CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA

Monday, November 27, 2023, Immediately following the Public Hearing that begins at 6:00 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  

---

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.

BYLAWS CONSIDERED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING

3.1

Heritage Revitalization Agreement (441 Fader Street) Bylaw No. 8406, 2023

To allow the construction of an infill house with a suite behind an existing heritage house in the lower Sapperton neighbourhood. This bylaw is on the agenda for THIRD READING.

3.2

Heritage Designation (441 Fader Street) Bylaw No. 8407, 2023

To designate the principal building at 441 Fader Street as a protected heritage building. This bylaw is on the agenda for THIRD READING.

4.

REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND ACTION

4.1

Report Back on Motion Regarding Speed Limits for Motorized Devices Operating on Sidewalks (information report brought forward from November 6, 2023)

To report back on Council’s motion regarding speed limits for motorized devices operating on sidewalks.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive this report for information.

5.

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.

5.1

2024 Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Amendment Bylaw 8438, 2023

To request Council give three readings to the 2024 Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Amendment bylaw which is required under Section 177 of the Community Charter to authorize temporary borrowing.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the attached Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Amendment Bylaw No. 8438, 2023 be given three readings.

5.2

Acting Mayor Appointments for November 2023 through October 2024

To request Council designate Councillors to undertake Acting Mayor duties on a rotating basis until the end of October 2024.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Acting Mayors for November 2023 through October 2024 be appointed as set out in the Schedule of Acting Mayors attached to this report.

5.3

Approval of Parks Reserve Fund Bylaw No. 8439, 2023

To seek Council’s approval of the Parks Reserve Fund Bylaw.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council give three readings to the Parks Reserve Fund Bylaw No. 8439, 2023

5.4

Building Amendment Bylaw No. 8433, 2023: New Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code requirements beginning Jan 1 of 2024, 2025 and 2027 - Bylaw for Three Readings

To obtain Council endorsement to amend Building Bylaw No. 8125, 2019 to include increased BC Energy Step Code and BC Zero Carbon Step Code requirements effective January 1, 2024, January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2027

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council give First, Second and Third Reading to Building Amendment Bylaw No. 8433, 2023

5.5

City of New Westminster Guidelines to Promote Sex Worker Safety

The purpose of this report is twofold: (1) to seek Council endorsement of the City of New Westminster Guidelines to Promote Sex Worker Safety and a budget request for associated staff training; and (2) to seek Council direction to work with Living in Community and PACE to explore possible next steps related to sex worker safety in New Westminster.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council endorse the City of New Westminster Guidelines to Promote Sex Worker Safety.

  THAT Council approve that $5,000 be allocated from the Human Resources corporate learning and development budget for 2024 for staff training to promote sex worker safety.

  THAT Council direct staff to work with Living in Community and PACE to explore possible next steps related to sex worker safety in New Westminster.

5.6

Fair Wage Policy at the City of New Westminster

The purpose of this report is to outline a process and potential impacts for the City of New Westminster to adopt a Fair Wage Policy as per Council’s motion dated September 11, 2023.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to proceed with the proposed workplan and funding request for phase one of a two-phased process to review the impact on the City by adopting a Fair Wage Policy and report back to Council in Q2 2024.

5.7

Food Security Programs: Update and Proposed Next Steps

The purpose of this report is threefold: (1) to update Council on issues and uncertainty related to two food security programs serving New Westminster; (2) to document the potential impacts on those using the programs; and (3) to propose next steps related to both programs.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to meet with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and the Don’t Go Hungry Food Program to better understand the issues facing them and to explore possible actions to minimize potential impacts on the clients of both programs, and to report back to Council based on an inter-departmental exploration of options.

5.8

Pavement Restoration Policy

To create a policy for the regulation and administration of pavement cuts by Third Party Utility Companies within the City of New Westminster (hereinafter called the “City”) road network.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council endorses the Pavement Restoration Policy and;

  THAT Council direct staff to incorporate the proposed standards in future updates to the Subdivision & Development Control Bylaw.

