Public Meetings - Assessment and Taxation Issues

Having regard for the fact that the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force has already widely advertised public meetings on July 6 and 7, 1998, to consider assessment and property tax issues, the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends that all deputations be heard by the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force and that the report of the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force on the issue of phasing be reported to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee at its meeting on July 14, 1998.

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having:

(1)referred the concerns of Councillors Jakobek and Brown to the Mayor and requested that he, in consultation with the City Clerk and the Chief Administrative Officer, attempt to ensure an orderly Council meeting when the assessment and tax issues are discussed; and

(2)invited and encouraged all members of Council to attend the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force public meetings on July 6 and 7, 1998.

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee submits the following transmittal letter (June18, 1998) from the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force:

Recommendations:

The Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force on June 15, 1998, recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and City Council the following:

(1)that, if the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, when considering the issue of phase-in of tax increases due to amalgamation and Current Value Assessment, decides that deputations should be heard by the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force, then the recommendations of the Task Force on the issue of phasing be reported directly to Council; and

(2)that City Council be requested to convene a meeting of the Council in Committee of the Whole to hear deputations from the public on all assessment and taxation issues and that the public be so advised.

The Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force reports having confirmed the procedure that deputations on a given matter set out in a comprehensive report from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will take place at the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force on the day that the particular comprehensive report dealing with that given matter is being dealt with and that the deputants be advised that the Task Force recommendations will be forwarded to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and that they can request to make a deputation at the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, as well.

The Task Force also reports having requested the Mayor to submit his request to Council in the form of a Notice of Motion requesting a suspension of the Procedural By-law with respect to the rights of citizens to speak to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee. The Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force is on record as supporting the rights of citizens under the existing Procedural By-law.

Background:

The Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force had before it a communication (June 5, 1998) from the City Clerk advising the Task Force of Council's action from its meeting held on June 3, 4, and 5,1998, respecting a revised timetable to facilitate the decision-making process on tax policy.

The Chair orally advised the Task Force that the Mayor's office had requested that all deputations on this matter be held at the Task Force.

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(Motion by Councillor Adams, which was adopted byCity Council at its meeting held on June 3, 4 and 5, 1998)

City Council, at its meeting held on June 3, 4 and 5, 1998, adopted, without amendment, the following Motion:

Moved by:Councillor Adams

Seconded by:Councillor Augimeri

"WHEREAS Bill 16, the Small Business and Charities Protection Act, 1998 is not yet passed into law; and

WHEREAS the assessment roll will not be returned until Bill 16 has received Royal Assent; and

WHEREAS the earliest expected date to receive the roll is June 12, 1998;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following revised timetable cancelling the June22 and 23, 1998, Special Council meeting be adopted by Council to facilitate the decision-making process on tax policy: