Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee (CSEDC)
2010 Budget Estimate Highlights

CSEDC Budget Overview

CSEDC oversees the City departments that support the delivery of services that residents receive.

CSEDC 2010 budget includes estimates for: City Manager’s Office; Real Estate Partnerships Development Office; City Clerk and Solicitor; Financial Services; Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability; Community Sustainability; Deputy City Manager, City Operations; Organizational Development and Performance; Human Resources; Information Technology Services; and Communications and Customer Service. Other areas that fall within CSEDC’s mandate are: governance matters, policy guidance, technology transformation, corporate planning and strategic initiatives.

CSEDC Accomplishments to-date

Measured against the City Strategic Plan approved in 2007, some accomplishments within CSEDC’s mandate are:

• Contributed $40M towards the redevelopment of the new Ottawa Convention Centre, which is scheduled to reopen Spring 2011.
• Approved the transfer of lands to Algonquin College and La Cité Collegiale for the construction of two new skills training facilities to help address the city’s shortage of skilled trades people.
• Partnered with community organizations to accelerate job creation (e.g. Lead to Win), increase tourism investment (e.g. Ottawa Convention Centre) and international visibility by hosting major events (e.g. World Juniors).
• Approval of acquisition strategy for vacant land on Petrie Island.
• Developed the fiscal framework.
• Introduced a new process, in conjunction with Public Works and Government Services Canada to negotiate and resolve valuation of federal properties under dispute. This combined effort resulted in the City receiving an additional $5.6 million in payment –in-lieu revenue.
• Completed the mid-Council term review and established a new governance structure and mechanisms to streamline Council’s decision-making process.
• Extended the capability for residents to participate in public consultations through the new Ottawa Talks online consultation process.
• Completed the realignment of the City management structure to become more client-focussed and support the service excellence vision.
• Established a new model for the delivery of shared services and realigned the management structures for the shared services organizations to support this model.
• Launched an enhanced service that allows the hard-of-hearing to connect directly to the City’s 3-1-1 customer service agents when calling the Teletype phone number.
• Extended the BrowseAloud accessibility service on ottawa.ca to improve interaction between the City and residents with accessibility needs.
• Launched the Development Application search tool on ottawa.ca. This tool provides convenient access to identify, research and make comments on applications submitted through the development process.
• Launched an on-line volunteer management tool where residents can view the more the 70,000 volunteer positions available annually.

2010 CSEDC Budget Estimate Highlights

Proposed increase of 5% over 2009, from $127.4 million to $133.8 million, representing a 0.64% tax increase.

• Increases due to labour adjustments from negotiated contracts, inflation, growth and new services. Reductions resulting from the realignment have offset some pressures.
• Over the last 10 years and through an unprecedented period of growth, the City has provided more services with fewer resources:
• Pre-amalgamation in 2000, support services were 7.3% of total budget.
• In 2005, support services were 6.7% and FTE’s were 11% of total budget.
• In 2009, support services were 5.8% and FTE’s were 9.4% of total budget.
• These savings have been achieved through corporate efficiencies and cost saving measures.
• Increased funding to strategic information technology initiatives to address the widening gap between the IT services the City currently offers and what residents require in 2010 and beyond, including:
• Expanded eServices to include optimized services provided by 3-1-1 and ottawa.ca by offering 24/7 access to City information and services; providing a single point of access; offering residents the ability to track service requests; making payments online; increasing self-serve opportunities; reducing the complexity of the IT environment and scaling operations.
• Investment in the City Clerk and Solicitor’s budget for 2010 Municipal election expenses.
• Enhancement to the City Clerk and Solicitor’s budget to strengthen the City’s collective bargaining strategy.
• Funding to Human Resources to attract, develop and retain a continuous supply of knowledgeable and highly productive individuals as part of a talent management strategy that enables a client-focussed, diverse and engaged workforce.

2010 CSEDC Budget Estimate numbers in brief

Proposed Operating Budget (In thousands $000)

$6.402 million equates to a 0.64 % tax increase

Change in Operating Budget Estimates: $6.4 million

Proposed Capital Budget authority of $46 million including:

• $12.3 million for information technology lifecycle renewal.
• $12 million for enhancing e-services, revamping ottawa.ca and implementing a 3-1-1 customer service centre that provides a single point of access to City information and services and will allow clients to register for programs, make payments and report and track service requests. Savings from this initiative begin in 2010 at $0.4 million and grow to a steady state of $12.8 million annually in 2014.
• $5.4 million for creating a community based mobile workforce that will equip staff with mobile devices and tools so they can deliver services on-site and report progress as services are being delivered. Savings from this initiative begin in 2010 at $1.0 million and grow to a steady state of $12.5 million annually in 2013.
• $300,000 for the development of a sponsorship and advertising strategy to increase revenues from City assets and facilities. Increased revenues are estimated to be $3.4 million annually with revenues set to begin in 2010 at $770,000 and grow until 2014.
• The balance is for the renewal of City assets.
• The technology environment has changed significantly and the gap between the services residents’ want and the services the City can provide is growing wider each year that the City doesn’t invest.
• Under the leadership of Councillor Marianne Wilkinson, the IT-Subcommittee will review and consider the information technology investments.

Next Steps

During late October and early November each of the City’s standing committees will review and discuss program area budgets relevant to their mandates. See Standing Committee Meetings for exact dates for each committee.

The CSEDC draft budget estimates will be tabled and debated at the CSEDC meeting on November 2. Anyone wishing to register as a delegation at CSEDC can call 613-580-2424 ext. 28934 or email Carole Langford, Committee Coordinator at carole.langford@ottawa.ca.

Key budget dates following the CSEDC budget 2010 meeting include:

November 17, 2009: All Committee draft budgets rise to Audit, Budget and Finance Committee

December 9, 2009: Consolidated 2010 draft budget tabled at Council

January 25–29, 2010 Committee of the Whole consideration and approval of the 2010 Budget