Date:
Time: 1:00 p.m. Reconvene 6:00 p.m. If Required
Location: Council Chamber
Minutes: March 22, 2016 Regional Council Minutes (PDF)
Summary of recorded votes: March 22, 2016 Regional Council Summary of Recorded Votes (PDF)
Agenda
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Committee of the Whole January 27, 2016 (Revised) [PDF] and Regional Council January 26 [PDF], February 3 [PDF] & February 16, 2016 [PDF]
4. APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
5. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES
6. CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
7. MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION – NONE
8. MOTIONS OF RESCISSION – NONE
9. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS – February 23 and March 8, 2016
9.1 Proposed Administrative Order SC-80, Respecting closure of a portion of Robie Street, Halifax [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Declare the portion of the Robie Street right-of-way in front of 2859 Robie Street, Halifax, shown as Parcel R1 in Attachment “A” of the staff report dated January 26, 2016, surplus to municipal requirements, and categorize Parcel R1, as ‘Extraordinary’, as per Administrative Order 50.
2. Approve Administrative Order SC-80 to close a portion of Robie Street that is in front of 2859 Robie Street, as shown as Parcel R-1, in Attachment “A” of the staff report dated January 26, 2016.
9.2 COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
9.2.1 Proposed Administrative Order 2015-005-GOV, Respecting the Siting of a Telecommunication Antenna Administrative Order – Case 18166 – Developing a New Telecommunication Tower Protocol [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council adopt Administrative Order 2015-005-GOV, as set out within Attachment A of the February 3, 2016 staff report.
9.3. MOTIONS
9.3.1 Councillor Watts
That Halifax Regional Council request an information report respecting the Municipality’s ability to provide tax relief for property, or some portion thereof, leased by a registered non-profit organization or registered Canadian charity in the private sector with the implications in regard to:
(i) The Municipality’s legislative authority
(ii) The policy rationale for tax relief
(iii) The capacity of the Municipality to administer the tax relief
(iv) The Municipality’s financial capacity and any indirect impact on other taxpayers including non-profit organizations.
10. NOTICES OF TABLED MATTERS – NONE
11. PUBLIC HEARING – 6:00 P.M. – NONE
12. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
12.1 Correspondence
12.2 Petitions
13. INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD – NONE
14. REPORTS
14.1 CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
14.1.1 Award - Tender No. 16-018 Grass Mowing, Halifax South Downtown/Halifax Peninsula North, Districts 7 & 8 [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council award Tender No. 16-018 Grass Mowing, Districts 7 & 8, to the lowest bidder meeting specifications, MBA Landscaping, for a two (2) year contract price of $503,598.00 (net HST included), with an option to renew for two additional one-year terms. Funding is available from operating account W191-6399 as outlined in the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated March 4, 2016.
14.1.2 2016 Spring Debenture [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council authorizes the Mayor and Municipal Clerk to sign the Resolution for Pre-Approval of Debenture Issuance, subject to interest rate confirmation not to exceed 5.0%, to enable the Halifax Regional Municipality to issue a 10-year debenture of $19,500,000.
14.1.3 Deed Transfer Tax Collection Alternatives [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council maintain the current “status quo” with respect to the Deed Transfer Tax Regime.
14.1.4 First Reading, Proposed By-Law T-705, Amendments to By-Law T-700 Respecting Tax Deferrals and Administrative Order 10, Respecting Partial Tax Exemption for Residential Taxation [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council give First Reading to proposed By-Law T-705, which includes amendments to By-Law T-700, Respecting Tax Deferrals, as set out in Attachment B to the staff report dated February 2, 2016.
14.1.5 Dartmouth Heritage Museum Society Request for Management Agreement and Funding [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Direct staff to implement the revised responsibilities for the Dartmouth Collection as outlined in Table 3 of the staff report dated March 16, 2016;
2. Direct staff to negotiate an Interim Agreement subject to annual renewal for a period of three years with the Dartmouth Heritage Museum Society for proposed responsibilities in accordance with Table 3 of the staff report dated March 16, 2016 and authorize the CAO to execute an interim agreement;
3. Approve an increase to the management fee directed to the Dartmouth Heritage Museum Society from $50,000 to $100,000, contingent on the identification of an appropriate funding source and the approval of the same by the Audit & Finance Standing Committee;
4. Approve allocation of $20,000 from Capital Project CD990003 (Cultural Spaces) for the migration of the database collection; and
5. Incorporate development of a regional museum strategy with supporting regional collection rationale in the Cultural Spaces Plan.
