Council Highlights - November 14, 2023

Council Highlights provide a snapshot of public meetings. For the official record, please refer to the adopted minutes, which are posted once approved at the next month’s Regular Council Meeting. Consult this meeting's agenda to view presentations and files mentioned in the Council Highlights. 

OATH OF OFFICE

Prior to the Regular Council Meeting, an Oath of Office ceremony was held to swear in new Councillor At-Large, Stephen M. Gouzoules. 

Following the Oath of Office Ceremony, Mayor LeBlanc made the following liaison appointments; 

• Capitol Theatre – Councillor Bennett 
• Codiac Transpo – Councillor Thorne Alternate: Councillor Coughlan 
• Codiac Regional Policing Authority – Councillor Coughlan 
• EMO – Mayor LeBlanc, Councillors Bennett, Coughlan & Thorne 
• Greater Moncton Homeless Steering Committee – Councillor Gouzoules 
• Multicultural Association of Greater Moncton – Deputy Mayor Murphy 
• Pension & Benefits Committee – Councillor Cassista 
• CAO Performance Review Committee – Mayor LeBlanc, Councillors Cassista & Coughlan 
• Riverview Armed Veterans - Councillor Thorne 
• Riverview Arts Centre – Councillor Johnson 
• BGC Riverview - Councillor Gouzoules 
• Santa Claus Parade Committee- Councillor Johnson 
• Seniors Roundtable- Councillor Cassista 
• Southeast Regional Service Commission – Mayor LeBlanc and Deputy Mayor (at this time) Murphy 
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee – Chair Deputy Mayor Murphy and Councillor Gouzoules 

Regular Council Meeting – November 14, 2023
Click here to view files associated with this meeting.

ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

• Regular Council Meeting - October 10, 2023 
• Committee of the Whole Meeting - October 11, 2023 
• Committee of the Whole Meeting - October 23, 2023 
• Special Council Meeting October 23, 2023 

PETITIONS, PRESENTATIONS & DELEGATION

• Presentation by Ricardo Duque (MJMA) and Stephen Kopp (Acre Architects) - Mr. Duque and Mr. Kopp presented a project update, including detailed plans, for the Riverview Recreation Complex. Updated costing is set at $45.6 million, which includes two additional lanes for the pool. 

​RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

• Grant - Indo Canada Association of Greater Moncton Area - Council approved a grant in the amount of $3,000 for the Indo Canada Association for the Diwali celebration.  
• Updated Agreement - Regional Service Commission - Planning & Inspection - Riverview Town Council approved the renewal of the Planning and Inspections Agreement for a three-year term, with options to renew. 

BY-LAWS

• By-Law 100-10-07, Amendment to Procedural By-law - Second Reading, by title only, and third reading, in full.

NEW BUSINESS

• CRPA - Request to support Workload Analysis - Council moved that Riverview Town Council request that the Codiac Regional Policing Authority make the annual police workload analysis a 2024 priority under Article 6.1 of the Codiac Regional Police Service Agreement. 
• Approval of 2024 General Operating Fund Budget  
  Riverview Town Council also approved the final operating fund, utility operating fund and capital budgets for 2024. More details below. 
• Approval of 2024 General Capital Fund Budget 
• Approval of 2024 Utility Operating Fund Budget 
• Approval of 2024 Utility Capital Fund Budget  
• Approval of Five-Year Capital Fund Budget (2024-2028) 
• Approval of Five-Year Utility Capital Fund Budget (2024-2028) 
• Award of Tender 24-38A - One (1) New Latest Model 1 Ton Crew Cab 4x4 - Council moved that Riverview Town Council award one new latest model one ton crew cab 4x4 truck to Lounsbury Automotive Ltd in the amount of $66,695.95 plus HST 
• Award of Tender 24-38B -One (1) New Latest Model 1/2 Ton Extended Cab 4x4 Truck - Council moved that Rierview Town Council award one new latest model 1/2-ton extended cab 4x4 truck to Lounsbury Automotive Ltd in the amount of $51,997.35 plus HST 
• Traffic Signal Controller at Gunningsville Intersection - Council moved that Riverview Town Council direct staff to proceed with the purchase and installation of a new traffic signal controller in 2023 to be installed at the Gunningsville Bridge intersection.  
•  Update to Art Procurement Policy  - Council passed updates to the art procurement policy, including:  
  - Defined term length to provide continuity and exchange of information  
  - Expanding the artist catchment area to include Albert County to ensure the Town is increasing diversity of artwork and supporting local artists who consider themselves part of Riverview  
  - Increased flexibility with timelinesshould the committee decide to offer a Spring or Summer art show. 
• Appointment to Library Board - Mayor LeBlanc appointed Kimberly Pullen to the Riverview Public Library Board. 
• Appointment of  By-Law Enforcement Officer - Council moved to appoint Samuel Reed as the new by-law enforcement officer. 

