On Tuesday, November 15, Lethbridge City Council continued deliberations as Economic Standing Policy Committee for its 2023-2026 Operating Budget.
The recommendations from deliberations will be forwarded to City Council for potential approval at the regular meeting on November 29. In accordance with Municipal Government Act requirements, City Council must approve an operating budget by December 31 so the City can pass a property tax bylaw.
The draft budget can be viewed here.
Tuesday's deliberations included the following items:
- Omnibus motion, approved unanimously. These recommendations will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval:
- C-11.1: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Grant
Proposed funding is through a Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve (MRSR) one-time allocation of $200,000 in 2023 and taxation for $54,600 in 2023, $56,100 in 2024, $57,900 in 2025 and $59,800 in 2026. If the project is approved, the CPTED Grant would provide a matching grant to support business and landowners of commercial and multi-family properties with the costs associated with crime prevention improvements.
- C-11.2: Lethbridge Outreach Programs
Proposed funding source is taxation for $153,460 in 2023, $260,000 in 2024, $260,000 in 2025 and $260,000 in 2026. If the project is approved, this would transition the one-time funding to ongoing funding for the Lethbridge Outreach Programs. - C-11.3: Downtown Safety Education Program
Proposed funding source is taxation for $12,000 per year for each of the four years.
If the project is approved, this would transition from one-time funding to ongoing funding for the Downtown Safety Education Program. - C-11.4: Diversion Outreach Team (DOT)
Proposed funding source is taxation for $144,800 in 2023 and $275,800 in each 2024, 2025 and 2026. If the project is approved, this would transition from one-time funding to ongoing funding for DOT. - C-11.5: Clean Sweep Program (CSP)
Proposed funding source is taxation for $350,000 per year for each of the four years.
If the project is approved, this would transition from one-time funding to ongoing funding for the CSP. A friendly amendment was included to add a directional resolution that CSP contract be directed to minimum wage or higher. - C-12: Regulatory Services Capacity Shortage
Proposed funding source is taxation for $138,000 in 2023, $142,000 in 2024, $112,000 in in 2025 and $116,000 in 2026, as well as utility charges for $74,000 in 2023 and $76,000 in 2024. If the project is approved, one permanent FTE and one term position will be added for years 2023 and 2024 to maintain the current level of service.
- C-8: Chief of Staff Positions for Mayor and Council/Staff Reporting Changes (tabled on Monday)
Acting Mayor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel withdrew this item and Economic SPC, in a Motion Arising, voted unanimously to refer it to Governance SPC for more information and discussion.
- C-9: Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee of City Council (tabled on Monday)
Proposed funding source is taxation for $50,000 per year for each 2024, 2025 and 2026.
From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval. If the project is approved, it will change from the one-time funding provided during the last budget cycle at $50,000 per year to taxation as an ongoing funding source.
- N-1 & N-2: Communication and Engagement Evolution
Proposed funding source is taxation for $59,467 in 2023, $61,633 in 2024, $63,700 in 2025 and $65,967 in 2026, as well as Utilities, Fleet & Land (Overhead Charges) for $29,000 in 2023, $30,800 in 2024, $31,900 in 2025 and $32,900 in 2026. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval. If the project is approved, this initiative would transition to add one permanent full-time position to this department.
- N-3: FOIP Support/Municipal Census Reduction/Records Management Program
Proposed funding source is taxation for $34,100 in 2023, as well as from Utilities, Fleet & Land (Overhead Charges) for $25,900 in 2023 and $44,900 in each 2024, 2025 and 2026. Proposed savings from a reduction of frequency of the municipal census from annually to once per term of Council (every four years) would be $118,700 in 2024, $118,700 in 2025 and $118,700 in 2026. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval. If the project is approved, this initiative would provide sufficient capacity (one FTE) to meet growing demand and comply with legislated service levels for FOIP. It includes one-time funding from existing operations of $150,000 to develop the foundation and governance of a best-practice Corporate Records Management Program.
- N-4: Committees of Council Support
Proposed funding source is taxation for $11,532 in 2023, $45,727 in 2024, $46,047 in 2025 and $46,167 in 2026 as well as from Utilities, Fleet & Land (Overhead Charges) for $8,700 in 2023, $35,200 in each 2024 and 2025 and $35,400 in 2026. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval. If the project is approved, this would transition from a temporary position (funding provided until September 2023) to a permanent full-time position to support the governance structure of Council, and the work of the various Boards, Commissions and Committees.
- N-5: Asset Management Capacity Needs
Proposed funding source is utility charges for $67,000 in 2023, $138,000 in 2024, $143,000 in 2025 and $148,000 in 2026. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval. If the project is approved, this would transition a term position to permanent one and include the addition of one FTE to maintain existing levels of service in Asset Management.
- N-6: Asset Management Growth Impact
Proposed funding source is utility charges for $57,000 in 2023, $117,000 in 2024, $120,000 in 2025 and $123,000 in 2026. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval. If the project is approved, this would add one FTE to provide Asset Management with capacity to provide service to the Electric Utility and other departments not currently being served.
- N-7: Procure to Pay (P2P)
Proposed funding source is taxation for $145,850 in 2023 and $291,500 for each 2024, 2025 and 2026, as well as from Utilities, Fleet & Land (Overhead Charges) for $33,400 in 2023, and $67,000 in each 2024, 2025 and 2026, plus a MRSR one-time allocation of $150,000 in 2023. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval. If the project is approved, this would add capacity (three FTEs) to support procurement centralization. Procure to Pay is designed to optimize and align procurement, materials management, inventory, contracts, and accounts payable activities across the organization by offering a centralized model versus the current decentralized practices.
- N-8: Treasury & Financial Business Advisory Services
Proposed funding source is taxation for $84,500 in 2023, $170,400 in 2024, $175,800 in 2025 and $182,100 in 2026, as well as from Utilities, Fleet & Land (Overhead Charges) for $52,600 in 2023, $105,800 in 2024, $109,600 in 2025 and $112,900 in 2026. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval. If the project is approved, this would provide the needed capacity (two FTEs) and skill sets to maintain existing service levels and ensure the sustainability of the legislative, corporate, operational requirements of the organization.
- N-9: Omni-Channel 311
In a 5-4 vote, this item was defeated. This budget initiative looked to add one FTE to Customer Service & 311 to maintain service levels and handle the anticipated increase in demand as Customer Service & 311 launches Live Chat to our community
- N-10: Emergency Services IT Manager
Proposed funding source is through an existing 911 grant for $161,000 in 2023, $165,000 in 2024, $170,000 in 2025 and $176,000 in 2026. From a unanimous vote, this recommendation will move forward and be added to the draft budget for potential approval. If the project is approved, this would transition a term position to a permanent FTE moving forward.
The 2023-2026 Operating Budget Deliberations will resume at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 16. The meeting will recess by 4:30 p.m. each day and reconvene at 9:30 a.m. the following day. The agendas can be found here. These deliberations are open to the public, will be livestreamed on the City's YouTube page and broadcast on Shaw TV Lethbridge. Residents can also follow live updates on Twitter through the City Clerk's account at @LethCityClerk and read a daily recap posted to the City's website throughout the deliberations.
See the Day 1 recap here.
Wednesday's deliberations will continue with the remaining N items, which are new initiative proposals from City Administration.
