June 23, 2020, at 4:00 PM

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The meeting is called to order at 4:08 PM; it being noted that the following were in remote attendance: M. van Holst, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, A. Hopkins, P. Van Meerbergen, S. Turner, A. Kayabaga, S. Hillier

1.   Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

Councillor J. Helmer discloses a pecuniary interest in Item 2.3 - COVID-19 Financial Impacts, specific to item #10 of Table 3 - Additional Proposed Service Adjustments - having to do with the proposed closure of River Road Golf Course for the 2020 season, by indicating that his father is employed by National Golf Course Owners Association of which River Road is a member.

2.   Consent

2.1   COVID-19 - City of London Services

2020-06-23 Staff Report - COVID 19-City of London Services

Moved by S. Lewis

Seconded by M. Cassidy

That, on the recommendation of the City Manager, the staff report dated June 23, 2020 entitled “Covid-19 – City of London Services”, BE RECEIVED for information.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

2.2   Strategic Plan: Semi-Annual Progress Report

2020-06-23 Staff Report - Strategic Plan

Moved by J. Helmer

Seconded by S. Lehman

That, on the recommendation of the City Manager, the staff report dated June 23, 2020, entitled “Strategic Plan: Semi-Annual Progress Report”, BE RECEIVED for information.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

2.3   COVID-19 Financial Impacts - Update

2020-06-23 Staff Report - COVID-19 Financial Impacts Update

That the following actions be taken with respect to the staff report dated June 23, 2020, related to an update on COVID-19 Financial Impacts:

a)      the overview of projected financial impacts of COVID-19 on The Corporation of the City of London and the measures taken to date to address these pressures BE RECEIVED for information;

b)      the actions below BE APPROVED to further mitigate the financial pressures caused by COVID-19:

i) additional operating service adjustments identified in Table 3 in the staff report dated June 23, 2020, excluding Item 10 – Golf, be approved, noting the anticipated service impacts associated with these actions;

ii) Item 10 - Golf operating service adjustments identified in the above-noted Table 3, noting the anticipated service impacts associated with these actions;

iii) deferral of capital projects totaling $3,539,000, it being noted that there are anticipated service impacts associated with these deferrals;

c)     the Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to take the necessary actions to adjust the 2020 capital budgets and associated funding sources referenced in part b)ii), above;

d)     deferral of 2020 additional investments approved during the 2020-2023 Multi-Year Budget totaling $1,345,000 BE APPROVED; it being noted that there are anticipated service impacts associated with these deferrals;

e)      the measures being taken by the City’s Agencies, Boards and Commissions and other funded organizations to mitigate their financial challenges BE RECEIVED for information;

f)      a one-year deferral of the annual loan repayment for RBC Place BE APPROVED;

g)      the extension of the waiver of late payment charges for unpaid water & wastewater billings through July 2020 BE ENDORSED; it being noted that this is consistent with London Hydro’s approach for electricity late payment charges;

h)      the Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to take the actions necessary to waive the applicable fees associated with permits and encroachments to assist London businesses with reopening items such as temporary restaurant patios, curbside pick-ups, vending stands and other applicable business practices;

i)      the proposed approach for the 2021 Annual Budget Update outlined in the report dated June 23, 2020, BE ENDORSED;

j)      the Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to further extend the deferral period, on Community Improvement Plan loan repayments, on an interest-free basis for a further period of 90 days, being June, July and August 2020, where the applicant has requested a further deferral in writing; it being noted that the September loan repayments will be cashed as planned; and,

k)      the Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to further extend the deferral period for the loan payments on the interest-free loan to the London Community Players until January 2021; it being noted that the January loan repayments will be cashed as planned;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a presentation from the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a communication dated June 18, 2020 from C. Butler with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed

Voting Record:

Moved by J. Helmer

Seconded by M. Salih

The Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to further extend the deferral period, on Community Improvement Plan loan repayments, on an interest-free basis for a further period of 90 days, being June, July and August 2020, where the applicant has requested a further deferral in writing; it being noted that the September loan repayments will be cashed as planned.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

Moved by J. Helmer

Seconded by S. Hillier

The Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to further extend the deferral period for the loan payments on the interest-free loan to the London Community Players until January 2021; it being noted that the January loan repayments will be cashed as planned.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

Moved by P. Van Meerbergen

Seconded by S. Hillier

The Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to remove Item 10 “Golf” from Table 3 (as included in the staff report dated June 23, 2020) – Additional Proposed Service Adjustments – related to the closure of River Road Golf for the 2020 season, and the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to open the River Road Golf as soon as possible.

Motion Failed (4 to 10)

Moved by M. Cassidy

Seconded by S. Lewis

Item 10 - Golf operating service adjustments identified in the above-noted Table 3 BE APPROVED, noting the anticipated service impacts associated with these actions;

Motion Passed (10 to 4)

Moved by J. Morgan

Seconded by S. Lewis

That the following actions be taken with respect to the staff report dated June 23, 2020, related to an update on COVID-19 Financial Impacts:

a)      the overview of projected financial impacts of COVID-19 on The Corporation of the City of London and the measures taken to date to address these pressures BE RECEIVED for information;

b)      the actions below BE APPROVED to further mitigate the financial pressures caused by COVID-19:

i) additional operating service adjustments identified in Table 3 in the staff report dated June 23, 2020, excluding Item 10 – Golf, be approved, noting the anticipated service impacts associated with these actions;

iii) deferral of capital projects totaling $3,539,000, it being noted that there are anticipated service impacts associated with these deferrals;

c)       the Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to take the necessary actions to adjust the 2020 capital budgets and associated funding sources referenced in part b)ii), above;

d)      deferral of 2020 additional investments approved during the 2020-2023 Multi-Year Budget totaling $1,345,000 BE APPROVED; it being noted that there are anticipated service impacts associated with these deferrals;

e)      the measures being taken by the City’s Agencies, Boards and Commissions and other funded organizations to mitigate their financial challenges BE RECEIVED for information;

f)      a one-year deferral of the annual loan repayment for RBC Place BE APPROVED;

g)     the extension of the waiver of late payment charges for unpaid water & wastewater billings through July 2020 BE ENDORSED; it being noted that this is consistent with London Hydro’s approach for electricity late payment charges;

h)      the Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to take the actions necessary to waive the applicable fees associated with permits and encroachments to assist London businesses with reopening items such as temporary restaurant patios, curbside pick-ups, vending stands and other applicable business practices;

i)       the proposed approach for the 2021 Annual Budget Update outlined in the report dated June 23, 2020, BE ENDORSED;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a presentation from the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and a communication dated June 18, 2020 from C. Butler with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

2.4   2020 Assessment Growth Funding Allocation

2020-06-23 Staff Report - 2020 Assessment Growth Funding Allocation

Moved by J. Helmer

Seconded by Mayor E. Holder

That the following actions be taken with respect the 2020 Assessment Growth Funding Allocation:

a)      the report of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, dated June 23, 2020, entitled “2020 Assessment Growth Funding Allocation” BE RECEIVED for information; it being noted that approved assessment growth requests are only being partially funded at this time as a result of the projected financial impacts of COVID-19, and that the remaining 2020 assessment growth funding may be used to offset COVID-19 financial impacts on a one-time basis if Federal or Provincial support is not received; and

b)      notwithstanding Council’s Assessment Growth Policy, for 2020, the following actions be taken:

     i) recognizing that the London Police Services Board has voted to defer three police positions provided for in its original 2020 Assessment Growth Business Case #12 request, the funding for the three positions that is currently allocated to the assessment growth request from the London Police Services Board BE DEFERRED; and,

    ii) subject to the approval of part b)i) above, the proposed 2020 funding for the three positions BE REALLOCATED to support the 2020 Assessment Growth Business Case #13 Homeless Prevention - Homeless Prevention Allowances.

Moved by J. Helmer

Seconded by Mayor E. Holder

Motion to approve part a):

That the following actions be taken with respect the 2020 Assessment Growth Funding Allocation:

a)      the report of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, dated June 23, 2020, entitled “2020 Assessment Growth Funding Allocation” BE RECEIVED for information; it being noted that approved assessment growth requests are only being partially funded at this time as a result of the projected financial impacts of COVID-19, and that the remaining 2020 assessment growth funding may be used to offset COVID-19 financial impacts on a one-time basis if Federal or Provincial support is not received; and

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

Moved by J. Helmer

Seconded by Mayor E. Holder

Motion to approve part b)i):

b)      notwithstanding Council’s Assessment Growth Policy, for 2020, the following actions be taken:

     i) recognizing that the London Police Services Board has voted to defer three police positions provided for in its original 2020 Assessment Growth Business Case #12 request, the funding for the three positions that is currently allocated to the assessment growth request from the London Police Services Board BE DEFERRED; and,

Motion Passed (14 to 1)

Moved by J. Helmer

Seconded by Mayor E. Holder

Motion to approve part b)ii)

ii) subject to the approval of part b)i) above, the proposed 2020 funding for the three positions BE REALLOCATED to support the 2020 Assessment Growth Business Case #13 Homeless Prevention - Homeless Prevention Allowances.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

Moved by E. Peloza

Seconded by S. Lewis

That a 5 minute recess BE APPROVED.

Motion Passed

The Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee recesses at 6:57 PM and reconvenes at 7:10 PM, with Mayor E. Holder in the Chair; it being noted that Councillors van Holst, Salih, Helmer, Cassidy, Hopkins, Turner, Kayabaga and Hiller were in remote attendance.

3.   Scheduled Items

3.1   Federal/Provincial Advocacy Efforts Related to COVID-19 - Verbal Update - City Manager

Moved by M. van Holst

Seconded by A. Hopkins

That it BE NOTED that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee heard a verbal update from the City Manager with respect to Federal/Provincial advocacy efforts, related to COVID-19.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

4.   Items for Direction

None.

5.   Deferred Matters/Additional Business

5.1   (ADDED) Community Recovery Plan

2020-06-23 Submission - COVID Motion

Moved by J. Helmer

Seconded by Mayor E. Holder

That the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to develop and report back as soon as possible with a proposed model to bring together community partners in the development of a community recovery plan in response to the COVID-19 crisis, included therein the ability for such a model to capture short term community needs as well as a longer-term strategy for London’s economic and social recovery.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

6.   Confidential (Enclosed for Members only.)

Moved by M. Cassidy

Seconded by E. Peloza

That the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee convene, In Closed Session, for the purpose of considering a matter pertaining to personal matters, including information regarding an identifiable individual, with respect to employment-related matters; advice or recommendations of officers and employees of the Corporation, including communications necessary for that purpose and for the purpose of providing instructions and directions to officers and employees of the Corporation.

Motion Passed

The Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee convenes, In Closed Session, from 7:33 PM to 7:52 PM.

At 7:45 PM, Councillor M. Salih leaves the meeting.

7.   Adjournment

The meeting adjourns at 7:54 PM.