Council Approves 2024 Budget 

Riverview Town Council also approved the final operating fund, utility operating fund and capital budgets for 2024. The total warrant to be raised from taxpayers amounts to $33,741,212, with overall expenditures of $37,584,006.      
   
Council voted to reduce the tax rate by five cents to $1.4326 per $100 of assessed property value. Property owners have experienced a rise in taxes as assessment rates climb due to market conditions, and as such, the Town has experienced a 13.22% growth in assessment base. 

Notable highlights from the approved budget:    

• Water and sewer bills remain the same as 2023 at $912/year for residential customers and $3.32 per cubic metre for commercial customers.    
• The Town’s Debt Ratio has decreased from 8.97% to 8.24%.  
• Riverview Recreation Complex is set to break ground in 2024, with 20.2 million budgeted for the year 
• RCMP budget increased by over $272,000 compared to the 2023 
  budget. The increase is owed to the proposed addition of four new officers and an increase in three civilian staff. Council has requested increased visibility into measurable outcomes in Riverview from this increase in resources before releasing the investment. 

Investment in new staff positions have been made in departments to ensure the Town can continue to deliver our services to today’s service expectation standard:   

•  Human Resources assistant 
• Training officer for Riverview Fire and Rescue 

General Capital infrastructure investments    

Other notable investments in Parks and Recreation Infrastructure in 2024 include;  

• $125,000 to continue upgrades at the Byron Dobson Arena. 
• A $100,000 investment into further expansion and maintenance of Mill Creek Nature Park. 
• Playground enhancements to total $45,000 in 2024. 
• $420,000 to upgrade lighting to LED along Gunningsville Boulevard. 

Town’s street pavement program    
   
The annual paving schedule will address asphalt seal and resurfacing projects on Yale, Wilson, and Hillsborough Rd (Old Coach to Harmony). Curb and sidewalk reconstruction will improve Point Park to Emery. Street reconstruction projects for 2024 will include Mitton, Suffolk, Westview Terrace, Sherwood and Manning.  

Utility Capital budget    

McAllister subdivision storm sewer will be upsized in 2024, with an investment totalling $600,000. $1.3 million is set for a water main renewal project for Blythwood Avenue in 2024.  

General Capital Budget Investment in Equipment:  

The Town will invest in vehicles and equipment needs in 2024 to maintain and exceed service standards including;   

Public Works  

• $840,000 to replace a snowplow and purchase a new tandem salt truck. 
• $220,000 to replace one and purchase a new 1-ton truck. 
• $62,000 for a new ½ ton truck. 

Fire & Rescue - postponed until 2025 when fire truck and engine can be procured. 

Parks, Recreation and Community Relations  

• One half-ton truck replacement.      
• One ¾ ton truck replacement. 
• $22,500 for maintenance of one truck.       
• $87,000 for trailers. 
• $12,000 for one new utility vehicle. 
• $72,000 for tractor replacement and snowplow equipment. 

NEXT MEETING

Council will next meet on November 27, 2023, at 7 p.m. for the Committee of the Whole meeting.

The meeting will be live-streamed on our website.

Visit www.townofriverview.ca/council to view it and find the agenda available on Thursday prior to the meeting. For more information contact clerk@townofriverview.ca; 506-387-2136