The Corporation of the City of Stratford
Finance and Labour Relations Committee
Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, August 12, 2024

Time:

7:05 P.m. - 9:05 P.m.

Location:

Council Chamber, City Hall

Committee Present:

• Councillor Hunter - Chair Presiding, 
• Councillor McCabe - Vice Chair, 
• Mayor Ritsma, 
• Councillor Beatty, 
• Councillor Biehn, 
• Councillor Briscoe, 
• Councillor Henderson, 
• Councillor Nijjar, 
• Councillor Sebben, 
• and Councillor Wordofa 

Staff Present:

• Joan Thomson - Chief Administrative Officer, 
• Tatiana Dafoe - City Clerk, 
• Tim Wolfe - Director of Community Services, 
• Karmen Krueger - Director of Corporate Services, 
• Kim McElroy - Director of Social Services, 
• Taylor Crinklaw - Director of Infrastructure Services, 
• Neil Anderson - Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief, 
• Miranda Franken - Council Clerk Secretary, 
• and Dave Bush - Director of Human Resources 

To watch the Committee meeting live, please click the following link: https://video.isilive.ca/stratford/live.html

A video recording of the meeting will also be available through a link on the City's website https://calendar.stratford.ca/meetings following the meeting.

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1.

Call to Order

​The Chair to call the Meeting to Order.

Councillor Burbach provided regrets for this meeting.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires any member of Council declaring a pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof, where the interest of a member of Council has not been disclosed by reason of the member’s absence from the meeting, to disclose the interest at the first open meeting attended by the member of Council and otherwise comply with the Act.

Name, Item and General Nature of Pecuniary Interest

3.

Sub-committee Minutes

​Sub-committee minutes are attached for background regarding the discussion held at the July 16, 2024 Sub-committee meeting.

4.

Delegations

None scheduled. 

5.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

5.1

SEEDCo/investStratford Update to March 31, 2024 (FIN24-020)

This item is also listed for consideration on the August 12, 2024, Regular Council reconvene agenda. 

Staff Recommendation: THAT the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation (SEEDCo./investStratford) Update for the period ending March 31, 2024, be received for information.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation (SEEDCo./investStratford) Update for the period ending March 31, 2024, be received for information.

5.2

Destination Stratford Update (FIN24-024)

This item is also listed for consideration on the August 12, 2024, Regular Council reconvene agenda. 

Staff Recommendation: THAT the Destination Stratford Update (FIN24-024) dated July 16, 2024, be received for information.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the Destination Stratford Update (FIN24-024) dated July 16, 2024, be received for information.

5.3

2024 Community Grant Appeal Request (FIN24-023)

This item is also listed for consideration on the August 12, 2024, Regular Council reconvene agenda. 

Staff Recommendation: THAT the appeal of Council’s decision regarding the 2024 community grant award to Playmakers! Theatre School be received and considered.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the request from Playmakers! Theatre School to amend Council’s decision regarding the 2024 community grant award to Playmakers! Theatre School be approved and the grant provided be increased to $5,000.00.

5.4

Property Tax Arrears and Tax Sales Update (FIN24-025)

This item is also listed for consideration on the August 12, 2024, Regular Council reconvene agenda. 

Staff Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “Property Tax Arrears and Tax Sales Update” (FIN24-025), be received for information.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “Property Tax Arrears and Tax Sales Update” (FIN24-025), be received for information.

6.

Report of the Council Committee Coordinator

6.1

Stratfords of the World Advisory Committee Funding Request (FIN24-018)

This item is also listed for consideration on the August 12, 2024, Regular Council reconvene agenda. 

Staff Recommendation: THAT the request from the Stratfords of the World Advisory Committee for an additional $500.00 to assist with expenses relating to hosting information sessions for the January 2025 New Zealand Stratfords of the World Reunion, funded from the Advisory Committee reserve be considered and direction be provided.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the request from the Stratfords of the World Advisory Committee for an additional $500.00 to assist with expenses relating to hosting information sessions for the January 2025 New Zealand Reunion, be approved and funded from the advisory committee reserve.

6.2

Communities in Bloom 2024 Additional Funding Request (FIN24-022)

This item is also listed for consideration on the August 12, 2024, Regular Council reconvene agenda. 

Staff Recommendation: THAT the request from the Communities in Bloom Advisory Committee for an additional amount of up to $5,000.00 for expenses related to sending two members of the Committee to the 2024 Communities in Bloom Symposium in Charlottetown to be funded from the Council Committees Reserve, be considered.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the request from Communities in Bloom Advisory for an additional amount of up to $5,000.00 to assist two members with expenses related to travelling to Charlottetown for the 2024 Communities in Bloom Symposium, be approved and funded from the advisory committee reserve. 

6.3

Climate Conversations Steering Committee 2024 Request for Financial Assistance (FIN24-026)

This item is also listed for consideration on the August 12, 2024, Regular Council reconvene agenda. 

Staff Recommendation: THAT direction be provided on the options identified for the financial assistance request from the Climate Conversations Steering Committee for the eight (8) Climate Conversation events to be held from September 2024 to April 2025.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT a Community Grant in the amount of $3281.42 be provided to the Climate Conversations Steering Committee in kind for their Climate Conversations to be held in 2024 and 2025 to fund the following:

  • Auditorium Rental Fee - $1,281.42
  • Technical Support - $2,000.00

7.

For the Information of Committee

7.1

Advisory Committee/Outside Board Minutes

The following Advisory Committee minutes are provided for the information of Committee:

• Stratfords of the World Advisory Committee minutes of February 22, 2024

8.

Adjournment

​Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  ​Committee Decision: THAT the Finance and Labour Relations Committee meeting adjourn.