December 6, 2021 Regular Council Summary

Committee Recommendations

Council approved the following changes to the 2022-2026 Financial Plan:

• remove the Buttertubs Pedestrian Bridge project
• reduce the scope of the Fourth and Albert Complete Street Phase 2 project to Pine Street to Milton Street and increase the budget by $400,000
• add a Manager, Financial Services & Special Projects position, effective April 1, 2022
• add a Supervisor, Technical Support position, effective April 1, 2022
• add 15 Police Support positions over the next 5 years, effective April 1, 2022
• add 4 additional RCMP Bike Patrol members, effective April 1, 2022
• add the Aquatics Development Plan, effective January 2022
• add a Parks, Trails and Natural Areas – Lead Supervisor position, effective February 15, 2022
• add a Parks Maintenance Worker – Playgrounds position, effective April 1, 2022
• add $60,000 in annual funding to support events for National Indigenous People Day & Truth and Reconciliation Day

Section 10a

The City will engage with BC Transit and the Regional District of Nanaimo regarding the development of a long-term transit shelter deployment plan and return to Council with a report by 2022-JAN-30.
Section 10b

Staff will be replacing two of the City’s refuse trucks with two new CNG trucks, leasing one new CNG refuse truck while waiting for the new trucks to be delivered and shortening the useful life of the City’s refuse trucks from ten to eight years.
Section 10c

Development around Nanaimo

Consideration of a Development Permit Application for 25 Spyglass Lookout was deferred to a future Council meeting.
Section 12a

An Official Community Plan Amendment Application for 6261 Hammond Bay Road (Green Thumb Garden Centre property), to include the Bowers District Master Plan to guide its long-term redevelopment, passed two readings.
Section 12b

An Official Community Plan Amendment Application for 30 Maki Road, to amend the OCP land use designation from Neighbourhood to Light Industrial and amend the Chase River Neighbourhood Plan land use designation from Low-Medium Density Residential to Service Industrial Enterprise Area (to be consistent with the existing industrial use and allow flexibility for future development),  passed two readings.
Section 12c

A Development Permit for 41 and 45 Haliburton Street, to allow for a 38-unit multi-family residential development, was approved.
Section 12d

Council rescinded and gave second reading, as amended, to “Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw 2021 6500.044” (to include the Sandstone Master Plan 2021 as Schedule B).
Section 12o

2022-2026 Financial Plan

The projected property tax increase for 2022 is 5.9%. Projected 2022 user rates include a 5% increase for water, 4% increase for sewer and a $216 annual fee for sanitation. Council will have opportunities to review and amend the Financial Plan in April prior to final adoption and adoption of the Property Tax Rates Bylaw.

The following bylaws passed three readings:

• “Financial Plan Bylaw 2021 No. 7337” (To confirm and adopt the 2022 – 2026 Financial Plan)
• “Waterworks Rate and Regulation Amendment Bylaw 2021 No. 7004.17” (To set the 2022 water rates)
• “Sewer Regulation and Charge Amendment Bylaw 2021 No. 2496.34” (To set the 2022 rates for sanitary sewer)
• “South West Bulk Water Rate Amendment Bylaw 2021 No. 7099.10” (To set the 2022 bulk water rates for South West Extension)
• “User Fee Subsidies Amendment Bylaw 2021 No. 7095.03” (To set the 2022 thresholds for User Fee Subsidies)
• “Municipal Solid Waste Collection Amendment Bylaw 2021 No. 7128.13” (To update the bylaw for solid waste collection and set the rates for 2022)

Section 12 f-k

Finance & Administration

Amendments to the Brechin Boat Ramp Facilities Regulation Bylaw, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw and Fees and Charges Bylaw (transfering the fine schedule from the Brechin Boat Ramp Facilities Regulation Bylaw into the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw and transfer the fee schedule to the Fees and Charges Bylaw) passed three readings.
Section 12e

Council approved the submission of an application to the Local Government Infrastructure Planning Grant program for $10,000 for the Facility Asset Management Strategy.
Section 12l

Council approved the borrowing of up to $975,600, with a maximum five year term, through the Municipal Finance Authority’s Equipment Financing Program to purchase two compressed natural gas  automated refuse trucks.
Section 12m

Bylaw Updates

“Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2021 No. 4500.182” (To make general text and mapping amendments to “City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw 2011 No. 4500”) was adopted.
Section 13a

“Off-Street Parking Regulations Amendment Bylaw 2021 No. 7266.02” (To make general text amendments to “Off-Street Parking Regulation Bylaw 2018 No. 7266”) was adopted.
Section 13b