Staff Report: Proposed Statutory Officers and Delegation of Authority Bylaw No. 2260, 2026

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The purpose of this report is to present the proposed “Statutory Officers and Delegation of Authority Bylaw No. 2260, 2026” for Committee’s consideration and recommendation to Council.

The proposed bylaw is intended to enhance Council’s strategic priority of good governance by:

• clarifying the roles and responsibilities of statutory officers;
• repealing two obsolete bylaws and repealing and incorporating five existing bylaws which delegate authority to staff;
• ensuring expenditure is in alignment with Council’s Financial Plan and the proposed Purchasing Policy; and
• specifying which positions are authorized to execute certain types of contracts, agreements, and other documents.

BACKGROUND:

Pursuant to the Community Charter, every municipality must establish a Corporate Officer and Financial Officer position and may establish other officer positions, and assign powers, duties and functions to each officer’s position. Subject to certain limitations, Council may also delegate its powers, duties and functions to an officer or employee of the City.

The current “Officers Bylaw No. 1880, 2021” (Attachment 2), adopted in June 2021 and amended in July 2024, addresses officer positions pursuant to the Community Charter, identifies municipal employees who must make written disclosure pursuant to the Financial Disclosure Act, and contains some general provisions regarding delegated authority.

Both the Community Charter and the Local Government Act contain provisions for Council to delegate certain authority to staff. In practice, many operational decisions, such as the issuance of licences and permits for street uses, or the issuance of development permits, are delegated to staff.

Currently, the City has multiple bylaws which delegate authority to various positions. In undertaking a review of the City’s bylaws against other municipalities’ officers and delegation of authority bylaws, staff have identified an opportunity to review, consolidate, update, or repeal several bylaws which delegate authority.

Staff are recommending the current “Officers Bylaw No. 1880, 2021” be repealed and replaced.

COMMENTARY:

Pursuant to the Community Charter, a Council must establish statutory officer positions for the Corporate Officer and Financial Officer. A Council may also establish the officer positions of Chief Administrative Officer and assign the powers, duties and functions set out in the legislation to that officer position.

The Community Charter also provides that a Council may establish other officer positions. Historically the City has established all Director positions as officers, and that practice is continued in the proposed bylaw.

Staff have completed a comprehensive review of the City’s delegation of authority bylaws and the current “Officers Bylaw No. 1880, 2021”, and are proposing the new “Statutory Officers and Delegation of Authority Bylaw No. 2260, 2026”, which includes the following key provisions:

(1) Revising and Consolidating Outdated Bylaws

The proposed bylaw incorporates and expands on the current “City of Langford Officers Bylaw No. 1880, 2021” which:

• establishes the statutory officer positions and details the duties and responsibilities of the CAO, Corporate Officer, and Financial Officer;
• states which positions are required to make written disclosure pursuant to the Financial Disclosure Act; and
• provides for the delegation of certain Council authority.

In addition, the proposed bylaw repeals two bylaws, and incorporates four bylaws with updated references to the revised statutes as applicable.

The proposed bylaw repeals the following:

• “Counter Petition Delegation Authorization Bylaw, 2001, No. 557” – this bylaw is now obsolete as the counter petition process no longer exists and has been replaced by the assent voting and alternative approval process, which is captured in other bylaws.
• “District of Langford Official Community Plan Consultation Delegation Bylaw, 2001, No. 618” – the legislation now requires the City to undertake consultation with respect to the Official Community Plan, and Council delegation is not required.

The proposed bylaw incorporates the following, resulting in repeal of the individual bylaws:

• “Langford City Hall Strata Property Delegation Bylaw No. 991, 2005” – this bylaw has been incorporated into the proposed bylaw under section 13, with updated provisions to account for changes to strata property ownership, and account for any new strata property the City may acquire within the City Hall strata.
• “City of Langford Servicing Agreement Delegation Bylaw, 2004, No. 898” – this bylaw has been incorporated into the proposed bylaw under section 14, and the substantive provisions remain the same, but with updated legislation references to match Local Government Act revisions.
• “City of Langford Servicing Officer Designation Bylaw No. 2247, 2025” – This bylaw was adopted in August 2025 with the introduction of sections 513.2 and 513.3 of the Local Government Act, and B.C. Reg. 15/2025. This bylaw has been incorporated into the proposed bylaw under section 15, and the substantive provisions remain the same.
• “District of Langford Development Permit Delegation Bylaw, 2000, No. 449” – this bylaw has been incorporated into the proposed bylaw under section 16, and the substantive provisions remain the same. Section 17 and Schedule “B” of the proposed bylaw contains the reconsideration provisions required by the Local Government Act.

