CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA

Monday, December 12, 2022 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

Downtown Livability

a.

Downtown Livability - Public Realm Improvements and Activation (Circulated Separately)

To update Council on the Downtown public realm improvements and activation initiatives that are completed, planned or underway to support the goals and objectives of the Downtown Livability Strategy.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council approve the next steps as outlined in the staff report.

b.

Downtown Livability Strategy – Update and Next Steps (Circulated Separately)

This report provides the context for the Downtown Livability Strategy; a progress report on the actions as contained within it; and a rationale for the 2023 Operating Budget and the 2023 Capital Budget regarding service enhancements.

• Recommendation:

  THAT staff be directed to submit service enhancement requests for the 2023 Operating Budget and the 2023 Capital Budget to address the actions as contained in the Downtown Livability Strategy;

  THAT staff be directed to seek Provincial funding to address the actions as contained in the Downtown Livability Strategy; and

  THAT staff be directed to seek Federal funding to address the actions as contained in the Downtown Livability Strategy.

c.

Presentation (On Table)

3.2

Feedback from Businesses about Sixth Street Bike Lanes (Circulated Separately)

An informational report on the Council direction and engagement processes leading to the construction of protected cycling lanes along Sixth Street between the Rotary Crosstown Greenway on Seventh Avenue and the east entrance of New Westminster Secondary School north of Eighth Avenue, and to report back on further business engagement requested by Council on November 28, 2022.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive this report for information.

  THAT Council direct staff to consider potential measures to mitigate business and public concerns and to report back with recommendations for Council’s consideration.

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

Amendments to the Community Heritage Commission Bylaw No. 6423, 1997

This report recommends membership changes and miscellaneous updates to Community Heritage Commission Bylaw No. 6423, 1997.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council consider Bylaw No. 8372, 2022, set out in Attachment 1 of this report, for three readings.

4.2

Budget 2023: Engineering and Electrical Utility Amendment Bylaw Report

To request Council give three readings to the attached Engineering User Fees and Rates Amendment Bylaw No. 8377, 2022 and the attached Electrical Utility Amendment Bylaw No. 8378, 2022.

• Recommendation:
  1. THAT Council give three readings to the attached Engineering User Fees and Rates Amendment Bylaw No. 8377, 2022; and

  2. THAT Council give three readings to the attached Electrical Utility Amendment Bylaw No. 8378, 2022.

4.3

Child Care and Community Uses on School Sites

To update Council regarding school capacity and child care needs in the community, and the potential loss of Neighbourhood Learning Centre spaces, including two purpose-built child cares, on school sites in and on the periphery of the Downtown.

• Recommendation:

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to send a letter from Mayor and Council to the Minister of Education and Child Care, outlining the need for additional senior government support to address short- and long-term school capacity and child care needs in New Westminster.

4.4

Efficiencies – Processes and Council Meetings

This report provides Council with recommendations aimed at creating organizational efficiencies.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council endorse the recommended actions as outlined in this report and direct staff to proceed with implementation.

4.5

Staffing Challenges Update

To update Council regarding the City’s staffing and service delivery challenges.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council directs that the Senior Management Team report back on a comprehensive staff recruitment and retention strategy for Council’s consideration.

4.6

Proclamation - International Migrants Day, December 18, 2022

5.

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

6.

BYLAWS

6.1

Bylaws for readings

a.

Engineering User Fees and Rates Amendment Bylaw No. 8377, 2022

To set the 2023 Water, Sewerage and Drainage, and Solid Waste Utilities rates.  This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

b.

Electrical Utility Amendment Bylaw No. 8378, 2022

To set the 2023 Electrical Utility Rates.  This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

c.

New Westminster Community Heritage Commission Amendment Bylaw No. 8372, 2022

To make membership changes and miscellaneous updates.  This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

6.2

Bylaws for adoption

a.

Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Amendment Bylaw No. 8370, 2022

To provide the authority to temporarily borrow as required up to $3 million in 2023.  This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

7.

MOTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

7.1

Motions for Discussion and Decision

a.

Halting the Phase-out of the Royal City Moniker

Submitted By: Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS there has been widespread concern from New Westminster citizens and business-owners regarding Council’s decision to phase-out the Royal City moniker; and

WHEREAS unlike any other city in Province of BC, the City of New Westminster has the unique distinction and opportunity to market itself as the "Royal City" and; 

WHEREAS many citizens and local business owners have openly stated they believe there was not adequate consultation with Indigenous people, residents and business owners prior to the previous Council's decision to phase-out the Royal City moniker; and

WHEREAS the City has limited resources and tax and utility rates have been going up over the last four years at a rate much higher than inflation; and

WHEREAS the final cost related to phasing out the Royal City moniker and rebranding has yet to be determined but is estimated to be significant; and

WHEREAS there is a shortage of staff at the city and our human resource capacity should be focused on the delivery of essential programs and services

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of New Westminster halt the phasing out of the 'Royal City' moniker in our branding; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT no future change to the branding shall be undertaken without due notice and proper consultation with our residents, businesses and Indigenous people.

b.

Elimination of Train Whistle Noise and Supporting Increased Liveability

Submitted By: Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS an important role for any city government is to ensure the liveability of its residents; and

WHEREAS citizens who live in high density living are helping to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and as such are helping to tackle climate change; and

WHEREAS train whistle noise has severely impacted the quality of life for residents in both Sapperton and Queensborough; and

WHEREAS the former Railway Community Advisory Panel was disbanded notwithstanding the fact it was credited with helping to advance the elimination of train whistle noise; and

WHEREAS a significant number of residents in the affected neighbourhoods indicated during the recent civic election they do not believe enough has been done to eliminate train whistle noise; and

WHEREAS the current Mayor and Council have the ability to strongly advocate to senior orders of government to assist with infrastructure costs and policy changes related to upgrading train crossings; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council re-establish the Railway Community Advisory Panel and that staff report back to Council on the updated terms of reference by no later than January 31, 2023.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of New Westminster establishes a target of eliminating all unnecessary train whistles which are negatively impacting the quality of life for thousands of Sapperton and Queensborough residents by no later than 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City Council draft a letter to the Federal Minister of Transportation advising that we wish to accelerate negotiations with the Federal Government to get their support and assistance with whistle cessation in our neighbourhoods; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff be required to provide quarterly updates to City Council and the public regarding progress made to eliminate unnecessary train whistles; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff ensure the website containing critical information regarding whistle cessation is updated with the latest information; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff report back on the capital costs related to the infrastructure upgrade to the Sapperton and Queensborough train crossings and if we are eligible to apply for provincial or federal infrastructure funding to lower the tax burden on city ratepayers.

c.

Reducing Crime and Increasing Public Safety in New Westminster

Submitted By: Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS reports of increased crime and public disorder are of concern to New Westminster residents and business owners; and

WHEREAS City Council can play an important role in helping to reduce the level of crime on our streets; and

WHEREAS the previous City Council initially voted 4-3 to ask the NW Police Board to freeze its budget and modify its request for a $1.7M increase in funding in 2021; and

WHEREAS City Council eventually voted in favour of an increase in the NW Police Department 2021 budget by a vote of 5-2; and

WHEREAS the New West Police Department plays a critical role in reducing crime and improving public safety in our city; and

WHEREAS it is important for New Westminster to reduce crime and public disorder to support our commercial districts; and

WHEREAS the residents of New Westminster raised many concerns in the recent civic election that not enough attention was being focused on the issue of crime and safety in our city;

WHEREAS it is important to engage with our local citizens and residents and obtain their feedback in the development of new strategies to combat crime including random acts of violence; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT a new Crime Reduction and Public Safety Advisory Committee be created and that staff report back to Council on the terms of reference for the Task Force by no later than January 31, 2023.

d.

Creation of a New Finance and City Services Standing Committee

Submitted By: Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS it is important that we increase the level of openness, transparency, and accountability regarding the City's finances; and

WHEREAS we are facing a major infrastructure deficit and increased spending pressures; and

WHEREAS several other Metro Vancouver cities have established committees to provide better oversight and accountability on city spending and services; and

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster has consistently increased property taxes and utility rates well above the rate of inflation over the last four years; and

WHEREAS increased population growth in the City of New Westminster has served to increase our overall revenue; and

WHEREAS the establishment of a new Finance and City Services Standing Committee would help increase the public's confidence that their tax dollars, user fees, fines and other payments to the City are being spent effectively;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council recommend to the Mayor he establish a new Finance and City Services Standing Committee and that staff report back to Council on the terms of reference by no later than January 31, 2023.

e.

