MINUTES

PRIORITIES AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 9:30 A.m. - 11:55 P.m.

IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

PRESENT:

• Mayor N. Nenshi, Chair
• Councillor S. Chu, Vice-Chair
• Councillor J. Davison (T&T Chair)
• Councillor J. Gondek (PUD Chair)
• Councillor E. Woolley (Audit Chair)
• Councillor J. Farkas
• Councillor D. Farrell

ABSENT:

• Councillor G-C. Carra (CPS Chair) (Personal)
• Councillor W. Sutherland (UCS Chair) (Personal)

ALSO PRESENT:

• City Manager D. Duckworth
• Chief Financial Officer C. Male
• Deputy City Clerk K. Martin
• Legislative Advisor D. Williams

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Nenshi called the Meeting to order at 9:32 a.m.

2.

OPENING REMARKS

Mayor Nenshi provided opening remarks and provided a response on The City's perspective with respect to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

3.

CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA

• Moved by Councillor Farkas

  That the Agenda for today's Meeting be amended by adding an Item of Urgent Business, 9.1 World Financial Situation (Verbal), PFC2020-0367.

  MOTION CARRIED
• Moved by Councillor Farkas

  That the Agenda for the 2020 March 10 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, 2020 February 11

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That the Minutes of the 2020 February 11 Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee be confirmed.

  MOTION CARRIED

5.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee receive the following Items for the Corporate Record, in an omnibus motion:

5.1

DEFERRALS AND PROCEDURAL REQUESTS

5.1.1

Defer Douglasdale-McKenzie Slopes Update from Q1 2020 to 2020 April 21, Priorities and Finance Committee, PFC2020-0333

5.2

BRIEFINGS

5.2.1

Status of Outstanding Motions and Directions, PFC2020-0304

5.2.2

Financial Task Force 2020 March Update, PFC2020-0315

5.2.3

Electronic Voting Implementation, PFC2020-0326

• MOTION CARRIED

6.

POSTPONED REPORTS

None

7.

ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

7.1

Solutions for Achieving Value and Excellence (SAVE) Program Q1 2020 Update, PFC2020-0284

A presentation entitled "Solutions for Achieving Value and Excellence (SAVE) Program Q1 2020 Update", dated 2020 March 10, was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-0284.

• Moved by Councillor Woolley

  That the recommendation be amended:

  • in the preamble, by adding the words "commit to trust the processes and endeavor to provide confidence to citizens and encouragement to staff and" following the words "recommend that Council"; and 
  • by adding a Recommendation 3, as follows:

               "3.  Direct all savings-seeking initiatives into SAVE."

   

  Against:  Councillor Chu and Councillor Farkas

  MOTION CARRIED
• Moved by Councillor Gondek

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-0284, the following be approved, as amended:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that Council commit to trust the processes and endeavor to provide confidence to citizens and encouragement to staff and direct Administration to:

  1. Pause new Zero-Based Reviews (ZBRs) for the duration of 2020 and 2021;

  2.  Incorporate reporting on prior ZBRs into SAVE program updates; and

  3.  Direct all savings-seeking initiatives into SAVE.

   

  Against:  Councillor Chu and Councillor Farkas

  MOTION CARRIED

7.2

Golf Sustainability Framework Q1 2020 Update, PFC2020-0251

A presentation entitled "Golf Sustainability Framework Q1 2020 Update", dated 2020 March 10, was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-0251.

Pursuant to Section 6(1) of the Procedure Bylaw 35M2017, Section 78(2)(a) was suspended, by general consent, to allow Committee to complete the remainder of this item prior to the scheduled 12:00 noon recess.

• Moved by Councillor Farkas

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-0251, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommend that this report be forwarded to the 2020 March 16 Combined Meeting of Council as an item of Urgent Business; and

  That Council refer Report PFC2020-0251 to Administration:

  1. to investigate a shorter time frame option and expression of interest from the marketplace;
  2. to prepare a financial report on the closure of Richmond Green and options for stage 2 assessment; and
  3. discontinue further investigation of Shaganappi Point golf course.
  4. That Recommendations 1 and 2 return to the April 21 Priorities and Finance Committee Meeting.
  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee recessed at 12:15 p.m. and reconvened at 1:33 p.m. with Mayor Nenshi in the Chair.

  
  

7.3

Response to AC2019-1329 – City Pensions, PFC2020-0160

A presentation entitled "Response to AC2019-1329 - City Pensions", dated 2020 March 10, was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-0160.

• Moved by Councillor Gondek

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-0160, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommends that Council receive this Report and Attachment for the Corporate Record and discussion.

   

  MOTION CARRIED

  That Item 7.4  Council Innovation Fund Request for The Future of Stephen Avenue - Activate+Experiment, PFC2020-0274 be brought forward and dealt with at this time, by general consent.

