February 24, 2025 Regular Council Summary

Mayor’s Report

Council authorized Councillor Hemmens’ expenses to attend the Local Government Leadership Academy Forum held in Richmond from March 12-14, 2025.

The Mayor paid tribute to Richard Harding, the City’s General Manager of Community Services and Deputy CAO, who is retiring after 33 years of service to the City.

Rise and Report

The following appointments were announced:

• Councillors Thorpe & Perrino (with Councillor Eastmure as the alternate) were appointed to the Tourism Nanaimo Society Board
• Councillor Geselbracht (with Councillor Eastmure as the alternate) was appointed to the Nanaimo Systems Planning Organizations Society
• Councillor Hemmens (with Councillor Perrino as the alternate) was appointed to the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation Board
• Councillor Eastmure (with Councillor Armstrong as the alternate) was appointed to the Design Advisory Panel
• Marta Kubacki was appointed to the Design Advisory Panel
• Kyle Wickland was appointed to the Board of Variance
• Romolo (Alex) Messina was appointed to the Design Advisory Panel

The 2025 Cultural and Heritage Award recipients were announced as follows:

• Joël A. Prévost, Excellence in Culture
• Tsatassaya White, Honour in Culture
• Douglas Roszmann, Honour in Culture
• Sophia Maher, Honour in Heritage.

The 2025 Culture and Heritage Awards will take place on Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 beginning at 7pm.

Committee Recommendations

Recommendations from the February 19, 2025 Finance and Audit Committee meeting:

• A phasing plan for the Design Commercial project will be considered during the 2026-2030 Financial Plan deliberations.
• Council supported the City’s application to the UBCM Community Resiliency Investment Program (FireSmart Community Funding and Supports Program).
• Council approved a 5-year annual operating grant to the Restorative Justice Program based on $150,000 for 2025 with an annual 2% increase for 2026 to 2029.
• Crimson Coast Dance Society was added to the list of 2025 Culture & Event Grant standby organizations. In addition, a $3,476 Culture Program Grant was reallocated to Crimson Coast Dance Society and $965 to Vancouver Island Symphony.
• A $8,137.50 Heritage Façade Grant, to repaint the exterior of the Rawlinson & Glaholm Grocers building located at 437 Fitzwilliam Street, was approved.
• A $2,500 Heritage Home Grant, to update the exterior cladding and replace the roof’s gutter system of the Milton Street Bungalow located at 469 Milton Street, was approved.
• Council approved a revised Security Checks and Other Grants Policy.
• Council approved the City’s application to the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund for funding for the Millstone Trunk North Sewer System Project.
• Council approved the City’s grant applications to the UBCM Emergency Support Services Equipment and Training Program (for funding for the Nanaimo ESS Group Lodging Supplies regional project) and the UBCM Emergency Operations Centres Equipment and Training Program (for funding for the Nanaimo EOC Equipment Upgrade project).
• Council directed staff to apply to the Active Transportation Fund - Capital Project Stream for funding for the Bowen Road Bike Land Expansion project. If the grant application is successful, the proposed project would have a total cost of $1,900,000 paid for by $1,140,000 in grant funding and $760,000 from the Growing Communities Reserve Fund.

Section 10a

Reports

“Council Procedure Bylaw Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 7272.05” (a bylaw to include provisions associated with delegations, inappropriate behaviour, electronic devices and signs in Council and Committee meetings and minor housekeeping amendments) and “Respectful Spaces Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 7381.01” (a bylaw to include electronic devices and other housekeeping amendments) passed three readings. Details regarding the amendments can be found in the staff report. Included in the amendments is the ability for Council, via motion, to reduce the time for delegations to speak to three minutes (from five) in circumstances where there are multiple delegations for the same agenda item. The maximum number of delegations not related to the agenda that are allowed to be placed on an agenda remains the same.
Section 12a

“Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw 2025, No. 7159.23” (a bylaw to assign fines associated with short-term rental violations) passed three readings.
Section 12b

“Officer Designation and Delegation of Authority Bylaw 2025, No. 7353.03” (a housekeeping amendment to address staff title changes) passed three readings.
Section 12c

Council directed staff to proceed with detailed design and costing for the Public Works Yard Updates Project. This process is anticipated to cost $1.8M which will be funded by $1,314,000 from the General Asset Management Reserve Fund, $162,000 from the Sewer Operating Reserve and $324,000 from the Water Operating Reserve. Having a detailed design completed for the project will provide greater clarity on what would be included in the project and more certainty and details around the project’s cost. This would reduce the project's contingency and inflation costs,  which had previously been included in the proposed budget when it was based on conceptual plans only, and enable more detailed information to be provided to the public.
Section 12d

“Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw 2025, No. 7371.02” (To amend the 2024 – 2028 Financial Plan) passed first, second and third reading.
Section 12e

A Development Variance Permit was issued for 1200 Dufferin Crescent (Nanaimo Regional General Hospital), to allow for an increased building height for the Nanaimo Cancer Centre building.
Section 12f

A Development Variance Permit was issued for 290 Vancouver Avenue, to allow for a boundary adjustment subdivision.
Section 12g

A Development Variance Permit was issued for 504, 508, 548, 552, 556, and 564 Pinnacle Place for proposed single-family residential dwellings.
Section 12h

A Development Permit was issued for 2355 Kenworth Road, to allow over height combined fences and retaining walls.
Section 12i

A Development Permit was issued for 5730 Turner Road, to allow for a mixed-use development.
Section 12j

A letter of concurrence will be sent to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada in response to a proposed 63m telecommunications facility at 4600 Hammond Bay Road (the RDN’s Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre). The proposed facility is intended to address the need for improved cell service in the Hammond Bay area.
Section 12k

Council received the Housing Target Progress Report for the reporting period of 2024-JUL-01 to 2024-DEC-31.
Section 12l

Council will be providing a letter of support for the Nanaimo Equestrian Association’s application for funding from the Horse Council BC. If successful, the Nanaimo Equestrian Association will use the funds to upgrade facilities at Beban Park, to assist in hosting equestrian events for the 55+ BC Summer Games.
Section 12m

Bylaw Updates

"Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw 2024 No. 4500.221" (to rezone 120 Needham Street, 515, 535, 545, and 575 Nicol Street, from Single Dwelling Residential [R1] and Community Corridor [COR3] to Residential Corridor [COR1] with site-specific provisions) was adopted.
Section 13a

"False Alarm Bylaw 2025, No. 7392" (a bylaw to reduce false alarms) was adopted.
Section 13b

"Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw 2025, No. 7336.12" (a bylaw to add false alarm fees) was adopted.
Section 13c

"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw 2025, No. 7159.24" (a bylaw to add fines for false alarms) was adopted.
Section 13d

Correspondence

Council will be providing a letter of support to Nanaimo Family Life Association, for their application to BC Housing to fund a permanent shelter at 55 Victoria Road (the Hub).
Section 14a

February 24, 2025 Regular Council Summary – agenda, documents and video