MERGED AGENDA
FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

9:00 A.m. - 12:00 P.m.

Shaw Auditorium, Vancouver Island Conference Centre

80 Commercial Street, Nanaimo, BC

SCHEDULED RECESS AT 10:30 A.M.

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1.

CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER:

[Note:  This meeting will be live streamed and video recorded for the public.]

2.

INTRODUCTION OF LATE ITEMS:

3.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA:

4.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES:

a.

Minutes

Minutes of the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting held in the Shaw Auditorium, Vancouver Island Conference Centre, 80 Commercial Street, Nanaimo, BC on Wednesday, 2025-OCT-15, at 9:00 a.m.

5.

PRESENTATIONS:

6.

DELEGATIONS:

7.

REPORTS:

a.

Nanaimo Rent Supplement Program Update

To be introduced by Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

Purpose: To provide the Finance and Audit Committee with a review of City of Nanaimo funded rent supplement programs in 2025. 

Presentation:

1. Christy Wood, Manager, Social Planning.
2. Deborah Hollins, Executive Director, Nanaimo Family Life Association.

b.

Nanaimo Region Rent Bank Update

To be introduced by Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

Purpose: To provide the Finance and Audit Committee a review of the Nanaimo Region Rent Bank in 2025.

Presentation:  [Note: Presentation continued from Nanaimo Rent Supplement Program Update.]

1. Melissa Giles, Managing Director, BC Rent Bank with Vancity Community Foundation.
2. Andrew Ferguson, Director of Vancouver Island, Connective.

c.

Online Accommodation Platform Fund

To be introduced by Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. 

Purpose: To provide the Finance and Audit Committee with a recommendation for the allocation of Online Accommodation Platform revenue in 2026. 

Recommendation: That the Finance and Audit Committee recommend that Council allocate the Online Accommodation Platform revenue in 2026 as follows:

1. $35,000 for continued support to the Nanaimo Region Rent Bank;
2. $150,000 for continued support to the rent supplement programs; and
3. $116,415 to acquisition of land and/or infrastructure/land improvements for affordable housing developments related to BC Housing and City of Nanaimo partnerships.

d.

Social Planning Grants 2026

To be introduced by Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

Purpose: To present to the Finance and Audit Committee the recommended Social Planning Grants allocations for 2026.

Recommendation: That the Finance and Audit Committee recommend that Council approve the 2026 Social Planning Grants recommendations of $85,000, and that the grant allocations be as follows:

Applicant Name: Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society Recommend: $20,858 Project: Digital Literacy for Senior Newcomers Mentorship Program

Applicant Name: Haven Society Recommend: $14,000 Project: Celebrate Life Project

Applicant Name: Nanaimo Brain Injury Society Recommend: $13,700 Project: Concussion 101

Applicant Name: Nanaimo Family Life Association Recommend: $10,000 Project: Reducing Community Barriers for Seniors 

Applicant Name: Nanaimo Foodshare Recommend: $11,442 Project: Shared Harvest

Applicant Name: Spinal Cord Injury BC Recommend: $5,000 Project: Peer Support Program in Nanaimo

Applicant Name: Take a Hike Foundation Recommend: $10,000 Project: Take a Hike Nanaimo Program

e.

Loudon Park Improvement Options 

To be introduced by Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

[Note:  Report and presentation to be distributed on the addendum.]

Presentation:

1. Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

Delegation:

1. Isaac Morgan

1.

Add - Report titled "Loudon Park Improvements Additional Preliminary Options"

To be introduced by Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

Purpose: To provide the Finance and Audit Committee with a summary of five conceptual options for an amenity building(s) for the Loudon Park Improvement Project and, seek a recommendation to Council on a preferred option for further investment in design and development.

Presentation:

1. Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

Recommendation: That the Finance and Audit Committee select one of the building amenity options presented in this report and recommend that Council direct Staff to advance the Loudon Park Improvement Project on the basis of that option.

2.

Add - Delegation from Kate Rutherford

3.

Add - Delegation from Kiersten Mort

f.

Nanaimo Legion Bid to Host 2028 and 2029 Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships

To be introduced by Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

Purpose: To request a financial commitment from Council regarding the proposal by the Nanaimo Legion Branch 10 in their bid to host the 2028 and 2029 Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships.  

Recommendation: That the Finance and Audit Committee recommend that Council commit up to $100,000 in the 2026 - 2030 Financial Plan towards the Legion Branch 10 bid to host the 2028 and 2029 Legion National Youth Canadian Track and Field Championships through the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command together with Athletics Canada and funded from the Strategic Infrastructure Reserve Fund. 

g.

Approval to Bid to Host the Creative City Summit in 2028, 2029 or 2030

To be introduced by Lisa Bhopalsingh, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. 

Purpose: To request a financial commitment from Council regarding the proposed bid to host the 2028, 2029 or 2030 Creative City Summit.

Recommendation: That the Finance and Audit Committee recommend that Council support the proposed bid to host the Creative City Summit in 2028, 2029 or 2030 and commit up to $50,000 in the 2026-2030 Financial Plan, funded from the Strategic Infrastructure Reserve Fund.

h.

Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island Funding Request

To be introduced by Laura Mercer, General Manager, Corporate Services.

Purpose: To provide the Finance and Audit Committee with options to consider in response to the funding request for financial assistance from the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island for their Home Away From Home project being built in Nanaimo.

Delegation:

1. Dave Hammond and Don Hubbard

Recommendation: That the Finance and Audit Committee recommend that Council direct Staff to proceed with one of the presented options relating to the grant request from the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.

i.

Council Spending and Amenities Policy Update

To be introduced by Laura Mercer, General Manager, Corporate Services.

Purpose:  To provide Council with information relating to possible updates to COU-200 Council Spending and Amenities Policy.

Recommendation:  That the Finance and Audit Committee recommend that Council direct Staff to proceed with one of the presented options to update the Council Spending and Amenities Policy.

8.

OTHER BUSINESS:

9.

QUESTION PERIOD:

10.

ADJOURNMENT: