Date:
Time: 1:00 p.m., Reconvene 6:00 p.m. If Required
Location: Council Chamber, 3rd Floor City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax
Minutes: August 6, 2024 Halifax Regional Council Minutes (PDF)
Agenda
1. CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
2. SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July 9, 2024
4. APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
5. CONSENT AGENDA*
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve recommendations in the following items: 15.1.2, 15.1.6, 15.2.1, 15.3.1, 15.3.2, 15.4.1.
6. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES
7. CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
8. MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION – NONE
9. MOTIONS OF RESCISSION – July 9, 2024
9.1 Councillor Lovelace [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. In accordance with section 49 (1) of Administrative Order One, Respecting the Procedures of the Council, waive notice of motion; and
2. Rescind a portion of Item 15.1.9 from the July 9, 2024 Regional Council meeting which endorsed the list of potential designated locations in part 1 of the motion, as outlined in the staff report dated July 3, 2024, in order to remove Point Pleasant Park from that list.
9.2 Councillor Purdy [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. In accordance with section 49 (1) of Administrative Order One, Respecting the Procedures of the Council, waive notice of motion; and
2. Rescind a portion of Item 15.1.9 from the July 9, 2024 Regional Council meeting which endorsed the list of potential designated locations in part 1 of the motion, as outlined in the staff report dated July 3, 2024, in order to remove Bissett Road from that list.
10. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS – NONE
11. NOTICES OF TABLED MATTERS – NONE
12. PUBLIC HEARING – NONE
13. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
13.1 Correspondence
13.2 Petitions
14. INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD – July 9, 2024
14.1 Councillor Lovelace – July 2023 Rain Event – Status of Repairs [PDF]
14.2 Councillor Hendsbee - Administrative Order 50 Amendments – Surplus Land Designation [PDF]
14.3 Councillor Purdy - Naming of Bissett Brook [PDF]
15. REPORTS
15.1 CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
15.1.1 Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 29, Respecting HRM Civic Addressing Policies – Case CA137 – Street Naming June 1, 2022 – March 1, 2024 [Large 13 Mb PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Approve the removal of the name Dr Donald Skeir from the Commemorative Names list for municipal assets; and
2. Adopt the proposed amendments to Administrative Order 29 Respecting Civic Addressing Policies as set out in Attachment A of the staff report dated June 18, 2024 in order to approve:
a. the naming of 57 private roads as identified in Attachment A and Attachment D of the staff report dated June 18, 2024; and
b. The naming of 20 public streets as identified in Attachment A and Attachment D of the staff report dated June 18, 2024.
15.1.2 PLPROJ-2024-00370: Downtown Gateway Comprehensive Plan* [Large 17 Mb PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:
1. Advance the Downtown Gateway comprehensive planning project and the Phase 1 Next Steps outlined in the Discussion Section of the staff report dated July 5, 2024 and include the proposed Downtown Gateway Functional Plan within the 2025/26 business planning process; and
2. Return to Council, as may be required, with additional information and recommendations upon the completion of the Phase 1 Next steps.
15.1.3 Second Reading Proposed By-law U-118, an Amendment to By-law U-100, Respecting User Charges – Halifax Transit Fare Update 2024 [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt By-law U-118, amending By-law U-100, the User Charges By-law, as set out in revised Attachment B to the staff report dated May 23, 2024; and
2. Approve the removal of the 2,000 participant limit on the number of participants eligible for the
Affordable Access Transit Pass Program to allow for an unlimited number of Affordable Access
Transit Passes, subject to yearly budget availability and approval.
15.1.4 PLPROJ-2024-01075: Initiation for Municipal Planning Strategy amendments to restrict water lot development and infilling in Dartmouth Cove [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:
1. Initiate a process to consider amendments to the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy, the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy, and the Regional Centre Land Use By-law to restrict water lot development and infilling in Dartmouth Cove.
2. Follow Administrative Order 2023-002-ADM, the Public Participation Administrative Order.
15.1.5 Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 48, Respecting the Creation of Community Councils – Naming of Polling Districts for 2024 Municipal and CSAP Election [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt the proposed amendments to Administrative Order 48 the Community Council Administrative Order as set out in Attachment 3 of the staff report dated June 27, 2024; and
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a report for Executive Standing Committee outlining a public consultation plan and polling district naming process to take place after the 2024 Municipal and CSAP election has concluded.
15.1.6 HRM Letter of Support – SolarBank Community Solar Project* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Mayor to forward the letter in Attachment A of the staff report dated July 23, 2024 to SolarBank Corporation.
15.1.7 Dutch Village Road – Multi-Year Account & Budget Increase [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Suspend the rules of procedure under Schedule 2, the Audit and Finance Standing Committee Terms of Reference, of Administrative Order One, the Procedures of the Council Administrative Order, requiring the Standing Committee to review and make recommendations on proposed changes in any operating or project budget items.
2. Approve the budget for CT200003 – Major Multi Modal Corridor: Dutch Village Road as a multi-year budget to enable staff to make a multi-year financial commitment.
