MINUTES

PRIORITIES AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 9:30 A.m. - 4:30 P.m.

IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

PRESENT:

• Mayor N. Nenshi, Chair
• Councillor S. Chu, Vice-Chair (Remote Participation)
• Councillor G-C. Carra (CPS Chair) (Remote Participation)
• Councillor J. Davison (T&T Chair) (Remote Participation)
• Councillor J. Gondek (PUD Chair) (Remote Participation)
• Councillor W. Sutherland (UCS Chair) (Remote Participation)
• Councillor E. Woolley (Audit Chair) (Remote Participation)
• Councillor G. Chahal (Remote Participation)
• Councillor D. Colley-Urquhart (Remote Participation)
• Councillor J. Farkas (Remote Participation)
• Councillor D. Farrell (Remote Participation)
• Councillor S. Keating (Remote Participation)

ALSO PRESENT:

• City Solicitor and General Counsel J. Floen (Remote Participation)
• A/General Manager C. Arthurs (Remote Participation)
• Acting General Manager K. Black (Remote Participation)
• General Manager S. Dalgleish (Remote Participation)
• Chief Financial Officer C. Male (Remote Participation)
• A/General Manager D. Morgan (Remote Participation)
• A/City Clerk J. Fraser
• Legislative Advisor J. Palaschuk

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Nenshi called the Meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.

2.

OPENING REMARKS

Mayor Nenshi provided opening remarks and a traditional land acknowledgement.

ROLL CALL
Councillor Carra, Councillor Chahal, Councillor Chu, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, Councillor Davison, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Farrell, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Keating, Councillor Sutherland, Councillor Woolley, and Mayor Nenshi.

3.

CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA

• Moved by Councillor Davison

  That the Agenda for today's meeting be amended by adding the following as an Item of Urgent Business:

  • 9.1 Notice of Motion - Advocating for Vaccination Prioritization of the City of Calgary's Critical Infrastructure Workers, PFC2021-0282

   

  MOTION CARRIED
• Moved by Councillor Colley-Urquhart

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee refer Item 7.2, Report PFC2021-0260, back to Administration to resolve outstanding work, to return to the 2021 March Coordinating Committee of the Councillor's Office Meeting.

  MOTION CARRIED

  By General Consent, the Agenda for today's meeting be amended by bringing forward Items 7.1, 7.8, and 7.9 to be dealt with immediately following the Consent Agenda.

  
  
• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That the Agenda for the 2021 February 16 Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee be confirmed, as amended.

  MOTION CARRIED

4.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

4.1

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee, 2021 January 12

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That the Minutes of the 2021 January 12 Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee be confirmed.

   

  MOTION CARRIED

5.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That the Consent Agenda be approved as follows:

5.1

DEFERRALS AND PROCEDURAL REQUESTS

None

5.2

BRIEFINGS

5.2.1

Status of Outstanding Motions and Directions, PFC2021-0212

5.2.2

The City of Calgary’s Privacy Management Program 2020 Annual Report, PFC2021-0118

• MOTION CARRIED

6.

POSTPONED REPORTS

None

7.

ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

7.1

Mount Royal University – AI Digital Twin for Trucks, PFC2021-0025

​The following documents were distributed with respect to Report PFC2021-0025:

• A presentation entitled "Council Innovation Fund Application for Mount Royal University - Artificial Intelligence Digital Twin Trucks"; and
• A letter of support from the Alberta Motor Transport Association.

Dr. Rajbir Bhatti, Mount Royal University, addressed Committee with respect to Report PFC2021-0025.

• Moved by Councillor Chahal

  That with respect to Report PFC2021-0025, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee:

  1. Recommend Council approve this application of the Council Innovation Fund for Mount Royal University’s Artificial Intelligence Digital Twin for Trucks Program in the amount of $50,000; and
  2. Direct Administration to report back to the Priorities and Finance Committee indicating how the money was spent and outcomes of the project within 12 months of its end date, as per the Council Innovation Fund Terms of Reference.

  For: (12)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Chahal, Councillor Davison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, Councillor Farrell, and Councillor Sutherland

  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee dealt with Items 7.8 and 7.9, before returning to the Agenda to deal with Item 7.3 and subsequent Items. 

  
  

7.2

Expense Investigation Follow Up – Councillor Magliocca Ward 2 Hosting, PFC2021-0260

This Item was referred back to Administration during Confirmation of Agenda.

