DocumentsMinutesMar 17, 2025Pages 12–17

Committee of the Whole Minutes - February 20, 2025

Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held February 20, 2025 focused on the 2025 budget overview, public input summary and a series of budget direction motions.

Key facts

Meeting date: February 20, 2025; called to order at 7:02 pm
Motion: Reduce increase in internal debt payment (internal borrowing) to $250,000 from proposed $750,000 for a total $1,000,000 payment in 2025
Motions directing staff to restructure capital budget, defer or remove specific items (e-bike rebate moved to 2026/2027), and direct further reporting on staffing and technology
Motion directing staff to bring back options for a Council-endorsed tax increase of 11%
Meeting adjourned at 10:40 pm

Committee of the Whole Minutes - February 20, 2025

Meeting Details

Date: February 20, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers & Electronic Meeting
Meeting available by teleconference.

Present

Mayor S. Goodmanson
Councillor L. Szpak
Councillor K. Guiry
Councillor M. Wagner
Councillor C. Harder
Councillor K. Yacucha
Councillor M. Morley

Attending (staff)

D. Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer
B. Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
C. Aubrey, Fire Chief
M. Baldwin, Director of Development Services
T. Corpus, Senior Application Developer/Analyst
L. Stohmann, Director of Community Planning & Climate Change
B. Boisvert, Legislative Services Administrative Coordinator
K. Balzer, Director of Engineering and Public Works
Y. Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
D. Petrie, Senior Manager of Business Development and Events
M. Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services
C. Staniforth, Manager of Budgets & Revenue
B. Agland, System Administrator
M. Dillabaugh, Director of Finance
S. Rose, Inspector, West Shore RCMP

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1. Call to Order

The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.

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2. Territorial Acknowledgement

Councillor Morley read the City of Langford's Territorial Acknowledgment.

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3. Meeting Conduct Rules

M. Watmough, Corporate Officer, read the City of Langford's meeting conduct rules.

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4. Approval of the Agenda

MOVED BY: MORLEY
SECONDED: GUIRY

THAT the Committee approve the agenda as presented.

Motion CARRIED.

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5. Public Participation

Mayor Goodmanson opened public participation at 7:05 pm.

W. Hobbs, Langford Resident
- Expressed concerns regarding the public input collected for purchase of the YMCA.
- Expressed concern regarding the Woodlands Park purchase.
- Expressed concern regarding the E-Comm expense.
- Expressed concern regarding a proposed tax increase.
- Expressed support for the proposed funding of the West Shore RCMP and the Fire Department.
B. Armstrong, Langford Resident
- Expressed concern regarding the maintenance fees of the park located at Finlayson Arm.
- Requested cost cutting measures to lower property taxes.
- Expressed support regarding the proposed funding for West Shore RCMP.
- Expressed concern for the expense required for the unhoused community in Langford.
- Requested a possible staff hiring freeze.
M. Morton, Langford Resident
- Expressed concern regarding proposed increased property taxes.
- Expressed concern regarding the difficulty in seeing the paint lines on roads.
- Expressed concern regarding the Council travel and training expenses.
- Requested a staff hiring freeze.
T. Sunshine, Langford Resident
- Expressed appreciation for the City of Langford's budget process.
- Requested averaging out the tax increases over the next 5 years.
P. Hamilton, Langford Resident
- Requested a few budget items be scrutinized further such as the E-bike rebate program, the Royal Roads Innovation Studio, Wi-fi and Internet networks.
S. Sifert, Langford Resident
- Expressed concern regarding the rationale for more police officers.
- Expressed concern regarding the West Shore RCMP detachment expansion project.
- Expressed concern regarding the cost of consultants.
W. Bowers, Langford Resident
- Inquired regarding costs of staffing the RCMP and Fire Department.
- Questioned the increase of the Parks and Recreation budget.
- Expressed concern regarding the cost of consultants.
S. Rossander, Langford Resident
- Expressed concern regarding email response time.
- Requested some items be scrutinized such as Council travel and training expenses, staff salaries and consulting fees.
L. Foxall, Langford Resident
- Expressed concern regarding the impact of a proposed increased property tax on the community.
- Expressed concern regarding the budget survey.
J. Relf, Langford Resident
- Expressed support for funding the proposed West Shore RCMP staffing.
- Requested a decrease in staff workload to levy the need for more staff.
- Requested planning projects be delayed as a cost saving measure.
- Expressed concern regarding staff preparing for the [-Comm expense.

