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February 5, 2024 Regular Council Summary

Rise and Report

The following artists were appointed to the 2024-2026 Urban Design Roster for a 2-year term:

  1. Amy Pye
  2. Anais Lera
  3. Ay Lelum
  4. Bernadette McCormack
  5. David Martinello
  6. Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun
  7. Emily Thiessen
  8. Erin Gibbs
  9. Humanity in Art
  10. Jillian Mundy
  11. Kristen Elkow
  12. Mauro Dalla Costa
  13. Noel Brown
  14. Pauline Gallinat
  15. Patrick Belanger
  16. Pellvetica
  17. Robert Plante
  18. Roz Maclean
  19. Sarita Mielke
  20. Sebastian Abboud
  21. Stephanie Teichman

The following 2024 Temporary Public Art projects were approved:

  • Robert Turriff, Colliery Dam Project #1
  • Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun, Old City Quarter Project #2

Paige Pierce was appointed to the position of Youth Poet Laureate for a two-year term, ending 2025-DEC-31.

Sections 7a-c

Consent Items

Council will consider increasing the annual road maintenance budget by $1.5 million per year as part of the 2025-2029 budget discussions and adjusting the maintenance plan to ensure that roadways are kept in good condition.
Section 10a.1

The following resolutions will be submitted to the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities for consideration at their 2024 Annual General Meeting:

1. Investment in Complex Care Beds

"WHEREAS in 2022, the BC Emergency Health Services reported a 75% total increase in annual overdose/poisoning events since the toxic drug crisis was declared a public health emergency in 2016 and the BC Provincial Overdose Cohort reports that brain injury is 15 times more likely among people who had experienced drug poisoning than those who had not;

AND WHEREAS the number of supports available for individuals requiring complex care due to health challenges related to substance use disorder has proven grossly inadequate for the ever-increasing demand in communities all across British Columbia;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the Province to increase investment in complex care beds to address the growing demand from those who have suffered serious health impacts from substance use disorder."

2. Mental Health Liaison Officers

"WHEREAS RCMP members continue to respond to a significant number of calls for service for individuals dealing with mental health challenges and Mental Health Liaison Officers have proven to be an effective resource for assisting vulnerable citizens requiring support;

AND WHEREAS local governments are not provided funding to pay for healthcare and social services and there has been no increase in the Provincial funding model to support these officers responding to chronic/crisis mental health calls;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM advocate for the Province to fund RCMP Mental Health Liaison Officers within local detachments."

3. Provincial Housing Coordinator

"WHEREAS the number of people experiencing homelessness or housing instability across the Province has been increasing at an unprecedented rate;

AND WHEREAS the Province has invested considerable funds in supportive housing, the majority of which operate as low barrier facilities making it challenging for individuals in recovery to secure housing options that support an addiction-free lifestyle;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the Province to establish a Provincial Housing Coordinator to work directly with those persons who are experiencing homelessness and who are not in need of supports, to find suitable housing."

4. Provincial Core Funding for Evolving Public Libraries

"WHEREAS core funding for public libraries in British Columbia has remained unchanged since 2009, limiting their ability to expand and evolve their programming as demand for their services increases;

AND WHEREAS the operational requirements of public libraries increasingly require significant and diverse resources to provide front-line community services, including supporting patrons with mental health and addiction issues as well as barriers to housing, providing critical locations of refuge during extreme weather events, providing services to new Canadians, and supporting the process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC call on the provincial government to recognize the evolving and challenging situation for public libraries as well as their unique role as community spaces, and increase annual core funding for libraries to $30 million in keeping with the request made by the BC Public Library Partners and the recommendation of the province’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this increase in core funding be increased on a yearly basis in keeping with cost of living and inflationary pressures."

5. Emergency Shelters & Compliance with BC Building Code & BC Fire Code

"WHEREAS many communities are experiencing a crisis-level influx of homeless individuals and the existence of emergency shelters is critical to addressing the safety of people experiencing homelessness;

AND WHEREAS, due to the urgent nature of the need and the lack of suitable building stock in many communities, emergency shelters are frequently operating from buildings that do not meet the major occupancy classification requirements of the BC Building Code, nor the requirements of the BC Fire Code, placing local governments at risk of incurring liability if they do not enforce the codes and risking shutting down emergency shelters if they do enforce the codes:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Province work with the Building Safety Standards Branch to establish some reasonable variances to the BC Building Code and BC Fire Code to enable emergency shelters to remain open."

Delegations

Brian Snyder spoke regarding the need for bylaw updates and increased compensation for homeowners upon closure of a manufactured home park in the City.

Reports

Staff presented Council with the City of Nanaimo's Property Management Strategy. The Strategy sets out a framework for how the City will manage, acquire, and dispose of its land assets.
Section 12a

Council approved the Revitalization Tax Exemption Agreement for a proposed four-unit multi-family development at 220 Haliburton Street.
Section 12b

Council is recommending that the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch approve the liquor licence amendment application for 1724 Stewart Avenue (Carlos O’Bryan’s Neighbourhood Pub) to permit a permanent extension of the existing outdoor patio area.
Section 12c

A development permit, with variances, was issued for 404 and 406 Millstone Avenue, to allow for a multi-family development.
Section 12d

A development permit, with variances, was issued for 3201 Ross Road, to allow for an accessory parking structure.
Section 12e

A rezoning application for 6450 Island Highway North, to allow the expansion of an existing non-conforming commercial use (mini storage), passed first and second reading. A Public Hearing will be held prior to consideration of third reading.
Section 12f

 “Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2023 No. 4500.219” (General text and mapping amendments to “City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw 2011 No. 4500”) passed three readings.
Section 12g

“Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw 2024 No. 7359.02” (To amend the 2023 – 2027 Financial Plan) passed three readings.
Section 12h

Bylaw Updates

“Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2023 No. 4500.214” (to rezone 6124 Metral Drive from Single Dwelling Residential [R1] to Residential Corridor [COR1]) was adopted.
Section 13a

Other Business

The Mayor, on behalf of Council, will send a letter to the Premier in support of advocacy efforts for Provincial action regarding biodiversity.
Section 15a

February 5, 2024 Regular Council meeting - agenda, documents and video

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