Rise and Report
Sealand Park
Council approved the allocation of 100,000 from the Casino Reserve to “Sealand Park” and directed staff to repair a damaged storm sewer with appropriate measures for worker safety. Council also directed staff to review the feasibility of slope stabilization in Sealand Park and return to Council in the near future with a report on next steps.
Section 7
Presentation to Council
Public Works Association of BC 2020 Awards
Chris Anderson, President of the Public Works Association of BC, presented the following 2020 Awards via Zoom:
- 2020 Public Works Association BC - Manager of the Year to John Elliot, Director, Public Works
- 2020 Outstanding Public Works Employee to Ritchie Fulla, Lead Supervisor, Waterworks
- 2020 Public Works Association BC - Dedicated Service Award to Angela Mowatt, Clerk/Dispatcher, Public Works
Section 8 a
Consent Items
Consent Items group discussion points that have been thoroughly discussed at a Committee level into a single area on the agenda labeled “Consent Items”. This procedure allows decision-makers to group consent items together under one heading and approve them in one action or to consider and vote on each item separately if discussion is needed (for more information, please see Section 14 of the City’s Procedural Bylaw).
Finance and Audit Committee 2021-MAR-17
2020 Surplus Allocation
Council approved the allocation of the 2020 operating surplus as follows:
1. General Fund
a. Special Initiatives Reserve $7,482,599
b. Property Acquisition Reserve $1,000,000
Total: $8,482,599
2. Sewer Fund
a. Sewer Reserve $589,87
b. Sewer Financial Stability Reserve $28,751
Total: $618,624
Section 10 a 1
Port Theater - Chiller Equipment Renewal and Low Carbon Electrification Options
Council directed staff to proceed with installing the recommended Air Source Heat Recovery Heat Pump system to replace the existing chiller.
Council increased the budget for the Port Theatre Chiller Replacement project by $500,799 in 2021 funded by $150,000 from the Emission Reduction Reserve and $350,799 from the General Asset Management Reserve.
Section 10 a 2
Serauxmen Stadium Maintenance for 2021
Council approved adding $59,113 to the 2021 Parks Operations Budget for Parks and Facility Operations to conduct additional facility and field maintenance of Serauxmen Stadium, to be funded from General Revenue.
Section 10 a 3
Beban Park Pool Improvements for 2021
Council amended the 2021-2025 Financial Plan to include $255,000 in 2021 for change room and washroom upgrades at Beban Park Pool, to be funded from the Facility Development Reserve.
Section 10 a 4
Proposed Development of a Medium-Sized Stadium at NDSS Community Field
Council approved the following:
1. The NDSS Community Field will be designated as the medium-sized stadium site for the City of Nanaimo.
2. That a phased implementation plan with options and costs be developed for Council’s review and consideration in making NDSS Community Field a medium-sized stadium.
3. That in development of the phased improvement plan, shared amenities that would benefit Rotary Bowl and Serauxmen Stadium be included.
4. That the current Joint Use Agreement with School District #68 be updated to address any changes required of this location being a medium-sized stadium.
Section 10 a 5
Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Food Bank
Council directed staff to review the Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Food Bank’s ask for funding, identify options and provide a report to Council for information.
Section 10 a 6
Governance and Priorities Committee 2021-MAR-22
Building Permit Function Review
Council:
1. Referred the additional staff positions recommended in the draft report to the Finance and Audit Committee for consideration in the 2021-2025 Financial Plan.
2. Directed staff to proceed with implementation of the remaining six recommended changes outlined in the draft report.
3. Directed staff to submit a grant application to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ Local Government Development Approvals Program to support the implementation of established best practices and to test innovative approaches to improve development approvals processes.
Section 10 b 1
Building Permit Function Review
Council directed staff to provide an information update every two months regarding development approval times compared to the benchmarks set by the City of Nanaimo.
Section 10 b 2
Mayor's Leaders' Table
Council established the Mayor’s Leaders’ Table which will be represented by the Mayor and two Council members as well as key social, cultural, educational, healthcare, technology, labour, arts, tourism and business organizations.
This table will be chaired by the Mayor and subject to applicable Legislative Support and oversight.
Section 10 b 3
Nanaimo Builds - 100,000 Voices Campaign Concept
Council directed staff to develop the 100,000 Voices Campaign Concept and report back to Council with the marketing and communications plan, including a budget.
Section 10 b 4
Art in Public Spaces Working Group - Draft Guidelines and Process
Council endorsed the Art in Public Spaces Working Group Guidelines and Call for Applications and directed staff to proceed.
Section 10 b 5
Art in Public Spaces Public Art Collection De-accession 2021
Council approved the de-accession of the following artworks from the City of Nanaimo Public Art collection:
1. Dan Richey, Dungeness Crab (2013)
2. Yvonne Vander Kooi and students of Bayview Elementary, The Hummingbird Project (2013)
3. Yvonne Vander Kooi, At Play (2007)
Section 10 b 6
Reports to Council
Participation in Provincial Motor Vehicle Act MicroMobility Pilot Project
Council approved participation in the Province of British Columbia’s Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) Pilot Projects Program to enable the use of micromobility devices within City streets.
Section 12 a
Strengthening Communities' Services Grant
Council endorsed the activities identified in Appendix A for funding in an application under the Strengthening Communities’ Services Grant Program and committed to providing overall grant management.
Council committed to funding, if required, site servicing costs for the Temporary Housing Units from the Housing Legacy Reserve Fund if the grant application is successful.
Section 12 b
BC Energy Step Code Rezoning Policy
Council adopted the BC Energy Step Code Rezoning Policy and directed staff to implement the Step Code Rezoning Policy three months after adoption.
Section 12 c
Official Community Plan Amendment Application Process
Council postponed the 2021-MAY-01 and 2021-NOV-01 intake rounds for applications to amend the Official Community Plan until 2022-MAY-01.
Section 12 d
Extension of Leases to CBI Health Group and Team Aquatic - 741 Third Street
Council approved a 21-month extension on the current lease agreements with CBI Health Group Inc. and Team Aquatic Supplies Ltd. and authorized the Mayor and Corporate Officer to execute the lease agreements.
Section 12 e
Development Permit Application No. DP1190 - 1300 Junction Avenue
Council issued Development Permit No. DP1190 at 1300 Junction Avenue with a variance to reduce the watercourse setback for Wexford Creek from 15.0m to 9.7m.
Section 12 f
Interim Transition to Virtual Meetings
Council directed staff to schedule meetings during the Shaw Auditorium renovation period virtually, with all members of Council and staff attending through Zoom.
Section 12 g
Notice of Motion
Support for Call for Public Inquiry: Stronger Sentencing for Prolific Offenders
Councillor Armstrong advised that she would be bringing forward the following notice of motion for consideration at a future Council Meeting:
“That Council support the Mayor of Williams Lake by sending a letter to the Solicitor General, Attorney General, and the Premier of British Columbia requesting a public inquiry into the justice system in BC, to determine why so many prolific offenders with serious charges are constantly released back into communities with ineffective deterrents to reoffend and to call for action to protect communities.”
Section 14 a
Other Business
City of Nanaimo Resolution on the Immediate Protection for all at-risk Old-growth Forests in BC
The following motion was brought forward by Councillor Geselbracht:
WHEREAS ancient high productivity (big tree) old growth ecosystems are globally one of the most valuable climate mitigation and resiliency assets in terms of carbon storage, sequestration, protection against wildfire, storage of water and bank of biodiversity;
AND WHEREAS, of the miniscule amount (2.7%) of the original high productivity (big tree) old-growth forests that are left (less than 1% of BC’s total current forested area), 75% are still slated to be eliminated through logging; BE IT RESOLVED
THAT the City of Nanaimo call on the provincial government to immediately defer logging in all high productivity, rare, oldest, and most intact old-growth forests as recommended by the Old-Growth Strategic Review, until all 14 of the panel’s recommendations have been implemented; including deferrals in such at-risk old-growth forests as, the head waters of Fairy Creek, the Upper Walbran Valley, Nahmint Valley, Eden Grove, Edinburgh Mountain, Upper Tsitika Valley, East Creek, Klaskish Valley, Nimpkish Lake and the Inland Old-Growth Temperate Rainforest.
AND THAT the City of Nanaimo formally oppose the logging of at-risk old-growth forests;
AND THAT the City of Nanaimo call on the Government of British Columbia to allocate funding to enact deferrals in an economically just manner, in the full spirit of reconciliation and to support the economic transition of affected First Nations and non-First Nation communities from unsustainable old-growth logging for the development of long-term sustainable local economies.
AND THAT the following resolution be sent to the Union of BC Municipalities and as a late submission to AVICC
Immediate Protection for all at-risk Old-growth Forests in BC
WHEREAS ancient high productivity (big tree) old growth ecosystems are globally one of the most valuable climate mitigation and resiliency assets in terms of carbon storage, sequestration, protection against wildfire, storage of water and bank of biodiversity;
AND WHEREAS, of the minuscule amount (2.7%) of the original high productivity (big tree) old-growth forests that are left (less than 1% of BC’s total current forested area), 75% are still slated to be eliminated through logging; BE IT RESOLVED
THAT the UBCM and AVICC call on the provincial government to immediately defer logging in all high productivity, rare, oldest, and most intact old-growth forests as recommended by the Old-Growth Strategic Review, until all 14 of the panel’s recommendations have been implemented; including deferrals in such at risk old-growth forests as the head waters of Fairy Creek, the Upper Walbran Valley, Nahmint Valley, Eden Grove, Edinburgh Mountain, Upper Tsitika Valley, East Creek, Klaskish Valley, Nimpkish Lake and the Inland Old-Growth Temperate Rainforest.
AND THAT the UBCM and AVICC call on the Government of British Columbia to allocate funding to enact deferrals in an economically just manner, in the full spirit of reconciliation and to support the economic transition of affected First Nations and non-First Nation communities from unsustainable oldgrowth logging for the development of long-term sustainable local economies.
Council Outcome: The motion carried with Mayor Krog, Councillor Armstrong, Councillor Thorpe and Councillor Turley opposed.
March 29, 2021 Regular Council Meeting – agenda, documents and video