Prior to the meeting there was some chatter amongst committee members about rats eating benches on a Langford Trolley, of which 8 were caught and an unspecified number may still be at large.

A public participation session was added to the agenda (there isn’t normally one at Transportation and Public Works meetings).

A question from the public was made about Langford’s plans to spend $120K in stormwater drainage money on what appeared to be work she had to do as part of a development on her property. There was uncertainty between the staff and the committee about exactly what was being done where, and it was recommended by staff that it be conditionally improved pending clarification that there is no duplication here.

A local resident doing a development on her property asked why some development in South Langford are getting access to stormwater management funds, and others not. The three developments on Walfred are not getting access to these funds.
Developer Les Bjola characterises it as “Marwood and upstream is getting no help, and Marwood and downstream is getting all the help.”

Les Bjola has noted that failing to recommend approval of the capital plan “would be folly,” but he’s looking for fairness between upstream and downstream development. Engineer Michelle Mahavolich indicates that part of the issue is that the downstream improvements have been previously approved and been part of previous five year plans, whereas the new upstream development was not planned for in the stormwater management plans, and that development in South Langford is required to deal with their own stormwater. Les Bjola notes that some of the stormwater issues of new development are pre-existing problems and developers shouldn’t be 100% penalized.

The budget has a plan for two electronic advertising signs, a single-sided sign “on the North Side of the Highway” and a double-sided sign at Goldstream and Veteran’s Memorial.

Planned expansion of the E&N Rail Trail down to near the View Royal border, $90K in design costs in 2010 and a $3 million construction budget for 2011.

“Redo this roundabout properly to allow proper movement of things like fire trucks and the snow plow” at the Peatt/Brock intersection, to occur with development happening on the East side of the intersection on Peatt.

- $20K for drainage improvements on Station Rd.

- $40K per year for installing “seeping” manholes and catch basins to improve drainage in areas where piping is impractical.

Trolley budget (funded from Langford’s share of the gas tax):
2009 = $198,800
2010 = $246,500

Beautification budget
2009 = $72,900
2010 = $104,500

A request from Winnie Sifert for the engineering department to do a presentation before Council sometime in the new year in stormwater funding priorities in South Langford, noting significant confusion, and that despite a great deal of discussion “I feel like I know nohing about it.”

$100K budgeted for installing light dimming devices for the early morning hours, with Millstream Road selected as a location for a trial.

Engineering has proposed that a Street Atlas be compiled and made available for view at City Hall.

West Shore Parks and Rec budget is looking for a sizable increase for one-time maintenance costs. Recommended by the committee for approval, as long as it’s made clear tha this increased amount isn’t to form the basis for next year’s budget.

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, Tuesday @ 4:45 p.m.

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE, Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Look at the times. Those are some quick meetings, especially the first one and especially if you figure they should build in extra time in case the meetings go over time.