AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, May 26, 2025

4:30 p.m. To Proceed In Camera, Reconvene Regular Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Shaw Auditorium, Vancouver Island Conference Centre

80 Commercial Street, Nanaimo, BC

SCHEDULED RECESS AT 9:00 P.M.

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1.

CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER:

2.

PROCEDURAL MOTION:

That the meeting be closed to the public in order to deal with agenda items under the Community Charter:

Section 90(1) A part of a Council meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following:

(a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality;
(b) personal information about an identifiable individual who is being considered for a municipal award or honour, or who has offered to provide a gift to the municipality on condition of anonymity;
(c) labour relations or other employee relations; and
(n) the consideration of whether a Council meeting should be closed under a provision of this subsection or subsection (2).

3.

INTRODUCTION OF LATE ITEMS:

4.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:

5.

ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES:

a.

Minutes

Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held in the Shaw Auditorium, Vancouver Island Conference Centre, 80 Commercial Street, Nanaimo, BC, on Monday, 2025-MAY-05, at 4:30 p.m.

6.

MAYOR'S REPORT:

7.

RISE AND REPORT:

a.

Design Advisory Panel Appointment

During the 2025-MAY-05 In Camera Meeting, Council appointed Kait McGeary, Landscape Architect, as nominated by the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects, to the Design Advisory Panel for a two-year term ending 2027-MAY-05, or until a successor is appointed.

b.

Member-At-Large Appointment to the Design Advisory Panel

During the 2025-MAY-05 In Camera Meeting, Council appointed Jessica Kaman to the Design Advisory Panel for a three-year term ending 2028-MAY-05, or until a successor is appointed.

8.

PRESENTATIONS:

a.

Trish Horrocks, Nanaimo Fiddle Society re:  Nanaimo Fiddle Week May 11 - 17, 2025

b.

Joyce Fordyce Facility Programming Award Presentation

To be introduced by Darcie Osborne, Director, Parks, Recreation and Culture.

9.

COMMITTEE MINUTES:

a.

Minutes

Minutes of the Design Advisory Panel Meeting held in the Boardroom, Service and Resource Centre, 411 Dunsmuir Street, Nanaimo, BC, on Thursday, 2025-MAR-27 at 4:34 p.m.

10.

CONSENT ITEMS:

a.

Finance and Audit Committee Meeting 2025-MAY-21

[Note:  a link to the 2025-MAY-21 Finance and Audit Committee Meeting agenda is provided for information.]

1.

Nanaimo Aquatic Centre HVAC

That Council increase the 2026 budget for the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre HVAC Equipment Upgrades project by $6,740,951 funded by $1,500,000 from the Facility Development Reserve Fund and $5,240,951 from the General Asset Management Reserve Fund in the 2025 – 2029 Financial Plan.

2.

ERP Project - Budget Increase Request

That Council increase the budget for the ERP project by $1,900,000 funded by $200,000 in 2025 and $900,000 in 2026 from the General Asset Management Reserve Fund and $800,000 in 2025 from the IT Reserve Fund in the 2025 – 2029 Financial Plan.

3.

Nanaimo Curling Club Assessment

That Council direct Staff to prioritize necessary funds to sustain services at the facility including a new roof and suitable surface to support ice, while investigating additional programming for the facility.

4.

Community Watershed Restoration Grants 2025

That Council approve a total of $20,000 in accordance with the Community Watershed Restoration Grant Guidelines and Criteria as attached to the Staff Report titled “Community Watershed Restoration Grant 2025”, dated 2025-MAY-21, and that the grant allocations be as follows:

a) Nanaimo Area Land Trust - $4,166

    Project: Maintenance of Beaver Dam to Secure Flows

b) Wellington Action Committee - $3,800

    Project: Diver Lake Western Painted Turtle Protection

c) Pacific Garden Co-Housing - $7,034

    Project: Habitat Restoration Project-Chase River

d) Wildcoast Ecological Society - $5,000

    Project: East Wellington Park’s Ecosystem Restoration and Wildlife Education Program

5.

