Growing Communities Reserve Fund Bylaw (Staff Report)

Growing Communities Reserve Fund Bylaw (Staff Report)

t 250.478.7882
e administration@langford.ca
2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue
Langford, BC V9B 2X8

DATE:

Monday, November 6, 2023

DEPARTMENT:

Finance

SUBJECT:

Growing Communities Reserve Fund Bylaw

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The City has received a grant from the Province in the amount of $16,464,000 from the Growing Communities Fund. Pursuant to the terms of the grant, these funds must be placed in a reserve fund established by bylaw. The purpose of this report and the associated bylaw is only for the establishment of the reserve fund. Once the bylaw has been established as required by the Province as a condition of the funding, the use of the funds will be discussed and determined through the budget process.

BACKGROUND:

On March 31, 2023, the City of Langford received an automatic deposit from the Province of BC for $16,464,000 as part of the Province’s commitment to municipalities to support growth from their Growing Communities Fund (GCF). The funding purpose is intended to “one-off costs needed to build required infrastructure and amenities rather than funding ongoing or operational activities”.

As a condition of the grant the funding must be placed in a segregated reserve fund established by bylaw under Section 188 of the Community Charter for the Capital and Planning Purposes of the GCF. The funding must be reported on annually as required under section 167 of the Community Charter until the funds are fully utilized. It is also expected that the funds would be fully spent within 5-years of receipt.

COMMENTARY:

Eligible costs are as follows:

• Public drinking water supply, treatment facilities and water distribution;
• Local portion of affordable/attainable housing developments;
• Childcare facilities;
• Municipal or regional capital projects that service, directly or indirectly, neighbouring First Nation communities;
• Wastewater conveyance and treatment facilities;
• Storm water management;
• Solid waste management infrastructure;
• Public safety/emergency management equipment and facilities not funded by senior level government;
• Local road improvements and upgrades;
• Sidewalks, curbing and lighting;
• Active transportation amenities not funded by senior level government;
• Improvements that facilitate transit service;
• Natural hazard mitigation;
• Park additions/maintenance/upgrades including washroom/meeting space or other amenities; and
• Recreation-related amenities.

Further to the above noted capital costs, one-off costs can include:

• Costs of feasibility studies (including infrastructure capacity assessment);
• other early stage development work;
• costs of designing, tendering and acquiring land (where it is wholly required for eligible infrastructure projects);
• constructing eligible infrastructure projects; and
• in limited situations, non-capital administrative costs where these are necessary, for example adding staff capacity related to development or to establish complimentary financing for local government owned infrastructure or amenities.

Staff are not recommending any projects for the use of these funds at this time, staff are only bringing forward the bylaw to establish the reserve fund as required under the terms of the Growing Communities Fund. As such, Council may wish to give Growing Communities Reserve Establishment Bylaw No. 2035, 2023 first, second and third readings.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:

As a condition of the grant the funding must be placed in a segregated reserve fund established by bylaw under Section 188 of the Community Charter for the Capital and Planning Purposes of the GCF. The funding must be reported on annually as required under section 167 of the Community Charter until the funds are fully utilized.

OPTIONS:

THAT Council give first, second and third reading to Growing Communities Reserve Establishment Bylaw No. 2035, 2023.

SUBMITTED BY:

Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance

Concurrence:

• Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Business Development and Events
• Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
• Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning and Subdivision
• Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
• Marie Watmough, Deputy Director of Corporate Services
• Braden Hutchins, Director of Corporate Services
• Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer