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01 - January 14, 2014 Minutes COUNTY COUNCIL MINUTES Special Meeting Tuesday, January 14, 2014 The Elgin County Council met this day at the Administration Building at 2:00 p.m. with all members present except Councillors Mc William (vacation) and McIntyre (regrets). Warden Marr in the Chair. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF — None. Moved by Councillor Walters Seconded by Councillor Mennill THAT we do now move into Committee of the Whole Council. - Carried. DELEGATIONS Peter Devlin, President, Fanshawe College; Ross Fair, Chair of St. Thomas/Elgin Campus; Catherine Finlayson, Executive Director, Fanshawe College Foundation; Susan Cluett, Dean, Faculty of Regional and Continuing Education and Andrew Gunn, Regional Development Coordinator with correspondence dated January 6, 2014 and a Power Point presentation titled "Presentation to Elgin County Council". Mr. Devlin and Mr. Fair provided updates about Fanshawe College's new College Strategic Framework, recent projects at the St. Thomas/Elgin Campus, and the college's outline for the future. Moved by Councillor Couckuyt Seconded by Councillor Ens THAT the Power Point titled "Presentation to Elgin County Council" from Fanshawe College dated January 14, 2014 be received and filed. - Carried. Fons Vandenbroek, President, Elgin Federation of Agriculture; Steve Walsh and Bill Luyks, Directors, Elgin Federation of Agriculture; Ben LeFort and Jason Bent, Research Specialists, Ontario Federation of Agriculture; and Ed Ketchabaw, Past President, Elgin Federation of Agriculture with PowerPoint titled "Farmland Assessment and Taxation" and correspondence titled "New Property Assessments Reflect Higher Farmland Prices". Following introductory comments from Mr. Vandenbroek, Mr. LeFort explained that as a result of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation's 2012 assessment, farm property taxes will increase by 50% between 2013 and 2016. The Elgin Federation of Agriculture recommends adjusting the farm tax ratio to below 25% over the next four years to avoid an increase in the tax burden for the farm property class. REPORTS Impact of 2012 MPAC Reassessment— Director of Financial Services The director presented a report first seen by council on September 25, 2012. The Province of Ontario's attempts to achieve fair taxation through the use of Current Value Assessment (CVA) will result in tax increases; however, these increases will be phased-in over four years to soften the blow. The report which was adopted by Council recommended that the current four-year Current Value Assessment (CVA) phase-in be the sole tool used to soften the 2012 reassessment impact on property taxes; and, that tax ratios for all property classes be maintained at their current level. It was noted that any reduction in the tax burden for the farm property class would be transferred to other tax categories, primarily the residential class. County Council 2 January 14, 2014 Moved by Councillor Wiehle Seconded by Councillor Walters THAT the Power Point titled "Farmland Assessment and Taxation" and correspondence titled "New Property Assessments Reflect Higher Farmland Prices" from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Elgin Federation of Agriculture be received and filed; and, THAT the report titled "Impact of 2012 MPAC Reassessment" from the Director of Financial Services be received and filed. - Carried. 2014 Fiscal Outlook PowerPoint— Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Financial Services The Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Financial Services presented a PowerPoint on the fiscal outlook for 2014, in advance of budget preparation. Councillors expressed the need to take an in-depth look at the Dexter Line relocation project and directed staff to contact the water board in regards to planning the waterline relocation on Dexter Line. Moved by Councillor Mennill Seconded by Councillor Jenkins THAT the Chief Administrative Officer be directed to contact the Port Burwell Area Secondary Water Supply System Board to request the Board's plans and financial arrangements to move the waterline. - Carried. Moved by Councillor Ens Seconded by Councillor Wiehle THAT the PowerPoint titled "2014 Fiscal Outlook" dated January 14, 2014 from the Chief Administrative Officer and the Director of Financial Services be received and filed. - Carried. OTHER BUSINESS — None Closed Meeting Items — None. Motion to Adopt Recommendations of the Committee of the Whole Moved by Councillor Jenkins Seconded by Councillor Wiehle THAT we do now adopt recommendations of the Committee Of The Whole. - Carried. BY-LAW Moved by Councillor Mennill Seconded by Councillor Ens THAT By-Law No. 14-01 "Being a By-Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the January 14, 2014 Meeting" be read a first, second and third time and finally passed. - Carried. County Council 3 January 14, 2014 ADJOURNMENT Moved by Councillor Walters Seconded by Councillor Couckuyt THAT we do now adjourn at 3:20 p.m. and meet again on January 28, 2014 at the County Administration Building Council Chambers at 9:00 a.m. - Carried. Mar ,1 Donald, David Marr, Chief Administrative Officer. Warden.