That with respect to Report C2024-1097, the following amendment be adopted: That Recommendation 1.a be amended by inserting the following sub-bullet under Recommendation 1.a: On page 56 (Implementing the recommendations from the Downtown Safety Leadership Table) of Revised Attachment 3, move the one-time funding for the Civic Partner Community Safety Grant Program of $2,000,000 in 2025 and 2026, to base in 2025 under Economic Development and Tourism service line to be funded from the identified net base budget increase.
Motion C2024-1097 bundles three council directions: 1) re-create a Finance and Budget Committee to do detailed reviews of operating budgets and oversee service planning each four-year term, 2) reverse the 2023 transit fare freeze so fare changes can resume and move $3,000,000 into the Primary Transit Network, and 3) ask the provincial government to waive Section 358.1 of the Municipal Government Act to avoid shifting tax burden between residential and non‑residential property classes.
These steps increase council oversight of how money and services are planned, could restart changes to transit fares while directing new funds to transit network improvements, and seek temporary provincial relief to prevent tax-class shifts while assessment values rebalance.