Oct 28, 2024 City Council

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:06]

GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE, DATED MONDAY, OCTOBER 28TH, 2024, 7 P.M..

CALL TO ORDER.

ROLL CALL ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.

DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

ARE THERE ANY DECLARATIONS? GOING ONCE, TWICE.

[4. ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE FOLLOWING MINUTES BE ADOPTED? THE OCTOBER 15TH, 2024 REGULAR MEETING.

A MOVER. COUNCILLOR BULL SECONDED COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS THIS EVENING.

[6. PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS]

THIS EVENING'S PRESENTER IS JENNIFER ARCHAMBAULT, A PARTNER AT BDO.

WELCOME, JENNIFER.

SO I'M HERE TO GO THROUGH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR END.

I ALWAYS TRY AND KEEP IT A LITTLE HIGH, HIGHER LEVEL, BUT IF THERE'S QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AS I GO THROUGH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I'LL I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER WHATEVER YOU MAY HAVE. AND SO I'LL GET RIGHT INTO IT HERE.

SO HERE'S OUR AUDITOR'S REPORT.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO START WITH THIS BECAUSE ALL THE RECORDS, ALL THE INFORMATION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, EVERYTHING THAT WE LOOK AT IS THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKES.

BDO COMES IN AS AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR [INAUDIBLE] INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDITOR.

AND REALLY WHAT WE DO IS PROVIDE THIS OPINION ON THE STATEMENTS.

AND THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY BELONGS TO BDO, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE IS THE CITY'S.

SO THIS IS WHERE I ALWAYS LIKE TO, TO START, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE LOOK AT WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE, THE STATEMENTS.

AND THE FIRST COUPLE PARAGRAPHS I HAVE IN THE BOX IS THE OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

AND THE OPINION HERE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN SAYS, EXCEPT FOR THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF THE BASIS FOR SORRY OF THE MATTER DESCRIBED IN THE BASIS OF QUALIFIED OPINION SECTION.

IN OUR REPORT, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PRESENT FAIRLY IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS.

SO WHAT THIS IS SAYING IS THAT IT'S THERE'S NO ISSUES OTHER THAN ONE THING THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS BASIS OF QUALIFIED OPINION.

AND THIS ACTUALLY IS A NEW OPINION IN THE PAST IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN UNQUALIFIED OR CLEAN OPINION.

AND REALLY, WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO ON WHY THE DIFFERENCE IS IT'S ONE.

IF YOU MOVE DOWN INTO THE BASIS FOR QUALIFIED OPINION SECTION, IT ACTUALLY GOES THROUGH IT.

AND IT BASICALLY IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A NEW STANDARD THAT CAME INTO PLAY STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 2023, AND THE CITY WAS REQUIRED TO ADOPT IT, AND IT WAS TO DO WITH ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS.

SO BASICALLY WHAT IT WAS IS ANY LEGAL OBLIGATION THAT THE CITY MIGHT HAVE TO REMEDIATE ANY ASSET THAT IT OWNS HOUSE, LANDFILL UNDERGROUND TANK, ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT THE CITY MIGHT OWN.

AND THERE'S A POTENTIAL LEGAL LIABILITY TO REMEDIATE THAT ASSET NEEDED TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN A CERTAIN WAY PRESCRIBED BY OUR ACCOUNTING RULES.

AND BASICALLY, MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE DID NOT HAVE THE, THE RESOURCES AND OR TIME TO COMPLETE THAT ASSESSMENT OF THE CAPITAL ASSETS TO DETERMINE IF THERE ACTUALLY WAS ANY ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS.

THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE RECORDED IN THE CITY.

SO AS A RESULT, WE SAY EVERYTHING IS FINE.

THERE'S NO ISSUES OTHER THAN WE DIDN'T ADOPT THAT ONE STANDARD IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

SO THE NEXT QUESTION ALWAYS IS, WELL, IS THAT BAD? WELL, NO, IT ALL DEPENDS ON IF IF THE QUALIFICATION IS PERVASIVE, NOT PERVASIVE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE OVERALL STATEMENTS.

AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S ONE SECTION OF THE HANDBOOK THAT IS REQUIRED.

THAT IS A NEW NEW REQUIREMENT THAT WAS NOT ADOPTED FOR, FOR VALID REASONS BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, SHORTAGES, SHORTAGE OF STAFF. AND THIS ISN'T A LITTLE PROCESS EITHER.

[00:05:03]

NOT TO MENTION EXPENSIVE AS WELL.

SO IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS, THIS IS NOT IT AFFECTS ONE LITTLE AREA OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

FROM ME LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY UPLOADED TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION REPORTING SITE.

LOTS OF MUNICIPALITIES HAVE GONE THIS ROUTE BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES RIGHT NOW IN, IN THE THE MUNICIPAL LANDSCAPE.

THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF RETIREMENTS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT THERE TO TO FILL THE THE LONG TERM EMPLOYEES SPOTS. SO IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS, THIS I DON'T THINK IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR THE CITY AT ALL.

THE REGULATORS, THE MINISTRY THAT GETS A COPY OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS VIA YOUR FINANCIAL, EXCUSE ME, INFORMATION RETURN HAVE NO ISSUES.

AND AND LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NO ISSUES AT ALL WITH THIS.

OKAY. ANY ISSUES ON THAT? I MEAN, I KNOW COUNCIL, WE'VE KIND OF CHATTED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO BRING IT OUT AGAIN SO EVERYBODY REALIZES, OKAY.

THE AUDITOR'S REPORT DOES GO ON TO SAY HOW THE THE OPINION WAS DETERMINED AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EVERYBODY.

BUT REALLY THE IMPORTANT PART IS THOSE KIND OF PARAGRAPHS THAT WE WENT THROUGH.

AND THEN FROM THERE, YOU ACTUALLY GET INTO THE NUMBERS OF THE CITY FOR THE YEAR, AND WE'LL CONCENTRATE ON THE 2023 COLUMN AND WE'LL START AT THE TOP, WHICH GOES THROUGH THE FINANCIAL ASSETS.

THOSE ARE THE RED THE RED BOX ITEMS. THE FINANCIAL ASSETS OF THE CITY ARE BASICALLY ANY CASH OR CASH LIKE ASSET, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TURNED INTO CASH FAIRLY QUICKLY.

AND YOU CAN SEE FOR THE CITY, THERE IS ABOUT $37,693,000 OF ASSETS AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHICH IS ACTUALLY A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S NUMBERS WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT.

AND THERE'S TWO MAIN REASONS FOR THAT INCREASE.

THE MAIN REASON IS THE CASH THAT THE CITY HELD AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THIS IS THE CASH THAT'S IN THE BANK ACCOUNTS.

