December 16, 2024 Regular Council Summary

Presentations

Ting Pan, the City’s Manager of Sustainability, provided Council with an overview of the City Plan Monitoring Strategy’s monitoring indicators and data.
Section 8a

Ross Campbell, City GIS Technologist, provided an overview of how computer vision was used to measure tree canopy coverage across the City.  
Section 8b

Committee Recommendations

Recommendations from the 2024-DEC-06 Special Finance and Audit Committee meeting:

The following updates were made regarding the 2025-2029 Financial Plan:

• The RCMP contract was budgeted at 92% for 2025 and 95% for 2026 to 2029
• A $750,000 negative wage contingency was budgeted for 2025, to account for vacant staffing positions
• The 2025 base project funding was reduced by $795,456 and Commercial Street Implementation Phase 2 was removed from the Plan, postponing the start of Phase 2 by at least one year
• Nine full-time Community Safety Officers (CSOs) and one full-time Senior CSO position were added and a part-time Bylaw Steno position will be converted to full-time. Five of the CSOs will be hired in 2025 and four in 2026. To support the new positions, two CSO fleet vehicles and an EV charging station will be added, funded from the General Capital Reserve.
• A decision regarding the business case for increasing public space cleanliness was deferred to spring 2025, for discussion and consideration at that time
• An Assistant Manager, Financial Planning, and Assistant Manager, Current Planning, were added to the Plan
• Twelve new RCMP members were added with four officers will be hired each year in 2025, 2026 and 2027
• A decision regarding increasing the road maintenance budget was deferred to spring 2025, for discussion and consideration at that time
• A 10% annual increase for Cultural Project Grant funding was added for five years, increasing the budget from $44,407 to $71,519 by 2029
• Culture Operating Grant funding was increased annually by $0.25% per capita for three years
• The annual operating grant for the Restorative Justice Program was increased to $150,000
• The budget for the Neighbourhood Association Grant Program was increased to $20,000

Section 10a

Recommendations from the 2024-DEC-09 Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) meeting:

• The phasing and timing of the Design Commercial Street project, including the work fronting Diana Krall Plaza, will be discussed at a future GPC meeting.
• The topic of a demolition and deconstruction bylaw will be discussed at a future GPC meeting.
• Council directed staff to amend the Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw to eliminate minimum parking requirements for all uses within the Downtown Urban Centre.

Section 10b

Recommendations from the 2024-DEC-11 Finance and Audit Committee meeting:

Council awarded $85,000 in Social Planning grants as follows:

• Applicant: Take a Hike Foundation (Project: Take a Hike Nanaimo Program)
  Funding Amount: $10,000
• Applicant: Volunteer Nanaimo (Project: Youth Network)
  Funding Amount: $13,500
• Applicant: Island Crisis Care Society (Project: Rising Hope Community Kitchen)
  Funding Amount: $25,000
• Applicant: Nanaimo Alliance Church (Project: Food Bank Client Café – Kitchen Upgrades)
  Funding Amount: $8,000
• Applicant: Haven Society (Project: Safe Future for Youth – Violence is Preventable)
  Funding Amount: $15,000
• Applicant: Nanaimo Community Kitchens Society (Project: Cultivate and Cook)
  Funding Amount: $7,000
• Applicant: Nanaimo Family Life Association (Project: Kitchen Socials)
  Funding Amount: $6,500

• Council approved funding for the following park amenity improvements through the Partners in Parks Program:
  • $45,000 for a hard surface sport court at Everest Drive Park
  • $15,000 for storage and seating at Beaufort Food Forest
  • $40,000 for shade structure and platform at Stevie Smith Bike Park
• Council approved funding for staff to undertake the second phase of the Manufactured Home Park Energy Conservation and Emissions Reduction Strategy. The project is contingent on a successful BC Hydro grant application for $30,000 and requires $24,000 in funding from the City’s Climate Action Reserve Fund.
• Council directed staff to submit grant applications to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness for funding to support a Sea Level Rise Management Plan.
• Council endorsed using $619,936 in capacity funding, provided by the Province, for the following projects: Development Cost Charge Bylaw, Amenity Cost Charge Bylaw, Interim Housing Needs Report, Zoning Bylaw update, and undertaking an infrastructure analysis for the Woodgrove and University Transit-Oriented Areas.
• Council awarded a $50 ‘Security Check Grant’ to the Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society.
• Council increased the base budget for the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation from $515,850 to $665,000 effective in 2025.
• Council approved $631,256 in 2025 Cultural Grant funding as outlined in this attachment.

