HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 22, 2025 - Special CouncilSpecial Council Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2025
Electronic Meeting - 11:00 am
Chair: Mayor Ashe
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Present:
Mayor Kevin Ashe
Councillors:
M. Brenner
S. Butt
L. Cook
M. Nagy
D. Pickles
L. Robinson - arrived at 11:12 a.m.
Also Present:
M. Carpino - Chief Administrative Officer
L. Gibbs - Director, Community Services
B. Duffield - Director, Operations
J. Flowers - CEO & Director of Public Libraries, Pickering Public Library
R. Holborn - Director, Engineering Services
S. Karwowski - Director, Finance & Treasurer
J. Halsall - Deputy Treasurer
V. Plouffe - Division Head, Facilities & Construction Management
R. Perera - Deputy Clerk
A. MacGillivray - Council & Committee Coordinator
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
The Deputy Clerk certified that all Members of Council were present and participating
electronically, save and except for Councillor Robinson.
2. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
3. Delegations
There were no delegations.
4. Matters for Consideration
4.1 Chief Administrative Officer, Report CAO 05-25
Seaton Recreation Complex & Library Project
Project Update, Financial Analysis & Recommended Next Steps
Special Council Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2025
Electronic Meeting - 11:00 am
Chair: Mayor Ashe
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M. Carpino, Chief Administrative Officer, provided a brief background on the
Seaton Recreation Complex & Library (SRCL) project and provided an overview of
the project milestones to date. M. Carpino highlighted the recent economic
uncertainty due to tariffs enacted by the United States of America (U.S.) and the
potential cost and supply chain impacts to the project that may result. M. Carpino
explained that City staff have examined the SRCL project in relationship to other
capital projects and have provided a project update, financial analysis, and
recommended next steps within the Report.
Stan Karwowski, Director, Finance & Treasurer, through the aid of a PowerPoint
presentation spoke to the SRCL project highlighting:
x the importance of the project and its anticipated community benefits;
x the City’s estimated debt commitments for approved projects up to
December 31, 2026 and the estimated debt funding sources;
x the project’s relationship with the City’s Asset Management Plan and the
new Asset Management Plan anticipated to be presented to Council for
consideration in June 2025;
x the calculation of the Annual Repayment Limit (ARL) and comparison with
limits set in other Ontario municipalities;
x the impacts of the 2008 recession and COVID-19 events on the City’s
finances and lessons learned;
x the estimated costs and funding strategy of the SRCL project;
x the anticipated operational costs, anticipated naming rights revenue, and
estimated property tax impact of the project;
x the anticipated impact of higher property value assessment growth to
create additional revenues to alleviate financial pressure;
x the forecast of the City’s estimated debt payments;
x the anticipated impacts of potential negative events such as cuts to
development charges and economic slowdown or recession; and,
x the recommendation to pause the SRCL project, assess the project and
financial and economic factors, and provide a report back to Council in Fall
2025.
Discussion and a question and answer period ensued between Members of
Council and staff regarding:
x the anticipated timeline for the potential financial storm and the financial
risks ahead;
x the City’s past decision to not build a second floor in the Operations Centre
and whether the City could regret delaying or changing the SRCL project in
anticipation of a potential financial storm that may only be short term;
Special Council Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2025
Electronic Meeting - 11:00 am
Chair: Mayor Ashe
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x whether there is a risk of further increased cost as a result of pausing the
project;
x whether the reference to 55% of City assets being deemed in fair or better
condition was in relation to their status as of 2025;
x clarification that most other municipalities in Ontario have their ARL set to
15.00% or lower;
x the potential for DCs to be curtailed in the future due to provincial or federal
government policies;
x the benefits to the City’s finances of growing industrial and commercial
development;
x the City’s past experience of rising costs as a result of project delays with
the Pickering Heritage and Community Centre (PHCC);
x clarification that a SRCL project update was originally scheduled to come
before Council for consideration in June 2025, however staff have
requested to provide the update in Q4;
x whether the project update could come before Council sooner than Q4 for
consideration;
x whether there was an alternative solution as opposed to the one that is
being recommended;
x clarification that existing capital projects, including the Northern Satellite
Facility, the Animal Shelter, and the Fire Hall 5 Replacement, are moving
forward and have been identified in the City’s Financial Plan up to the end
of the current term of Council;
x clarification regarding the difference between property taxes and
development charges;
x the development charges for Seaton being collected over an extended
period of time requiring debt financing for the SRCL project;
x clarification that staff are requesting additional time to assess recent
political and economic events and the uncertainty they have caused in
order to recommend next steps with moving forward with the project;
x whether staff would be assessing the scope and scale of the project,
service levels, and community growth as the project progresses;
x whether the staff report would be presented no later than Q4 or in Q4;
x the need to deliver a recreation complex that includes a new aquatics
facility within 5 years, and the need to completely replace the aquatics
facility at Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex (CHDRC);
x the anticipated renovations that will be required soon at Don Beer Arena;
x the project completion deadlines typically expected as part of provincial and
federal grant funding;
x whether the City’s updated Asset Management Plan being presented to
Council in June would highlight the condition of current assets and
investments that will be required;
Special Council Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2025
Electronic Meeting - 11:00 am
Chair: Mayor Ashe
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x how much space within the SRCL would be allocated for office space and
what the risks would be with downsizing that space;
x clarification regarding the grant opportunities that may be available for the
SRCL project;
x the importance of the project to the community and the need for the project
to proceed in a timely manner;
x the potential for a change in federal government to impact the Green and
Inclusive Community Buildings Program and have other widespread
impacts;
x community feedback regarding the lack of facilities in the Seaton
neighbourhood;
x clarification that should the SRCL project be paused, the consultant and
project team would need to be remobilized to proceed with the project and
whether this would be a risk factor;
x staff reporting back in September as opposed to Q4 in order for Council to
make a decision on next steps prior to moving into the 2026 budget year;
and,
x that should there be any change to the timing of the project update, Council
would be notified through the CAO’s Office.
Resolution #697/25
Moved by Councillor Cook
Seconded by Councillor Robinson
1. That Report CAO 05-25 regarding the Seaton Recreation Complex &
Library Project be received;
2. That Council pause the Seaton Recreation Complex & Library Project as it
relates to the approval and further development of any proposed design;
3. That Council receive the findings of the public engagement process for the
design of the Seaton Recreation Complex & Library for information;
4. That staff provide a project update to Council, including the consolidated
base program schematic design concept, updated financial information and
project recommendations, in Q4, 2025 instead of the previously scheduled
date of June 2025, per Recommendation 4 of Report OPS 12-24
(Resolution #523/24); and,
5. That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take
the actions necessary to implement the recommendations in this report.
Special Council Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2025
Electronic Meeting - 11:00 am
Chair: Mayor Ashe
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Carried Later in the Meeting (See Following Motion)
Resolution #698/25
Moved by Councillor Brenner
Seconded by Councillor Butt
That Item 4 the main motion be amended by deleting “Q4” and replacing it with
“Q3”.
Carried on a Recorded Vote as follows:
Yes: No:
Councillor Brenner Councillor Robinson
Councillor Butt Mayor Ashe
Councillor Cook
Councillor Nagy
Councillor Pickles
The Main Motion, as amended, was then
Carried Unanimously on a Recorded Vote
5. Confirmatory By-law
By-law 8175/25
Councillor Brenner, seconded by Councillor Nagy moved for leave to introduce a By-law
of the City of Pickering to confirm the proceedings of April 22, 2025.
Carried
6. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Nagy
Seconded by Councillor Robinson
That the meeting be adjourned.
Carried
The meeting adjourned at 12:58 p.m.
Dated this 22nd day of April, 2025.
Special Council Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2025
Electronic Meeting - 11:00 am
Chair: Mayor Ashe
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Kevin Ashe, Mayor
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Rumali Perera, Deputy Clerk