Committee of the Whole Minutes

Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 7:00 P.m. - 10:00 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
• M. Baldwin, Director of Development Services
• L. Stohmann, Director of Community Planning & Climate Change
• M. Dillabaugh, Director of Finance
• 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
• C. Aubrey, Fire Chief
• C. Staniforth, Manager of Budgets & Revenue
• B. Agland, System Administrator
• T. Corpus, Senior Application Developer/Analyst
• B. Boisvert, Legislative Services Administrative Coordinator
• S. Rose, Inspector, West Shore RCMP

Meeting available by teleconference.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

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

2.

TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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

3.

MEETING CONDUCT RULES

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

4.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

• MOVED BY: MORLEY
  SECONDED: GUIRY

  THAT the Committee approve the agenda as presented.

  Motion CARRIED.

5.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mayor Goodmanson opened public participation at 7:05 pm. 

W. Hobbs, Langford Resident - The speaker expressed concerns regarding the public input collected for purchase of the YMCA. The speaker expressed concern regarding the Woodlands Park purchase. The speaker expressed concern regarding the E-Comm expense. The speaker expressed concern regarding a proposed tax increase. The speaker expressed support for the proposed funding of the West Shore RCMP and the Fire Department.

B. Armstrong, Langford Resident - The speaker expressed concern regarding the maintenance fees of the park located at Finlayson Arm. The speaker requested cost cutting measures to lower property taxes. The speaker expressed support regarding the proposed funding for West Shore RCMP. The speaker expressed concern for the expense required for the unhoused community in Langford. The speaker requested a possible staff hiring freeze.

M. Morton, Langford Resident - The speaker expressed concern regarding proposed increased property taxes. The speaker expressed concern regarding the difficulty in seeing the paint lines on roads. The speaker expressed concern regarding the Council travel and training expenses. The speaker requested a staff hiring freeze. 

T. Sunshine, Langford Resident - The speaker expressed appreciation for the City of Langford's budget process. The speaker requested averaging out the tax increases over the next 5 years. 

P. Hamilton, Langford Resident - The speaker 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 - The speaker expressed concern regarding the rationale for more police officers. The speaker expressed concern regarding the West Shore RCMP detachment expansion project. The speaker expressed concern regarding the cost of consultants. 

W. Bowers, Langford Resident - The speaker inquired regarding costs of staffing the RCMP and Fire Department. The speaker questioned the increase of the Parks and Recreation budget. The speaker expressed concern regarding the cost of consultants.

S. Rossander, Langford Resident - The speaker expressed concern regarding email response time. The speaker requested some items be scrutinized such as Council travel and training expenses, staff salaries and consulting fees.

L. Foxall, Langford Resident - The speaker expressed concern regarding the impact of a proposed increased property tax on the community. The speaker expressed concern regarding the budget survey.

J. Relf, Langford Resident - The speaker expressed support for funding the proposed West Shore RCMP staffing. The speaker requested a decrease in staff workload to levy the need for more staff. The speaker requested planning projects be delayed as a cost saving measure. The speaker expressed concern regarding staff preparing for the E-Comm expense.

Council at 7:35 pm made a motion to extend public participation for 30 minutes. Please see the vote below.

Second time speakers

W. Hobbs, Langford Resident - The speaker expressed support for the cop to pop ratio. The speaker expressed requested cuts to staffing and consultants. The speaker requested cuts to the Council travel and training expense. The speaker expressed concern regarding the contract with Victoria Contracting for outside work. The speaker expressed concern regarding the renovation cost at City Hall. The speaker expressed concern regarding the paint lines on roads.

L. Foxall, Langford Resident - The speaker expressed concern regarding the City's budget for wages, salaries, and benefits. The speaker expressed concern regarding the reserve funds. The speaker expressed concern regarding the proposed increase of parking fines. The speaker expressed concern regarding the City Hall renovation cost. The speaker 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.

  
  

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.

7.

CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

None removed.

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.

  
  

9.

ADJOURNMENT

• MOVED BY: HARDER
  SECONDED: WAGNER

  THAT the Committee of the Whole meeting be adjourned. 

  The Chair adjourned the meeting at 10:40 pm.

  Motion CARRIED.