March 11, 2020 Audit and Finance Standing Committee

Agenda

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 19, 2020

3. APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS AND
DELETIONS

4. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES

5. CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

6. MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION – NONE
7. MOTIONS OF RESCISSION – NONE
8. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS – NONE
9. NOTICES OF TABLED MATTERS – NONE

10. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
10.1 Correspondence
10.2 Petitions

10.3 Presentations
10.3.1 Nancy Noble – Art Gallery of Nova Scotia [PDF]

11. INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD – NONE 
    
12. REPORTS
12.1 AUDITOR GENERAL
12.1.1 Fleet Vehicle Use, Car Allowances, and Mileage Audit
- Report [PDF]
- Presentation [PDF]

12.2 STAFF
12.2.1 Agreement between HRM and HRWC re: Grants in Lieu of Taxes and Dividends [PDF]
Motion:
That the Audit & Finance Standing Committee recommend to Regional Council, for its approval:
1. The proposed three-year Agreement between HRM and HRWC, shown in draft at Attachment 1 of this report and as may be further negotiated to the reasonable satisfaction of the CAO, subject to the review and approval of certain amounts payable thereunder by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (“NSUARB”); and
2. That at least one-year prior to the renewal of the three-year Agreement HRM staff, in collaboration with HRWC staff, commence with the development of a long-term policy framework and formula to calculate payments of dividends and grants in lieu of taxes beyond the fiscal year 2022/2023.

12.2.2 Contribution to Mobile Food Market Vehicle [PDF]
Motion:
That the Audit and Finance Committee recommend that Halifax Regional Council:
1. Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) or designate to enter into a Contribution Agreement with MetroWorks Employment Association, as the designate member organization of the Mobile Food Market, defining HRM’s requirements for the contribution, as outlined in the Discussion section of the staff recommendation report dated February 25, 2020; and
2. Approve an unbudgeted reserve withdrawal in the amount of $75,000 from the General Contingency Reserve Q421 for the purchase of a food distribution vehicle in 2020, replacing HRM’s in-kind vehicular contributions, pending the CAO’s approval of a contribution agreement with MetroWorks Employee Association.

12.2.3 New Funding Program Stream [PDF]
Motion:
That the Audit and Finance Committee request a staff report to amend the Administrative Order on Marketing Levy Special Events Reserve Grants to include a new Established Events funding program stream to bridge the funding gap between the New Events (Emerging) program and the Signature Events program.

12.3 GRANTS COMMITTEE – NONE
12.4 COMMITTEE MEMBERS – NONE 
13. MOTIONS – NONE 
14. IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) – NONE

15. ADDED ITEMS

16. NOTICES OF MOTION    

17. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

18. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – April 15, 2020

19. ADJOURNMENT    

INFORMATION ITEMS

1. Information Report dated March 5, 2020 from the Legislative Assistant re: Presentation Requests [PDF]