Council at 7:35 pm made a motion to extend public participation for 30 minutes.

Second time speakers:

W. Hobbs, Langford Resident
- Expressed support for the cop to pop ratio.
- Requested cuts to staffing and consultants.
- Requested cuts to the Council travel and training expense.
- Expressed concern regarding the contract with Victoria Contracting for outside work.
- Expressed concern regarding the renovation cost at City Hall.
- Expressed concern regarding the paint lines on roads.
L. Foxall, Langford Resident
- Expressed concern regarding the City's budget for wages, salaries, and benefits.
- Expressed concern regarding the reserve funds.
- Expressed concern regarding the proposed increase of parking fines.
- Expressed concern regarding the City Hall renovation cost.
- Suggested City staff working remotely for a cost saving measure.

Mayor Goodmanson closed public participation at 7:40 pm.

MOVED BY: WAGNER
SECONDED: SZPAK

THAT Council at 7:35 pm extend the public participation for an additional 30 minutes.

Motion CARRIED.

Mayor Goodmanson closed public participation at 7:40 pm.

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6. Consent Agenda

MOVED BY: GUIRY
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT the Committee of the Whole adopt the recommendations for each item of the Consent Agenda as presented.

Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting - January 20, 2025 (ADOPT)
Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting - January 27, 2025 (ADOPT)
Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting - January 30, 2025 (ADOPT)

Motion CARRIED.

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7. Consideration of Matters Removed from the Consent Agenda

None removed.

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8. Reports

8.1 2025 Budget Overview and Public Input Summary

MOVED BY: YACUCHA
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council reduce the increase in the debt payment (internal borrowing) to $250,000 from the proposed $750,000, for a total payment of $1,000,000 in 2025.

Motion CARRIED.
Councillors Guiry and Szpak opposed.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: GUIRY

THAT Committee of the Whole direct staff to bring back further information to the next Committee of the Whole meeting with information on all requested City Hall staff positions included in the 1.3% increase with respect to impacts on service levels and taxation in 2025, as well as alternatives to the implementation of the Fire Master Plan with respect to additional Fire Department staffing.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: YACUCHA
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT the Committee of the Whole direct staff to look for non taxation revenue sources to pay the Langford Aquatic Centre rent amount.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: WAGNER

THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council direct staff to set aside $200,000 for required future technology upgrades in 2025.

The motion died on the floor for lack of a Seconder.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole direct staff to bring back further information on the impacts of deferring the collection of funds for future technology upgrades until 2026 to the next budget meeting, as well as options on alternative non-taxation funding sources.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: YACUCHA
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole direct staff to restructure the Capital Budget by identifying other funding sources or deferral of Capital Budget items to ensure the 2025Capital Budget is not funded through property taxation increases.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole extend the meeting until 10:30 pm.

Motion CARRIED.
Councillor Yacucha opposed.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: YACUCHA

THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends Council direct staff to decrease the Royal Roads Innovation Studio budget by 50% for 2025.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: SZPAK

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to remove the E-bike rebate from the 2025 budget.

Prior to consideration of the Main Motion:

Amendment:
MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: SZPAK

THAT main motion be amended by adding "and move it to 2026 and 2027" at the end of the motion.

Motion CARRIED.

On the Main Motion as amended:

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to remove the E-bike rebate from the 2025 budget and move it to 2026 and 2027.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: YACUCHA
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to reduce the Council Travel and Training budget 25% for the 2025 budget year.

Motion CARRIED.
Councillors Szpak and Guiry opposed.

MOVED BY: YACUCHA
SECONDED: SZPAK

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to remove the E-Comm item from the budget, only to be added back in upon adoption of the 2025-2029 five-year financial plan, if the provincial government continues to download this expense to the local governments following their review.

AND

THAT if this expense is to be downloaded to local governments that this budget item appear as its own line on the tax notice.

Motion DEFEATED.
Mayor Goodmanson, Councillors Guiry, Harder and Morley opposed.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole extend the meeting to 10:40 pm.

Motion CARRIED.
Councillor Yacucha opposed.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole direct staff to bring back options for Council to endorse a tax increase of 11%.

AND

THAT the report specifically provide background information on discretional items, including new initiatives in the budget.

Motion CARRIED.
Councillors Guiry and Szpak opposed.

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