IT WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS, $23,800,000 IN THE VARIOUS BANK ACCOUNTS THAT THE CITY HAS, UP AT ABOUT $4.4 MILLION.

AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY A FEW REASONS FOR THAT.

THE FIRST REASON THAT THE CASH WAS, WAS HIGHER WAS THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, WHICH IS THE NEXT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED ARROW IN RED NUMBER, THE $960,000.

THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE DURING THE YEAR THAT WAS OWED TO THE CITY ACTUALLY WENT DOWN, WHICH MEANS LESS PEOPLE OWED THE CITY FOR USUALLY ITS FUNDING GRANTS OF THINGS OF THAT MATTER.

SO YOU COLLECTED ALL OF THE MONEY FROM 2022 THAT WENT INTO THE BANK AND THEN NOT, AND THEN YOU RECEIVED EVERYTHING THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO, AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY OUTSTANDING RECEIVABLES.

SO THAT WAS THE FIRST REASON FOR THE INCREASE IN THE BANK ACCOUNTS.

THE NEXT COUPLE OF REASONS ARE IN THE LIABILITY SECTION.

SO TRY AND JUST KEEP THAT IN YOUR MIND AS WE MOVE THROUGH, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE MAIN CHANGES WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL ASSETS.

IT'S REALLY THAT BANK BALANCE THAT INCREASED DURING THE YEAR THAT DROVE THE CHANGES FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

EVERYTHING ELSE WAS PRETTY MUCH IN LINE.

NO MAJOR SWINGS OF OF ANY KINDS.

SO IF WE MOVE DOWN TO THE NEXT SECTION, WHICH IS THE THE BLUE SECTION, THE LIABILITY SECTION, THIS IS ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT THE CITY OWES TO VARIOUS VENDORS, PEOPLES, CORPORATIONS STAFF IN SOME CASES.

AND AGAIN, KIND OF FOLLOWING THE TREND OF THE FINANCIAL ASSETS, YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR WAS $14,500,000, UP AGAIN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, NOT AS MUCH AS THE ASSETS WERE UP, BUT AGAIN UP FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND THE TWO MAIN DRIVING FORCES OF THAT INCREASE ARE THE TWO BLUE ARROWS, AND THEY ARE ALSO THE REASON WHY THE BANK ACCOUNT IS HIGHER.

SO IF WE START WITH THE FIRST ONE, THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES, THEY WERE $3.2 MILLION AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO THIS WOULD REPRESENT SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE CITY, BY STAFF, BY WORKING AND NOT BEING PAID UNTIL JANUARY.

[00:10:05]

MOST OF THESE ARE ALL TIMING, TIMING ISSUES.

THEY YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET THE INVOICE AS SOON AS YOU GET THE PRODUCT OR THE GOOD THAT THAT'S PROVIDED.

SO AT THE END OF 2023, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE ACTION THAT WAS HAPPENING, A LITTLE BIT MORE BILLS THAT CAME INTO THE CITY THAT HADN'T YET BEEN PAID FOR.

SO THEY JUST INCREASED TO THAT $3.2 MILLION.

SO IF THERE WAS MORE BILLS THAT HADN'T BEEN PAID FOR AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IT MAKES SENSE THAT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IS HIGHER BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T PAY FOR THOSE THINGS HERE YET, AND YOU'VE GOTTEN THE FUNDING TO PAY FOR THOSE INVOICES.

SO AGAIN, ANOTHER REASON FOR WHY THAT BANK BALANCE INCREASED.

AND THEN THE LAST KIND OF MAIN CHANGE IN THE LIABILITY SECTION IS THE DEFERRED REVENUE.

AND IT INCREASED TO $3.5 MILLION.

SO THE DEFERRED REVENUE IS REVENUE THAT HAS COME IN FROM VARIOUS FUNDING SOURCES.

YOU KNOW, YOUR YOUR GAS TAX IS THE BIG ONE.

AND ACTUALLY THE DRIVING FORCE OF THIS DEFERRED REVENUE INCREASE.

SOME OF YOUR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES YOU'VE RECEIVED THE THE CITIES RECEIVED THE FUNDING, BUT THEY HAVEN'T COMPLETED THE CONTRACT.

WHATEVER THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT, FUNDS BUILD SOMETHING, PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE RATEPAYERS, WHATEVER IT IS, IT WASN'T DONE BY THE BY THE CITY YET.

SO THE MONEYS COME IN SITTING IN THE BANK.

BUT AGAIN THAT SERVICE OR PAYMENT TO CONTRACTORS FOR PAVING ROADS OR DOING WHATEVER HASN'T YET BEEN DONE. SO THAT'S THAT DEFERRED REVENUE INCREASED.

AND AGAIN, TO TIE IT BACK TO THAT HUGE INCREASE IN THE BANK YOU HAD, YOU HAVEN'T YET SPENT THE MONEY THAT CAME IN FROM THOSE FUNDERS.

SO AGAIN, SITTING IN THE BANK TO BE USED IN 2024.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE WRAP UP OF THE LIABILITY SECTION.

SO IF YOU TAKE THE FINANCIAL ASSETS, THE $37 MILLION IN THE RED BOX AND SUBTRACT THE LIABILITIES, THE $14 MILLION IN THE IN THE BLUE BOX, YOU END UP WITH THE NET FINANCIAL ASSETS OF THE CITY, WHICH IS $23,000,189.

AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD NUMBER.

IT'S INCREASED OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, TO BREAK IT RIGHT DOWN, IT MEANS WITH THE MONEY THAT'S IN THE BANK AND IN TAXES RECEIVABLE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.

ALL OF THE DEBT THAT THE CITY HAS CAN BE PAID PAID OFF AND THERE'S STILL $23 MILLION LEFT IN THE BANK, WHICH BASICALLY IS REPRESENTED BY RESERVES AND OTHER THINGS WE'LL GET INTO IN A BIT.

SO FOR FUTURE SERVICES THAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE TO ITS RATEPAYERS.

SO SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

YOU NEVER WANT TO SEE NET DEBT THERE BECAUSE THAT MEANS YOUR ASSETS ARE NOT BEING COVERED BY YOUR LIABILITIES.

SO YOU'RE WAY FARTHER ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH IS WHICH IS VERY GOOD.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE MAIN TOP OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION.

THE LAST KIND OF PIECE TO THIS PUZZLE IS THE NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS.

AND THAT'S YOUR LONG TERM ASSETS WE LIKE TO CALL THEM THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO LAST LONGER THAN A YEAR.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE CITY, THE ROADS, THE BUILDINGS THE OFFICE EQUIPMENT, THE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, THE HVAC SYSTEMS, ALL OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER, IT'S ACTUALLY SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED.