5.9

Staff Recommendations Related to the Council Motion Regarding the Chinatown Community Stewards Program

The purpose of this report it threefold: (1) to provide a recommendation to Council with regard to the Chinatown Community Stewards Program; (2) to seek direction from Council to work with the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society to incorporate attributes of the Chinatown Community Stewards Program into the I’s on the Street Program; and (3) to seek direction from Council to help identify and potentially realize funding to maintain current service levels for the I’s on the Street Program.

• Recommendation:

  That Council direct staff not to pursue a similar initaitive to the Chinatown Community Stewards Program for New Westminster.

  That Council direct staff to work with the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society to incorporate attributes of the Chinatown Community Stewards Program into the I’s on the Street Program.

  That Council direct staff to work with the New Westminter Homelessness Coalition Society to identify and potentially realize funding to maintain current service levels for the I’s on the Street Program.

  That Council direct staff to add $24,000 to the 2024 Crisis Response Team budget to provide bridge funding for the I’s on the Street Program and seek reimbursement when grant or senior government funding is secured.

5.10

The Right Person, the Right Time, the Right Place: Council Motion Update

The purpose of this report is twofold: (1) to provide an update to Council on its direction of October 16, 2023 in response to the document entitled “The Right Person, The Right Time, The Right Place;” and (2) to propose next steps based on consultation with the Century House Association Time for Change Group.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council endorse the proposed next steps as contained in this report to Council.

5.11

Uptown Business Association and Downtown New Westminster BIA - 2024 Business Promotion Scheme Budget Approvals

To provide Council with the Uptown Business Association and Downtown Business Improvement Area’s 2024 Business Promotion Scheme budgets for approval.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council approve the Uptown Business Association’s 2024 Business Promotion Scheme Budget;

  THAT Council approve the Downtown New Westminster BIA’s 2024 Business Promotion Scheme Budgets for the Primary Area and Secondary Area.

5.12

Minutes for Adoption

a.

September 11, 2023 City Council Meeting (12:30 p.m.)

b.

September 11, 2023 Council Workshop

c.

September 11, 2023 City Council Meeting (6:00 p.m.)

6.

SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY - 8:00 PM

6.1

Break (15 minutes)

7.

BYLAWS

7.1

Bylaws for readings

a.

Building Amendment Bylaw No. 8433, 2023

To establish new Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code requirements beginning January 1 of 2024, 2025 and 2027.  This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

b.

Parks Reserve Fund Bylaw No. 8439, 2023

To create a new Parks Reserve Fund to ensure transparency in financial reporting of the Pier Park Fire insurance settlement offer.  This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

c.

Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Amendment Bylaw No. 8438, 2023

To provide the authority to temporarily borrow as required up to $3 million in 2024.  This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

7.2

Bylaws for adoption

a.

Growing Communities Fund Reserve Fund Bylaw No. 8415, 2023

A bylaw to create a reserve fund to segregate the Growing Communities Fund proceeds provided by the Provincial government from other existing reserve funds. This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

b.

Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 8408, 2023 (Circulated Separately)

A bylaw to regulate the conduct of Council Members.  This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION (subject to having received second and third readings at the Council meeting on November 20, 2023).

8.

MOTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

8.1

Motions for Discussion and Decision

a.

Providing equitable funding to cities with municipal police forces impacted by the Surrey Police Service transition

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

Whereas the Province of BC has committed up to $150M to the City of Surrey to cover part of the transition costs related to the transition from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service; and

Whereas the City of New Westminster and other jurisdictions with their own municipal police force have been impacted by the Surrey police transition as it pertains to the recruitment and retention of staff;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council request a memo from the NWPD Chief regarding the current and anticipated future impacts of the Surrey Police Service transition on our NWPD staffing retention and recruitment strategies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Mayor be asked to write a letter to the Solicitor General asking the Province of BC to provide additional funding to municipal police forces that have been or may be impacted by the Surrey Police Service transition.

8.2

Notices of Motion

a.

Improving affordability for New West residents by temporarily eliminating the 3.5% Climate Action Levy on electrical rates

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

WHEREAS according to a staff report dated April 20, 2020, the City’s Climate Action Levy imposed on New Westminster Utility “costs electrical customers approximately $15 per 1,000 KWH” ; and

WHEREAS in 2023 the temporary removal of the Climate Action Levy would have helped local residents and businesses deal with inflationary pressures by reducing their electrical costs by approximately $1.9 million; and

WHEREAS there is no clear evidence that imposing ‘made-in-New Westminster’ levies, taxes or fees on green energy generated by BC Hydro will reduce our carbon footprint

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff incorporate into the City’s 2024 Operating Budget a temporary one-year elimination of the 3.5% Climate Action Levy imposed by the New Westminster Electrical Utility

b.

Creating safer streets for everyone with intersection safety cameras

Submitted by Councillor Henderson

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster adopted “Safe Movement of People” as a strategic priority for 2022-2026 and has committed to advance a ‘Vision Zero’ mindset across the city which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries; and

WHEREAS the Government of BC’s Road Safety BC website states that:

1. “Most crashes in British Columbia happen at intersections. To reduce injuries and save lives, B.C. installs intersection safety cameras—sometimes called red light cameras—at intersections where crashes occur frequently. Warning signs let drivers know the intersection has cameras. ”
2. “The cameras are proven to be effective at reducing side-impact, head-on and pedestrian crashes, and are located where red light running and high speed cause serious crashes.”; and

WHEREAS the City of New Westminster has been working towards improving road safety through a variety of initiatives and infrastructure improvements, limited by capital budget funding and staff resources while the use of speed and red light cameras can be quickly implemented; and

WHEREAS secondary benefits would include directing the revenue from these cameras toward road safety initiatives across the community and complementing the work of traditional police enforcement, enabling police officers to focus on other critical and time-sensitive tasks;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that New Westminster City Council direct the Mayor to write a letter to the Provincial Government to request that the Provincial Government install additional speed and red light intersection safety cameras in the City of New Westminster, prioritizing:

• Intersections with a high rate of crashes that resulted in injuries or fatalities as identified in the 2023 New Westminster Intersection Safety Study; and
• Intersections near schools with a high rate of crashes that resulted in injuries or fatalities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the letter request that the Provincial Government allow BC local governments to install speed and red light cameras at their own cost and collect fines and that the Provincial Government provide all revenue from additional speed and red light cameras to municipalities as grants to be invested in implementing local road safety improvements.

c.

Direct election of Metro Vancouver representatives

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

WHEREAS the population of our region was approximately 930,000 in 1967 when Metro Vancouver was first incorporated, however our population is now over 2.6 million people; and

WHEREAS the annual budget for Metro Vancouver is now estimated to be $2.6 billion dollars; and

WHEREAS the residents of our region are currently unable to directly elect the representatives who govern and oversee the Metro Vancouver budget; and

WHEREAS it is important to regularly review the governance structure of organizations such as the Metro Vancouver Regional District to ensure they meet the needs of ratepayers;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council support the concept that voters in our region should be asked by way of a ballot question during the 2026 municipal election whether they want to have the opportunity to directly elect their Metro Vancouver representatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Council writes a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs requesting they undertake a public consultation regarding a governance review of Metro Vancouver with the goal of establishing an appropriate ballot question to be included in the 2026 municipal election.

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.

12.

INFORMATION REPORTS - November 27, 2023

12.1

Recruitment 2024: Library Board Appointments (Circulated Separately)

To release the Closed resolution appointing members to the New Westminster Public Library Board.

12.2

2023 Federal Fall Economic Update Summary

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, released the Fall Economic Update on November 21, 2023. This report summarizes the Federal priorities in the announcement and the formal response from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).