The Corporation of the City of Kawartha Lakes

Minutes

Budget Committee Meeting

BC2024-05

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

9:00 A.m. - 12:30 P.m.

Council Chambers

City Hall

26 Francis Street, Lindsay, Ontario K9V 5R8

Members:

• Councillor Dan Joyce
• Deputy Mayor Charlie McDonald
• Councillor Tracy Richardson

Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. The City of Kawartha Lakes is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Please contact [email protected] if you have an accessible accommodation request.

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1.

Call to Order

Chair C. McDonald called the meeting to order at 8:59 a.m. Budget Committee members T. Richardson and D. Joyce were in attendance.

CAO Ron Taylor, Director of Corporate Services S. Beukeboom, Director of Human Services C. Faber, CEO/Library Director J. Anderson, CEO KLH K. Maxwell, Manager of Public Services M. Junkin, Manager of Building and Property D. Quibell, Manager of Tenant Services S. Smith, Program Supervisor K. Fleetwood, Supervisor of Capital and Special Projects J. Jilesen, Senior Accountant J. Hood, Executive Assistant Corporate Services N. Bloomfield, and Executive Assistant to Mayor and Council C. Ellison were also in attendance in Council Chambers.

Also present in Chambers: Chief of Police, K. Robertson, Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police L. Rae, Chair of Police Services Board W. Percival.

2.

Administrative Business

2.1

Adoption of Agenda

• BC2024-24
  Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Joyce

  That the Agenda for the Budget Committee Meeting of September 17, 2024 be adopted as circulated and with the following amendment:

  Addition

  Item 4 being an Overview of the 2025 Budget Process for Agencies, Boards and Committees.

  Carried

2.2

Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest disclosed.

2.3

Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meeting

• BC2024-25
  Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Joyce

  That the Minutes of the Budget Committee Meeting of Monday, September 16, 2024, be received and adopted.

  Carried

3.

Deputations

There were no deputations.

4.

Presentations

4.1

BC2024-05.4.1

External Agencies, Boards and Committees
Ron Taylor, CAO

CAO Taylor provided a brief overview of the twelve organizations that are funded directly through the City's budget. Not all organizations will present to the Budget Committee; some have different fiscal years and will present to Council, others are predominately funded through the province (OPP and the Health Unit). Other groups such as the Ross Memorial Hospital and the Art Gallery are Community Groups and are donation-based rather than funded through the Budget process. They are invited to present deputations at the Public Meeting on November 12th.

• BC2024-26
  Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Joyce

  That the External Agencies, Boards and Committees presentation be received.

  Carried

4.2

BC2024-05.4.2

KLH Housing Corporation Budget Presentation
Kirstin Maxwell, CEO

CEO Maxwell presented the KLH Housing Corporation's Budget. She provided an overview of the organization, which include 29 full-time staff all part of the Human Services Department. The mandates of KLH are provincially legislated and the corporation has a Board of Directors, but the day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the CEO. KLH manages 819 homes in 27 communities, the total value of the assets being $255,000,000 (replacement value). They are finally almost fully-staffed now as well, with only one unfilled position.
Three new positions are being requested for 2025: an administrative assistant, a community safety officer, and a supervisor for Community Housing Worker Team. These positions will help to increase efficiencies in administration, reducing the burden on the Management Team; aid in reducing risk and increasing security, which will ideally lead to better emergency planning, collaboration with the Police Services, and communication with tenants and staff.
Some of the budget pressures being felt in KLH are the increased consultant costs, which in 2025 will be used for implementing process improvements, the increase in security costs, the associated costs of managing the additional 46 units at 25 Hamilton, and the continued high move-out costs. Rental income is another factor as 60% of the units are geared-to-income and those incomes will not increase unless the tenant income increases. Of those units, 65% are on fixed or social security income and will not see an increase. The prices for these units were set in 2001. Of the new units at 25 Hamilton, 15 are at market rate and help to offset the cost of the building and its management.
In 2024, KLH progressed on its long-term staffing plans to alleviate staff burnout, completed construction of 25 Hamilton Street, began construction at Murray Street in Fenelon Falls and implemented its CMHC repair program. For 2025 KLH is targeting process improvements, reducing move-out costs, and providing increased community staff support and supervision.
The committee requested finalized grand totals be re-submitted to the Committee.

