Monday’s Council Meeting
Posted by Steven Hurdle on February 14, 2010
The agenda is up for tomorrow’s Langford Council Meeting. All four parts of a relatively long agenda are now available in the Inside Langford Files area.
10-02-15 Council Meeting agenda part1of4
10-02-15 Council Meeting agenda part2of4
10-02-15 Council Meeting agenda part3of4
10-02-15 Council Meeting agenda part4of4
Highights include:
- a public hearing on “BYLAW NO. 1194, Langford Zoning Bylaw, Amendment No. 245, (2732 Matson Road), 2008″.
- a Citizen Award of Merit presented by Councillor Blackwell (Chair of Protective Services)
- Olympic Dream Give Away, Tickets for Two – Ladies Slalom Alpine Skiing (File No. 8100-01)
- a report on a “Permit Request for Organized Motorcycle Ride for Dad”
- a report on an “Application to Rezone 3365 Happy Valley Road from AG1 (Agricultural 1) Zone to RM7A (Medium-Density Apartment A)”
- a report on an “Application to rezone 936 Flatman Avenue (McCormick Meadows) from AG1 (Agriculture 1) to a new Comprehensive Development zone to allow for the development of approximately 501 residential units.”
- and correspondence from the JDF Cycle Coalition on several proposals to allow larger numbers of bicycles to be accomodated on BC Transit buses that they hope Langford Council will support.
Cheryl McLachlan said
At this Monday night Council meeting Council will be considering the recommendation from the COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE:
Staff report: “The proposed 3.65% tax increase in the face of increased costs for growing infrastructure and the difficulties of the current economic environment has been a challenge.”
Mayor Stew Young commented during the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting that, “the highest paying jobs in Langford are the trades,” and that, “taxes in Langford would be 12-13% if there is not enough housing starts. Last Dec. 2008 there were only 2 housing starts.” However, “due to the Langford Economic Strategy this past Dec. 2009 there was a flurry of activity with a record 60 housing starts. Jan. 2010 had 39 or 40 housing starts.” Mayor Young explained that, “to return to the low tax rate of 0-1% the City of Langford needs to maintain steady growth by keeping the housing starts within the historical average of 30-40 starts each month.”
Jebby said
This is exactly what’s wrong with Langford and exactly why Langford is, in general, content the way it is. “The highest paying jobs in Langford are the trades” so basically much like professional sports the highest paid people are the ones with the least education. What happens when people don’t want to buy into Langford anymore (like now)? What happens when Langford runs out of space? Perhaps you can bulldoze houses and build higher density units. The problem is the short sighted thinking by the Mayor and council. Langford has dug itself a hole and instead of working their way out they are buying their way out (with the communities money).
Johann Bessler said
“Mayor Young explained that, “to return to the low tax rate of 0-1% the City of Langford needs to maintain steady growth by keeping the housing starts within the historical average of 30-40 starts each month.””
Oh that sounds really sustainable. I guess Stew just has to keep it running until he’s gone, then it’s just everyone else’s problem.
no longer shocked said
If the friends of council would pay their tax bills perhaps we could all breathe easier, knowing the coffers are as full as they should be.
Its sad that already the mini house neighbourhoods are losing their owners. Folks move in, loving a nice house of their own, quickly find they have no storage space, no parking for guests, no place for kids to play, and the charm of passing a roll of TP between bathroom windows with their neighbours quickly wears off. I personally know of three families who have already moved out as they can’t find room for a second child. Very sad for the idea of sustainable neighbourhoods. Guess that isn’t in the plan either
Sam Snipes said
You can’t fault Les in this. He is going to build what he can make the most profit on. It is up to buyers to vote with their wallets and let others know of their experiences.
no longer shocked said
Yes, we can fault developers who pretend to support the greater good, and spout platitudes about best for families, sustainable and green neighbourhoods, and yet are really just squeezing every laast $$ at the expense of everyone. And we can fault Langford elected officials who support these developers at the expense of taxpayers who hve clearly advisd their wishes and expectations. Unfortunately, too many people in this community don’t pay attention until it hits their own situations and then its too late. Voting does not come fast enough.
maverick said
What do you mean voting does not come fast enough?
Stu and all of the other elected officials that we voted into office last election will look forward to another term if they wish to run.I am sure that the great job they are doing now will continue into the future and langford will continue to grow and become a very vibrant community for all of us to enjoy.
Anonymous said
“to return to the low tax rate of 0-1% the City of Langford needs to maintain steady growth by keeping the housing starts within the historical average of 30-40 starts each month.”
Definition of a Ponzi scheme. When fresh money stops coming in, the whole house of cards collapses. Bernie Madoff anyone. It’s a scam pure and simple. It’s like in Alice, where you have to keep running at breakneck speed, just to stay in place. We were warned and we will have to pay for it.
no longer shocked said
Perhaps Langford can review other areas of expense….ie cancel the unnecessary fountain and circle on Goldstream that will do nothing but clog traffic. An electric fountain pumping gallons of water is not the greenest expense. Perhaps an audit of where the money goes….
Tick Tock said
I agree, another waste of taxpayers money( yes Stu it the taxpayers money, not yours. If you and council are raising money on behalf of the citizens by selling rezoning the proceeds are ours and we should have some significant say as to how this money is spent,don’t you think?)
Once this project is complete one will have 3 clocks in town( city hall,fire hall)so that when the eventual financial mess at City Hall is obvious for all to see they’ll know it’s “time to get out of Dodge”.
Maybe we can use the Langford Trolley as a tour buse to bring all that ridership to see this wonderful “build it and they will come ” structure.The only problem is that this million dollar trolley bus experiment doesn’t come with passengers!!!!
Tick Tock said
I hate to appear sinister but at least this clock will block the views to Skirt Mountain when it is being “clear cut” to make way for another “block buster” of a development…tick tock,tick tock,tick tock
LOL said
Haven’t checked the comments on this site for a long time, but not surprising it’s still the usual bunch of negative posters throwing stones at the people who are making Langford a better community. “Get a life people”
longtimer said
First post and viewing of this site. Lol let me tell you that while there is some negativity there is also the reality that you can’t spend forever and taxpayers are not cash cows. It takes vision to create a vibrant community but it appears that vision has been clouded in recent years. We cannot rely on or have business and developers fund projects and maintain all of the new sports complexes, trails and infrastructure in our community endlessly. Affordability will go out the window if there is an expectation that developers have to pony up for services and recreation in the municipality. Our children are already struggling to find affordable housing in the community. Citizens need to wake up and realize there is nothing free in life and eventually the bills come due! Spend the money buying up more greenspace, linking our sidewalks to nowhere and maintaining the existing infrastructure in Langford and stop wasting money on clock towers! How about purchasing garbage and recycling containers for the bus stops along Jacklin – the garbage litters the ground. LOL I guess you live in the part of Langford that isn’t choked with cars, plagued with dirt and debris on the roadway and he air from cement operations or under threat of increased density next door. I have loved Langford for years but I’m losing that loving feeling.
jebby said
I guess the free parking in Langford that Stew brags about won’t last forever.
@LOL: Judging from your name I’d say you’re probably too young to see through the BS. In what ways is it a better community? There’s more crappy stores you can buy stuff at now? Perhaps it’s the hordes of completely disaffected individuals wandering around in these said stores. Maybe it’s the mountains of pavement? Perhaps it’s all the new people attracted to the Western Communities that have the “You can buy happiness” mentality.