Incorporating these provisions into the proposed bylaw will promote good governance by clarifying roles and responsibilities, updating references to revised legislation, and consolidating the number of delegating bylaws.

(2) Authority to Execute Contracts and Agreements

The current Officers Bylaw contains high level provisions for the signing of contracts, agreements, transactions, and covenants. Staff have reviewed similar delegation of authority and signing authority bylaws in other municipalities and identified an opportunity to more clearly delineate authority to execute contracts and agreements based on the nature of the document to be signed.

Schedule “A” provides for specific authorities for the following positions:

• The CAO or Corporate Officer, together with the Mayor, must jointly sign any agreement, document, or contract where a Council resolution requires both to sign.
• The CAO may sign in the place of any other employee who is granted signing authority.
• The Corporate Officer may enter into, sign, or discharge documents necessary to complete land purchase or sales approved by Council resolution, as well as agreements and documents intended to be registered or discharged in the Land Title Office, licence to occupy agreements for City owned property, and lease agreements, with certain limitations.
• The Financial Officer may execute agreements and documents related to insurance, borrowing, raising money, banking, grants, taxation, and assessment, as approved by Council.
• The Director of Engineering and Public Works may execute servicing agreements under section 509(2)(b) of the Local Government Act, third-party utility extension agreements, and licence agreements in accordance with the Streets and Traffic Bylaw.
• The Director of Parks, Recreation, and Facilities may execute single-event facility rental agreements for municipal recreation facilities, and rental and licence to occupy agreements for parkland.

(3) Delegated Authority in Other City Bylaws

There are a significant number of other bylaws that contain delegated authority, but which are not being revised at this time.

Overall, the proposed bylaw is intended to enhance the City’s strategic priority of good governance by consolidating and updating bylaws, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and enhancing the tracking of delegated authority.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

There are no known financial implications in respect of the proposed bylaw.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:

Pursuant to the Community Charter, Council must, by bylaw, establish officer positions in relation to the powers, duties and functions of the corporate officer and the financial officer. Council may, by bylaw, establish other officer positions, and may assign powers, duties and functions to those positions.

Subject to the limitations contained in the Community Charter and Local Government Act, Council may, by bylaw, delegate its powers, duties and functions to an officer or employee of the municipality.

There are no noted legal implications in respect of the proposed bylaw.

STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:

5 – Good Governance.

OPTIONS:

Option 1

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommend that Council give first, second and third reading to the proposed City of Langford “Statutory Officers and Delegation of Authority Bylaw No. 2260, 2026” as presented.

OR Option 2

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommend that Council give first, second and third reading to the proposed City of Langford “Statutory Officers and Delegation of Authority Bylaw No. 2260, 2026”, with the following amendments: a. ________________; b. ________________; c. ___________.

OR Option 3

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommend that Council take no action with respect to the proposed City of Langford “Statutory Officers and Delegation of Authority Bylaw No. 2260, 2026” as presented.

SUBMITTED BY:

Richard Wagner, Policy Analyst and Legislative Drafter

Concurrence:

• Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services
• Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development
• Sam Prette, Manager of Contracts and Agreements
• Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
• Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Development
• Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
• Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
• Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services
• Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
• Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer

Attachments:

• Attachment 1 – Proposed “Statutory Officers and Delegation of Authority Bylaw No. 2260, 2026”
• Attachment 2 – Current “City of Langford Officers Bylaw No. 1880, 2021”
• Attachment 3 – Current “Counter Petition Delegation Authorization Bylaw, 2000, No. 557”
• Attachment 4 – Current “District of Langford Official Community Plan Consultation Delegation Bylaw, 2001, No. 618”
• Attachment 5 – Current “City of Langford Servicing Agreement Delegation Bylaw, 2004, No. 898”
• Attachment 6 – Current “District of Langford Development Permit Delegation bylaw, 2000, No. 449”
• Attachment 7 – Current “Langford City Hall Strata Property Delegation Bylaw No. 991, 2005”
• Attachment 8 – Current “City of Langford Servicing Officer Designation Bylaw No. 2247, 2025”