AND AGAIN, THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENED DURING THE YEAR.

THERE WAS RENOVATIONS TO THE THEATER, TO THE POOL.

THERE WAS A COUPLE OF TRANSIT BUSSES PURCHASED THE ARENA.

SO LIKE A LOT OF CAPITAL AND MONEY WAS PUT INTO THE CAPITAL OF THE, OF THE CITY.

SO THAT'S WHAT DROVE THAT INCREASE THERE UP TO THE $39 MILLION.

AND IF THAT'S ADDED TO THE NET FINANCIAL ASSETS, YOU END UP WITH THIS ACCUMULATED SURPLUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR OF $63 MILLION.

AND AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER REPRESENTATION OF THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO SERVICE ITS RATEPAYERS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF ITS LARGE POSITIVITY.

I GUESS THAT'S NOT REALLY A WORD, BUT THE LARGENESS OF IT.

AND WE'LL GET INTO KIND OF REALLY WHAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE $63 MILLION IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION.

ANYTHING ANYBODY WANTS SOME CLARIFICATION ON OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

OH, SO QUIET TONIGHT.

[00:15:02]

USUALLY THE STATEMENT THAT EVERYBODY'S MORE A LITTLE BIT MORE FAMILIAR WITH, WHICH IS THE STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS.

SO THIS IS ALL OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES THAT HAPPENED IN THE YEAR FOR THE CITY.

AND I'VE JUST GOT A BLOW UP HERE OF THE REVENUE FOR THE CITY.

AND YOU CAN SEE, WELL, THE MIDDLE COLUMN THERE IS THE 2023 YEAR END.

AND $34,741,000 IS THE REVENUE THAT WAS GENERATED AND CAME INTO THE CITY IN THE YEAR UP FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, JUST JUST SLIGHTLY UNDER $1 MILLION, A LITTLE LOW COMPARED TO THE BUDGET.

BUT ALL IN ALL, WHAT I WOULD CALL STATUS QUO, YOU KNOW, NOTHING REALLY HUGE HAPPENED IN THE YEAR VERSUS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. YOU KNOW, YOUR TAXATION WENT UP, WHICH WAS EXPECTED.

IT WAS BUDGETED TO GO UP.

PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GRANTS WILL GO UP DEPENDING ON WHAT PROJECT PROJECTS ARE GOING ON.

THE USER FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES, FOR THE MOST PART THAT'S YOUR YOUR WATER.

IT'S GONE UP A LITTLE BIT.

THE RATES DID INCREASE INVESTMENT INCOME, MORE MONEY IN THE BANK, INTEREST RATES INCREASED.

MAKES SENSE THAT YOUR YOU'VE EARNED MORE INTEREST.

SO THAT'S ALL THE REVENUE.

AND JUST I ALWAYS LIKE I ALWAYS LIKE THE, THE PIE CHART BECAUSE IT ALWAYS SHOWS YOU LIKE PLAIN, PLAIN AS DAY WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY'S REVENUE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S THREE MAIN REVENUE STREAMS. TAXATION IS YOUR NUMBER ONE STREAM FOR ABOUT 41% LAST YEAR, 40%.

SO IT STICKS RIGHT AROUND THAT 40% AREA.

AND THEN YOUR GRANTS, YOUR PROVINCIAL GRANTS, WHICH IS YOUR OMPF FUND GRANTS, YOUR GAS TAX THAT'S MAKING UP MOST OF YOUR PROVINCIAL GRANTS AND THEN YOUR USER FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES, WHICH, LIKE I SAID, MOSTLY YOUR WASTEWATER RATES BEING CHARGED TO THE RATEPAYERS.

AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS KIND OF A LITTLE BIT MORE INCONSEQUENTIAL COMPARED TO THOSE THREE MAIN REVENUE STREAMS. OKAY. SORRY JENNIFER COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF [INAUDIBLE].

HI, JENNIFER. THANK YOU WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

SO JUST ON THIS PART, SO THAT THE REASON FOR THIS DISCREPANCY THAT I CAN SEE BETWEEN THE 36 WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR WAS WE WERE LIGHT ON PROVINCIAL GRANTS BY ABOUT $3 MILLION.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE $1.1 MILLION OVER IN INVESTMENT INCOME BECAUSE OF THE RATES BEING SO HIGH.

SO WHEN WE GO TO OUR BUDGET PROCESS, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT MUCH INVESTMENT INCOME THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE RATES ARE STARTING TO CREEP DOWN.

SO THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST TIME WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT, NOT A BONUS, BUT AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS RIGHT THERE.

YEAH. OKAY.

YEAH. SO I GUESS THAT MAKES SENSE.

OKAY. AND THE GRANTS SOMETIMES ARE REALLY HARD TO BUDGET, TOO.

YEAH. BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR IF YOU HAVE TO PUT A PROJECT ON HOLD, MAYBE THAT MONEY DOESN'T COME IN BECAUSE YOU HAD TO PUT THE PROJECT ON HOLD.

I MEAN, IT'S I MEAN, PLAY DARTS.

IT'S PROBABLY JUST AS AS HARD TO TO DO BOTH OF THEM.

RIGHT. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE CITY IS BUDGETING FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IS REALLY GOOD, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT EVEN MORE BECAUSE REVENUE KIND OF LIKE I SAID, DEPENDING ON THE PROJECTS, IT CAN FLUCTUATE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND MY SEGUE INTO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE EXPENSES, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, EXPENSES HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE EASY TO DETERMINE AND STAY A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSISTENT THAN THAT REVENUE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 2023 OPERATIONS, THE EXPENSES TOTALED $28,000,187.

WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE BUDGET, IT WAS $28,000,609.

I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S $500,000 DIFFERENCE, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $28 MILLION.

THAT'S YOU'RE PRETTY CLOSE THERE.

IT'S YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SOME ACCOUNTS THAT GO UP, SOME ACCOUNTS THAT GO DOWN COMPARED TO BUDGET, ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT IS NEVER EXPECTED OR SOMETHING THAT IS A BONUS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

ALL IN ALL, WHEN YOU DO LOOK AT EACH EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS HERE, IT'S ALL PRETTY PRETTY CLOSE, PRETTY COMPARABLE.

THE ONE THAT REALLY JUMPS OUT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

SO THAT'S YOUR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL, YOUR LANDFILL.

AND THE CULPRIT HERE IS OF WHEN YOU LOOK AT 2022 ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES NUMBER VERSUS THE 2021 NUMBER I'M SORRY THE 2023 NUMBER.

IN 2022 THERE WAS A NEW LANDFILL STUDY DONE AND AN ALL NEW COSTS DONE AND DONE AND DETERMINED ON HOW MUCH IT WAS GOING TO COST TO CLOSE THE LANDFILL IN. I THINK IT WAS THE 30 YEARS THAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO CALL.

