This week, REIMAGINE NANAIMO wants you to pick your passion, Nanaimo Fire reminds you to change your smoke alarm batteries and GoByBike BC starts today. Read on for more!

Hey, have you heard? We are changing the format of My Nanaimo This Week. Later this fall, we will be shifting over from posting this weekly newsletter on our blog to sending it straight to your email inbox. If you would like to begin receiving this newsletter by email, subscribe here now.

Did you know? We have other newsletters you can sign up for! You can find a list of newsletters and subscribe to them on the City website.

Corporate Services - Please check out our  Online Services page to see how we can help you. 

Just a reminder, the first penalty date for late tax payments has been extended to October 1, 2020. If you are registered for MyCity, you can view your property tax notice online. The final day to pay property taxes without incurring a penalty is September 30, 2020. As of October 1, 2020, any outstanding 2020 property taxes will be assessed a 5% penalty. On November 12, a second late penalty of 5% will be assessed on any property taxes that continue to be outstanding. 

Payments can be made through internet, phone or in-person banking at your financial institution or by using the drop box that is available 24/7 at the Service and Resource Centre (411 Dunsmuir Street). In-person payments can be made by visiting the pop-up tax payment office at the Frank Crane Arena ticket booths at Beban Park (2300 Bowen Road). The pop-up tax office will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October 2, 2020. In-person payment is limited to debit and cheque only. Questions, please contact the Finance Department 250-755-4415 or property.info@nanaimo.ca.

Public Works - City staff continue regular garbage, recycling and organics collection. More information on recyclables can be found at www.nanaimo.ca/goto/recycle.

Parks, Recreation & Culture - Playgrounds, parks, trails, skateboard parks, bike parks, pickle ball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, lacrosse boxes, sports fields and dog parks are open with a number of guidelines to follow.  Recreation facilities, pool and arena's have reopened with new procedures in place. Drop-in schedules are available for viewing:

• Community Recreation Programming - Fall 2020
• Pool Activities - Fall 2020
• Arena Activities - Fall 2020

The City has a COVID-19 Recovery Plan to provide a path forward for resumption of City operations in a safe and economically viable way. The plan outlines four steps that the City will take toward a gradual, safe and measured reopening of municipal facilities and resumption of City services and programs that have been suspended during the  COVID-19 pandemic.

REIMAGINE NANAIMO

Pick your passion and fill out one (or all) of the questionnaires! Each will only take 10 minutes to complete and the information gathered will guide the Official Community Plan, the Parks, Recreation & Culture plan, Active Sustainable Transportation Plan, Economic Develop Strategy, Nanaimo Water Supply Strategic Plan and the Climate Action Plan. Have your say today!

How we Live - ideas for our neighbourhoods today and tomorrow

Did you know? You can participate in this important project by registering at Get Involved Nanaimo . Make sure to subscribe to the REIMAGINE NANAIMO project  to stay in the know on new topics, contests and other activities through email updates.

AROUND THE CITY

Will Your Commute be Affected?

Check out the City's Current Construction Projects page for up-to-date information on City construction projects. Here are a few projects that may affect your commute:

• Bowen Road, between the Old Island Highway and Labieux Road, is being prepped for paving. Paving had to be postponed due to the rain and is rescheduled for mid-October. During this time, drivers can expect uneven pavement and loose gravel. Most work will be done at night from 7 pm to 7 am; however, commuters are encouraged to avoid the area if possible. 
• Metral Drive, between Turner Road and Godfrey Road, has been reduced to gravel and underground utility work has begun. Commuters are encouraged to detour and avoid the area completely. Traffic on the gravel road will be limited to local residents only and transit. Plan additional time to navigate the area. 

Park Project Closures

• Brannen Lake boat launch is closed while upgrades and maintenance take place. It is scheduled to re-open Friday.
• Paving in Maffeo Sutton Park is taking place this week, please follow the signage posted in the park. 
• Stair replacement at Seabold Rotary Park is scheduled to begin September 29 and will be completed in December.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Did you know? You have less than three minutes to escape a house fire. This year, going door to door to check smoke alarms is not an option. However, your safety is important to us so if you do not have a working smoke alarm you can request a member from the Nanaimo Fire Department come to your home (wearing PPE) and install one. Visit www.nanaimo.ca/goto/smokealarms and submit the form or call 250-753-7311 for assistance. If you already have a smoke alarm in your home, please remember to change the batteries every six months.

Pedal to Places for GoByBike 

What is the Pedal to Places Challenge? It’s a self-guided, touch-free scavenger hunt that gets people out on their bikes and exploring awesome places in our city during GoByBike Sept 28 -Oct 4, 2020. Visit https://gobybikebc.ca/nanaimo to register, clock your km's and enter to a local Pedal to Places prize and the GoByBike BC grand prize Exodus Travels Trip for 2 Cycling the Atlantic Coast of Portugal. 

Be a Part of Orange Shirt Day

All day Wednesday, September 30th wear orange to show your commitment to learning about residential schools. It is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. To learn more about the history of orange shirt day visit https://www.orangeshirtday.org/about-us.html. 

COUNCIL & COMMITTEES

Board of Variance

The City of Nanaimo is currently recruiting one member for the Board of Variance. The Board consists of five members appointed by City Council and is a three (3) year term. The BOV can grant variances to: relax zoning regulations, servicing requirements, and tree protection requirements; extend non-conforming uses; and, reconstruct a non-conforming building. If interested, residents need to apply before 4:30 pm, October 2, 2020. For more information about the Board of Variance including mandate, eligibility requirements, time commitments and how to apply please visit the City’s website at www.nanaimo.ca/goto/committees.

Upcoming Council and Committee Meetings

• Monday, September 28: Regular Council Meeting at 4:30 pm
• Wednesday, September 30: Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness at 3 pm
• Thursday, October 1: Health and Housing Task Force at 3 pm

Visit the Meetings, Documents and Videos page on the City website to view upcoming meetings, agendas and past meeting videos. 

Council in Action
Missed what decisions Council made during a Special Council Meeting or a Regular Council Meeting? Don’t worry. We have you covered! Check out our Council Meeting Summary page for quick overviews. 

CITY NEWS

Here is a recap of last week's City news:

• The property tax penalty date is fast approaching
• Celebrate World Rivers Day in Nanaimo virtually
• Coast Salish design & Hul'q'umi'num language create connection at Beban Pool