Monday May 4, 2020 ~ LANGFORD [Updated 1:35 pm & 7:35 pm May 5, 2020]
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
City of Langford Council met this evening Monday May 4 in Council chambers but with Mayor Stew Young and a few councillors and some staff. Dialing in by Zoom-enabled teleconference were 21 members of the public including applicants/developers, and media.
This meeting format is part of the physical distancing measures being taken by the municipality during COVID-19. The public portion of the meeting began at 5:30 pm (following an in-camera meeting that started at 5 pm), and lasted about 28 minutes. | Agendas & Minutes
It was a longer agenda than for some recent council meetings in the last few months during COVID-19, but sped along with most of the usual efficiency for which Langford council meetings are known.
Rezoning for higher-density usage and omnibus adjustments:
Staff reports were heard (and associated bylaws later approved) for rezoning for projects on Meaford Avenue (from R1 One-Family Residential to MUE4 Mixed-Use Employment 4 to allow for multi-family residential and/or commercial development) and Orono Avenue (from R1 One-Family Residential to MU2 (Mixed-Use Residential Commercial to allow for a 46-unit apartment building).
There was some good consolidation and adjustment of community planning zoning (Bylaw 1864 – Omnibus Amendment to Zoning Bylaw 300 to Combine Various Residential Zones and Bylaw 1904 – Omnibus No 51 – City Centre Zones). First reading for both.
Alternate Tax Collection Scheme:
Where the direction of the meeting had the most evident steam was with various impacts of COVID-19 on tax revenues and a range of expenses.
Langford Council approved their Alternate Tax Collection Scheme this evening, devised in response to the highly-impacted economic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Property taxes will go up 1.9% this year. That’s just a bit lower than the increases of the last few years which ranged between 2.0% and 2.5%. Tax increases are considered normal during times of city growth. As more properties are developed and more residents come to live here (population now over 42,000) there are additional expenses to cover including maintenance of roads, bike lanes, trails, culverts, lighting, signage, recreational facilities, policing, bylaw enforcement, and overall administration.
“We will manage this year as best we can,” said Mayor Young during the public participation portion of the council meeting. “It’s uncertain as to where we’re going (in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic economic impacts). “But 80% of businesses are still working, and 80% of the population is working, some at home,” said Stew Young.
Economy is durable in Langford during COVID-19:
Langford has a strong construction sector, which is a sector that was never shut down by orders of the Provincial Health Officer during the pandemic. “A higher number of people actually are still working in our community. We’re very busy with construction, which is very helpful to us in this situation,” he said in response to a media question from West Shore Voice News.
“We added RMCP officers, and money to all normal budgets every year. There’s no really cutbacks,” said Mayor Young. “We will maintain business as usual during COVID, as long as it’s safe to do so. They won’t be a hit unless something really drastic happens or something happens in next three months.”
“We hoping for the best,” he said, adding that there had been a lot of discussion with senior staff as to how the municipality would move forward given overall economic uncertainties, and an extended commercial property tax deadline imposed by the Province.
Five-Year Financial Plan adjusted for lower tax increase in 2020:
Bylaw No 1894 for the 2020-2024 Five-Year Financial Plan and Bylaw No 1895 for 2020 Tax Rates were passed at tonight’s Council meeting.
Due to the current COVID-related economic uncertainties, the earlier proposed tax increase of 3.49% was dropped to 1.9% which will essentially cover intended increases for additional hires in police and fire.
The five-year plan had included the first year of a five-year plan for a 1% annual tax increase that would initially be used to fund land-banking purchases in the downtown core; after five years the annual 1% increases would roll into Asset Replacement Reserves to provide funding for an Asset Management Plan that will be required by the Provincial and Federal Governments.
The additional 0.49% was to cover increased costs of service due to inflation and growth of the city.
It was stated in a staff report that “upon further analysis, some actuals may end up lower than budgeted and others may be higher”. Overall the city thinks it can get buy with the 1.9% increase, drawing upon investment reserves as required.
“The 1.9% increase that helps pay for increases like front line workers, first responders and programs that we have. We haven’t cut any services. We’ll stay in business the best we can,” said Stew Young, who for 28 years as mayor has run his city like a business.
Young says the 1.9% increase is tailored more to a police services increase, adding that it’s as low as they could go. And he also complimented the fire department first responders. “And with what we’ve been dealt with, staff have done an exceptional job.”
“These are some pretty unusual circumstances (during COVID-19). There is a bit of money still to play with throughout the year,” he said. Money will be draw from investment reserves as required to get through to the October 1 commercial/industrial property tax deadline. “We needed to change direction based on what happened. The budget will be good through the whole year,” the mayor said.
Public safety is important to Mayor Young, going through the pandemic. “There will be enough resources for the people,” he said in response to West Shore Voice News media questions. “Hopefully the provincial and federal governments continue to support workers and small businesses in our community,” he said. BC has topped up the federal CERB program with a rental supports and a one-time emergency worker benefit.
