Special Meeting of City Council

Minutes

Monday, March 31, 2025 at 5:30 P.m. - 7:30 P.m.

Council Chambers

City Hall - 200 McIntyre Street East, North Bay, ON

Members Present:

• Mayor Chirico, 
• Councillor Horsfield, 
• Councillor Inch, 
• Councillor Mallah, 
• Councillor King, 
• Councillor Lowery, 
• Councillor Bain, 
• Councillor Vrebosch, 
• Councillor Mayne, 
• and Councillor Mitchell 

Members Absent:

• Councillor Gardiner 

---

1.

Declaration of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

1.1

Councillor Mitchell - 2025 Operating Budget - District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board's Healthy Communities Fund

as "my employer receives funding for this program".

1.2

Councillor Lowery - 2025 Operating Budget - North Bay Police Services Board

as "my son is a member of the North Bay Police Service".

1.3

Councillor Mallah - 2025 Operating Budget - North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

as "the Health Unit is my employer".

1.4

Councillor Lowery - 2025 General Capital Budget - North Bay Police Services Board

as "my son is a member of the North Bay Police Sevice".

1.5

Mayor Chirico - 2025 Operating Budget - Invest North Bay Development Corporation

as "my 2022 election campaign marketing firm is involved with Invest North Bay".

1.6

Councillor Vrebosch - 2025 Operating Budget - District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (except Healthy Communities Fund)

as "DNSSAB is my employer".

2.

Public Presentations

2.1

Don Rennick re 2025 Operating Budget

3.

Public Meeting Minutes

4.

Motion for Reconsideration

5.

Committee Reports

5.1

2025 Operating Budget

• Res. # 2025-117
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That General Government Committee Report No. 2025-05 relating to:

  • 2025 Operating Budget

  be adopted as presented.

  General Government Committee Report No. 2025-05

  March 31, 2025 

  To The Council
  Of The Corporation
  Of The City Of North Bay

  Your Worship and Councillors:

  The General Government Committee presents Report No. 2025-05 and recommends:

  That:

  1. The 2025 Gross Operating Expenses included in the Operating Budget in the amount of $120,816,523 (save and except the City’s share of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board levy of $14,480,058; the City’s share of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit’s levy of $1,772,370; the North Bay Police Service Board (NBPSB) levy of $30,102,902; and the City’s budget for Invest North Bay Development Corporation of $10,000) be approved.
     
     
  2. The 2025 Tax Levy of $114,069,054 as summarized in attached Appendix A be approved.
     
     
  3. The Chief Financial Officer be authorized to process all transfers to and from reserve funds included in the 2025 Operating Budget.
     
     
  4. The Chief Financial Officer be authorized to transfer $16,923,844 from the Operating Fund to the Capital Fund to finance approved capital projects that would otherwise require debenture issuance to fund (Net Capital Levy in Operating Budget). This is often referred to as the “Pay As You Go” funding for capital projects.
     
     All of which is respectfully submitted.
      
     Appendix A - Annual General Levy Summary

  Record of Vote Upon the Request of Councillor

  Yeas: Councillors Horsfield, Mayne, Bain, Mitchell, Mallah, King and Mayor Chirico.

  Nays: Councillors Lowery, Inch, Vrebosch.

  Carried

5.2

2025 Operating Budget - District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (except Healthy Communities Fund)

• Councillor Vrebosch declared a conflict on this item. (as "DNSSAB is my employer".)

• Res. # 2025-118
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That General Government Committee Report No. 2025-06 relating to:

  • 2025 Operating Budget – District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (except Healthy Communities Fund)

  be adopted as presented.

  General Government Committee Report No. 2025-06
     

  March 31, 2025

  To The Council
  Of The Corporation
  Of The City Of North Bay

  Your Worship and Councillors:

  The General Government Committee presents Report No. 2025-06 and recommends:

  1. That the City of North Bay’s share of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board’s (DNSSAB) 2025 levy in the amount of $14,401,389 (save and except the City’s Share of the DNSSAB’s Healthy Communities Fund of $78,669) be approved. 

  All of which is respectfully submitted.

  Carried

5.3

2025 Operating Budget - District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board's Healthy Communities Fund

• Councillor Mitchell declared a conflict on this item. (as "my employer receives funding for this program".)

• Res. # 2025-119
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mallah

  That General Government Committee Report No. 2025-07 relating to:

  • 2025 Operating Budget – District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board’s Healthy Communities Fund

  be adopted as presented.

  General Government Committee Report No. 2025-07
     

  March 31, 2025

  To The Council
  Of The Corporation
  Of The City Of North Bay

  Your Worship and Councillors:

  The General Government Committee presents Report No. 2025-07 and recommends:

  1. That the City of North Bay’s share of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board’s 2025 Healthy Communities Fund of $78,669 be approved. 

  All of which is respectfully submitted.

  Carried

5.4

2025 Operating Budget - North Bay Police Services Board

• Councillor Lowery declared a conflict on this item. (as "my son is a member of the North Bay Police Service".)

• Res. # 2025-120
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That General Government Committee Report No. 2025-08 relating to:

  • 2025 Operating Budget – North Bay Police Services Board

  be adopted as presented.

  General Government Committee Report No. 2025-08
     

  March 31, 2025

  To The Council
  Of The Corporation
  Of The City Of North Bay

  Your Worship and Councillors:

  The General Government Committee presents Report No. 2025-08 and recommends:

  1. That the City of North Bay’s share of the North Bay Police Service Board’s 2025 levy of $30,102,902 be approved. 

  All of which is respectfully submitted.

  Carried

5.5

2025 Operating Budget - North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

• Councillor Mallah declared a conflict on this item. (as "the Health Unit is my employer".)

• Res. # 2025-121
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That General Government Committee Report No. 2025-09 relating to:

  • 2025 Operating Budget – North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

  be adopted as presented.

  General Government Committee Report No. 2025-09
     

  March 31, 2025

  To The Council
  Of The Corporation
  Of The City Of North Bay

  Your Worship and Councillors:

  The General Government Committee presents Report No. 2025-09 and recommends:

  1. That the City of North Bay’s share of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit’s 2025 levy of $1,772,370 be approved. 

  All of which is respectfully submitted.

  Carried

5.6

2025 Operating Budget - Invest North Bay Development Corporation

• Mayor Chirico declared a conflict on this item. (as "my 2022 election campaign marketing firm is involved with Invest North Bay".)

• Res. # 2025-122
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That General Government Committee Report No. 2025-10 relating to:

  • 2025 Operating Budget – Invest North Bay Development Corporation

  be adopted as presented.

  General Government Committee Report No. 2025-10
     

  March 31, 2025

  To The Council
  Of The Corporation
  Of The City Of North Bay

  Your Worship and Councillors:

  The General Government Committee presents Report No. 2025-10 and recommends:

  1. That the City of North Bay’s contribution to Invest North Bay Development Corporation of $10,000 be approved. 

  All of which is respectfully submitted.

  Carried

5.7

2025 General Capital Budget and Water and Wastewater Capital Budget (except for North Bay Police Services Board)

• Res. # 2025-123
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That General Government Committee Report No. 2025-11 relating to:

  • 2025 General Capital Budget and Water and Wastewater Capital Budget (except the North Bay Police Services Board)

  be adopted as presented.

  General Government Committee Report No. 2025-11

  March 31, 2025

  To The Council
  Of The Corporation
  Of The City Of North Bay

  Your Worship and Councillors:

  The General Government Committee presents Report No. 2025-11 and recommends:

  1. That City Council adopt the 2025 General Capital Budget, save and except the City’s share of the North Bay Police Service Board’s (NBPSB) 2025 General Capital Budget, as presented in attached Schedule “A” for Capital Projects to be funded from Capital Levy, Debentures, Federal and Provincial Government Grant Programs, Development Charges, Reserves and other contributions totalling $77,095,175;
     
     
  2. That City Council adopt the 2025 Water and Wastewater Capital Budget as presented in attached Schedule “B” for Water and Wastewater Capital projects to be funded from Water and Wastewater Rates, Debentures, Federal and Provincial Government Grant Programs, Development Charges, Reserves and other contributions totalling $17,789,969;
     
     
  3. That City Council approve the required transfers to and from the various funds in accordance with the 2025 Adopted Capital Budgets;
     
     
  4. That City Council authorize the Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer to process the budget transfers during the fiscal year, which do not change the overall approved Net Budgets; and
     
     
  5. That a By-Law be presented to Council for three readings on March 31, 2025 authorizing the expenditure of funds approved by the 2025 General Capital and the 2025 Water and Wastewater Capital Budget.

  All of which is respectfully submitted.

  Schedule A
  Schedule B

  Carried

5.8

2025 General Capital Budget - North Bay Police Services Board

• Councillor Lowery declared a conflict on this item. (as "my son is a member of the North Bay Police Sevice".)

• Res. # 2025-124
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That General Government Committee Report No. 2025-12 relating to:

  • 2025 General Capital Budget – North Bay Police Services Board

  be adopted as presented.

  General Government Committee Report No. 2025-12

  March 31, 2025

  To The Council
  Of The Corporation
  Of The City Of North Bay

  Your Worship and Councillors:
  The General Government Committee presents Report No. 2025-12 and recommends:

  1.    That City Council adopt the 2025 General Capital Budget as presented in attached Schedule “A” for:

  1. 1. Project No. 4498PD – North Bay Police Service Electrical & Generator Replacement in the amount of $1,200,000
     2. Project No. 4513PD – North Bay Police Service Radio System Replacement in the amount of $620,000
     3. Project No. 6866PD – North Bay Police Services 2025 On-going in the amount of $1,698,000

  All of which is respectfully submitted.

  Schedule "A"

  Carried

6.

Correspondence

6.1

2025 Operating Budget - Ontario Regulation 284-09 Disclosure

• Res. # 2025-125
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Inch

  That Council:

  1. acknowledges the 2025 General Operating, Water & Wastewater Operating and Capital Budgets were prepared on the cash basis format and excluded the following expenses:
     
     
     • amortization of tangible capital assets
     • employee future benefit costs
     • solid waste landfill closure and post closure expenses; and
       
       
  2. authorize the continued preparation of the City’s annual General Operating, Water and Wastewater Operating and Capital Budgets using the cash basis format, as set out in Report to Council CORP 2025-32 dated March 21, 2025 from Laura Boissonneault.
  Carried

7.

By-Laws for Consideration

• Res. # 2025-126
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That the following by-law be read a first and second time: 

  By-Law No, 2025-35 to authorize the expenditure of funds approved by the 2025 General Capital Budget and the 2025 Water and Wastewater Capital Budget.

  Carried
• Res. # 2025-127
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That the following by-law be read a third time and passed:

  By-Law No, 2025-35 to authorize the expenditure of funds approved by the 2025 General Capital Budget and the 2025 Water and Wastewater Capital Budget.

  Carried

8.

Motions

9.

In-Camera Correspondence

• Res. # 2025-128
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Inch

  That Council adjourn in-camera pursuant to section 239.(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended at 6:37 p.m. for the following reasons: 

  Item 9.1, being labour relations; and

  Item 9.2, being employee negotiations.

  Carried
• Res. # 2025-129
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Inch

  That Council reconvene at 7:10 p.m.

  Carried

9.1

Confidential Report to Council from Wanda Trottier dated March 31, 2025 re Labour Relations 

• Res. # 2025-130
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That:

  1. Council authorize the Mayor and the Chief Administrative Officer to sign the collective agreement between The Corporation of the City of North Bay and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 122-1 covering the period of January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028; and

      

  2. That Council authorize the net increase in the 2025 Operating Budget to be funded from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve #99529; and

      

  3. That Council authorize the net increase in the 2025 Water and Wastewater Budget to be funded from the respective Water Operating Reserve #99576 and Wastewater Operating Reserve #99577; and

      

  4. an execution by-law be brought forward for three (3) readings on March 31, 2025.

      

      

      

  Carried
• Res. # 2025-131
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That the following by-law be read a first and second time:

  By-Law No. 2025-41 to authorize the execution of an Agreement between the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 122-1 and The Corporation of the City of North Bay.

  Carried
• Res. # 2025-132
  Moved by Councillor Horsfield
  Seconded by Councillor Mitchell

  That the following by-law be read a third time and passed:

  By-Law No. 2025-41 to authorize the execution of an Agreement between the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 122-1 and The Corporation of the City of North Bay. 

  Carried

10.

Giving Notice (Notice of Motion)

11.

Confirmatory By-Law

• Res. # 2025-133
  Moved by Councillor Bain
  Seconded by Councillor Lowery

  That the following by-law be read a first and second time:

  By-Law No. 2025-31 to confirm proceedings of the Special Meeting of Council held on March 31, 2025. 

  Carried
• Res. # 2025-134
  Moved by Councillor Bain
  Seconded by Councillor Lowery

  That the following by-law be read a third time and passed:

  By-Law No. 2025-31 to confirm proceedings of the Special Meeting of Council held on March 31, 2025.

  Carried

12.

Adjournment

• Res. # 2025-135
  Moved by Councillor Bain
  Seconded by Councillor Lowery

  That this Regular Meeting of Council do now adjourn at 7:12 p.m.

  Carried