City Council Meeting Summary

The meeting focused on presenting the proposed 2026 operating and capital budget, advancing stormwater fee modernization, continuing transit improvements, and emphasizing community engagement and core service delivery. A key action was deferring final consideration of the budget to subsequent meetings, with public input sessions scheduled and a confirmatory bylaw subsequently addressed.

Five Most Important Topics Discussed

• Proposed 2026 Operating and Capital Budget

  • The mayor stated the budget aligns with the four-year strategic plan and protects essential services. Quote: “This budget protects the services that our community counts on and advances our unanimously adopted four-year strategic plan.” The budget aims to keep tax impacts below CPI, with a proposed property tax increase of 1.96%, which is lower than neighboring municipalities.

• Stormwater Management Fee Modernization

  • Introduction of a new dedicated stormwater fee phased in to reflect each property’s runoff impact. Quote: “For years, these costs were paid through the tax base with all properties contributing the same regardless of how much runoff they produced.” This is intended to ensure long-term funding to protect homes, businesses, and natural assets from flooding.

• Transit Improvements

  • Budget continues free transit for youth and seniors, contributing to ridership reaching over 5 million annual trips. Quote: “An initiative introduced two years ago that has contributed to transit ridership surpassing 5 million annual trips.”

• Community Engagement in Budget Planning

  • Emphasized resident input shaping budget priorities through consultations, emails, conversations, and delegations. Quote: “The insights shared by residents and the CLRT helped shape our key priorities and strengthen the recommendations before council.”

• Maintaining Core Services

  • Budget maintains funding for fire protection, transit, parks, recreation, libraries, and seniors programming. Quote: “We remain committed to continuing to deliver the high-quality services residents expect.”

File Numbers Discussed: No specific file numbers were mentioned in these sections.

Opportunities for Public Input

• Public delegations are scheduled for December 11 at 6:30 p.m. and December 15, where residents can provide input on the proposed 2026 budget.

Motions Passed, Rejected, or Deferred

• Motion to Receive (budget materials or item) — Passed without objection. Quote from discussion: “Is there any objection to the motion to receive? Mr. Clerk, there's no objection. The motion to receive carries.”
• Consideration of the Proposed 2026 Operating and Capital Budget — Deferred for council consideration during meetings on December 11th and December 15th. Next steps include public delegations and a council vote during those meetings.
• Receive Budget Materials for Future Consideration — Status: Awaiting a seconder and decision at the time of this transcript.
• Minor Change to Fund Winter Recreation Program — Status: Supported by Councillor Adams; no final decision recorded in this section.
• Confirmatory Bylaw — Passed. Quote: “The clerk is saying that we need the confirmatory bylaw. Who would like to...Counselor Longo, Counselor Grant? Any objection? Mr. Clerk, the confirmatory bylaw is considered read and passed.”

Councillors Present

• Councillor Adams
• Councillor Chisum
• Councillor Romero
• Councillor Longo
• Councillor Grant
• Absent: Councillors DK and Nandith
• Mayor was presiding over the meeting (Your Worship)