HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS-31-89TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT File #/o.67./ sr
Res. #
By -Law # f- / a
MEETING: GENERAL PURPOSE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
DATE: October 2, 1989
REPORT #: CS -31 -89 FILE #:
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEVELOPMENT RESERVE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration
Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. That report CS -31 -89 be received; and
2. The attached by -law which establishes a Reserve for Community Services
Development be approved.
1.0 BACKGROUND:
1.1 The Town is experiencing unprecedented growth and as a result its
standards for levels of service are being reviewed and updated in
response to high density residential needs. The standards, the
diversity of services and the quantity of sites provided has resulted in
developers, organizations and the public becoming involved
financially in initial installation and upgrading projects.
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REPORT CS-31-89 - 2 - October 2, 1989
1.2 The purpose of this Reserve, is to permit staff to accept funds from
outside sources for specific projects. This accounting procedure will
reflect the project activity without negatively affecting approved
budgets.
2.0 COMMENTS:
2.1 Community Services Department staff are currently negotiating
with a developer to accept a cash settlement in lieu of fulfilling
his tree planting responsibilities for a local park. Tree planting is
seasonal and staff in accepting the funds can better control the quality
and species of trees planted, ensure the success rate of the planting,
ensure the site is left in a safe and acceptable condition and maximize
the dollars available by adding the tree requirements to the Town's tree
planting contract.
2.2 In other instances, staff on occasion have identified specific
projects to developers and businesses where financial assistance
provided would be recorded and appreciated by the municipality.
Reaction in these cases, have been positive and those individuals
have indicated an interest in providing funds out of goodwill to the
Town. It should be noted that any offers made and subsequently
accepted would be done so without anticipation of any future con-
siderations from the municipality.
2.3 At present the Community Services Department has no mechanism to accept
these funds and perform the work. Under present accounting procedures,
funds can be accepted as revenue and the expenses for the work performed
would be reflected in the current accounts. The effect of this type of
project accounting is nil, however it tends to give a distorted
impression when comparisons are made between actual and budgeted
amounts.
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REPORT CS -31 -89 - 3 - October 2, 1989
2.4 It is our intention that staff be authorized to establish a Reserve with
separate sub - accounts to permit accepting funds from outside sources for
projects. Each sub - account would represent a specific project; ie: Set
up would be as follows:
2900 -27 -X = C /Serv.Developments Projects (Example only)
2900 -27 -1 = C /Serv. Tree Planting Project (Example only)
2900 -27 -2 = C /Serv. Completion of Firwood Parkette (etc.)
The account numbers recognizing the specific projects would be set up
upon receipt of funds for a specific purpose. Any anticipated
expenditure from these reserve accounts would be included in the annual
capital or current budget submission and the source of funding
identified.
2.5 This procedure will assist staff in meeting all parties needs while
keeping the accounting and the approval process in an acceptable
form.
3.0 TREASURY COMMENTS:
3.1 The Treasurer has provided input into the specifics of the Reserve
Accounts and concurs with the recommendations contained in this
report.
Respectfully submitted,
f,
Jos h P. Caruana, Director
De artment of Community Services
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Mar, ie Vii, Tr urer
JUC:JDC:MM:sa
Recommended for presentation
to the Committee
r
liorence—/ET Kotseff
Chief Ad, m' istrative Officer
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