047 --> 01:48:17,674 the operating cost pressures. The proposed budget before you tonight. 1161 01:48:17,674 --> 01:48:19,554 I have includes three of the positions. One of them 1162 01:48:19,554 --> 01:48:21,994 is not. Scheduled to start till the fall or near 1163 01:48:21,994 --> 01:48:25,590 the end of 2026. That would be the either customer 1164 01:48:25,590 --> 01:48:28,670 service rep, but the asset analyst and the communications analyst 1165 01:48:28,670 --> 01:48:33,405 are for the full year. As our asset management plan 1166 01:48:33,405 --> 01:48:39,085 suggests, Strawberry Caradock be investing $13 million annually to address 1167 01:48:39,085 --> 01:48:45,213 capital requirements. Historically, we've been allocating approximately $3 million in 1168 01:48:45,213 --> 01:48:49,373 taxation annually to capital annual transfers. Are being made to 1169 01:48:49,373 --> 01:48:52,133 the asset management plan and the future needs reserved to 1170 01:48:52,133 --> 01:48:56,493 address infrastructure gaps. The proposed budget tonight. I think it's 1171 01:48:56,493 --> 01:49:01,092 $300,000 for a transfer. But it's important to note that 1172 01:49:01,092 --> 01:49:05,012 the infrastructure gap continues to be compounded by construction. Inflation. 1173 01:49:05,012 --> 01:49:07,372 So we do have a need to invest in capital. 1174 01:49:07,372 --> 01:49:10,612 It's there. The gas is growing more and more expensive 1175 01:49:10,612 --> 01:49:15,343 every year. This was just a quick slide showing the 1176 01:49:15,343 --> 01:49:20,100 correlation between. The CPI and our municipal cost growth in 1177 01:49:20,100 --> 01:49:23,694 the past two years. So the challenges from the current 1178 01:49:23,694 --> 01:49:26,894 economic landscape and cost pressures have also created some strategic 1179 01:49:26,894 --> 01:49:30,974 opportunities, reserves and debt need to be used strategically. The 1180 01:49:30,974 --> 01:49:32,654 mayor spoke a bit to that and a little bit 1181 01:49:32,654 --> 01:49:37,652 more on that later. Intergovernmental grants must be pursued to 1182 01:49:37,652 --> 01:49:42,092 fill in the funding gaps. Modernization and digitization of services, 1183 01:49:42,092 --> 01:49:46,332 along with regional collaboration, provides an opportunity for the municipality 1184 01:49:46,332 --> 01:49:50,676 to realize operational efficiencies. It is also important to continue 1185 01:49:50,676 --> 01:49:54,076 to diversify revenue streams and decrease reliance on property taxes. 1186 01:49:55,938 --> 01:49:59,658 So the first strategic opportunity just to touch on considering 1187 01:49:59,658 --> 01:50:03,725 the use of reserves and reserve funds. The municipality currently 1188 01:50:03,725 --> 01:50:08,365 has $44.6 million available in reserves and reserve funds. That 1189 01:50:08,365 --> 01:50:12,961 doesn't include any 2025 budgeted transfers or. The interest that 1190 01:50:12,961 --> 01:50:17,193 gets allocated every year. Those entries are still outstanding. At 1191 01:50:17,193 --> 01:50:19,633 Stratfordcare can be strategic. It is use of reserves and 1192 01:50:19,633 --> 01:50:24,033 reserve funds versus using property taxes. To address infrastructure gaps. 1193 01:50:25,834 --> 01:50:29,154 And the other opportunity that the mayor touched on was 1194 01:50:29,154 --> 01:50:33,611 the use of debt. We've paid down a considerable amount 1195 01:50:33,611 --> 01:50:35,931 of debt in the recent years, and all of this. 1196 01:50:35,931 --> 01:50:37,651 From debt will be repayed by the end of 2030. 1197 01:50:39,592 --> 01:50:43,519 Also the fir. The 20 and 24 fir. Suggested our 1198 01:50:43,519 --> 01:50:47,359 annual repayment limit of that would be 11.5 million. So 1199 01:50:47,359 --> 01:50:49,639 this demonstrates that we have the capacity to take on 1200 01:50:49,639 --> 01:50:55,232 debt, especially. To address these infrastructure deficits. And as the 1201 01:50:55,232 --> 01:50:58,935 mayor had suggested, it's important to be strategic. Finance department 1202 01:50:58,935 --> 01:51:01,175 plans to bring a debt policy to council in early 1203 01:51:01,175 --> 01:51:03,655 2026. Actually, I believe it. Might be at the next 1204 01:51:03,655 --> 01:51:06,455 meeting on the 19th. We're also in the process of 1205 01:51:06,455 --> 01:51:09,895 updating the municipality's long term financial plan, which will map 1206 01:51:09,895 --> 01:51:12,415 out the long term projected capital needs from all the 1207 01:51:12,415 --> 01:51:17,348 departments, so we'll have everything in one document. All the 1208 01:51:17,348 --> 01:51:19,188 needs over a certain period of time. So those two 1209 01:51:19,188 --> 01:51:21,348 documents will be very important tools. For councils to use 1210 01:51:21,348 --> 01:51:25,873 when prioritizing future capital needs. So now the reason we're 1211 01:51:25,873 --> 01:51:31,660 here. The 2026 proposed municipal budget. Combining both operations and 1212 01:51:31,660 --> 01:51:35,180 capital for looking at a consolidated tax rate increase of 1213 01:51:35,180 --> 01:51:41,188 4.53%. And due to increases in industrial and commercial sectors, 1214 01:51:41,188 --> 01:51:45,148 impact has projected our assessment growth to be 2.72% for 1215 01:51:45,148 --> 01:51:50,442 2026. In 2025, our growth rate was only 1%. So, 1216 01:51:50,442 --> 01:51:52,882 as you might recall, growth directly impacts the tax rate. 1217 01:51:54,606 --> 01:51:57,526 As assessment growth increases, the tax rate decreases. So, in 1218 01:51:57,526 --> 01:52:01,004 essence, We're able to abuse this assessment growth to spread 1219 01:52:01,004 --> 01:52:05,141 the tax needs over the larger assessment. Base. Now we'll 1220 01:52:05,141 --> 01:52:11,257 just jump into looking at the operating budget. Total $61.6 1221 01:52:11,257 --> 01:52:14,977 million. And of that, $26 million would be for property 1222 01:52:14,977 --> 01:52:19,432 taxes and 25.6 billion from other sources of revenue. So 1223 01:52:19,432 --> 01:52:22,592 this demonstrates the high reliance of the operating budget on 1224 01:52:22,592 --> 01:52:26,480 property taxes. It's just over half. This life is a 1225 01:52:26,480 --> 01:52:28,960 little hard to see, but just a quick snapshot of. 1226 01:52:31,751 --> 01:52:35,124 The most operating budgets for each department. And it shows 1227 01:52:35,124 --> 01:52:37,884 the taxation required and then also the non tax revenues. 1228 01:52:39,398 --> 01:52:42,238 So we have overall a requirement of $26 million, and 1229 01:52:42,238 --> 01:52:45,078 this would be a levy increase of 2.68 million from 1230 01:52:45,078 --> 01:52:50,931 2025. Or eleven point 48%. In the agenda package this 1231 01:52:50,931 --> 01:52:54,491 evening, there's a number of documents the 2026 proposed operating 1232 01:52:54,491 --> 01:52:58,331 budget. There's one that's the summary and one that's detailed 1233 01:52:58,331 --> 01:53:01,571 and also a budget template. If you refer to those 1234 01:53:01,571 --> 01:53:05,451 documents, we'll provide some background for this one. Here more 1235 01:53:05,451 --> 01:53:09,088 details. Just did a few slides just to kind of 1236 01:53:09,088 --> 01:53:15,475 break down. Where the 51.6 million coming from. So the 1237 01:53:15,475 --> 01:53:17,435 first slide here just shows it by the source of 1238 01:53:17,435 --> 01:53:20,835 revenue. This will show how the proposed operating budget will 1239 01:53:20,835 --> 01:53:23,715 be funding. So again, you can see that the operating 1240 01:53:23,715 --> 01:53:26,195 budget is highly reliant on property taxes at just over 1241 01:53:26,195 --> 01:53:29,475 50%. And the next largest source of revenue would be 1242 01:53:29,475 --> 01:53:33,647 the user fees at 37 point. Eight. The next line 1243 01:53:33,647 --> 01:53:39,205 here. We're just breaking down the amount. By department. So 1244 01:53:39,205 --> 01:53:40,805 the graph will show the funds to be how it 1245 01:53:40,805 --> 01:53:44,005 will be utilized throughout the municipality, and as you can 1246 01:53:44,005 --> 01:53:47,565 see, protective services, engineering and public works and municipal services 1247 01:53:47,565 --> 01:53:56,203 have the largest budgets in total 85%. And finally. This 1248 01:53:56,203 --> 01:53:58,963 last slide here is going to show the breakdown of 1249 01:53:58,963 --> 01:54:02,243 the budget by expense type. So just a snapshot of 1250 01:54:02,243 --> 01:54:05,973 how the money is going to be spent. So almost 1251 01:54:05,973 --> 01:54:09,013 45% of the municipal operating budget will go towards salaries 1252 01:54:09,013 --> 01:54:14,130 and benefits. Budgeted transfers to reserves of 18.7% are mostly 1253 01:54:14,130 --> 01:54:18,250 comprised of water and wastewater rate stabilization transfers as well 1254 01:54:18,250 --> 01:54:22,410 as transfers into the fleet reserve for various departments. There's 1255 01:54:22,410 --> 01:54:26,290 also services and rents about 16.8%. That would be for 1256 01:54:26,290 --> 01:54:31,186 contracted services, things like garbage collection, purchase of water. Now. 1257 01:54:31,186 --> 01:54:37,568 We'll go transition over to capital. The budget before you 1258 01:54:37,568 --> 01:54:42,230 today is 14 and a half million dollars and. Of 1259 01:54:42,230 --> 01:54:46,157 that asking for taxation of $2.1 billion. Actually is a 1260 01:54:46,157 --> 01:54:50,437 levy decrease of about 986,000 from last year. Since less 1261 01:54:50,437 --> 01:54:52,997 taxation is being proposed. An effort has been made to 1262 01:54:52,997 --> 01:54:57,197 finance the projects with reserves, grants and debt. Whenever province 1263 01:54:57,197 --> 01:54:59,437 so there's a list of notable projects on the slide 1264 01:54:59,437 --> 01:55:02,459 there. But a complete list of projects can be found 1265 01:55:02,459 --> 01:55:05,179 in the 2026 capital discussion document that was in the 1266 01:55:05,179 --> 01:55:09,078 agenda package, and there's also a section that. Shows additional 1267 01:55:09,078 --> 01:55:12,238 projects that were brought forward by departments but ultimately not 1268 01:55:12,238 --> 01:55:16,380 included in the capital budget. Just a couple of slides 1269 01:55:16,380 --> 01:55:18,380 here to show a breakdown of the 14 and a 1270 01:55:18,380 --> 01:55:22,870 half million. The first one is by department. So you 1271 01:55:22,870 --> 01:55:25,910 can see about 60% of the proposed projects are for 1272 01:55:25,910 --> 01:55:29,695 engineering and public works. About 19% has been allocated to 1273 01:55:29,695 --> 01:55:33,215 community services. As the mayor spoke, there was an effort 1274 01:55:33,215 --> 01:55:36,255 to clean up some parks and rec and arena projects. 1275 01:55:36,255 --> 01:55:40,535 Using departmental reserves and also the municipal services budget includes 1276 01:55:40,535 --> 01:55:45,874 a million dollars allocated to 137 Frank Street. So, finally, 1277 01:55:45,874 --> 01:55:48,434 this slide provides a breakdown of the 14 and a 1278 01:55:48,434 --> 01:55:53,023 half million by revenue source. Basically, it will show how 1279 01:55:53,023 --> 01:55:57,303 the capital projects will be financed for the year 35.4%. 1280 01:55:57,303 --> 01:56:02,024 Of projects will be financed via grants. So Osif. Community 1281 01:56:02,024 --> 01:56:06,184 Canadian Community building funds in NG 911. User fees are 1282 01:56:06,184 --> 01:56:09,104 comprised of water and sewer rates, which will be used 1283 01:56:09,104 --> 01:56:13,384 for EPW projects and it will finance about 19% discounted 1284 01:56:13,384 --> 01:56:17,713 projects. Almost two and a half million, or 17% of 1285 01:56:17,713 --> 01:56:20,633 projects will be financed by reserves. And as you can 1286 01:56:20,633 --> 01:56:22,993 see, taxation makes up a small component of the capital 1287 01:56:22,993 --> 01:56:27,330 budget. At only 14 and a half percent. So where 1288 01:56:27,330 --> 01:56:31,370 will the post taxation come from? An assessment base consolidating 1289 01:56:31,370 --> 01:56:35,130 both the proposed operating capital budgets and considering other sources 1290 01:56:35,130 --> 01:56:38,690 of revenue that are available for municipality that get applied 1291 01:56:38,690 --> 01:56:42,690 to the taxation and grants departments, the municipality will require 1292 01:56:42,690 --> 01:56:46,506 total taxation of just over $26 million for 2020. Six. 1293 01:56:47,959 --> 01:56:51,711 This graph here breaks down. That by property tax class. 1294 01:56:51,711 --> 01:56:53,871 So showing where the taxations will come from in our 1295 01:56:53,871 --> 01:56:57,391 community as you can see, three quarters of the municipal 1296 01:56:57,391 --> 01:57:00,911 tax base is comprised of residential properties, and this breakdown. 1297 01:57:02,156 --> 01:57:05,729 Is consistent with the 2025 assessment base as well. The 1298 01:57:05,729 --> 01:57:08,809 next slide here. The mayor spoke briefly about two it's 1299 01:57:08,809 --> 01:57:13,420 important to note that. The tax increase of 4.53 that 1300 01:57:13,420 --> 01:57:16,420 we're proposing. That only makes up a portion. Of the 1301 01:57:16,420 --> 01:57:19,649 tax bill. The municipality also collects levies for the county 1302 01:57:19,649 --> 01:57:25,367 and the province. In 2025, the percentages were 55% was 1303 01:57:25,367 --> 01:57:31,386 municipal. 32 was provincial. Sorry. County was 32 and province 1304 01:57:31,386 --> 01:57:34,266 was 13. And we're not expecting the percentages to change 1305 01:57:34,266 --> 01:57:38,456 very much for the year. And this slide here, what 1306 01:57:38,456 --> 01:57:41,696 does it mean for property owners? We've updated the slides 1307 01:57:41,696 --> 01:57:44,976 just to provide some clarification on what we originally sent 1308 01:57:44,976 --> 01:57:49,136 out versus for residential and farm rates. Property owners, Mr. 1309 01:57:49,136 --> 01:57:53,696 Ethra Caradock will see an increase of $36.42 for every 1310 01:57:53,696 --> 01:57:58,654 $100,000 of assessed value. For example, a $400,000 home would 1311 01:57:58,654 --> 01:58:05,005 see an increase of $145.68 a million dollar property. Farm 1312 01:58:05,005 --> 01:58:07,845 property would see an increase of 360 419 at the 1313 01:58:07,845 --> 01:58:10,685 residential rate. Or if you're looking just at a billion 1314 01:58:10,685 --> 01:58:14,565 dollars in farmland, it would be $91.05. And again. This 1315 01:58:14,565 --> 01:58:18,486 is just on the municipal portion of the taxital. We 1316 01:58:18,486 --> 01:58:20,526 just had one more slide for context. We just wanted 1317 01:58:20,526 --> 01:58:26,099 to include. The 2024 BMA municipal study. This chart ranks 1318 01:58:26,099 --> 01:58:31,025 the neighboring municipalities by their average 2020. Four property taxes 1319 01:58:31,025 --> 01:58:34,438 on a detached bungalow. Stress rotate is right in the 1320 01:58:34,438 --> 01:58:40,475 middle of the lower rank. There. Finally. We're just going 1321 01:58:40,475 --> 01:58:42,715 to wrap up with a quick timeline for the budget 1322 01:58:42,715 --> 01:58:47,807 process. Departments submitted their budgets over the summer. In the 1323 01:58:47,807 --> 01:58:51,047 fall, we spent delivering and refining them. And as mentioned 1324 01:58:51,047 --> 01:58:54,007 at the start of the presentation. Today marks the first 1325 01:58:54,007 --> 01:58:57,007 step in the new process. We're presenting the mayor's budget 1326 01:58:57,007 --> 01:59:02,007 to council following the new legislation, should council wish to 1327 01:59:02,007 --> 01:59:04,887 propose amendments to the budget. They must be submitted in 1328 01:59:04,887 --> 01:59:07,931 Wr. Writing to the clerk prior to the February 11 1329 01:59:07,931 --> 01:59:12,281 meeting. I believe a template was circulated today. Just to 1330 01:59:12,281 --> 01:59:15,481 track any limits. That way, a simple majority vote of 1331 01:59:15,481 --> 01:59:18,521 council is required for an amendment. To be added. The 1332 01:59:18,521 --> 01:59:21,041 mayor would then have ten days to be to an 1333 01:59:21,041 --> 01:59:23,521 amendment if he chose. To and council would have 15 1334 01:59:23,521 --> 01:59:26,921 days after that to overturn a mayor's veto and for 1335 01:59:26,921 --> 01:59:28,801 that, to have a two thirds vote of council would 1336 01:59:28,801 --> 01:59:33,700 be required. So we've tentatively set. February 23 and March 1337 01:59:33,700 --> 01:59:36,620 9 meetings to handle those two steps if they're required. 1338 01:59:38,345 --> 01:59:40,585 And yes, sorry. That was a lot. And a quick 1339 01:59:40,585 --> 01:59:45,468 presentation. Just open up. Any questions? I'm just going to 1340 01:59:45,468 --> 01:59:48,867 follow up with one thing. I'll maybe chair answer the 1341 01:59:48,867 --> 01:59:52,003 elephant in the room. I have no interest in using 1342 01:59:52,003 --> 01:59:56,469 libido powers. Way to look at it. So will a 1343 01:59:56,469 --> 01:59:59,309 council. There's something that I really want in the budget. 1344 02:00:01,117 --> 02:00:04,197 To incorbern upon me to convince poor other counselors to 1345 02:00:04,197 --> 02:00:07,109 vote along with me. So I will not be using 1346 02:00:07,109 --> 02:00:12,649 my veto chair. There you go. There you have it. 1347 02:00:13,086 --> 02:00:16,721 Thank you. Well done, Lindsay. You should be proud. A 1348 02:00:16,721 --> 02:00:21,073 lot of work went into it. So with that, my 1349 02:00:21,073 --> 02:00:26,611 understanding of the process is we receive. The presentation tonight. 1350 02:00:26,611 --> 02:00:31,529 The documents get received by counsel. And then, I mean, 1351 02:00:31,529 --> 02:00:36,507 we can ask clarifying questions this evening. But questions where 1352 02:00:36,507 --> 02:00:39,427 you want to do. Amendments need to be provided in 1353 02:00:39,427 --> 02:00:44,552 writing to the clerk. Is there a specified time period 1354 02:00:44,552 --> 02:00:48,463 prior so that they can get on the agenda? Generally 1355 02:00:48,463 --> 02:00:52,635 five days. Five days? Thinking that those questions need to 1356 02:00:52,635 --> 02:00:55,955 be drafted. Or really, it would be the amendments, the 1357 02:00:55,955 --> 02:00:58,915 requested amendments. Need to be drafted and put into the 1358 02:00:58,915 --> 02:01:04,476 clerk. Five days prior so that they can be properly 1359 02:01:04,476 --> 02:01:09,586 posted. And that's, I think, probably when the big discussion 1360 02:01:09,586 --> 02:01:15,070 happens at council. So I think tonight what we're looking 1361 02:01:15,070 --> 02:01:17,950 for is if there's clarifying questions. That we just need 1362 02:01:17,950 --> 02:01:20,430 to get sorted out. We still have to figure out 1363 02:01:20,430 --> 02:01:25,582 what next steps would be. But are there clarifying questions? 1364 02:01:27,825 --> 02:01:30,225 Errors, et cetera. So I'll start with Greg. I saw 1365 02:01:30,225 --> 02:01:33,025 your hand up. No, Frank. And was it bow? You 1366 02:01:33,025 --> 02:01:38,252 had your hand. Mine was just about the written thing. 1367 02:01:38,252 --> 02:01:42,612 Okay, so that's Greg and Frank and Donna and. Both. 1368 02:01:42,612 --> 02:01:45,292 And I'll try to do my best to use your 1369 02:01:45,292 --> 02:01:52,020 last name. Some counselor. Sorry. My first clarifying question is 1370 02:01:52,020 --> 02:01:55,620 just on the debt schedule we have. All the loans 1371 02:01:55,620 --> 02:01:58,980 are amortized. Over 30 years. That's a fire truck, road 1372 02:01:58,980 --> 02:02:04,431 and fire estate. And there's two roads projects there. Typically, 1373 02:02:04,431 --> 02:02:07,791 we've done roads 15 years and fire. Trucks at ten. 1374 02:02:07,791 --> 02:02:10,031 Our asset management plan says a road is only good 1375 02:02:10,031 --> 02:02:12,551 for 25 years. But we're financing it for 30, according 1376 02:02:12,551 --> 02:02:15,431 to the debt schedule. And the asset management also says 1377 02:02:15,431 --> 02:02:17,431 a truck is good for ten to 15 and we're 1378 02:02:17,431 --> 02:02:19,071 financing it for 30, so we're going to be paying 1379 02:02:19,071 --> 02:02:20,951 for that truck 20 years after we take it out 1380 02:02:20,951 --> 02:02:22,937 of service, so. I just want to make sure that 1381 02:02:22,937 --> 02:02:25,257 that was intentional or see if that was a mistake. 1382 02:02:26,912 --> 02:02:30,550 Just so I know, for my motion, I hear it. 1383 02:02:31,871 --> 02:02:35,543 Somebody from finance. So through the charity councilor Wolsey. So 1384 02:02:35,543 --> 02:02:38,063 all of those are proposed. So we haven't. Even entered 1385 02:02:38,063 --> 02:02:41,663 into any arrangements on any of those debts yet, so 1386 02:02:41,663 --> 02:02:48,488 those are basically just using numbers. Once we bring those 1387 02:02:48,488 --> 02:02:50,888 forward. In fact, all of those have to come forward. 1388 02:02:52,130 --> 02:02:55,300 To council. So with those. They'll be in but fire 1389 02:02:55,300 --> 02:02:59,460 trucks. You're correct. You can't go beyond. The useful life, 1390 02:02:59,460 --> 02:03:02,784 so those will be. I guess a different debt schedule, 1391 02:03:02,784 --> 02:03:04,224 and that's going to change the tax rate and everything. 1392 02:03:04,224 --> 02:03:12,577 Else then? So you're saying that that would change tax 1393 02:03:12,577 --> 02:03:20,654 rate for sure? Because we're going to be paying over 1394 02:03:20,654 --> 02:03:23,294 15 years or ten years instead of 30, so. Our 1395 02:03:23,294 --> 02:03:25,854 payments are going to change. And that's the entire debt 1396 02:03:25,854 --> 02:03:30,760 schedule, except for potentially the firewall. It will advertise over 1397 02:03:30,760 --> 02:03:35,726 a juiceable life, so. I appreciate that, council. I just 1398 02:03:35,726 --> 02:03:37,406 wanted to put it in the form of, like, a 1399 02:03:37,406 --> 02:03:40,326 question that. We can get an answer to or just 1400 02:03:40,326 --> 02:03:42,526 state that it's a comment and we can move on. 1401 02:03:44,254 --> 02:03:50,288 Director Deacon, did you want to answer that? Will all 1402 02:03:50,288 --> 02:03:52,408 the numbers then change? Are you going to change the 1403 02:03:52,408 --> 02:03:57,787 numbers accordingly? Through the chair to councilor Wolsey will update 1404 02:03:57,787 --> 02:04:06,604 those numbers. On that. Don't include both interest. Yeah, well, 1405 02:04:06,604 --> 02:04:08,284 you're looking at that. If we could just update the 1406 02:04:08,284 --> 02:04:14,656 Excel firms as well. Because currently. The established. Principal outstanding 1407 02:04:14,656 --> 02:04:17,416 includes the interest and the principal. It only includes the 1408 02:04:17,416 --> 02:04:20,770 principal. For updating it. We'll just update the whole sheet, 1409 02:04:20,770 --> 02:04:25,936 make it correct. Thank you. As I was just mentioning 1410 02:04:25,936 --> 02:04:31,762 to the chair. To the mayor. The interest rates. There 1411 02:04:31,762 --> 02:04:36,685 are 4.7, which. We're probably below now. These are done 1412 02:04:36,685 --> 02:04:40,987 back in 2023, I think. Or 2024. A lot of 1413 02:04:40,987 --> 02:04:45,259 these. So we'll update the interest rates, plus. The terms 1414 02:04:45,259 --> 02:04:53,238 as well. All right, council cash. Yeah. I guess I 1415 02:04:53,238 --> 02:04:56,848 want to go back to that police annex thing. I 1416 02:04:56,848 --> 02:04:58,368 think we have to make the assumption that's going to 1417 02:04:58,368 --> 02:05:05,315 be included. Because it's been submitted by the police Services 1418 02:05:05,315 --> 02:05:10,867 board. I would ask them sometime over the next few 1419 02:05:10,867 --> 02:05:17,236 days. We get? Something other. Or we're making the assumption 1420 02:05:17,236 --> 02:05:24,247 that. The whole would be about $9 million that needs. 