October 7, 2019 Regular Council Summary

Committee Appointments
The following applicants were appointed to the Environment Committee at the “In Camera” meeting held on Sept. 9, 2019:

• Elisa Justine Boulanger
• Dao-Fang (Darren) Chen
• Harvey DeRoches
• Lisa Frey
• Jerome Lesemann
• Lindsay McCunn
• Wally Wells

Councillors Brown and Geselbracht were appointed as Co-Chairs
Section 6 a

Municipal Information Systems Association Award
The City’s IT department gave a presentation on their new software CityProjects, which earned them the Spirit of Innovation Award at the recent Municipal Information Systems Association (MISA) conference.
Section 7 a

Committee Recommendations
Council approved a 900Mhz link system and $30,000 in funding, to be allocated from the E911 Reserve. This will enable dispatchers at the Fire Communications Centre to connect to a new radio repeater at Mt Hayes – a site which will help to solve radio issues for the North Oyster Volunteer Fire Department who were experiencing challenges with radio communications.

Council approved the addition of $195,107 from reserves for the Hammond Bay Road Widening and Utility Improvements Project.

Phase 2 of the Harewood Youth Park has been accelerated, with Council approving an amendment to the 2019-2023 Financial Plan so that Phase 1 and 2 can be constructed simultaneously in 2020. This will result in cost savings and a more efficient use of staff resources.

Two used refuse collection trucks will be added to the City’s fleet and an additional Refuse Collector will be hired, beginning December 1, 2019 (one month earlier than originally planned). This will allow for a spare unit, to assist when truck maintenance is needed, and shorter collection routes, which will result in less wear and tear on the existing fleet.

A Permissive Tax Exemption has been awarded for the 2020 tax year to the Canadian Mental Health Association Mid-Island for a property being leased at 290 Bastion Street.

A one-time bonus Gas Tax payment will be used to fund the Metral Drive Complete Streets Phase 2 project. The federal Gas Tax Fund was created to address short-term priorities in municipalities – in 2019, the City received an additional $3,758,343 in gas tax revenues.

Staff will be organizing a facilitated strategic planning session during the Health and Housing Task Force meeting scheduled for Oct. 16, 2019 and will be requesting financial support from the Nanaimo Homeless Coalition to provide a facilitator for future strategic planning sessions.

Section 9 b

Property Tax Exemptions
The Property Tax Exemption Bylaw, which provides exemptions from 2019 property taxes, passed three readings.
Section 10 a

Procedure Bylaw Amendments
Amendments to the Council Procedure Bylaw, which remove references to the Committee of the Whole and includes amendments related to delegations, task forces and other administrative manners, passed three readings.
Section 10 b

Development Around Nanaimo
A Rezoning Application for 4961 Songbird Place, to allow a proposed multi-family development, passed two readings. A third reading will be considered once the community contribution has been secured.
Section 10 c

A Development Variance Permit was issued for 4680 Bates Road.
Section 10 d

Zoning Bylaw Amendments
Amendments to the City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw, to make general text and mapping amendments, passed two readings.
Section 10 e

Economic Development Task Force
Council adopted an amended Terms of Reference for the Economic Development Task Force which now includes not-for-profits and social sectors under the list of possible sector representatives.
Section 10 f

City-Owned Property at 580 Fitzwilliam Street
Any decisions with respect to the City-owned property at 580 Fitzwilliam Street will be deferred until the completion of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Maste Plan and a full assessment of the RCMP/City needs in the area is undertaken.
Section 10 g

Lubbock Square Road Closure
Council has approved the closure of Lubbock Square – this will allow for part of the new Fire Hall Station, when it is redeveloped, to be located on it. The Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaw also passed first and second reading and Staff will now proceed with a public notice for the closure.
Section 10 h

Community Heritage Register Update
Council adopted the amended Community Heritage Register, which includes the addition of two buildings (at 130 Howard Avenue and 911 Wentworth Street), the removal of three buildings, and a number of minor text and photo edits.
Section 10 i

Bylaw Updates
Zoning Amendment Bylaws for the following properties passed third reading:

• 1534 Extension Road (To rezone from Single Dwelling Residential to Townhouse Residential)
• 2397 and 2387 Barclay Road (To rezone from Single Dwelling Residential to Single Dwelling Residential – Small Lot)
• 1300 Junction Avenue (To rezone from Single Dwelling Residential to Mixed use Corridor)
• 50 Tenth Street (To allow a “Cannabis Retail Store”)
• 2379 Browns Lane (To rezone from Single Dwelling Residential to Residential Corridor)

Sections 11 a-f

A Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw, to update Building Bylaw penalty fees, was adopted.
Section 11 g

A Building Bylaw Amendment Bylaw, to introduce BC Energy Step Code regulations, amend demolition permit expiration and amend works and services, was adopted.
Section 11 h

Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaws for 3500 Rock City Road and a portion of Fifth Street adjacent to 900 Fifth Street passed third readings.
Section 11 i,j

The Accommodation Tax Request Bylaw, to increase the Municipal and Regional District Tax rate from two percent to three percent, was adopted.
Section 11 k

Correspondence
Council is supporting the taxi industry’s request to provide a level playing field with all transportation providers
Section 12 a

October 7, 2019 Regular Council Meeting - agenda, documents and video