  
  

7.4

Council Innovation Fund Request for The Future of Stephen Avenue – Activate + Experiment, PFC2020-0274

The following were distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-0274:

• A presentation entitled "Council Innovation Fund Request for The Future of Stephen Avenue - Activate+Experiment", dated 2020 March 10; and
• A letter from Mike Mannix, Triovest Properties, dated 2020 March 3.

• Moved by Councillor Farrell

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-0274, the following be approved:

  That the Priorities and Finance Committee recommends that Council:

  1. Approve this application to the Council Innovation Fund for The Future of Stephen Avenue: Activate & Experiment, in the amount of $300,000; and
  2. Direct Administration to report back to Priorities and Finance Committee on the outcomes of this project by Q1 2023 as per the fund guidelines.
  MOTION CARRIED

7.5

2019 Year-End Accountability Report, PFC2020-0158

A presentation entitled "2019 Year-End Accountability Report", dated 2020 March 10, was distributed with respect to Report PFC2020-0158.

• Moved by Councillor Chu

  That with respect to Report PFC2020-0158, the following be approved:

  The Priorities and Finance Committee recommends that Council receive this Report for the Corporate Record and discussion.

  MOTION CARRIED

8.

ITEMS DIRECTLY TO COMMITTEE

8.1

REFERRED REPORTS

8.2

NOTICE(S) OF MOTION

8.2.1

THE BRENDA STRAFFORD FOUNDATION LTD- CLIFTON HOUSE LAND ACQUSITION, PFC2020-0314

• Moved by Councillor Davison

  That with respect to Notice of Motion PFC2020-0314, the following be approved:

  That Notice of Motion PFC2020-0314 be forwarded to Council for consideration.

   

  Against:  Councillor Woolley

  MOTION CARRIED

8.2.2

Proactive Security Training for City Staff, PFC2020-0334

A document entitled "Notice of Motion Checklist" was distributed with respect to Notice of Motion, PFC2020-0334.

• Moved by Councillor Farkas

  That pursuant to Section 24 (Advice from Officials) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Committee move into Closed Meeting, at 3:03 p.m., the Council Lounge, in order to discuss a confidential matter with respect to Item 8.2.2, Proactive Security Training for City Staff, PFC2020-0334.

  MOTION CARRIED

  Committee moved into Public Meeting at 3:10 p.m. with Mayor Nenshi in the Chair.

  
  
• Moved by Councillor Farkas

  That Council rise without reporting.

  MOTION CARRIED

• Administration in attendance during the Closed Meeting discussions with respect to Report PFC2020-0334:

  Clerks: L. Kennedy and K. Martin. Advice: T. McCreight. Observer: D. Duckworth

   

  Moved by Councillor Farkas

  That with respect to Notice of Motion PFC2020-0334, the following be approved:

  That Notice of Motion PFC2020-0334, with attached distribution titled “Notion of Motion Checklist” be forwarded to Council for consideration.

  And further, that the Closed Meeting discussions remain confidential pursuant to Section 24 (Advice from officials) of the Freedom of the Information and Protection of the Privacy Act.

   

  Against:  Mayor Nenshi

  MOTION CARRIED

9.

URGENT BUSINESS

9.1

World Financial Situation (Verbal), PFC2020-0367

Pursuant to Section 6(1) of the Procedure Bylaw 35M2017, as amended, Committee, by general consent, suspended Section 78(2)(b) in order to complete today’s agenda prior to recessing.

• Moved by Councillor Farkas

  That with respect to Verbal Report PFC2020-0367:

  Administration be thanked for the update and that the issues discussed today be added to the Administration reports at the 2020 April 21 Priorities and Finance Committee and the 2020 April 30 Strategic Meeting of Council.

  MOTION CARRIED

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 3:37 p.m.

  MOTION CARRIED

  THE FOLLOWING ITEM HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE 2020 MARCH 16 COMBINED MEETING OF COUNCIL, AS URGENT BUSINESS:

  Golf Sustainability Framework Q1 2020 Update, PFC2020-0251

  THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO THE 2020 APRIL 06 COMBINED MEETING OF COUNCIL:

  CONSENT

  Solutions for Achieving Value and Excellence (SAVE) Program Q1 2020 Update, PFC2020-0284

  Response to AC2019-1329 – City Pensions, PFC2020-0160

  Council Innovation Fund Request for The Future of Stephen Avenue – Activate + Experiment, PFC2020-0274

  2019 Year-End Accountability Report, PFC2020-0158

  ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

  The Brenda Strafford Foundation Ltd - Clifton House Land Acquisition, PFC2020-0314

  Proactive Security Training for City Staff, PFC2020-0334

  
  The next Regular Meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee is scheduled to be held on 2020 April 21 at 9:30 a.m.

  CONFIRMED BY COMMITTEE ON