Holly Power-Garrett, Manager of Capital & Asset Management and Jerry Blackwood, Executive Director of Finance and Asset Management/Chief Financial Officer gave a presentation and responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
Blackwood, Power-Garrett, Mike Connors, Manager of Transportation Planning, Ed Surette, Director of Project Planning & Transportation Asset Management, Brad Anguish, Commissioner of Operations/Chief Engineer/Traffic Authority, Peter Duncan, Director of Infrastructure Planning, Cathie O'Toole, Chief Administrative Officer, Philip Dugandzic, Director of Facility, Design & Construction, Anne Sherwood, Director of Design and Construction, Åsa Kachan, Chief Librarian & Chief Executive Officer of Halifax Public Libraries, Roddy MacIntyre, Director of Traffic & Parking Management, David Thorpe, Executive Director of Information Technology/Chief Information Officer and John Kleronomos, Manager of Strategy & Portfolio responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
The meeting recessed at 4:20 p.m. on February 5, 2025 and reconvened at 9:30 a.m. on February 7, 2025.
Blackwood spoke to the topic and responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
MOVED by Councillor Cleary, seconded by Councillor Morse
THAT the motion be amended to include a new section that reads as follows:
5. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:
c. Provide a briefing note outlining the impact of removal of Armoured F350s – Emergency Response Team ($475,000) and Armoured Rescue Vehicle – Emergency Response Team ($600,000) from G36 of Vehicles, Vessels, and Equipment of the Capital Budget to be considered as an option under budget on the budget adjustment list (BAL) for Budget Committee to consider in the 2025/26 Budget. The briefing note should contain information on type of vehicle (i.e., make, model, photos or renderings etc.), proposed use of vehicle, and policies for use of vehicle.
O'Toole, Chief Don MacLean, Halifax Regional Police, Trevor Harvie, Director of Corporate Fleet, Anguish, Blackwood and Traves responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
O'Toole noted final procurement award would return to Regional Council for final approval.
MOTION TO AMEND PUT AND PASSED. (11 in favour, 2 against)
In favour: Budget Committee Chair Deagle Gammon, Deputy Mayor Mancini, Councillors Austin, White, Hinch, Cleary, Morse, Cuttell, Hartling, Young, St-Amand
Against: Councillors Hendsbee, Gillis
Not present: Mayor Fillmore, Councillors Kent, Purdy, Steele
John MacPherson, Executive Director of Property Fleet & Environment responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
MOVED by Councillor White, seconded by Councillor Cleary
THAT the motion be amended to include a new section that reads as follows:
5. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:
d. Provide a briefing note identifying potential opportunities, impacts and budget requirements to expand Capital Project CT190006 – Road Safety Improvement to include additional items that could be delivered in the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
MOTION TO AMEND PUT AND PASSED. (12 in favour, 1 against)
In favour: Deputy Mayor Mancini, Councillors Hendsbee, Austin, White, Hinch, Cleary, Morse, Cuttell, Hartling, Young, Gillis, St-Amand
Against: Budget Committee Chair Deagle Gammon
Not present: Mayor Fillmore, Councillors Kent, Purdy, Steele
Anne Sherwood, MacIntyre, Blackwood, Duncan and Anguish responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
MOVED by Councillor Morse, seconded by Councillor Cuttell
THAT the motion be amended to include a new section that reads as follows:
5. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:
e. Provide a briefing note outlining the savings for item CV210013 – Mill Cove Ferry Service, to be considered as an under budget option on the budget adjustment list (BAL) for Budget Committee to consider in the 2025/26 Budget.
MOVED by Councillor Austin, seconded by Councillor Cleary
THAT the amendment tabled by Councillor Morse be deferred until 1:00 p.m. in order to go In Camera (In Private).
MOTION TO DEFER PUT AND PASSED.
Anguish, Connors, Hughes, Dapo Afolabi, Business Analyst, Asset Management & Control and MacPherson responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
MOVED by Councillor Morse, seconded by Councillor Cuttell
THAT the Budget Committee convene to In Camera (In Private) to discuss Intergovernmental Relations matter.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED.
As provided for in section 66 of Administrative Order One, Respecting the Procedures of the Council, Councillor Morse withdrew the amendment with consent of Budget Committee.
MOVED by Councillor Cuttell, seconded by Councillor Hartling
THAT the motion be amended to include a new section that reads as follows:
5. Direct the Chief Adminstrative Officer to:
d. Provide a briefing note outlining funds committed to future capital plans not within the four year capital plan for the BAL to consider in the 2025/26 Budget.
Blackwood responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
MOTION TO AMEND PUT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Not present: Mayor Fillmore, Councillors Kent, Purdy, Steele
Dugandzic, David MacIsaac, Manager of Active Transportation, Hughes, MacDonald, Nalini Naidoo, Director of Strategic Projects, Sherwood, O'Toole and Chief Ken Stuebing, Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency, Jacqueline Hamilton, Executive Director of Planning & Development, Anguish, Chief MacLean responded to questions of clarification Budget Committee
MOVED by Councillor Hendsbee, seconded by Deputy Mayor Mancini
THAT the motion be amended to include a new section that reads as follows:
5. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:
e. Provide a briefing note outlining the funding for CT1000012 Ross Road Realignment, to be considered as an option over budget on the budget adjustment list (BAL) for Budget Committee to consider in the 2025/26 Budget.
Anguish responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
MOTION TO AMEND PUT AND PASSED. (10 in favour, 2 against)
In favour: Budget Committee Chair Deagle Gammon, Deputy Mayor Mancini, Councillors Hendsbee, Hinch, Morse, Cuttell, Hartling, Young, Gillis, St-Amand
Against: Councillors Austin, White
Not present: Mayor Fillmore, Councillors Kent, Purdy, Cleary, Steele
MOVED by Councillor Hendsbee
THAT the motion be amended to include a new section that reads as follows:
5. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:
f. Provide a briefing note outlining cost share funding opportunities on rural roads in 2025/26 fiscal year with possible contribution from municipalities or localized area rates.
As set out in section 65(1) of Administrative Order One, Respecting the Procedures of the Council, all motions shall be seconded before being debated or voted on. As there was no seconder, the motion was lost, and debate resumed on the main motion.
Anguish, MacIsaac and Blackwood responded to questions of clarification from Budget Committee.
The question was called on the main motion:
MOVED by Councillor Kent, seconded by Councillor Cuttell
The Budget Committee recommend Halifax Regional Council to:
1. Approve the schedule of 2025/26 Capital Budget as per Attachment 1 of the staff report dated January 20, 2025;
2. Approve in-principle, the schedule of 2026/27, 2027/28, 2028/29 Capital Plan as per Attachment 2 of the staff report dated January 20, 2025;
3. Approve the schedule of 2025/26 Capital Reserves Withdrawals as per Attachment 3 of the staff report dated January 20, 2025;
4. Approve the schedule of 2025/26 Multi-year Capital Projects as per Attachment 4 of the staff report dated January 20, 2025;
5. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:
a. Provide a briefing note outlining the funding for, Collision Data Reporting (BT45), with financial impacts to be considered as an option over budget on the budget adjustment list (BAL) for Budget Committee to consider in the 2025/26 Budget;
b. Provide a briefing note outlining the impact of removal of Armoured F350s – Emergency Response Team ($475,000) and Armoured Rescue Vehicle – Emergency Response Team ($600,000) from G36 of Vehicles, Vessels, and Equipment of the Capital Budget to be considered as an option under budget on the budget adjustment list (BAL) for Budget Committee to consider in the 2025/26 Budget. The briefing note should contain information on type of vehicle (i.e., make, model, photos or renderings etc.), proposed use of vehicle, and policies for use of vehicle
c. Provide a briefing note identifying potential opportunities, impacts and budget requirements to expand Capital Project CT190006 – Road Safety Improvement to include additional items that could be delivered in the 2025/2026 fiscal year;
d. Provide a briefing note outlining funds committed to future capital plans not within the 4 year capital plan for the BAL to consider in the 2025/26 Budget; and
e. Provide a briefing note outlining the funding for CT1000012 Ross Road Realignment, to be considered as an option over budget on the budget adjustment list (BAL) for Budget Committee to consider in the 2025/26 Budget.
MOTION AS AMENDED PUT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Not present: Mayor Fillmore, Councillors Kent, Purdy, Cleary, Steele