General Issues Committee (Budget)

That the agenda for the February 7, 2025 General Issues Committee (Budget) meeting, be approved, as presented.

That the following Written Delegations respecting the 2025 Tax Budget, be received: (a) Clare Freeman, Executive Director, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (b) Lois Corey (c) Harriet Woodside (d) Anne Washington (e) Caitlin Craven, Executive Director, Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (f) Brad Evoy, Executive Director, Disability Justice Network of Ontario (g) Daniel Coleman (h) Lynn Gates (i) Jeff Davies (j) Jacqueline Wilson, Canadian Environmental Law Association (k) Jen Baker, General Manager, Hamilton Naturalists' Club (l) Ian Borsuk, Executive Director, Environment Hamilton (m) Olivia O'Connor, ACORN Hamilton (n) Maryanne Lemieux (o) Elizabeth Knight (p) Rick Johnson

That the Mayor's Memorandum - 2025 Proposed Tax Budget - REVISED, be received.

That the Correspondence from Paul Takala, Chief Librarian/CEO, Hamilton Public Library respecting the 2025 Budget Submission for the Hamilton Public Library (HPL), be received.

WHEREAS, the City Enrichment Fund invests in the community by providing taxpayer funded grants from the City of Hamilton; WHEREAS, the purpose of the City Enrichment Fund is to provide transparency and access to taxpayer funded grants for eligible not-for profit organizations, registered charities, grassroots organizations, and professional artist projects that are determined through an independent, transparent, and defined application and approval process; WHEREAS, the City Enrichment Fund protects the interests of taxpayers by ensuring that City funding is only directed to legitimate, eligible, organizations that support the City’s strategic plan and Our Future Hamilton – Community Vision; WHEREAS, the City Enrichment Fund was created to eliminate arbitrary Councillor directed funding to organizations, groups and individuals that may be, or may be perceived to be, politically motivated spending intended to gain political support; WHEREAS, all Councillors have access to various reserve funding accounts including the Area Rating Special Capital Discretionary Reserve and Non- Property Tax Revenue Reserves; WHEREAS, subsequent to the 2022 municipal election, various Councillors initiated their own “Ward Community Grants” programs that now direct taxpayer funding to community organizations, groups and individuals at the discretion of the Ward Councillor without appropriate financial oversight; and, Council – February 12, 2025 General Issues Committee (Budget) February 7, 2025 Mi

WHEREAS, the Community Benefits Protocol Sub-Committee was established by Council on June 27, 2018 and the main purpose of the Sub-Committee is to “develop a protocol” (called a Community Benefits Protocol or Social Value Framework); Council – February 12, 2025 General Issues Committee (Budget) February 7, 2025 Minutes GIC-B 25-007 Page 7 of 23 WHEREAS, there is currently no internal City staff resource with the expertise to support the development of a protocol; WHEREAS, it will cost $75,000 to hire a consultant to support the development of a protocol, which represents an approximate increase to the overall City budget of 0.006%, as each percentage increase to the overall City budget is valued at approximately $13m; and WHEREAS, the City’s projected budget increase for 2025 is 5.663% and increasing it by 0.006% would raise the overall increase to approximately 5.669%. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Proposed 2025 Tax-Supported Budget, be amended, as follows: (a) That $75,000 be allocated to support the hiring of a consultant to develop a draft Community Benefits Protocol or Social Value Framework; (b) That staff be directed to develop a scope of work to meet the objective of developing a draft Community Benefits Protocol or Social Value Framework and oversee the consultant’s work; and (c) That the City Manager, or General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services, or their assigned designate, be authorized and directed, on behalf of the City of Hamilton, to negotiate, ent

