EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 7

Wednesday, January 29, 1997

MEMBERS / PRESENT
B. Smith, Chair / B. Smith
J. Taylor, Vice-Chair / J. Taylor
W. Kinsella / W. Kinsella
D. Mather / D. Mather
R. Rosenberger / R. Rosenberger

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
Councillor A. Bolstad*
Councillor T. Cavanagh*
Councillor L. Chahley*
Councillor B. Mason*
Councillor M. Phair*
B.E. Thom, Q.C., City Manager.
D.H. Edey, Office of the City Clerk.
* Attended part of the meeting.

A.CALL TO ORDER AND RELATED BUSINESS

A.1.CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m.

Councillors A. Bolstad, T. Cavanagh, and M. Phair were in attendance.

A.2.ADOPTION OF AGENDA

MOVED J. Taylor:

That the Executive Committee Agenda (No. 7) for the January 29, 1997 meeting be adopted and that Page 1 of Item G.4.a. C Auditor General's Report be added to the agenda.

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, R. Rosenberger,
J. Taylor.

A.3.ADOPTION OF MINUTES

MOVED J. Taylor:

That the Minutes of the January 15, 1997 Executive Committee Meeting (No. 6) be adopted.

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, R. Rosenberger,
J. Taylor.

D.1.DECISION TO HEAR

MOVED R. Rosenberger:

That the Committee hear from the following:

1.B. Henderson, J. Kellor and D. Clarke with respect to Item G.5.d.

2.R. Colling with respect to Item G.5.a.

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, R. Rosenberger,
J. Taylor.

Councillor B. Mason entered the meeting.

D.2.EXEMPTIONS AND VOTE ON ALL OTHER ITEMS

MOVED J. Taylor:

That Items F.2.a., F.2.b., G.1.a., G.1.b., G.4.a., G.5.b. G.5.d. and H.01 be exempted for debate; and

D.3.a.Uncommitted Reserves and Surpluses Amounts (J. Taylor)

That the revised due date of February 12, 1997 be approved. / City Manager
Due: Feb. 12, 1997

G.3.a.Itemized List of Retainer Letters for the Period of October 1 to December 31, 1996.

That the reports contained in Attachments 1 and 2 of the January 10, 1997 Law Department report be received for information. / City Manager
Law

G.5.a.Proposal No. 870659 Display and Sale of Grave Markers at Municipal Cemeteries.

That the submission from Northern Lights Memorials for Proposal No. 870659 be accepted to display and sell Grave Markers at Municipal Cemeteries on a revenue sharing basis for a period of three years. / City Manager
Finance

G.5.c.Contract/Consultant Report for December 1996.

That the January 15, 1997 Finance Department report be received for information. / City Manager
Finance

G.8.a.1996 Residential Property Tax and Utility Charges Survey of Major Canadian Cities.

That the December 20, 1996 Planning and Development Department report be received for information. / City Manager
Planning & Dev.

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, R. Rosenberger,
J. Taylor.

MOVED W. Kinsella:

m That Item G.5.d. be dealt with as the first item on the agenda.

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, R. Rosenberger,
J. Taylor.

Councillor L. Chahley entered the meeting.

G.CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS

G.5.FINANCE DEPARTMENT

G.5.d.Tax Status of Non-Profit Groups.

B. Henderson, Theatre Network Live; J. Keller and A. Major, Edmonton Arts Council; and D. Clarke and H.E. Rennebohm, Goodwill Industries of Alberta, made presentations and answered the Committee's questions.

R.L. Ardiel, W. Jesse and D.C. Duffy, Finance Department, answered the Committee's questions.

MOVED R. Rosenberger:

That the January 8, 1997 Finance Department report be received for information. / City Manager
Finance

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, R. Rosenberger,
J. Taylor.

MOVED W. Kinsella:

That the Administration be directed to prepare a report which would detail the ramifications of the following three options:

1.Limiting all tax forgiveness to only those groups that qualify for tax exempt status under provincial legislation.

2.Forgiving the municipal portion of property tax to all non-profit groups that meet the City's basic standards for qualification (i.e. open membership, supply programs of benefit to the community at large, directors prohibited from retaining profits).

3.Forgiving both the municipal and school portion of property tax to all non-profit groups which meet the City's basic standards for qualification (i.e. open membership, supply programs of benefit to the community at large, directors prohibited from retaining profits).

These ramifications should include, but not be limited to:

(a)The approximate number of groups affected by each measure.

(b)The financial impact each of these measures will have on the City and local non-profit organizations.

(c)The degree to which these measures will restore tax equity or fairness between groups in Edmonton's non-profit sector.

(d)The amount of notice that should be given to non-profit groups before implementing each of these options.

AMENDMENT MOVED B. Smith:

That the report be submitted to the March 12, 1997 Executive Committee meeting to be dealt with at 9:30 a.m.

CARRIED

FOR THE AMENDMENT:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, J. Taylor.

OPPOSED:D. Mather, R. Rosenberger.

MOTION OF COUNCILLOR KINSELLA, AS AMENDED, put:

That the Administration be directed to prepare a report which would detail the ramifications of the following three options:
1.Limiting all tax forgiveness to only those groups that qualify for tax exempt status under provincial legislation.
2.Forgiving the municipal portion of property tax to all non-profit groups that meet the City's basic standards for qualification (i.e. open membership, supply programs of benefit to the community at large, directors prohibited from retaining profits).
3.Forgiving both the municipal and school portion of property tax to all non-profit groups which meet the City's basic standards for qualification (i.e. open membership, supply programs of benefit to the community at large, directors prohibited from retaining profits).
These ramifications should include, but not be limited to:
(a)The approximate number of groups affected by each measure.
(b)The financial impact each of these measures will have on the City and local non-profit organizations. / City Manager
Finance
Due: Mar. 12, 1997 at 9:30 a.m.
(c)The degree to which these measures will restore tax equity or fairness between groups in Edmonton's non-profit sector.(d)The amount of notice that should be given to non-profit groups before implementing each of these options.That the report be submitted to the March 12, 1997 Executive Committee meeting to be dealt with at 9:30 a.m. / Item G.5.d Cont'd.

CARRIED

FOR THE AMENDMENT:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, R. Rosenberger,
J. Taylor.

F.ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES AND RESPONSES

F.2.REPORTS ON ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES

F.2.a.Abandoned and Boarded Up Houses/Buildings (M. Phair).

P. Nugent and G. Franchuk, Planning & Development Department; and G. Stewart-Palmer, Law Department, answered the Committee's questions.

MOVED J. Taylor:

1.That the January 6, 1997 Planning and Development Department report be received for information.
2.That the Administration provide a further report reviewing
(a)the issues regarding zoning and taxes on abandoned and boarded up houses and buildings.
(b)the opportunity and usefulness of notifying the Community League of a building being boarded up. / City Manager
Planning & Dev.
Due: Mar. 26, 1997

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; D. Mather, J. Taylor.

ABSENT:W. Kinsella, R. Rosenberger.

MOVED J. Taylor:

That the in private item be dealt with at 1:30 p.m.

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; D. Mather, J. Taylor.

ABSENT:W. Kinsella, R. Rosenberger.

The meeting recessed at 12:10 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 1:30 p.m. Councillor W. Kinsella was absent.

Councillors A. Bolstad, B. Mason and M. Phair were in attendance.

MOVED D. Mather:

That the Committee meet in private.

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; D. Mather, R. Rosenberger, J. Taylor.

ABSENT:W. Kinsella.

The Committee met in private at 1:34 p.m.

MOVED D. Mather:

That the Committee meet in public.

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; D. Mather, R. Rosenberger, J. Taylor.

ABSENT:W. Kinsella.

The Committee met in public at 2:27 p.m.

Councillor W. Kinsella entered the meeting.

G.CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS

G.6.PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

G.6.a.CManagement and Professional Employee Severance.

R. Liteplo and R. Hofer, Law Department; and B. Hoy, Personnel Department, answered the Committee's questions.

MOVED J. Taylor:

That the Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

1.That the January 10, 1997 Personnel Services Department/Law Department report remain in private because it is solicitor-client privileged.

2.That the City Manager be authorized to settle claims for wrongful dismissal and to make severance arrangements with employees displaced due to organization restructuring or downsizing, to an amount equivalent to a maximum of 24 months salary in lieu of notice.

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, R. Rosenberger,
J. Taylor.

F.ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES

F.2.REPORTS ON ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES

F.2.b.Old Towne Market Proposal and Old Towne Market Corporation
(M. Phair).

MOVED J. Taylor:

That Item F.2.b. be postponed until the February 12, 1997 Executive Committee meeting. / City Manager
Finance
Planning & Dev.
City Clerk
Due: Feb. 12, 1997

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, J. Taylor.

ABSENT:R. Rosenberger.

G.CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS

G.1.OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

G.1.a.CAllocation of Funds in Support of the Old Towne Market Corporation.

MOVED J. Taylor:

That Item G.1.a be postponed until the February 12, 1997 Executive Committee meeting. / City Manager
City Clerk
Due: Feb. 12, 1997

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, J. Taylor.

ABSENT:R. Rosenberger.

G.1.b.CResolutions for the 1997 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference.

Councillors W. Kinsella and J. Taylor requested that this item be forwarded to City Council without a recommendation.

G.4.OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL

G.4.a.CAudit of the Corporate Supply System.

MOVED J. Taylor:

That Item G.4.a be postponed until the February 12, 1997 Executive Committee meeting. / City Manager
Auditor General
City Clerk
Due: Feb. 12, 1997

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, J. Taylor.

ABSENT:R. Rosenberger.

G.5.FINANCE DEPARTMENT

G.5.b.Open Tenders Greater than $500,000 and Requests to Hire Consultants where Estimates Exceed $25,000 - Report Dated January 15, 1997.

MOVED J. Taylor:

1.That the January 15, 1997 Finance Department report be received for information with the exception of P.O. 870017 - Yellowhead Trail Rehabilitation; 127 Street to 156 Street (Contract No. 9711).
2.That P.O. 870017 - Yellowhead Trail Rehabilitation; 127 Street to 156 Street (Contract No. 9711) be postponed until the February 12, 1997 Executive Committee meeting. / City Manager
Finance
City Clerk
Due: Feb. 12, 1997

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, J. Taylor.

ABSENT:R. Rosenberger.

H.OTHER REPORTS

H.01.Cancellation of Executive Committee Meeting, February 26, 1997.

MOVED J. Taylor:

That the Executive Committee meeting scheduled for February 26, 1997 be cancelled. / City Manager
Council Members
General Managers

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; W. Kinsella, D. Mather, J. Taylor.

ABSENT:R. Rosenberger.

J.NOTICES OF MOTION

K.ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

CHAIROFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK

Executive Committee
Meeting No. 7 Minutes1
January 29, 1997