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DocumentsMinutesApr 7, 2026Pages 27–34

Committee of the Whole Minutes - March 17, 2026

Original PDF

Committee of the Whole meeting (March 17) where the public safety survey, internal debt, and detailed budget reduction motions were considered and multiple budget direction motions were passed.

Key facts

  • Meeting date: March 17, 2026
  • Committee directed numerous 2026 budget reductions (City Hall staffing, e-bike program removal, deferral of items, transfers from reserves)
  • Resolution to prepare Standing Internal Borrowing Governance Bylaw and Remediation Plan for internal debt

Committee of the Whole Minutes

March 17, 2026, 7:00 p.m.

Council Chambers & Electronic Meeting

PRESENT

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

ATTENDING

  • D. Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer
  • B. Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
  • M. Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services
  • L. Stohmann, Director of Community Planning & Development
  • M. Dillabaugh, Director of Finance
  • K. Balzer, Director of Engineering and Public Works
  • Y. Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
  • K. Dube, Senior Manager of Information Technology and GIS
  • D. Petrie, Senior Manager of Business Development and Events
  • M. Miles, Manager of Legislative Services
  • C. Aubrey, Fire Chief
  • T. Gillespie, Superintendent, West Shore RCMP
  • C. Staniforth, Manager of Budgets & Revenue
  • K. Bevan, GIS Technologist I
  • B. Boisvert, Legislative Services Administrative Coordinator

Meeting available by teleconference.

Page 27–34

1. CALL TO ORDER

The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.

Page 27–34

2. TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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

Page 27–34

3. MEETING CONDUCT RULES

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

Page 27–34

4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: SZPAK

THAT Committee of the Whole approve the agenda with the deferral of item 8.3, West Shore RCMP Business Case to a future Committee of the Whole or Council meeting.

Motion CARRIED.

Page 27–34

5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

  • F. Johnson, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.1 - The speaker expressed concern regarding the results of the survey.
  • W. Hobbs, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.1 - The speaker expressed concern regarding children's safety. The speaker expressed concern regarding the results of the survey.
  • M. Morton, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.4 - The speaker expressed concern regarding the potential of an increase in property taxes. The speaker expressed concern regarding high taxes and seniors on fixed incomes.
  • L. Foxall, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.4 - The speaker expressed concern regarding the potential increase in property taxes. The speaker expressed concern regarding postponing budget items to future years.
  • T. Stamadianos, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.4 - The speaker expressed support for the current budget. The speaker expressed support for investing in the future. The speaker expressed gratitude for local amenities.
  • N. McNeely, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.4 - The speaker expressed gratitude regarding the process. The speaker expressed support for the 11% or 9 % option for property tax increases.
  • S. Rossander, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.1 - The speaker expressed concern regarding the survey process and the results.

Second Time Speakers

  • F. Johnson, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.2 - The speaker expressed concern regarding the internal debt amount. The speaker expressed urgency to paying off the debt.
  • L. Foxall, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.2 - The speaker inquired about the budget line item related to the medical clinic.
  • W. Hobbs, Langford Resident - re: Item 8.2 - The speaker inquired about the cost of remediation of Woodlands Park.
  • T. Stamadianos, Langford Resident - re: item 8.1 - The speaker expressed concern regarding the demographics captured on the survey.
Page 27–34

6. CONSENT AGENDA

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: GUIRY

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

  • Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Committee Meeting - February 19, 2026 (ADOPT)
  • Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Committee Meeting - February 23, 2026 (ADOPT)

Motion CARRIED.

Page 27–34

7. CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

None were removed.

Page 27–34

8. REPORTS

8.1 Public Input Summary for the 2026 Budget

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: YACUCHA

THAT Committee of the Whole receive this report for information.

Motion CARRIED.

8.2 Breakdown of Internal Debt

MOVED BY: YACUCHA
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole receive this report for information;

AND

THAT the Committee recommend that:

  1. Council directs staff to prepare a Standing Internal Borrowing Governance Bylaw for Council's consideration, establishing the following minimum requirements for all future interfund borrowing under Community Charter: a. The term of any internal loan.
    b. A formal Internal Loan Agreement.
    c. The Interest calculated using a publicly defined methodology.
    d. The specific Internal Loan Agreement and its repayment schedule to be attached as a schedule or appendix to the annual Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw.

  2. Council directs staff to prepare a Remediation Plan for all internal debt balances outstanding as of December 31, 2025, and present this Plan to Council in advance of the 2027 Financial plan. The Remediation Plan shall include at a minimum:

    • Calculate the total accrued foregone interest on all existing internal debt.
    • Establish a repayment schedule for all principal and accrued interest, with a specified repayment period.
    • Identify the proposed funding source for the required interest and principal repayments;

AND

  1. Council directs staff to amend all relevant policies, to align fully with the requirements of the new Internal Borrowing Governance Bylaw once adopted.

