MeetingsWed, Mar 5, 20254h 07mCouncil2022–2026 Council
Committee of the Whole
Summary
- Approved 2025–2029 financial plan; reallocated $3.858M and $2M for Woodlands Park and Latoria Road (Financial Plan)
- Directed staff to add four West Shore RCMP officers to five-year plan; Goodmanson and Morley opposed (RCMP)
- Approved hiring nine additional firefighters for 100% staffing at Fire Hall #2 in 2025 (Fire Rescue)
- Directed staff to fund one-time finance and policy term positions from surplus, lowering 2025 tax impact (Staffing)
Decisions
What council voted on, in agenda order.
Directed staff to investigate separating policing and E-Comm tax amounts on the tax notice.
7 · Reports
Vote 7–0Moved by Yacucha, seconded by SzpakApproved the 2025-2029 Five Year Financial Plan as amended, reallocating funds among key projects.
7 · Reports
Vote 7–0Moved by Harder, seconded by WagnerDirected staff to remove building inspections and planning support positions from the plan.
7 · Reports
Vote 7–0Moved by Yacucha, seconded by HarderDirected staff to add four West Shore RCMP members to the five-year financial plan.
7 · Reports
Vote 5–2Opposed: Goodmanson, MorleyMoved by Szpak, seconded by HarderDeferred Sidewalk Infill SW01 $1,200,000 to 2026.
7 · Reports
Vote 4–3Opposed: Guiry, Yacucha, SzpakMoved by Harder, seconded by WagnerApproved hiring nine additional fire department staff in 2025 to fully staff Fire Hall #2.
7 · Reports
Vote 7–0Moved by Szpak, seconded by HarderDirected staff to fund one-time finance and policy support positions from surplus.
7 · Reports
Vote 7–0Moved by Wagner, seconded by YacuchaDirected staff to defer parks support and administration positions to 2026.
7 · Reports
Vote 7–0Moved by Wagner, seconded by HarderDirected staff to cut select discretionary items, defer Goldstream fountain to 2026, and find $100,000.
7 · Reports
Vote 7–0Moved by Harder, seconded by SzpakWithdrawn the proposal to defer SR85 paving of city parking lots ($660,000) to 2026.
7 · Reports
WithdrawnMoved by WagnerDeferred Centennial Park Improvements (PK24) $385,000 to 2026.
7 · Reports
Moved by Guiry, seconded by HarderDeferred City Centre Crosswalk SR95 ($140,000) to 2026.
7 · Reports
Vote 6–1Opposed: YacuchaMoved by Wagner, seconded by GuiryDeferred PD37 Westshore Parkway Trail $500,000.
7 · Reports
Vote 7–0Moved by Yacucha, seconded by HarderRejected the amendment increasing the RCMP addition from four to five members.
7 · Reports
DefeatedVote 3–4Opposed: Harder, Guiry, Yacucha, SzpakMoved by Morley, seconded by WagnerDirected staff to reduce Building Inspection vehicle purchase (BI01) to $100,000.
7 · Reports
Vote 5–2Opposed: Guiry, SzpakMoved by Harder, seconded by WagnerDirected staff to set technology savings: $150,000 (2025), $350,000 (2026), $575,000 (2027), $825,000 (2028).
7 · Reports
Vote 6–1Opposed: GuiryMoved by Wagner, seconded by Yacucha
Agenda
8 items · select one for details, debate and documents
Summary
The Chair called the meeting to order.
Summary
Territorial acknowledgement was read.
Summary
Meeting conduct rules were read.
Summary
Council approved the meeting agenda as presented.
Motions (1)
THAT Committee of the Whole approve the agenda as presented.
Summary
Members of the public addressed budget concerns and priorities; Council voted to extend public participation for second-time speakers.
