CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA

Monday, June 10, 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.

ISSUANCE OF PERMITS

3.1

Development Variance Permit No. DVP00697 for 114-118 Sprice Street

a.

Copy of Notice

b.

Director of Climate Action, Planning and Development's report dated June 12, 2023

c.

Statement concerning the number of written submissions received, including On Table submissions (Corporate Officer)

d.

Council Decision

THAT Council approve issuance of DVP00697.

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

Building Safer Communities Fund Program Update February 2023 to March 2024

The purpose of this report is to update Council on the Building Safer Communities Fund Program (BSCF) established to serve youth (defined as ages 12 – 25 years) at high risk of involvement in gangs and using guns in violent crime, the BSCF Working Group’s initiatives and progress to date.

• Recommendation:

  THAT staff be directed to provide regular updates to Council on the progress of the Building Safer Communities Fund Program.

4.2

Development Variance Permit for Works & Services Security - 602 Agnes Street (68 Sixth Street) Affordable Housing Project - Notice of Consideration of Issuance

The purpose of this report is to request that Council issue notice that it will consider varying the definition of “Security” in the Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw No. 7142, 2007, as amended, by including an Indemnification Servicing Agreement from BC Housing and Management Commission, as an acceptable form of security for the proposed supportive housing project located at 602 Agnes Street (68 Sixth Street).

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council provides notice to consider issuance of Development Variance Permit No. DVP00730 to vary the definition of “Security” in the City’s Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw No. 7142, 2007, as amended, to include the use of Letter of Indemnity from British Columbia Housing Management Commission (BCHMC) for Works and Services Agreement, and to proceed to Public Notification.

4.3

Proclamation: Philippine Independence Day and Filipino Heritage Month, June 12, 2024

4.4

Proclamation: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15, 2024

4.5

Proclamation: 513 Hornet Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets Week, June 9-16, 2024

4.6

Proclamation: Deafblind Awareness Month, June 2024

4.7

Minutes for Adoption

a.

May 13, 2024 Council Workshop

5.

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

6.

SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY

6.1

Break (15 minutes)

7.

BYLAWS

7.1

Public Hearing Prohibited

a.

Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Transit Oriented Area and Small Scale Multi Unit Housing Amendments) No. 8453, 2024

To amend the Zoning Bylaw to implement the requirements of Provincial Bill 44 (Small Scale Multi-unit Housing) and Bill 47 (Transit Oriented Areas).  This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

Application presented to Council in Workshop on May 27, 2024. Notice published May 31 and June 6, 2024.

7.2

Bylaws for Readings

a.

Transit Oriented Area Designation Bylaw No. 8460, 2024

To designate the Transit Oriented Areas located in New Westminster, defined as land within 800 metres of a SkyTrain station, as required by Provincial Bill 47 (Transit Oriented Areas). This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

Application presented to Council in Workshop on May 27, 2024. Notice published May 31 and June 6, 2024.

8.

MOTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

8.1

Motions for Discussion and Decision

a.

Tenant Protections

Submitted by Councillor Campbell and Councillor Nakagawa

WHEREAS new provincial legislation is creating a path for increased development density around transit areas which will impact many more affordable New Westminster neighbourhoods due to our abundant transit services; and

WHEREAS Bill 16 (Housing Statutes Amendment Act) allows municipalities to enact tenant protection bylaws related to redevelopment, including within transit-oriented areas; and

WHEREAS tenants—especially those in older and more affordable rental housing— may be disproportionately impacted due to this new development; and

WHEREAS New Westminster has previously shown leadership in protecting vulnerable renters with strong actions to curtail demoviction and renoviction; and 

WHEREAS the regional housing market is reaching new levels of crisis, increasing the risk that existing tenants will lose access to adequate housing through displacement related to redevelopment;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of New Westminster update our tenant protection and relocation policies, using Burnaby’s as a model to provide support for tenants who may be displaced from their homes, including by redevelopment.

b.

Making the Annual State of the City Address More Inclusive to Our Youth

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

Whereas a recent series of State of the City addresses by the current and past Mayor have taken place at a private venue that restricts entry only to those 19 years and older; and

Whereas the most recent State of the City address held on May 7th, 2024 was a ticketed event which also required people show government issued identification to enter the premises; and

Whereas the City of New Westminster is committed to supporting our youth and embracing inclusivity; and

Whereas other Mayors within our region ensure their State of the City address is held in an open, no-cost, low-barrier venue such as at City Hall;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council prohibit the Mayor from hosting future State of the City events that are not fully accessible to all members of the public free of charge.

c.

Undertaking a review of the City's outdoor events policies, procedures and permit fees

Submitted by Councillor Minhas

Whereas the process, procedures and policies linked to the establishment of outdoor events in New Westminster has been described at complex, costly and a challenge to overcome; and

Whereas there is a desire on the part of the City to encourage more outdoor events on a regular basis throughout the year; and

Whereas it is good practice to regularly seek feedback from the community regarding whether there are opportunities to streamline our processes in order to reduce red tape;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council establish a citizen-based taskforce to review our policies, procedures and permit fees regarding how they may be impeding the development of new and/or putting into jeopardy existing outdoor events; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the taskforce make recommendations to Council regarding how we can streamline our processes and reduce red tape to help facilitate more outdoor events on a regular basis.

d.

Requesting that Metro Vancouver conduct an independent review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plan cost overruns

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

Whereas Metro Vancouver’s North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project is now estimated to cost nearly $4 billion dollars, a massive cost overrun compared to the original $500 million dollar budget; and

Whereas the specific circumstances that led to one of the largest cost overruns of any public infrastructure project (on a percentage basis) are still mainly unknown; and

Whereby given Metro Vancouver is about to undertake several other mega projects that will cost Metro Vancouver taxpayers billions of dollars;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Mayor Patrick Johnstone, as our representative on Metro Vancouver, be asked to submit a motion to that governing body calling for a full, independent public inquiry into the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant cost overruns.

e.

Supporting families, people with mobility challenges and/or a disability to access New Westminster's waterfront

Submitted by Councillor Minhas

Whereas access to our City’s waterfront should be something accessible to all residents, regardless if they have mobility challenges or not; and

Whereas there are several City owned-operated elevators that connect our downtown to the waterfront which have been out of service for periods of several months at a time; and

Whereas a lack of elevator access can prove challenging for people with mobility difficulties to access our waterfront

BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff report back to Council regarding the status of our City owned-operated elevators (connecting our downtown to the waterfront) over the past year including how many days they have been out of service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT staff report back with an action plan to ensure that at least one City owned elevator always remains operable to ensure a minimum level of access to our waterfront.

9.

NEW BUSINESS

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.