MERGED AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

4:30 p.m. To proceed In Camera, Reconvene Open Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
SHAW AUDITORIUM, VANCOUVER ISLAND CONFERENCE CENTRE
80 COMMERCIAL STREET, NANAIMO, BC

SCHEDULED RECESS 9:00 P.M.


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 the Council meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following:

(c) labour relations or other employee relations;

(d) the security of property of the municipality;

(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the Council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality;

(g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality; 

(i) the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; and,

(n) the consideration of whether a Council meeting should be closed under a provision of this subsection or subsection (2).

(k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the Council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.

Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held in the Shaw Auditorium, Vancouver Island Conference Centre, 80 Commercial Street, Nanaimo, BC, on Monday, 2021-MAR-15, at 4:30 p.m.

Chris Anderson, President of the Public Works Association of BC, to present, via Zoom, the following 2020 Awards:

  • 2020 Public Works Association BC - Manager of the Year to John Elliot, Director, Public Works
  • 2020 Outstanding Public Works Employee to Ritchie Fulla, Lead Supervisor, Waterworks
  • 2020 Public Works Association BC - Dedicated Service Award to Angela Mowatt, Clerk/Dispatcher, Public Works

Minutes of the Board of Variance Meeting held in the Boardroom, Service and Resource Centre, 411 Dunsmuir Street, Nanaimo, BC on Thursday, 2021-JAN-07 at 4:00 p.m.

Minutes of the Design Advisory Panel Meeting held in the Boardroom, Service and Resource Centre, 411 Dunsmuir Street, Nanaimo, BC, on Thursday, 2021-FEB-11 at 5:00 p.m.

Minutes of the Design Advisory Panel Meeting held in the Boardroom, Service and Resource Centre, 411 Dunsmuir Street, Nanaimo, BC, on Thursday, 2021-FEB-25 at 5:00 p.m.

Minutes of the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting held in the Shaw Auditorium, Vancouver Island Conference Centre, 80 Commercial Street, Nanaimo, BC, on Wednesday, 2021-MAR-17, at 9:01 a.m.

[Note:  A link to the 2021-MAR-17 Finance and Audit Committee meeting agenda is provided for information.]

That Council approve the allocation of the 2020 operating surplus as follows:

1. General Fund

  1. Special Initiatives Reserve $7,482,599
  2. Property Acquisition Reserve $1,000,000
    Total: $8,482,599

2. Sewer Fund

  1. Sewer Reserve $589,873
  2. Sewer Financial Stability Reserve $28,751
    Total: $618,624

That Council direct Staff to:

1. Proceed with installing the recommended Option A – Air Source Heat Recovery Heat Pump system to replace the existing chiller; and,
2. Increase the budget for the Port Theatre Chiller Replacement project by $500,799 in 2021 funded by $150,000 from the Emission Reduction Reserve and $350,799 from the General Asset Management Reserve.

That Council approve adding $59,113 to the 2021 Parks Operations Budget for Parks and Facility Operations to conduct additional facility and field maintenance of Serauxmen Stadium, to be funded from General Revenue.

That Council amend the 2021-2025 Financial Plan to include $255,000 in 2021 for change room and washroom upgrades at Beban Park Pool, to be funded from the Facility Development Reserve.

That Council approve:

1. The NDSS Community Field be designated as the medium-sized stadium site for the City of Nanaimo;
2. That a phased implementation plan with options and costing be developed for Council’s review and consideration in making NDSS Community Field a medium-sized stadium;
3. That in development of the phased improvement plan, that shared amenities that would benefit Rotary Bowl and Serauxmen Stadium be included; and,
4. That the current Joint Use Agreement with School District #68 be updated to address any changes required of this location being a medium-sized stadium. 

That Council direct Staff to review the Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Food Bank’s ask for funding, identify options and provide a report to Council for information.

[Note: A link to the 2021-MAR-22 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting agenda is provided for information.]

That the Governance and Priorities Committee receive the March 2021, Building Permit Function Review draft report by Neilson Strategies Inc. and recommend that Council:

  1. Refer the additional Staff positions recommended in the draft report to the Finance and Audit Committee for consideration in the 2021-2025 Financial Plan;
  2. direct Staff to proceed with implementation of the remaining six recommended changes outlined in the draft report:
    1. That the City work with industry to develop and implement a Fast Track Process to process applications for targeted, low-risk tenant improvement and residential projects.
    2. That the City work with industry to establish a time-limited Approved Professionals Pilot Project to test the ability to rely on the assurances of Registered Professionals in issuing building permits for targeted complex building projects.
    3. That the City engage industry in the establishment of a Joint Building Permit Advisory Working Group with a mandate to advise on the design and implementation of initiatives aimed at reducing permit processing times, promoting City-industry relations, and addressing other issues and needs identified by the parties.
    4. That the City support investments in technology to develop an online applications portal, facilitate online permit fee payments, and build a user-friendly application tracking dashboard tool for permit applicants.
    5. That the City develop an internal service agreement to set out expectations for the processing of referrals by affected work groups.
    6. That the City, to the extent possible, recover the costs associated with the recommendations in the Building Permit Function Review Draft Report through:
      • savings in overtime costs that are incurred today by Building Officials;
      • grant monies available under the Ministry of Municipal Affairs' recently-announced Local Government Development Approvals Program; and
      • increases to the City's building permit fees to align the fees with those charged by other 100,000 population-plus, high-growth municipalities.

3. Direct Staff to submit a grant application to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ Local Government Development Approvals Program to support the implementation of established best practices and to test innovative approaches to improve  development approvals processes.

That Council direct Staff to provide an information update every two months regarding development approval times compared to the benchmarks set by the City of Nanaimo.

That Council establish the Mayor’s Leaders’ Table with representation of: Mayor and two Council members; key social, cultural, educational, healthcare, technology, labour, arts, tourism and business organizations; and, chaired by the Mayor and subject to applicable Legislative Support and oversight. 

That Council direct staff to develop the 100,000 Voices Campaign Concept and report back to Council with the marketing and communications plan, including a budget.

That Council endorse the Art in Public Spaces Working Group Guidelines and Call for Applications and direct Staff to proceed. 

That Council approve the de-accession of the following artworks from the City of Nanaimo Public Art collection:

  1. Dan Richey, Dungeness Crab (2013);
  2. Yvonne Vander Kooi and students of Bayview Elementary, The Hummingbird Project (2013); and,
  3. Yvonne Vander Kooi, At Play (2007).

To be introduced by Bill Sims, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works.

Purpose:  To seek Council’s direction on an opportunity to participate in a Motor Vehicle Act Pilot Project to allow micromobility devices on public streets and sidewalks. 

Recommendation:  That Council approve participation in the Province of British Columbia’s Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) Pilot Projects Program to enable the use of micromobility devices within City streets.

To be introduced by Shelley Legin, General Manager, Corporate Services. 

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

Purpose:  To provide Council with information on various initiatives for application under the Strengthening Communities’ Services Grant Program and to obtain a Council resolution.

Recommendation:  That Council:

  1. endorse the activities identified in Appendix A for funding in an application under the Strengthening Communities’ Services Grant Program and commits to providing overall grant management;
    Appendix A Items
    - Temporary Housing Units and Shelters
    - Rent Bank
    - Housing First Rent Supplement
    - Youth Rent Supplement
    - Shower Program
    - Urban Clean Up
    - Community Connect
    - Downtown Security
    - Portable Toilets
    - Cultural Services
    - Temporary Social Planner; and
  2. commits to funding, if required, site servicing costs for the Temporary Housing Units from the Housing Legacy Reserve Fund if grant application is successful.

To be introduced by Dale Lindsay, General Manager, Development Services.

Purpose:  To present to Council the BC Energy Step Code Rezoning Policy for adoption.

Presentation:

  1. Rob Lawrance, Environmental Planner.

Recommendation:  That Council:

  1. adopt the BC Energy Step Code Rezoning Policy; and
  2. direct Staff to implement the Step Code Rezoning Policy three months after adoption.

To be introduced by Dale Lindsay, General Manager, Development Services.

Purpose:  To request a postponement of the 2021-MAY-01 and 2021-NOV-01 Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment application intake rounds, pending adoption of the new OCP, in order to reduce the potential confusion that two parallel OCP processes may cause.

Recommendation:  That Council postpone the 2021-MAY-01 and 2021-NOV-01 intake rounds for applications to amend the Official Community Plan until 2022-MAY-01.

To be introduced by Dale Lindsay, General Manager, Development Services.

Purpose:  To obtain Council approval to grant a lease extension to CBI Health Group and Team Aquatic for commercial space at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, located at 741 Third Street. 

