May 5, 2025 Regular Council Summary

Rise and Report

During the April 7, 2025 In Camera Council meeting:

• Council approved a 10-year co-management agreement between the City of Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Art Gallery Society.
  
• Council directed staff to survey Public Safety Committee members and bring forward a report to a future Council meeting outlining the survey results, potential amendments to the committee’s Terms of Reference and proposed recommendations.
  Sections 7a,b

Presentations

Mayor Krog presented staff from the City’s Aquatics department with the Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon Branch award for Advanced Aquatic Programming.
Section 8a

Mayor Krog presented staff from the City’s Finance and Communications department with the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA)’s Canadian Award for Financial Reporting and Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting.
Section 8b

Carly Pereboom, Executive Director, Tourism Nanaimo, provided a quarterly update from Tourism Nanaimo.
Section 8c

Colin Stansfield, Chief Executive Officer, Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation, provided a quarterly update from the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation.
Section 8d

John McCormick, Executive Director, Nanaimo Systems Planning Organization, provided a quarterly update from the Nanaimo Systems Planning Organization.
Section 8e

Committee Recommendations

Recommendation from the April 14, 2025 Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting:

• Council directed staff to proceed with bylaw amendments related to the City’s Form and Character Design Guidelines project.
  Section 10a

Recommendations from the April 16, 2025 Finance and Audit Committee Meeting:

• Council accepted the City’s 2024 Annual Financial Statements.
• Council added the following to the 2025-2029 Financial Plan:
  • Increased funding for contracted services for public space cleanliness ($30,000 in 2025 and $75,000 in 2026)
  • A full-time Superintendent of Sanitation, Recycling and Cemeteries, and related costs, effective September 1, 2025.
• Council supported a bid to host the 2026 Pacific Contact Showcase and Festival in Nanaimo with $20,000 in funding set aside.
• Council approved a $4,500 Sport Tournament Grant for the Vancouver Island Slopestyle 2025 event at the Steve Smith Bike Park.  
• Council increased the budget for the Japanese-Canadian Memorial Garden project by $341,000 and the Beban Park Outdoor Performance and Gathering Space project by $400,000.

Section 10b

Delegations

Brenna Wallace and Andrea Smith spoke regarding a Human Trafficking Safety Assessment.
Section 11a

Christopher Brown, Danielea Castell, Lana Fitzpatrick and Heather Baitz spoke regarding concerns with the proposed design of the Loudon Park redevelopment.
Section 11b-d

Reports

David Holzer, Business Development Manager for Evolve E-Bike Share, provided an update on the Evolve e-mobility program and shared plans for program expansion, including the launch of an e-scooter program.
Section 12a

Amrit Manhas, Economic Development Officer for the City of Nanaimo, provided Council with the 2025 State of the Nanaimo Economy annual report.
Section 12b

“Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 7389.01” (To amend the 2025 – 2029 Financial Plan) and “Property Tax Rates Bylaw 2025 No. 7397" (a bylaw to set the 2025 property tax rates) both passed three readings. The 2025 property tax increase will be 7.8%.
Section 12c-d

A Development Variance Permit was issued for 355 Wakesiah Avenue, for the construction of new stadium bleachers at Nanaimo District Secondary School.
Section 12e

A Development Variance Permit was issued for 1234 Okanagan Place, allowing for a height increase for combined fence and retaining walls to facilitate the construction of an outdoor sports court.
Section 12f

A Development Permit was issued for 6680 Dickinson Road, to allow an existing non-conforming accessory commercial building.
Section 12g

Bylaw Updates

"Miscellaneous Bylaws Repeal Bylaw 2025 No. 7352" (a bylaw to repeal outdated bylaws) was adopted.
Section 13a

Correspondence

Council will be providing letters of support to the Nanaimo 55+ BC Games Society for their grant applications to the Province of BC’s Destination Events Program and ViaSport’s Hosting BC grant.
Section 13b,c

Other Business

Council directed staff to include draft policy as part of the upcoming City Plan review to encourage the distribution of new supportive housing projects throughout the community.
Section 16a

Council approved $15,000 in funding to cover costs related to the August 15-16, 2025 Snowbirds event.
Section 16c

Council reconsidered a motion directing Staff to increase the budget for the Loudon Park improvements by $6,169,373 and proceed with the current design for the Loudon Park improvements. The motion, which had originally passed at the April 7, 2025 Council meeting, was defeated once voted on again. Motions related to an alternate design for the project were deferred until the next Regular Council meeting, which will be held on May 26, 2025.
Section 16d