Promise · Council divided

Cut financial waste with forward planning

Council has voted on this 5 times, between Apr 2021 and Apr 2026. 3 of the 5 decisions went the promise's way. Members split on 3 of them. Liam Gobbert, who made this promise, voted in line 3 of 5 times.

Reduce financial waste with proper forward planningLiam Gobbert · Candidate profile, 2020

In line meansA vote to adopt or strengthen cost-saving reviews or financial planning beyond the routine is in line; rejecting them is not. Routine budget and Long-Term Financial Plan adoptions are not tests.

Each member's record

Council was divided on this promise. ★ made this promise.

MemberRecordVotes in line
Catherine Lezer
Voted consistently for
5 of 5
split 3 of 3
Liam Gobbert ★
Voted a mixture of for and against
3 of 5
split 1 of 3
Lisa Ma
Voted against it so farEarly record: 1 vote
0 of 1
split 0 of 1
Viktor Ko
Voted generally for
2 of 3
split 0 of 1
Chris Patton
Voted against it so farEarly record: 1 vote
0 of 1
split 0 of 1
Adam Pacan
Voted for it so farEarly record: 1 vote
1 of 1
split 1 of 1

Too few votes to judge: Reynolds (1), Goncalves (1), Doshi (1)

Every vote

YVoted in lineNVoted, not in line·Did not vote–Not yet on CouncilThe letter is how they voted.

REYGONLEZDOSGOBMAKOPATPAC

29 APR 2026
Notice of Motion: Budget Review PackageMember’s motion
Lost 3–6. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
Notice of motion asking the CEO to run a comprehensive Budget Review Package to find efficiencies and savings across all City projects and alliances, reporting in the 2026/27 budget process; lost; in line is voting for it (2026-04-29 OCM minutes p.327-330).

NREYBruce Reynolds voted No, not in lineNGONDavid Goncalves voted No, not in lineYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, in lineYDOSRaj Doshi voted Yes, in lineNGOBLiam Gobbert voted No, not in lineNMALisa Ma voted No, not in lineNKOViktor Ko voted No, not in lineNPATChris Patton voted No, not in lineYPACAdam Pacan voted Yes, in line
Yes (in line): Lezer, Doshi, Pacan
No: Reynolds, Goncalves, Gobbert, Ma, Ko, Patton
6 JUL 2021
Notice of Motion: Councillor Catherine Lezer: Notices of Motion for New ProjectsMember’s motion
Carried 6–2. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
Endorses a protocol that notices of motion for new projects coincide with the annual budget or mid-year review, a planning discipline beyond the routine budget (p159).

–REY–GONYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, in line–DOSYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, in line–MA·KO–PAT–PAC
Yes (in line): Lezer, Gobbert and 4 former councillors
No: 2 former councillors
Did not vote: Ko
Not yet on Council: Reynolds, Goncalves, Doshi, Ma, Patton, Pacan
6 JUL 2021
Notice of Motion: Councillor Catherine Lezer: Notices of Motion for New ProjectsMember’s motion
Carried 5–3. In line with the promise: a No vote.
Why
Strips points b and c (due consideration of available funding and of the adopted program of works) from the notice-of-motion budget protocol, weakening it (p.158).
What it changed. Removes points b and c of the protocol, leaving only that notices of motion for new projects coincide with the budget or mid-year review.
Reasons given in the minutes. Parts b. and c. include wording of ‘due consideration of available funding’ however, Elected Members do not know every account or grant opportunities. Point a. works to implement a discipline which is in line with the perceived intent of the motion.

–REY–GONNLEZCatherine Lezer voted No, in line–DOSYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, not in line–MA·KO–PAT–PAC
Yes: Gobbert and 4 former councillors
No (in line): Lezer and 2 former councillors
Did not vote: Ko
Not yet on Council: Reynolds, Goncalves, Doshi, Ma, Patton, Pacan
25 MAY 2021
Budget Amendment Strategic Property ReviewUnanimous
Carried 9–0. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
Funds a $150,000 increase to complete a strategic review of the City's property portfolio for performance, retention and disposal, forward planning beyond the routine (p127).

–REY–GONYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, in line–DOSYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, in line–PAT–PAC
Yes (in line): Lezer, Gobbert, Ko and 6 former councillors
Not yet on Council: Reynolds, Goncalves, Doshi, Ma, Patton, Pacan
27 APR 2021
Strategic Review of Project Funding 2020/21Unanimous
Carried 9–0. In line with the promise: a Yes vote.
Why
Adopts a non-statutory strategic review of 2020/21 project funding that strips undeliverable projects and moves $5.4M of realised savings into reserves, forward planning beyond the routine budget review (p81).

–REY–GONYLEZCatherine Lezer voted Yes, in line–DOSYGOBLiam Gobbert voted Yes, in line–MAYKOViktor Ko voted Yes, in line–PAT–PAC
Yes (in line): Lezer, Gobbert, Ko and 6 former councillors
Not yet on Council: Reynolds, Goncalves, Doshi, Ma, Patton, Pacan