MINUTES

PRIORITIES AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 9:30 A.m. - 11:55 P.m.

IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

PRESENT:

• Mayor N. Nenshi, Chair
• Councillor S. Chu, Vice-Chair (Remote Participation)
• Councillor G-C. Carra (Remote Participation)
• Councillor J. Davison (Remote Participation)
• Councillor J. Gondek (Remote Participation)
• Councillor W. Sutherland (Remote Participation)
• Councillor E. Woolley (Remote Participation)
• Councillor G. Chahal (Remote Participation)
• Councillor J. Farkas (Remote Participation)
• Councillor D. Farrell (Remote Participation)

ALSO PRESENT:

• City Manager D. Duckworth
• City Solicitor and General Counsel J. Floen
• Chief Financial Officer C. Male
• Deputy City Clerk T. Mowrey
• Legislative Advisor D. Williams

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Nenshi called the Meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.

ROLL CALL

Councillor Chu, Councillor Carra, Councillor Davison, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Farrell and Mayor Nenshi.

Absent for Roll Call:  Councillor Sutherland (joined at Item 7.2)

2.

OPENING REMARKS

Mayor Nenshi provided opening remarks and a traditional land acknowledgment. 

That Mayor also acknowledged those Members of Council who recently toured homes damaged by hail in the North East, and acknowledged Metal Health Day.

 

3.

CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That the Agenda for the 2020 October 13 Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee be confirmed, after amendment:

  • by bringing forward Item 7.8, Council Expense Audit Follow-Up, PFC2020-1143 to be dealt with at 10:30 a.m.
  MOTION CARRIED

4.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

4.1

Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee, 2020 September 08

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That the Minutes of the 2020 September 08 Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee, be confirmed.

  For: (8)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Davison, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, and Councillor Farrell

  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, PFC2020-1069

• For: (8)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Farkas, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Davison, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, and Councillor Farrell

  MOTION CARRIED

6.

POSTPONED REPORTS

None

7.

ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

7.1

The City of Calgary Debt Policy, PFC2020-1028

A presentation entitled "The City of Calgary Debt Policy" dated 2020 October 13 was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-1028.

• Moved by Councillor Davison

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-1028, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommends that Council:

  1. Hold a public hearing on the proposed The City of Calgary Debt Policy (Attachment 2); and
  2. Approve The City of Calgary Debt Policy.
  MOTION CARRIED

7.2

2021 Preliminary Assessment Roll and Related Estimates, PFC2020-1014

A presentation entitled "2021 Preliminary and Related Estimates" dated 2020 October 13 was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-1014.

• Moved by Councillor Woolley

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-1014, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee receive this report for the Corporate Record to inform Council's discussion during the November budget deliberations.

   

  ROLL CALL VOTE:
  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee then dealt with item 7.8.

  
  

7.3

Assessment and Tax Circumstances Report, PFC2020-0982

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-0982, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that Council, under the authority of section 347 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA):

  1. Cancel property taxes for the amounts listed in the Attachment 2.
  2. Cancel municipal property taxes for the qualifying non-profit organizations for the amounts listed in Attachment 3.

  For: (8)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Chu, Councillor Carra, Councillor Davison, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Sutherland, Councillor Woolley, and Councillor Farrell

  MOTION CARRIED

7.4

2020 Mid-year Capital and Operating Budget Revisions Report, PFC2020-1075

A presentation entitled "Mid-Year Capital and Operating Budget Revisions Report" dated 2020 October 13 was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-1075.

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-1075, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommends that Council receive this report for the Corporate Record, and subsequent Council discussion.

  MOTION CARRIED

  By General Consent, Committee brought forward Item 7.6 and 7.7 to be dealt with as the next items prior to the noon recess.

  
  

7.5

Golf Course Operations Expression of Interest and Real Estate Assessment, PFC2020-0952

Committee reconvened at 1:00 p.m. with Mayor Nenshi in the Chair.

ROLL CALL

Councillor Sutherland, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Chahal, Councillor Chu, Councillor Gondek, Mayor Nenshi

Absent for Roll Call: Councillor Davison (joined at 1:04 p.m., and left at 1:54 p.m.), Councillor Farrell (joined at 1:04 p.m.), Councillor Carra (joined at 1:04 p.m.)

A presentation entitled "Golf Course Operations Expression of Interest & Real Estate Assessment" dated 2020 October 13 was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-0952.

• Moved by Councillor Woolley

  That Recommendation 1 and 2 contained in Report PFC2020-0952 be amended by deleting them in their entirety and by substituting the following:

  1. Direct Real Estate and Development Services (RE&DS) to prepare land use and subdivision applications for the ±5 acre parcel at 33 AVE SW and Sarcee Road SW and if planning approvals are granted, proceed to market the property consistent with The City’s established sales process;
  2. Direct RE&DS to bring back a real estate feasibility assessment that substantiates Corporate needs at the remaining land at Richmond Green, and the Richmond Green Operations Workplace Centers (OWC), to determine further disposition opportunities and report to Priorities and Finance Committee (PFC) on or before Q4 2021.

  For: (8)	Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Chu, Councillor Carra, Councillor Davison, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Sutherland, Councillor Woolley, and Councillor Chahal
  Against: (1)	Councillor Farrell

  MOTION CARRIED
• Moved by Councillor Carra

  That the Recommendations contained in Report PFC2020-0952 be amended,  by adding a new Recommendation 3 and renumbering the Recommendations accordingly:

  3.  Prepare and implement a plan to accommodate disc golf as an interim use at Richmond Green starting in 2021 and until such time that a future redevelopment plan has been completed and implemented.

