REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 6:00 P.m. - 7:00 P.m.

Meeting held in Council Chamber

Second Floor, City Hall

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.

 

LIVE WEBCAST: Please note City Council Meetings, Public Hearings, Council Workshops and some Special City Council Meetings are streamed online and are accessible through the City’s website at http://www.newwestcity.ca/council  

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1.

CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Mayor will open the meeting and provide a land acknowledgement.

2.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

As circulated or as amended (urgent/time sensitive matters only)

3.

CONSENT AGENDA

If Council decides, all the recommendations in the reports on the Consent Agenda can be approved in one motion, without discussion. If Council wishes to discuss a report, that report is removed from the Consent Agenda. A report may be removed in order to discuss it, because someone wants to vote against the report’s recommendation, or because someone has a conflict of interest with the report. Any reports not removed from the Consent Agenda are passed without discussion.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopt the recommendations for items # on consent.

3.1

Acting Mayor Appointments for November 2024 through October 2025

To designate Councillors to undertake Acting Mayor duties on a rotating basis until the end of October 2025.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Acting Mayors for November 2024 through October 2025 be appointed as set out in the Schedule of Acting Mayors attached as Attachment 1 to the report “Acting Mayor Appointments for November 2024 through October 2025,” dated October 21, 2024.

3.2

Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

The purpose of this report is to provide Council with the proposed new Business Licence Bylaw and seek first, second and third readings of the Bylaw.

• Recommendation:
  1. THAT Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 be considered for first, second and third readings; and
  2. THAT Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 be forwarded to an Opportunity to be Heard at the Regular Meeting of Council on November 4, 2024.

3.3

Rezoning: 88 Tenth Street (Columbia Square) - Zoning Amendment Bylaw for Three Readings

a.

Correspondence dated October 13, 2024 (1 item received as of 2:00 p.m., October 16, 2024)

b.

Report

To request Council consider Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 8485 for three readings and endorse the Columbia Square Policy Statement which would guide the creation of a Master Plan for a multi-phased development of a high-density, complete, mixed use, and transit-oriented community at 88 Tenth Street (Columbia Square).

• Recommendation:
  1. THAT Council consider Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Columbia Square) Bylaw No. 8485, 2024 for Three Readings.
  2. THAT Council endorse the Columbia Square Policy Statement as a basis for developing a Master Plan for 88 Tenth Street, to be completed prior to Council’s consideration of adoption of the Zoning Amendment Bylaw.

3.4

Rezoning and Development Permit: 140 Sixth Street – Consideration of Additional Building Height

To seek Council’s approval to advance a development proposal for 140 Sixth Street (Royal Towers), which may consider towers between 30 to 40 storeys in height, provided the proposal includes a supportable public benefit package and Tenant Assistance Plan.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to work with the applicant to advance a development proposal for 140 Sixth Street, which may consider towers between 30 to 40 storeys in height.

3.5

Rezoning and Special Development Permit: 65 First Street – Preliminary Report

To seek Council’s approval to process the rezoning application for a high-density, mixed-tenure residential development at 65 First Street as outlined within this report.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to work with the applicant to prepare a plan of development for 65 First Street suitable for consideration of First, Second and Third Readings, as outlined in the “Application Review Process” section of this report.

3.6

Temporary Use Permit: 28, 32, 34 Sixth Street and 606 Clarkson Street (the Cliff Block Residence) – For Emergency Winter Shelter Use

The purpose of this report is for Council to consider the issuance of a Temporary Use Permit for an emergency winter shelter use on the lower floor of the Cliff Block Residence located at 28, 32, 34 Sixth Street and 606 Clarkson Street, and to request Council waive the associated fee.

• Recommendation:
  1. THAT Council provide notice that it will consider the issuance of a Temporary Use Permit (TUP00033) for an emergency winter shelter use at 28, 32, 34 Sixth Street and 606 Clarkson Street (the Cliff Block Residence) as outlined in this report; and
  2. THAT Council waive the application fee for the Temporary Use Permit in the amount of $1,120.30, which would be reflected in a comparable decrease in projected 2024 planning permit revenues.

3.7

Proclamation: World Polio Day, October 24, 2024

4.

OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL – 7:00 PM

5.

BYLAWS

5.1

Public Hearing Prohibited

a.

