By Cecilia Nasmith

Cobourg council endorsed recommendations of water and wastewater rates at Monday's committee-of-the-whole meeting.

The increases, as recommended by Lakefront Utilities Chief Executive Officer Dereck Paul, would be a 7.2% base-rate increase, a 7.3% increase on consumption rates.

Paul addressed council with Sean Michaels of Watson and Associates Economists Ltd., the company that prepared the 2020 water rate and development charges study. At the time, Michaels said, it was assumed development charges should be funded through a combination of development charges and front-end financing on the developer's part.

Fast-forward to new provincial legislation limiting the municipality's ability to impose development charges. Any shortfall must now be covered through rate and tax hikes.

Given the date of the study, Paul had an additional recommendation – a look next year at the updated situation to help adjust rates going forward.

Compared to 10 surrounding municipalities, he said, Cobourg's rates are the third-lowest, he pointed out. And at an average monthly bill of $57.53, it is even lower than Northumberland's other municipalities (the most expensive of which is Grafton at $97.98 monthly).

Given so many current realities – from a prospective 6.6% tax hike to the inflation that hits everyone with every purchase – Councillor Adam Bureau wondered if the rate hike might be put off for just one year.

“I think it would have ramifications to reserves we are building for important capital expenditures over the next couple of years,” Paul said.

“Are you saying even with this rate increase we are still not going to be prepared for the costs coming down the pipeline in the next couple of years?” Mayor Lucas Cleveland asked.

“I couldn't put it better,” Paul agreed.

In other words, Cleveland continued, “previous councils did not get us to a place where we had enough money in the bank to prepare for this, so we are having to make decisions none of us enjoy to prepare for the future and ensure future councils are not in the situation we are in.”

The changes mean a 2024 capital budget of $8,474,495 and an operating budget of $3,645,547. And among those capital expenditures, Paul said, is the building of an elevated water tank and booster pump to serve Cobourg's east end that has a budget of $17-million – up from an original budget of $12-million, representing a 43% increase.

Paul recalled that they once tried to hold annual increases to the 4% range.

“It was inadequate. We are playing catch-up,” he said.

Asked what a 2024 review might cost, Paul gave a $60,000 estimate.

“For a $60,000 impact, I think it's money well spent,” he said.

It was Councillor Brian Darling who made the motion to include the updated study, along with the rate increases, but Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty expressed concerns about the cost – which Treasurer Adam Giddings pointed out was estimated several years back. Giddings thought the updated cost might be closer to $80,000, not including the staff time that would have to go into it.

Beatty made a motion to refer the cost to the budget process, rather than giving a blanket approval to the updated study, and it was passed.

Mayor Cleveland revealed later in the meeting that he had discussed this cost with Paul, and had confirmed that this cost – should it be incurred – would be covered half-and-half by the town and by LUSI.

Schedule announced for 2024 Cobourg budget

A schedule for Cobourg's 2024 budget process was approved at Monday's committee-of-the-whole council meeting.

It will be the second budget arrived at by this complement of council but the first one developed under the auspices of the town's new treasurer Adam Giddings.

Dec. 4 – A 5 p.m. public meeting for Community Grant presentations to council

Dec. 11 – A 5 p.m. public meeting for public budget submissions by members of the public

Dec. 12 and 14 – 1 p.m. meetings for divisional staff budget presentations

Jan. 9 – A full detailed budget review at the 9 a.m. Strategic Priorities and Policy Standing Committee meeting (by which time the standing-committee model of governance will have replaced the committee-of-the-whole model)

Dec. 14 is not part of the schedule, the date on which a draft budget will be made available to staff and public. Councillor Miriam Mutton asked that the motion be amended to refer to that date specifically so it would be reflected in the official record.

Centralized customer service desk coming to Victoria Hall

Coming soon to Victoria Hall – a Centralized Customer Service Desk.

Cobourg council endorsed the innovation at Monday's committee-of-the-whole meeting at a cost of $15,000, to be funded through the 2023 approved capital budget for Victoria Hall renovations and upgrades.

As envisioned in the report by Chief Executive Officer Tracey Vaughan, it would be set up at the Victoria Hall entrance weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and would require a full-time Customer Service Representative – as well as a summer student to augment the staffing during the busy summer season.

The motion that was passed directs staff to work with the Heritage Planner and the Victoria Hall Volunteers and Victoria Hall Maintenance Trust on the colours and finishes to ensure they are complementary to the historic foyer.

“The only question I have is to make maybe a small amendment to have the desk approved by the Accessibility Committee,” Councillor Adam Bureau suggested.

Councillor Miriam Mutton listed accessibility features she would like to see, including the capacity for multi-lingual service.

“The Accessibility Committee will go above and beyond,” Bureau responded.

“I 100% guarantee you they are really in the know on different accessibility items.”

RCMP Musical Ride coming to Cobourg in 2024

Local residents can look forward to a rare opportunity June 22, when the RCMP Musical Ride come to Donegan Park.

Cobourg council approved the costs at Monday's committee-of-the-whole meeting. The hosting costs will be split half-and-half with Belleville (where there is also an appearance) at about $6,500 each for things like stabling the horses. Event co-ordination costs like bleachers, staffing, security and other rentals are estimated at $14,235.

It's quite an opportunity, said the report by Culture, Events and Tourism Manager Jackie Chapman Davis – Cobourg last hosted the RCMP Musical Ride in 2012.

It is planned that the $20,000 cost be recovered through ticket sales and, in the motion to approve the expense, Councillor Adam Bureau added an amendment – that a report be brought back to council on whether costs were actually recovered.

Sporting his Movember moustache, Director of Community Service Brian Geerts said the opportunity came about when the RCMP reached out to the town to see if they were interested in hosting a show.

“This is an opportunity that comes about once in a decade,” he said, describing their rotating schedule of hitting venues nationwide to make sure Canadians everywhere can enjoy the spectacle.

The outdoor venue is a risk, Geerts acknowledged. Inclement weather could cut revenues by one-third to one-half. But the date is early in the tourism season, and there will be ample chance to recoup any losses later.

Councillor Brian Darling voiced a preference for referring the cost to the 2024 budget process, but Geerts said that the RCMP requires a confirmed booking by early December.

“I have to say I have seen this on two separate occasions,” Councillor Randy Barber reported.

“It's a magnificent event, it truly is. These numbers are well within our ability to do, so I certainly will be going with some friends from out of the country.”

Mayor Lucas Cleveland had seen the show in Ottawa.

“I don't belittle the amount of $20,000,” Cleveland said.

“But we are becoming a destination, and sometimes that means you have to spent some money on that as well.”