September 25, 2023 Regular Council Summary

Dave Witty gave a presentation on re-envisioning Diana Krall Plaza.
Section 8a

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

Council approved a total of $1,611,149 of Public Safety Canada’s Building Safer Communities Funds ("Nanaimo Youth Resilience Grants") as follows:

Section 10.a.3

Council denied Permissive Tax Exemptions for the 2024 taxation year to Ballenas Housing Society for its property at 6010 Hammond Bay Road, to Habitat for Humanity for its property at 6-2360 Extension Road,  to ‘Turn the Paige Recovery House’ for the property that it operates out of at 3059 Glen Eagle Crescent, and to the Island Urban Indigenous Wellness Society for its property at 1406 Bowen Road.

Council also directed Staff to review permissive tax exemption options related to housing and bring forward a report with recommendations.
Section 10.a.4

Council directed staff to submit applications under the Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program for the Beban Labieux Trail and the Departure Bay Road South Sidewalk project.
Section 10.a.5

Council increased the 2023 Fleet Replacement Plan budget by $623,100, funded from the Equipment Depreciation Reserve Fund.
Section 10.a.6

Council denied the request for a $5,000 increase in funding for 2023 for the Nanaimo Area Land Trust. A decision slide will be included for Council’s consideration during the 2024-2028 Financial Plan discussions and effective 2024-JAN-01, a maximum of a five-year term will be applied on any operating funding agreement with annual reporting to Council required as part of the Financial Plan presentations.
Section 10.a.7

Council approved adding $256,900 in 2023 for the Rotary Bowl Improvement project, funded by $169,300 in Payments in Lieu of Taxes and $87,600 from the General Asset Management Reserve Fund.
Section 10.a.8

Recommendation from the September 14, 2023 Mayor's Leaders' Table Meeting

Staff will prepare an information package for the Mayor's Leaders' Table that outlines steps the City has taken to provide a coordinated approach to health and housing, and identifies opportunities for further advocacy and collaboration with the Province of BC and Government of Canada.
Section 10.b.1

Delegations

Anne Martin, Board Director, Take a Hike Foundation, outlined the positive impact of the City of Nanaimo’s $10,000 2022/23 Grant in Aid which supported more than 30 youth experiencing vulnerabilities at Take a Hike’s Nanaimo program. 
Section 11a

The Women's Poverty Response Circle provided an introduction of their advocacy group. The group, comprised of experiential Indigenous and newcomer women, has been working to develop an anti-poverty strategy based on interdependence. They invited city representatives and other decision makers to meet with them to share knowledge and seek feedback, especially in regards to affordable housing.
Section 11b

Reports

Council directed Staff to complete a review of the Animal Control Bylaw and the Zoning Bylaw that regulate the keeping of poultry on large residential properties and provide options to further support the City’s goals of food security.
Section 15a