Minutes

Committee of the Whole - Week 2

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Electronic Meeting
Members:
  • W. Emmerson,
  • M. Bevilacqua,
  • G. Chan,
  • J. DiPaola,
  • M. Ferri,
  • R. Grossi,
  • V. Hackson,
  • D. Hamilton,
  • J. Heath,
  • L. Jackson,
  • J. Jones,
  • J. Li,
  • I. Lovatt,
  • T. Mrakas,
  • S. Pellegrini,
  • C. Perrelli,
  • M. Quirk,
  • G. Rosati,
  • F. Scarpitti,
  • J. Taylor,
  • and T. Vegh
Staff:
  • D. Basso,
  • A-M. Carroll,
  • K. Chislett,
  • P. Freeman,
  • D. Kuzmyk,
  • J. Li,
  • B. Macgregor,
  • E. Mahoney,
  • C. Raynor,
  • and M.F. Turner

Regional Chair Emmerson called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. and made the following remarks:

“We acknowledge the land we are meeting on today is the traditional territory of many First Nations, including the Chippewas of Georgina Island and the Mississaugas of the Credit.

These lands are now home to many diverse Indigenous peoples.

We also acknowledge that York Region falls under Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit and the Williams Treaties with several Mississauga and Chippewas First Nations.”

Mayor Quirk declared an interest in Item F and any potential discussion related to the 2022 YRP Budget, as her husband is a retired YRP officer and works under contract with YRP and her stepson is a YRP officer; accordingly, she did not participate in any discussion or voting on this matter.

Committee of the Whole received the deputation from Sergei Petrov on behalf of the York Region Arts Council.  At the request of the Regional Chair, Mr. Petrov agreed to submit documentation outlining the organization’s funding request.

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer.

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Rob Baldwin, Chief Executive Officer, Lake Simcoe and Region Conservation Authority.

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated November 17, 2021 from the Acting Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer:

  1. Committee of the Whole recommends the budget to Council as submitted for Conservation Authorities as follows:
    1. The 2022 operating budget as summarized in Attachment 1.
  2. The recommended budget be consolidated by the Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer for consideration by Council on December 16, 2021.

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Mayor Bevilacqua, Chair, The Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board, Jim MacSween, Chief, York Regional Police and Jeffrey Channell, Manager Financial Services, York Regional Police.

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the communication from Mafalda Avellino, Executive Director, The Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board dated October 28, 2021.

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated November 17, 2021 from the Acting Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer:

  1. Committee of the Whole recommends the budget to Council as submitted for York Regional Police as follows:
    1. The 2022 operating budget as summarized in Attachment 1.
    2. The 2022 capital expenditures and the 2022 Capital Spending Authority, as summarized in Attachment 2.
  2. The recommended budget be consolidated by the Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer for consideration by Council on December 16, 2021.

Committee of the Whole received the presentation by Laura Bradley, General Manager, YorkNet.

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated November 17, 2021 from the Acting Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer:

  1. Committee of the Whole recommends to Council the budget as submitted for YorkNet as follows:
    1. The 2022 operating budget as summarized in Attachment 1.
    2. The 2022 capital expenditures and the 2022 Capital Spending Authority, as summarized in Attachment 2.
  2. The recommended budget be consolidated by the Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer for consideration by Council on December 16, 2021.

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated November 17, 2021 from the Acting Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer:

  1. Committee of the Whole recommends to Council the budget as submitted for Corporate Management and Governance, Financial Initiatives, External Partners, Court Services and Yonge North Subway Extension as follows:
    1. The 2022 operating budget as summarized in Attachment 1.
    2. The 2022 capital expenditures and the 2022 Capital Spending Authority, as summarized in Attachment 2.
  2. The recommended budget be consolidated by the Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer for consideration by Council on December 16, 2021.

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum from Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer dated November 24, 2021.

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated November 17, 2021 from the Acting Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer:

  1. Council adopt the updated fiscal strategy outlined in this report
  2. Council affirm the 2022 Long-Term Debt Management Plan, shown as Attachment 1
  3. Council approve the amendment of the Capital Financing and Debt Policy to limit the access to the growth-related cost supplement to the Annual Repayment Limit only to the Yonge North Subway Extension (YNSE), as shown in Attachment 2
  4. Council approve the reinstatement of the Surplus Management Policy that was temporarily suspended last year due to COVID-19
  5. Council approve an amendment to the Rapid Transit Reserve Fund to include contributions from the Rapid Transit Infrastructure Levy as a funding source
  6. Council approve the renaming of the Federal Gas Tax Reserve Fund to Canada Community-Building Fund Reserve Fund to align with the federal renaming of this program, as shown in Attachments 2
  7. Council authorize the transfers of funds between the following reserves:
    1. $31.5 million from the Debt Reduction Reserve to the Rapid Transit Reserve Fund
    2. Up to $508,724 of contributions that will be made by YorkNet to the Region’s General Capital Reserve in 2022, to YorkNet’s Capital Asset Replacement Reserve
    3. Up to $113,105 of contributions that will be made by YorkNet to the Region’s Tax Stabilization Reserve in 2022, to YorkNet’s Stabilization Reserve
  8. Council approve a technical amendment to Appendix 3 of the Investment Policy to designate the short-term interest earning rate for the Pandemic Management Reserve Fund, as shown in Attachment 2
  9. Council authorize the Regional Solicitor to prepare and amend the necessary bylaws

Regional Chair Emmerson noted that December 10 is International Human Rights Day which is observed every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  This year's theme for Human Rights Day is "Equality - Reducing Inequities, Advancing Human Rights" and affirms that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Dr. Barry Pakes, York Region Medical Officer of Health provided an update on the status of COVID-19 and responded to questions from Members of Committee of the Whole.

Committee of the Whole resolved into Private Session at 11:51 a.m.

At 12:06 Committee of the Whole resumed in Public Session and reported the following:

Committee of the Whole forwarded the private report to Council's private session on December 16, 2021.

Committee of the Whole adjourned at 12:11 p.m.

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