Council meeting catchup - 15 May 2024

Purpose

1.1 To provide Council with a regular update from the Chief Executive Officer regarding Council’s activities and performance.

MOVED Crs Clark/Crawford

That Council:

3.1 Notes the CEO Report – Issue 106 (provided as Attachment 1).

3.2 Authorises the CEO or their delegate to make minor editorial amendments that do not substantially alter the content of the report.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

Purpose

1.1 To provide a report back to Council on the 21 June 2023 Notice of Motion, regarding the continuation of work with key bodies on the safe delivery of LGBTIQA+ programs, community events and recognition.

MOVED Crs Baxter/Nyaguy

That Council:

3.1 Notes the update on the safe delivery of LGBTIQA+ programs, community events and recognition; and

3.2 Notes that consultation with Council’s LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee, the Victorian Pride Centre, Municipal Association of Victoria, Victoria Police, and other key bodies has been undertaken to draw on their knowledge and increase organisational capacity to safely deliver LGBTIQA+ programs, community events and recognition in future.

3.3 Notes consultation and collaboration with Council’s LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee, the Victorian Pride Centre, Municipal Association of Victoria, Victoria Police, and other key bodies is ongoing to ensure advice and expertise are up to date according to the changing landscape and latest recommendations.

3.4 Notes that strategies, tools, and controls as outlined in the Information Pack – Guidance for Planning Safe and Inclusive Council Events (as provided in attachment 1) have been investigated and developed to enable Council to confidently plan, host and support safe events for the LGBTIQA+ community, as well as other diverse communities.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.

Purpose

1.1 To consider design options following community engagement for the Inkerman Safety Improvement Project and seek Council endorsement to proceed to detailed design and construction of a preferred design option.

MOVED Crs Crawford/Sirakoff

That Council:

3.1 Thanks community members who provided feedback on the Inkerman Streetscape Improvement Project.

3.2 Endorses proceeding to detailed design and construction of Option B: Safety improvements including on-road buffered bike lanes, and changes set out in Attachment 3.

3.3 Notes the total estimated construction cost of $6,893,000, inclusive of road resurfacing works, with funding from Council’s Sustainable Transport Reserve Fund and Asset Renewal budgets.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.

Cr Pearl called for a DIVISION:

For: Crs Baxter, Bond, Clark, Crawford, Cunsolo, Sirakoff

Against: Crs Nyaguy, Pearl

Abstain: Crs Martin

The MOTION was CARRIED.

Purpose

1.1 To present the Domain Precinct Parking Review report and outline recommendations for Council consideration and adoption.

MOVED Crs Cunsolo/Pearl

That Council:

3.1 Notes the challenges associated with parking in the Domain Precinct and the role that parking management has in enabling access to parking.

3.2 Notes the findings and recommendations in the O’Brien Domain Precinct Parking Review report (Attachment 1).

3.3 Requests that officers further assess and brief Council on the reconfiguration of road-space in Palmerston Crescent and Bowen Crescent, including:

• reconfiguration to provide additional parking

• opportunities for streetscape improvements including planting, and

• an assessment of probable costs.

3.4 Notes that projects in paragraph 3.3 would be subject to the Council budget process with community engagement undertaken as part of any project.

3.5 Requests that officers implement proposed changes to locations of loading bays and timed on-street parking restrictions, outlined in the O’Brien report (Attachment 1).

3.5.1 Delegates officers to adjust recommended changes to ensure changes are consistent with Council’s Parking Management Policy.

3.6 Notes that changes to parking restrictions would be undertaken as part of Council’s operating budget.

3.7 Notes that access to permit parking in Area 1 is limited, particularly south of Albert Road, and delegates officers to identify and provide changes to parking bays, where appropriate, to offer greater flexibility for parking permit holders in this area.

3.8 Notes that officers continue to negotiate with developers to provide onsite loading facilities and visitor parking in new developments.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.

Purpose

1.1 To present revised Business Parklet Guidelines for 2024 onwards and seek Council endorsement.

MOVED Crs Bond/Martin

That Council:

3.1 Endorses the Business Parklet Guidelines 2024 (Attachment 1).

3.2 Authorises the CEO, or their delegate, to make minor amendments that do not materially affect the intent or substance of these guidelines.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

Purpose

1.1 To provide Councillors with details of the South Melbourne Market Project Connect scope for endorsement.

1.2 To provide Councillors with findings from the South Melbourne Market Community Consultation program seeking feedback on Project Connect and Market trading days and hours.

Councillor Bond left the meeting at 10:38pm, was not present for the vote of this item, and did not return for the remainder of the meeting.

MOVED Crs Clark/Sirakoff

That Council:

3.1 Endorses the scope for the South Melbourne Market’s overarching program of capital works “Project Connect”, excluding line 1 of part 6B of the scope being the Closure of Cecil Street northbound to traffic, extend public and tenanted outdoor space only.

3.2 Requests officers to bring a report back to Council to consider the possible closure of Cecil Street to allow for separate consideration of this matter.

3.3 Notes the feedback from Community Consultation program on Project Connect and the Market’s Days and Hours (provided at Attachment 1).

3.4 Notes there is no proposal to change current Market trading hours and days at this time.

3.5 Authorises the CEO, or their delegate, to make minor adjustments to the Project Connect Scope during concept design as required to ensure alignment with compliance and renewal requirements and strategic vision.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.

Councillor Baxter left the meeting at 10:46pm and did not return for the remainder of the meeting.

Purpose

1.1 To provide Council with an overview of the results of the third quarter 2023/24 performance to budget and seek approval for any unbudgeted items.

Mayor Cunsolo advised the officer report including part 3.4.1 of the recommendation incorrectly stated $0.54 million for the for St Vincent’s Garden Playground Upgrade. The correct figure was $504,000.

MOVED Crs Nyaguy/Cunsolo

That Council:

3.1 Notes that full year cumulative cash surplus before the third quarter budget requests is $0.15 million which is $0.72 million unfavourable compared to budget of $0.87 million.

3.2 Notes attachment 1 – Financial Statements with accompanying explanatory notes.

3.3 Notes the updated cost plan for St Vincent’s Garden Playground Upgrade is higher than initial estimates of $1.2 million due to an increase in project costs, feedback from community engagement and greater design detail through design phase (see detail in attachment 2).

3.4 Approves additional funding through project budget re-prioritisation in 2023/24 and 2024/25 with no net impact to the cumulative cash surplus including:

3.4.1 $0.620 million for St Vincent’s Garden Playground Upgrade to proceed with cost escalations associated with the original project scope noting the inclusion of the shelter and the junior timber structure as detailed in the concept design. The funding of this requires re-prioritisation of project budgets including Sol Green Reserve Upgrade.

3.5 Notes attachment 3 – Portfolio Deferrals and achievements.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.

Purpose

1.1 To appoint Councillor Louise Crawford as Council’s primary delegate for the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) external committee for the remainder of the Council term.

MOVED Crs Nyaguy/Martin

That Council:

3.1 Appoints Councillor Louise Crawford as Council’s primary delegate to the Municipal Association of Victoria external committee for the remainder of the Council term.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

Purpose

1.1 To report on the expenses incurred by Councillors during April 2024, in accordance with the Councillor Expenses and Support Policy.

MOVED Crs Crawford/Pearl

That Council:

3.1 Notes the monthly Councillor expenses report for April 2024 (attachment 1) and that this will be made available on Council’s website.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

Purpose

1.1 To report to Council the written records of Informal Meetings of Councillors at the City of Port Phillip as required by the Governance Rules.

MOVED Crs Sirakoff/Martin

That Council

2.1 Receives and notes the written records of Informal Meetings of Council (attached) as required by the Governance Rules.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

Moved Crs Cunsolo/Clark

That Council

1. Extend the current legacy Foreshore Community Service permits valid from 1 November – 30 April to a year round permit.

2. Reduce the fees for the Foreshore Community Service Permits for the Sandridge, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, St Kilda and Elwood Life Saving Clubs to $25 per permit per annum to be reviewed annually through the Council budget process.

3. Increase the cap for legacy Foreshore Club Permits available to Sandridge Life Saving Club from 0 to 10, Port Melbourne Life Saving Club from 1 to 10, South Melbourne Life Saving Club from 6 to 10, St Kilda Life Saving Club from 0 to 10 and Elwood Life Saving Club from 33 to 35 at a cost of $150 per permit (2023/24), to be reviewed annually through the Council Budget process.

4. Agrees that the Foreshore Community Service Permits and legacy Foreshore Club Permits will be reviewed at the end of the current Parking Management Policy in 2028.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.

MOVED SIRAKOFF/NYAGUY

That Council resolves to move into confidential to deal with the following matters pursuant to section 66(2) of the Local Government Act 2020:

A previously advised by Mayor Cunsolo, item 17.1 was removed from the agenda.

3(1)(e) legal privileged information, being information to which legal professional privilege or client legal privilege applies.

Reason: This matter is subject to legally privileged VCAT settlement discussions. They are required to be undertaken in a confidential without prejudice manner.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

MOVED SIRAKOFF/NYAGUY

That Council resolves to move into confidential to deal with the following matters pursuant to section 66(2) of the Local Government Act 2020:

3(1)(a) Council business information, being information that would prejudice the Council's position in commercial negotiations if prematurely released.

Reason: Contractual negotiations regarding the procurement of services of this project are still being undertaken and finalised and the public releasing of the information in the report at this stage may negatively impair Councils ability to effectively negotiate and implement procurement arrangements.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

MOVED SIRAKOFF/NYAGUY

That Council resolves to move into confidential to deal with the following matters pursuant to section 66(2) of the Local Government Act 2020:

3(1)(a) Council business information, being information that would prejudice the Council's position in commercial negotiations if prematurely released

3(1)(e) legal privileged information, being information to which legal professional privilege or client legal privilege applies

3(1)(g(ii)) private commercial information, being information provided by a business, commercial or financial undertaking that if released, would unreasonably expose the business, commercial or financial undertaking to disadvantage.

Reason: This report will consider commercially and legally sensitive information that could impact Councils ability to manage an ongoing contract. Council will consider what information is to be released publicly.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.