Consent Items
Council directed staff to present options on having 30 km/hr speed limits enforceable in high-risk pedestrian areas such as near schools. This topic will be brought to a Public Safety Committee meeting for discussion, followed by a Governance and Priorities Committee meeting for Council to consider the options.
An amendment to the Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw will be prepared to regulate how and where micromobility devices, such as electric kick scooters, can be used.
Section 10a
Council approved a five-year Licence of Use Agreement with the Central Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Heritage Society (7 Potatoes) for use of Room 6 in the Beban Social Centre, conditional upon approval of the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society grant application and subsequent renovation.
Council provided support for a joint grant application between the City of Nanaimo and the Central Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Heritage Society (7 Potatoes) for funding up to $400,000 from the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society to create a Japanese Canadian Heritage Site along the Nanaimo waterfront.
Council approved up to $10,000 for the implementation of an Assistive Hearing Devices pilot project.
Council increased the budget for the Seventh Street Pump Station project in 2024 by $450,000 funded by $288,000 from the Sewer DCC Reserve Fund and $162,000 from the Sewer Asset Management Reserve Fund.
Council approved a $7,770 Heritage Façade Grant for the Halse Block building located at 200 Commercial Street to repaint the building’s exterior.
Council approved a $12,230 Heritage Façade Grant for the S&W Apartments building located at 403 Fitzwilliam Street to install replicated wood siding on the upper portion (parapet) of the building’s exterior facing onto Fitzwilliam Street and replace the building’s roof.
Council awarded a 2024 Cash Grant to the Nanaimo Men’s Centre to a maximum amount of $3,600 for the 2024 property taxation year for the portion of the property that it leases at 418D Fitzwilliam Street, as well as a Permissive Tax Exemption commencing with the 2025 taxation year.
Council approved the allocation of the 2023 operating surplus as follows:
| General Fund | |
| RCMP Contract Reserve | 1,700,000 |
| General Financial Stability Reserve | 1,200,000 |
| Special Initiatives Reserve | 2,870,000 |
| Property Acquisition Reserve | 500,000 |
| General Capital Reserve | 2,443,706 |
| Total: | $8,713,706 |
| | |
| Sewer Fund | |
| Sewer Reserve | 419,078 |
| Sewer Financial Stability Reserve | 100,000 |
| Total: | $519,078 |
| | |
| Water Fund | |
| Water Reserve | 345,639 |
| Water Financial Stability Reserve | 48,945 |
| Total: | $394,584 |
Council also amended the 2024-2028 Financial Plan to increase the 2024 budget for the South End Community Centre Land project by $1,500,000.
Section 10b
A motion to add the Nanaimo Neighbourhood Network as a standing presentation item on Public Safety Committee Agendas for up to ten minutes at each Public Safety Committee Meeting was referred back to staff.
Section 10c
Reports
A Development Variance Permit was issued for 900 Fifth Street (Vancouver Island University), to increase the maximum allowable building height to accommodate a proposed student housing development and retaining wall.
A Development Permit was issued for 880 Hecate Street, to allow for a multi-family development.
A Development Permit was issued for 345 Newcastle Avenue and 360 Stewart Avenue, to allow for a multi-family residential development.
A Development Permit was issued for 6004 Nelson Road, to allow for a multi-family townhouse development.
The following bylaws passed three readings, which will enable the City to begin recovering costs related to City owned, public-facing electric vehicle charging stations: Electric Vehicle Recharging Bylaw, Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw, and Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw.
Council provided approval to dispose of the property known as District Lot 9 to the Province’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation for the purchase price of $1,455,000 for the purpose of
transferring the property to the Snuneymuxw First Nation. The property is located within the Regional District of Nanaimo on the southwest slope of Mount Benson.
A Revitalization Tax Exemption Agreement was approved for a multi-family development at 421 Prideaux Street.
Section 12g
Bylaw Updates
“Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw 2024 No. 7359.02” (To amend the 2023 - 2027 Financial Plan) was adopted.
Section 13a
Other Business
The Mayor, on behalf of Council, will provide a letter of support to Radio Malaspina Society/CHLY 101.7FM for their grant application to the Community Radio Fund of Canada’s Radiometres Program.
Section 15a