Creation of a New Amateur Sport and Recreation Advisory Committee

Submitted By: Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS New Westminster has a proud tradition of producing top athletes and successful amateur sport teams; and

WHEREAS the city has grown at a very rapid rate the last decade and our sports and recreation infrastructure has not been keeping pace; and

WHEREAS there are not enough swimming pools, ice rinks, pickle ball courts, artificial turf fields and other sports infrastructure to meet the growing demand in the City of New Westminster; and

WHEREAS it is important for any city to invest in sports and recreation infrastructure if they are going to make high density living more liveable; and

WHEREAS the opportunity exists for the City to work more closely with our amateur sport and recreation associations to determine their current and future needs; and

WHEREAS sports tourism can play an important role in helping to generate economic activity within our city; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT a new Amateur Sport and Recreation Advisory Committee be created and that staff report back to Council on the terms of reference by no later than January 31, 2023.

f.

Advocacy to the BC Government to Increase Housing and Wrap-Around Supports for People Living with Mental Illness

Submitted By: Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS it has been documented that there is a severe lack of provincial health supports in the Metro Vancouver region for individuals living with a mental illness; and

WHEREAS there is a connection between mental illness, substance use disorder and homelessness and this is evident on the streets of New Westminster and other Metro Vancouver cities; and

WHEREAS many of the people experiencing homelessness in the Metro Vancouver region, including New Westminster, are living with untreated mental illnesses due to a lack of access to care; and

WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia recently indicated it was able to allocate up to $1 billion toward the development of a new Royal BC museum, a plan they have since abandoned; and,

WHEREAS homelessness, a lack of mental health diagnosis and treatment, and deaths due to toxic drug supply are at a crisis stage; and,

WHEREAS the Province of BC closed Riverview Mental Health facility in Coquitlam but the equivalent financial supports were not transferred into community-based mental health care; and,

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster has limited jurisdiction and funding to support people living with mental illness who are unhoused; and,

WHEREAS it is important that Council advocate to Members of the Legislative Assembly for increased mental health and housing supports for people forced to live on our streets.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council request the Mayor write to Premier David Eby and request that funding be set aside and prioritized in the 2023 Provincial Budget to begin the planning, development and construction of large-scale, community-based, modern mental health residential care facilities in the Metro Vancouver area; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT staff create a motion with a similar intent that can be sent to the LMLGA and UBCM for consideration

g.

Supporting Better Governance, Decision-Making and Public Engagement at City Hall

Submitted By: Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster should do everything possible to seek input from the public regarding matters before Council; and

WHEREAS the current practice of releasing the Council agenda and supporting materials on the Friday before the Monday meeting does not allow for adequate public notice and feedback; and

WHEREAS it is best practice in good governance that as much time be provided to decision-makers to review materials and ask questions of staff prior to casting a vote; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Clerk make the agenda and supporting documents available to members of Council no less than five business days prior to the meeting;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to bring forward changes to the Procedure Bylaw No. 6910, 2004 to reflect the new council package distribution timelines

7.2

Notices of Motion

a.

Reducing the cost and time related to the development of new housing in New Westminster

Submitted By: Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster is regularly looking at ways to reduce building costs and speed up the permitting process; and

WHEREAS there is a demonstrated interest on the part of our city to reduce red tape as it pertains to new housing development; and

WHEREAS introducing 'pre-approved' housing designs has worked well for laneway housing developments for other cities; and

WHEREAS it is anticipated there would be a desired interest on the part of home builders to use a 'pre-approved' housing design; and

WHEREAS the development of 'pre-approved' housing designs would help to create more affordable housing; and

WHEREAS 'pre-approved' housing offers the opportunity for the City of New Westminster to reduce costs and increase capacity for future housing developments; and

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster can be a leader when it comes to the development of 'pre-approved' housing designs in our region

BE IT RESOLVED that staff report back to Council by April 30, 2023 with a plan for the City of New Westminster to develop up to 15 standardized and pre-approved housing designs for implementation by December 31, 2023

b.

Delaying the demolition of the Centennial Community Centre and beginning to address our city-wide infrastructure deficit

Submitted By: Councillor Minhas and Councillor Fontaine

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster is facing an 'infrastructure deficit' which can result in families, seniors and other residents having limited access to programs and services; and

WHEREAS the Centennial Community Center is used for numerous city programs and provides invaluable access to indoor recreation and meeting spaces; and

WHEREAS even with the opening of the new təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre our city continues to be challenged with an overall infrastructure deficit due to rapid population growth and a lack of net new capacity in sport and recreation infrastructure development in the last two decades; and

WHEREAS prematurely tearing down an older building and sending it to the landfill and recycle center is impactful to our environment; and

WHEREAS the Centennial Community Center is scheduled to be torn down and replaced by surface parking; and

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster has not yet begun the process of physical demolition at the Centennial Community Center; and

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster has full control over the amount of parking spaces required at any given site

BE IT RESOLVED that the demolition of the Centennial Community Center be temporarily delayed and the building continue to operate in its current form until an equivalent capacity for new recreational facilities and meeting space can be identified and/or constructed in our city; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff report back to Council on the financial implications on the city’s operating budget related to delaying the Centennial Community Center demolition

c.

Quantifying the downloading of costs from senior orders of government as it pertains to the City of New Westminster 2023 operating budget

Submitted By:  Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS it has been identified the City of New Westminster is facing unprecedented downloading from senior orders of government and it has taken on the financial burden of operating a number of programs and services as well as investing in capital infrastructure that would normally be funded by the provincial and federal governments; and

WHEREAS cities collect approximately only 10 cents of every tax dollar with the federal and provincial governments collecting the balance; and

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster relies heavily on business and residential property taxes to fund our operations and has limited capacity to raise additional funds; and

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster is facing serious inflationary pressures as it pertains to the development of its own 2023 operating and capital budgets; and

WHEREAS properly identifying and tracking downloaded costs will help in our advocacy to senior orders of government to obtain new funding sources

BE IT RESOLVED that staff report back to Council, as part of the 2023 Budget development process, with an itemized list of expenditures the City of New Westminster has incorporated into the draft operating and capital budgets which are typically considered outside of municipal jurisdiction and are not part of our 'core services'

d.

Supporting the need for a 'Snow Summit' in Metro Vancouver to review the impacts of recent climatic event

Submitted By: Councillor Fontaine and Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS the Metro Vancouver region faced unprecedented gridlock after a snowstorm on Tuesday, November 29th, 2022; and

WHEREAS the snowstorm triggered gridlock on most of the provincial highways, onramps and offramps as well as most of the major bridges and tunnels including the Port Mann, Alex Fraser, Queensborough and George Massey Tunnel; and

WHEREAS this traffic gridlock may have been preventable; and

WHEREAS the snowstorm and traffic gridlock which ensued resulted in significant impacts to the lives of hundreds of thousands of Metro Vancouver commuters and businesses; and

WHEREAS other cities in G7 nations have learned to better cope with snow as it pertains to traffic movement; and

WHEREAS it is important after any major event similar to the Nov 29th snowstorm that it be analyzed and reviewed at a regional and provincial level; and

WHEREAS we live in an active seismic zone and must do everything possible to prepare for large-scale emergencies that could render our bridges and tunnels unfit for use for a period of weeks or months; and

WHEREAS it is incumbent upon our elected leaders to ensure the public receives a full report regarding our collective preparation and response to the November 29th storm

BE IT RESOLVED that Council request Mayor Johnstone, as our representative on Metro Vancouver,  introduce a motion requesting a 'Snow Summit' be held as soon as possible to review and analyze the circumstances which led to a record level of traffic gridlock in our region on Tuesday, November 29th; and  

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Anvil Center be offered as a possible venue for this summit which should include, at a minimum, representatives from the Ministry of Transportation, Metro Vancouver, BC Ambulance, TransLink, ICBC, Mainland Contracting and senior officials from the various municipalities in our region that can speak on behalf of our first responders including fire and police

8.

NEW BUSINESS 

8.1

ON TABLE Construction Noise Bylaw Exemption Request: Front Street from Tenth Street to McBride Boulevard - Metro Vancouver Sewer Inspection

To request that Council grant an exemption from the Construction Noise Bylaw to Metro Vancouver for a sewer system inspection from December 13, 2022 to December 23, 2022 weather dependent.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council grant an exemption to the Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063, 1992 to Metro Vancouver to conduct a sewer inspection on Front Street from Tenth Street to McBride Boulevard. The weekday work will be done for four days between December 13, 2022 to December 23, 2022 weather dependent.

8.2

ON TABLE Memo re Release of Motion from Closed Meeting (Electrical Utility Billing Credit)

8.3

ON TABLE Dec. 12, 2022 Email and Letter from Uptown Business Association re Bike Lanes on Sixth Street

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.