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Newsletter July 19.2020 - Council’s Loaded Agendas and Proverb: “Self Praise is No Recommendation”
Newsletter April 22, 2020: Important Information for Oak
Bay Property Taxpayers
Flash Bulletin: District of Oak Bay's Virtual Transparency
Newsletter March 14, 2020: Who is Driving Oak Bay?
Newsletter March 7, 2020: Oak Bay's Worrisome Future
Newsletter February 9, 2020 Housing Needs Report Trumps Community Interest.
Senior Staff Are Recommending WHAT, “Really”?
Heads UP: Update Information for Residents
2020
Newsletter December 16, 2019: Public Interest Defended
Newsletter Nov 15, 2019: Direction and Immediate Action Required
Newsletter Nov 1, 2019: Just How Transparent is Oak Bay Council? Well...... NOTE: Correction Nov 2, 2019 - The 2nd Paragraph date regarding the former CAO leaving the District now reads correctly, "...just after 2019".
Oak Bay Watch - Flash Bulletin: Who is responsible for the District's Transparency and Meeting Scheduling?
Newsletter Sept 19, 2019: Why were you not provided with this important information?
Concerned Residents Community Request & Letter to Council - September 7, 2019
Newsletter August 17, 2019 - Other Districts face the same "Roadblocks" to make positive change.
Council Report July 15, 2019 - A Business Plan Badly Needed
Newsletter July 14, 2019 - Community Heritage and Heritage Revitalization Agreements
July 6, 2019
Newsletter - Where is Oak Bay’s Heritage Really Headed?
July 4, 2019 Newsletter
A Time to Worry - Another good example of irresponsible decision making.
It's Only (Your) Money and Oak Bay's Character
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Newsletter May 17, 2019 - If you follow the wrong track you’ll never achieve the right objectives.
You Better watch out, and you'd better cry - we are telling you why. Council Report.
"Flash Bulletin Request to Residents"
Newsletter May 1, 2019 Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
Bulletin - Secondary Suites Meeting April 25, 2019 & Facts
Newsletter April. 19, 2019: A Plausible Answer to many Resident Questions - Including why is Oak Bay a UDI Member?
Curious About the 8.5% estimated 2019 Budget Increase?
You Should Be
Newsletter: Budget Open House "Failure to Launch"
Council Report March 22, 2019 Oh My: You Must Read This
Newsletter - March 9, 2019 Really! Isn't this a Lot of Tax Dollars to spend to Over-Densify our Single-Family Neighbourhoods?
Newsletter - March 6, 2019 "Suddenly It Was All Very Clear"
Newsletter - February 21, 2019 Council Priorities - Will real change follow?
February 16, 2019 Council Report and Subdivision Process - How Vulnerable are you?
Newsletter February 4, 2019 Problem Identified - No indication easy fix is coming soon
Newsletter January 12, 2019 - Where we were: Where we are: Where do we want to be:
Newsletter January 3, 2019 - "When you are halfway up you are neither up nor down".
Council Report: How many councils does it take to turn on a light bulb? Committee of the Whole, December 12, 2018
Newsletter Dec 7, 2018 and Now for the Good News
Newsletter December 1, 2018 - The Transparency Disconnect
November 20, 2018 Newsletter:
Is Developments Reflecting Oak Bay's Heritage?
Oak Bay Watch - Election Thank You
Newsletter: Election Facts to Consider - Before Voting
Bulletin - Municipal Election 2018 - Whom Shall I vote for?
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BC OMBUDSPERSON INVESTIGATION of
THE DISTRICT OF OAK BAY
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All Candidates Meeting Report - We suggest you read this.
BULLETIN: MORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS at RISK
Newsletter Exposé: The Advisory Planning Commission and the Public Interest.
Oak Bay Watch All Candidates Meeting - You are more powerful than you think
Saturday September 22, 2018 1:00 p.m.
Newsletter August 17, 2018 Subdivision Development - Out of Control and Public Interest Ignored.
Newsletter August 2, 2018 Are the Mayor's Public Engagement Task Forces a "Barrier" to Public Engagement?
Council Report: The Majority of Council versus Public Consultation
Newsletter - July 15, 2018 Transparency & Compromise in "short supply"
Newsletter - June 29, 2018 Who is looking after the Public Interest?
Newsletter - June 22, 2018 ♫ Where Have All the Task Forces Gone? Long Time Passing ♫
Newsletter June 1, 2018 - Council's Backward Planning Process
"The Cart Before the Horse")
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Newsletter May 25, 2018 Oak Bay's Heritage at Risk
Newsletter May 14, 2018 Environment: What Environment?
Newsletter May 5, 2018: The Real 2018 Budget Facts - Council's Advanced 401 Accounting
Newsletter April 21, 2018 “Flash” A 6.9% 2018 BUDGET TAX INCREASE
Newsletter April 11, 2018 - What IS going on at THE HALL?
Newsletter - Two letters We suggest you read.
Council Report: March 12, 2018 You better Watch out (We're telling you why)
Council Report: Feb 26, 2018 - Stage ll Something is Seriously "Amiss"
(More than Previously Reported)
Council Report: Secondary Suites Resolution - Something is Seriously "Amiss"
Newletter: February 24 , 2018 "Flash Bulletin" Information - What's behind this Push to keep residents out of the Secondary Suite Decision?
Oak Bay Watch "Flash" Bulletin: Basement Suites Coming To Your Single-Family Neighbourhood.
Newsletter February 17, 2017 - Council Report: "The Pretend News"
Newsletter Feb 09, 2018 "Reserve Fund Veil of Secrecy" (Council Report Part ll)
Newsletter Feb 02, 2018 : "A Veil of Secrecy". (Council Report Part l)
Newsletter: January 20, 2018 What's Next? and Committee of the Whole Meeting Report
Council Alert - Committee of the Whole Meeting Jan 15, 2018
United Church Development - Resident Concerns.
Newsletter: Jan. 8, 2018 - Time for a change in 2018? Consider this information.
COUNCIL REPORTS: Dec 11, 2017 ".... But you can't fool all of the people all of the time".
Nov 14, 2017 Bulletin: Oak Bay Councillor Kevin Murdoch's achievement recognized.
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Council Meetings: November 20 & 27. 2017 Reports on "Failing Infrastructure" and "Process, What Process"?
Community Benefit Resolution
Newsletter November 16, 2017 The Quest - condos or trees etc? Council Monday Nov 20, 2017-
Council Meeting Oct 23, 2017: Shoreline Protection & Financial Information needed.Council Report: Oct 23, 17 Meeting
Newsletter Oct 20, 2017 - Who is paying for Development ? & Council Report (Oct 16, 2017 Meeting)
Community Letter: Foreshore Degradation Oct 10, 2017
Community Letter : Request for Council Development Plan Oct 10, 2017
Newsletter Sept 24, 2017 - Council Meeting News & Council's new Development Priorities
Newsletter Sept 16, 2017 - Town Hall Meeting & Council News
Town Hall Meeting Notes (Independent Facilitator)
TOWN HALL MEETING - Tuesday SEPT 12, 2017 - Monterey Centre 7:15 pm
"The World is Changed By People that Show Up"
Newsletter Sept 6, 2017 "Pave over paradise and put in a parking lot"
Oak Bay News Letters - Council and Infrastructure "failing Badly"
Newsletter JULY 9, 2017 Council's new Densification Threat - This could impact You.
Newsletter June 15, 2015 Oak Bay News - All the News that's fit to print - not.