  For: (8)

  Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Gondek, Councillor Chahal, Councillor Davison, Councillor Woolley, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chu, and Councillor Sutherland

  MOTION CARRIED
• Moved by Councillor Sutherland

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-0952, the following be approved, as amended:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that Council receive for the Corporate record the results of the assessment of market interest in a long-term contract to provide public golf service, and direct Administration to:

  1. Direct Real Estate and Development Services (RE&DS) to prepare land use and subdivision applications for the ±5 acre parcel at 33 AVE SW and Sarcee Road SW and if planning approvals are granted, proceed to market the property consistent with The City’s established sales process;
  2. Direct RE&DS to bring back a real estate feasibility assessment that substantiates Corporate needs at the remaining land at Richmond Green, and the Richmond Green Operations Workplace Centers (OWC), to determine further disposition opportunities and report to Priorities and Finance Committee (PFC) on or before Q4 2021;
  3. Prepare and implement a plan to accommodate disc golf as an interim use at Richmond Green starting in 2021 and until such time that a future redevelopment plan has been completed and implemented; and
  4. Direct that Attachment 4 remain confidential pursuant to Section 25 (Disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to be reviewed 2025 October 01.
  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee then deal with Item 8.2.1.

  
  

7.6

2019 Audited Financial Statements for Business Revitalization Zones and Business Improvement Areas (BIA), PFC2020-1088

By General Consent, Committee brought forward Item 7.6 to be dealt with following  Item 7.4.

• Moved by Councillor Woolley

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-1088, the following be approved:

  The Priorities and Finance Committee recommends that Council:

  1. Receive this report and Attachments for the 2019 Audited Financial Statements of the listed Business Revitalization Zones and Business Improvement Areas for the Corporate record and discussion:
     1. Mainstreet Bowness BIA
     2. Calgary Downtown Association
     3. Chinatown BIA
     4. 4^th Street South West BIA
     5. Greenview Industrial BIA
     6. Inglewood BRZ
     7. International Avenue BRZ
     8. Kensington BRZ
     9. Marda Loop BIA
     10. Montgomery on the Bow BIA
     11. 17^th Avenue Retail & Entertainment District BIA
     12. Victoria Park BIA

          

  2. Direct that Attachments 2 to 15 remain confidential pursuant to Section 16 (Disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to be reviewed 2035 October 15.
  MOTION CARRIED

7.7

Real Estate Working Group Terms of Reference, PFC2020-1149

A presentation entitled "Real Estate Working Group Terms of Reference" dated 2020 October 13 was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-1149.

• Moved by Councillor Gondek

  That with respect PFC2020-1149, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommends that Council adopt the proposed Terms of Reference for the Real Estate Working Group contained in Attachment 1.

  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee recessed at 12:02 p.m. to reconvene at 1:00 p.m. and returned to the Agenda to deal with Item 7.5.

   

  
  

7.8

Council Expense Audit Follow-Up, PFC2020-1143

This item was dealt with following Item 7.2.

A presentation entitled "Council Expense Audit Follow Up" dated 2020 October 13 was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-1143.

• Moved by Councillor Sutherland

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-1143, Recommendation 1 be approved, as follows:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee:

  1. Determine that the amount of airfare upgrades to be recovered be the difference of the airfare expenses in question from the average expenses of the other Councillors and Officials who attended the various Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) events, which totals a reimbursement in the amount of $3,294.25 less the amount of a $563.66 overpayment for a total amount of $2730.59.
  MOTION CARRIED
• Moved by Councillor Sutherland

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-1143, Recommendation 2 be approved, as follows:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee:

  2. Direct the Council Expense Working Group to report back to the Priorities and Finance Committee as soon as possible on the findings related to certain hosting expenses where follow up or location of the named attendees is still outstanding for the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) report.

  Against:  Councillor Chu

  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee then returned to deal with Item 7.3.

  
  

8.

ITEMS DIRECTLY TO COMMITTEE

8.1

REFERRED REPORTS

None

8.2

NOTICE(S) OF MOTION

None

8.2.1

Notice of Motion - Public Art in Northeast Calgary, PFC2020-1168

A Notice of Motion Checklist was distributed with respect to Notice of Motion PFC2020-1168.

• Moved by Councillor Chahal

  That with respect to Notice of Motion PFC2020-1168, the following be approved:

  That Notice of Motion PFC2020-1168 be forwarded to Council for consideration.

  MOTION CARRIED

9.

URGENT BUSINESS

None

10.

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

10.1

ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

None

10.2

URGENT BUSINESS

None

11.

ADJOURNMENT

• By General Consent, Committee adjourned this meeting at 2:02 p.m.

  The following items have been forwarded to the 2020 November 02 Combined Meeting of Council:

  CONSENT AGENDA

  Assessment and Tax Circumstances Report, PFC2020-0982

  2020 Mid-year Capital and Operating Budget Revisions Report, PFC2020-1075

  Golf Course Operations Expression of Interest and Real Estate Assessment, PFC2020-0952

  2019 Audited Financial Statements for Business Revitalization Zones and Business Improvement Areas (BIA), PFC2020-1088

  Real Estate Working Group Terms of Reference, PFC2020-1149

  OTHER REPORTS AND POSTPONEMENTS FOR PUBLC HEARING

  The City of Calgary Debt Policy, PFC2020-1028

  COMMITTEE REPORTS

  Notice of Motion - Public Art in Northeast Calgary, PFC2020-1168

  The next Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee is scheduled to be held on 2020 November 10.

  CONFIRMED BY COMMITTEE ON