During the Finance Committee meeting on August 22nd, 2024, chaired by an unnamed official, key participants included Councillors Lianne Vardy, Veronica Charrois, and Jacob Baradziej (Treasurer). The meeting focused on agenda approvals, procurement reports, the Peach King Centre expansion, and concerns about transparency in economic development initiatives.

The committee approved the agenda and past meeting minutes. Councillor Charrois raised transparency concerns about developing a task force related to economic development, asking if it would be open to the public.

Councillor Charrois questioned the transparency and public accessibility of the Development Industry Liaison Task Force (File COOO-24-4-GR-P). Katie committed to reporting back with more information on these concerns.

Tony Del Monaco presented the biannual procurement report, highlighting $16 million in work, including a significant investment in the Peach King Centre. Councillor Vardy raised concerns about substantial contract amendments and sought assurance on the procurement process's thoroughness. Del Monaco clarified the process.

A significant $10 million allocation was discussed for the Peach King Centre expansion. Councillor Vardy expressed concerns about the project costs exceeding initial estimates and the need for new approvals. Del Monaco clarified the process, ensuring accountability and transparency in the procurement process.

The agenda and minutes were approved unanimously. Regular updates on procurement activities and budget usage will continue to ensure transparency. Katie will follow-up with the Economic Development Officer regarding the task force transparency and public-access questions raised by Councillor Charrois.