1421 02:05:25,871 --> 02:05:27,911 To be while the projects tended to happen. I think 1422 02:05:27,911 --> 02:05:31,953 we've got reserves and. So a million and a half. 1423 02:05:31,953 --> 02:05:35,545 So say it's $9 million. Is that going to be? 1424 02:05:36,956 --> 02:05:39,796 I assume borrowed. And so how is that going to. 1425 02:05:41,791 --> 02:05:45,455 Impact everything. Can I ask? Because I know that's the 1426 02:05:45,455 --> 02:05:50,644 outstanding question. And it sounds like now the municipal budget 1427 02:05:50,644 --> 02:05:52,684 is going to have some outstanding questions that need to 1428 02:05:52,684 --> 02:05:55,604 be addressed. So I think at the end, once we 1429 02:05:55,604 --> 02:05:58,204 go around and kind of everybody asks their clarifying question, 1430 02:05:58,204 --> 02:06:00,244 then we have to determine next step and how those 1431 02:06:00,244 --> 02:06:02,684 council want to deal with next step and bring that 1432 02:06:02,684 --> 02:06:06,752 back. Is that fair? Well, that's fair. I think we 1433 02:06:06,752 --> 02:06:08,232 need to keep that in mind, too. Yes, we do. 1434 02:06:09,983 --> 02:06:13,475 Councilor pammer. I have to set a couple of little 1435 02:06:13,475 --> 02:06:20,203 questions. One was about the Strasbourg library carpet replacement. Going 1436 02:06:20,203 --> 02:06:25,274 to director Lilborn. That is the county's building, is my 1437 02:06:25,274 --> 02:06:27,354 understanding, and they run the library, so I'm. Just wondering 1438 02:06:27,354 --> 02:06:32,919 why we are replacing. Through the chair to councilor pammer. 1439 02:06:32,919 --> 02:06:36,039 The county is a tenant within our building, so if 1440 02:06:36,039 --> 02:06:39,519 a county pays a lease to us on a monthly 1441 02:06:39,519 --> 02:06:44,559 basis. So the carpet that's in there currently exceeds 25 1442 02:06:44,559 --> 02:06:51,796 years old. And is due to be replaced. Thank you 1443 02:06:51,796 --> 02:06:56,064 for clarifying. And the other question that I had. This, 1444 02:06:56,064 --> 02:06:57,984 I guess would go to direct. Ortiz. I didn't see 1445 02:06:57,984 --> 02:07:03,756 the downtown. Revitalization or infrastructure project anywhere listed, and I'm 1446 02:07:03,756 --> 02:07:08,044 just wondering where that is at. And. Where you see 1447 02:07:08,044 --> 02:07:10,924 that being placed in either this budget. Is there any 1448 02:07:10,924 --> 02:07:14,804 stage board in 2026? Or is it all being deferred 1449 02:07:14,804 --> 02:07:18,324 till later? I like direct. There's actually a good news 1450 02:07:18,324 --> 02:07:23,036 story in there and includes Mount Bridges. I'll ask. What's 1451 02:07:23,036 --> 02:07:27,106 the good news? I'll answer the question, then I'll let 1452 02:07:27,106 --> 02:07:33,698 the mayor share a good news story. About. Bridges. Because 1453 02:07:33,698 --> 02:07:38,677 that project is a carry forward from previous years. It 1454 02:07:38,677 --> 02:07:41,917 is not part of listed here, but it is in 1455 02:07:41,917 --> 02:07:43,877 the budget, so it is part of. The carry for 1456 02:07:43,877 --> 02:07:48,687 it, so we have about $200,000. Set aside for that 1457 02:07:48,687 --> 02:07:52,185 project. So part of the clarity regarding Mount Bridge, I 1458 02:07:52,185 --> 02:07:56,198 initially asked that we need to. Do the study for 1459 02:07:56,198 --> 02:08:00,638 the Mount Bridges downtown revitalization. I think that may have 1460 02:08:00,638 --> 02:08:03,638 got left. Out of maybe 50,000. So as part of 1461 02:08:03,638 --> 02:08:06,558 correcting this, we'll be adding those dollars back in. But 1462 02:08:06,558 --> 02:08:09,278 that'll come out of reserves. We ask just for the 1463 02:08:09,278 --> 02:08:13,461 study. From all bridges. Do you have anything else? Thank 1464 02:08:13,461 --> 02:08:19,469 you, Councilor Derbyshire. All right, so we're adding more stuff 1465 02:08:19,469 --> 02:08:22,509 in without, like, it's going to be very hard for 1466 02:08:22,509 --> 02:08:28,180 council. To analyze all this without. I know everything's. We're 1467 02:08:28,180 --> 02:08:33,322 going to figure it out, and then. It'll just get. 1468 02:08:33,322 --> 02:08:34,442 Anyways, it doesn't matter now. We'll figure it. Out at 1469 02:08:34,442 --> 02:08:36,962 the end of the meeting what council wants to do 1470 02:08:36,962 --> 02:08:39,962 us next steps with all of these questions, what council 1471 02:08:39,962 --> 02:08:42,922 wants to do with next steps. Okay, but let's get 1472 02:08:42,922 --> 02:08:45,042 all the questions out on the floor first. Then we'll 1473 02:08:45,042 --> 02:08:46,362 figure out how we're going to deal with it and 1474 02:08:46,362 --> 02:08:51,905 receive the information. So in our proposed. I'll just go 1475 02:08:51,905 --> 02:08:57,637 through. You. When we look at our capital. We have 1476 02:08:57,637 --> 02:09:03,624 the Mount bridges wastewater. Servicing, design and construction. Is that 1477 02:09:03,624 --> 02:09:08,464 the transformation from like, is that the switching from Roto 1478 02:09:08,464 --> 02:09:16,278 to. Open aeration. And I see. We only have 500,000. 1479 02:09:18,381 --> 02:09:24,295 500,000 budgeted for that. So I just wondered about that 1480 02:09:24,295 --> 02:09:26,335 one. The other one I wondered for is we don't. 1481 02:09:26,335 --> 02:09:30,171 Even have the lagoon. In stratroy. And that unless that 1482 02:09:30,171 --> 02:09:36,215 is the stratroy wastewater sledge handling facility, at 300,000. Councilor 1483 02:09:36,215 --> 02:09:40,535 Ortiz. Yeah. Thank you. Through the chair to councilor Derbyshire. 1484 02:09:40,535 --> 02:09:46,675 So that 500,000. That is for. The future. The large 1485 02:09:46,675 --> 02:09:51,579 scale design and construction for expansion. We anticipate that being 1486 02:09:51,579 --> 02:09:55,699 expended probably in a future year. So we have a 1487 02:09:55,699 --> 02:09:58,979 phase in approach for funding on that, so that'll probably 1488 02:09:58,979 --> 02:10:05,596 be going into wastewater reserves. The other project that you 1489 02:10:05,596 --> 02:10:10,257 were referring to? Well, the actual construction of. Switching it 1490 02:10:10,257 --> 02:10:17,189 over. Where's it? In this budget. That's the environmental assessment. 1491 02:10:19,103 --> 02:10:24,404 And. That's one point. We have that funded already. In 1492 02:10:24,404 --> 02:10:28,988 2020 from 2025. So then. That will then be coming 1493 02:10:28,988 --> 02:10:32,400 out of the water and wastewater. Reserves. All of it. 1494 02:10:34,648 --> 02:10:38,108 Right. That'll be the same. It'll be coming out of 1495 02:10:38,108 --> 02:10:44,097 there. Both those projects are part of the 2025, so 1496 02:10:44,097 --> 02:10:47,897 they're just carrying forward into 2026. These are all brand 1497 02:10:47,897 --> 02:10:55,588 new projects. These ones listed here. Councilor wilson. In that 1498 02:10:55,588 --> 02:10:59,540 same vein. On projects that council's already approved. I looked 1499 02:10:59,540 --> 02:11:02,460 through the capital list over the week, and there's projects 1500 02:11:02,460 --> 02:11:04,740 that have been approved and they're still using numbers from 1501 02:11:04,740 --> 02:11:08,585 2021. Beyond the numbers. Being like four or five years 1502 02:11:08,585 --> 02:11:10,745 old when you take a look at the numbers, and 1503 02:11:10,745 --> 02:11:14,025 the amount that's been set aside, there's a $12 million 1504 02:11:14,025 --> 02:11:17,145 liability. Even at the numbers from probably from 21 and 1505 02:11:17,145 --> 02:11:19,745 22 and 23 over the last five years of projects. 1506 02:11:19,745 --> 02:11:23,539 That council has approved and hasn't been built. What is 1507 02:11:23,539 --> 02:11:27,739 our plan to fund that $12 million shortfall? And that 1508 02:11:27,739 --> 02:11:29,619 number is only going to grow as we actually update 1509 02:11:29,619 --> 02:11:32,179 the prices from five years ago. I don't see anything. 1510 02:11:32,179 --> 02:11:34,539 In this budget or any of the previous budgets to 1511 02:11:34,539 --> 02:11:38,182 address that. And I got a second one on the 1512 02:11:38,182 --> 02:11:40,622 asset management plan deficit, but just want to know what 1513 02:11:40,622 --> 02:11:44,446 our plan is to address that 12 million. Dollar funding 1514 02:11:44,446 --> 02:11:47,690 liability. Through the chair to councilor wills. If you could 1515 02:11:47,690 --> 02:11:50,250 just send me your calculations how you got that 12 1516 02:11:50,250 --> 02:11:59,585 million. It's right on your document, on your capital. I'll 1517 02:11:59,585 --> 02:12:00,825 look it up here in one of the documents on 1518 02:12:00,825 --> 02:12:06,798 our sheet to make. But typically. The two wastewater treatment 1519 02:12:06,798 --> 02:12:11,198 plants are a good example. Those came in originally. Numbers, 1520 02:12:11,198 --> 02:12:15,148 original numbers came in. When we actually moved forward with 1521 02:12:15,148 --> 02:12:18,908 the project, those numbers were updated. So last year you 1522 02:12:18,908 --> 02:12:22,428 added money. To the mount breaches project you added money 1523 02:12:22,428 --> 02:12:29,665 to. The Strapberry project. In 2025, so those numbers get 1524 02:12:29,665 --> 02:12:33,750 updated as the project moves forward. I guess in addition 1525 02:12:33,750 --> 02:12:34,710 to that, if you want to look at the numbers 1526 02:12:34,710 --> 02:12:36,750 I'm talking about where I got that number from is 1527 02:12:36,750 --> 02:12:39,430 from your reserve. Reserve funds, trust funds and deferred. Revenue 1528 02:12:39,430 --> 02:12:44,752 analysis. The last page shows that we have approved 35 1529 02:12:44,752 --> 02:12:48,128 million in funding. And this is just on water and 1530 02:12:48,128 --> 02:12:49,888 wastewater project. It doesn't include any of the other ones 1531 02:12:49,888 --> 02:12:56,901 we've done. We approved 35.7 million. And some of those 1532 02:12:56,901 --> 02:12:58,701 projects are. It's not park house. Drive in there that 1533 02:12:58,701 --> 02:13:01,101 only has just over 2 million in funding for a 1534 02:13:01,101 --> 02:13:03,421 seven and a half. Million dollar project, and I know 1535 02:13:03,421 --> 02:13:07,850 some of that comes out of. Development charges. But when 1536 02:13:07,850 --> 02:13:10,450 you look at the budget allocated in the project, those 1537 02:13:10,450 --> 02:13:13,930 two line items there they only have 23 million to 1538 02:13:13,930 --> 02:13:18,650 cover. 37.5 million projects. I'm just wondering, those are all 1539 02:13:18,650 --> 02:13:22,184 water and wastewater approved projects. There's likely going to be 1540 02:13:22,184 --> 02:13:25,809 debt for that. But there's a $12 million gap that 1541 02:13:25,809 --> 02:13:28,089 I don't see addressed anywhere in the capital budgets or 1542 02:13:28,089 --> 02:13:31,228 in any of the documents in front of us. So 1543 02:13:31,228 --> 02:13:33,708 through the chair to council was. If I understand you're 1544 02:13:33,708 --> 02:13:42,898 using the reserve. Reserve fund. Trust fund security deposit analysis 1545 02:13:42,898 --> 02:13:45,138 report. Is that the one you're looking at? Yes, just 1546 02:13:45,138 --> 02:13:48,098 on the last page where you've got the water wastewater 1547 02:13:48,098 --> 02:13:53,513 projects allocated but unspent. The last section after everything. Then 1548 02:13:53,513 --> 02:13:59,050 your totals for that section. Give the proposed budget and 1549 02:13:59,050 --> 02:14:06,236 then what's been allocated. Right, so allocated. Is money that 1550 02:14:06,236 --> 02:14:13,609 has been allocated from the reserves. Going to. That last 1551 02:14:13,609 --> 02:14:18,728 section that chart the water wastewater project allocation. But unspent. 