Zoning Bylaw 6680, 2001, Amendment Bylaw (88 Tenth Street - Columbia Square) No. 8485, 2024

This bylaw would rezone the subject property to a comprehensive development district which would allow, in conjunction with the creation of a master plan, a multi-phased development of a high-density, complete, mixed use, and transit-oriented community, which would include a variety of housing opportunities, office and retail uses, and community and public spaces. This bylaw is on the agenda for first, second and third readings.

5.2

Bylaws for Readings

a.

Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024

A Bylaw to provide for the issuance of business licenses, to set and impose licence fees and to regulate certain businesses in the City of New Westminster. This bylaw is on the agenda for first, second and third readings.

6.

MOTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

6.1

Motions for Discussion and Decision

a.

Increase Affordability by Temporarily Eliminating the New Westminster Developed Climate Action Levy on Electricity Bills in 2025

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

WHEREAS according to a staff report dated April 20, 2020, the City’s Climate Action Levy imposed on New Westminster Utility “costs electrical customers approximately $15 per 1,000 KWH” ; and

WHEREAS in 2023 the temporary removal of the Climate Action Levy would have helped local residents and businesses deal with inflationary pressures by reducing their electrical costs by almost $2M; and

WHEREAS there is no clear evidence that imposing ‘made-in-New Westminster’ levies, taxes or fees on green energy generated by BC Hydro will reduce our carbon footprint; and

WHEREAS even the BC NDP government has now backed away from its support of the costly and unaffordable carbon tax currently imposed on consumer products;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff incorporate into the City’s 2025 Operating Budget a temporary one-year elimination of the 3.5% Climate Action Levy imposed by the New Westminster Electrical Utility.

b.

Produce at least One 2025 Operating Budget Option that is Pegged at No More Than 4.5% for Property Taxes

Submitted by Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS Canada’s inflation rate is now 2%; and

WHEREAS property taxes have increased by almost 15% over the past two years and if this continued at the same pace property taxes could increase over 30% this term; and

WHEREAS countless property taxpayers in New Westminster are struggling under the weight of an increased cost of living;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be directed as part of the Budget 2025 process to develop at least one budget scenario for Council's consideration that incorporates a property tax increase of no more than 4.5%.

6.2

Notices of Motion

a.

Guide Dog Access Awareness

Submitted by Councillor Campbell

WHEREAS September is Guide Dog Access Awareness Month and is about educating people on proper guide dog etiquette, the rights of guide dog handlers and the legislation that protects them, and championing equal access for guide dog handlers.

WHEREAS Canada’s provinces and territories, human rights legislation prohibits discriminating against a person with a disability who is working with a guide dog and despite the legislation, people partnered with guide dogs continue to encounter discrimination when they’re denied access to public places and services, such as stores, restaurants, hotels, and taxis.

WHEREAS many of the barriers guide dog handlers face stem from a lack of awareness and refusing access to a guide dog team.

1. BE IT RESOLVED THAT The City of New Westminster place Guide Dog Welcome decals the entrance of all any municipal buildings to raise awareness that guide dogs are legally allowed anywhere the public has access and provide City Staff with Guide Dog Etiquette information from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That the City promote placement of Guide Dog Welcome decals at the entrance to New Westminster businesses/organizations and, in the promotion, provide information from Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) on where to obtain decals.

b.

Providing Equity in the Delivery of Energy Saving Programs for New West Electrical Utility Customers

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

WHEREAS New Westminster Electric Utility customers are not being treated in the same manner as BC Hydro customers when it comes to accessing a variety of program offerings; and

WHEREAS New Westminster Electrical Utility customers are not currently eligible for the BC Hydro Solar Panel and Battery Storage program; and

WHEREAS BC Hydro currently offers rebates up to $5,000 on eligible grid-connected solar panels and up to an additional $5,000 for battery storage systems to qualifying residential customers; and

WHEREAS New Westminster Electrical Utility customers are not eligible to participate in BC Hydro’s demand response and peak saver programs

1. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to report back as to how the City could systematically provide better alignment regarding program offerings between BC Hydro and New Westminster Electrical Utility; and
2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to report back on the cost and feasibility of establishing our own hydro solar panel and battery storage program and/or partner with BC Hydro to offer their program to New Westminster Electrical Utility customers

7.

NEW BUSINESS

8.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

9.

ADJOURNMENT

 

 

*Some 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.