June 19, 2023 Regular Council Summary

Presentations

Patricia Willms, Community Development Manager for Canadian Blood Services (CBS), spoke regarding the need for donors and the importance of CBS as Canada’s Lifeline.

Councillor Thorpe was presented for a certificate acknowledging that last year he reached a milestone of 150 donations to CBS.
Section 8a

Councillor Ian Thorpe presented with certificate of recognition from Canadian Blood Services

Consent Items

Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness Recommendation:

Staff will prepare a report on the feasibility of audio enhancement and closed captioning options to assist hearing impaired individuals at City facilities.
Section 10a

Governance and Priorities Committee Recommendations:

Council replaced the Newcastle Neighbourhood Association’s priority actions and then endorsed the priority actions identified by the neighbourhood associations which will be added as an attachment to the draft Integrated Action Plan.

Council received the City of Nanaimo’s 2023 Housing Needs Report.

Council directed Staff to proceed with community consultation for:

proposed regulations for secondary suites and infill housing in existing neighbourhoods.
proposed amendments to the “City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw 2011 No. 4500” to create more family-friendly housing in Nanaimo and more adaptable housing in Nanaimo.

Section 10b

Finance and Audit Committee Recommendations:

Council supported the recommendations included in the 20 Year Investment Plan and Asset Management Plan Update and directed staff to continue including an annual 1% increase to property taxes to contribute to the City’s General Asset Management Reserve Fund and maintain the annual 2% increase to water user fees to contribute to the Water Asset Management Reserve Fund.

A $60,000 project will be added to the 2023-2027 Financial Plan for repairs to the Beban Pool steam room walls and ceiling.

Council approved a $1,556,158 increase to the budget for the Terminal Avenue Corridor Upgrades Phase 1 project. (Link to Project Renderings)

Section 10c

Delegations

Representatives from BC 1 Call spoke regarding the services they offer and asked Council to consider having the City of Nanaimo become a member.

Section 11a

Reports

Council approved the 2022 Annual Municipal Report.

Section 12a

Staff advised Council of a grant application being prepared for $8.6M in funding from the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund for the South Forks Dam Seismic Upgrade Project.

Section 12b

The Nanaimo Operations Centre Phase 1 Borrowing Bylaw (to authorize the borrowing of up to $48,500,000 for the construction of the Nanaimo Operations Centre and the required supporting facilities) passed three readings.

Section 12c

Council gave approval to proceed with an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) for the borrowing of up to $48,500,000 for the construction of Phase 1 of the Nanaimo Operations Centre. The deadline to receive elector responses will be 4:30 p.m. on Friday, 2023-NOV-03.

Section 12d

The Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw was updated to include Parks and Recreation facility admission rates and other associated fees. The amended bylaw passed three readings.

Section 12e

Staff provided Council with a summary of the various initiatives that were funded under Rounds One and Two of the Strengthening Communities’ Services Program (SCSP). The SCSP is a shared funding program provided by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia in response to the COVID19 Pandemic to support unsheltered populations and to address related community impacts.

Section 12f

Staff provided Council with a summary of the estimated costs and various structure types that could be considered to provide basic shelter for up to 100 people experiencing homelessness.

Section 12g

Council was presented with the Draft Park Avenue Concept Plan for 933 Park Avenue (Five Acre Farm). Staff were directed to add a fifth concept option for consideration which would see the property left intact with no affordable housing on it. Staff were then directed to proceed with Phase Two community engagement on the draft concept plan.

Section 12h

A Development Permit was issued for 4157 Verte Place, to allow an over-height retaining wall with variances.

Section 12i

A Development Permit was issued for 400 Newcastle Avenue, to allow for the replacement of an existing boatshed at the Nanaimo Yacht Club.

Section 12j

An application to rezone 1224 Manzanita Place, to facilitate a multi-family residential development, passed two readings. Third reading will be considered at a future Public Hearing.

Section 12k

An application to rezone 355 Nicol Street, to facilitate the development of a personal care facility, passed two readings. Third reading will be considered at a future Public Hearing.

Section 12l

Council authorized the road closure of an unnamed laneway between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street and gave first two readings to a Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaw. Staff will proceed with public notice for the closure and return to a future Council meeting for formal approval of a 60-year lease agreement to BC Housing.

Section 12m

Council approved an amended Revitalization Tax Exemption Agreement for a proposed 28-unit mixed-use development at 507 Milton Street. Council also approved a Revitalization Tax Exemption Agreement for a proposed 154-unit residential development at 77 Chapel Street.

Section 12n,o

June 20, 2023 Council Meeting – agenda, documents and video

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