Motion CARRIED.

8.3 West Shore RCMP - Business Case

Item 8.3 was deferred to a future Committee of the Whole or Council meeting.

8.4 2026 Budget Reports

MOVED BY: GUIRY
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole at 8:56 pm take a five-minute recess.

Motion CARRIED.

The Committee of the Whole meeting resumed at 9:06 pm.

MOVED BY: WAGNER
SECONDED: GUIRY

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council defer budget item City Hall Staffing to 2027.

Councillor Wagner received permission of the seconder and withdrew the motion.

MOVED BY: WAGNER
SECONDED: GUIRY

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to reduce the City Hall Staffing budget by $273,815.

Amendment:

MOVED BY: YACUCHA
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT the main motion be amended by removing “$273,815” and replacing with “$528,372”.

Motion DEFEATED.
Mayor Goodmanson, Councillors Guiry, Szpak and Wagner opposed.

Amendment:

MOVED BY: GUIRY
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT the main motion be amended by removing “$273,815” and replacing with “$382,193”.

Motion CARRIED.
Councillors Szpak and Wagner opposed.

On the Main Motion as amended:

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to reduce the City Hall Staffing budget by $382,193.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: YACUCHA

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to revisit the original recommendations from the 2024 organizational review, and to bring back updated recommendations for priority staffing to a future meeting.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: GUIRY
SECONDED: SZPAK

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

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: SZPAK
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to reduce Fountain Maintenance by $28,630 for 2026.

Councillor Szpak received permission of the seconder and withdrew the motion.

MOVED BY: MORLEY
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole at 9:55 pm extend the meeting until 11:00 pm.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: MORLEY
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to remove budget item Garbage Can Retrofit from the 2026 budget.

Amendment:

MOVED BY: GUIRY
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT the Main Motion be amended by removing the words “remove budget item Garbage Can Retrofit from the 2026 budget” and replace with “defer budget item Garbage Can Retrofit to 2027”.

Motion CARRIED.

On the Main Motion as Amended:

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to defer budget item Garbage Can Retrofit to 2027.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: WAGNER
SECONDED: GUIY

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to reduce budget item Royal Roads Innovative Studio by $75,000.00.

Amendment:

MOVED BY: GUIRY
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT the main motion be amended by deleting the amount of $75,000 and reducing it by an amount to be presented to Council in the range of $65,000, to be confirmed with Royal Road University.

Motion CARRIED.

On the Main Motion as Amended:

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to reduce budget item Royal Roads Innovative Studio by an amount to be presented to Council in the range of $65,000, to be confirmed with Royal Road University.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: SZPAK
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to defer budget item Wayfinding - Strategy and Signage to 2027.

Motion CARRIED.
Councillor Yacucha opposed.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to remove budget item Placemaking Strategy from the 2026 budget.

Motion DEFEATED.
Councillors Yacucha, Guiry, Szpak and Wagner opposed.

MOVED BY: YACUCHA
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to Transfer $850,000 from Capital Works Reserve to Cover Debt Servicing for 2026.

Amendment:

MOVED BY: WAGNER

THAT the main motion be amended by deleting “$850,000” and replacing with “$600,000”.

The Motion died on the floor for want of a seconder.

On the Main Motion:

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to Transfer $850,000 from Capital Works Reserve to Cover Debt Servicing for 2026.

Motion CARRIED.
Councillors Guiry, Szpak and Wagner opposed.

MOVED BY: YACUCHA
SECONDED: WAGNER

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to increase Non‑Property Tax Revenues by $300,000 for 2026.

Motion CARRIED.

MOVED BY: HARDER
SECONDED: YACUCHA

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to reduce Staff Travel and Training by $160,000 for 2026.

Amendment:

MOVED BY: WAGNER
SECONDED: HARDER

THAT the main motion be amended by removing “$160,000” and replacing with “$120,000”.

Motion CARRIED.

On the Main Motion as Amended:

THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to reduce Staff Travel and Training by $120,000 for 2026.

Motion CARRIED.

Page 27–34

9. ADJOURNMENT

MOVED BY: GUIRY
SECONDED: YACUCHA

THAT at 10:48 pm Committee of the Whole adjourn the meeting to March 23, 2026, at 7:00 pm.

Motion CARRIED.

Presiding Council Member Certified Correct - Corporate Officer

Page 27–34
Extracted from: Agenda(253 pages total)