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

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, March 25, 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 Burbach, 
• 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, 
• Taylor Crinklaw - Director of Infrastructure Services, 
• Adam Betteridge - Director of Building and Planning Services, 
• Neil Anderson - Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief, 
• Audrey Pascual - Deputy Clerk, 
• and Alex Burgess - Manager Ontario Works 

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.

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 February 20, 2024, Sub-committee meeting.

4.

Delegations

4.1

Request for Delegation by Judah Bootsma

Judah Bootsma has requested to address the Finance and Labour Relations Committee to ask:

1. that their property taxes be phased in over a four year period in 25% increments. This would be similar to  the process MPAC provides when they reassess homes over a (4) year period.
2. that the City look at a different tax rate for their property that is similar to what the Township of Perth East would charge.

For the consideration of Committee.

• Motion by

  THAT the delegation by Judah Bootsma regarding the request for amendments to their property taxes be heard. 

5.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

5.1

SEEDCo/investStratford Update to December 31 2023 (FIN24-006)

Staff Recommendation: THAT the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation (SEEDCo./investStratford) Update (FIN24-006) for the period ending December 31, 2023 be received for information.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation (SEEDCo./investStratford) Update (FIN24-006) for the period ending December 31, 2023 be received for information.

5.2

2023 Statement of Council Remuneration and Expenses (FIN24-011)

This item is also listed for consideration on the March 25, 2024, Regular Council reconvene agenda.

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the Report titled, “2023 Statement of Council Remuneration and Expenses” (FIN24-011), be received for information.

5.3

Long-Term Debt Update and Borrowing By-law (FIN24-012)

This item is also listed for consideration on the March 25, 2024, Regular Council reconvene agenda

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT a by-law to authorize the borrowing in the form of a bank loan(s) in the principal amount of $9,230,915 towards the cost of the Queen Street Storm project be adopted;

  AND THAT the Chief Administrative Officer or City Clerk and the Treasurer (two signatures required) be authorized to sign all related documents with the City’s financial institution to complete the borrowing of funds.

5.4

Local Improvement Financing Charges for Works Constructed Under the Local Improvement Act R.S.O. 1990, and O.Reg. 586/06 Local Improvement Charges – Priority Lien Status (FIN24-013)

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT staff be directed to use the terms outlined in Report FIN24-013 for any current or upcoming Local Improvement projects pending the development of a Policy to be adopted by Council at a future meeting.

6.

Adjournment

​Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

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