WHEREAS, the Hamilton Police Service Board submitted a budget increase of $12,252,775 representing a 5.7% increase for a total 2025 budget of $227,075,420; WHEREAS, according to the City of Hamilton’s budget documents there is a budget increase of $17,351,475 for the total costs of policing, including legally mandated costs, representing an 8.1% increase for a total 2025 budget of $232,174,120; WHEREAS, the Hamilton Police Service Board budget has received more consistent support from City Council than any other departmental budget, with all increases approved without modification since amalgamation; WHEREAS, the Hamilton Police Service Board budget has increased by $145,825,170 since amalgamation (the 2001 Annual Report of the Hamilton Police Service Board indicated a total budget of $86,348,950 as compared to $232,174,120 in 2025); WHEREAS, the Hamilton Police Service Board’s submitted increase ($12,252,775) represents an approximate 0.94% increase to the overall City budget, as each percentage increase to the overall City budget is valued at approximately $13m; and, WHEREAS, the City’s projected budget increase for 2025 is 5.66% and reducing it by 0.94% would lower the overall increase to approximately 4.72%. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Proposed 2025 Tax-Supported Budget, be amended, as follows: (a) That the Hamilton Police Service Board’s 2025 Budget be established at $214,822,645. (1) Recess Without motion Chair M. Wilson recessed the General Issues Committee (Bu

That sub-section (b), be amended, as follows: (b) That the one-time funding Transportation Division budget be amended in 2025 for all costs associated with the Roadway Maintenance Underpass Cleaning Program ($130,000 annually) be funded from the respective Ward Area Discretionary Reserves budgets in 2025; and Result: AMENDMENT,

WHEREAS, a motion was ratified by Council at its July 9, 2021 meeting to allocate $30M from the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) to road projects across all wards ($2M each); WHEREAS, the former Ward 2 City Councillor allocated all of the $2M for Ward 2 to road repaving projects in the Corktown neighbourhood; WHEREAS, the Canada Community-Building Fund can be used to support a wide range of projects, not only local roads and bridges, in 17 additional areas including improvements to broadband connectivity, brownfield redevelopment, capacity-building, community energy systems, culture, drinking water, fire stations, public transit, recreation, regional and local airports, resilience, short-line rail, short-sea shipping, solid waste, sports, tourism, and wastewater; WHEREAS, approximately $97,415.72 remains as unallocated funding from these repaving projects in Ward 2; WHEREAS, returning the remaining unallocated funds ($97,415.72) represents an approximate decrease to the overall City budget of 0.008%, as each percentage increase to the overall City budget is valued at approximately $13M; and, WHEREAS, the City’s projected budget increase for 2025 is 5.663% and reducing it by 0.008% would lower the overall increase to approximately 5.655%. Council – February 12, 2025 General Issues Committee (Budget) February 7, 2025 Minutes GIC-B 25-007 Page 13 of 23 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Proposed 2025 Tax Supported Budget, as follows: (a) That Capital Project 4032111102 be

That the General Issues Committee recess for 32 minutes until 1:30 p.m.

WHEREAS, the General Issues Committee (Budget) on November 28, 2024, received a Memorandum respecting a Budget Process Update; WHEREAS, members of Council may propose amendments to the Proposed 2025 Tax Supported Budget; WHEREAS, the City of Hamilton has supported Community Garden Programs in their current form for many years as successful volunteer-led programs, without drastic increases to project funding, enabling Hamilton residents to safely and affordably grow their own nutritious food; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (a) That the Proposed 2025 Tax Supported Budget, as follows: (i) Remove the $372,490 budgeted for 2 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) as part of the Realigned Gardens Program (PW24031(a)) Result: MOTION,

WHEREAS, for the past 66 years, since September 14, 1959, the downtown YMCA has provided transitional housing for 173 men while Council – February 12, 2025 General Issues Committee (Budget) February 7, 2025 Minutes GIC-B 25-007 Page 15 of 23 supporting individuals at risk who are facing both health and social challenges; WHEREAS, representatives from the YMCA delegated and presented their budgetary needs of $350,000 at the General Issues Committee (Budget) meeting on November 18, 2024, at which time they communicated the devastating impact of the fire that initially displaced their tenants from all 174 units; WHEREAS, the third floor of the downtown YMCA remains vacant and could accommodate an additional 43 men in a transitional program including wraparound services focusing on onsite health care and addiction and mental health supports; and WHEREAS, the creation of 43 spaces for homeless individuals will expand the City of Hamilton’s supportive housing ecosystem, reduce the strain on public systems, address homelessness at its root, and build a healthier, more equitable community. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (a) That the Proposed 2025 Tax Supported Budget, as follows: (i) That the one-time costs of $350,000 for the YMCA of Hamilton | Burlington | Brantford Men’s Residence to fund Staffing, Security and Public Safety Measures, a Mental Health and Addiction Specialist, Food Security (Non- Perishables) and Resident Essentials, and Capital Repairs so as to open the third floor an

