Council Minutes - Section C: Notice of Motion - 30 June 2020
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Notices of Motion tabled at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 30 June 2020 which was held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre in City Hall, 57 Little Malop Street, Geelong.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have a significant impact on our community and our economy in the City of Greater Geelong.
Council’s finances have not been immune to the impacts of COVID-19. We have suffered significant loss of income with the closure and restriction of services. Council has also announced multi-million dollar investments in community and economic support packages. Both the income losses and the cost of the support packages contribute to major deficits in 2019-20 and 2020-2021.
The Mayor, Councillors and the CEO have considered their leadership responsibility during these unprecedented times. Councillors and the CEO wish to demonstrate their respect for the financial impacts being experienced by the City because of COVID-19.
Councillors as a collective group wish to support a 12-month freeze on increases of Councillor allowances starting from 1 July 2020. Council can make such a decision for the remainder of this Council’s term only, and the current Council strongly advocates that the new elected Council due in November 2020 continues the allowance increase freeze until 30 June 2021. To support a 12-month Councillor Allowance increase freeze, Council proposes to not budget for such an increase in the 2020-2021 budget. The CEO has also contributed his support and leadership of the Councillors by offering a 12-month increase freeze on his remuneration starting from 1 July 2020.
In addition, the CEO has advised that the Executive Leadership Team and all Senior Officers of the organisation have also been informed and have accepted that there will be no increases to salaries for the next 12 months from 1 July 2020.
The actual financial impact of the proposed 12 months allowance increase freeze and wage freeze will not address the deficit faced by the City in the next financial year, however, it strongly demonstrates that Councillors, the CEO and Senior Officers at the City understand that they can, and are committed to assist with, the financial pressures that the City and Geelong community is experiencing.
Councillor Aitken moved, Councillor Grzybek seconded -
That Council:
Agree to freeze Councillor and Mayoral allowances increases from 1 July 2020 until the end of this Council’s term and encourages the newly elected Council in November 2020 to extend the allowance increase freeze until 30 June 2021;
Request the 2020-2021 Council budget be amended to not include a budget increase for Councillor and Mayoral allowances for 2020-2021;
Support the CEO’s offer to freeze his remuneration for 12 months starting from 1 July 2020 and requests this be formally adopted by the CEO Employment Matters Committee in their next meeting; and
Note and supports the decision of the Executive Leadership Team and Senior Officers at the City to accept the CEO decision to not increase their salaries for 12 months from 1 July 2020.
Carried Unanimously.
Division Requested:
For: Councillors Murnane, Nelson, Harwood, Sullivan, Mason, Grzybek, Asher, Kontelj, Mansfield, Murrihy, Aitken
The City of Greater Geelong is currently implementing projects to support sustainable travel, in particular active transport. In 2019 Council endorsed the Building Better Bikes Western and Southern Link projects, which will provide safe and direct infrastructure to encourage and support active travel.
We know for the majority of the community, the car is the primary method of travel to work, shopping and to school. Capacity to ease vehicle congestion is finite, our ability to provide additional traffic lanes, bigger intersections and more parking is constrained by the amount of space we have. It can also conflict with pedestrians and our aim to create high amenity retail and green spaces.
There is an urgent need for the City to maintain momentum in planning, developing and delivering sustainable transport projects. To ensure we have sustainable movement for the future we need to start planning and delivering the infrastructure now.
There are a number of existing transport strategies and plans, both developed by the City of Greater Geelong and State Government agencies that guide our delivery of sustainable transport. It is important we continue to work to resolve the challenges of making transport more sustainable, as well as support the existing principles, directions and objectives in existing plans and supporting Council’s 30-year vision A Clever and Creative Future and Council Plan.
The COVID-19 pandemic is establishing ‘new normals’ for our community, working practices and the economy. We have seen an increase in recreation activity, communities and local businesses adapting to new needs and many workplaces working remotely from home. Many of these trends will continue post-pandemic and there is a great opportunity to change our travel behaviour. To do so, infrastructure is needed to support the community and make active transport alternatives a viable choice and safe to use.
Councillor Murnane moved, Councillor Grzybek seconded -
That Council request the Chief Executive Officer to provide a report back to Council by December 2020 that:
Outlines how Council will continue planning for transport to become increasingly sustainable as growth across the region continues, including how existing plans align with strategic transport planning underway by the City and other agencies;
Describes how we are collaborating with key stakeholders and State Government agencies to coordinate the municipality’s transport planning;
Provides an update on completed, current and proposed active transport infrastructure projects; and
Identifies short and long-term sustainable transport projects that are ready for funding, particularly those that support active travel and other means to reduce dependence on vehicle travel for commuting, shopping and recreation.
Carried.
As has been previously acknowledged by this Council, the COVID-19 Pandemic is possibly a once in a lifetime event, which has and will have significant impact on our community and our economy.
As the City endeavours to navigate through the current challenges and recover post
COVID-19, it is extremely important we transition out of the Pandemic environment with a healthy and active Central Business District (CBD).
In order to achieve this, Council requires and welcomes advice, feedback and suggestions from the business community to help guide its future CBD related decisions and initiatives.
Councillor Kontelj moved, Councillor Aitken seconded -
That Council:
Request the Chief Executive Officer to call for nominations from prominent, experienced and respected business people in Geelong to form a CBD engagement Task Force to provide feedback and suggestions on the following matters:
Public transport servicing the CBD;
On and off-street parking in the CBD;
The Central Geelong Marketing Committee;
Central Geelong Marketing levy; and
Commercial rates.
To be eligible to be a member of the Geelong CBD engagement Task Force you must:
Own or operate a business in the 3220 postcode; and/or own a commercial property in the 3220 postcode; and
Not to be a current member of the Central Geelong Marketing Committee;
Nominations must be received by 9 July 2020. The process for nominations to be advertised on the City’s website; and
Request the Chief Executive Officer to provide all feedback and a report to Council by 22 September 2020.
Councillor Mason moved, Councillor Harwood seconded –
That Council request the Chief Executive Officer to:
Prepare a report for Council to consider establishing a CBD engagement Task Force to provide feedback and suggestions on the best way to reinvigorate Central Geelong following the economic impact from the COVID19 pandemic, including but not limited to:
Public transport servicing the CBD;
On and off-street parking in the CBD;
The Central Geelong Marketing Committee;
Central Geelong Marketing levy; and
Commercial rates;
Prepare a comprehensive Terms of Reference where a broad based stakeholder membership will be defined for the Task Force including timelines for reporting back to Council; and
Request the Chief Executive Officer bring the report, including the Terms of Reference to Council by 14 July 2020.
Lost.
Division Requested:
For: Councillors Murrihy, Harwood, Mason, Mansfield, Murnane
Against: Councillors Aitken, Kontelj, Asher, Grzybek, Sullivan, Nelson
The substantive motion was then put and carried.
Carried.
Division Requested:
For: Councillors Nelson, Harwood, Sullivan, Grzybek, Asher, Kontelj, Aitken
Against: Councillors Murrihy, Mansfield, Mason, Murnane
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