CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA

Monday, May 06, 2024 at 6:00 P.m. - 7:00 P.m.

Meeting held electronically and open to public attendance

Council Chamber, 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.

REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION  AND ACTION

3.1

2023 Financial Statements (Circulated Separately)

The purpose of this report is to present the financial statements for the City of New Westminster for the fiscal ended December 31, 2023 and to seek Council acceptance of the statements to meet the requirements of Section 167(1) of the Community Charter.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the City’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 be accepted.

a.

On Table Financial Statement Presentation

b.

On Table Audit Findings Report

3.2

Train Whistle Cessation – 2024 – Q1 Update (information report brought forward from April 22, 2024)

To provide Council with an update on the progress of train whistle cessation in the City of New Westminster.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receives this report for information.

3.3

Recommendations for Council on Belonging and Connecting from the Community Advisory Assembly

a.

Presentation (On Table)

b.

Report

To present to Council the first set of recommendations developed by members of the new Community Advisory Assembly, on Council’s Community Belonging and Connecting strategic priority, as well as share information about the Assembly’s process to develop and reach consensus on the recommendations.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive the recommendations from the Community Advisory Assembly for information.

  THAT Council direct staff to respond to each recommendation – including providing information on any related plans or strategies, and conducting a high-level feasibility review – and report back to Council and the Assembly.

4.

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.

4.1

Construction Noise Bylaw Exemption Request: 220 Salter Street (Metro Vancouver Sewer Inspection – Fraser River Crossing Project)

The purpose of this report is to request an exemption from Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063,1992 to Metro Vancouver contractor AquaCoustic Remote Technologies Inc. to perform preventative maintenance of the sewer lines at 220 Salter Street.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council grant an exemption from Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063,1992 to Metro Vancouver contractor AquaCoustic Remote Technologies Inc. for two weeknights from Tuesday, May 21, 2024 to Friday, May 31, 2024 from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Statutory holidays to perform overnight video and sonar inspections of the sewer lines at 220 Salter Street.

4.2

Proclamation: International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, May 17, 2024

4.3

Proclamation: Hyack International Parade and Festival, May 25, 2024

4.4

Proclamation: Emergency Preparedness Week, May 5-11, 2024

4.5

Proclamation: Elizabeth Fry Week, May 6-10, 2024

4.6

Proclamation: Public Works Week, May 19-25, 2024

4.7

Proclamation: Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month, May 2024

4.8

Minutes for Adoption

a.

April 22, 2024 City Council Meeting (1:00 p.m.)

b.

April 22, 2024 Council Workshop

c.

April 22, 2024 Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel

d.

April 22, 2024 City Council Meeting (6:00 p.m.)

5.

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

5.1

Tourism New Westminster Presentation

5.2

Open Delegations

6.

SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY

6.1

Break (15 minutes)

7.

BYLAWS

7.1

Bylaws for adoption

a.

Tax Rates Bylaw 8445, 2024

To set the tax rates for 2024. This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

b.

Code of Conduct for Council Members Amendment Bylaw No. 8457, 2024

To change the vote required to appoint an Ethics Commissioner. This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

c.

Riparian Areas Protection Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No 8413, 2024

To align the City’s current Riparian Areas Protection Bylaw with the revised Provincial Riparian Areas Protection Regulation (RAPR). This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

d.

Bylaw Notice Enforcemet Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No 8421, 2024

To add enforcement and penalties provisions for situations in which voluntary compliance to the Riparian Areas Protection Bylaw is not obtained. This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

e.

Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No 8422, 2024

To add enforcement and penalties provisions for situations in which voluntary compliance to the Riparian Areas Protection Bylaw is not obtained. This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

f.

Zoning Amendment Bylaw (812 Twentieth Street) No. 8443, 2024

To amend the Zoning Bylaw to allow a private, stand-alone retail liquor store on the subject site. This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

g.