Who spoke (21)
- Mike WignellConcerned · Budget leadership
Urges council to challenge staff and provide stronger leadership to control rising taxes and improve budget decisions. - Jerry PattersonAsks · Taxes and economic uncertainty
Asks council to consider possible job losses and rising costs when setting tax increases. - Wendy Hollis (Luxon Highway)Opposes · Budget priorities and Woodland property
Opposes spending on the Woodland property without a full business plan and urges funding for public safety and safer school routes. - S. RossanderConcerned · Staffing and training budgets
Questions staffing requests lacking workload data and suggests reducing the overall training budget. - Fraser JohnsonMixed · Online payments and EDI training
Asks council to fund online payments for city fees while retaining equity, diversity, and inclusion training. - Wendy BowersOpposes · Spending and policing
Opposes discretionary spending and asks council to fund the required complement of RCMP officers. - Sandy SeifertConcerned · Budget priorities
Questions staffing increases and Woodland costs, and urges council to trim spending amid economic uncertainty. - Lisa FoxallOpposes · Taxes and business spending
Opposes tax increases for consultants and additional staff, and urges lower taxes and reduced business costs. - Mike MortonAsks · Taxes and spending
Asks council to defer expenditures where possible and keep taxes low during economic uncertainty. - Chris BoxelSupports · Taxes and spending
Supports making substantial spending cuts and lowering taxes, citing Langford’s response to past financial crises. - Ren LouieAsks · Financial plan
Asks council to cut the budget where possible while protecting essential services such as policing and firefighting. - Wendy Hawes (Lexner Road)Concerned · Travel, training, and public engagement
Urges council to reduce travel and spending so families can manage costs, and calls for respectful treatment of residents. - Lisa FoxallConcerned · Budget process and city fees
Criticizes the YMCA analysis and policing-budget process, and asks for due diligence and accessible payment options for fees. - S. RossanderAsks · Budget engagement
Asks council to hold town halls where residents can discuss budget issues and exchange information directly. - Chris FoxhallSupports · Policing and community response
Supports exploring community-based response services that could help residents while reducing pressure on RCMP resources. - L. PlompSupports · Consultants and fire services
Supports consultants for needed planning work and funding 24-hour staffing at the nearby fire hall. - Mike WignellAsks · Budget and economic uncertainty
Asks council to decide how to respond to uncertain economic conditions and their potential effects on residents. - Sandy SeifertConcerned · Budget priorities
Urges council to reduce spending on plans and consultants while preserving police and fire priorities. - PerryConcerned · Planning, staffing, and transparency
Questions claims about missing plans and staffing needs, and calls for greater transparency and support for community recreation. - B. ArmstrongMixed · Malahat property and policing
Asks council to reduce maintenance spending on the Malahat property, consider deferring a position, and improve local policing accountability. - Ren LouieSupports · Public safety and reconciliation
Supports investment in RCMP and fire services and proposes considering a one-percent reconciliation tax option.
Summarized from the meeting video. Names use checked registry spellings; unconfirmed names appear as “A resident”.
Motions (1)
THAT Committee of the Whole extend the public participation for all second time speakers.
Summary
Council adopted the February 20, 2025 Committee of the Whole minutes.
Motions (1)
THAT the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held February 20, 2025, be adopted as circulated.
Summary
Multiple amendments and directions were made to the proposed 2025-2029 financial plan, and the Five-Year Financial Plan was approved as amended.
Motions (17)
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to investigate the possibility of showing the portion of the tax increase related to Policing and E-Comm, to be separate from the general tax increase and report these findings to Council.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council approve the 2025-2029 Five Year Financial Plan as presented, factoring in the resolutions from the February 20, 2025, Committee of the Whole Meeting, and with the following amendment: a. That for PD55, Woodlands Park, the Growing Communities Fund funding be reduced by $3,858,000 and replaced by Parks and Open Spaces Reserve; and b. That, SR96, Latoria Rd Corridor Upgrades, the amount from the Growing Communities Fund be increased by $2,000,000 and that the Gas Tax Funding for this project be reduced by the same amount; and c. That, PD59, Community Amenity Space, the amount from Debt be reduced by $1,858,000 and funding from the Growing Communities Fund be increased by the same amount.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to amend the proposed five-year financial plan as follows: THAT the proposed positions in the building inspections and the planning supports be removed from the proposed five-year financial plan.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to amend the five-year financial plan in relation to the West Shore RCMP to include addition of 4 members.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to amend the proposed five-year financial plan as follows: THAT Capital Budget item SW01 Sidewalk Infill, $1,200,000, be deferred to 2026.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to approve an additional 9 fire department staff be hired in 2025, with 100% staffing at Fire Hall #2, in the proposed five-year financial plan.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to amend the proposed five-year financial plan as follows: THAT one-time term positions in the finance and policy support areas be funded by surplus.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to amend the proposed five-year financial plan as follows: THAT the proposed positions in the parks support and administration areas be deferred to 2026
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to amend the proposed five-year financial plan as follows: That the following items be reduced from the previously proposed amounts: 1. Christmas decoration additions from $60,000 to $30,000; 2. MODO car share from $42,000 to $5,000; 3. Westshore Arts Council from $37,250 to $10,000; AND That the Goldstream Avenue fountain repairs and maintenance be deferred to the 2026 draft financial plan. AND THAT staff be directed to find an additional savings of $100,000 within the Miscellaneous items.
THAT Capital Budget item SR85 Paving City Parking Lots, $660,000, be deferred to 2026.
THAT Capital Budget item PK24 Centennial Park Improvements, $385,000, be deferred to 2026.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to amend the proposed five-year financial plan as follows: THAT Capital Budget item SR95 City Centre Crosswalk, $140,000, be deferred to 2026.
AMENDMENT: THAT the main motion be amended by adding Capital Budget item PD37 Westshore Parkway Trail, $500,000.
AMENDMENT: THAT the main motion be amended by changing 4 to 5 members.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to amend the proposed five-year financial plan as follows: THAT Capital Budget item BI01 Building Inspection Vehicle Purchase, be reduced to $100,000.
THAT Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct staff to amend the proposed five-year financial plan as follows: THAT the proposed savings towards future technology upgrades be amended as follows: $150,000 in 2025, $350,000 in 2026, $575,000 in 2027 and $825,000 in 2028.
THAT Committee of the Whole extend the meeting for 10 minutes.
Documents (2)
March 4, 2025 Finance department report providing additional information and follow-up on the Proposed 2025-2029 Financial Plan, addressing Committee motions from Feb 20 and options to reduce the proposed tax increase.
Staff Report to Committee of the Whole — 2025-2029 Proposed Financial Plan
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Page 8–25BACKGROUND
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Page 8–25COMMENTARY - Part 1 of 3
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Page 8–25COMMENTARY - Part 2 of 3
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Page 8–25COMMENTARY - Part 3 of 3
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Page 8–25ITEMS DEFERRED TO THIS MEETING
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Page 8–25CAPITAL
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Page 8–25FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
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Page 8–25LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
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Page 8–25STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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Page 8–25OPTIONS
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Page 8–25February 20, 2025 Finance department report presenting the Proposed 2025-2029 Five-Year Financial Plan for deliberation with background on CPI, updated population, operating and capital budgets, and public input summary.
Staff Report to Committee of the Whole
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Page 26–37Executive Summary
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Page 26–37Background
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Page 26–37Commentary
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Page 26–37Summary of Key 2025 Budget Items
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Page 26–37Capital Budget
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Page 26–37Financial Implications
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Page 26–37Legal Implications
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Page 26–37Strategic Plan Alignment
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Page 26–37Options
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Page 26–37Submitted By
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Page 26–37Attachments
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Page 26–37Summary
Committee of the Whole meeting was adjourned at 11:10 pm.
Motions (1)
THAT Committee of the Whole adjourn the meeting.