December 18, 2023 Regular Council Summary

Rise and Report

Council provided support through the 2024 AVICC Student Participation Program for Lily Thomas to attend the 2024 AVICC Annual General Meeting and Convention in Victoria on April 12-14, 2024.
Section 7a

Committee Recommendations

Recommendations from the December 11, 2023 Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting:

• Council directed Staff to schedule a Special evening Governance and Priorities Committee meeting prior to January 18, 2024, for the purpose of reviewing the Nanaimo Operations Centre project
• Council requested that the topic “Alternative Approval Process Review” be added to the 2023-JAN-22 GPC meeting schedule

Section 10a

Recommendations from the December 13, 2023 Finance and Audit Committee Meeting:

Council approved grant funding for a number of initiatives, including:

• $10,755 in 2024 Neighbourhood Association Grants (an increase from the original recommendation) and directed staff to review the City's Neighbourhood Association Grant Program and report back to Council with a recommendation on possibly increasing the annual budget for the 2025-2029 Financial Plan.
• $20,000 in 2024 Community Environmental Sustainability Project Grants.
• $25,000 in 2024 Community Vitality Grants.
• $60,000 in 2024 Social Response Grants.
• $366,427 in 2024 Culture Operating and Project Grants.

Council directed staff to:

• Increase the 2024 budget for the Shower Program by $16,450 (to $97,750 from $81,300);
• Add an additional $25,000 to the 2024 budget to undertake building improvements to allow for further temporary use at Caledonia Park;
• Encourage the First Unitarian Fellowship to promote the City's LEAP program to eligible Shower Program users;
• Work with community partners over the long term to ensure shower services are provided as part of a suite of services, eventually allowing the City to return the Caledonia Park building to its originally intended use; and,
• Return to Council in the fall of 2024  with an update on the Shower Program and any alternative solutions to replace the program at Caledonia Park.

Section 10b

Recommendations from the December 15, 2023 Mayor's Leaders' Table Meeting:

Council directed Staff to prepare a report with options and costs for expanding the City’s fiber network, based on the City Fiber Strategy presentation made during the 2023-DEC-15 Mayor’s Leaders’ Table meeting.
Section 10c

Delegations

Caelen Middleton, Strong Towns Nanaimo, spoke regarding parking minimums and recommended bylaw amendments to support housing affordability.

Reports

Council issued development variance permits for the following:

• 6280 Desmond Road (for a reduction to the heat pump setback)
• 3400 Departure Bay Road (to allow proposed alterations to an existing dwelling)
• 325 Watfield Avenue (to facilitate a multi-family residential development)

Section 12a-c

Council were informed of an application to amend the existing liquor licence at 1724 Stewart Avenue (Carlos O’Bryan’s Neighbourhood Pub) to permit a permanent extension for the existing temporary outdoor patio area.
Section 12d

Council repealed Council Policy COU-216, BC Energy Step Code Rezoning policy. With the adoption of the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code earlier this year, this policy was deemed redundant.
Section 12e

Council directed staff to incorporate option 5 (carrot) into the Park Avenue Concept Plan, which would see all 5 acres of 933 Park Avenue dedicated for park use (recreation, farm practices and wetland). Staff will return to Council with an updated Park Avenue Concept Plan for future consideration and endorsement.
Section 12f

A summary of the community engagement results for the Increasing Housing Options project that occurred in the fall of 2023 was presented to Council.
Section 12g

“Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2023 No. 4500.219” (General text and mapping amendments to the City's Zoning Bylaw) passed first and second reading. Council directed Staff to not hold a Public Hearing prior to consideration of third reading as the amendments were considered to be mostly "housekeeping amendments" in nature.
Section 12h

Council authorized the Mayor and Corporate Officer to sign the 9-1-1- Call Answer Service Agreement between the CI911 and E-Comm Emergency Communications for British Columbia Incorporated, for the purposes of providing 9-1-1 Call Answer Centre Services, for a one-year term to expire on December 31, 2024.
Section 12i

Council approved the amended Revitalization Tax Exemption Agreement for a proposed 28-unit mixed-use development at 507 Milton Street, consisting of 25 residential units and three commercial rental units.
Section 12j

Council directed staff to amend the service agreement for the Downtown Vandalism Relief Grant Program with the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce to allow businesses to apply for funding more than twice, and to receive up to $2,500 per incident up to a maximum of $5,000 in a calendar year. This may include up to 50% of the cost to install security and preventative measures to a maximum of $1,000.
Section 12k

Staff advised Council that Island Health will be contributing up to $250,000 in funding to the City to address service gaps for the three warming centres at 520 Prideaux Street (operated by Risebridge Society), 5 Victoria Road (operated by the 7-10 Club Society) and 2025 Bowen Road (operated by Island Crisis Care Society).
Section 12l

“Financial Plan Bylaw 2023 No. 7371” (To confirm and adopt the 2024 – 2028 Financial Plan) passed first, second, and third readings.
Section 12m

Council approved internal borrowing of $2,163,150 in 2024 from the Development Cost Charge (DCC) City Wide Drainage Reserve Fund to fund the Sanitary Sewer DCC project SS44: Hamond Bay & Turner Area, for a 20-year term at an interest rate of 2.0% with repayment from sewer operations.
Section 12n