Regular Council

Monday, February 23, 2026

6:00 P.m. - 7:00 P.m.

Council Chamber, Second Floor & Zoom

New Westminster City Hall, 511 Royal Avenue

We recognize and respect that New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halkomelem speaking peoples. We acknowledge that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. As a City, we are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on.

---

1.

CALL TO ORDER & LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

2.

AGENDA ADDITIONS & DELETIONS

• Recommendation

  THAT the Agenda for the February 23, 2026 Regular Council meeting be approved.

3.

DELEGATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

3.1

Delegations

3.2

BC Housing Tiny Homes Village

a.

Presentation

Presented by Naomi Brunemeyer, Director Regional Development, Lower Mainland and Aliya Tejani, Senior Manager Regional Development, BC Housing

b.

Report

To information on BC Housing’s development of a 30-unit tiny homes village at 502 Twentieth Street.

• Recommendation

  THAT the report titled “BC Housing Tiny Homes Village” dated February 23, 2026 from the Chief Administrative Officer, be received for information.

4.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Recommendation

  THAT Items No. 4.1 through 4.8 be adopted by general consent.

4.1

Minutes - Public Hearing

• Recommendation

  THAT the Minutes of the Public Hearing held on January 23, 2026 be adopted.

4.2

Minutes - Regular Council

• Recommendation

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council meeting held on February 9, 2026 be adopted.

4.3

2025 Filming Activity

This report provides Council with the annual overview of filming activity and accomplishments for 2025.

• Recommendation

  THAT the report titled “2025 Filming Activity” dated February 23, 2026 from the Director, Community Services, be received for information.

4.4

Community Grant Program Update 2025-2026

This report provides a status update on the Community Grant Program, including a look back on grants awarded in 2025 and their associated community impact, as well as a summary of grants awarded for 2026. Additionally, it provides an update on the status of the phased adjustments to the Community Grants Program.

• Recommendation

  THAT the report titled “Community Grant Program Update 2025-2026” dated February 23, 2026, from the Director, Community Services, be received for information.

4.5

Development Cost Charges Reserve Funds Expenditure Bylaw No. 8572, 2026

To obtain Council’s approval of Development Cost Charges Reserve Funds Expenditure Bylaw No. 8572, 2026 authorizing expenditures from the City’s DCC Reserves.

• Recommendation

  THAT Development Cost Charges (DCC) Reserve Funds Expenditure Bylaw No. 8572, 2026 (Attachment 1) to authorize a total expenditure of $10.466M from the DCC Reserves for fiscal year 2025 be introduced and given first, second, and third readings.

4.6

Vulnerable Buildings Assessment Pathway One – City-Funded Cooling Assessments for Rental Buildings

To seek endorsement to launch a City-funded cooling assessment pilot program within the Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator (RARA) program for up to ten eligible rental buildings over a one year pilot as part of pathway one of the Vulnerable Buildings Assessment (VBA) project.

• Recommendation
  1. THAT the cooling assessment pilot program as part of Pathway One of the Vulnerable Buildings Assessment project as outlined in the report titled “Vulnerable Buildings Assessment Pathway One – City-Funded Cooling Assessments for Rental Buildings” dated February 23, 2026 from the Director, Energy and Climate Action, be endorsed.
  2. THAT staff be directed to enter into an agreement with the Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator program administrators to offer the cooling assessment pilot program within the Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator program.
  3. THAT staff report back with outcomes of the cooling assessment pilot program.

4.7

Proclamation - International Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness, March 26, 2026

4.8

Proclamation - Amyloidosis Awareness Month, March 2026

5.

CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

6.

MOTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND DECISION

6.1

Memorandum of Understanding with Century House Association

Submitted by Councillor Campbell

WHEREAS Century House Association (CHA) has been a valued community partner since 1958 in assuring that Century House provides inclusive, welcoming, and relevant activities and social connection for older adults in New Westminster; and

WHEREAS early in 2020 the City and CHA completed its first Memorandum of Understanding as a basis for sustaining and enhancing this proven relationship between two trusted partners for the delivery of those services; and

WHEREAS there have been changes at the CHA and across the community since the initial MOU was completed prior to the COVID pandemic, including expansion of recreation services in the City, the launching of the City’s Friendly Seniors Strategy and the recent adoption by the CHA of a new Strategic Plan; and

WHEREAS the CHA recently sent a letter to Mayor and Council suggesting the timeliness of a review and potential update of the MOU;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff engage with leadership of the Century House Association to explore updating the current Memorandum of Understanding between the City and CHA with the intent to strengthen collaboration in delivering services to an increasing diverse older adult population in the City.

6.2

Advancing a Vision Zero Approach to Road Safety

Submitted by Mayor Johnstone

WHEREAS injuries and deaths on BC roads have untold impacts on thousands of BC lives every year, strain local government first responder resources, and result in more than $500 Million in direct health care costs in British Columbia every year; and

WHEREAS the Province’s BC Road Safety Strategy has referenced a Vision Zero approach to road safety starting with the belief that no loss of life on our roads is acceptable and implementing a collaborative Safe System Approach to road safety relying proactive data collection and sharing as the globally recognized path to achieving Vision Zero;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of New Westminster submit a resolution to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association calling on UBCM to request the Province to advance its commitment to Vision Zero and further support local government partners through:

1. expansion of the Vision Zero Road Safety Grant program by providing additional funding to introduce a third funding stream with a cap higher than the current $20,000 limit to fund more ambitious local government and First Nation community road safety initiatives; and
2. undertaking a comprehensive review of data collected by provincial ministries and agencies in relation to motor vehicle injury and death incidents, and develop strategies for proactive data sharing between those agencies and local governments to inform local road safety improvements.

6.3

Triple Net Lease Reform

Submitted by Councillor Henderson

WHEREAS triple net leases shift the responsibility for property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs from property owners onto commercial tenants, creating financial instability and unpredictability for small and local businesses; and

WHEREAS municipalities rely on vibrant local businesses to support complete communities, economic resilience, and main street vitality, yet lack the legislative authority to regulate commercial leasing practices;

BE IT RESOLVED that the City of New Westminster submit a resolution to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association calling on the Province of BC to review and reform commercial leasing legislation, including the use of triple net leases, to improve transparency, fairness, and protections for commercial tenants, particularly small and locally-owned businesses.

6.4

Enhanced Mental Health Supports Following Infant Loss

Submitted by Councillor Nakagawa

WHEREAS infant loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and the death of an infant can result in profound and long-lasting mental health impacts for parents and caregivers; and

WHEREAS access to timely, specialized, and trauma-informed mental health supports following infant loss varies across the province, leaving many families without adequate care during an acute period of grief;

BE IT RESOLVED that the City of New Westminster submit a resolution to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association calling on the Province of BC to ensure ongoing provincial funding for research related to pregnancy loss and bereavement care, to provide standardized education and training for health care providers on how to deliver trauma-informed, evidence-based care, and to fund bereavement support programs for families who experience pregnancy loss, infant loss, embryo loss, or failed fertility and IVF treatments.

7.

NOTICE OF MOTION

7.1

Queensborough School Bus Program

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS over 230 Queensborough based students and their families rely on the Queensborough bus service to enable students to attend New Westminster Secondary School in a safe, secure and timely manner, without which journeys take three times as long and students are often passed over by overcrowded buses causing them to arrive late or not at all; and

WHEREAS a pilot service launched in January 2024 at cost to parents is slated to end on June 30, 2026 despite a campaign promise made on October 8, 2024 that if the NDP government were re-elected, this service would be made ‘permanent and free’; and

WHEREAS New Westminster is the second most dense city in Canada, with only one high school, and the acceptance of this density should have already unlocked new funding from senior orders of government;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor be requested to write to our three government and opposition MLAs asking they advocate to secure the necessary provincial funding to ensure the Queensborough school bus program becomes ‘free and permanent’ as previously promised; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Mayor write to the Minister of Education and Child Care requesting that additional funding be granted to School District 40 for the Queensborough school bus service to continue and be made permanent (beyond June 30, 2026) and without cost to local families until such time as a new high school is built in the Queensborough community.

8.

BYLAWS FOR ADOPTION

• Recommendation

  THAT the following bylaws be adopted:

8.1

Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Retail Sale of Cannabis (416 East Columbia Street) Amendment Bylaw No. 8520, 2025

To remove retail sale of cannabis as a permitted use from the property located at 416 East Columbia Street.

Opposition at 1^st/2^nd/3^rd Readings – Cllrs. Fontaine and Minhas.

a.

February 9, 2026 Staff Report

b.

Extract of February 9, 2026 Regular Council Minutes

8.2

Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 7925, 2017, Amendment Bylaw (Provincial Housing Legislation Integration) No. 8522, 2025

To enable Transit Oriented Development Areas to support higher residential and mixed-use development near SkyTrain stations, integrate the City's Interim Housing Needs Report into the OCP, and make minor administrative changes. 

Opposition at 1^st/2^nd Readings – None.

Opposition at 3^rd Reading – Cllr. Fontaine.

8.3

Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Amendment Bylaw (Non-Profit Housing Development, Phase 2) No. 8528, 2025

To allow non-profit affordable housing of up to six storeys in Transit Oriented Development Areas.

Opposition at 1^st/2^nd Readings – None.

Opposition at 3^rd Reading – None.

8.4

Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Amendment Bylaw (Land Use Designation Alignments) No. 8530, 2025

To make minor administrative changes.

Opposition at 1^st/2^nd Readings – None.

Opposition at 3^rd Reading – None.

8.5

Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 7925, 2017, Amendment Bylaw (Townhouse Accelerator Initiative) No. 8547, 2025

To enable townhouses to be developed on approximately 900 properties, and to allow non-profit affordable housing projects of up to six storeys to be considered on townhouse designated sites.

Opposition at 1^st/2^nd Readings – None.

Opposition at 3^rd Reading – Cllrs. Fontaine and Minhas.

8.6

Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Amendment Bylaw (Townhouse Zoning Update) No. 8524, 2025

To pre-zone approximately 570 properties to speed up the approval of townhouses, and to update regulations for townhouse developments, including changes to the minimum site area, building height, and density, and allowing secondary suites.

Opposition at 1^st/2^nd Readings – None.

Opposition at 3^rd Reading – Cllrs. Fontaine and Minhas.

8.7

Five-Year Financial Plan (2026-2030) Bylaw No. 8571, 2026

To approve the City’s consolidated Financial Plan for 2026 through 2030.

Opposition at 1^st/2^nd/3^rd Readings – Cllrs. Fontaine and Minhas.

9.

NEW BUSINESS

10.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

11.

ADJOURNMENT

• Recommendation

  THAT the meeting adjourn.

   

  Personal information is collected and archived by the City of New Westminster under Section 26(g)(ii) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and for the purpose of the City’s ongoing commitment to open and transparent government. If you have any questions about the collection of personal information, please contact Legislative Services, 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, V3L 1H9, 604-527-4523.