2025 Community Environmental Sustainability Project Grant Applications

That Council approve a total of $20,000 in accordance with the Community Environmental Sustainability Project Grant Guidelines and Criteria as attached to the Staff Report titled "2025 Community Environmental Sustainability Project Grant Applications", dated 2025-MAY-21, and that the grant allocations be as follows:

a) Broombusters Invasive Plant Society - $2,000

    Project: Nanaimo Parkway Broom Removal 2025

b) Frank J Ney Parent Advisory Committee - $5,000

    Project: FJN Elementary Outdoor Classroom

c) Nanaimo Area Land Trust and Friends of Cottle Creek - $5,000

    Project: Monitoring Riparian Forest Health in Linley Valley

d) Nanaimo Area Cycling Coalition Society - $1,000

    Project: Cycle in Nanaimo

e) Nanaimo Science - $1,500

    Project: Science in the Park

f) Nanaimo Climate Action Hub - $3,000

   Project: Nanaimo Climate Action and Solutions Expo

g) School District 68: Departure Bay Elementary School - $2,500

    Project: Phase 2 of Wardropper Park Improvements

11.

DELEGATIONS:

12.

REPORTS:

a.

Development Variance Permit Application No. DVP476 - 110 Fry Street

To be introduced by Jeremy Holm, Director, Planning and Development.

Purpose: To present for Council’s consideration a development variance permit application for a proposed overheight combined retaining wall and fence at 110 Fry Street.

It is requested that Council hear anyone wishing to speak with respect to Development Variance Permit No. DVP476 - 110 Fry Street.

Recommendation: That Council issue Development Variance Permit No. DVP476 for an overheight combined retaining wall and fence at 110 Fry Street with the variances as outlined in the “Proposed Variances” section of the Staff Report titled "Development Variance Permit Application No. DVP476 - 110 Fry Street", dated 2025-MAY-26.

b.

Rezoning Application No. RA504 - 335 Third Street

To be introduced by Jeremy Holm, Director, Planning and Development.

Purpose: To present Council with an application to rezone 335 Third Street from Single Dwelling Residential (R1) to Residential Corridor (COR1) to facilitate a multi-family development.

Delegation:

1. Toby Seward, Seward Developments Inc.

Recommendation: That

1. "Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 4500.236" (to rezone 335 Third Street from Single Dwelling Residential [R1] to Residential Corridor [COR1]) pass first reading;
2. "Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 4500.236" pass second reading;
3. "Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 4500.236" pass third reading; and,
4. Council direct Staff to secure the conditions of "Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 4500.236", as outlined in the “Conditions of Rezoning” section of the Staff Report titled "Rezoning Application No. RA504 - 335 Third Street", dated 2025-MAY-26, prior to final adoption.

c.

Covenant Amendment Application No. CA21 - 1179 Seafield Crescent

To be introduced by Jeremy Holm, Director, Planning and Development.

Purpose: To present for Council’s consideration with an application to discharge a Section 215 covenant from the property titles of 1179 Seafield Crescent, which restricts medical / dental office use on the subject property. 

Recommendation: That Council direct Staff to proceed with public notification prior to consideration of Covenant Amendment Application No. CA21 for 1179 Seafield Crescent at an upcoming Council meeting.

d.

Repainting of Nanaimo Sign at Maffeo Sutton Park

To be introduced by Darcie Osborne, Director, Parks, Recreation and Culture.

Purpose: To provide Council with options for the ongoing repainting of the Nanaimo sign at Maffeo Sutton Park, with specific consideration for the letter “O”.

Recommendation: That Council direct Staff to commission a new design for the letter “O” for the Nanaimo sign at Maffeo Sutton Park through the City’s Urban Design Roster for 2025, and direct Staff to explore the feasibility of establishing an annual public design call for future years.

e.

