November 2, 2020 Regular Council Summary

Presentations to Council 

Mayor’s Task Force on Recovery and Resilience
On behalf of the Mayor’s Task Force on Recovery and Resilience, Donna Hais, Board Chair, Nanaimo Port Authority, gave a presentation on Building a Healthy and Connected Community both during and after the pandemic. The Mayor’s Task Force on Recovery and Resilience was implemented as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the community. Specifically, to address economic impacts, community resiliency and to provide strategic recommendations for recovery to be considered by the Mayor and Council.
Section 8 a

Nanaimo RCMP Quarterly Update
Lisa Fletcher, Acting Superintendent, Nanaimo RCMP gave Council an update on detachment strategic priorities, COVID-19, 3^rd quarter statistics, current issues as well as RCMP partners and initiatives.
Section 8 b

Consent Items

Consent Items group discussion points into a single area on the agenda labeled “Consent Items.” This procedure allows decision-makers to group consent items together under one heading and approve them in one action or to consider and vote on each item separately if discussion is needed (for more information, please see Section 14 of the City’s Procedural Bylaw).

Special Environment Committee Meeting 2020-OCT-07 

Climate and Environmental Gap Analysis
Staff will liaise with Environment Committee members to develop focus group stakeholder engagement around environmental objectives of the Official Community Plan.
Section 10 a, 1

Finance and Audit Committee Meeting 2020-OCT-21 

Facilities Valuation Study
$50,000 in grant funding will be accelerated for the Facilities and Park Amenities Condition Assessment Program from 2021 to 2020 for the purposes of a facilities valuation exercise.
Section 10 b, 1

Community Resiliency Investment Program (FireSmart Community Funding and Supports Program)
Council supports the City of Nanaimo’s application to the Union of BC Municipalities for the Community Resiliency Investment Program (FireSmart Community Funding and Supports). If successful, the project will be added to the 2021-2025 Financial Plan.
Section 10 b, 2

2021 Social Planning Grant Increase
As part of all Cannabis Retail Store rezoning applications, the City of Nanaimo requests a $10,000 Community Amenity Contribution. Since 2018 the City has secured an additional $30,000 to the existing $60,000 Social Response Grant Fund, totaling in the amount of $90,000.

Note: $30,000 of this funding is available to support Community Wellness and Substance Use Response programs. This funding must provide financial assistance to new or ongoing programs that provide support to individuals with or who are overcoming drug or alcohol addiction. 

Programs may include:
· Detox and treatment programs 
· Counselling and support 
· Peer support and employment programs 
· Harm reduction and overdose response (with Island Health approval)

Section 10 b, 3

Asset Management Update
The annual 1% property tax increase contribution to the General Asset Management Reserve will be extended for five (5) years or until the next asset management update and recommendations are presented to Council and will be included in the 2021-2025 Financial Plan.

The annual 2.5% water user fee increase for 2021 for contributions to the Water Asset Management Reserve has been extended and will be included in the 2021-2025 Financial Plan.
Section 10 b, 4

Draft 2021 Finance and Audit Committee Key Date Calendar
The 2021 Finance and Audit Committee Key Date Calendar was approved.
Section 10 b, 5

Reports to Council

Covenant Amendment Application No. CA13 - 1060, 1070, 1074 & 1098 Douglas Avenue, and 280 Tenth Street
The Section 219 covenant on the property titles of 1060, 1070, 1074, and 1098 Douglas Avenue, and 280 Tenth Street will be amended to facilitate a proposed subdivision.
Section 12 b

Appointment of Bylaw Enforcement Officer
Council appointed Terry Knowles as a Bylaw Enforcement Officer.
Section 12 c

Proposed Council Procedure Bylaw Amendments
“Council Procedure Bylaw Amendment Bylaw 2020 No. 7272.02” (To update processes regarding the public hearing date and streamlining the method to reorder the agenda) passed first, second and third readings.
Section 12 d

Board of Variance Amendment Bylaw - Change in Monthly Meeting Day
“Board of Variance Amendment Bylaw 2020 No. 7213.01” (To change the meeting day from the third Thursday of each month to the first Thursday of each month) passed first, second and third readings.
Section 12 e

2021 Acting Mayor Schedule
Council selected option one for the 2021 Acting Mayor Schedule with the amendment of Councillors Armstrong and Turley switching dates.
Section 12 f

2021 Appointments to the Regional District of Nanaimo Board
Council renewed, for the term ending 2021-DEC-31, appointments of the current Council members on the Regional District of Nanaimo Board as follows:

5 Votes        Mayor Krog
5 Votes        Councillor Hemmens
5 Votes        Councillor Armstrong
5 Votes        Councillor Geselbracht
5 Votes        Councillor Brown
4 Votes        Councillor Turley
4 Votes        Councillor Bonner
4 Votes        Councillor Thorpe
Alternate      Councillor Maartman

Section 12 g

Bylaws

The following Bylaws were adopted and received for information:

"Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2020 No. 4500.179"
“Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2020 No. 4500.179” (To replace the Violation and Penalty section and delete the fine schedule).
Section 13 a

"Management and Protection of Trees Amendment Bylaw 2020 No. 7126.01"
“Management and Protection of Trees Amendment Bylaw 2020 No. 7126.01” (To replace the Violation and Penalty section and delete the fine schedule).
Section 13 b

"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw 2020 No. 7159.08"
“Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw 2020 No. 7159.08” (To replace the fine schedule for the Zoning Amendment Bylaw, add a fine schedule for the Management of Trees Bylaw, and replace Schedule B - Registry Agreement).
Section 13 c

Other Business

Councillor Bonner - Motion re:  Free Menstrual Products in City Facilities
Staff will prepare a report outlining options to provide free menstrual products in city facilities in the Spring of 2021, including:

• A list of City facilities and the cost and feasibility to provide barrier-free menstrual product distribution at each location
• Outline how the lessons learned from the pilot projects undertaken by the cities of Coquitlam, Port Moody and Victoria (in their civic facilities) can benefit a similar program in Nanaimo and evaluate partnership opportunities such as with the United Way's "Period Promise" campaign and provide future recommendations to Council as part of on-going program sustainment.

Section 15 a

Councillor Armstrong - Motion re:  Residential Street Parking
Staff will prepare a report outlining options for Council to consider in order to permit residents to park on residential streets for more than twenty-four hours without having to move their vehicles.
Section 15 b

Councillor Armstrong - Motion re:  City Facilities Room Bookings for Nonprofit Addiction Support Groups
Staff will prepare a report for options to secure use of rooms at City of Nanaimo facilities to assist nonprofit addiction support group meetings, which are a critical part of their recovery program.
Section 15 c

November 2, 2020 Council Meeting – agenda, documents and video