7.3

Update on Moving to an External Operator for City Golf Courses, PFC2021-0045

This Item was dealt with after Item 7.9.

A presentation entitled "Update on Moving to an External Operator for City Golf Courses" was distributed with respect to Report PFC2021-0045.

• Moved by Councillor Davison

  That with respect to Report PFC2021-0045, the following be approved:

  That the Administration recommendations be filed and the following be approved:

  The Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Refer this Item to Administration to consider after the implementation of the Golf Course Sustainability Framework, returning to Council through the Priorities and Finance Committee with a recommendation on whether to continue with the contracting out of all or some golf course operations no later than Q4 2022; and

  For: (7)	Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Carra, Councillor Davison, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Sutherland, Councillor Farkas, and Councillor Keating
  Against: (4)	Councillor Chu, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, and Councillor Farrell

  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee recessed at 12:04 p.m. and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. with Mayor Nenshi in the Chair.

  ROLL CALL

  Councillor Chu. Councillor Davison, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Sutherland, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Keating, and Mayor Nenshi.

  Absent for Roll Call:

  Councillor Carra (rejoined the Remote Meeting at 1:33 p.m.) and Councillor Colley-Urquhart (rejoined the Remote Meeting at 2:19 p.m.).

  
  

• Following Item 9.1, Committee returned to this Item to consider the following:

  Moved by Councillor Chu

  2. Direct that Attachment 3 remain confidential pursuant to Section 24 (Advice from Officials), 25 (Disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) and 27 (Privileged Information) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to be reviewed 2025 February 01.

  MOTION CARRIED

7.4

2021 Non-Residential Phased Tax Program Report, PFC2021-0060

A presentation entitled "2021 Non-Residential Phased Tax Program" was distributed with respect to Report PFC2021-0060.

• Moved by Councillor Farkas

  That with respect to Report PFC2021-0060, the following be approved:

  That the Administration Recommendations be filed and the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that Council direct Administration to implement a non-residential Phased Tax Program with a 0 per cent non-residential municipal property tax cap for 2021 with an estimated cost of $44 million;

  1. Approve $3 million from unused funds previously allocated for prior years’ Phased Tax Programs;
  2. Approve $18 million originally approved for the 2021 Property Tax Rebate; and
  3. Approve $23 million from the Fiscal Stability Reserve.

  For: (9)	Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Davison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Chu, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, and Councillor Sutherland
  Against: (1)	Councillor Carra

  MOTION CARRIED

7.5

2021 Supplementary Property Assessment and Tax Bylaw, PFC2021-0059

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That with respect to Report PFC2021-0059, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that Council give three readings to the proposed 2021 Supplementary Property Assessment Bylaw and 2021 Supplementary Property Tax Bylaw (Attachments 2 and 3) which will remain in force until repealed.

  For: (10)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Davison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, and Councillor Sutherland

  MOTION CARRIED

7.6

Off-site Levy Investment Income Q1 Update (Verbal), PFC2021-0246

By General Consent, this Item was postponed to the Call of the Chair.

This Item was dealt with following Item 8.2.1.

A presentation entitled "Off-Site Levy Investment Income Q1 Update - Verbal" was distributed with respect to Report PFC2021-0246.

• Moved by Councillor Gondek

  That with respect to Verbal Report PFC2021-0246, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that Council direct Administration to provide the final off-site levy investment income update to Council through the Priorities and Finance Committee no later than 2021 Q3.

  MOTION CARRIED

7.7

Capping Food Delivery Fees (Verbal), PFC2021-0245

A presentation entitled "Capping Delivery Fees (Verbal)" was distributed with respect to Report PFC2021-0245.

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That with respect to Verbal Report PFC2021-0245, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee receive this presentation for the Corporate Record.

  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee then returned to the Agenda to deal with Item 8.2.2.

  
  

7.8

Council Innovation Fund Application - Heritage Calgary Naming, Renaming and Commemoration Process Design - PFC2021-0096

This Item was dealt with following Item 7.1.

​The following documents were distributed with respect to Report PFC2021-0096:

• A presentation entitled "Naming, Renaming, & Commemoration: Designing A Process"; and
• A letter of support from Heritage Calgary.

