Regular Council

Summary

The Mayor called the meeting to order.

Summary

Council performed the City's Territorial Acknowledgement.

Summary

Meeting conduct rules were read to the meeting.

Summary

Council added an In Camera resolution to the agenda and approved the amended agenda.

Motions (1)

Summary

Members of the public spoke on the budget, grants, public hearing policy and other items during the public participation period.

Who spoke (21)

• Corey Hobbs (Cole Road)Supports · Sarah Beckett Run
  Asks the community to keep comments positive and supportive of everyone involved in the Sarah Beckett Run.
• Wendy Hobbs (Luxton Road)Mixed · Sarah Beckett Run and policing
  Calls for empathy around the Sarah Beckett Run, better handling of its funding request, and adequate police staffing to keep residents safe.
• Patsy Hamilton (Langford)Concerned · 2024–2028 Financial Plan
  Questions travel reimbursements and budget priorities, while acknowledging that taxpayers share some responsibility for the city’s financial situation.
• Normal Joel LankfordOpposes · 2024–2028 Financial Plan
  Opposes the tax increase, contrasting it with the previous mayor’s record of low taxes and city improvements.
• M Wignal (Selwyn Road)Opposes · Five-year Financial Plan
  Opposes ending the use of amenity funds to soften tax increases and says stalled development threatens housing, jobs, and revenue.
• A residentMixed · Five-year Financial Plan
  Supports small businesses, asks about YMCA financial reports, and objects to tax increases and seniors being encouraged to defer taxes.
• Gabe Haythranthwaite (Pete Rhodes)Concerned · Bill 44 and rezoning
  Opposes waiving public hearings and urges council to consider infrastructure impacts, renter support, and public input in planning.
• Wendy Bowers (Langford)Concerned · Financial plan and city social media
  Objects to steep tax increases and criticizes the city’s social media practices over allegedly unsubstantiated claims.
• Scipher (Langford)Opposes · Committee of the Whole resolutions
  Opposes the tax increase, arguing residents now subsidize development, and asks council to reconsider the budget and disclose staffing growth.
• Fraser Johnson (Hennington Road)Supports · Five-year Financial Plan
  Supports ending amenity-fund use for tax relief, favoring investment in sidewalks and recreational amenities instead.
• Lisa Foxall (Langford)Opposes · Financial plan
  Opposes the tax increase, criticizing budget choices and calling for lower taxes, development fees, and YMCA financial reporting.
• D. Daniels (Gade Road)Opposes · Property taxes and pool purchase
  Opposes steep tax increases and recommends a referendum on the pool purchase, more housing, and business development to broaden the tax base.
• A resident (Langford)Opposes · Property taxes
  Asks council to rethink the tax increase, warning that family financial strain could worsen student bullying and limit access to food and school supplies.
• Kay Robinson (Paige Apneo)Mixed · Community gardens and Financial Plan
  Supports community gardens and the tax increase despite concerns, and suggests expanding Glen Lake access as density grows.
• Bill Jameson (Rowles Crescent)Supports · Council and policing
  Supports council’s work and argues that tax increases will not resolve policing problems without changes to the justice system.
• A resident (Langford)Opposes · Property taxes
  Opposes the tax increase, saying the added cost could force participation in the food bank despite the community’s existing amenities.
• A residentConcerned · Property taxes and development
  Urges council to spread tax increases over several years, slow development until infrastructure catches up, and ensure growth pays for growth.
• Raymond Glenn (Langford)Asks · Property taxes and environmental fees
  Asks council to keep tax increases near five or six percent and explain continued payments to West Shore Environmental.
• Desmond James (Dornier Road)Supports · Five-year Financial Plan
  Supports using amenity funds for community amenities, especially sidewalks, while urging council to find other ways to reduce residents’ costs.
• Nicholas Joel (Walford Place)Opposes · Sidewalks and Financial Plan
  Questions spending taxpayer funds on sidewalk infill, arguing developers should pay for sidewalks and may later need to replace them.
• A residentSupports · Amenity funds and Financial Plan
  Supports reducing reliance on development revenue despite the personal tax burden, saying the city needs a more sustainable financial approach.

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

Motions (1)

Summary

Council adopted the recommendations for each item on the consent agenda.

Motions (1)

Summary

No items were removed from the Consent Agenda.

Summary

Council closed the meeting to the public under s.90(1)(b) of the Community Charter to consider personal information about an identifiable individual.

Motions (1)

Summary

Council adjourned the meeting at 10:19 p.m.

Motions (1)