Bulletin - Whale Watching Tours Good Idea? - Walk Sunday June 4th, 2017 (See deatails)
Newsletter May 28, 2018 - Can it get any worse than this? Oak Bay Council Report
Newsletter May 20, 2017 Council Reports on Community Impact Decisions
Reports May 12, 2017 (Uncensored) Breaking News - 2017 Budget controversy - Bowker Over -
Development
Newsletter- May 7, 2017 "Oh dear what can the matter be?" (See Newletters top menu)
Newsletter - April 30, 2017 Bowker/Cadboro Bay Over-Developemnt
Newsletter - April 23, 2017 Council's Basement Suite Plan $250,000 - Urban Forest Plan Zero
Newsletter - April 7, 2017 Council's inappropriate Priority Infill Decision.
Newsletter April 1, 2017 - Oak Bay Council: Infrastructure Versus Infill Densification?
Newsletter Mar 23, 2017 Transparency – Oak Bay Council has it covered (literally). see Newsletters
Newsletter March 11th 2017, Council's (New) Backup Development Plan
Newsletter March 1, 2017 Houston Err.. Oak Bay we have a problem.
Newsletter Jan 25, 2017 "Bad news for Oak Bay Residents"
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Advisory Planning Commission recommendation on Abstract Design's Bowker-Bay Foul Proposal
Oak Bay News - November 16, 2016, Excellent Letter to Editor.
IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY - URBAN FOREST CONCERNS (see Attachment - data from Urban Forest Report )
HISTORICAL LANDMARK AT RISK - 1558 Beach Drive
URBAN TREE SURVEY - Weekly Newsletter
INTERESTING ARTICLE - "Oak Bay's finances warrants attention"
INFO SHEET - Timeline of Oak Bay Density (courtesy of resident Stephen Bowker)
INFO SHEET - Protect yourself when BLASTING is happening next door
WEBCAST - 2 easy steps to set up our broadcast reminder
ARTICLE: "Council not listening to residents' concerns".
NewslettersHomeImportant Information for Oak Bay Property Tax Payers
Oak Bay Council’s Annual Budget decisions are usually made at Estimates Committee Meetings in April. However, this year for an unexplained reason and in the midst of the Covid 19 Pandemic, the meetings were held in February and March and identified as Financial Planning Meetings.
Almost six weeks after the March 12, 2020 budget deliberations were concluded and a budget increase of 8.1 % approved by Council, District senior staff recommended keeping all staff on salary as well as hiring more administrative staff. Senior staff also recommended a slight budget reduction of 1.2% as the District’s 2020 Financial Hardship Mitigation contribution. This, if approved by Council, would reduce the 8.1 % increase to 6.9%.
The slight 1.2% budget reduction presumably is because as staff has indicated, “Council is concerned that many residents will not be able to pay this year’s property taxes and this would result in an operational funding shortfall”. And “should revenue decline into subsequent financial periods, the budget gap would need to be addressed through increased taxation or decreased services”.
A Victoria based Taxpayer Association provides the following information in their April 15, 2020 newsletter:
“Most urban centres in Canada have responded to the crisis with budget cuts, layoffs and furloughs including Vancouver (1,500), Surrey (1,900 part-time), Delta (500), Ottawa (4,000 part-time), Calgary (1,200), Quebec City (2,000), Windsor (500), and Edmonton (2,000 non-essential). For a longer list go to Municipal World".
Many businesses, including Westjet and energy companies have laid-off staff. BC Transit has announced service reductions, extensive layoffs (30% to 70% of their workforce) as well as executive pay cuts. All these cuts are to begin this week. BC Ferries, cautious not to lose certified mariners, has furloughed (temporarily laid off ) 500 employees. Business enterprises understand staffing is the #1 business operational expense. They also understand how time-consuming costly, and unproductive it is to make work for stay-at-home staff.
Overview: It is difficult to understand why Oak Bay Council would require the services of so many of the District’s high priced $100,000 + specialized staff. By laying off all not needed staff due to the many service cutbacks, the District would avoid considerable expense. This would go a long way to counteract the funding shortfalls Staff and Council are so concerned about. Temporarily laid-off staff would receive a portion of their salary from the Federal Government thereby placing District staff on a similar footing with the many Oak Bay property taxpayers who have lost their jobs.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
The last Annual Report (2018) reported the District’s staffing costs as $19.7 million. This is far beyond CRD’s comparably-sized municipalities like Esquimalt $12.5 million , Colwood $6.6 million and Central Saanich $5,9 million (See Appendix #1 for more Detail).
