July 8, 2024 Regular Council Summary

Committee Recommendations

  • Council directed staff to provide a report on the conditions of the Nanaimo Curling Club and options for assisting the Club with securing an operational chiller.
  • Council approved an $310,000 increase to the 2024 project budget for the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre: Rear Mechanical Parapet Wall project.
  • Council allocated $400,000 in funding, along with the remaining 2023/2024 winter season funding ($184,257), to match funds provided by the Reaching Home Community Advisory Board to support up to two year-round drop-in hubs that can also serve as warming and cooling centre services for the City of Nanaimo’s extreme weather response starting in the 2024 winter season. Staff will provide Council with an evaluation of the drop-in hub service when future funding is considered in summer 2025.
  • Council directed staff to submit a grant application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Community Energy Efficiency Financing program for pilot funding to support a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) style home energy financing program. If the application is successful, a PACE style home energy financing program for Nanaimo residents would be launched and up to $200,000 in funding allocated to support the program.
  • Council approved a Permissive Tax Exemption Administrative Policy (that includes criteria for non-market housing) and Security Checks and Other Grants Administrative Policy (that streamlines the Other Grants process). The previous ‘Grants Policy and Guidelines’ Policy was repealed.  
    Section 10a
  • The following topics will be discussed at future Governance and Priorities Committee meetings:
    • Urban Tree Canopy Management Strategy
    • Incentives that support City Plan
    • Amenity Cost Charge Bylaw Project
    • Development Cost Charge Bylaw Update Project
    • DPA8 Form and Character Design Guidelines
  • Council deferred the following motion to allow for further discussion at the July 15 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting: “That Council direct Staff to proceed with the ‘Highest Needs in Single Phase’ option [for the Public Works Yard / Nanaimo Operations Centre Project] and prepare a borrowing bylaw in support of the project.”
  • Council directed Staff to look at other funding options with respect to debt servicing for the Public Works Yard (Nanaimo Operations Centre) project.

Section 10b

Reports

Council gave approval to grant a 3-year lease, with the option for two 2-year renewals, for a portion of City-owned land located at 1030 Old Victoria Road to facilitate BC Housing’s construction and operation of a Navigation Centre, subject to BC Housing agreeing to a good neighbour agreement and the establishment of a Community Advisory Committee. 

Section 12a

Council directed staff to bring forward an amendment to the Fees and Charges Bylaw that replaces the existing criminal record check fee for employment purposes with the following:
  • Criminal Record Checks (includes fingerprinting fee, if required) - $55.00
  • Fingerprinting Fee for private industry, records suspension, travel waiver or legal name change - $50.00
  • Criminal Record Check for Volunteer or Non-Profit (includes fingerprinting fee, if required) - $10.00

Section 12b

Council was informed of a liquor licence application to permit liquor to be served at the Bailey Studio theatre, located at 2373 Rosstown Road.  

Section 12c

A Development Variance Permit was issued for 1610 Loat Street, to allow for a single residential dwelling and accessory building.

Section 12d

A Development Permit was issued for 4670 Hammond Bay Road, to allow for a 34-unit multi-family townhouse development.

Section 12e

A Rezoning Application for 5360 Bergen-Op-Zoom Drive, to allow a multi-family residential development, passed three readings.

Section 12f

That Council endorsed the updated 2024 neighbourhood association priority requests. The Integrated Action Plan appendix will be replaced to include the updated neighbourhood association requests.

Section 12g

Section 12h

Bylaw Updates

"Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaw 2024 No. 7370" (to provide for highway closure and dedication removal of a portion of Northfield Road adjacent to 2300 Northfield Road) was adopted.

Section 13a

"Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaw 2024 No. 7372" (to provide for highway closure and dedication removal of a portion of Bryden Street adjacent to 266 and 268 Bryden Street) passed third reading.

Section 13b

"Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw (Downtown) 2024 No. 7384" (a bylaw to establish a revitalization tax exemption program for the downtown for a five-year period) was adopted.

Section 13c

"Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw (Hotel and Motel) 2024 No. 7385" (a bylaw to establish a revitalization tax exemption program for the hotels and motels for a five-year period) was adopted.

Section 13d

"Respectful Spaces Bylaw 2024 No.7381" (a bylaw to promote a safe, healthy, respectful, and positive environment for members of the public, volunteers, Council and Staff) was adopted.

Section 13e

"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw 2024 No. 7159.20" (a bylaw to assign fines for violations against the Respectful Spaces Bylaw) was adopted.

Section 13f

"Officer Designation and Delegation of Authority Amendment Bylaw 2024 No. 7353.02" (a bylaw to reference the Respectful Spaces Bylaw and Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaws within Schedule "A" and to update Staff titles) was adopted.

Section 13g

"Off-Street Parking Regulations Amendment Bylaw 2024 No. 7266.03" (to implement amendments related to Transit Oriented Areas - Bill 47 – Housing Statutes and associated regulations) was adopted.

Section 13h

Correspondence

Council received correspondence From Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon regarding:

Sections 14a,b

Other Business

Council directed staff to provide a report with options to update the current investment policy to include a percentage of the City’s portfolio be in socially responsible (ESG) and low GHG investments.  Report to provide:
  • Budgetary considerations for socially responsible investments at 10%, 30%, 50%, 75%, 100% of total city portfolio; and,
  • Updated background on fossil fuel divestment and responsible investing with updated numbers from the October 2021 Staff report and brief summary of practices of other local governments leading in responsible investment.

Section 16a


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