Recommendation:  That Council:

  1. approve a 21-month extension on the current lease agreements with CBI Health Group Inc. and Team Aquatic Supplies Ltd.; and
  2. authorize the Mayor and Corporate Officer to execute the lease agreements.

To be introduced by Dale Lindsay, General Manager, Development Services.

Purpose:  To present for Council’s consideration, a development permit application for a multi-family development at 1300 Junction Avenue.

Delegation:

  1. Sarah Alexander

Recommendation:  That Council issue Development Permit No. DP1190 at 1300 Junction Avenue with a variance to reduce the watercourse setback for Wexford Creek from 15.0m to 9.7m.

To be introduced by Sheila Gurrie, Director, Legislative Services.

Purpose:  To advise Council of the need to transition to hybrid or virtual meetings during the Shaw Auditorium renovation period and present options to facilitate the change.

Recommendation:  That Council direct Staff to schedule meetings during the Shaw Auditorium renovation period virtually, with all members of Council and Staff attending through Zoom.

13.

Councillor Armstrong advised that she would be bringing forward the following notice of motion for consideration at a future Council Meeting:

“That Council support the Mayor of Williams Lake by sending a letter to the Solicitor General, Attorney General, and the Premier of British Columbia requesting a public inquiry into the justice system in BC, to determine why so many prolific offenders with serious charges are constantly released back into communities with ineffective deterrents to reoffend and to call for action to protect communities.”

At the 2021-MAR-15 Regular Council Meeting Councillor Geselbracht advised that he would be bringing forward the following motion for consideration:

WHEREAS ancient high productivity (big tree) old growth ecosystems are globally one of the most valuable climate mitigation and resiliency assets in terms of carbon storage, sequestration, protection against wildfire, storage of water and bank of biodiversity;

AND WHEREAS, of the 2.7% of the original high productivity (big tree) old-growth forests (less than 1% of BC’s total current forested area), 75% are still slated to be eliminated through logging; BE IT RESOLVED

THAT the City of Nanaimo call on the provincial government to immediately defer logging in all high productivity, rare, oldest, and most intact old-growth forests as recommended by the Old-Growth Strategic Review, until all 14 of the panel’s recommendations have been implemented; including deferrals in such at-risk old-growth forests as, the head waters of Fairy Creek, the Upper Walbran Valley, Nahmint Valley, Eden Grove, Edinburgh Mountain, Upper Tsitika Valley, East Creek, Klaskish Valley, Nimpkish Lake and the Inland Old-Growth Temperate Rainforest.

AND THAT the City of Nanaimo formally oppose the logging of at-risk old-growth forests;

AND THAT the City of Nanaimo call on the Government of British Columbia to allocate funding to enact deferrals in an economically just manner, in the full spirit of reconciliation and to support the economic transition of affected First Nations and non-First Nation communities from unsustainable old-growth logging for the development of long-term sustainable local economies.

AND THAT the following resolution be sent to the Union of BC Municipalities and as a late submission to AVICC

Immediate Protection for all at-risk Old-growth Forests in BC

WHEREAS ancient high productivity (big tree) old growth ecosystems are globally one of the most valuable climate mitigation and resiliency assets in terms of carbon storage, sequestration, protection against wildfire, storage of water and bank of biodiversity;

AND WHEREAS, of the 2.7% of the original high productivity (big tree) old-growth forests (less than 1% of BC’s total current forested area), 75% are still slated to be eliminated through logging; BE IT RESOLVED

THAT the UBCM and AVICC call on the provincial government to immediately defer logging in all high productivity, rare, oldest, and most intact old-growth forests as recommended by the Old-Growth Strategic Review, until all 14 of the panel’s recommendations have been implemented; including deferrals in such at-risk old-growth forests as the head waters of Fairy Creek, the Upper Walbran Valley, Nahmint Valley, Eden Grove, Edinburgh Mountain, Upper Tsitika Valley, East Creek, Klaskish Valley, Nimpkish Lake and the Inland Old-Growth Temperate Rainforest.

AND THAT the UBCM and AVICC call on the Government of British Columbia to allocate funding to enact deferrals in an economically just manner, in the full spirit of reconciliation and to support the economic transition of affected First Nations and non-First Nation communities from unsustainable old-growth logging for the development of long-term sustainable local economies.

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