Regular Council

Monday, October 20, 2025

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.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER & LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

2.

AGENDA ADDITIONS & DELETIONS

• Recommendation

  THAT the Agenda for the October 20, 2025 Regular Council meeting be approved.

3.

DELEGATIONS

4.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

4.1

Relocation of Loading Zone on Sixth Street [Item Postponed from October 6, 2025 Regular Council Meeting]

5.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Recommendation

  THAT Items No. 5.1 through 5.9 be adopted by general consent.

5.1

Minutes - Utility Commission

• Recommendation

  THAT the Minutes of the Utility Commission meeting held on September 18, 2025 be received for information.

5.2

Minutes - Regular Council

• Recommendation

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council meeting held on September 29, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

5.3

Minutes - Special Council

• Recommendation

  THAT the Minutes of the Special Council meeting held on October 6, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

5.4

Minutes - Regular Council

• Recommendation

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council meeting held on October 6, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

5.5

Bylaw Amendments to Reflect Community Services Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8529, 2025

To present housekeeping amendments in three bylaws to align with the new Community Services Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8529, 2025.

• Recommendation
  1. THAT Business Regulations and Licensing (Rental Units) Bylaw No. 6926, 2004, Amendment Bylaw No. 8536, 2025 be introduced and given first, second and third readings;
  2. THAT Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024, Amendment Bylaw No. 8537, 2025 be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and
  3. THAT Mobile Food Vending Licence Bylaw No. 7850, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 8538, 2025 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

5.6

Downtown BIA Renewal 2026 - 2029

To obtain approval to initiate the renewal of the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area for a four-year term from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2029 by means of the Council Initiative process.

• Recommendation
  1. THAT the Council Initiative process be commenced as the means by which to measure property owner support for a four-year renewal term of the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2029; and
  2. THAT the following bylaws be introduced and given first, second, and third readings:
     1. Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area (Primary Area) Bylaw No. 8548, 2025; and
     2. Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area (Secondary Area) Bylaw No. 8549, 2025.

5.7

Response to Council Motion - Limiting Business Licences for Vape Stores

To respond to Council’s Notice of Motion regarding vape stores and provide Council with the background and rationale for amending the Zoning Bylaw that would limit new locations of age-restricted vape stores while existing businesses would be able to continue as legally non-conforming.

• Recommendation

  THAT staff prepare the necessary Zoning Bylaw amendment that would prohibit age-restricted vape retail as a use.

5.8

Rezoning and Special Development Permit Applications: 801 Columbia Street

To provide Council with information regarding Rezoning and Special Development Permit Applications for 801 Columbia Street and seek direction to review the applications as outlined in this report.

• Recommendation

  THAT staff process the applications generally as outlined in the report titled “Rezoning and Special Development Permit Applications: 801 Columbia Street” dated October 20, 2025 from the Director of Planning and Development.

5.9

Proclamation: World Polio Day, October 24, 2025

6.

CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

7.

NOTICES OF MOTION

7.1

Public Post Service

Submitted by Councillor McEvoy

WHERAS the Federal Government, in the midst of a labour dispute, has announced drastic cuts to our treasured public post office – eliminating good jobs, ending door-to-door delivery, removing the moratorium protection on post office closures, and changes to delivery standards for the mail; and

WHEREAS the Federal Government has done this without meaningful public consultation and has made this decision unilaterally prior to a planned Canada Post Corporation Review from October 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, effectively eliminating any opportunity for input from the people who will be most affected; and

WHEREAS New Westminster and all local governments rely on affordable and reliable public post services to connect important information to their community, and our ability to communicate would be significantly harmed and local property taxpayers unfairly burdened if these drastic cuts to the nation’s public postal service are implemented; and

WHEREAS it is crucial for the Government to hear the views from municipalities on key issues, including maintaining Canada Post as a public service, the importance of maintaining the moratorium on post office closures, improving the Canadian Postal Service Charter, keeping daily home mail and parcel delivery to the door, and opportunities and challenges related to modernizing the public postal service such as postal banking, greening Canada Post, adding EV charging stations, adding food delivery, improving delivery to rural, remote and Indigenous communities, and developing services to assist people with disabilities to help older Canadians to remain in their homes for as long as possible – and at the same time, helping to ensure that good jobs stay in their communities and that Canada Post can remain financially self-sustaining;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor be authorized to write to the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, Joël Lightbound, and Member of Parliament Jake Sawatsky requesting that the federal government:

1. immediately halt planned service cuts, and to look instead for ways to increase services and revenues in other areas, such as those noted above;
2. suspend any mandate review until Canada Post returns to stabilized operations, and;
3. that any review of Canada Post and the Canadian Postal Service Charter must be done through a full and thorough transparent public review, including public hearings, with all key stakeholders, in every region of Canada.

7.2

Progress Reports on Truth and Reconciliation

Submitted by Councillor Nakagawa

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster has previously supported UNDRIP, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, Claiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and supporting Truth before Reconciliation,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff report to Council on a bi-annual basis on progress towards achieving the municipal actions outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, and Claiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls reports.

8.

NEW BUSINESS

9.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

10.

ADJOURNMENT

• Recommendation

  THAT the meeting adjourn.

   

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