Committee of the Whole Minutes

Thursday, February 22, 2024 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, Director of Corporate Services
• M. Watmough, Deputy Director of Corporate Services
• M. Baldwin, Director of Planning and Subdivision
• 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
• S. Rose, Inspector, West Shore RCMP
• C. Aubrey, Fire Chief
• L. Fletcher, Manager of Community Safety and Municipal Enforcement - Remote
• W. Robinson, Manager of Building Services
• C. Staniforth, Financial Analyst
• C. Lowe, IT Support Specialist
• B. Boisvert, Legislative Services Administrative Coordinator

Meeting available by teleconference.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.

2.

TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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

3.

MEETING CONDUCT RULES

M. Watmough, Corporate Officer, read the meeting rules of conduct.

4.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

• MOVED BY: YACUCHA
  SECONDED: GUIRY

  THAT the Committee approve the agenda as presented.

  Motion CARRIED.

5.

CONSENT AGENDA

• 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 - February 8, 2024 - (ADOPT)
  • Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting - February 12, 2024 - (ADOPT)
  • Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting - February 13, 2024 - (ADOPT)

6.

CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

None were removed.

7.

REPORTS

7.1

New Budget Items for Council Discussion (On Table)

THAT the Committee of the Whole receive this report for information.

• MOVED BY: SZPAK
  SECONDED: WAGNER

  THAT Committee of the Whole consider the items of the staff report.

  Motion CARRIED.

  Mayor Goodmanson, Councillors Harder and Yacucha opposed.

  
  
• MOVED BY: GUIRY
  SECONDED: YACUCHA

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council defer initial funding of the new item Royal Roads Innovation Studio to the year 2025 of the Proposed 2024-2028 Financial Plan.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: HARDER
  SECONDED: SZPAK

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council defer initial funding of the new item Langford E-bike Rebate program to the year 2025 of the Proposed 2024-2028 Financial Plan to allow staff to research best practices in other communities.

  AND

  Direct staff to discuss creating an E-bike share program in partnership with Royal Roads University.

  AND 

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council write a letter to the Capital Regional District Board of Directors to formally request that the Province expand funding to the B.C. E- bike rebate program.

   
• MOVED BY: YACUCHA
  SECONDED: SZPAK

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council remove funding of the new item Community Murals Fund from the Proposed 2024-2028 Financial Plan.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: GUIRY
  SECONDED: HARDER

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council defer initial funding of the new item City Centre Crosswalk Project to the year 2025 of the Proposed 2024-2028 Financial Plan.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: SZPAK
  SECONDED: GUIRY

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council remove funding of the new item Largest Little Library from the Proposed 2024-2028 Financial Plan.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: YACUCHA
  SECONDED: HARDER

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council liquidate the Trolleys and explore other options for the use of the land and dispose of it if none others were found.

  Motion CARRIED.

  Mayor Goodmanson, Councillors Wagner and Morley opposed.

  
  
• MOVED BY: WAGNER
  SECONDED: YACUCHA

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council fund the new item Pedestrian Plaza/Walkway Pilot Project from surplus funds in 2024.

  Motion CARRIED.

  Mayor Goodmanson opposed.

  
  
• MOVED BY: WAGNER
  SECONDED: YACUCHA

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council fund the new item Community Gardens by moving $40,000 from the general amenity to the operating budget in 2024 and provide $10,000 every year of the Proposed 2024-2028 Financial Plan.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: HARDER
  SECONDED: SZPAK

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council defer funding of the new item Home Composter Program from the Proposed 2024-2028 Financial Plan.

  Motion CARRIED.

7.2

DRAFT 2024-2028 Financial Plan

• MOVED BY: WAGNER
  SECONDED: HARDER

  THAT the Committee of the Whole at 9:00 pm. take a five minute recess.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: SZPAK
  SECONDED: HARDER

  THAT the Committee of the Whole consider move the order of the Budget Summary to allow Police, Bylaw and Fire departments operating budgets be moved up the list.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: HARDER
  SECONDED: WAGNER

  THAT the Committee of the Whole at 9:53 pm. extend the meeting to 11:00 pm.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: WAGNER
  SECONDED: SZPAK

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends to Council that 1 police officer be added in the 2024 year for a total of 4 officers and 1 municipal officer be added to the proposed 2024-2028 Five Year Financial Plan.

  Motion CARRIED.

  Mayor Goodmanson and Councillors Yacucha and Guiry opposed.

  
  
• Amendment:
  MOVED BY: YACUCHA

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends to Council that 5 police officer be added in the 2024 year and 1 municipal officer be added to the proposed 2024-2028 Five Year Financial Plan.

  Councillor Yacucha withdrew the motion.

  
  
• MOVED BY: WAGNER
  SECONDED: YACUCHA

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council reduce the debt repayment to $250,000

  Motion DEFEATED.

  Mayor Goodmanson, Councillors Guiry, Harder and Yacucha opposed.

  
  
• MOVED BY: GUIRY
  SECONDED: HARDER

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council decrease the use of the general amenity funds beginning in 2024 to offset taxes to $0 and all years subsequent. 

  Motion CARRIED.

  Mayor Goodmanson, Councillors Morley and Szpak opposed.

  
  
• MOVED BY: GUIRY
  SECONDED: WAGNER

  That the Committee of the Whole at 11:55 pm. extend the meeting to 12:30 pm.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: GUIRY
  SECONDED: WAGNER

  That the Committee of the Whole recommend that Council use the funds that would have been used to offset taxes in the years 2024 and 2025, be used for the sidewalk infill projects, and the remainder be used in matters arising from strategic plans.

  Motion DEFEATED.

  Mayor Goodmanson, Councillors Wagner, Harder and Morley opposed.

  
  
• MOVED BY: GUIRY
  SECONDED: HARDER

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends that Council approve the proposed 2024-2028 Financial Plan as amended.

  Motion CARRIED.
• MOVED BY: GOODMANSON
  SECONDED: GUIRY

  THAT the Committee of the Whole direct staff to present to Council the previous five years 2018-2022 taxes, with the tax increases being 3%, 4%, 5%, where would we be now.

  Motion CARRIED.

8.

CORRESPONDENCE

THAT the Committee of the Whole receive the correspondence for information.

9.

ADJOURNMENT

• MOVED BY: GUIRY
  SECONDED: HARDER

  THAT the Committee adjourn the meeting.

  The Chair adjourned the meeting at 12:15 am. 

  Motion CARRIED.