MINUTES

STRATEGIC MEETING OF COUNCIL

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 9:30 A.m. - 11:55 P.m.

IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

PRESENT:

• Councillor G-C. Carra (Partial Remote Participation)
• Councillor C. Walcott (Partial Remote Participation)
• Councillor E. Spencer
• Councillor K. Penner
• Councillor T. Wong
• Councillor J. Wyness (Remote Participation)
• Councillor S. Sharp
• Councillor R. Pootmans
• Councillor P. Demong (Remote Participation)
• Councillor D. McLean
• Councillor R. Dhaliwal (Partial Remote Participation)
• Councillor A. Chabot (Partial Remote Participation)
• Councillor S. Chu
• Mayor J. Gondek

ABSENT:

• Councillor J. Mian (Personal)

ALSO PRESENT:

• City Manager D. Duckworth
• City Solicitor and General Counsel J. Floen
• General Manager C. Arthurs
• General Manager K. Black
• General Manager S. Dalgleish
• Chief Financial Officer C. Male
• General Manager D. Morgan
• A/General Manager F. Bouchart
• City Clerk K. Martin
• Legislative Advisor J. Palaschuk

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Gondek called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m.

ROLL CALL

Councillor Dhaliwal, Councillor McLean, Councillor Penner, Councillor Pootmans, Councillor Sharp, Councillor Spencer, Councillor Walcott, Councillor Wong, Councillor Wyness, Councillor Carra, Councillor Chabot, Councillor Chu, Councillor Demong, and Mayor Gondek

Absent from Roll Call: Councillor Mian

2.

OPENING REMARKS

Mayor Gondek provided opening remarks and Councillor Penner provided a traditional land acknowledgement.

Mayor Gondek recognized September 30^th as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

3.

QUESTION PERIOD

1. Councillor Sharp

Topic: When will Calgarians be made aware of the 2024 budget and impact on taxes.

2. Councillor Pootmans

Topic: West Ring Road North opening and impact on Bow Trail and Sarcee Trail SW.

3. Councillor Penner

Topic: Change in contractors for replacing burnt out streetlights and current response times.

4.

CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA

• Moved by Councillor Pootmans
  Seconded by Councillor Penner

  That the Agenda for the 2023 September 26 Strategic Meeting of Council be confirmed.

  MOTION CARRIED

  Council then dealt with Item 6.

  
  

5.

ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

5.1

Municipal Fiscal Gap and Strategic Discussion on Plans and Budgets (Verbal), C2023-1055

This Item was dealt with following Item 6.1.2.

A presentation entitled "Municipal Fiscal Gap" was distributed with respect to Verbal Report C2023-1055.

Councillor Walcott (Remote Member) left the meeting at 3:44 p.m.

• Moved by Councillor Penner
  Seconded by Councillor Chabot

  That with respect to Verbal Report C2023-1055, the following be adopted:

  That Council receive the presentation for the Corporate Record.

  For: (10)

  Councillor Chu, Mayor Gondek, Councillor Sharp, Councillor Spencer, Councillor Pootmans, Councillor McLean, Councillor Penner, Councillor Chabot, Councillor Wong, and Councillor Dhaliwal

  MOTION CARRIED

  Council then dealt with Item 8.

  
  

6.

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

This Item was dealt with following Item 4.

• Moved by Councillor Spencer
  Seconded by Councillor Wong

  That pursuant to Section 24 (Advice from officials) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Council now move into Closed Meeting, at 9:44 a.m. in the Council Boardroom, to discuss confidential matters with respect to the following Items:

  • 6.1.1 Municipal Fiscal Gap, C2023-0960
  • 6.1.2 Strategic Discussion on Building and Delivering on Plans and Budgets, EC2023-0827
  MOTION CARRIED

  Councillor Demong (Remote Member) left the meeting at 11:15 a.m.

  Councillor Demong (Remote Member) joined the meeting at 11:24 a.m.

  Council recessed at 11:55 a.m. and reconvened in Closed Meeting at 1:17 p.m. with Mayor Gondek in the Chair. 

  Councillor Carra (Remote Member) joined the meeting at 1:57 p.m.

  Councillor Wyness (Remote Member) left the meeting at 2:07 p.m.

  Councillor Carra (Remote Member) left the meeting at 2:08 p.m.

  Council reconvened in public meeting at 2:55 p.m. with Mayor Gondek in the Chair.

  ROLL CALL

  Councillor Dhaliwal, Councillor McLean, Councillor Penner, Councillor Pootmans, Councillor Sharp, Councillor Spencer, Councillor Walcott, Councillor Wong, Councillor Chabot, Councillor Chu, and Mayor Gondek

  Absent from Roll Call: Councillor Mian, Councillor Wyness, Councillor Demong, and Councillor Carra

  
  
• Moved by Councillor Pootmans
  Seconded by Councillor Sharp

  That Council rise without reporting.

  MOTION CARRIED

  By General Consent, Council modified the afternoon recess to begin following rise without reporting.

  Council recessed at 2:57 p.m. and reconvened at 3:30 p.m. with Mayor Gondek in the Chair.

  ROLL CALL

  Councillor Dhaliwal, Councillor McLean, Councillor Penner, Councillor Pootmans, Councillor Sharp, Councillor Spencer, Councillor Walcott, Councillor Wong, Councillor Chabot, Councillor Chu, and Mayor Gondek

  Absent from Roll Call: Councillor Mian, Councillor Wyness, Councillor Demong, and Councillor Carra

  
  
• Moved by Councillor Pootmans
  Seconded by Councillor Sharp

  That Council rise and report.

  MOTION CARRIED

6.1

ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION  AND COMMITTEES

6.1.1

Municipal Fiscal Gap, C2023-0960

​The following documents were distributed with respect to Confidential Report C2023-0960:

• A Confidential Distribution Revised Attachment 3;
• A Confidential Revised Presentation; and
• A Confidential Distribution Revised Attachment 5A.

Administration in attendance during the Closed Meeting discussions with respect to Confidential Report C2023-0960:

Clerks: K. Martin, B. Robinson, and J. Palaschuk. City Manager: D. Duckworth. Law: J. Floen. Advice: C. Male, O. Shyllon, S. Dalgleish, K. Black, D. Morgan, C. Arthurs, H. Domzal, F. Bouchart, H. Kathol, M. Jankovic, C. Jacyk, K. Cote, A. Jakubec, W. Fan, E. Lee, J. Park, I. Zhang, and L. Tochor.

• Moved by Councillor Penner
  Seconded by Councillor Walcott

  That with respect to Confidential Report C2023-0960, the following be adopted, after amendment:

  That Council:

  1. Direct Administration to use this report as the framework to continue the discussion with members of Council regarding addressing the municipal fiscal gap via the Executive Committee Standing Item - Strategic Discussion on Building and Delivering on Plans and Budgets;
  2. Direct Administration to publicly release Confidential Attachments 2, 4, Confidential Distribution Revised Attachment 3, and Confidential Distribution Revised Attachment 5A, immediately following Council's vote with respect to Confidential Report C2023-0960;
  3. Direct Administration to forward the Municipal Fiscal Gap Report (Confidential Distribution Revised Attachment 3) along with a letter from the Mayor advocating for the need for open conversation and urgent action to the following relevant parties: Federal Finance Minister, Provincial Finance Minister, all local Members of Parliament who represent Calgary, all local Members of the Legislative Assembly who represent Calgary, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and Alberta Municipalities; and
  4. Direct that the Closed Meeting discussions, Confidential Report and Confidential Attachments 1 and 5, Revised Confidential Attachment 5, and Attachment 3, be held confidential pursuant to Section 24 (Advice from officials) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to be reviewed no later than 2027 December 31.

  For: (11)

  Councillor Chu, Mayor Gondek, Councillor Sharp, Councillor Spencer, Councillor Walcott, Councillor Pootmans, Councillor McLean, Councillor Penner, Councillor Chabot, Councillor Wong, and Councillor Dhaliwal

  MOTION CARRIED

6.1.2

Strategic Discussion on Building and Delivering on Plans and Budgets, EC2023-0827

• Moved by Councillor Wong
  Seconded by Councillor Penner

  That with respect to Confidential Report EC2023-0827, the following be adopted, after amendment:

  That Council:

  1. Direct Administration to further develop the investment items indicated in Confidential Distribution Revised Attachment 2 and include for Council’s consideration during the 2023 November Adjustments to the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets;

  For: (9)	Mayor Gondek, Councillor Sharp, Councillor Spencer, Councillor Walcott, Councillor Pootmans, Councillor McLean, Councillor Penner, Councillor Wong, and Councillor Dhaliwal
  Against: (2)	Councillor Chu, and Councillor Chabot

  MOTION CARRIED
• Moved by Councillor Wong
  Seconded by Councillor Penner

  That with respect to Confidential Report EC2023-0827, the following be adopted, after amendment:

  That Council:

  2. Direct Administration to publicly release the contents of Confidential Distribution Revised Attachment 2 and Confidential Distribution Revised Attachment 3, to support public education leading up to the 2023 November Adjustments to the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets;

  3. Direct that the Closed Meeting discussions, Confidential Report and Confidential Attachments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and Confidential Distribution Revised Presentation Attachment 5, be held confidential pursuant to Section 24 (Advice from officials) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to be reviewed no later than 2023 December 31;

  4. Direct that, notwithstanding recommendation 3, the confidential documents listed in recommendation 3 above be released to Corporate Planning & Performance, to be shared with Administration, only where required, to support next steps.

  For: (11)

  Councillor Chu, Mayor Gondek, Councillor Sharp, Councillor Spencer, Councillor Walcott, Councillor Pootmans, Councillor McLean, Councillor Penner, Councillor Chabot, Councillor Wong, and Councillor Dhaliwal

  MOTION CARRIED

  Council then dealt with Item 5.1.

  
  

7.

BRIEFINGS

None

8.

ADJOURNMENT

This Item was dealt with following Item 5.1.

• Moved by Councillor Sharp
  Seconded by Councillor McLean

  That this Council adjourn at 4:22 p.m.

   

  MOTION CARRIED

  CONFIRMED BY COUNCIL ON