General Committee - Budget

That the following consent items be recommended for adoption at the February 20, 2024, Special Town Council Meeting: Staff Report 2024-0091: Delegation of Property Tax Ratios from the Region of Peel That the Town consent to the enactment of a Regional By-law delegating tax ratio setting from the Region of Peel to the City of Mississauga, the City of Brampton and the Town of Caledon, in accordance with Section 310 of the Municipal Act, 2001 as amended, for the 2024 property tax year. Staff Report 2024-0080: Proposed 2024 User Fees By-law General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 2 of 29 That Fees and Charges By-law 2023-012, as amended be repealed and replaced with the proposed 2024 Fees and Charges By-law attached as Schedule A to Staff Report 2024-0080 to take effect February 21, 2024; and That the 2024 tax subsidy for Recreation Services of 63%, be approved. Staff Report 2024-0050: Ontario Regulation 284/09 2024 Budget That the full accrual accounting items identified in Staff Report 2024-0050 be approved and included as budget figures in the December 31, 2024 audited financial statements; and That the Treasurer be authorized to make the required amendments to the budget figures in the Town’s audited financial statements for any amendments to the Town’s budget approved by Council. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas a budget should be as transparent as possible in communicating the true cost of government to residents; and General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 6 of 29 Whereas any decision, to use funds from the Tax Funded Operating Contingency Reserve, to significantly reduce the impact of increased costs on the taxpayer should be the purview of Council at the end of the budget process; and Whereas a draw on this reserve, this year, to mitigate the increased operating costs, presumes that this operating cost shortfall will be remedied, in the following budget year, through: increased assessment growth, reductions in service levels or reductions in the base operating budget. Therefore, be it resolved, that the one-time reserve draw of $1,644,038 on the Tax Funded Operating Contingency Reserve, proposed on p.3 of Budget 2024, be removed. Further, that Council will decide, at the end of the budget process, through a specific motion and vote, the level of tax remediation required in 2024. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas The Town of Caledon has implemented the Automated Speed Enforcement (“ASE”) Program, which was approved through the 2023 Budget Planning Process (the “ASE Program”); and Whereas the ASE Program currently consists of operating two mobile ASE cameras that have been deployed to neighbourhood Community Safety Zones where known speeding concerns exist; and Whereas ASE has been shown to be the best tool for traffic calming on a community- wide scale; and General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 7 of 29 Whereas the original timeline was for an additional two ASE cameras in 2024 (which is already part of the 2024 Budget Planning Process) and additional two cameras to be procured in 2025 (resulting in one ASE camera for each ward); and Whereas initial findings have confirmed the effectiveness of the existing ASEs in the two sites in Caledon; and Whereas speeding continues to be is a very serious concern for many residents in Caledon; and Whereas, in fact, there were 20 fatal traffic incidents on Caledon roadways in 2023, an unacceptable statistic which is up sharply from the year before; and Whereas Council recently endorsed a Motion from a neighbouring municipality recognizing an ongoing "Road Safety Emergency" on our roads, calling on the Province to assist in addressing this issue; and Whereas the goal of the ASE program is to reduce speeding and save lives, and should therefore be given high priority; and Whereas having one camera in each

