Regular Council

Monday, March 24, 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

2.

AGENDA ADDITIONS & DELETIONS

• Recommendation

  THAT the Agenda for the March 24, 2025 Regular Council meeting be approved.

3.

PRESENTATION & DELEGATIONS

3.1

Steve Kooner, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Richmond-Queensborough

3.2

Delegations

4.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Recommendation

  THAT Items No. ___ through ___ be adopted by general consent.

4.1

Minutes

• Recommendation

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council meeting held on March 10, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

4.2

Tenant Relocation Policy – Engagement and Policy Update

To share key findings based on engagement with City of Burnaby staff related to their Tenant Assistance Policy, and to seek Council’s endorsement of the principles outlined in this report as a basis for updating the City’s Tenant Relocation Policy.

• Recommendation

  THAT the principles outlined in the Proposed Principles to Update the City’s Tenant Relocation Policy Section of the March 24, 2025 report titled “Tenant Relocation Policy – Engagement and Policy Update” be used as a basis for the update to the City’s Tenant Relocation Policy.

4.3

Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Miscellaneous Zoning Bylaw Amendments) No. 8495, 2025: For Consideration

To present the proposed Zoning Amendment Bylaw which proposes miscellaneous amendments; to request that Council forward the proposed Zoning Amendment Bylaw for consideration; and request Council endorsement for no Public Hearing to be held following circulation of notice in accordance with the Local Government Act.

• Recommendation
  1. THAT Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Miscellaneous Amendments Bylaw No. 8495, 2025 be forwarded to the April 7, 2025 Regular Meeting of Council for first, second and third readings.

  2. THAT no Public Hearing be held for Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Miscellaneous Amendments Bylaw No. 8495, 2025 following circulation of notice, in accordance with the Local Government Act.

4.4

Zoning Amendment to Remove Mini-storage Use from M-1, M-5 and CM-1 Industrial Districts, and to Require Storage in Multi-family Residential Districts

The purpose of this report is to request Council initiate consideration of proposed text amendments to the zoning bylaw related to mini-storage use in M-1, M-5 and CM-1 Zoning Districts, and to requiring storage in new multi-family residential buildings, as well as to request Council direct that no public hearing be held.

• Recommendation
  1. THAT Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Storage Amendments) No. 8518, 2025, that would remove mini-storage from the list of permitted uses in the M-1, M-5 and CM-1 zoning districts and to add to all multi-family and/or mixed-use residential zoning districts a requirement for storage within new multi-family residential projects, be received for information.

      

  2. THAT no Public Hearing be held for the Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Storage Amendments) No. 8518, 2025, following circulation of notice, in accordance with the Local Government Act.

4.5

Proclamation: World Tuberculosis Day, March 24, 2025

4.6

Proclamation: International Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness, March 26, 2025

5.

CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

6.

MOTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND DECISION

6.1

Placing the Naturalization and Rewilding Project in Queen's Park on Hold

Submitted by Councillor Minhas

a.

Correspondence

31 pieces of correspondence received between February 20, 2025 and 12 p.m. on March 19, 2025

b.

Motion

WHEREAS there has been considerable feedback received by the City of New Westminster regarding the ‘rewilding’ and ‘naturalizing’ of the 5th and 2nd Street boulevards in Queen’s Park as part of our Biodiversity Strategy; and

WHEREAS it is important to properly consult with local residents before any further ‘rewilding’ or ‘naturalizing’ of the boulevards in Queen’s Park which is covered by a Heritage Conservation Agreement

BE IT RESOLVED THAT that the City’s Biodiversity Strategy, as it pertains to the ‘rewilding’ and ‘naturalizing’ of 2nd Street and 5th Street boulevards, be placed on hold until October 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a neighbourhood consultation plan be developed and shared with Council regarding any future ‘naturalizing’ or ‘rewilding’ of the boulevards in Queen’s Park or other neighbourhoods throughout the City.

6.2

Providing Priority to New West Residents and Businesses for City-Operated Programs and Services

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster faces a significant infrastructure deficit when it comes to public assets like sports and recreation facilities and community centers; and

WHEREAS local taxpayers should have the highest level of priority to access various programs and services offered by the City of New Westminster; and

WHEREAS the City of Delta offers their families a two-week head start to register for all recreation programs, including swimming and skating lessons;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff report back to Council regarding options for consideration to significantly enhance a “Priority New West” policy that provides local residents and businesses with priority access to City operated programs and services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the report include a comparison of other jurisdictions in our region regarding what initiatives they have implemented to provide their citizens and business owners with priority access.

7.

NOTICE OF MOTION

7.1

Inventory of Municipal Arts and Culture Indoor and Outdoor Spaces

Submitted by Councillor Campbell

WHEREAS the arts and culture sector plays a crucial role in contributing to New Westminster’s local economy, promoting New Westminster’s tourism, and enriching community belonging and connections; and

WHEREAS it is important for the arts and cultural sector to have a comprehensive and centralized inventory of the availability and condition of indoor and outdoor spaces dedicated to arts and culture in the community;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that staff prepare an inventory of all municipal indoor and outdoor spaces within the city that are suitable for arts and cultural use, including but not limited to: Public spaces utilized for arts events, performances, exhibitions, and installations; indoor venues such as galleries, theaters, performance halls, studios, and creative spaces; outdoor venues such as public plazas, parks, and other open-air venues used for arts programming as well as an any available data on capacity, site amenities, accessibility descriptions and types of arts programming possible in these spaces.

8.

BYLAWS FOR ADOPTION

• Recommendation

  THAT the following bylaws be adopted:

8.1

Street and Sidewalk Patio Bylaw No. 8318, 2022, Amendment Bylaw No. 8514, 2025

To remove specified closing hours from the Street and Sidewalk Patio Bylaw.

Opposition at 1^st/2^nd/3^rd Readings – None.

8.2

Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw No. 7142, 2008, Miscellaneous Amendments Bylaw No. 8515, 2025

To amend the Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw to reflect current best practices and clarify the bylaw.

Opposition at 1^st/2^nd/3^rd Readings – None.

9.

NEW BUSINESS

10.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

11.

ADJOURNMENT

• Recommendation

  THAT the meeting adjourn.

   

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