January 15, 2024 Regular Council Summary

Rise and Report

During the December 4, 2023 In Camera Council meeting:

• $175,000 in funding was allocated to Island Crisis Care Society, to fund a warming centre service at 2025 Bowen Road from approximately Jan. 2, 2024 - Mar. 31, 2024.
• $112,000 in funding was allocated to the 7-10 Club Society, to fund a warming centre service at 5 Victoria Road from approximately Dec. 17, 2023 - Mar. 31, 2024.

Staff will be entering into service agreements with both operators to mitigate impacts on the surrounding neighbourhoods through good neighbourhood agreement requirements.
Section 7a

Council appointed Councillors Thorpe and Hemmens as Committee representatives to the District 68 Sports Field and Recreation Committee, and Councillor Perrino as the alternate, for a term ending 2026-NOV-03.
Section 7b

Council appointed Councillors Armstrong and Eastmure as chair and co-chair of the Public Safety Committee, along with the following nine at-large members for a term ending 2026-NOV-03:

• James Bowen
• Scott Brodie
• Kim Coulthard
• Doug Cowling
• Destiny Herman
• Kevin Lambert
• Collen Middleton
• Jennifer Millbank
• Ruth Taylor

Section 7c

Presentations

Corporal Stephen Dupuis, NCO i/C SITE, Nanaimo RCMP, provided the RCMP Annual Update.
Section 8a

Consent Items

Recommendation from the October 18, 2023 Finance and Audit Committee meeting:

Council directed staff to write a letter to the Federal Government requesting more reaching home funding for Nanaimo.
Section 10a

Recommendations from the January 10, 2024 Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness meeting:

Council directed staff to:

• Work with School District #68 and the Regional District of Nanaimo Transit department to develop a plan to improve accessibility when travelling from the bus stops to facilities at Nanaimo District Secondary School, the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre and the Stadium District.
• Ensure that the following City Recreation Centres receive assessments/audits in 2024:
  • Oliver Woods Community Centre
  • Beban Park Pool
  • Cliff McNabb Arena
  • Nanaimo Ice Centre
  • Nanaimo Museum
  • Vancouver Island Military Museum
  • City Hall/SARC

Section 10b

Delegations

Jeff Krafta, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island, spoke regarding the organization's request that a letter of support be sent to CMHC Co-Investment Housing Program Financing for a 26-unit affordable housing complex at 5915 Metral Drive.
Section 11a

Reports

Council approved the disposition of 350 and 398 Franklyn Street to Camargue Properties Inc. for $1.6 Million. Preliminary concept drawings of the proposed development feature a four to five-storey rental building with commercial and residential units.
Section 12a

Council approved a Revitalization Tax Exemption Agreement for a proposed multi-family development with 23 units at 420 Albert Street.
Section 12b

An update was provided on the Nanaimo Acute Response Table. Council authorized the Mayor to enter into an Integrated Program Agreement with the Province of British Columbia to support the activities of the Nanaimo Acute Response Table (also known as the Situation Table).
Section 12c

A development permit, with variances, was issued for 532 Prideaux Street, to allow for a multi-family development.
Section 12d

First and second reading of “Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2023 No. 4500.219” (General text and mapping amendments to “City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw 2011 No. 4500”) were rescinded and Council directed staff not to hold a Public Hearing for the amendment bylaw, and to provide notice in advance of first reading. The motion is in response to recent changes and requirements of the Local Government Act.
Section 12e

Bylaws

“Financial Plan Bylaw 2023 No. 7371” (To confirm and adopt the 2024 – 2028 Financial Plan) was adopted.
Section 13a

Reports (continued)

Council approved $250,000 in Downtown Event Revitalization Fund Grants for the following:

• Applicant Name: Crimson Coast Dance Society
  • Event Name: REBO(U)ND
  • Recommended: $8,472
• Applicant Name: Downtown Nanaimo Business Association
  • Event Name: Picnic in the Plaza
  • Recommended: $16,162
• Applicant Name: Downtown Nanaimo Business Association
  • Event Name: WinterFest
  • Recommended: $24,000
• Applicant Name: Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society
  • Event Name: 2024 Concert Series
  • Recommended: $11,000
• Applicant Name: Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce
  • Event Name: 2024 Commercial Street Night Market
  • Recommended: $40,000
• Applicant Name: Island Consort Society
  • Event Name: A Choral Cornucopia (Spring Program)
  • Recommended: $1,560
• Applicant Name: Island Consort Society
  • Event Name: Joy of Christmas (Fall Program)
  • Recommended: $2,500
• Applicant Name: L’Association des francophones de Nanaimo
  • Event Name: Voices in my body
  • Recommended: $5,000
• Applicant Name: Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society
  • Event Name: Marine Festival
  • Recommended: $22,000
• Applicant Name: Nanaimo Ballroom Dance Society
  • Event Name: Summer Dance Festival
  • Recommended: $4,500
• Applicant Name: Nanaimo Blues Society
  • Event Name: Nanaimo Blues Festival
  • Recommended: $30,000
• Applicant Name: Nanaimo Chapter, Federation of Canadian Artists
  • Event Name: Fall Fine Arts Show
  • Recommended: $2,200
• Applicant Name: Nanaimo Chapter, Federation of Canadian Artists
  • Event Name: Spring Fine Arts Show
  • Recommended: $2,200
• Applicant Name: Nanaimo International Jazz Festival Association
  • Event Name: Jazz Festival 2024
  • Recommended: $25,000
• Applicant Name: Nanaimo Pride Society
  • Event Name: Pride Festival
  • Recommended: $5,700
• Applicant Name: Nanaimo RibFest Ltd.
  • Event Name: Nanaimo RibFest
  • Recommended: $8,000
• Applicant Name: Old City Quarter Association
  • Event Name: Sounds of Summer in the OCQ
  • Recommended: $7,638
• Applicant Name: Old City Quarter Association
  • Event Name: Winter in the OCQ
  • Recommended: $3,500
• Applicant Name: Pacific Coast Stage Company
  • Event Name: Fringe Hub
  • Recommended: $4,000
• Applicant Name: Positively Vegan Society
  • Event Name: Vegan Night Market
  • Recommended: $3,500
• Applicant Name: Positively Vegan Society
  • Event Name: VegFest
  • Recommended: $5,250
• Applicant Name: Reconciliation Theatre Society
  • Event Name: Canada Day
  • Recommended: $5,140
• Applicant Name: Reconciliation Theatre Society
  • Event Name: Spooktacular 2024
  • Recommended: $3,062
• Applicant Name: South End Community Association
  • Event Name: South End Day Heritage Picnic
  • Recommended: $4,500
• Applicant Name: The Mom Market Collective Inc.
  • Event Name: VICC Christmas Market
  • Recommended: $4,000
• Applicant Name: Victoria Crescent Association
  • Event Name: Victoria Crescent Banner Festival
  • Recommended: $1,116

  Section 14a

Other Business

Council approved that the Mayor, on behalf of Council, provide letters of support to:

• Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society, for their applications to: Local Immigration Partnerships, Settlement and Resettlement Assistance Programs, and the Community Needs Grant.
• Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island, for their application to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Sections 16a-d

January 15, 2024 Regular Council meeting – agenda, documents and video