# MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL - March 19th, 2020

Meeting: Regular Council — April 6, 2020

Canonical HTML: [Open Langford](<https://openlangford.ca/meetings/2020-04-06-regular-council/documents/1595>)

Meeting record updated: 2026-10-19T03:52:51.837827+00:00

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Source: [20200406-Agenda-Package-REDACTED](<https://langford.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20200406-Agenda-Package-REDACTED.pdf>)

Source pages: 10–12

## AI-processed summary

Special meeting minutes documenting the City's initial COVID-19 response actions, including approving up to $400,000 funding for COVID-19 initiatives, forming an administering committee, and operational changes.

## Extracted text

### MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL - March 19th, 2020

Source pages: 10–12

## MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL - March 19th, 2020

Upper Back Parking Lot, 877 Goldstream Avenue  
Thursday, March 19th, 2020 @ 5:30 p.m.

### PRESENT
- Mayor S. Young  
- Councillors: D. Blackwell, M. Sahlstrom, L. Seaton (remote by telephone), N. Stewart, L. Szpak, and R. Wade.

### ATTENDING
- Chief Administrative Officer, D. Kiedyk  
- Director of Finance, M. Dillabaugh  
- Director of Corporate Services, B. Hutchins  
- Manager of Bylaw Enforcement, L. Fletcher  
- Manager of Business Development and Events, D. Petrie  
- Manager of Legislative Services, A. Proton  
- Fire Chief, C. Aubrey  
- RCMP Officer in Charge, T. Preston

### 1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Young called the meeting to order at 5:38 pm.

### 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

MOVED BY:  
COUNCILLOR WADE  
SECONDED:  
COUNCILLOR SZPAK

That Council approve the agenda as presented.

CARRIED.

### 3. PRESENTATION

#### a) Chris Aubrey, Fire Chief  
RE: City’s Response to COVID-19

Fire Chief Chris Aubrey gave a presentation outlining the City’s response to COVID-19, including:
- Pandemic emergency response plan enacted
- Level 2 Emergency Response Centre (virtual, with social distancing)
- Public Health and Safety policy group with subcommittees to consider solutions to support citizens and local businesses
- Coordination with Health Emergency Management BC, Emergency Management BC, and Vancouver Island emergency coordinators (VI PREOC)
- Coordination with CRD Fire Chiefs and CAOs
- City facility cleaning multiple times per day
- Fire Halls closed to non-essential visits
- Website updated daily
- Work from home policy to maintain business continuity and protect staff

#### b) Mike Forbes and Dr. Jean Paul Lim  
RE: COVID-19 Proposal

Mike Forbes and Dr. Jean Paul Lim requested funding from Council for a phone service alternative to 811 for Langford residents with the goal of providing information faster and encouraging people to stay home.

MOVED BY:  
MAYOR YOUNG  
SECONDED:  
COUNCILLOR WADE

That Council provide up to $400 000 to respond to COVID-19, including working with Mike Forbes  
on a pilot project to provide public education on COVID-19;

In favour:  
Mayor Young  
Councillor Sahlstrom

Councillor Seaton

Councillor Stewart

Councillor Wade

Opposed:  
Councillor Blackwell

Councillor Szpak

That Council establish a committee to administer the COVID-19 funding, and appoint Councillor  
Wade, Councillor Sahlstrom, Mayor Young, CAO Darren Kiedyk and Director of Corporate Services  
Braden Hutchins; and

That Council review COVID-19 response and funding in 2 weeks.

CARRIED.

### 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None.

### 5. REPORTS

#### a) Open Burning and COVID-19
- Staff Report (Fire)

MOVED BY:  
COUNCILLOR BLACKWELL  
SECONDED:  
COUNCILLOR SAHLSTROM

That Council suspend the current open burning policy for the 2020 spring burn period, but  
continue to allow campfires.  
CARRIED.

#### b) Closure of City Hall
- Staff Report (Administration)

MOVED BY:  
COUNCILLOR WADE  
SECONDED:  
COUNCILLOR SAHLSTROM

That Council indefinitely suspend public access to City Hall to the public starting Friday, March 20th  
at 4:30 pm.

CARRIED.

### 6. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 6:44 pm.

______________  
_____  

_________________  
PRESIDING COUNCIL MEMBER:

CERTIFIED CORRECT

Corporate Officer