[00:20:04]

SO THAT KIND OF DROVE THE EXPENSES UP TO THAT $6.896 NUMBER.

WHEREAS THIS YEAR IT'S BACK TO WHAT I WOULD SAY NORMAL EXPENSES ARE IN THAT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AROUND THAT $4.6 MILLION.

THAT'S WHERE IT WAS PREVIOUS TO LAST YEAR'S JUMP.

SO OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYTHING ELSE, IF YOU LOOK IS PRETTY, PRETTY COMPARABLE.

GOOD. REALLY. AND AGAIN, WE KIND OF HAVE I HAVE THE PIE CHART HERE AGAIN, THAT KIND OF SHOWS THE DEPARTMENTS AND WHERE THE SPENDING IS OCCURRING.

YOU CAN SEE THE LARGEST IS YOUR TRANSPORTATION 22%.

THAT'S THE ROADS.

ANYTHING TO DO WITH ROADS GRADING, PAVING FIXING UP, CLEANING UP, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

PROTECTION IS ALWAYS A LARGE ONE.

THAT'S YOUR FIRE AND POLICE AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT 18%.

SO THAT'S BASICALLY YOUR ADMINISTRATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY.

AND THEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMES IN CLOSE BEHIND.

AND THIS LIKE I SAID, FAIRLY CONSISTENT OVER ALL THE YEARS, THESE PERCENTAGES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S KIND OF THE SAME SPENDING CHUNKS THAT HAPPEN EACH YEAR.

AND JUST ANOTHER WAY THAT IF THAT'S BY DEPARTMENT, THIS IS BY ACTUAL TYPE OF EXPENSE.

AND AGAIN, I DON'T THINK ANY BIG SURPRISES HERE.

THE LARGEST SPEND OF THE CITY IS SALARIES AND BENEFITS AT 34%, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT ACROSS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS.

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES MAKE UP 24% AND YOUR CONTRACTED SERVICES IS 21%.

THE REST IS AGAIN, PRETTY SMALL IN COMPARISON AND PERCENTAGE WISE BETWEEN 1 AND 2% DIFFERENCE THAN OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS. SO AGAIN, RIGHT IN THAT RANGE, COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

THROUGH YOU YOUR WORSHIP WHEN I LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN HERE, ARE WE COMPARABLE TO OTHER CITIES? ARE THEY PRETTY MUCH EQUAL? I HAVEN'T LOOKED IN GREAT DETAIL, BUT OVERALL, YES, LIKE IT'S ALWAYS IT'S MOST MUNICIPALITIES SPEND THIS ON THE SAME TRANCHES AS EVERYBODY.

BUT IT'S EASY FOR ME TO PULL THAT INFORMATION AND I CAN PASS IT THROUGH TO [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THANK YOU.

SO THAT BASICALLY KIND OF BRINGS US BACK TO LOOKING AT THIS WHOLE STATEMENT TOGETHER.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE REVENUE THAT CAME IN THE RED BOX, THE $34,741,000 LESS THE EXPENSES THAT WENT OUT, THE $28,187,000, YOU END UP WITH THE ANNUAL SURPLUS OR REVENUE OVER EXPENSES OF THE CITY OF $6,554,000.

SO AGAIN, A POSITIVE NUMBER, MEANING THERE WAS MORE REVENUE THAT CAME IN THAN EXPENSES THAT WENT OUT.

AND THAT GETS ADDED TO THE OPENING ACCUMULATED SURPLUS TO END ON THAT SAME 63 MILLION TO 16 ACCUMULATED OPERATING SURPLUS FOR THE CITY.

THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ON THE LAST STATEMENT.

AND THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH WHAT IS REPRESENTED BY THAT $63 MILLION.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS STATEMENT BEFORE I MOVE ON.

OKAY. SO THIS NEXT SLIDE, THAT $63 MILLION REPRESENTS THE ACCUMULATED SURPLUS THAT THE CITY HAS.

AND THERE'S KIND OF FIVE SUBCATEGORIES THAT MAKE UP WHAT THAT $63 MILLION IS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE TWO NUMBERS THAT I'VE GOT BOXED OUT IN GREEN AND BLUE.

THOSE ARE THE SAME NUMBERS WE JUST SAW IN THE STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS THAT WAS ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE, THE $6.5 MILLION IN BLUE THAT WAS THE ANNUAL SURPLUS, THE REVENUE OVER EXPENSES. AND THAT BASICALLY REPRESENTS THIS CHANGE THAT GETS US UP TO THE $63 MILLION.

SO WHAT'S THAT $63 MILLION MADE UP OF?

[00:25:03]

SO THIS IS SURPLUSES.

SO THESE ARE LIKE REVENUES, LESS EXPENSES.

FROM THE PAST YEARS THE COUNCIL HAVE SET ASIDE FOR SPECIFIC USE IN THE FUTURE.

AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE LARGER ONES CAPITAL EXPENSES.

THERE'S A RESERVE THERE OF $20 MILLION.

THE WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE IS ABOUT $4.7 MILLION.

THE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT THAT'S THE ELLIOT LAKE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT $2.8 MILLION.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE LARGER RESERVES.

SO THERE IS NOT A BANK ACCOUNT FOR THIS MONEY.

THIS MONEY IS JUST SITTING IN YOUR REGULAR BANK ACCOUNT.

SO, AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL DECIDES TO USE ONE OF THESE RESERVES FOR ONE OF THESE PROJECTS.

THE MONEY IS COMING OUT OF THAT ASSET FINANCIAL ASSET LINE THAT WE SAW ON THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE LARGER COMPONENTS OF THE $63 MILLION.

THE LARGEST COMPONENT THAT IS PART OF THE $63 MILLION IS THE CITY'S EQUITY AND TANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSETS.

SO THIS IS ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE BUILDINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

AND SO REALLY, IT REPRESENTS ANYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS SPENT MONEY ON CONSTRUCTING, BUILDING ITSELF OR BUYING ASSETS FOR THE CITY LESS ANY DEBT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE ASSETS.

SO BASICALLY, IT'S $39 MILLION OF ASSETS THAT THE CITY HAS INVESTED IN SO THAT IT CAN PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE MUNICIPALITY.

SO THAT'S THE SECOND BIGGEST OR THE LARGEST, BUT THE SECOND SUBCATEGORY OF THIS, $68 MILLION.

THE YELLOW ARROW I JUST WANT TO POINT IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S ZERO.

THAT'S THE OPERATING SURPLUS OR DEFICIT EVERY YEAR THAT THE CITY HAS.