Senior staff have had 6 weeks to prepare reports that attempt to justify retaining all staff at current salaries. The Community has had a week to process and respond to long complex staff reports that provide many questionable reasons for retaining all staff at their current salary levels. This is an example of poor communications, especially now the District has recently hired a highly-paid Communications Specialist. Staff also should not have been be placed in a position self-serving .
While retaining all staff at current salaries can be considered a preferred reaction when staff is asked for their budget reduction preference. This is not acceptable as it does not take into account:
The past two Councils were criticized for inadequately funding our Infrastructure while substantially increasing the budget by unprecedented tax increases. This Council has stated their 2019 /2020 7 % tax increases are budget “catch ups” to correct this under-funding.
However, it seems to us that an analysis is required, explaining in detail, exactly what these substantial past increases were used for. For example, it is known that from 2015 to 2019 over a million dollars was budgeted annually for added administration staff and hundreds of thousands of tax dollars were used for expensive consultant contracts. How have Esquimalt, Colwood and Central Saanich managed to keep their staffing costs much much lower?
Council have failed to realize that the unprecedented tax increases are not one-time costs - they raise the tax base and compound year-after-year- after-year. Substantial budget cuts and efficiencies are the only way to maintain sustainable annual budgets. The interests of the Community must come before the interests of staff.
Although the continuing exceptional property tax increases are a major concern on an annual basis, a Staff report has concentrated taxpayer attention on this year's much smaller, slightly reduced and monthly $20 property tax payments. What is lost however, is the real financial danger of our rapidly expanded administration costs and annual budgets.
In 2012 the District budget was $19.2 million this has increased to an estimated $26.5 million in 2020 – This is over $7 million in property tax increases – an average of almost a million dollars a year.
It is important Council recognizes the primary action taken by local governments and private companies all over Canada. That is, laying off not-needed staff is the most by far pragmatic and best financial option available. And in Oak Bay the fairest and most ethical option for Oak Bay taxpayers.
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*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well-informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed please sign up for our “based on facts” newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Appendix #1
District of Colwood
Oak Bay Council’s Annual Budget decisions are usually made at Estimates Committee Meetings in April. However, this year for an unexplained reason and in the midst of the Covid 19 Pandemic, the meetings were held in February and March and identified as Financial Planning Meetings.
- March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared COVID 19 as a pandemic;
- March 12, 2020 the District of Oak Bay concluded 2020 budget deliberations pending adoption of the annual Financial Plan Bylaw;
- March 17, 2020 District began lockdown of Municipal Hall and canceled many services and activated the Emergency Operations Centre;
- March 25, 2020 Federal Government passed an earlier announced Emergency Response Benefit Act that provides laid off workers with income for approximately 4 months;
Almost six weeks after the March 12, 2020 budget deliberations were concluded and a budget increase of 8.1 % approved by Council, District senior staff recommended keeping all staff on salary as well as hiring more administrative staff. Senior staff also recommended a slight budget reduction of 1.2% as the District’s 2020 Financial Hardship Mitigation contribution. This, if approved by Council, would reduce the 8.1 % increase to 6.9%.
The slight 1.2% budget reduction presumably is because as staff has indicated, “Council is concerned that many residents will not be able to pay this year’s property taxes and this would result in an operational funding shortfall”. And “should revenue decline into subsequent financial periods, the budget gap would need to be addressed through increased taxation or decreased services”.