1552 02:14:20,483 --> 02:14:24,421 The proposed budget shows what the budget costs are. The 1553 02:14:24,421 --> 02:14:26,901 two columns show exactly what we're pulling out of the 1554 02:14:26,901 --> 02:14:31,877 reserves, so that is only. The reserve portion of the 1555 02:14:31,877 --> 02:14:35,767 funding for those projects. There'd be debt, there'd be grants, 1556 02:14:35,767 --> 02:14:39,167 there'd be all sorts of other. Things that get added 1557 02:14:39,167 --> 02:14:43,865 to come up. So using the example. Of the Mount 1558 02:14:43,865 --> 02:14:50,112 bridges. Wastewater treatment at 11 million proposed 11 million. We're 1559 02:14:50,112 --> 02:14:53,672 pulling over 10 million. Just over 10. Million other, the 1560 02:14:53,672 --> 02:14:56,935 sewers, so the balance would come out of grant. Or 1561 02:14:56,935 --> 02:15:01,034 other forms of funding. To bring up that we're just 1562 02:15:01,034 --> 02:15:03,554 showing what's coming out of reserves here. Yeah. And I 1563 02:15:03,554 --> 02:15:06,354 get that. And that's where I'm wondering if there's $12. 1564 02:15:06,354 --> 02:15:09,526 Million more in debt and grant somewhere else. That's not 1565 02:15:09,526 --> 02:15:12,046 anywhere in our lives. We're not showing that there's more. 1566 02:15:12,046 --> 02:15:13,926 Debt that we have to take on. We're just ignoring 1567 02:15:13,926 --> 02:15:17,281 that we have this $12. Million liability. It's not in 1568 02:15:17,281 --> 02:15:19,641 our debt schedule. We're not planning on paying for anything. 1569 02:15:21,561 --> 02:15:24,440 We don't know what grants we're applying for. We got 1570 02:15:24,440 --> 02:15:26,440 to come up with 12 million somehow, and it's not 1571 02:15:26,440 --> 02:15:28,320 reflected anywhere in the budget, and we're not planning for 1572 02:15:28,320 --> 02:15:31,240 it until he gets here. That's my point. And just 1573 02:15:31,240 --> 02:15:32,560 if that's our plan and that's how we want to 1574 02:15:32,560 --> 02:15:35,824 go ahead. Then I'll answer that, councilor. I think that's 1575 02:15:35,824 --> 02:15:38,704 part of my thought process. And we realize, however we 1576 02:15:38,704 --> 02:15:42,589 get there, We have some projects that need some funding, 1577 02:15:42,589 --> 02:15:45,869 whether it's debt, so that was my thought. Process, but 1578 02:15:45,869 --> 02:15:48,229 these are already approved projects from last year, so we're 1579 02:15:48,229 --> 02:15:50,269 just ignoring that there's 12 million that we might have 1580 02:15:50,269 --> 02:15:53,396 to do an additional debt this year. Through the chair. 1581 02:15:53,396 --> 02:15:55,396 Council will see. So I think what you need to 1582 02:15:55,396 --> 02:15:58,516 do is take this document. And compare it to the 1583 02:15:58,516 --> 02:16:02,476 actual capital budget, which actually shows each of those projects 1584 02:16:02,476 --> 02:16:07,118 and how we're funding them. It's just short in the 1585 02:16:07,118 --> 02:16:16,205 reserves, right? Answering the mayor, I guess. What? This document 1586 02:16:16,205 --> 02:16:19,541 that you're referring to, council. Looks at just the reserve 1587 02:16:19,541 --> 02:16:23,185 portion. So it'd be very similar to if you were 1588 02:16:23,185 --> 02:16:26,183 building a house. And you're saying, here's what I got 1589 02:16:26,183 --> 02:16:28,819 in my savings account. You show what you have in 1590 02:16:28,819 --> 02:16:32,219 your savings account. You're looking at the savings account. Obviously 1591 02:16:32,219 --> 02:16:34,339 you got other money set aside. You're going to take 1592 02:16:34,339 --> 02:16:37,299 a mortgage or other things to make up the difference. 1593 02:16:37,299 --> 02:16:40,459 And so if you take this just shows a reserve 1594 02:16:40,459 --> 02:16:45,437 amount. Doesn't show. That that doesn't show any grants that 1595 02:16:45,437 --> 02:16:49,036 are going against these. And I guess to follow up 1596 02:16:49,036 --> 02:16:50,796 on that, none of those projects show up on the 1597 02:16:50,796 --> 02:16:52,956 desk schedule. Either. So there's no debt. So everything is 1598 02:16:52,956 --> 02:16:56,869 grants for all of those projects. It does not come 1599 02:16:56,869 --> 02:16:59,069 out of reserves and there's no debt because it's not. 1600 02:16:59,069 --> 02:17:01,109 On the debt schedule. Everything is grants for all of 1601 02:17:01,109 --> 02:17:04,326 those projects. It has to be on the debt schedule 1602 02:17:04,326 --> 02:17:07,266 too, if you're paying for debt. That was kind of 1603 02:17:07,266 --> 02:17:11,329 my point, that they're not on the debt schedule. And 1604 02:17:11,329 --> 02:17:12,689 if it's debt and grant it's paying for it, that 1605 02:17:12,689 --> 02:17:15,289 means we're. Grants. We've got $12 million in grants coming 1606 02:17:15,289 --> 02:17:21,824 for those projects. Through the charity councilor Willsie. So if 1607 02:17:21,824 --> 02:17:24,864 you look at the Mount bridges wastewater treatment plant, for 1608 02:17:24,864 --> 02:17:31,142 instance, There is 11 million proposed budget. There's just over 1609 02:17:31,142 --> 02:17:34,182 10 million. So there's a million. This is coming from 1610 02:17:34,182 --> 02:17:37,841 another. Source. On that, and I would need to look 1611 02:17:37,841 --> 02:17:41,820 at. The capital budget to give you where that money 1612 02:17:41,820 --> 02:17:49,043 is coming from. That note there. The wastewater is negative 1613 02:17:49,043 --> 02:17:53,242 9 million in reserves. If you go up there, if 1614 02:17:53,242 --> 02:17:57,362 you take that 11 million out, it's negative 9 million. 1615 02:17:58,667 --> 02:18:00,787 That's just on the debts. If you scroll up to 1616 02:18:00,787 --> 02:18:06,285 where that is. So that 9 million has to come 1617 02:18:06,285 --> 02:18:09,245 from somewhere, and I know we've already said it's. Probably 1618 02:18:09,245 --> 02:18:12,645 coming from the water portion of things at this point. 1619 02:18:12,645 --> 02:18:17,487 That was kind of part of the discussion, but. There's 1620 02:18:17,487 --> 02:18:19,687 nowhere on here does it say how this does the 1621 02:18:19,687 --> 02:18:21,767 other thing we were told? Was. There's also a $6 1622 02:18:21,767 --> 02:18:27,075 million either loan or grant, plus. A $6 million loan 1623 02:18:27,075 --> 02:18:29,877 and a million dollar grant for this project. But because 1624 02:18:29,877 --> 02:18:32,637 it was approved midway through last year, it was going 1625 02:18:32,637 --> 02:18:35,037 to be put on to this. Budget so we could 1626 02:18:35,037 --> 02:18:38,437 see how this was going. But it's not here because 1627 02:18:38,437 --> 02:18:41,973 they're like, well, it was approved last year. But it 1628 02:18:41,973 --> 02:18:45,975 wasn't approved in last year's budget. We had put a 1629 02:18:45,975 --> 02:18:49,255 place marker because we love place markers. We put it 1630 02:18:49,255 --> 02:18:55,466 in. But now. There's nothing showing what these projects are 1631 02:18:55,466 --> 02:18:58,506 doing. So these projects, we improved last year. We don't 1632 02:18:58,506 --> 02:19:00,986 get to see how they're being done, how they're being 1633 02:19:00,986 --> 02:19:04,995 spent. Move forward. They should have probably been in the 1634 02:19:04,995 --> 02:19:07,595 proposed capital budget as part of it, even if it 1635 02:19:07,595 --> 02:19:09,715 is money and money out. It at least shows where 1636 02:19:09,715 --> 02:19:12,235 it's money and money out the same. As if we're 1637 02:19:12,235 --> 02:19:15,035 spending 9 million on the police thing and they have 1638 02:19:15,035 --> 02:19:18,235 a million in reserve. It still has to be somewhere 1639 02:19:18,235 --> 02:19:21,435 on this budget and show money and money out, even 1640 02:19:21,435 --> 02:19:24,147 if it is a wash. We got to see it 1641 02:19:24,147 --> 02:19:29,336 somewhere. So, director, if I may ask. A number of 1642 02:19:29,336 --> 02:19:35,092 questions I've imposed to you, mostly around water, wastewater. I 1643 02:19:35,092 --> 02:19:36,972 think both of these documents are coming back to us 1644 02:19:36,972 --> 02:19:39,052 in some sort of revised form. We'll figure that out 1645 02:19:39,052 --> 02:19:42,652 in a moment. Is there benefit to taking time to 1646 02:19:42,652 --> 02:19:51,403 putting your thought process together. To solidify that. In that 1647 02:19:51,403 --> 02:19:57,282 amended document. Through the chair to the chair. So these 1648 02:19:57,282 --> 02:20:00,682 documents will be amended. Obviously, we've got to add to 1649 02:20:00,682 --> 02:20:07,213 police annex. According to tonight. Will be updated, plus we 1650 02:20:07,213 --> 02:20:11,213 can update the 25 projects that carry forward. Part of 1651 02:20:11,213 --> 02:20:15,453 it is the 25 carry forward numbers haven't been closed 1652 02:20:15,453 --> 02:20:18,653 off yet because we're still in our 25 year end. 1653 02:20:18,653 --> 02:20:22,877 So as of the end of January, We're cutting off 1654 02:20:22,877 --> 02:20:26,357 our 25 so we can update all the projects from 1655 02:20:26,357 --> 02:20:31,449 2025. With the updated numbers, so that will be part 1656 02:20:31,449 --> 02:20:36,214 of what would come forward. At the next meeting on 1657 02:20:36,214 --> 02:20:44,407 11th, I believe it is. So. Council. The big question 1658 02:20:44,407 --> 02:20:48,487 is in my mind been raised by so many what 1659 02:20:48,487 --> 02:20:52,647 is our next steps and we have a police budget 1660 02:20:52,647 --> 02:20:55,487 that may or may not need a line item added. 1661 02:20:55,487 --> 02:20:58,047 Back in more than likely it needs it added back 1662 02:20:58,047 --> 02:21:01,670 in. And then a number of questions have been raised 1663 02:21:01,670 --> 02:21:06,641 about the municipal budget. Some clarifying questions. And I think 1664 02:21:06,641 --> 02:21:08,481 the director needs time to put all of that together. 1665 02:21:10,402 --> 02:21:13,842 Now, keep in mind that we have 30 days from 1666 02:21:13,842 --> 02:21:20,522 today to finish our process. Which is February the 11th. 1667 02:21:21,051 --> 02:21:22,211 We can have as many meetings as we want in 1668 02:21:22,211 --> 02:21:23,691 that period of time, but we have to be done 1669 02:21:23,691 --> 02:21:25,971 by February the 11th. It then goes back to the 1670 02:21:25,971 --> 02:21:32,893 mayor. So with that being said. I am thinking we 1671 02:21:32,893 --> 02:21:38,013 probably need to get these documents revised and back into 1672 02:21:38,013 --> 02:21:45,099 our hands. Sooner than February the 11th. Does anybody feel 1673 02:21:45,099 --> 02:21:48,139 differently or want to make comment to that? Because otherwise, 1674 02:21:48,139 --> 02:21:50,379 I think we need to be looking at another meeting. 1675 02:21:50,379 --> 02:21:56,526 Councilor Brennan. Cassill. The deadline for making amendments to hand 1676 02:21:56,526 --> 02:21:59,446 the clerk would be Friday, February the 6th. Because you 1677 02:21:59,446 --> 02:22:01,926 wanted to have five days before the 11th, is that 1678 02:22:01,926 --> 02:22:07,067 correct? So there's a date. The deadline for making amendments 1679 02:22:07,067 --> 02:22:09,627 heading into the clerk is February. The 6th. So my 1680 02:22:09,627 --> 02:22:13,143 thought is. By far. I'm not an expert in this. 1681 02:22:13,143 --> 02:22:16,823 I just reviewed those bullet points about the legislation, I 1682 02:22:16,823 --> 02:22:18,743 guess, is the better way to put it. We can 1683 02:22:18,743 --> 02:22:20,703 hold two or three meetings within that period of time. 1684 02:22:22,413 --> 02:22:26,277 But. Our last meeting has to be kind of put 1685 02:22:26,277 --> 02:22:28,677 together by February 6 so that we can do it 1686 02:22:28,677 --> 02:22:32,777 and have it completed. On the 11th because after that, 1687 02:22:33,947 --> 02:22:38,905 We lose carriage of the process. Correct. So, do we 1688 02:22:38,905 --> 02:22:42,468 want to do something quicker? Than that point in time. 1689 02:22:43,822 --> 02:22:46,538 Councilor Pam. I just have a question, perhaps for the 1690 02:22:46,538 --> 02:22:52,781 clerk, whoever's managing this process. It says here that. The 1691 02:22:52,781 --> 02:22:57,261 mayor proposes a budget that we receive and then council 1692 02:22:57,261 --> 02:23:01,041 can make amendments to the budget. I don't see where 1693 02:23:01,041 --> 02:23:04,041 it says here that the mayor could make amendments to 1694 02:23:04,041 --> 02:23:07,009 his budget. Is he part of council? He just is 1695 02:23:07,009 --> 02:23:11,821 included as party council. Okay, but. That has to be. 1696 02:23:13,086 --> 02:23:14,486 Okay, so then if he makes the changes and bring 1697 02:23:14,486 --> 02:23:18,383 it back to us, Then that would require a resolution. 1698 02:23:19,695 --> 02:23:26,018 Right? Correct. Because this budget is being presented now. It's 1699 02:23:26,018 --> 02:23:30,218 there, correct? We've identified some omissions and changes. So then, 1700 02:23:30,218 --> 02:23:33,058 if. The mayor makes an amendment, then we would have 1701 02:23:33,058 --> 02:23:35,178 to vote on accepting that amendment. Is that correct? Correct. 1702 02:23:38,370 --> 02:23:40,970 Just for clarification, then. So what Don is saying is 1703 02:23:40,970 --> 02:23:44,170 essentially we have to make amendments. To change everything we 1704 02:23:44,170 --> 02:23:48,050 just talked about now? Because it's been presented? I think 1705 02:23:48,050 --> 02:23:52,373 so. They can't just revitalize all of it. Which was 1706 02:23:52,373 --> 02:23:55,493 Donna's question. Do you want to hear some input and 1707 02:23:55,493 --> 02:23:59,222 then take it back and represent it. But now it's. 1708 02:24:01,274 --> 02:24:03,074 And the mayor said he wanted to present his budget. 1709 02:24:04,751 --> 02:24:07,111 Present. Okay, so here we said this would be my 1710 02:24:07,111 --> 02:24:12,548 question. Which was my original one. Back to the written 1711 02:24:12,548 --> 02:24:15,886 amendments. Is that just kind of what we're doing, or 1712 02:24:15,886 --> 02:24:20,246 is that part of this provincial new mandate that we 1713 02:24:20,246 --> 02:24:23,766 have to do written amendments, or could we make amendments 1714 02:24:23,766 --> 02:24:28,317 now? To have these changes done, being. That we're sitting 1715 02:24:28,317 --> 02:24:30,877 here right now, and that would speed this process up 1716 02:24:30,877 --> 02:24:35,989 as opposed to. Five of us making different amendments. Through 1717 02:24:35,989 --> 02:24:40,246 the chair to Councilor Gerber Shire. So although the legislation. 1718 02:24:41,565 --> 02:24:44,165 Doesn't specifically say yay or nay. As far as written 1719 02:24:44,165 --> 02:24:50,409 documentation. I have advised that we document the process by 1720 02:24:50,409 --> 02:24:55,294 written form through every step. Just to be clear and 1721 02:24:55,294 --> 02:24:59,294 concise, to make sure that all motions and amendments are 1722 02:24:59,294 --> 02:25:06,084 made and understood before voting. Okay. So then. If we. 1723 02:25:06,084 --> 02:25:07,844 Yeah, I guess. Then what we need to do is 1724 02:25:07,844 --> 02:25:11,352 make a list. Somebody write them out. The problem is, 1725 02:25:11,352 --> 02:25:15,453 when they ask about. What the financial implications are on 1726 02:25:15,453 --> 02:25:22,634 this. Would you just put, I don't know. Because I 1727 02:25:22,634 --> 02:25:29,947 don't really. What we want is just clarification. Then the 1728 02:25:29,947 --> 02:25:33,082 proper. Stuff put in, right? That's more. I kind of 1729 02:25:33,082 --> 02:25:38,456 agree with you. It's really not a great. Story. We're 1730 02:25:38,456 --> 02:25:41,496 trying to figure it out here, Councilor Brennan and then 1731 02:25:41,496 --> 02:25:45,396 the CAO. It's interesting with the language. It says council 1732 02:25:45,396 --> 02:25:48,276 can make amendments to the proposed budget. I don't believe 1733 02:25:48,276 --> 02:25:51,592 that means. A collective amendment. I think we're looking at 1734 02:25:51,592 --> 02:25:58,526 individual. Counselors. Can write up a written amendment which will 1735 02:25:58,526 --> 02:26:02,246 be given to the clerk before February 6, and then 1736 02:26:02,246 --> 02:26:04,526 they would be dealt with that at a February 11 1737 02:26:04,526 --> 02:26:08,425 meeting. It's not necessary for counsel as a whole to 1738 02:26:08,425 --> 02:26:13,971 collectively put together an amendment. Individual counselors bring forward amendments. 1739 02:26:13,971 --> 02:26:17,851 So it's an individual process by individual counselors, which will 1740 02:26:17,851 --> 02:26:22,731 be brought before council and considered collectively. So the need 1741 02:26:22,731 --> 02:26:26,697 for a meeting to make amendments does not exist. In 1742 02:26:26,697 --> 02:26:27,937 terms of. You don't need to be at a meeting 1743 02:26:27,937 --> 02:26:29,657 to make an amendment. You just write one up and 1744 02:26:29,657 --> 02:26:31,217 submit it to the clerk and it'll get dealt with. 1745 02:26:31,217 --> 02:26:34,337 February. 11. The question is, do we want to have 1746 02:26:34,337 --> 02:26:39,279 discussions about these amendments? That we're considering as individuals in 1747 02:26:39,279 --> 02:26:41,919 the time period between now and February 6, when we 1748 02:26:41,919 --> 02:26:46,015 will have to formally submit them. Well, my thought is. 1749 02:26:46,851 --> 02:26:49,411 With a number of conversations that have occurred this evening. 1750 02:26:50,938 --> 02:26:54,418 Your thought process is going to change dramatically. Let's take 1751 02:26:54,418 --> 02:26:57,578 the police budget. Yeah. Another 10 million into it. Your 1752 02:26:57,578 --> 02:27:03,229 thought process probably is going to change. Not saying your 1753 02:27:03,229 --> 02:27:04,949 fault would change, but your thought process is going to 1754 02:27:04,949 --> 02:27:13,105 achieve. Similarly with the municipal budget. Changes. And decisions made 1755 02:27:13,105 --> 02:27:14,985 at one meeting, and then you're going to leave again 1756 02:27:14,985 --> 02:27:18,180 and perhaps come. Back. Do you want to do it 1757 02:27:18,180 --> 02:27:20,620 all at one meeting, or do you want to get 1758 02:27:20,620 --> 02:27:24,179 more information? Clarification. Get that document in front of you. 1759 02:27:25,859 --> 02:27:30,313 And then. Finalize that one. We don't have the time 1760 02:27:30,313 --> 02:27:32,953 we used to have to deal with it. That's my 1761 02:27:32,953 --> 02:27:37,353 point. Councilor Pammer, councilor Dolphman, on that point, it would 1762 02:27:37,353 --> 02:27:39,593 look like the process and again looking to the clerk 1763 02:27:39,593 --> 02:27:45,864 to confirm. Is that we have one shot. 30 days 1764 02:27:45,864 --> 02:27:49,224 after the pro's budget to make changes or to request 1765 02:27:49,224 --> 02:27:51,824 changes, and then we either have to accept them or 1766 02:27:51,824 --> 02:27:55,024 not. And then there's a ten day sort of resting. 1767 02:27:55,024 --> 02:27:58,329 Period. It doesn't say. Then we can go back and 1768 02:27:58,329 --> 02:28:03,629 ask for another round. 30 days. How many times can 1769 02:28:03,629 --> 02:28:07,855 you. Is this just a one shot? Google deal. Because 1770 02:28:07,855 --> 02:28:12,583 that's why I'm worried about. Presenting the budget tonight as 1771 02:28:12,583 --> 02:28:16,981 is, knowing that. It's likely going to need amendments. Have 1772 02:28:16,981 --> 02:28:20,061 we wasted a whole shot at doing this or. Is 1773 02:28:20,061 --> 02:28:24,552 there more flexibility? I'm asking the clerk. So through the 1774 02:28:24,552 --> 02:28:30,824 chair to councilor Pammer. The first 30 days. Sorry today. 1775 02:28:33,465 --> 02:28:36,905 The bride's budget is presented in day one. Over the 1776 02:28:36,905 --> 02:28:40,265 next 30 days, you have up to 30 days up 1777 02:28:40,265 --> 02:28:43,876 until. That next meeting in February 11 to present, to 1778 02:28:43,876 --> 02:28:46,076 submit any amendments to be put on the agenda. To 1779 02:28:46,076 --> 02:28:49,821 be voted by a simple majority vote. But during that 1780 02:28:49,821 --> 02:28:53,621 30 day period, if council feels that in this instance 1781 02:28:53,621 --> 02:28:57,388 there's an updated. Budget documents that need to be provided 1782 02:28:57,388 --> 02:28:59,588 if you feel that you want to meet again, to 1783 02:28:59,588 --> 02:29:05,050 have that discussion. To clarify certain items or specific things 1784 02:29:05,050 --> 02:29:07,890 that can be done. It's at council's. Discretion for sure. 1785 02:29:09,304 --> 02:29:17,388 What I heard the clerk say is. You're essentially getting 1786 02:29:17,388 --> 02:29:20,892 a revised budget. Particularly on the police one. You're going 1787 02:29:20,892 --> 02:29:23,132 to get a revised budget. We're going to want to 1788 02:29:23,132 --> 02:29:27,986 receive that. And have 14 or 15 days to review 1789 02:29:27,986 --> 02:29:33,146 that before losing carriage of it on the 11th. That's 1790 02:29:33,146 --> 02:29:36,824 my thought process, but I could be wrong. I had 1791 02:29:36,824 --> 02:29:38,784 bo and Steve, and then I'll go down to the 1792 02:29:38,784 --> 02:29:44,221 mayor. So, Mike, I would just say this. The mayor 1793 02:29:44,221 --> 02:29:48,235 actually has till February 1 to introduce this budget. Today. 1794 02:29:50,480 --> 02:29:52,160 Was just the day that we picked to give us 1795 02:29:52,160 --> 02:29:56,519 a bit of time to move this forward. Right. If 1796 02:29:56,519 --> 02:29:58,919 we don't. I mean, I guess if this is his 1797 02:29:58,919 --> 02:30:02,279 presentation, but if he would. Like to make his presentation 1798 02:30:02,279 --> 02:30:05,399 back. And as long as he presents it before the 1799 02:30:05,399 --> 02:30:09,599 first can we then not. Let's say he presents it 1800 02:30:09,599 --> 02:30:13,119 January 16. Then we go 30 days from the 16th, 1801 02:30:13,119 --> 02:30:17,760 right? The only deadline is essentially the February 1 one. 1802 02:30:19,102 --> 02:30:21,462 Am I right in saying that after that, we moved 1803 02:30:21,462 --> 02:30:23,902 just on the dates and the timelines. If he gets 1804 02:30:23,902 --> 02:30:26,342 it correct, we can actually veto to shorten the distance 1805 02:30:26,342 --> 02:30:28,382 and move it forward. But right now, you have a 1806 02:30:28,382 --> 02:30:32,214 budget that. Needs all. I don't want to say complete 1807 02:30:32,214 --> 02:30:34,694 revision, but there's an awful lot that has to be 1808 02:30:34,694 --> 02:30:39,063 corrected for us to move forward with it. My question 1809 02:30:39,063 --> 02:30:47,584 is, can he just not say, look, I'm sorry? I'm 1810 02:30:47,584 --> 02:30:49,584 going to redo this, and I will represent it this 1811 02:30:49,584 --> 02:30:51,584 date, and then we move forward from that 30 days. 1812 02:30:53,032 --> 02:30:55,712 So, Madam Clerk, can we defer any motion to receive? 1813 02:30:57,049 --> 02:31:01,901 This. And give it back to the mayor using our 1814 02:31:01,901 --> 02:31:06,139 motions. Could we do a motion to. Refer it back 1815 02:31:06,139 --> 02:31:13,451 to the mayor. For. His budget? I don't know. So 1816 02:31:13,451 --> 02:31:17,731 we referred it back to you, Mr. Mayor, with at 1817 02:31:17,731 --> 02:31:26,165 least an answer to. The police. Annex line item. And 1818 02:31:26,165 --> 02:31:29,965 infill as much else as you've heard this evening and 1819 02:31:29,965 --> 02:31:33,365 then represent that. Document to us prior to the first. 1820 02:31:36,757 --> 02:31:42,847 And then council carries its 30 day. Hold of. For 1821 02:31:42,847 --> 02:31:45,167 that period of time. Is that easier, do you think? 1822 02:31:46,747 --> 02:31:52,592 I can do that. I understand. Maybe the safe way 1823 02:31:52,592 --> 02:31:55,992 I look at it, the overall budget, there's one major 1824 02:31:55,992 --> 02:32:01,699 item which. Is the police annex. But again. This is 1825 02:32:01,699 --> 02:32:04,379 like, a lot of legislation. You could drive a pickup, 1826 02:32:04,379 --> 02:32:06,859 you can drive the semi truck. Through the legislation if 1827 02:32:06,859 --> 02:32:10,899 you wanted. So hearing counsel, knowing that there is one 1828 02:32:10,899 --> 02:32:19,549 major. Item. In the will of council. I will. 1829 02:32:20,875 --> 02:32:23,835 Pull it back and come back in one week. Don't 1830 02:32:23,835 --> 02:32:27,015 need to present it. Right, so. Willow council. I think 1831 02:32:27,015 --> 02:32:29,785 I'm doing it because of the one main thing. Any 1832 02:32:29,785 --> 02:32:32,783 errors or omissions could be handled. But with the police 1833 02:32:32,783 --> 02:32:37,727 annex. I am willing to withdraw it for one week, 1834 02:32:37,727 --> 02:32:41,607 and we don't need to reconvene. We'll just reissue it 1835 02:32:41,607 --> 02:32:46,264 so I will start the clock counting. One week. That'll 1836 02:32:46,264 --> 02:32:48,424 have the answer. There's a reason why council is not 1837 02:32:48,424 --> 02:32:51,864 to delay it. It's more because the longer we delay 1838 02:32:51,864 --> 02:32:55,664 the budget process, the more we heard the municipality might 1839 02:32:55,664 --> 02:32:58,504 not be able to put things over tender. That is 1840 02:32:58,504 --> 02:33:02,344 the main thing. Some municipalities are already out there tendering 1841 02:33:02,344 --> 02:33:05,544 road projects and other things. So, that being said, I've 1842 02:33:05,544 --> 02:33:07,992 heard. Counsel, and this is fair. This is a new 1843 02:33:07,992 --> 02:33:15,394 process. I will present it back. Next week, one week 1844 02:33:15,394 --> 02:33:19,559 from today, we should have the answer regarding. The police 1845 02:33:19,559 --> 02:33:22,199 annex. That will be the big item. I can't see 1846 02:33:22,199 --> 02:33:26,102 it changing. The actual increase. What it's going to change 1847 02:33:26,102 --> 02:33:29,814 is. Our debt in the future, so I will do 1848 02:33:29,814 --> 02:33:31,934 that. That's at my discretion, and I will do that 1849 02:33:31,934 --> 02:33:37,588 chair. So then does that satisfy counsel? If the mayor 1850 02:33:37,588 --> 02:33:42,835 does, that reissues. It's one municipal budget, but you'll see 1851 02:33:42,835 --> 02:33:45,395 the police portion budget, and then you'll. See the municipal 1852 02:33:45,395 --> 02:33:50,585 budget all inclusive. And it'll be the date that that 1853 02:33:50,585 --> 02:33:53,665 is released to us that would start the 30 day 1854 02:33:53,665 --> 02:33:57,784 time period pursuant to the legislation. With the debt schedule. 1855 02:34:02,432 --> 02:34:06,352 Would then the plants that have been approved from last 1856 02:34:06,352 --> 02:34:11,218 year not be existing debt, even though. We know where 1857 02:34:11,218 --> 02:34:14,084 they're coming from and how they're coming off. Like the 1858 02:34:14,084 --> 02:34:18,978 debt schedule itself probably needs to be revised. I mean, 1859 02:34:18,978 --> 02:34:21,298 we have the principal and the interest being added together 1860 02:34:21,298 --> 02:34:24,578 and coming off the principal payment. So those principal numbers 1861 02:34:24,578 --> 02:34:29,860 are wrong. Right from Dock Duado. And that's probably not 1862 02:34:29,860 --> 02:34:33,699 a huge amount. But your numbers. We're still not dealing 1863 02:34:33,699 --> 02:34:39,012 with proper numbers. Director DACA will clean that up. No, 1864 02:34:39,012 --> 02:34:41,612 I understand, but I'm telling you, if somebody. Presented this 1865 02:34:41,612 --> 02:34:42,972 to me, like, if I went to an accountant and 1866 02:34:42,972 --> 02:34:44,692 they said, here you go. I mean, you'd be right 1867 02:34:44,692 --> 02:34:48,740 mad. And by all right. So we're doing when we 1868 02:34:48,740 --> 02:34:52,220 come to those existing projects, if they were approved last 1869 02:34:52,220 --> 02:34:55,677 year, Are they going to be on the existing debt 1870 02:34:55,677 --> 02:35:00,577 schedule now? Or no. Where do they go? Who will 1871 02:35:00,577 --> 02:35:04,664 let the director answer? Director Dick. So without looking at 1872 02:35:04,664 --> 02:35:07,464 the. I don't have that in front of me. So 1873 02:35:07,464 --> 02:35:11,344 if there was debt. It should have been on that 1874 02:35:11,344 --> 02:35:15,702 list. So we will take a look and make sure 1875 02:35:15,702 --> 02:35:17,342 that all the debt is showing on the debt. Schedule. 1876 02:35:19,025 --> 02:35:23,785 Okay, there's our answer. That the director is going to 1877 02:35:23,785 --> 02:35:27,305 take all the information and questions. Asked on tonight and 1878 02:35:27,305 --> 02:35:34,803 revise. The document or update the document accordingly. Councilor Wilsey 1879 02:35:34,803 --> 02:35:37,083 and councilor Hippol and then we'll call it just a 1880 02:35:37,083 --> 02:35:39,803 clarification. I think I remember this from last year. Any 1881 02:35:39,803 --> 02:35:42,683 of the projects that finish in 2025. Our first payment 1882 02:35:42,683 --> 02:35:46,123 will not be until the 2027 budget. So even though 1883 02:35:46,123 --> 02:35:48,363 we're taking on this debt now, all the projects now, 1884 02:35:48,363 --> 02:35:52,782 we're sitting up from 20. Four, so. There's been $12 1885 02:35:52,782 --> 02:35:56,222 million of debt that happened last year. If my numbers 1886 02:35:56,222 --> 02:35:59,062 are right. They might not be, but assume around $12 1887 02:35:59,062 --> 02:36:01,662 million of what projects we did in 25, we have 1888 02:36:01,662 --> 02:36:05,182 to pay debt on that, starting in 27. And then 1889 02:36:05,182 --> 02:36:07,662 if we do, the police now that won't finish next 1890 02:36:07,662 --> 02:36:09,622 year, so that'll likely be 28 we have to pay 1891 02:36:09,622 --> 02:36:13,594 on. That 10 million. So the approvals we're doing now 1892 02:36:13,594 --> 02:36:16,994 aren't actually changing our tax rate today. But we're taking 1893 02:36:16,994 --> 02:36:18,954 down the road where we have $12 million in new 1894 02:36:18,954 --> 02:36:21,034 debt that we're going to have to pay next year 1895 02:36:21,034 --> 02:36:23,474 from what we already did and then another. 10 million 1896 02:36:23,474 --> 02:36:27,208 a year after that. Hence the need for the debt 1897 02:36:27,208 --> 02:36:36,770 policy, councilor. Sounds like a credit card. Who's going to 1898 02:36:36,770 --> 02:36:46,683 give us. Okay, 1 second. Sorry. I 1899 02:36:46,683 --> 02:36:48,763 was asking the question about what motions we need to 1900 02:36:48,763 --> 02:36:52,123 complete the meeting and the clerk. Was just working away 1901 02:36:52,123 --> 02:36:55,323 on it, so we had a laugh there. About our 1902 02:36:55,323 --> 02:36:59,175 answer. Councilor Brennan. Councilor Kenneth. Council order. Hip hop. I'm 1903 02:36:59,175 --> 02:37:02,335 sorry, Sandy. Actually, I'm. Going to reverse it. Councilor Pitbull, 1904 02:37:02,335 --> 02:37:04,775 Councilor Candace, Councilor Brennan, she had her hand up before 1905 02:37:04,775 --> 02:37:07,735 and I missed. That's okay. It's actually just a really. 1906 02:37:07,735 --> 02:37:11,330 Easy question. The mayor has said a week from tonight, 1907 02:37:11,330 --> 02:37:15,821 so I'm assuming. Looking at our clerk. The 20 January. 1908 02:37:17,455 --> 02:37:23,391 Okay. Five. Okay, sorry. One week in a week. It's 1909 02:37:23,391 --> 02:37:25,311 really hard. We all have to look at our schedule. 1910 02:37:25,311 --> 02:37:28,932 So I need to make sure. But I think it's 1911 02:37:28,932 --> 02:37:31,732 just being released to us by that date. No meeting. 1912 02:37:33,953 --> 02:37:37,596 We're not meeting. That year. So my question to the 1913 02:37:37,596 --> 02:37:42,872 clerk, so people understand my thought process here. Is that? 1914 02:37:42,872 --> 02:37:45,512 To get out of this meeting and document what it 1915 02:37:45,512 --> 02:37:49,809 is that we've talked. About is. A motion to receive. 1916 02:37:51,092 --> 02:37:59,794 These reports for information. To refer. The budgets back to 1917 02:37:59,794 --> 02:38:05,680 the mayor. For amendment. I'll say a revision. Whichever word 1918 02:38:05,680 --> 02:38:11,511 you want to use. To have them returned. Released back 1919 02:38:11,511 --> 02:38:18,285 to council. Within seven days. Which would then start. The 1920 02:38:18,285 --> 02:38:23,132 30 day. Time period pursuant to the strong mayor's budget. 1921 02:38:24,853 --> 02:38:30,032 Timetable. So that would encapsulate everything that needs to occur. 1922 02:38:31,664 --> 02:38:33,304 The clerk said, I'm not sure we can do that. 1923 02:38:35,108 --> 02:38:36,948 I laughed because I said I'm not sure who's going 1924 02:38:36,948 --> 02:38:42,002 to give us heck. By doing it. Councilor Kenneth, did 1925 02:38:42,002 --> 02:38:44,762 you still want to ask the question? Well, I guess 1926 02:38:44,762 --> 02:38:50,946 a comment more on the whole debt thing. It sounds 1927 02:38:50,946 --> 02:38:53,066 to me like a lot of projects that we've done 1928 02:38:53,066 --> 02:38:58,618 so far. We've paid out of our own cash. And 1929 02:38:58,618 --> 02:38:59,898 we haven't gone out and got it loan for it 1930 02:38:59,898 --> 02:39:05,748 yet. And so I think we need. To. And perhaps 1931 02:39:05,748 --> 02:39:10,588 this agrees with councilor Wilson and councilor Derbyshire. I think 1932 02:39:10,588 --> 02:39:13,388 we need to. Start getting an idea of what kind 1933 02:39:13,388 --> 02:39:17,588 of debt payments the municipality is going to face moving 1934 02:39:17,588 --> 02:39:22,376 forward. Both in terms of principle and interest, because. That's. 1935 02:39:23,712 --> 02:39:27,032 When we go out and get these loans for projects 1936 02:39:27,032 --> 02:39:31,192 already completed, then the cash comes back in. From the 1937 02:39:31,192 --> 02:39:38,018 debt. Or the loan that's been received. And I think 1938 02:39:38,018 --> 02:39:43,016 we need to have an understanding of. When. And I 1939 02:39:43,016 --> 02:39:48,219 think Councilor Wilse mentioned that, too. An understanding. Of how 1940 02:39:48,219 --> 02:39:52,738 projects move forward. Like, for example, say we do the 1941 02:39:52,738 --> 02:39:55,618 police annex, I just throw that out there and it's. 1942 02:39:55,618 --> 02:39:59,258 A project that's going to start in 2026 and be 1943 02:39:59,258 --> 02:40:04,124 completed in 2027. And at that time, During the whole 1944 02:40:04,124 --> 02:40:07,524 construction process. We finance it internally, basically use our own 1945 02:40:07,524 --> 02:40:09,924 cash, and then we go. Out to market to get 1946 02:40:09,924 --> 02:40:14,542 a loan. And that's something new for the municipality because 1947 02:40:14,542 --> 02:40:18,862 depth has always been such a small portion. Of the 1948 02:40:18,862 --> 02:40:25,304 actual. Taxation cash. I guess that's used, if that makes 1949 02:40:25,304 --> 02:40:27,064 sense, what I'm saying, so. I think we need to 1950 02:40:27,064 --> 02:40:30,664 get a better handle on principal and interest payments moving 1951 02:40:30,664 --> 02:40:35,328 forward. If that makes sense, what I just said. So. 1952 02:40:38,401 --> 02:40:41,908 I think in addition, To the police annex being added. 1953 02:40:41,908 --> 02:40:45,355 I think we need to get a better idea. Of 1954 02:40:45,355 --> 02:40:48,755 debt, principal and interest payments moving forward and how you 1955 02:40:48,755 --> 02:40:52,955 see that external debt curve kind of going up over 1956 02:40:52,955 --> 02:40:54,835 the next number of years again, making I know we 1957 02:40:54,835 --> 02:40:57,555 haven't passed a debt policy yet, but again, having some 1958 02:40:57,555 --> 02:41:02,235 understanding and using the assumptions that vehicles are over x 1959 02:41:02,235 --> 02:41:04,395 number of years and roads over x number of years 1960 02:41:04,395 --> 02:41:06,707 and all that kind. Of stuff. So if that makes 1961 02:41:06,707 --> 02:41:10,547 sense, what I just said. Thank you, Councilor Brennan. I 1962 02:41:10,547 --> 02:41:12,987 agree. With all that assistant wondering whether the motion that 1963 02:41:12,987 --> 02:41:17,747 you outlined should include specifically that we're looking for the 1964 02:41:17,747 --> 02:41:22,107 inclusion of the capital renovations to the police headquarters, and 1965 02:41:22,107 --> 02:41:26,099 we're also looking for a revised or updated. Debt schedule 1966 02:41:26,099 --> 02:41:29,635 for the 20th. Those need to be included. Start to 1967 02:41:29,635 --> 02:41:32,939 draft a motion for it. I think that would move 1968 02:41:32,939 --> 02:41:41,005 that. By January 20, we receive. A revised. 