Council approved the 2026–2030 draft Financial Plan, sending it forward for a bylaw, after adding requests for clearer capital priorities and more information about civic-facility costs. The biggest dispute was whether to ask staff to find a way to hold the property-tax increase to 6.5%; that motion failed, with the mayor arguing that the plan funds needed infrastructure and that a small reduction would save little per household. Council also voted to reject an $82,000 increase in the police dispatch budget and ask the Police Board to find equivalent savings, while requesting a presentation from E-Comm. The plan sets out $142 million in five-year capital spending, including infrastructure renewal, sewer and water work, and active transportation projects.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
The mayor called the meeting to order and the agenda was approved without debate. The meeting opened with regrets from Councillors Graham and King; the mayor said Councillor Newton was expected shortly.
Routine: approve the agenda as circulated.
Council recessed its meeting and convened a Committee of the Whole to consider the draft financial plan.
Routine: pause the Council meeting and begin a Committee of the Whole meeting.
Staff presented a five-year plan with $142 million in capital spending. The district’s assets include more than 46 municipal buildings, 140 kilometres of roads, water and sewer networks, and parks; staff said current funding covers about 70% of annual asset-replacement costs, with a goal of full funding by 2032. Planned work includes water-main replacements, completion of Phase 2 of the Brentwood Bay sewer project, design work for the Mount Newton multi-use path, and repairs and planning for Keating Road. Councillors questioned how rising construction costs, debt limits and uncertain land-sale revenue could affect the plan. Staff said the $17 million land-sale estimate for the civic-facility project remains the original forecast; if it falls short, options include facility reserves, borrowing or higher taxes. Councillors also asked for clearer separation of core renewal work from discretionary projects and better forecasts of the civic facility’s operating and lifecycle costs. The Committee of the Whole approved the plan with amendments and directed the Chief Financial Officer to prepare the bylaw.
Before Council begins planning the 2027 budget, staff will report on how the District classifies capital projects as core or discretionary, alongside the 2027 cost review.
Before the 2026 Financial Plan is approved, staff will provide projections for civic facilities that show debt, capital needs and ongoing operating costs over the next 3, 5 and 10 years.
Council will reconsider the motion about the Police Board budget that it made at the March 30 special meeting.
Council will not approve the $82,000 increase for E-Comm dispatch services in the Police Board budget, so the Police Board will need to find $82,000 in savings elsewhere.
The Police Board will be asked to arrange a presentation by E-Comm for Council and the Police Board.
Staff will be asked to propose a budget change that would limit the property tax increase to 6.5% or less.
Approve the amended draft financial plan for 2026–2030 and have the Chief Financial Officer prepare the bylaw for that plan.
The Committee of the Whole adjourned and the Special (Open) Council meeting resumed.
Routine: end the Committee of the Whole meeting and resume the Council meeting.
After the Committee of the Whole adjourned, Council moved to ratify its motions. The transcript records a motion to ratify the three Committee of the Whole motions and shows it carried without opposition.
Council adopted together the three Committee of the Whole motions: have staff report on core and discretionary capital project categories for 2027 planning; provide civic-facility debt, capital and operating cost projections for 3, 5 and 10 years; and approve the amended 2026–2030 draft Financial Plan and have the Chief Financial Officer draft its bylaw.
Council adjourned the Special (Open) Council meeting.
All 12 decisions from the minutes appear under the agenda items above.