Whereas the CPL presented its growth plan to Council in June 2023, entitled, Comprehensive Growth Plan, 2023-2041. Therefore, remove Capital Project 24-030, Caledon Public Library – Strategic Plan Tax Funded Reduction: $50,000 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the Fitness Equipment Replacement reserve was established for “replacement of fitness equipment without requesting additional funding from the tax base” Therefore, increase the draw on the Fitness Equipment Replacement reserve to $40,000 to fund Capital Project 24-071 Tax Funded Reduction: $20,000 General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 9 of 29 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the full dissolution of Peel has now been reversed. Therefore, remove Capital Project 24-062, Consultant to review ward boundaries and council composition Tax Funded Reduction: $80,000 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the Tax Funded Capital Contingency Reserve was “established to set aside funding for replacement of Town capital infrastructure” and it has a balance of $5,379,347. Therefore, remove the tax funding for Capital Project 24-094 and draw on Tax Funded Capital Contingency Reserve to fund the Bridge and Culvert Design Program. Tax Funded Reduction: $650,000 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the Facilities Associate, who is connected to this vehicle purchase, will be doing maintenance on the following buildings: Town Hall, Fire Services and OPP. Thus, there is no need for a dedicated vehicle. Therefore, remove the tax funding for Capital Project 24-121, Vehicle for Facilities Associate Tax Funded Reduction: $40,000 General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 11 of 29 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas, in 2021 the Federal Government renamed the Gas Tax Fund to the Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF); and Whereas this is a direct transfer from the Federal Government to be used annually to fund infrastructure projects; and Whereas there should never be uncommitted funds in this reserve; and Therefore, reduce the tax funding for Capital Project 24-066 Gravel Resurfacing by $206,000 and draw $206,000 from the Federal Gas Tax Reserve. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the proposed Bolton Bandshell in Dicks Dam Park will be a significant addition to the park; and Therefore, remove the tax funding from Capital Project 24-091. Instead draw $450,000 from a funding source determined by Finance staff. Tax Funded Reduction: $450,000 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas there is the necessity for significant improvements to parks and playgrounds across Caledon; and Therefore, remove the tax funding from Capital Project 24-048 Playground Improvements. Instead draw $670,000 from the Tax Funded Capital Contingency Reserve to fund Playground Improvements. General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 13 of 29 Tax Funded Reduction: $670,000 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the CPL has requested a change in its level of service to promote 11 Public Service Assistants to the role of Public Service Coordinators. Whereas this will result in a more balanced approach to staffing, providing much needed flexibility, ensuring consistent skill levels across the department and preventing periodic branch closures. Therefore, add Change of Service Level request 24-017 to the 2024 Budget to be funded from tax. Tax Funded Increase in 2024: $30,555 (annualized $25,750) A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas additional Heritage staff are needed to support the Town’s Bill 23 Heritage Designation Prioritization Strategy. Bill 23 requires the automatic removal of all listed, non-designated properties from the Heritage Register on January 1, 2025 for a period of 5 years. The addition of this contract Heritage Planner position is critical to optimal implementation of the Strategy, which includes designating as many listed, non- designated properties that merit designation as possible before the provincial deadline. Therefore, add Change in Level of Service, Heritage Planner (Contract) to the 2024 Budget. As this is a contract position ($66,355) is to be funded from the Tax Funded Operating Contingency Reserve which has a balance of $2,600,972 Tax Funded Increase in 2024: $0 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas, in 2021, funds were approved for a Caledon East Dog Park. Whereas since its construction no amenities or improvements have been added. General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 15 of 29 Whereas the case for this Capital Project can examined on the attached 2024 Caledon East Dog Park Improvement Plan. Therefore, add Capital Project, Caledon East Dog Park Improvement Plan be added to the 2024 Budget. This project is to be funded through a draw of $100,000 from Development Charges. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

That the final paragraph be updated to increase the funding amount to $100,000 from the 2024 Tax Levy. General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 16 of 29 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the Humber River Centre (HRC) was officially opened in February 2024. Whereas the HRC is an important component of the Downtown Bolton revitalization strategy. Whereas an operational budget is required to support the delivery of programming, events and services at the HRC by EDO staff. Whereas it is necessary to fund the operating costs associated with: guest speakers, event refreshments, marketing, signage and other associated program costs. Therefore, this unfunded request be added to the 2024 Budget. This would be an increase of $50,000 to the 2024 Tax Levy. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

