Committee of the Whole

Summary

Formal opening of the meeting.

Summary

Territorial Acknowledgement was read.

Summary

Meeting conduct rules were read into the record.

Summary

Council considered and approved the meeting agenda.

Motions (1)

Summary

Staff presented the draft 2024–2028 Financial Plan and related matters (including YMCA and Pacific Football Club information).

Documents (3)

Summary

Members of the public spoke on the budget, YMCA purchase, RCMP staffing, consultants, taxes, and other community items; staff and department heads responded.

Who spoke (16)

• TL Rankin SebastianMixed · City budget and services
  Asks about alternative fire funding, community partnerships, bylaw support for unhoused residents, staffing impacts, and supports equity and inclusion consulting.
• Mike Morton (Phelps Avenue)Opposes · Budget spending and tax increase
  Questions travel, YMCA subsidy, consultant, event, and library spending, arguing these costs reflect an unnecessary tax burden.
• Mike Wignal (Sullivan Road)Concerned · Budget spending and projects
  Suggests design-build stadium seating, virtual conference attendance, and phasing plans to ease tax increases; questions the public-comment time limits.
• S. Rossander (Langford)Asks · Financial transparency and YMCA funding
  Requests 2023 financial actuals, details on a $41-million property budget, and YMCA operating reports to assess continued subsidy.
• Sandy Seifert (Langford)Opposes · Budget spending and tax increase
  Calls for lower taxes by cutting consultant costs and reconsidering the YMCA purchase, stadium referendum, e-bike rebates, and other spending.
• Lisa Foxall (Langford)Opposes · Budget spending and tax increase
  Opposes rapid spending and tax increases, urging travel and project cuts, scrutiny of grants, and opposition to legal action against the province.
• Ren Louie (Langford)Concerned · Tax increase and rebates
  Warns tax increases burden renters, proposes broad-based rebates instead of e-bike-only aid, and asks council to reconsider gardens and murals.
• Kara Legacy (Artesian Court)Mixed · Amenity fund and tennis courts
  Supports reducing the general amenity fund for a tax break and asks for more free public tennis courts across Langford.
• Normal Joel (Langford)Opposes · Police staffing and e-bike rebates
  Questions police staffing adequacy and e-bike battery safety, opposes e-bike rebates, and urges fiscally responsible spending and tax relief for all residents.
• Elle Plomp (Winfield Terrace)Supports · Capital projects and budget priorities
  Requests clearer details on capital projects, supports community gardens and staffing for crime response, and favors amenity spending over tax cuts.
• Mary Brooke (Langford)Concerned · Tax increase and renters
  Warns property-tax increases and rent hikes are displacing renters, urging council to account for renters with limited financial flexibility.
• GregAsks · Tax increase and rent
  Asks when residents will receive relief from tax increases after reporting a rent increase.
• Arnold (Langford)Asks · Tax increase
  Asks council to seek outside help, including contacting Stu Young, to find ways to reduce the tax increase.
• Bev Solstrom (Walfred Road)Asks · Potential YMCA purchase
  Questions whether residents should have a vote or input on the proposed $39–41-million YMCA purchase.
• Desmond James (Dornier Road)Supports · E-bike rebates and budget projects
  Supports extending e-bike rebates as affordable, healthy transportation, while questioning free-library spending and noting the YMCA purchase remains undecided.
• Nicholas Joel (Walfred Road)Asks · Consultant spending
  Asks whether planned consultants will be local, noting local hiring could reduce travel and other costs.

Summarized from the meeting video. Names use checked registry spellings; unconfirmed names appear as “A resident”.

Motions (1)

Summary

Formal adjournment of the meeting.

Motions (1)