SO ONCE WE TAKE OUT WHATEVER SET UP IN RESERVES AND THE EQUITY IN TANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSETS, IF THERE'S ANYTHING LEFT OVER THAT AUTOMATICALLY GETS TRANSFERRED INTO THE WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE OF THE CITY.

IT'S FOR YOUR GENERAL OPERATIONS.

CATCH ALL. SO IF THERE'S A SURPLUS LEFT OVER, IT GOES IN FOR FUTURE YEARS.

IF THERE'S A DEFICIT ONE YEAR, THE WORKING CAPITAL WILL BE REDUCED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AN EBB AND FLOW TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS COVERING SURPLUSES AND DEFICITS WITH THIS WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE IT AS ZERO, BECAUSE ANYTHING IS CLEARED OUT INTO THAT WORKING CAPITAL.

OKAY. A LITTLE BIT OF NET REMEASUREMENT GAINS, WHICH IS YOUR COST VERSUS FAIR MARKET VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS.

AND THEN THE LAST GREEN ARROW THERE YOUR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES.

THIS IS LIABILITIES THAT ARE ON THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION, THE LONG TERM DEBT, THE COST TO CLOSE THE LANDFILL, ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT LIABILITIES THAT DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC REVENUE ATTACHED TO IT ON HOW IT'S GOING TO BE PAID.

SO SO RIGHT NOW, THE LONG TERM DEBT IS BEING PAID OUT OF EITHER TAXATION REVENUE OR YOU KNOW, PROVINCIAL GRANTS OR WHATEVER IT IS.

THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC REVENUE ATTACHED TO IT.

SO BASICALLY IT SITS THERE UNTIL IT'S PAID AND IT GETS PAID DOWN EACH, EACH YEAR.

WHEN IT'S BUDGET, BECAUSE YOU DO BUDGET FOR THESE ITEMS. SO THOSE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES REDUCE THE ANNUAL SURPLUS OR SORRY ACCUMULATED SURPLUS.

SO ALL THOSE KIND OF SUBCATEGORIES MAKE UP THE $63 MILLION.

SO ALL IN ALL, ALL THIS THESE LITTLE SUBCATEGORIES JUST KIND OF SHOW HOW THE CITY HAS THIS ACCUMULATED SURPLUS, WHICH WILL, YOU KNOW, BENEFIT THE CITY AND THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE RATEPAYERS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE IT HAS THESE THINGS THAT IT CAN USE IN THE FUTURE FOR WHATEVER IT MAY NEED.

OKAY. AND THAT'S BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT I HAD.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S.

YES. GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

JUST A QUESTION.

A LOT OF OUR ASSETS ARE QUITE OLD.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EQUITY AND TANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSETS, IF AN ASSET IS PAST ITS SHELF LIFE AND NO LONGER HAS AN UNDEPRECIATED CAPITAL VALUE, DOES THAT INCLUDE LIKE, HOW IS THAT GET INCLUDED IN THE 38.9 MILLION? IT IS, BUT THAT NUMBER ACTUALLY IS REPRESENTED BY THE ORIGINAL COST TO BUILD OR WHATEVER, LESS THE ACCUMULATED AND THAT'S OUR,

[00:30:05]

IF EACH YEAR WE AMORTIZE OR DEPRECIATE THE ASSET UNTIL IT GETS TO THE NO SHELF LIFE.

SO REALLY IT'S BEING SHOWN AT THAT NET AMOUNT.

SO IF SOMETHING IS, YOU KNOW, BEEN AROUND FOR TEN YEARS, A VEHICLE FOR TEN YEARS, IT'S PRETTY MUCH TOTALLY AMORTIZED AND SHOWN AT ZERO.

SO THIS $39 MILLION IS GOOD COST LESS ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION.

SO THINGS THAT HAVE NOT PASSED THE APPROVED CAPITAL ASSET POLICY FOR HOW MANY YEARS OF LIFE IT HAS.

YEAH. COUNCILLOR MANN.

THANK YOU WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

COUNCILLOR LEFEBVRE TOOK MY FIRST QUESTION, SO THANK YOU.

MY SECOND QUESTION IS IF, AS A RESULT OF THE QUALIFICATION IN THE EQUITY OF THE CAPITAL ASSETS.

WHERE WOULD THE LARGEST IMPACT POTENTIALLY BE ON THIS PAGE IF, AS A RESULT OF REVIEWING THE BALANCE OF THAT EXERCISE, WHERE WOULD THE EXPOSURE LIE? IT WOULD BE IN THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES SECTION.

AND THE EQUITY INTANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSETS.

IT'S A REALLY FUNNY STANDARD THAT I HATE.

BECAUSE BASICALLY WHAT YOU DO IS YOU INCREASE THE ASSET BY WHATEVER COST IT'S GOING TO CAUSE COST TO REHABILITATE IT, AND THEN YOU ALSO CREATE A LIABILITY FOR THAT SAME COST, WHICH ACTS IN THE SAME WAY AS DEPRECIATION.

SO EACH YEAR YOU GET CLOSER TO HAVING TO REHABILITATE WHATEVER, LET'S SAY ASBESTOS IN THE WALLS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SAY IN TEN YEARS WE HAVE TO REHABILITATE THE CITY HALL FOR ASBESTOS.

THERE'S NO ASBESTOS. I'M JUST USING IT AS AN EXAMPLE.

SO THE ASSET WILL BE INCREASED BY $100,000 BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A LIABILITY ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR $100,000.

AND EACH YEAR EACH OF THEM ARE DECREASED BY ONE TENTH.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY A NET ON BOTH SIDES.

SO OVERALL, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO DETERIORATE YOUR ACCUMULATED SURPLUS OR ANNUAL SURPLUS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IF I COULD JUST CONTINUE.

THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

MY ONLY CONCERN IS OBVIOUSLY, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IF WE REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THINGS, WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT AS WE BEGIN OUR BUDGET CYCLES. THAT'S WHY I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A TIE IN AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE WE ARE ON THAT PROCESS, PERCENTAGE WISE, OF BEING COMPLETE AND COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE A QUALIFICATION THIS YEAR, AND NOT THAT I'D LIKE TO COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, BUT YEAH, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE BESIDES US. WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THIS.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEAH. AND LIKE I SAID, AND THIS IS AND IT'S NOT THIS IS JUST NOT A ONE PERSON JOB.

IT'S A PUBLIC WORKS.

IT'S ACCOUNTING, FINANCE.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOUR ELDERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER AND REMEMBER SOMETHING TO DO WITH SOME BUILDING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AGAIN, I HATE THE STANDARD AND I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO FOLLOW IT.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO JENNIFER.

JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

UNDER THAT ACCUMULATED SURPLUS, IT SAYS LANDFILL CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE IN THE POSITIVE FOR 2.2 MILLION.

