CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA

Monday, April 03, 2023 at 6:00 P.m. - 8:00 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.

CHANGES TO THE AGENDA

Urgent/time sensitive matters only

3.

REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION  AND ACTION

3.1

Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project - Project Update

a.

Presentation: Wendy Itagawa, Executive Director, Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project (On Table)

b.

Report: Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project – Project Update

The purpose of this report is to provide Council with a summary of upcoming works and construction milestones for the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project, through the accompanying presentation which will be delivered by a representative of the Transportation Investment Corporation (TI Corp).

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive this report for information.

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 Amendment Bylaw No. 8388, 2023: BC Energy Step Code Alignment – Bylaw for Three Readings

To amend Building Bylaw No.8125, 2019 to align with changes to the BC Building Code.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council give First, Second and Third Reading to Building Amendment Bylaw No. 8388, 2023

4.2

New Westminster Secondary School (NWSS) Cycling Connector – Mitigation of Business Concerns

To provide Council with recommended mitigation measures for implementation along Sixth Street between the Rotary Crosstown Greenway on Seventh Avenue and the east entrance of New Westminster Secondary School (NWSS) north of Eighth Avenue, and to summarize findings from other municipalities regarding engagement processes and mitigation measures for cycling infrastructure projects, as requested by Council on December 12, 2022.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to implement the proposed mitigation measures outlined in this report to address business and public concerns.

4.3

Proclamation - Green Shirt Day, April 7, 2023

4.4

Proclamation - Prevention of Violence Against Women Week, April 16-22, 2023

4.5

Minutes for Adoption

a.

March 6, 2023 Special City Council Meeting

b.

March 13, 2023 City Council Meeting

5.

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

6.

BYLAWS

6.1

Bylaws for readings

a.

Building Amendment Bylaw No. 8388, 2023

To amend the Building Bylaw to align with changes to the BC Building Code.  This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

6.2

Bylaws for adoption

a.

Engineering User Fees and Rates Amendment Bylaw No. 8386, 2023

To amend the Engineering Fees and Rates Bylaw to temporarily suspend Street Occupancy Permit fees for block parties.  This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

7.

MOTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

7.1

Motions for Discussion and Decision

a.

Parks and Recreation registration process

Submitted by Councillor Henderson

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster is committed to increasing equity and accessibility in the City’s policies and programs; and

WHEREAS there is a consistent demand for affordable, high-quality programming recreation programming throughout the City;

WHEREAS the City’s Parks and Recreation current registration process presents a number of challenges to registrants including the time of registration, access to a credit card, access to technology, the reliability of registration software, waitlist management, and others;

BE IT RESOLVED that Council direct staff to explore opportunities to improve the equity and accessibility of the Parks and Recreation registration process and report back to Council with options to address the current challenges.

b.

Preserving, protecting and enhancing the Samson V museum for future generations

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

Whereas the Samson V museum is currently shrink wrapped on New Westminster’s waterfront and has undergone major repairs over the past several years due to damage incurred as a result of a pesky pigeon problem; and

Whereas the draft 5-year capital plan calls for significantly more tax dollars be invested in repairing and maintaining this civic museum which will continue to be severely impacted by outdoor weather conditions; and

Whereas this important part of our history deserves to be respected, kept in pristine condition and fully accessible to tourists, local citizens and students;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff report back on the costs, potential sources of funding and operational impacts associated with temporarily placing the Samson V in dry dock to repair and restore the vessel for public viewing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff report back on options to find a permanent indoor home for the Samson V adjacent to or on our waterfront as part of a possible pier expansion and/or long-term tourism strategy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff consult with the Fraser River Discovery Center and other key stakeholders and report back regarding the opportunity and costs associated with undertaking a pilot program that would permit short-term pleasure craft usage at the moorage vacated by the Samson V

c.

Hearing from the communities regarding their priorities for the new Growing Communities Fund

Submitted by Councillor Minhas

Whereas the Government of British Columbia has provided the City of New Westminster with almost $16M as part of their Growing Communities Fund; and

Whereas these are not funds that were considered as part of our 2023 operating budget or 5-year capital plan and will need to be invested in the near term on key city priorities; and

Whereas Council has an opportunity to engage with our citizens and listen to their feedback regarding what they think our priorities should be for this new investment

BE IT RESOLVED that Council hold a special open meeting at City Hall at the earliest opportunity to obtain feedback from the public regarding what the priorities should be for the Growing Communities Funding; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff develop an online survey opportunity for the public to provide their feedback regarding what priority areas Council should consider as part of the Growing Communities Funding   

8.

NEW BUSINESS 

9.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

10.

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.

11.

INFORMATION REPORTS - April 3, 2023

11.1

Train Whistle Cessation - Update

To provide Council with information regarding Train Whistle Cessation in response to the motions from the December 12th, 2022 Council meeting.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receives this report for information.