Official Community Plan Amendment (909-915 Twelfth Street) Bylaw No. 8399, 2023

To extend the land use designation and Development Permit Area for a portion of City lane right-of-way proposed to be sold and consolidated with the subject site.  This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

h.

Zoning Amendment (909-915 Twelfth Street) Bylaw No. 8400, 2023

To rezone the subject site to a site-specific Comprehensive Development zone to permit a 40 unit multi-unit residential development.  This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION

i.

Road Closure, Dedication Removal, and Disposition (909-915 Twelfth Street) Bylaw No. 8401, 2023

To authorize the sale and closure of a 96.9 square metre unused portion of City lane right-of-way. This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

8.

MOTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

8.1

Motions for Discussion and Decision

a.

Supporting increased openness and transparency at City Hall

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

Whereas openness and transparency are the cornerstones of any functioning democracy; and

Whereas Mayor and Council are required to conduct some of the City’s business in-camera as per the Community Charter; and

Whereas once a decision made in-camera is no longer considered confidential it should be considered best practice to release the minutes of that discussion and/or decision to the public.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council commit to publicly releasing all in-camera minutes on the City's website as soon as practicable and once a decision or discussion is no longer required to be secured as confidential

b.

Appointment of new Chair of the Arts Culture and Economic Development Advisory Committee

Submitted by Councillor Minhas

Whereas it is important for the Chair of the Arts Culture and Economic Development Advisory Committee (ACEDAC) to openly and regularly support the growth of for-profit enterprises in New Westminster; and

Whereas the Chair of ACEDAC should treat both for-profit and non-profit entities equitably when it comes to our development of new policies and strategies

Whereas it is important for inclusiveness and the proper functioning of Council business that appointments to our various committees be done on an equitable basis ensuring that all members of Council are provided with an equal opportunity to serve the community

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council recommend to the Mayor that Councillor Daniel Fontaine be appointed as the new Chair for the Arts, Culture and Economic Development Committee

8.2

Notices of Motion

a.

Encouraging the BC Government to terminate the failed decriminalization experiment

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

Whereas on almost every measure BC’s drug decriminalization experiment has failed and the negative impacts are being felt across the province; and

Whereas it was critical that an adequate level of services such as drug treatment, rehabilitation, mental health and supportive housing should have been put in place prior to a decriminalization experiment being undertaken; and

Whereas this experiment is not easing the suffering nor reducing the deaths of people with addictions; and

Whereas the state of Oregon, which attempted a similar experiment, recently reversed course to reduce the impacts of a growing level of street disorder and illicit drug consumption in public spaces

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor write a letter to the Premier and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions requesting they immediately halt the failed decriminalization experiment pilot project in BC

9.

NEW BUSINESS

9.1

ON TABLE Community Vancouver Canucks Viewing Feasibility

To provide Council with recommendations for community Vancouver Canucks viewing opportunities for the 2024 NHL playoffs, specifically round two.

• Recommendation:
  1. THAT Council direct staff to work in collaboration with business associations to develop and/or fund and/or amplify marketing that promotes their business members that are offering Vancouver Canucks playoff viewing.

  2. THAT Council direct staff to coordinate accessible no-purchase-required family-friendly viewing opportunities at civic facilities where scheduling and feasibility allow, such as Queensborough Community Centre, Youth Centre/ Century House, and/or City Hall.

  3. THAT Council direct staff to coordinate a family-friendly viewing opportunity in one of Massey Theatre’s smaller spaces or theatre (subject to availability).

  4. THAT Council direct staff to collaborate with the Downtown BIA for a hybrid event model with viewing in Anvil Centre and associated complementary activities in Hyack Square.

10.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

11.

END OF THE MEETING

 

 

*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.

12.

INFORMATION REPORTS

12.1

2024 Emergency Preparedness Week and Summer Heat Response Update

This report is to inform Council of the current initiatives in response to heat related events and information regarding Emergency Preparedness Week, May 5-11th, 2024.