YES. BUT THEN DOWN BELOW YOU HAVE IT.

SO BASICALLY WE COULD NET THEM COUNCILLOR.

WHAT IS BEING SHOWN HERE IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN SURPLUSES IN THE PAST IN THE AMOUNT OF $2.2 MILLION THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP TO SAY, WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO CLOSE THE LANDFILL, WE'RE GOING TO USE $2.2 MILLION.

WE SET THAT ASIDE.

THE $4 MILLION IS THE COST TO CLOSE IT.

SO YOU'RE ABOUT $2 MILLION SHORT? YEAH. SO WHEN YOU JUST SAID TO ME WE COULD NET THEM TRYING TO THINK THE POSITIVE, IT'S REALLY ABOUT $2 MILLION BECAUSE WE HAVE 2.2 ALREADY IN THE KITTY SOMEWHERE. YEAH.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND THEN I JUST HAVE ONE MORE FOLLOW UP.

AND THEN I MISSED THIS ONE BECAUSE I CAUGHT MY EYE.

JUST WHERE WAS IT? WHAT OUT OF CURIOSITY UNDER REVENUE WHAT IS OTHER.

BECAUSE IT WENT FROM WE GOT 1.2 MILLION.

SO I'M WONDERING WHAT THAT IS.

AGAIN IT'S A CATCH ALL.

IT'S. SORRY, I JUST HAVE TO FIND MY NOTE.

SO IT'S A CATCH ALL.

[00:35:01]

YOUR RECYCLING REVENUE IS IN THERE.

IF THERE'S A DONATION IS IN THERE.

RECOVERY OF EXPENSES.

THERE ARE SOME RECOVERIES IN RELATED TO SOME LEGALS THAT WERE HAPPENED DURING THE YEAR THAT WOULD BE SITTING THERE IN OTHER YOU KNOW, SO THERE WAS NO REAL ONE NUMBER THAT CAUSED THE INCREASE OR DECREASE IN THE OTHER EACH YEAR.

IT'S JUST IT'S A $100,000 HERE, $50,000 THERE OR $20,000 THERE.

THAT ADDED UP TO THE 1.2.

IT JUST DOESN'T BELONG ANYWHERE ELSE.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YEP. THAT ANSWERS IT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANYTHING ELSE? I'LL HAVE A SHOT AT A QUESTION.

THIS BASIS FOR QUALIFIED OPINION, THE NEW LEGISLATION.

ARE THERE EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ACHIEVED THIS.

AND DO YOU HAVE ANY NUMBERS, PERCENTAGES, LET'S SAY, OF THEIR BUDGET THAT IT DOES COME OUT TO? I IN OUR OFFICE WE DO ABOUT 15 MUNICIPALITIES.

THERE'S ONLY TWO THAT ACTUALLY DID IT.

AND THEY'RE VERY SMALL AND BASICALLY HAVE TWO BUILDINGS.

SO LIKE WHEN YOU, TALK ABOUT LIKE WHO'S KIND OF DONE IT, IT'S SOME OF THE SMALLER AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU HAVE.

EVERYBODY ELSE STRUGGLED WITH IT AND, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO THE COSTS OF TRYING TO GET AN ENGINEER IN TO SAY YES OR NO THERE'S ASBESTOS IN THE WALLS. AND HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST TO REHABILITATE, YOU KNOW, THE ARENA.

THANK YOU. BECAUSE WE HAVE A COST NOW OF HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST TO GET RID OF THE AMMONIA IN THE ARENA BECAUSE YOU HAD TO DO IT.

SO YOU HAVE NO ARROWS WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARENA BECAUSE YOU'VE DEALT WITH THAT.

SO I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE NO ONE'S BEEN AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT LIKE THE CITY OF TORONTO PROBABLY DIDN'T QUALIFY, OR CITY OF LONDON PROBABLY DIDN'T QUALIFY.

I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THEIR STATEMENTS.

I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THEM.

SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE A GOOD ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

SORRY, MAYOR.

NO, THAT'S FINE. I DIDN'T EXPECT IT.

IF IT DOES COME UP, YOU CAN ADD IT TO COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

I WILL. COUNCILLOR LEFEBVRE.

JUST A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT.

KNOWING THAT THIS IS SUCH A HUGE IMPACT ON STAFF TO GET AS DONE, AS IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY EXTEND THEIR DEADLINE? WELL, WELL, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S MORE, MORE OR LESS OUR RULES.

AND I THINK I ACTUALLY DO THINK BECAUSE THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ACTUALLY REVIEW THESE RULES AS THEY COME IN AND HOW HOW CERTAIN PEOPLE HAVE ADOPTED THEM AND NOT ADOPTED THEM.

AND THERE'S BEEN SOME REAL STRUGGLES WITH IT.

SO I DO THINK THAT THEY'LL LOOK AT IT AND THEY MIGHT TWEAK IT, BUT THAT'S A LONGER PROCESS.

IN REGARDS TO, LIKE YOU SAY, LIKE THE GOVERNMENT, LIKE THE MINISTRY, THE MINISTRY HAS BEEN MORE THAN UNDERSTANDING WITH A LOT OF THE TOWNSHIPS BEING LATE WITH THEIR FINANCIAL INFORMATION RETURNS BECAUSE OF THIS QUALIFICATION, BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE IT'S EVERYWHERE.

SO, YEAH.

YEAH. SO I DO THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE CHANGE COMING, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK SOON.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR LEFEBVRE JUST ONE MORE COMMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATION.

THE WAY YOU PRESENTED IT WAS VERY CLEAR.

AND THANK YOU.

THAT'S MY HOPE ALWAYS THAT YOU COME OUT OF HERE FEELING A LITTLE BIT MORE ENLIGHTENED ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCIALS, AND THAT YOU CAN SPEAK TO THEM IF SOMEONE DOES ASK YOU ABOUT THEM. BUT AGAIN, I'LL SAY THERE'S NO BLARING RED LIGHT SAYING DISASTER ANYWHERE.

LIKE, IT'S VERY A VERY STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION THAT THE CITY IS IN.

CAN I JUST ASK ONE QUESTION ABOUT THAT? THAT IS THE ENDING DATE OF WHAT? DECEMBER 2023.

SO WE'RE ALMOST NOVEMBER 2024.

IS THERE ANY HINT ON OUR OUTLOOK RIGHT NOW? WELL, I WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO PASS IT OVER TO [INAUDIBLE].

SHE WOULD KNOW. IT WILL BE STRONGLY DIFFERENT, IS ALL I'M SAYING.

I GUESS A LOT HAS CHANGED THIS YEAR.

THERE'S LOTS GOING ON, SO.