1969 02:41:42,474 --> 02:41:46,914 Municipal budget from the mayor, which includes the renovations, the 1970 02:41:46,914 --> 02:41:50,674 capital renovations to the police headquarters, and a revised debt 1971 02:41:50,674 --> 02:41:58,375 schedule. Catch up before we go any further. She's typing 1972 02:41:58,375 --> 02:42:04,416 quickly. And we'll start it out. We receive this report 1973 02:42:04,416 --> 02:42:08,707 for information, we receive a report. Councilor Brennan. Just 1 1974 02:42:08,707 --> 02:42:13,904 second. Just. Everything that the deputy mayor said, but then 1975 02:42:13,904 --> 02:42:18,264 specifically that we received by January 20, I'm a revised 1976 02:42:18,264 --> 02:42:21,584 municipal budget from the mayor, which includes the capital renovation, 1977 02:42:21,584 --> 02:42:28,958 the police headquartered project and a revised debt schedule. From 1978 02:42:28,958 --> 02:42:37,827 the director of finance. I just want to let the 1979 02:42:37,827 --> 02:42:44,600 person catch up. Okay. Councilor Derbyshire. Councilor. I just want 1980 02:42:44,600 --> 02:42:47,960 to ask why we're receiving this. For information. Why we're 1981 02:42:47,960 --> 02:42:51,360 just. Not deferring it to get it updated on the 1982 02:42:51,360 --> 02:42:54,080 20th because at that point, what we're saying is we're 1983 02:42:54,080 --> 02:42:58,307 accepting this. As. Is not what you do when you 1984 02:42:58,307 --> 02:43:01,147 receive it for information as you accept it, it's. Now 1985 02:43:01,147 --> 02:43:03,507 logged in. Whereas if we don't accept it and send 1986 02:43:03,507 --> 02:43:07,130 it back. You're asking for better clarity. Sending it back. 1987 02:43:07,130 --> 02:43:09,130 We have to say we received something to send back. 1988 02:43:09,130 --> 02:43:12,983 I think, like we discussed this afternoon. In my anything 1989 02:43:12,983 --> 02:43:15,903 I've ever read, when we receive it for information, it 1990 02:43:15,903 --> 02:43:18,583 just means they get to buy it. But that's what 1991 02:43:18,583 --> 02:43:23,344 you're now filing, misinformation. We're asking for it to go 1992 02:43:23,344 --> 02:43:25,784 back and be revised so it doesn't start. The 30 1993 02:43:25,784 --> 02:43:29,777 day clock. That's the whole point to it. Wouldn't it? 1994 02:43:29,777 --> 02:43:33,072 Start it if you receive it. That's what I was 1995 02:43:33,072 --> 02:43:35,032 thinking. If you receive it today, it should start the 1996 02:43:35,032 --> 02:43:37,032 clock now. You're. The mayor says he's okay if it 1997 02:43:37,032 --> 02:43:40,853 doesn't start to clock. By then. Get her hands left. 1998 02:43:40,853 --> 02:43:43,773 I wish I knew the process better, councilor. I don't. 1999 02:43:43,773 --> 02:43:48,637 I'm. Just trying to get this meeting wrapped up. And 2000 02:43:48,637 --> 02:43:55,476 a pathway forward. I get it. Whatever. But I think 2001 02:43:55,476 --> 02:43:57,796 anytime that we're talking about documents, I think we have 2002 02:43:57,796 --> 02:44:02,936 to receive them. We usually do that. First receive the 2003 02:44:02,936 --> 02:44:07,372 documents, and then we have our discussions about it. Councilor 2004 02:44:07,372 --> 02:44:10,172 Felkman, did you have a comment before we move? I 2005 02:44:10,172 --> 02:44:17,445 did. So I just want to clarify what's a change 2006 02:44:17,445 --> 02:44:22,636 and what's not a change. So I. Think that. The 2007 02:44:22,636 --> 02:44:25,796 list of projects and stuff that's identified, if we were 2008 02:44:25,796 --> 02:44:27,956 to add or remove any of those to me. That's 2009 02:44:27,956 --> 02:44:31,876 a change. If we're seeking clarification on numbers to me. 2010 02:44:31,876 --> 02:44:35,979 That's not a change and can happen without motion. To 2011 02:44:35,979 --> 02:44:39,419 speed the process up. So if somebody points out a 2012 02:44:39,419 --> 02:44:44,714 glaring error and said, hey, this number is incorrect. It 2013 02:44:44,714 --> 02:44:46,954 should be able to be changed without a motion because. 2014 02:44:48,244 --> 02:44:51,084 It's not changing the budget that's being presented, it's just 2015 02:44:51,084 --> 02:44:54,731 making sure. That the numbers are being correct. Has nothing 2016 02:44:54,731 --> 02:44:57,131 to do with the motion that's just grafted now. Just 2017 02:44:57,131 --> 02:45:05,528 saying moving forward. If we discover. That. The numbers are 2018 02:45:05,528 --> 02:45:10,098 incorrect. Without adding or removing any items. We're not changing 2019 02:45:10,098 --> 02:45:12,778 the budget that's being proposed. We're just making sure the 2020 02:45:12,778 --> 02:45:18,576 information is correct. Okay. I agree with that. So within 2021 02:45:18,576 --> 02:45:22,056 seven days, we have documents that we're going to start 2022 02:45:22,056 --> 02:45:28,378 a 30 day clock. On. And. Amendments are to be 2023 02:45:28,378 --> 02:45:31,378 drafted and sent to the clerk basically as soon as 2024 02:45:31,378 --> 02:45:35,258 possible. We do have a meeting for February 11 scheduled, 2025 02:45:35,258 --> 02:45:38,449 which we can keep. It's probably a good idea to 2026 02:45:38,449 --> 02:45:41,209 keep it, see if we can deal with all the 2027 02:45:41,209 --> 02:45:45,817 amendments. That still leaves us seven days if we need 2028 02:45:45,817 --> 02:45:50,794 a second meeting. If not. We collapse the 30 day 2029 02:45:50,794 --> 02:45:53,074 at that point in time, because we can do that 2030 02:45:53,074 --> 02:45:56,434 and send it directly over to the mayor, which starts 2031 02:45:56,434 --> 02:45:59,621 his phase of the veal. Which he's already commented upon. 2032 02:46:01,700 --> 02:46:03,500 We don't have to keep 30 days, but we've got 2033 02:46:03,500 --> 02:46:05,340 it if we need. To come back for a second 2034 02:46:05,340 --> 02:46:09,944 meeting. Or a third meeting, as the case is. I 2035 02:46:09,944 --> 02:46:17,032 got it. A question of clarification on this amendment. Changing 2036 02:46:17,032 --> 02:46:22,748 numbers. Do I email everybody? Not my amendment. But do 2037 02:46:22,748 --> 02:46:26,567 I say? I say, look, there's a percentage change. Or 2038 02:46:26,567 --> 02:46:28,207 this didn't add up. Or maybe this number isn't right. 2039 02:46:29,593 --> 02:46:32,473 Does that go to all of council, so that we're 2040 02:46:32,473 --> 02:46:36,990 all aware of a number change? Obviously, I would send 2041 02:46:36,990 --> 02:46:39,590 my amendment to the clerk or whatever it lists on 2042 02:46:39,590 --> 02:46:41,950 this name, and then we would deal with the amendments. 2043 02:46:43,238 --> 02:46:47,003 At that meeting. But if we're talking about. Let's say 2044 02:46:47,003 --> 02:46:49,123 you notice the debt schedule just using it right now. 2045 02:46:50,464 --> 02:46:52,264 And the numbers are off. Do I email everyone and 2046 02:46:52,264 --> 02:46:54,464 say, hey, I think the numbers are off? On this. 2047 02:46:56,186 --> 02:46:58,066 Because we're not coming back to meet and meet and 2048 02:46:58,066 --> 02:47:01,266 meet. We're going to just analyze this ourselves and you're 2049 02:47:01,266 --> 02:47:03,186 going to have two more meetings we'd have. Time for 2050 02:47:03,186 --> 02:47:06,626 two more meetings if needed. But two thoughts. Good point. 2051 02:47:06,626 --> 02:47:07,906 Because then at least we all get to see the 2052 02:47:07,906 --> 02:47:10,346 conversation, but we have to be careful that we don't 2053 02:47:10,346 --> 02:47:18,422 engage. In. An unscheduled meeting by responding. As soon as 2054 02:47:18,422 --> 02:47:22,358 we start that email chain now. We're tell Madam Clerk 2055 02:47:22,358 --> 02:47:28,524 I think that's your realm of expertise. You're welcome. Thank 2056 02:47:28,524 --> 02:47:36,499 you. This is all very brand new territory, so. We're 2057 02:47:36,499 --> 02:47:40,185 just trying to navigate. I would definitely encourage you. If 2058 02:47:40,185 --> 02:47:43,705 you do find something of an error, then I would 2059 02:47:43,705 --> 02:47:47,534 encourage you. To contact the directors. I think it would 2060 02:47:47,534 --> 02:47:50,254 be helpful to keep counsel in the loop as long 2061 02:47:50,254 --> 02:47:56,003 as the deputy mayor said to keep it. Not engaging 2062 02:47:56,003 --> 02:47:58,843 like it would be advancing business or a meeting. But 2063 02:47:58,843 --> 02:48:02,163 if you're just pointing out something that you found, I 2064 02:48:02,163 --> 02:48:04,483 would encourage you to include everyone. So everyone is on 2065 02:48:04,483 --> 02:48:07,642 the same. Page. Yeah. Does that make sense? Does that 2066 02:48:07,642 --> 02:48:12,392 help at all? 100%. Is it better if when you 2067 02:48:12,392 --> 02:48:22,124 send your amendments to the clerk. If. There of a 2068 02:48:22,124 --> 02:48:24,964 fashion that she feels needs to be released immediately. She 2069 02:48:24,964 --> 02:48:27,800 could release them out. We don't comment about them. We 2070 02:48:27,800 --> 02:48:32,860 don't get into an email chain. We leave it to 2071 02:48:32,860 --> 02:48:39,180 the clerk. I'm afraid of an email chain getting going 2072 02:48:39,180 --> 02:48:45,870 and they happen quickly and easily. Councilor Kenneth, actually. So 2073 02:48:45,870 --> 02:48:47,750 we have a motion up on the floor. John made 2074 02:48:47,750 --> 02:48:51,649 a motion. Do we have a seconder for that motion? 2075 02:48:51,649 --> 02:48:56,126 Councilor of healthman, any other comment on the motion. Yes. 2076 02:48:57,413 --> 02:49:03,080 It's really on the motion. Uncovering. An addition error to 2077 02:49:03,080 --> 02:49:08,192 me isn't a change to the budget. To me. Saying 2078 02:49:08,192 --> 02:49:12,248 we need to drop that program or drop that. Project 2079 02:49:12,248 --> 02:49:15,208 or add that project to me that's making a change 2080 02:49:15,208 --> 02:49:17,888 to the budget, but correcting. An error. I don't really 2081 02:49:17,888 --> 02:49:21,157 see that as a change. So then, if it's just 2082 02:49:21,157 --> 02:49:25,544 an error that's been noted, And madam Clerk sent that 2083 02:49:25,544 --> 02:49:29,184 all out. Just so you know, councilor Kenneth noted an 2084 02:49:29,184 --> 02:49:34,668 error. It's grammatical or. That everybody knows we all don't 2085 02:49:34,668 --> 02:49:38,965 have to send in the same thing. But what we 2086 02:49:38,965 --> 02:49:42,020 don't want to do is get involved. In an email 2087 02:49:42,020 --> 02:49:45,940 chains because that's not proper. Councilor Brennan and then we're 2088 02:49:45,940 --> 02:49:47,860 going to call this to a vote. Here's a fun 2089 02:49:47,860 --> 02:49:52,140 idea. If we're all going to be grading up, maybe 2090 02:49:52,140 --> 02:49:53,860 we won't be, but let's say a few of us 2091 02:49:53,860 --> 02:49:56,620 write up written amendments that we're sending into the clerk 2092 02:49:56,620 --> 02:49:58,620 and we want other people to know about them when 2093 02:49:58,620 --> 02:50:01,740 we want to avoid email chains and all this sort 2094 02:50:01,740 --> 02:50:02,820 of stuff, and it's all going to be done by 2095 02:50:02,820 --> 02:50:07,042 February 11. There's nothing saying we couldn't have a meeting 2096 02:50:07,042 --> 02:50:10,602 on February the fourth. If you will. Where each of 2097 02:50:10,602 --> 02:50:13,362 us could bring in with us if we wanted to 2098 02:50:13,362 --> 02:50:15,762 a copy of our written amendment and we could just 2099 02:50:15,762 --> 02:50:19,202 say, hey, other members of council, here's three written amendments 2100 02:50:19,202 --> 02:50:21,322 that I have submitted, and I'm just going to let 2101 02:50:21,322 --> 02:50:23,922 you know about them in this meeting. And then we 2102 02:50:23,922 --> 02:50:26,122 could all do that. And if it turns out that 2103 02:50:26,122 --> 02:50:29,810 there were. A total of eleven amendments that were put 2104 02:50:29,810 --> 02:50:33,050 forward by all of us. We could take five minutes. 