An arbitration ruling on the City of Hamilton’s collective bargaining agreement with the Bermuda Industrial Union is expected later this month.The agreement covers wages for unionised workers, and should be settled within “the next week or two”, secretary Ed Benevides said at a recent City meeting.Depending on the ruling, the City’s budget for the upcoming year may have to be slightly adjusted, according to councillor Dennis Tucker.The City already anticipates a number of budget adjustments as a result of various other fee waivers and concessions.Meanwhile, auditing of the City’s budget for the just-ended financial year should finish at the end of this month with the City reporting a deficit of roughly $50,000.Initially, the City had hoped to report a surplus of roughly $677,000 but auditors had requested a bookkeeping adjustment that absorbed the extra income into previous years’ accounting, Mr Tucker said.“It has no actual effect on our financial position or cash flow,” he added.Two ordinances were approved at the meeting.Amendments to the Municipalities, Sidewalk and Parking Ordinance for 2012 authorise the removal of special parking areas of service vehicles and the addition of penalties for parking in areas that have been cordoned off for special events.Placing unauthorised furniture on pavements, such as signs, tables and chairs, will be made an offence, and signs overhanging sidewalks will become illegal, Mr Tucker said.Following talks with the SPCA, licensing for horse and carriage operators in the City will also be amended.Changes to the Horse and Carriage Ordinance of 1994 will strengthen requirements for operators to produce a veterinary certificate for their animals, as part of their licensing with the Transport Control Department.In response to a request from the City Market at Washington Street, the City of Hamilton also agreed to waive the remainder of this year’s $3,500 fee for the event to be held.And the meeting approved a proposal by the Bermuda Society of Arts in partnership with local schools, for colourful mosaic tiles to be set in the wall along Church Street near the junction with Wesley Street.