BUT THIS IS A GOOD, GOOD BASIS FROM LAST YEAR.

SHOWED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING A TIGHT SHIP STILL, WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR'S OPINION.

WELL, THEN, I MEAN, WE ALWAYS TRY AND BE.

WE STARTED IN APRIL, BUT I MEAN, WITH SOME OF THE TURNOVER AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THINGS THE NEW STANDARD.

BUT WE'LL GUNG HO AGAIN IN APRIL.

[00:40:01]

WE'LL SEE. AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE, MEETING HERE IN MAY OR JUNE TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING.

OKAY. OKAY.

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNIFER.

REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

THANKS. OKAY.

[7. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF CORPORATE REPORTS]

INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF CORPORATE REPORTS 7.1 REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF RECREATION AND CULTURE REGARDING THE 2024 SANTA CLAUSE PARADE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL SUPPORT TO HOST THE 2024 SANTA CLAUS PARADE ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2024 AND THAT THE APPROPRIATE BYLAW BE PASSED TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE ONTARIO AVENUE FROM 5:45 P.M.

TO 7:30 P.M.

ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2024.

A MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SECONDED COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

MS. KLUKE PLEASE.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

YEAH. THE SANTA CLAUS PARADE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AGAIN AND WE'RE LOOKING TO HOST IT ON NOVEMBER 29TH.

THIS DATE WAS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS, LIKE THE ENTERTAINMENT SERIES AND A COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CONCERT IN DECEMBER.

A PUBLIC FEEDBACK SURVEY WENT OUT IN AUGUST TO GET COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ABOUT DIFFERENT DATES, POTENTIALLY, BUT THERE WAS NO SUBSTANTIAL OR STRONG CONSENSUS FOR THAT WOULD RECOMMEND CHANGE.

A BIG PART OF THIS, AND I THINK WE SAW THAT WITH OUR SUMMER PARADE, WAS THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO AVOID WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.

I THINK JUST BECAUSE WEEKENDS PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING FOR LIKE IN THE WINTER HOCKEY AND THEY ARE OUT OF TOWN.

SO WE RECOMMEND TO KEEP IT ON A FRIDAY NIGHT AND IT WILL REMAIN THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS ON ONTARIO AVENUE, AS WELL AS STARTING AT 6 P.M., WE WILL ALSO INCORPORATE A SENSORY FRIENDLY ZONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ROUTE, WHERE THE SCOTIABANK TO ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] STOREFRONT TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE WITH SENSORY SENSITIVITIES.

AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS CHRISTMAS IN HOCKEYVILLE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE A TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE FROM 5:45 TO 7:30 TO ENSURE THE SAFETY FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF.

EXCELLENT. I LOVE THE THEME.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? NONE OPPOSED. THAT'S CARRIED.

7.2 MEMO FROM THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REGARDING OPP P-PSAP AGREEMENT.

WE HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE FOR THE PROVISION OF PRIMARY PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT P-PSAP SERVICES, AND THAT THE APPROPRIATE BYLAW BE PASSED.

A MOVER COUNCILLOR BULL SECONDED COUNCILLOR MANN.

MR. DEBORTOLI, PLEASE.

YES. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP AND THROUGH YOU TO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THIS IS BASICALLY A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM THAT'S COME BEFORE US TONIGHT.

OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF THE AGREEMENT IS WELL WITHIN OUR AUTHORIZATION LIMITS, BUT HOWEVER, WITH THE REQUIREMENT FOR A COUNCIL BYLAW RESOLUTION, IT APPEARS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

SO BASICALLY, WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE OPP SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE SERVICE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY'VE BEEN PROVIDING US WITH 911 SERVICE AS A PRIMARY ANSWERING POINT.

THE PRIMARY ANSWERING POINT IS BASICALLY THE OPP WILL PICK UP FIRST DURING AN EMERGENCY OR 911 CALL, AND THEN THEY WILL DIRECT THAT CALL TO WHATEVER EMERGENCY SERVICES REQUIRED FIRE, AMBULANCE OR POLICE.

SO A LITTLE HISTORY.

PRESENTLY, THE OPP HAS AGREEMENTS WITH 111 MUNICIPALITIES, FIRST NATIONS AND LOCAL SERVICE BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE.

AND THE PSAP SERVICE IS A NECESSARY REQUIREMENT IN PROVIDING THE 911 PUBLIC SERVICE TO RESIDENTS OF THE PROVINCE. THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE OPP IS THAT IT IT PROVIDES IMPROVED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS DURING INCIDENTS, WHICH IS CRUCIAL TO ESTABLISHING THE MOST EFFICIENT EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM POSSIBLE.

ADDITIONALLY, IT ALLOWS FOR IMPROVED CONTROL AND COORDINATION OF MAJOR INCIDENTS AND ASSURED GREATER SERVICE, CONSISTENT USE OF STATE OF ART TECHNOLOGY, AND CONTINUOUS SERVICE PROVIDED AT A DEFINED COST.

WHAT SPARKED THIS RENEWAL AGREEMENT WAS BASICALLY THE 911 SERVICES MIGRATING TO A NEW TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM.

IT'S CALLED NEXT GENERATION 911, AND AS A RESULT OF THIS TRANSFORMATION TO THE NEW TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM, THE OPP DECIDED IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO SEND OUT RENEWAL AGREEMENTS TO ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT IT DEALS WITH.

SO WITH RESPECT TO THE COST, THE COST, THE RATE OF THE CONTRACT HASN'T CHANGED ANY.

IT'S BILLED ON A PER CAPITA PER ANNUM BASIS, AND THE AMOUNT IS 0.561 CENTS PER PERSON WITHIN

[00:45:01]

THAT WAS BASED ON THE THE PREVIOUS CENSUS NUMBER OF 10,741.

SO THEY'VE TAKEN THE NEW NUMBER, ADDED IT OR MULTIPLIED IT BY THE FACTOR.

AND WE'VE COME UP WITH THE PRICE OF $6379 AND $0.69.

ANYWAY, THAT'S, THE GIST BEHIND THIS.

AND THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ATTACHED UNDER A BYLAW SECTION FOR YOUR PERUSAL AND APPROVAL HOPEFULLY.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU MR. DEBORTOLI .

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NOPE. PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? NONE OPPOSED. THAT IS CARRIED.

THERE'S NO PRESENTATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

NO OUTSIDE BOARD OR COMMITTEE REPORTING.

THERE ARE NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS, NO PETITIONS, NO CORRESPONDENCE, NO NOTICES OF MOTION.

COUNCIL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

[14. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

OKAY. THE SPOOKTACULAR DECORATING CONTEST IS UNDERWAY.

THE MAP IS AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE ONLINE VOTING FORM IS AVAILABLE UNTIL TOMORROW, OCTOBER 29TH.

PLEASE TRAVEL ALL AROUND ELLIOT LAKE AND SEE ALL OF THE TERRIFYING ENTRIES TO SEE WHICH ONE YOU THINK IS MOST IMPRESSIVE.

HEAD TO ELLIOTLAKE.CA/SPOOKTACULARPEOPLESCHOICE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE.

PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED FOR THE SPOOKIEST AND MOST CREATIVE ENTRIES AS WELL AS PEOPLE'S CHOICE.

THE JUDGING DOES END TOMORROW AND THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER THE 30TH.

AND HALLOWEEN IS, OF COURSE, THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31ST.

IF YOU ARE HANDING OUT CANDY, THE CITY DOES ENCOURAGE YOU TO TREAT ACCESSIBLY.

AND A FEW WAYS TO DO THIS IS TO PLACE YOUR CANDY STATION AT AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE SPOT, LIKE THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY OR GARAGE, ETC.. PLEASE KEEP DECORATIONS FUN FOR EVERYONE.

AVOID STROBE LIGHTS OR LOUD NOISES THAT MIGHT BE OVERWHELMING.

AND PLEASE BE PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING.

DIFFERENT DISABILITIES AFFECT HOW PEOPLE INTERACT, AND A LITTLE KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY.

AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY, PLEASE, ALL TRICK OR TREATERS HAVE A FUN AND SAFE HALLOWEEN.

THE WOODLAND CEMETERY ANNUAL FALL CLEANUP IS ONCE AGAIN COMING UP.

IT'S TIME FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO PREPARE FOR THE WINTER BY REMOVING ALL ABOVE GROUND MEMORIAL ARTIFACTS FROM THE WOODLAND CEMETERY AFTER OCTOBER 30TH STAFF WILL BE PERFORMING THE CLEANUP TASK ON YOUR BEHALF.

THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO DECORATIONS PLACED BY THE LEGION, AND YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO RESPECT THE RULES AND IT'S A BYLAW AND MAKE THE EFFORT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FALL CLEANUP.

PLEASE CONTACT EXTENSION 2103 AT THE CITY OR EMAIL CEMETERY@ELLIOTLAKE.CA FOR MORE INFORMATION.

FALL LEAF PICKUP WILL BE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER THE 1ST.

LEAVES MUST BE IN A PAPER BAG AND PLACED AT THE CURB NO LATER THAN 7:30 A.M.

ON THE MORNING OF THE COLLECTION.

LARGE BRANCHES, SCRAP METAL OR OTHER YARD WASTE WILL NOT BE COLLECTED, ONLY LEAVES.

AND THAT MEANS THAT WINTER IS FAST APPROACHING.

THE CITY'S WINTER STREET PARKING RESTRICTIONS WILL BE COMING INTO EFFECT SOON.

A GENTLE REMINDER THERE'S TO BE NO PARKING ON CITY STREETS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 12 A.M.

TO 7 A.M., BEGINNING NOVEMBER 1ST AND CONTINUING UNTIL MARCH 31ST.

THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE WILL BE SUPPORTING A HOLIDAY SHOP LOCAL EVENT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

ANY BUSINESS INTERESTED IN TAKING PART OR GETTING MORE INFORMATION CAN CONTACT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AT EDO@ELLIOTLAKE.CA.

THE CUT OFF DATE TO SIGN UP IS TUESDAY, THE 29TH OF OCTOBER AT 5 P.M..

COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

ELATE IS HAVING A 21 ACT PLAYS CALLED FRIENDS AND ALLIES NOVEMBER THE 8TH AND 9TH, 15TH AND 16TH.

[00:50:01]

THERE WILL BE NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR.

IF YOU WANT YOUR TICKETS, YOU BUY IT IN ADVANCE FOR $20 AT ALPINE FLOWERS AND GIFTS.

AND LIKE I SAID, THERE'S ONLY 60 TICKETS AND THEY'RE MOVING PRETTY FAST.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO ENJOY AN EVENING OF LIVE THEATER, GET YOUR TICKET TODAY.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MANN.

THANK YOUR WORSHIP.

LAST WEEK, WE BEGAN THE 2025 BUDGET PROCESS WITH AN OPEN HOUSE, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY EIGHT PRESENTERS THAT BROUGHT FORWARD IDEAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 2025 BUDGET PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THOSE THAT CAME FORWARD.

IT WAS, AS IN PREVIOUS OPEN HOUSES, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD.

COUNCIL DID NOT MAKE ANY DECISIONS.

ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US SAID ANYTHING.

SO THANK YOU, MR. ANTUNES, FOR MODERATING THE EVENING.

AND WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THOSE PRESENTATIONS AT OUR FIRST BUDGET MEETING, WHICH I ANTICIPATE IS MIDWEEK NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL LOOK FOR CONFIRMATION LATER THIS WEEK FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

AND FINALLY, THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS GOING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, AS CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED NOVEMBER 11TH FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY.

OKAY. THERE ARE NO ADDENDUMS. 16. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BYLAWS 16.1.

[16. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BY-LAWS]

BEING A BYLAW TO AUTHORIZE THE ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MINISTER OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL ON BEHALF OF THE ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE FOR THE PROVISION OF PRIMARY P-SAP SERVICES.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 24-104 BE PASSED? MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN.

SECONDED COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

16.2 BYLAW 24-105 BEING A BYLAW TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE CERTAIN PUBLIC HIGHWAYS FOR THE 2024 SANTA CLAUS PARADE ON NOVEMBER 29TH, 2024, FROM 5:45 P.M.

TO 7:30 P.M.

MAY HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 24-105 BE PASSED.

A MOVER COUNCILLOR BULL SECONDED COUNCILLOR LEFEBVRE.

ALL IN FAVOR.

THAT IS CARRIED.

CLOSED SESSION.

[17. CLOSED SESSION]

SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL PROCEED INTO CLOSED SESSION AS PER THE PROVISIONS UNDER SECTION 239 OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT, AT THE HOUR OF 7:52 P.M., A MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SECONDED COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED.

OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT THE HOUR OF 8:37 P.M..

MOVER COUNCILLOR BULL SECONDED COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? CARRIED. 18.

CONFIRMATORY BYLAW 18.1.

[18. CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW]

BEING A BYLAW TO CONFIRM THE PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL AT ITS REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 28TH, 2024.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 24-106 BE PASSED? A MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN SECONDED COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE MEETING ADJOURN AT THE HOUR OF 8:38 P.M..

MOVER COUNCILLOR SEIDEL SECONDED COUNCILOR LEFEBVRE.

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S CARRIED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.