Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016, Amendment No. 9 - Bylaw No. 2276, 2026 (background report attached)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The City of Langford Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600 sets forth requirements for sanitary sewer servicing that includes items such as connection, disconnection, fees and charges, and maintenance and use.

The Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600 relates to the City’s agreement with Bluestem Utilities (previously Corix), operating in Langford as West Shore Environmental Services (WSES) who is the City’s sewer provider. Bluestem Utilities and WSES are part of Nexus Water Group.

The purpose of this report is to bring forward user fees and charges for 2026 for Council’s consideration.

COMMENTARY

Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600 was adopted in February 2016. It replaced an older bylaw by modernizing it and setting a fee structure for five consecutive years, including 2015 through to and including 2019 (Schedule B of Bylaw No. 1600).

Since the end of 2019, the Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600 has been amended annually for fee adjustments primarily based on the cost of living. Council may choose in the future to determine fees and charges either on an annual basis or for multiple consecutive years, however, at this time, staff are proposing consideration of fees and charges for 2026 only.

The City has communicated to WSES a desire to reduce the SCRF fees. While the City and WSES are currently negotiating a reduction in the Sewer Capital Recovery Fee (SCRF) and certain key items of the agreement, the City requested that WSES consider freezing the SCRF and User Fee for 2026. WSES has agreed with the City’s request to freeze the SCRF and user fees for 2026, subject to an adjustment in user fees for 2027, beyond a single year CPI increase, if the parties are not able to agree on terms respecting the value of the transfer of assets at the end of the agreement term.

As the current schedule in the bylaw specifies the year for which the fees are applicable, Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016, Amendment No. 9, Bylaw No. 2276, 2026 has been prepared to update the table to remove reference to a specified year. This table does not change the fees for the SCRF and user fees for 2026. The bylaw is attached to this report for Council’s consideration of first three readings.

Staff will continue to work with WSES towards finalizing the full review of the contract and financial modelling as directed by Council. It’s expected that staff will bring this information before Council in 2026.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Sewer user fees are paid to WSES by the end user, for example a resident or a business. SCRF’s are in effect a connection charge that are paid by a property owner looking to connect to the sewer utility. There is no direct cost to the City associated with an increase to the sewer rates.

The following chart compares the City’s sewer user fee against area municipalities based on 2020 data:

As can be seen above, Langford’s rates are lower than the average of the other municipalities.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

If the current Bylaw No. 1600 Sewer Utility Bylaw is not amended to change the rates from 2025, then those rates would inherently carry forward to 2026.

OPTIONS

Option 1
THAT Council give “Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016, Amendment No. 9, Bylaw No. 2276, 2076” first, second and third reading.

OR Option 2
THAT Council take no action with respect to the proposed “Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016, Amendment No. 9, Bylaw No. 2276, 2076” at this time.

SUBMITTED BY

Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance

Concurrence:
Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services

Concurrence:
Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development

Concurrence:
Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities

Concurrence:
Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Development

Concurrence:
Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works

Concurrence:
Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services

Concurrence: Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

Attachments: Bylaw No. 2276

CITY OF LANGFORD

BYLAW NO. 2276
A BYLAW TO AMEND SEWER UTILITY BYLAW No. 1600, 2016

The Council of the City of Langford, in open meeting assembled, enacts as follows:

1. City of Langford Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016 is amended as follows:

i) By replacing Schedule B, with Schedule B attached to this Bylaw;

2. This Bylaw may be cited as “Sewer Utility Bylaw No. 1600, 2016, Amendment No. 9, Bylaw No. 2276, 2026”.

READ a first time this day of March, 2026.
READ a second time this day of March, 2026.
READ a third time this day of March, 2026.
ADOPTED this day of March, 2026.

Presiding Council Member

(Certified Correct)

CORPORATE OFFICER

SCHEDULE B

SCHEDULE B (Fee amounts in dollars)