Property tax deadlines firm, but penalty dates adjusted:
The deadline for property taxes for all municipalities in BC (as set by the Province) is usually the next day after the July 1 statutory holiday. This year that is Thursday July 2 for all property classes. After the deadline the provincially-mandated penalty is usually 10%.
Due to economic pressures related to COVID-19, recently the BC Government issued an order that Class 4 – major industry, Class 5 – light industry, Class 6 – Business/Other, Class 7 – Managed Forest Lands, and Class 8 – Non-profit/recreation will not be subject to a penalty until after October 1, 2020. The BC Government has left it up to each municipality to decide how they will handle the tax collection penalties for Class 1 – residential, Class 2 – utilities, Class 3 – supportive housing, and Class 9 – farm.
The City of Langford presented a thorough rationale in their May 4 meeting agenda for why they are still going to insist that residential property taxes be paid in accordance with the usual day-after-Canada-day-weekend deadline. They don’t want property owners to think that things are any different with monies owed, even during a pandemic.
There have been many financial supports to individuals and several directives (voluntary, mind you) to banks to provide mortgage deferrals and other forms of lending with a variety of possible breaks (including interest rate and start-date for repayment considerations).
As well, many people pay their taxes throughout the year (set aside as a portion paid along with their monthly mortgage payments), and so for many property owners it’s not a matter of coming up with the money all of a sudden during COVID-impacted economic conditions.
And there’s a practical reason. The City will need to have enough funds by August 1 to pay tax remittances to other tax authorities (CRD, CRHD, School, BC Assessment, BC Transit and MFA).
- For residential, utilities, supportive housing and farm (Classes 1, 2, 3 and 9), in 2020 taxes are due July 2. But the usual 10% penalty for late payment of property taxes will not be immediately after July 2. At tonight’s meeting, the City of Langford adjusted the tax penalty so that 5% is not due until August 1 and on any amount owing another 5% penalty would be applied as of October 1, 2020.
- For major industry, light industry, business/other,
managed forest lands, and non-profit/recreation (Classes 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) there will be a penalty of 5% on outstanding balances as of October 1, 2020 and an additional 5% penalty on any balance owing as of December 1, 2020. This encourages businesses to pay by the regular due date but allows for any who can’t afford to or do not wish to, will not have a penalty applied until October 1 as per the Provincial decision; this allows an additional two months before the full 10% penalty is applied.
Another extension for Victoria Contracting:
Tonight Langford Council extended their contract with Victoria Contracting for parks, boulevards and trails maintenance by another three months to July 31, 2020 (on the tail of two 6-month extension renewals).
Langford’s participation in West Shore Parks & Recreation:
Langford as a member-owner of West Shore Parks & Recreation will participate in the upcoming WSPR Annual General Meeting on June 18. For about two years now, the board has been attended by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of each of the five member-municipalities (Langford, Colwood, Highlands, View Royal and Metchosin).
Langford contributes about half the revenue levy of all the member municipalities, as the formula has until now been based on a per-capita contribution formula. WSPR has recently received two grants (leading to adjustment of a previous budget for the year) and will be applying for more grants (which is done through the City of Colwood where the facility is located).
An Active Transportation grant was submitted to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure toward securing $10,000 which would cover half the cost to install a new bike shelter in front of the JDF Rec Centre entrance.
No COVID-related enforcement bylaw finalization:
There was no mention of a few bylaws having to do with physical distancing and application of that in the business community; relevant bylaws as passed or awaiting approval from previous meetings were decidedly and quietly set aside a few weeks ago. The provincial health authorities are dealing with enforcement of Orders of the Provincial Health Officer during COVID-19.
Flight Cannabis aiming to set up shop on Langford Parkway:
A report was received by Council about a company named Flight Cannabis Co to be given a temporary use permit to operate a non-medicinal cannabis retail store at 101-977 Langford Parkway.
Correspondence from the Greater Victoria Public Library Board:
Council received correspondence from the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) Board about the GVPL’s 2020 Budget and Five-Year Financial Plan. The letter was dated November 14, 2019 and cited a 3.9% levy increase on its 10 member municipalities.
The City of Langford’s share of the 2020 requisition was to be $1,930,654 which is based on converted assessment values and population,including rental adjustment. Building maintenance costs budgeted to be paid on Langford’s behalf is an additional $67,025. There are two GVPL branches in Langford: Goudy (on Goldstream in the city core) and Heritage (in the a building shared with the Victoria Conservatory of Music in Westhills).
No DCC item for now:
An item was cancelled off the agenda that would have seen consideration of a McCallum Road Development Cost Charge Agreement.
Next council meeting:
The next regularly scheduled Langford council meeting is set for Monday June 1 at 5:30 pm. Dial-in for the public will be available.