• BC2024-27
  Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Joyce

  That the KLH Housing Corporation Budget presentation be received.

  Carried

4.3

BC2024-05.4.3

Kawartha Lakes Public Library Budget Presentation
Jamie Anderson, Chief Librarian

CEO/Library Director Anderson presented the Kawartha Lakes Public Library Budget. He provided a overview of the library's operations, which include 14 branches across the City that are opened to the public 350 hours each week. The have 29.5 full-time equivalent staff (12 full time, 36 part time) and welcomed 190,000 patrons to the libraries in 2023 and an additional 495,000 virtual visitors.This represents an approximate 20% increase over 2022.
He explained the VOLT analysis for public libraries, which is the Value of Libraries Toolkit, a way to place an economic value on library services that are being provided to the public. In 2023, the total value of community benefit given by the Kawartha Lakes Public Library was $13,152,856. This equates to a benefit per resident of $166 and a return on investment of $6.21 for every $1 investment, or $313/hour of economic benefit for every hour the library is open.
In 2024 some of the accomplishments were the Coboconk and Lindsay library renovations, an expansion of hours at the Bobcaygeon branch and an expansion of their Library of Things. They are also on track for achieving their best year of attendance at library events, which has been steadily increasing since 2014. In 2025, they will be initiating a Growth Master Plan and begin the process for their next strategic plan. They are also planning to complete an expansion in the Fenelon Falls branch and accessibility improvements at the Bethany branch.
The budget being presented is only to maintain the status quo; there are no staff increases or expansion of services anticipated. The increase in the budget is due solely to inflationary pressures. The main driver of the increase is in wages, which is due to union contract ratifications and market adjustments. The Library is also unable to use any reserve transfers in 2025 as they are being depleted. The total increase in the budget is $365,730, for a total budget in 2025 or $2,706,186.

• BC2024-28
  Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Joyce

  That the Kawartha Lakes Public Library Budget presentation be received.

  Carried

4.4

BC2024-05.4.4

Kawartha Lakes Police Services Budget Presentation
Kirk Robertson, Chief of Police

Chief Robertson presented the Kawartha Lakes Police Services Budget. He provided an overview of their staffing needs, their requirement to replace equipment, and the potential ramifications of deferring these items.
With the recent retirement of their IT Director, they reviewed the position and determined the scope of position should be split into two, confirming an earlier study from 2020 which indicated the span of control was too large. Two of the new positions will replace this position, a Communications Supervisor (essentially to supervise the Dispatch Centre) and a Records Supervisor (to handle FOI requests among other duties). They are also requesting four new Special Constables, one for each platoon, in order to reduce administrative burdens on the Police Officers and provide enhanced service delivery at a reduced cost. Lastly, they are adding two new constables to increase the platoon size by one officer. Platoon sizes have not increased since 2001, even though calls for service have nearly doubled since then and the population for Lindsay has also increased, with further growth inevitable.
In terms of equipment replacement, they are looking to replace the remainder of their portable radios as they are at end of life. Replacement parts are unavailable and they are failing. The Board approved an emergency purchase last year of 8 units, this year will see the replacement of the rest. The Communications "desks" are also nearing end of life and are beginning to fail. These are specialized workstations that house computer equipment and other technology and are utilized 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The reserve funds have been depleted and cannot be used to offset the costs of equipment, which is rapidly rising for everything from vehicles to vests, radios and tasers. Some cost recovery was achieved through a 10 year lease for body worn cameras, but this is not always an option.
The total budget for 2025 is $12,288,154.

• BC2024-29
  Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Joyce

  That the Kawartha Lakes Police Services Budget presentation be received.

  Carried

5.

New Business

There was no new business.

6.

Other Business

There was no other business.

7.

Adjournment

• BC2024-30
  Moved By Councillor Joyce
  Seconded By Councillor Richardson

  That the Meeting adjourn at 11:16 a.m.

  Carried