3. Approve the transfer of funds and budget increase between accounts as outlined in the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated July 24, 2024 and as follows:
a. Approve a transfer of $3,100,000.00 from Project Account No. CT190003 Downtown Dartmouth Infrastructure Renewal to CT200003 – Major Multi Modal Corridor Dutch Village Road.
b. Approve a transfer of $400,000.00 from Project Account No. CD000001 Spring Garden Road to CT200003 – Major Multi Modal Corridor Dutch Village Road.
c. Approve a transfer of $1,100,000.00 from Project Account No. CR200003 Bridges to CT200003 – Major Multi Modal Corridor Dutch Village Road.
d. Approve a budget increase of $4,600,000.00 to Project Account CT200003 – Major Multi Modal Corridor Dutch Village Road.
4. Award Tender No. 2024-0204, Dutch Village Road Complete Streets, to the highest scoring proponent, Dexter Construction Company Limited, at a cost of $9,554,460.15 (net HST included) with funding from account CT200003 as outlined in the financial section of the staff report dated July 24, 2024; and
5. Award construction administration, inspection, and support services to DesignPoint Engineering & Surveying Ltd. in the amount of $480,047.23 (net HST included) with funding from CT200003 – Major Multi Modal Corridor: Dutch Village Road as outlined in the financial section of the staff report dated July 24, 2024.
15.1.8 Ferry Refit and Dry Docking – Funding Request [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Suspend the rules of procedure under Schedule 2, the Audit and Finance Standing Committee Terms of Reference, of Administrative Order One, Respecting the Procedures of the Council Administrative Order.
2. Approve the reallocation of $190,000 from Capital Account Project No. CM20007 (Ferry Overhaul and Upgrades) to Capital Account Project No.CV240007 (Mid Life Ferry Rebuild).
15.2 AUDIT & FINANCE STANDING COMMITTEE
15.2.1 Administrative Order 10, Partial Tax Exemption Administrative Order and Land Titles Clarification Act Tax Relief* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Discharge the property taxes owed by Applicant 1 (as defined in the staff report dated June 25, 2024) for a total amount of $17,445.59;
2. Discharge the property taxes owed by Applicant 2 (as defined in the staff report dated June 25, 2024) for a total amount of $25,325.03; and
3. Discharge the property taxes owed by Applicant 3 (as defined in the staff report dated June 25, 2024) for a total amount of $25,447.07.
15.3 COMMUNITY PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
15.3.1 Supporting the Hubbards Community Plan* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to:
1. Consider the proposed active transportation facilities in the Hubbards Community Plan when:
a. implementing the Rural Active Transportation Program, and
b. identifying potential projects in the multi-year Capital Plan; and
2. Review and consider the Hubbards Community Plan recommendations pertaining to land use and development when scoping and undertaking the future Rural Community Planning program.
15.3.2 Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre Proposal for George Street Property Acquisition* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report to evaluate and provide options in response to the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre request related to 2A George Street, Sackville.
15.4 HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
15.4.1 Case HRTG-2024-00259: Substantial Alteration to a municipally registered heritage property within the Carlton Street Streetscape, Halifax* [Large 14 Mb PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the proposed substantial alteration to the municipal heritage property at 1452-1456 Carlton Street, within the Carlton Street Streetscape, as set out in the staff report dated June 4, 2024.
15.5 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
15.5.1 Councillor Austin - Building Code Barriers to Missing Middle Housing [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report on potential amendments to the building code that would eliminate barriers to constructing small scale multi-unit buildings (i.e. missing middle housing) including relaxing rules that require a second point of egress in every building of two or more storeys.
15.5.2 Councillor Austin – One HRM Membership [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to provide a staff report on a single HRM membership for all Parks and Recreation owned and operated facilities and HRM’s multi-district facilities. The report should sketch out a plan to deliver this project and, ideally, be available in time for 2025 budget deliberations so that the appropriate resources can be allocated.
15.5.3 Councillor Morse – Active Transportation links between Halifax Mainland and Halifax Peninsula [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to prepare a staff report with recommendations for improving Active Transportation links between Mainland Halifax and the Halifax Peninsula within 1 km of the Windsor Street Exchange, including revisiting the option of a bridge and pathways connecting Chisholm Avenue and Scot Street over the CN rail cut.
16. MOTIONS
17. IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE)
Council may rise and go into a private In Camera session, in accordance with Section 19 of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, for the purpose of dealing with the following:
17.1 In Camera (In Private) Minutes – July 9, 2024
Motion:
That the In Camera (In Private) minutes of July 9, 2024 be approved as circulated.
17.2 LABOUR RELATIONS - Private and Confidential Report
A matter pertaining to reports, advice and recommendations, instruction or direction to officers and employees of the Municipality concerning labour relations and employee negotiations arising out of the contract or contract negotiations with one of the Municipalities unions.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council
1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated July 19, 2024; and
2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated July 19, 2024 be maintained private and confidential.
18. ADDED ITEMS
17. IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE)
Council may rise and go into a private In Camera session, in accordance with Section 19 of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, for the purpose of dealing with the following:
17.3 PERSONNEL MATTER - Private and Confidential Report
A matter pertaining to an identifiable individual or group.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council
1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated August 2, 2024; and
2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated August 2, 2024 be maintained private and confidential.
19. NOTICES OF MOTION
20. ADJOURNMENT
________________________________________
INFORMATION ITEMS
August 6, 2024
5. Proclamation – Emancipation Day – August 1, 2024 [PDF]
6. Proclamation – Day of Peace – August 6, 2024 [PDF]
7. Proclamation – National Acadian Day / Fête nationale de l’Acadie – August 15, 2024 [PDF]