WHEREAS, the General Issues Committee (Budget) on November 28, 2024, received a Memorandum respecting a Budget Process Update; WHEREAS, members of Council may propose amendments to the Proposed 2025 Tax Supported Budget; WHEREAS, Council recently declared an affordability crisis in the City of Hamilton; WHEREAS, a distinction has been made during this 2025 budget process of recognizing needs versus wants, similar to a household’s fiscal responsibility; WHEREAS, the Biodiversity Action Plan, approved in 2024, is an enhancement to the City of Hamilton’s core service delivery mandate, including but not limited to parks, roads, water and wastewater, recreation and emergency services; WHEREAS, the full implementation – in 2025 - of components of the Action Plan may not have the same material impact on residents as the above stated services; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Proposed 2025 Tax Supported Budget, as follows: (a) That 2025 Council referred item of Hamilton's Biodiversity Action Plan (PED21065(d) / PW24040) be removed from the 2025 Proposed Tax Supported Budget, resulting in a net operating budget savings of $560,000; and, (b) That the four FTE’s associated with 2025 Council referred item of Hamilton's Biodiversity Action Plan (PED21065(d) / PW24040) be removed. Council – February 12, 2025 General Issues Committee (Budget) February 7, 2025 Minutes GIC-B 25-007 Page 17 of 23 Result: MOTION,

WHEREAS, residential taxpayers are looking at a potential 5.7% increase in their property taxes; WHEREAS, council has declared an affordability crisis; WHEREAS, the threat of looming US tariffs will create an economic recession in Canada and will have a billion dollar impact on Hamilton’s local economy that could impact thousands of jobs; WHEREAS, fiscal responsibility is a priority for the municipality, and every expenditure should be evaluated for its impact on taxpayers; WHEREAS, 2 FTEs were referred to the 2025 Tax budget to support Public Engagement (CMO), with a net levy impact of $235,969; and, WHEREAS, the current Public Engagement staffing compliment amounts to 5 FTE’s and the Communications staffing compliment amounts to 28 FTE’s; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Proposed 2025 Tax Supported Budget, as follows: (a) That the Council Referred Item, Staffing to Support Public Engagement, representing a 2025 net levy impact of $235,969 and 2 FTEs be removed from the 2025 Proposed Tax Budget. Council – February 12, 2025 General Issues Committee (Budget) February 7, 2025 Minutes GIC-B 25-007 Page 21 of 23 Result: MOTION,

WHEREAS, residential taxpayers are looking at a potential 5.7% increase in their property taxes; WHEREAS, council has declared an affordability crisis; WHEREAS, the threat of looming US tariffs will create an economic recession in Canada and will have a billion dollar impact on Hamilton’s local economy that could impact thousands of jobs; WHEREAS, fiscal responsibility is a priority for the municipality, and every expenditure should be evaluated for its impact on taxpayers; Whereas the Poet in Place pilot program is funded at $25,000 per annum allocated from the Culture Strategic Priorities Capital Project; WHEREAS, $10,000 per year is designated as an honorarium for the Poet in Place, while $15,000 per year is allocated for program-related expenses; WHEREAS, these funds could be redirected to provide tax relief to residents by applying the savings directly to the tax levy; and, Council – February 12, 2025 General Issues Committee (Budget) February 7, 2025 Minutes GIC-B 25-007 Page 22 of 23 WHEREAS, the municipality should prioritize essential services and initiatives that provide the greatest benefit to the community as a whole; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Proposed 2025 Tax Supported Budget, be amended, as follows: (a) That the $25,000 allocated for the Poet in Place be removed from the 2025 Proposed Tax Budget; and, (b) That the $25,000 in related funding be moved to the unallocated Capital Reserve for the purpose of funding infrastructure projects such as roads, si