Section 10c,d

Delegations

Barbara Macleod spoke regarding traffic concerns at Oakridge Drive.
Section 11a

Reports

Council received the City of Nanaimo’s 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report.
Section 12a

Council gave approval for the City to enter into a new agreement with TELUS Communications Inc. for providing Next Generation 911 (NG911) emergency calling services and dispatch equipment within the City.
Section 12b

Council gave approval for the City to enter into a Mutual Aid Agreement with the Cranberry Improvement District, Mountain Improvement District, District of Lantzville, North Cedar Improvement District, and Extension and District Volunteer Fire Department Society.
Section 12c

Staff provided information regarding the City’s plans for complying with the Regional District of Nanaimo’s new Mandatory Waste Source Separation Bylaw by undertaking a phased implementation plan across parks and facilities known to generate waste.
Section 12d

Council accepted the Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness’ 2024 Annual Report.
Section 12e

“Financial Plan Bylaw 2024, No. 7389” (To confirm and adopt the 2025 – 2029 Financial Plan) passed three readings. The projected property tax increase for the 2025 taxation year is 8% with projected user rate increases as follows:

• Water – 5.0%
• Sewer – 4.0%
• Sanitation – 5.7%

Section 12f

“Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw 2024, No. 7336.13” (a bylaw to add fees and charges for the Finance Department) passed three readings.
Section 12g

A Development Permit was issued for 1740 Dufferin Crescent, to allow for a proposed 86-unit multi-family residential development.
Section 12h

A Development Permit was issued for 1935 Island Diesel Way, to allow for a light industrial development with an accessory dwelling unit.
Section 12i

A Development permit was issued for 77 Chapel Street, to allow for a proposed 162-unit multi-family residential development.
Section 12j

Council directed staff to submit two resolutions to the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) for consideration at their 2025 Annual General Meeting and Convention:

1. To advocate for the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act to allow for money to be paid in lieu of works and services in respect to the development of land established through subdivisions and building permits. Allowing for funding to be pooled would enable local governments to undertake more impactful projects which could benefit a broader area and better assist in achieving community goals for safety, connectivity or transportation management.
2. To call on the provincial government to amend the Community Charter, expanding the criteria for the type of infrastructure-related projects that use borrowing without requiring elector approval. This would help to secure adequate funding for projects that are necessary for the delivery of municipal services. Currently, BC is the only province in Canada requiring elector approval for these types of projects.

Section 12k

Bylaw Updates

"Waterworks Rate and Regulation Amendment Bylaw 2024, No. 7004.22" (a bylaw to set the water rates for 2025) was adopted.
Section 13a

"South West Bulk Water Rate Amendment Bylaw 2024, No. 7099.13" (a bylaw to set the 2025 bulk water rate for South West Extension) was adopted.
Section 13b

"Sewer Regulation and Charge Amendment Bylaw 2024, No. 2496.38" (a bylaw to set the 2025 rates for sanitary sewer) was adopted.
Section 13c

"User Fee Subsidy Amendment Bylaw 2024, No. 7095.06" (a bylaw to set the 2025 thresholds for User Fee Subsidies) was adopted.
Section 13d

"Municipal Solid Waste Collection Amendment Bylaw 2024, No. 7128.16" (a bylaw to set the solid waste collection rates for 2025) was adopted.
Section 13e

"Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2024 No. 4500.230" (to rezone 5300 Tanya Drive from Urban Reserve [AR2] to Steep Slope Residential [R10] with site-specific density) was adopted.
Section 13f

“Business Licence Bylaw Amendment Bylaw 2024, No. 7318.02” (a bylaw to clarify the licence terms of short-term rentals) was adopted.
Section 13g

Other Business

The Mayor, of behalf of Council, will be providing a letter of support to Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank for their request to the federal government to assist with funding for a new food recovery and distribution facility.
Section 14a

December 16, 2024 Regular Council meeting – agenda, documents and video