Form and Character Design Guidelines Project

To be introduced by Jeremy Holm, Director, Planning and Development.

Purpose: To present an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw to update Development Permit Area 8 (DPA8) and present the new Form and Character Design Guidelines, and related amendments to the landscape regulations.

Recommendation: That:

1. "Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 4500.235" (a bylaw to amend the landscape regulations and to replace DPA8 design guidelines) pass first reading;
2. "Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 4500.235" pass second reading;
3. Council direct Staff to proceed to a public hearing for "Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 4500.235" prior to consideration of third reading and final adoption, as required by Section 464 of the Local Government Act; and,
4. Council endorse the Form and Character Design Guidelines (2025) as attached to the Staff Report titled "Form and Character Design Guidelines Project", dated 2025-MAY-26.

f.

Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw Amendments - Downtown Urban Centre

To be introduced by Jeremy Holm, Director, Planning and Development.

Purpose: To present Council with amendments to the “Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw 2018, No. 7266” to remove minimum parking requirements for all uses in the Downtown Urban Centre.

Recommendation: That:

1. "Off-Street Parking Regulations Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 7266.04" (to eliminate minimum parking requirements in the Downtown Urban Centre) pass first reading;
2. "Off-Street Parking Regulations Amendment Bylaw 2025 No. 7266.04" pass second reading; and
3. Council direct Staff to proceed to a public hearing for Bylaw 7266.04 prior to consideration of third reading and final adoption, as required by Section 2.3 of the "Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw 2018 No. 7266".

13.

BYLAWS:

14.

CORRESPONDENCE:

15.

NOTICE OF MOTION:

a.

Councillor Eastmure Notice of Motion re:  Housing as a Human Right UBCM Resolution

Councillor Eastmure advised that she would be bringing forward the following Notice of Motion for consideration at a future Council Meeting:

“That Council direct Staff to submit the following resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) for consideration at their 2025 Annual General Meeting and Convention:

WHEREAS recognizing housing as a human right fundamentally shifts government motivations by adding critical urgency and responsibility to ensure access to affordable housing (meaning housing costs are aligned with income) through policies that prevent homelessness, address the escalating housing and homelessness crisis, eliminate discrimination, and prioritize the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada affirmed the right to housing as a matter of international law and enshrined it domestically through the National Housing Strategy Act (2019), recognizing housing as a human right and establishing mechanisms for accountability and inclusion;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM call for the British Columbia Government to enshrine housing as a human right in legislation and forthcoming housing and homelessness strategies, ensuring that housing policy in British Columbia is grounded in principles of equity, accessibility, accountability, and the inherent dignity of all people.”

16.

OTHER BUSINESS:

a.

Councillor Thorpe Motion re: Quarterly Updates from Tourism Nanaimo, Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation and Nanaimo Systems Planning Organization

At the 2025-MAY-05 Regular Council Meeting, Councillor Thorpe advised that he would be bringing forward the following motion for consideration:

"That Council require Tourism Nanaimo, the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation and the Nanaimo Systems Planning Organization to provide their future updates to Council on a semi-annual, rather than quarterly basis."

b.

Consideration of Postponed Motion re: Loudon Park Development

[Note: The following motion was postponed from the 2025-MAY-05 Regular Council Meeting.]

"It was moved and seconded that Council direct Staff to:

• Increase the budget by $1,876,373 funded from the Special Initiatives Reserve to proceed with the Boat Storage and Club Building from the alterative design for the Loudon Park improvements as outlined in the report titled “Loudon Park Improvements” dated 2025-MAR-19; and,
• Prepare a concept plan for a washroom, multi-purpose and fitness building on the general area of the existing washroom building."

Delegations:

1. Kiersten Mort
2. Craig and Kate Rutherford
3. Danielea Castell
4. Jennifer Mckenzie
5. Denise Winter and Ashley Manlow, Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club
6. Ester Majercin

17.

QUESTION PERIOD:

18.

ADJOURNMENT: