CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA

Monday, March 11, 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.

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

City of New Westminster and Fraser Health Authority Second Responder Program (Post-opioid overdose follow-up program)

The purpose of this report is to provide an update to Council regarding the Second Responder Program between the City and Fraser Health Authority.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council accept and approve this report.

3.2

Construction Noise Bylaw Exemption Request: 32 Eighth Street (New Westminster SkyTrain Station) and 2126 Seventh Avenue (22nd Street SkyTrain Station)

The purpose of this report is to request Council grant an exemption from Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063, 1992 to TransLink to enable the demolition, modification, and installation of maintenance walkways at both the New Westminster SkyTrain Station and the 22nd Street SkyTrain in preparation for the activation of longer trains to accommodate more ridership.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council grant an exemption from Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063, 1992 to TransLink from 12 AM to 7 AM from Tuesday March 12, 2024 to Thursday August 1, 2024 including ten Sundays and excluding all Statutory Holidays, to demolish original maintenance walkways, install new maintenance walkways, and make operational equipment modifications to the New Westminster SkyTrain Station located at 32 Eighth Street and the 22nd Street SkyTrain Station located at 2126 Seventh Avenue.

3.3

Construction Noise Bylaw Exemption Request: 2126 Seventh Avenue (22nd Street SkyTrain Station)

The purpose of this report is to request Council grant an exemption from Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063, 1992 to TransLink to enable recoating of the 22nd Street SkyTrain Station.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council grant an exemption from Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063, 1992 to TransLink from 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM six days per week (not including Thursdays and Statutory Holidays) for the period of Monday March 11, 2024 to Monday December 23, 2024 to recoat the 22nd Street SkyTrain Station located at 2126 Seventh Avenue.

3.4

Construction Noise Bylaw Exemption Request: Metro Vancouver Valve Replacements (660 East Columbia Street)

The purpose of this report is to request Council grant an exemption to Metro Vancouver from Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063, 1992 to enable valve replacement on Sapperton Water Main No. 2 at the entrance to Lower Hume Park at 660 East Columbia Street.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council grant an exemption to Metro Vancouver from Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063, 1992 from:

  • 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Saturday March 16, 2024;
  • 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Sunday March 17, 2024;
  • 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Saturday March 23, 2024; and
  • 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Sunday March 24, 2024

  to enable construction activity at the entrance of Lower Hume Park at 660 East Columbia Street.

3.5

Memo re: Bylaw Number Correction

3.6

Proclamation: World Tuberculosis Day, March 24, 2024

3.7

Proclamation: International Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness, March 26, 2024

3.8

Proclamation: Green Shirt Day, April 7, 2024

3.9

Proclamation: Amyloidosis Awareness Month, March 2024

4.

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

5.

SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY

5.1

Break (15 minutes)

6.

BYLAWS

6.1

Bylaws for adoption

a.

Development Cost Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 8444, 2024

To make inflationary adjustments to the City's Development Cost Charges. This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION>

b.

Five-Year Financial Plan (2024-2028) Bylaw No. 8442, 2024

To approve the City's consolidated Financial Plan for 2024 through 2028.  This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

7.

MOTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

7.1

Motions for Discussion and Decision

a.

Supporting childcare development across the City

Submitted by Councillor Henderson

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster recognizes a shortage in childcare spaces across the region and is committed to supporting the development of additional local childcare spaces; and

WHEREAS the City will be updating current residential zoning bylaws as part of the work to reflect the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Provincial legislation; 

BE IT RESOLVED that staff explore opportunities to amend the City’s current zoning bylaws to increase the allowable maximum of childcare spaces in residential areas.

b.

Closing possible loopholes in BC's Elections Act as they pertain to municipal elections

Submitted by Councillors Fontaine and Minhas

Whereas to ensure a level playing field the Government of BC banned municipal candidates and elector organizations from accepting any direct financial donations from corporations, unions and non-for-profit entities; and

Whereas the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act continues to allow corporations, unions and not-for-profit entities to actively spend unlimited funds and reallocate internal resources to promote a particular municipal candidate and/or elector organization with their members or staff without any requirements for open and transparent public reporting

BE IT RESOLVED THAT a letter be drafted to the BC Minister of Municipal Affairs requesting that the following changes be made to the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act in time for the 2026 municipal election;

1. Any corporation, labour union or not-for-profit entity actively utilizing internal resources to promote an individual candidate or municipal elector organization within six months prior to the municipal election is required to publicly record and report to Elections BC the total funds expended;
2. Public reporting by the respective corporation, labour union or not-for-profit entity would include items such as the estimated use of staff time, overhead costs and marketing/promotion activities including those accessible to the broader public through social media;
3. A maximum of $500 of resources can be expended by a corporation, labour union or BC-based not-for-profit for the purposes of promoting municipal candidates or elector organizations in British Columbia with their members or staff during an election year;
4. Corporations, labour unions and not-for-profit entities are banned from pooling their resources so as to effectively increase the maximum limit they can utilize to promote and market a municipal candidate or an elector organization
5. Only BC-based corporations, labour unions and not-for-profit entities are permitted to undertake the election related activities listed above with all non-BC-based entities strictly prohibited from actively promoting a municipal candidate or elector organization

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this motion be distributed to the Union of BC Municipalities and the Lower Mainland Local Government Association for their information

c.

Participating in the Provincial Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Program

Submitted by Councillor Campbell

Whereas Active Transportation and the safety of vulnerable road users are priorities for New Westminster; and

Whereas the Walkers Caucus, HUB New Westminster, and the New Westminster community have expressed concerns around user group conflict between pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and eMicromobility users as we work to build out our Active Transportation Network Plan; and

Whereas the City's E-Mobility strategy includes actions to incorporate eMicromobility into City planning and outreach and to advance supportive eMicromobility policy; and  

Whereas the Province of British Columbia has extended the Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project for up to four more years and is inviting new communities to join the program with updated terms;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to evaluate the opportunity for the City of New Westminster to join the Provincial Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Program, and report back to Council with a recommendation on participation.

7.2

Notices of Motion

a.

Ensuring that ground level retail spaces in new developments prioritize community-supporting businesses and organizations

Submitted by Councillor Nakagawa

Whereas the City of New Westminster has developed a retail strategy; and

Whereas community-serving businesses are essential for meeting our climate goals

Therefore be it resolved that the City review and refresh current policies relating to ground level retail to ensure that they are responsive to current market forces; and

That the City develop a policy to ensure that future ground level retail spaces in new development are built to prioritize community-supporting businesses and organizations in alignment with the retail strategy.

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.