A Victoria based Taxpayer Association provides the following information in their April 15, 2020 newsletter:
“Most urban centres in Canada have responded to the crisis with budget cuts, layoffs and furloughs including Vancouver (1,500), Surrey (1,900 part-time), Delta (500), Ottawa (4,000 part-time), Calgary (1,200), Quebec City (2,000), Windsor (500), and Edmonton (2,000 non-essential). For a longer list go to Municipal World".
Many businesses, including Westjet and energy companies have laid-off staff. BC Transit has announced service reductions, extensive layoffs (30% to 70% of their workforce) as well as executive pay cuts. All these cuts are to begin this week. BC Ferries, cautious not to lose certified mariners, has furloughed (temporarily laid off ) 500 employees. Business enterprises understand staffing is the #1 business operational expense. They also understand how time-consuming costly, and unproductive it is to make work for stay-at-home staff.
Overview: It is difficult to understand why Oak Bay Council would require the services of so many of the District’s high priced $100,000 + specialized staff. By laying off all not needed staff due to the many service cutbacks, the District would avoid considerable expense. This would go a long way to counteract the funding shortfalls Staff and Council are so concerned about. Temporarily laid-off staff would receive a portion of their salary from the Federal Government thereby placing District staff on a similar footing with the many Oak Bay property taxpayers who have lost their jobs.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
The last Annual Report (2018) reported the District’s staffing costs as $19.7 million. This is far beyond CRD’s comparably-sized municipalities like Esquimalt $12.5 million , Colwood $6.6 million and Central Saanich $5,9 million (See Appendix #1 for more Detail).
Senior staff have had 6 weeks to prepare reports that attempt to justify retaining all staff at current salaries. The Community has had a week to process and respond to long complex staff reports that provide many questionable reasons for retaining all staff at their current salary levels. This is an example of poor communications, especially now the District has recently hired a highly-paid Communications Specialist. Staff also should not have been be placed in a position self-serving .
While retaining all staff at current salaries can be considered a preferred reaction when staff is asked for their budget reduction preference. This is not acceptable as it does not take into account:
- Councils concerns about many residents' inability to pay this year’s very high taxes and the resulting shortfall.
- Council’s commitment to: “Minimizing the long-term cost of operations for Oak Bay”.
- Retaining all staff (to work from home) despite the many service cuts; finding tasks for them to do and adding more expensive administrative staff - while so many other communities are taking advantage of the cost-saving Federal Government Subsidy Benefit.
The past two Councils were criticized for inadequately funding our Infrastructure while substantially increasing the budget by unprecedented tax increases. This Council has stated their 2019 /2020 7 % tax increases are budget “catch ups” to correct this under-funding.
However, it seems to us that an analysis is required, explaining in detail, exactly what these substantial past increases were used for. For example, it is known that from 2015 to 2019 over a million dollars was budgeted annually for added administration staff and hundreds of thousands of tax dollars were used for expensive consultant contracts. How have Esquimalt, Colwood and Central Saanich managed to keep their staffing costs much much lower?
Council have failed to realize that the unprecedented tax increases are not one-time costs - they raise the tax base and compound year-after-year- after-year. Substantial budget cuts and efficiencies are the only way to maintain sustainable annual budgets. The interests of the Community must come before the interests of staff.
Although the continuing exceptional property tax increases are a major concern on an annual basis, a Staff report has concentrated taxpayer attention on this year's much smaller, slightly reduced and monthly $20 property tax payments. What is lost however, is the real financial danger of our rapidly expanded administration costs and annual budgets.
In 2012 the District budget was $19.2 million this has increased to an estimated $26.5 million in 2020 – This is over $7 million in property tax increases – an average of almost a million dollars a year.
It is important Council recognizes the primary action taken by local governments and private companies all over Canada. That is, laying off not-needed staff is the most by far pragmatic and best financial option available. And in Oak Bay the fairest and most ethical option for Oak Bay taxpayers.
---------------------------
*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well-informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed please sign up for our “based on facts” newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Appendix #1
District of Colwood
| central_sannich_75k_word.doc |
| esquimalt__75k_word.doc |