The following speakers addressed Committee with respect to Report PFC2021-0096:

1. Josh Traptow, Heritage Calgary

2. Alexandra Hatcher, Hatlie Group

• Moved by Councillor Colley-Urquhart

  That with respect to Report PFC2021-0096, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Approve the Council Innovation Fund Application in the amount of $162,000; and

  2. Direct Administration to report back to the Priorities and Finance Committee on outcomes no later than Q4 2021.

  For: (10)	Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Chahal, Councillor Davison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, and Councillor Farrell
  Against: (2)	Councillor Farkas, and Councillor Sutherland

  MOTION CARRIED

7.9

CIF Application - Calgary Economic Development Learning CITY Community Pilot - PFC2021-0189

​The following documents were distributed with respect to Report PFC2021-0189:

• A presentation entitled "Piloting Skills That Matter"; and
• A letter of support from Mount Royal University.

The following speakers addressed Committee with respect to Report PFC2021-0189:

1. Dexter Lam, Calgary Economic Development
2. Dr. David Finch, Professor and Senior Fellow, Institute for Community Prosperity, Mount Royal University

• Moved by Councillor Chahal

  That with respect to Report PFC2021-0189, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Approve the Council Innovation Fund Application in the amount of $43,400; and
  2. Direct Administration to report back to the Priorities and Finance Committee on outcomes no later than Q4 2021.

  For: (12)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Chahal, Councillor Davison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, Councillor Farrell, and Councillor Sutherland

  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee then returned to the Agenda to deal with Item 7.3.

  
  

8.

ITEMS DIRECTLY TO COMMITTEE

8.1

REFERRED REPORTS

None

8.2

NOTICE(S) OF MOTION

8.2.1

Minimizing Negative Impacts of Waste and Recycling Sites, PFC2021-0222

This Item was heard following Item 7.6.

• Moved by Councillor Keating

  That with respect to Notice of Motion PFC2021-0222, the following be approved:

  That Notice of Motion PFC2021-0222 be forwarded to the 2021 March 01 Combined Meeting of Council for consideration. 

  For: (10)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Davison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, and Councillor Sutherland

  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee then returned to the Agenda to deal with Item 7.6.

  
  

8.2.2

Council Endorsement of Technology to Help Missing Children, PFC2021-0262

This Item was dealt with following Item 7.7.

• Moved by Councillor Farkas

  That with respect to Notice of Motion PFC2021-0262, the following be approved:

  That Notice of Motion PFC2021-0262 be forwarded to the 2021 March 01 Combined Meeting of Council for consideration. 

  For: (10)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Davison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, and Councillor Sutherland

  MOTION CARRIED

9.

URGENT BUSINESS

9.1

Notice of Motion -Advocating for the Vaccination Prioritization of the City of Calgary’s Critical Infrastructure Workers, PFC2021-0282

​The following documents were distributed with respect to Report PFC2021-0282:

• A Notice of Motion - Advocating for Vaccination Prioritization of the City of Calgary's Critical Infrastructure Workers, PFC2020-0282;and
• A Notice of Motion Checklist

• Moved by Councillor Davison

  That with respect to Notice of Motion PFC2021-0282, the following be approved:

  That Notice of Motion PFC2021-0282 be forwarded to the 2021 March 01 Combined Meeting of Council for consideration. 

  For: (9)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Davison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, and Councillor Sutherland

  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee then returned to Item 7.3.

  
  

10.

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

10.1

ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

None

10.2

URGENT BUSINESS

None

11.

ADJOURNMENT

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That this meeting adjourn at 2:50 p.m.

  MOTION CARRIED

  The following items have been forwarded to the 2021 March 01 Combined Meeting of Council:

  CONSENT

  • Mount Royal University – AI Digital Twin for Trucks, PFC2021-0025
  • Update on Moving to an External Operator for City Golf Courses, PFC2021-0045
  • 2021 Non-Residential Phased Tax Program Report, PFC2021-0060
  • Off-site Levy Investment Income Q1 Update (Verbal), PFC2021-0246
  • Council Innovation Fund Application - Heritage Calgary Naming, Renaming and Commemoration Process Design - PFC2021-0096
  • CIF Application - Calgary Economic Development Learning CITY Community Pilot - PFC2021-0189

  ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

  COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • 2021 Supplementary Property Assessment and Tax Bylaw, PFC2021-0059
  • Minimizing Negative Impacts of Waste and Recycling Sites, PFC2021-0222
  • Council Endorsement of Technology to Help Missing Children, PFC2021-0262
  • Advocating for the Vaccination Prioritization of the City of Calgary's Critical Infrastructure Workers, PFC2021-0282

  The next Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee is scheduled to be held on 2021 March 16 at 9:30 a.m.

  CONFIRMED BY COMMITTE ON