That the final paragraph be amended to reflect that $500,000 be drawn from the 2024 Capital Tax Levy. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas in 2022, the previous Council approved a 24% increase in salary compensation for the Mayor and Council; and Whereas at the February 15, 2023 General Committee Meeting – Budget, a motion to remove the 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA), in the amount of $11,538.80, was unanimously endorsed by Council. General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 20 of 29 Therefore, be it resolved, that the COLA increase for the Mayor and Councilors be removed from the 2024 Budget. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas this unfunded budget request was intended for additional service on the Caledon Trail. Whereas there are approximately 500-1000 daily users of the Caledon Trail. General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 21 of 29 Whereas there is no current service level for the Caledon Trail and all maintenance requests are reactive in response to calls to Service Caledon or Councilors. Whereas residents have requested trail safety improvements, enhanced garbage and litter pick up and the trimming of grasses, shrubs and trees. Whereas regular maintenance of the Caledon Trail would allow for an increase in the identification, categorization and prioritization of drainage issues before major issues occur. Therefore, this unfunded budget request be added to the 2024 Budget. It is a draw of $60,000 on the 2024 Tax Levy. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the Town of Caledon has identified that the proliferation of invasive species is a serious problem. Whereas buckthorn, garlic mustard, giant hogweed, purple loosestrife, Japanese knotweed and phragmites have all been detected in Caledon Whereas Council adopted a resolution in May 2023 on Invasive Phragmites in response to a letter from the Township of Archipelago. Therefore, these unfunded positions be added to the 2024 Budget. It is a draw of $110,000 from the 2024 Tax Levy. General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 22 of 29 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the Town of Caledon competes with the private sector to attract staff and maintain staffing levels. Whereas the conversion of TFT staff to FTE will enhance staff retention and contribute to the Town’s goal of “service excellence”. Therefore, these conversions be reflected in the 2024 Budget. This would be an increase of $35,000 to the 2024 Tax Levy. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas new road and roadside assets that require annual routine maintenance are added to the Town every year; and General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 23 of 29 Whereas many of these seasonal duties such as grass and branch trimming, signpost trimming, painting and plow blade sanding can be performed by students. Therefore, these unfunded positions be added to the 2024 Budget. This is a draw of $80,000 on the 2024 Tax Levy. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the Town's Budget Binder for 2024 shows that request # 2024-040 regarding funding to maintain and increase service levels on high exposure Gateway boulevards is presently "unfunded."; and Whereas maintenance of the Town's gateway boulevards, which are highly visible landscaping features of the community, are indeed critical to creating a favourable impression of the Town of Caledon and demonstrating the pride residents take in their community; and Whereas demands from residents for the maintenance (grass mowing etc.) of these gateway boulevards have greatly increased in the past year, according to the Town's own customer service data; and Whereas keeping pace with these demands for service have been challenged as a result of the Town's rapid growth in recent years; General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 24 of 29 Therefore, be it resolved that Caledon Town Council takes great pride in the "look and feel" of our Community and therefore directs that this request for funding, as contained in the budget binder, is approved and funded from the 2024 Tax Levy. $55,000 annually. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the Town of Caledon officially opened the Humber River Centre in Bolton on February 10, 2024 to great fanfare and excitement within the Town; and Whereas the Humber River Centre is a state-of-the art, 10,000 sq. ft., multi-million dollar community hub which is designed as resource centre and pilot project for business start- ups, local artists, craftspeople, and local musicians, and the potential for much more; and Whereas strategic economic development and support for small businesses in Caledon is a priority of Council; and Whereas Town Council wants to ensure this significant capital investment in our community is properly supported and resourced to ensure it's short and long term success by providing the required operational support for the planned programming and service delivery; and Therefore be it resolved that the request for funding to provide for a contract Economic Development Officer for the Humber River Centre, as contained in the Budget Binder and currently marked as "unfunded," is hereby approved and funded by Council at an amount of $120,000 from the 2024 Tax Levy. General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 25 of 29 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas the Town of Caledon has signed onto a Housing Pledge with the Province of Ontario and has committed to building 13,000 new housing units by 2031; Whereas the longer term forecasted growth in Caledon, as mandated by the Province, expects our population to grow from 80,000 residents today to more than 300,000 residents and 120,000 businesses by 2051; and Whereas this amount of growth in both the short term (2031), and long term (2051), represents a significant amount of planning on the part of Town staff and Town Council; and Whereas the contracted services the Town has been using to date has been instrumental in delivering larger scale or complex development approvals within the Town, and in relieving some of the backlog which has existed since prior to 2020; and Whereas the Town's planning staff has made regular use of these services since 2020 and they anticipate that this will continue as the Town continues to grow and even more rapidly into the near future; and Whereas the Town Council is committed to ensuring that planning for Caledon is done by Caledon in a planful and strategic way and that Council is committed to ensuring that the Town's planning department are properly resourced to take on this important work on behalf of the citizens of Caledon; and General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 26 of 29 Therefore be it resolved that the unfunded line item pertaining to contracted services to manage development applications in the

Whereas the Caledon Public Library (CPL) has requested a change in its level of service to responsibly phase-in expanded benefits to the Library’s Permanent Part-time (PPT) Staff in alignment and mirrored with the benefits available to Full-time staff; Whereas this will result in reducing turnover, ensuring equity and strengthening the CPL’s efforts to retain and recruit skilled employees within a competitive GTA part-time job market; Therefore be it resolved that the Change of Service Level request 2024-021 regarding Expanded health benefits for Permanent Part-time Staff - Phase 1 be added to the 2024 Budget in the amount of an annualized $30,000 from the 2024 Tax Levy. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

Whereas, the Town of Caledon is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, a momentous occasion for residents, businesses, and community members that have contributed to the growth and vibrancy of the Town. Whereas, five decades of community, culture, agriculture, and vibrant heritage, are being commemorated through a diverse array of events, initiatives, and activities taking place throughout the year. Whereas, Caledon has planned celebrations reflect the spirit of Caledon — diverse, dynamic, and deeply connected to honour the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead to the future. Therefore, be it resolved, $50,000 in funding from the tax levy be added in funds for the celebrations of the Town’s 50th Anniversary. A recorded vote was taken as follows:

That the bleachers in the Alton Ball Park be replaced, funded in the amount of $60,000 from the 2024 Capital Tax Levy. General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Page 28 of 29 A recorded vote was taken as follows:

That Commissioner of Finance/Chief Financial Officer be directed to review the possibility of eliminating Project Management Fees from all capital projects and to find efficiencies in Tax Funded Capital costs for the February 20, 2024 Special Town Council meeting. A recorded vote was taken as follows: