September 22, 2020, at 4:00 PM

Original link

The meeting is called to order at 4:00 PM; it being noted that the following Members were in remote attendance:  M. van Holst, M. Salih, J. Helmer, M. Cassidy, A. Hopkins, P. van Meerbergen, S. Turner, A. Kayabaga and S. Hillier

1.   Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

Councillor J. Morgan discloses a pecuniary interest with respect to item 4.5, having to do with an appointment to the London Public Library Board by indicating that a candidate is a member of the Board of Governors of Western University, which is his employer.

Councillor S. Turner discloses a pecuniary interest with respect to item 4.1, having to do with the Mandatory Face Coverings By-law Status Update by indicating that this is a public health matter and he is employed by the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

2.   Consent

Moved by S. Lewis

Seconded by P. Squire

That items 2.2, 2.3 and 2.5 BE APPROVED.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

2.1   2020 Mid-Year Operating Budget Monitoring Report and COVID-19 Financial Impacts

2020-09-22 Staff Report - 2020 Mid-Year Operating Budget

Moved by J. Morgan

Seconded by S. Lehman

That, on the recommendation of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, the following actions be taken:

a)      the 2020 Operating Budget Mid-Year Monitoring Projections for the Property Tax Supported Budget, Water, and Wastewater & Treatment Budgets, as appended to the staff report dated September 22, 2020 as Appendix “A”, BE RECEIVED for information; it being noted an overview of the net corporate projections are outlined below, noting that the year-end positions could fluctuate based on factors beyond the control of the Civic Administration:

     i) after applying the Safe Restart Agreement funding, Property Tax Supported Budget projected surplus of $15.3 million prior to the recommendations in the report, noting a balanced budget position should all recommendations be approved;

     ii) Water Rate Supported Budget projected surplus of $0.8 million prior to the recommended contribution to the applicable Contingency Reserve, noting a balanced budget position should the recommendation be endorsed;

    iii) after applying the Safe Restart Agreement funding, Wastewater & Treatment Rate Supported Budget projected surplus of $0.1 million prior to the recommended contribution to the applicable Contingency Reserve, noting a balanced budget position should the recommendation be endorsed;

b)    the overview of Federal-Provincial Safe Restart Agreement funding allocated to the City of London to support COVID-19 operating costs and pressures BE RECEIVED for information;

c)     notwithstanding the Council approved Surplus/Deficit Policy, the Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to allocate the year-end Property Tax Supported Budget surplus as follows:

     i) $5 million to the Economic Development Reserve Fund to support social & economic recovery measures;

     ii) the balance to the Operating Budget Contingency Reserve as a funding source to offset anticipated financial impacts of COVID-19 on the City’s 2021 Budget;

d)   the contribution of any year-end Water and Wastewater & Treatment Rate Supported Budget surplus to the applicable Contingency Reserve BE ENDORSED as a funding source to offset the potential financial impacts of COVID-19 on the City’s 2021 Budget; it being noted that the balances in these Contingency Reserves remain below target;

e)     the following actions related to Capital Projects and Additional Investments BE APPROVED:

     i) previously deferred 2020 Capital Projects identified in this report totaling $1.1 million be reinstated, noting this will reduce the projected Property Tax surplus noted above by $1.1 million;

     ii) previously deferred 2020 Additional Investments identified in this report totaling $1.2 million be reinstated, noting this will reduce the projected Property Tax surplus noted above by $1.2 million;

    iii) the Civic Administration be authorized to take the necessary actions to adjust the 2020 capital budgets and associated funding sources referenced in part (i) and (ii);

     iv) the Civic Administration be authorized to contribute any 2020 surplus from the reinstated portion of the 60% Waste Diversion Action Plan to the Operating Budget Contingency Reserve as a funding source for future implementation costs;

   v) the Civic Administration be authorized to contribute $0.1 million to the Operating Budget Contingency Reserve to support Green City Strategy Initiatives from the Climate Emergency Action Plan, noting this will reduce the projected Property Tax surplus noted above by $0.1 million;

f)     the Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to take all necessary actions to further extend the deferral of all Community Improvement Plan loan repayments on an interest-free basis for the remainder of 2020; it being noted that repayments will resume in January 2021;

g)     a grant to support RBC Place London operations for the remainder of 2020 in the amount of $1.6 million BE APPROVED; it being noted this will reduce the projected Property Tax surplus by $1.6 million noted above; and,

h)      the summary of anticipated COVID-19 impacts on the 2021 Budget BE RECEIVED for information;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee heard a verbal presentation from the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

2.2   2020 Mid-Year Capital Budget Monitoring Report and COVID-19 Financial Impacts

2020-09-22 Staff Report - 2020 Mid-Year Capital Budget

That, on the recommendation of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, the following actions be taken with respect to the 2020 Mid-Year Capital Budget Monitoring Report dated September 22, 2020:

a)      the above-noted Report BE RECEIVED for information; it being noted that the life-to-date capital budget represents $2.4 billion with $1.6 billion committed and $0.8 billion uncommitted; 

b)      the following actions be taken with respect to the completed capital projects identified in Appendix “B”, as appended to the staff report dated September 22, 2020, which have a total of $1.6 million of net surplus funding:

    i) the capital projects included in Appendix “B” BE CLOSED;

    ii) the following actions be taken with respect to the funding associated with the capital projects approved for closure in b) i), above:

Rate Supported

A) pay-as-you-go funding of $5,165 BE TRANSFERRED to capital receipts;

B) authorized debt financing of $542,961 BE RELEASED resulting in a reduction of authorized, but unissued debt;

C) uncommitted reserve fund drawdowns of $307,461 BE RELEASED from the reserve funds which originally funded the projects;

Non-Rate Supported

D) uncommitted reserve fund drawdowns of $168,040 BE RELEASED from the reserve funds which originally funded the projects; and

E) other net non-rate supported funding sources of $597,066 BE ADJUSTED in order to facilitate project closings.

2.3   2020 Assessment Growth Funding Allocation #2

2020-09-22 Staff Report - 2020 Assessment Growth Funding

That, on the recommendation of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, the 2020 Assessment Growth Funding Allocation Report #2 BE RECEIVED for information; it being noted that approved assessment growth requests are receiving remaining assessment growth funding previously withheld until full year COVID-19 financial impacts were better known; it being further noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a communication dated September 18, 2020 from C. Butler with respect to this matter.

2.4   COVID-19 - City of London Fall Services

2020-09-22 Staff Report - COVID-19 City of London Services

Moved by M. Cassidy

Seconded by S. Lewis

That, on the recommendation of the City Manager, the staff report dated September 22, 2020 entitled “Covid-19 – City of London Services Update”, BE RECEIVED for information.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

2.5   Procurement in Emergencies Update - COVID-19

2020-09-22 Staff Report - Procurement in Emergencies Update Covid-19

That, on the recommendation of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, as per section 14.2 of the Procurement of Goods and Services Policy, the report of Emergency non-competitive individual purchases which exceed $50,000 (pre-taxes), that the City has made up to the date of September 8, 2020 due to COVID-19, BE RECEIVED for information, appended to the staff report dated September 22, 2020 as Appendix “A”.

2.6   Steps Toward Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression at the City of London

2020-09-22 Staff Report - Steps Toward Anti-Racism

Moved by S. Lewis

Seconded by P. Squire

That, on the recommendation of the City Manager and the Senior Leadership Team, the following actions be taken with respect to Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression at the City of London:

a)      the staff report dated September 22, 2020, and entitled “Steps Toward Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression at the City of London” BE RECEIVED; and,

b)      the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to proceed with the recommended next steps identified in the report referenced in a) above, with respect to the Equity and Inclusion Lens, Workforce Metrics, and Black Liaison Officer position.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

3.   Scheduled Items

None.

4.   Items for Direction

4.1   Mandatory Face Coverings By-law Status Update

2020-09-22 Staff Report - Mandatory Face Coverings

Moved by M. van Holst

Seconded by A. Kayabaga

That, on the recommendation of the Managing Director, Development and Compliance Services and Chief Building Official, the staff report dated September 22, 2020 regarding mandatory face coverings by-law status update BE RECEIVED for information purposes; 

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee heard verbal delegations from the following individuals:

Vaughan Sansom

Tiana Leigh Freist

Sophie Hawkins

Scott Johnston

Kristen Nagle on behalf of Myriam Cottard

it being further noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received communications from the following individuals:

a communication dated September 13, 2020 from Councillor M. van Holst

a communication dated September 19, 2020 from Lisa Holly

a communication dated September 19, 2020 from Mark Bohman

a communication dated September 19, 2020 from Sara Johnston

a communication dated September 19, 2020 from Alaina Clunas

a communication dated September 19, 2020 from Kristen Nagle

a communication dated September 19, 2020 from Kayla Lewis

a communication dated September 19, 2020 from Karen deWit

a communication dated September 21, 2020 from Larry Farquharson

a communication dated September 21, 2020 from Councillor M. van Holst

a communication dated September 20, 2020 from Susan Horvath.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

Additional votes:

Moved by M. van Holst

Seconded by J. Helmer

That the requested delegations, as identified on the public added agenda, BE APPROVED to be heard at this time.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

4.2   Community Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Update

2020-09-22 Staff Report - Community Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Update

Moved by M. Salih

Seconded by A. Kayabaga

The following actions be taken with respect to the Community Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (CDIS) Leadership table:

a)      the staff report dated September 22, 2020 regarding community diversity and inclusion strategy update BE RECEIVED for information;

b)      the recommendations of the CDIS outlined in Appendix A (page 251 of the Agenda), to end anti-Black and anti-indigenous racism in London BE ENDORSED in principle; it being noted that the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) will be reviewed by the Leadership Table for consideration;

c)      the CDIS Priority Work Plans, outlined in Appendix A (page 238 of the Agenda) of the above-noted staff report, BE ENDORSED in principle; it being noted that the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) will be reviewed by the Leadership Table for consideration;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a communication dated September 11, 2020 and a presentation from the CDIS Leadership Table; and

it being further noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee heard a verbal delegation from Shobhita Sharma, Chair, Priority 3 and Gerry LaHay, Accessibility Advisory Committee, CDIS Leadership Table with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed

Voting Record:

Moved by M. van Holst

Seconded by P. Squire

That the motion be amended in parts b) and c) to add the words “in principle” following the words BE ENDORSED, with the amended parts to read as follows:

b)       the recommendations of the CDIS outlined in Appendix A (page 251 of the Agenda), to end anti-Black and anti-indigenous racism in London BE ENDORSED, in principle; it being noted that the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) will be reviewed by the Leadership Table for consideration;

c)       the CDIS Priority Work Plans, outlined in Appendix A (page 238 of the Agenda) of the above-noted staff report, BE ENDORSED, in principle; it being noted that the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) will be reviewed by the Leadership Table for consideration;

Motion Passed (9 to 6)

Moved by S. Lewis

Seconded by M. van Holst

That the motion, as amended, BE APPROVED:

it being noted that the recommendation, as amended, reads as follows:

The following actions be taken with respect to the Community Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (CDIS) Leadership table:

a) the staff report dated September 22, 2020 regarding community diversity and inclusion strategy update BE RECEIVED for information;

b) the recommendations of the CDIS outlined in Appendix A (page 251 of the Agenda), to end anti-Black and anti-indigenous racism in London BE ENDORSED, in principle; it being noted that the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) will be reviewed by the Leadership Table for consideration;

c) the CDIS Priority Work Plans, outlined in Appendix A (page 238 of the Agenda) of the above-noted staff report, BE ENDORSED, in principle; it being noted that the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) will be reviewed by the Leadership Table for consideration;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a communication dated September 11, 2020 and a presentation from the CDIS Leadership Table; and

it being further noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee heard a verbal delegation from Shobhita Sharma, Chair, Priority 3 and Gerry LaHay, Accessibility Advisory Committee, CDIS Leadership Table with respect to this matter.

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

Moved by E. Peloza

Seconded by S. Lehman

That a twenty minute recess of the Committee BE APPROVED.

Motion Passed

The Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee recesses at 6:38 PM.

The Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee resumes at 7:03 PM.

4.3   1st Report of the Governance Working Group

2020-09-22 Staff Report - 1st Report of the GWG

That the following actions be taken with respect to the 1st Report of the Governance Working Group from its meeting held on August 24, 2020:

a)      the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back to the Governance Working Group (GWG), with respect to the advisory committee review, as it relates to the following:

i) options for the consideration of the GWG including:

A) revisions to the current advisory committee structure including, potential reduction of overall committees, mergers of committees with areas of overlap/redundancy, to achieve a more meaningful and collaborative approach to citizen engagement; and,

    B) any alternative collaborative structure(s) for citizen committee work, including alternate citizen selection models for participation in committees and working groups that would encourage participation from a more diverse range of Londoners, that would link directly to the council strategic plan; and,

    C) revisions to the current advisory committee structure that enhance advice on public preferences on decision making through the provision of clear specific directions from council and administration over self directed “work plans”;

ii) additional service area detail related to the existing committees that are more closely linked to the role of ‘expert panel’;

b)      clause 1.1 BE RECEIVED for information; and,

c)      the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to post to the City Website the agendas and reports of the Working Groups as established by Council; it being noted that these would be included on the “Advisory and Other Committee Meetings” page.

Motion Passed

Voting Record:

Moved by J. Morgan

Seconded by S. Lewis

That the following actions be taken with respect to the 1st Report of the Governance Working Group from its meeting held on August 24, 2020:

a)       the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back to the Governance Working Group (GWG), with respect to the advisory committee review, as it relates to the following:

     i) options for the consideration of the GWG including:

     A) revisions to the current advisory committee structure including, potential reduction of overall committees, mergers of committees with areas of overlap/redundancy, to achieve a more meaningful and collaborative approach to citizen engagement; and,

     B) any alternative collaborative structure(s) for citizen committee work, including alternate citizen selection models for participation in committees and working groups that would encourage participation from a more diverse range of Londoners, that would link directly to the council strategic plan; and,

     C) revisions to the current advisory committee structure that enhance advice on public preferences on decision making through the provision of clear specific directions from council and administration over self directed “work plans”;

     ii) additional service area detail related to the existing committees that are more closely linked to the role of ‘expert panel’;

b)      clause 1.1 BE RECEIVED for information;

Motion Passed (10 to 5)

Moved by J. Morgan

Seconded by S. Lewis

The Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to post to the City Website the agendas and reports of the Working Groups as established by Council; it being noted that these would be included on the “Advisory and Other Committee Meetings” page;

Motion Passed (15 to 0)

4.4   Request for Referral to the Governance Working Group

2020-09-22 Submission - Request for GWG - MVH

That the Communication from Councillor M. van Holst, dated September  , 2020, with respect to a referral to the Governance Working Group, BE RECEIVED.

Voting Record:

Moved by M. van Holst

Seconded by M. Cassidy

That the Governance Working Group BE DIRECTED to consider how London might be better served by changes to the structure and operations of the next council.

Motion Failed (5 to 9)

4.5   Resubmitting - Consideration of Appointment to the London Public Library Board (Requires 1 Member)

LPL - Abdula

LPL - Ali

LPL - Al-Qadhi

LPL - Baldwin

LPL - Colbert

LPL - Desai

LPL - Dickson

LPL - Dionysakopoulos

LPL - Ganzewinkel

LPL - Gilbert K

LPL - Khan

LPL - Le Mac

LPL - Lewis

LPL - Little

LPL - Madigan

LPL - Mumm

LPL - Neely

LPL - Nicolas

LPL - Parsan

LPL - Penney

LPL - Pole

LPL - Pole-resume

LPL - Roberts

LPL - Robinson

LPL - Smith C

LPL - Smith

LPL - Trosow

Moved by E. Peloza

Seconded by S. Lewis

That Chelsea Smith BE APPOINTED to the London Public Library Board for the term ending November 15, 2022;

it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received the following written submissions with respect to this matter:

  • a communication dated July 3, 2020 from M. B. McNally

  • a communication dated July 3, 2020 from E. Chamberlain

  • a communication dated July 3, 2020 from M. A. Rayner

  • a communication dated July 27, 2020 from J. Grainger

  • a communication dated July 27, 2020 from L. J. D’Alton

  • a communication dated July 4, 2020 from L. McKechnie.

Motion Passed (14 to 0)

Voting Record:

Appointment to the London Public Library Board - Round 1

Majority Winner: No majority

Appointment to the London Public Library Board - Round 2

Majority Winner: No majority

Appointment to the London Public Library Board - Round 3

Majority Winner: Chelsea Smith

Test motion to confirm the voting capability of remote attendees.

Motion Passed (10 to 2)

5.   Deferred Matters/Additional Business

None.

6.   Adjournment

The meeting adjourns at 8:50 PM.