2105 02:50:33,050 --> 02:50:34,890 And talk about each one. We don't have to make 2106 02:50:34,890 --> 02:50:38,210 a decision, but at least everybody knows that amendments are 2107 02:50:38,210 --> 02:50:42,949 being proposed before we get to another meeting. I think 2108 02:50:42,949 --> 02:50:45,269 we do best when we sit down and meet with 2109 02:50:45,269 --> 02:50:49,671 each other physically. And if we have. A form that 2110 02:50:49,671 --> 02:50:54,654 we have to submit. Electronically to the clerk. Well. It 2111 02:50:54,654 --> 02:50:56,414 doesn't take an extra effort to maybe just print it 2112 02:50:56,414 --> 02:50:59,734 out at home or have it on your device and 2113 02:50:59,734 --> 02:51:01,574 come to a meeting. And just, even though it's already 2114 02:51:01,574 --> 02:51:04,414 been submitted. Each of us takes turns saying, here's an 2115 02:51:04,414 --> 02:51:08,214 amendment that I submitted. Does anybody want to talk about 2116 02:51:08,214 --> 02:51:11,334 it for five minutes. We're not looking about passing it 2117 02:51:11,334 --> 02:51:14,054 or making a motion, but let's just talk to each 2118 02:51:14,054 --> 02:51:16,459 other. About the amendments that we put in and have 2119 02:51:16,459 --> 02:51:19,659 that pre discussion before we get to a February 11 2120 02:51:19,659 --> 02:51:21,779 meeting when they're all on the table and we have 2121 02:51:21,779 --> 02:51:24,275 to make decisions. So I think we do best when 2122 02:51:24,275 --> 02:51:26,955 we sit and talk to each other, and I have 2123 02:51:26,955 --> 02:51:29,635 no objection to a meeting where we'd all sit down 2124 02:51:29,635 --> 02:51:32,195 and say, I might come in here. And say I 2125 02:51:32,195 --> 02:51:35,810 made no amendments. And maybe Steve's made two and he 2126 02:51:35,810 --> 02:51:38,570 reads them out and bose made five or one. Or 2127 02:51:38,570 --> 02:51:43,030 none. And that way everybody knows that other people have 2128 02:51:43,030 --> 02:51:46,630 made amendments and we have an opportunity to discuss them, 2129 02:51:46,630 --> 02:51:49,510 maybe not decide them that night. And then everybody goes 2130 02:51:49,510 --> 02:51:51,590 home and sleeps on it for a week. And then 2131 02:51:51,590 --> 02:51:53,590 we come to a February 11 meeting where the amendments 2132 02:51:53,590 --> 02:51:57,267 come up for votes. I just think that way we 2133 02:51:57,267 --> 02:52:04,283 avoid the whole email chain. It humanizes the process. So 2134 02:52:04,283 --> 02:52:06,043 hold that thought for a moment. There's a motion on 2135 02:52:06,043 --> 02:52:14,600 the floor. About receiving it for information. And then. Referring 2136 02:52:14,600 --> 02:52:18,764 it back to the mayor for revision. With the inclusion. 2137 02:52:21,729 --> 02:52:28,586 Of the police annex. And. The depth. Revised debt schedule. 2138 02:52:31,415 --> 02:52:37,067 Revised debt schedule. That's good. Looking for a debt schedule. 2139 02:52:37,067 --> 02:52:41,290 So on that motion. Seconded motion. All in favor? Opposed. 2140 02:52:42,898 --> 02:52:48,892 Did you vote in favor of it? Is abstain from 2141 02:52:48,892 --> 02:52:52,766 it. That carries. Okay, Mr. Mayor, and then we'll deal 2142 02:52:52,766 --> 02:52:59,735 with when the next meeting is going to be. Just 2143 02:52:59,735 --> 02:53:03,646 two comments. I'm glad everybody was looking that way, not 2144 02:53:03,646 --> 02:53:06,806 looking here because I was smiling, because I want to 2145 02:53:06,806 --> 02:53:12,050 tell the council why? We're not unusual. All the readings 2146 02:53:12,050 --> 02:53:14,930 that I have done on the strong mayor powers and 2147 02:53:14,930 --> 02:53:20,208 the presentation to council. Has elicited the same conversation, so 2148 02:53:20,208 --> 02:53:24,284 I would suggest. I know for a fact. Cambridge, their 2149 02:53:24,284 --> 02:53:27,954 council. There was frustration with the process. I believe it 2150 02:53:27,954 --> 02:53:32,194 was St. Mary, so we're not unusual. Deputy mayor. Every 2151 02:53:32,194 --> 02:53:35,594 council has wrestled with this in using the strong mayor 2152 02:53:35,594 --> 02:53:39,794 powers. And secondly, I'm glad to hear the discussion about 2153 02:53:39,794 --> 02:53:42,434 the debt and the debt policy, because that was kind 2154 02:53:42,434 --> 02:53:46,946 of my focus moving forward. Is. Everybody's mentioned it. Where 2155 02:53:46,946 --> 02:53:48,986 are we at with our debt and how are we 2156 02:53:48,986 --> 02:53:51,226 going? To use it moving forward. So again, smiling, because 2157 02:53:51,226 --> 02:53:55,306 I'm glad to hear all the discussion. About debt. So 2158 02:53:55,306 --> 02:54:00,352 that's it. Chair. Thank you. Yeah. It's not a good 2159 02:54:00,352 --> 02:54:03,032 situation trying to build the process while we're in the 2160 02:54:03,032 --> 02:54:05,672 process, but thank you. Sorry. I was going to say 2161 02:54:05,672 --> 02:54:07,912 it's not fun building the process. While we're in the 2162 02:54:07,912 --> 02:54:12,066 process. On this, but we got through it. So, next 2163 02:54:12,066 --> 02:54:14,838 meeting? When do you want the next meeting to be? 2164 02:54:16,772 --> 02:54:20,447 The third. You want? The 3 February. What day of 2165 02:54:20,447 --> 02:54:24,127 the week is that? Tuesday. A Tuesday. Tuesday the 3. 2166 02:54:24,127 --> 02:54:31,713 February at 430. No. Tuesday doesn't work for councilor Pammer. 2167 02:54:31,713 --> 02:54:36,368 No, the third. I have something booked, but I guess 2168 02:54:36,368 --> 02:54:38,448 I could try to change it. I'm the only one. 2169 02:54:40,363 --> 02:54:45,083 How about Wednesday the 28th? There's one tentatively booked by 2170 02:54:45,083 --> 02:54:51,258 staff for Wednesday the 28 or 30. Councilor Temple can't 2171 02:54:51,258 --> 02:54:56,592 make Wednesdays. Can we not just change the strategic priority? 2172 02:54:58,291 --> 02:55:07,231 One strategic priority sets. It starts at what time? Do 2173 02:55:07,231 --> 02:55:14,978 you want to meet? At. 430 to do the budget. 2174 02:55:16,548 --> 02:55:22,001 430 for a 30 minutes. Budget discussion prior to starting 2175 02:55:22,001 --> 02:55:25,953 strategic priorities. You won't get it done. 30 minutes. 30 2176 02:55:25,953 --> 02:55:30,412 minutes. It's just to say what amendments you're thinking about 2177 02:55:30,412 --> 02:55:37,446 bringing forward. And then we meet on the 11th. To 2178 02:55:37,446 --> 02:55:40,006 amered up. It still gives you seven days if you 2179 02:55:40,006 --> 02:55:42,366 wanted another one on the 20th. We could start at 2180 02:55:42,366 --> 02:55:48,386 430 and go till. No, we can't. Stretch it, like 2181 02:55:48,386 --> 02:55:52,240 do it all in one day rather than. Do it 2182 02:55:52,240 --> 02:55:59,487 twice. We're going to begin then on Monday. The 26 2183 02:55:59,487 --> 02:56:03,546 January at 430. For a continuation of the budget process. 2184 02:56:04,835 --> 02:56:08,959 Bring your amendments. We're good at that. Sorry. Clarification. Do 2185 02:56:08,959 --> 02:56:10,879 we bring our amendments or do we. Submit them ahead 2186 02:56:10,879 --> 02:56:13,439 of time. Well, submit them ahead of time, but bring 2187 02:56:13,439 --> 02:56:16,279 your amendments to the meeting. To discuss with everybody else 2188 02:56:16,279 --> 02:56:21,372 to tell everybody else what your amendments are. Instead of 2189 02:56:21,372 --> 02:56:24,132 circulating them outside of council, I was going to ask. 2190 02:56:26,974 --> 02:56:30,903 Put on an agenda then. Not until the February 11. 2191 02:56:30,903 --> 02:56:37,212 February the 11th. Are we live? On the 26th? Yeah. 2192 02:56:38,006 --> 02:56:46,605 What we like. Just for clarification, all the amendments are 2193 02:56:46,605 --> 02:56:49,499 going to be on the agenda. You can bring other 2194 02:56:49,499 --> 02:56:52,739 amendments later. We'll have a big discussion meeting on the 2195 02:56:52,739 --> 02:56:56,495 11th. But if you want to. But for that meeting, 2196 02:56:56,495 --> 02:56:59,255 we have to have them submitted early because we can't 2197 02:56:59,255 --> 02:57:03,946 discuss anything that's not on the agenda. My understanding from 2198 02:57:03,946 --> 02:57:06,506 councilor Brennan was not to just do a big discussion 2199 02:57:06,506 --> 02:57:10,146 about him, but to. Tell everybody. Here's what I'm thinking 2200 02:57:10,146 --> 02:57:12,866 of bringing forward. You can put your mind to it. 2201 02:57:12,866 --> 02:57:17,694 Go home, take a look. At what it is councilor 2202 02:57:17,694 --> 02:57:20,454 Brennan has commented on. Come back in on the 11th 2203 02:57:20,454 --> 02:57:24,108 and be prepared. To decide whether you want to move 2204 02:57:24,108 --> 02:57:27,788 that motion forward or not that amendment forward. And I 2205 02:57:27,788 --> 02:57:29,548 guess my point is, by council rules, unless it's on 2206 02:57:29,548 --> 02:57:32,388 the agenda, we can't talk. About it, right? That's just 2207 02:57:32,388 --> 02:57:34,748 what I'm getting for. Is there a deadline to submit 2208 02:57:34,748 --> 02:57:37,308 amendments for that meeting, or can we bring them in 2209 02:57:37,308 --> 02:57:39,948 and not let anybody know except the clerk, like, say, 2210 02:57:39,948 --> 02:57:41,828 on the Friday over the weekend before that meeting and 2211 02:57:41,828 --> 02:57:43,662 still discuss them, I think. You can bring those ones 2212 02:57:43,662 --> 02:57:46,462 in any time. I think you can just walk in 2213 02:57:46,462 --> 02:57:48,902 on that meeting. On the 26th. You can walk in 2214 02:57:48,902 --> 02:57:50,622 with your amendment in your back pocket if you want. 2215 02:57:52,247 --> 02:57:54,527 Submit it five days prior to the 11th to get 2216 02:57:54,527 --> 02:57:57,087 it on the agenda, and that's when council is going 2217 02:57:57,087 --> 02:57:59,967 to do their discussion, their deep dive on it and 2218 02:57:59,967 --> 02:58:05,197 hopefully make resolution. By vote and motion to the mayor. 2219 02:58:06,816 --> 02:58:13,455 Councilor pellman. Technically, would that not be a workshop? Not 2220 02:58:13,455 --> 02:58:16,008 a complete. Is that a workshop? 2221 02:58:23,689 --> 02:58:26,409 Council meeting. It'll be the same as special meeting, same 2222 02:58:26,409 --> 02:58:32,389 as. Just be a short special meeting. No motions be 2223 02:58:32,389 --> 02:58:35,269 that's a preparatory meeting to the 11th. Meeting is all 2224 02:58:35,269 --> 02:58:42,046 it is. Okay, motion to adjourn council. She said we 2225 02:58:42,046 --> 02:58:48,676 can't do that yet. No. There isn't a bylaw. I'm 2226 02:58:48,676 --> 02:58:53,857 looking for a motion. That bylaw number 426 receive 1st, 2227 02:58:53,857 --> 02:58:57,057 2nd, third and final reading. What is that? Just a. 2228 02:58:57,057 --> 02:59:02,142 Bylaw to approve proceedings of the meeting. Oh, I see. 2229 02:59:02,142 --> 02:59:04,182 It says that underneath there a bylaw to confirm the 2230 02:59:04,182 --> 02:59:06,822 proceedings at the special. Council meeting of the corporation Municipality 2231 02:59:06,822 --> 02:59:10,582 of Strathwide cared on somebody to make a motion councilor. 2232 02:59:10,582 --> 02:59:14,822 Kenneth, councilor Hippo. Thank you. All in favor? Path carries. 2233 02:59:17,190 --> 02:59:21,870 Motion to adjourn. Councilor Hippo, Councilor Kenneth, all in favor? 2234 02:59:21,870 --> 02:59:26,452 We stand adjourned 728, thank you. Good job, Mike.