14.1.6 1588 Barrington Street (Supplementary Report) [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council declare the property located at 1588 Barrington Street surplus to municipal purposes pursuant to Administrative Order 50, respecting the Disposal of Surplus Real Property, and dispose of it under the Community Category.
14.2 AUDIT AND FINANCE STANDING COMMITTEE
14.2.1 Write-off of Uncollectible Accounts [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council authorize the following:
1. The real property tax accounts in the amount of $148,070 comprised of $96,100 principal and $51,970 interest as summarized in schedule 1 of the staff report dated February 18, 2016 be formally written out of the books of account;
2. The general revenue accounts in the amount of $10,276 comprised of $9,971 principal and $304 interest as summarized in schedule 1 of the staff report dated February 18, 2016 be formally written out of the books of account;
3. The business occupancy tax accounts in the amount of $2,231 comprised of $1,736 principal and $494 interest as summarized in schedule 1 of the staff report dated February 18, 2016 be formally written out of the books of account;
4. The recreation accounts in the amount of $797 comprised of $797 principal and $0 interest as summarized in schedule 1 of the staff report dated February 18, 2016 be formally written out of the books of account.
14.2.2 Mount Hope Interchange Highway 111 – Capital Cost Contribution (CCC) Funding Shortfall [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Change the funding source for the outstanding $7,234,679 for Project Number CTU00530, Highway 111/Portland St. Interchange from Capital Cost Contribution funding to the following: $3,000,000 from the Operating Surplus Reserve Q328 and the remainder of $4,234,679 from debt; and,
2. Authorize Finance to seek approval from the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal to fund this project from debt, as it is a provincially owned street.
3. Request that the Mayor write a letter on behalf of Halifax Regional Council to the Federal Government to discuss options pertaining to compensation or alternate funding in relation to the funding shortfall.
14.3 NORTH WEST COMMUNITY COUNCIL
14.3.1 Case 19627 – Amendment to the Hammonds Plains, Beaver Bank and Upper Sackville Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-Law, 1345 & 1355 Hammonds Plains Road, Hammonds Plains [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council give First Reading to consider the proposed amendments to the Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains and Upper Sackville Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use By-Law (LUB), as contained in attachments A and B of the staff report dated January 15, 2016, to permit commercial entertainment uses in conjunction with full service restaurants at 1345 & 1355 Hammonds Plains Road, and schedule a public hearing.
14.4 HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
14.4.1 Case H00414 – Request to Register 280 Portland Street, Dartmouth as a Municipal Heritage Property [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council set a date for a heritage hearing to consider the heritage registration for 280 Portland Street, Dartmouth as shown on Map 1 of the January 18, 2016 staff report.
15. MOTIONS
15.1 Ratification of In Camera Motion from March 4, 2016 – NSUPE Negotiations
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Ratify the tentative collective agreement with NSUPE 13 as circulated at the In-Camera (in private) meeting on March 4, 2016.
2. Authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the collective agreement on behalf of the Municipality following the NSUPE 13 membership ratification of the tentative collective agreement as circulated at the In-Camera (in private) meeting on March 4, 2016.
3. It is further recommended that the private and confidential report not be released to the public.
15.2 Deputy Mayor Whitman
That Halifax Regional Council request a staff report regarding free transit on Election Day.
16. 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:
16.1 In Camera (In Private) Minutes – January 26 and February 16, 2016
Motion:
That the In Camera (In Private) minutes of January 26 and February 16, 2016 be approved as circulated.
16.2 Legal Advice
A matter pertaining to legal advice eligible for solicitor-client privilege.
16.2.1 Legal Advice – Boundaries for the Blue Mountain Birch Cove (BMBC) Regional Park – Private and Confidential Report – Deferred from March 8, 2016
-Report [PDF]
-Presentation [PDF]
-Alternative Motion [PDF]
-Declassified extract of Minutes [PDF]
Motion:
1. That Halifax Regional Council instruct staff to assist in the completion of the facilitator’s report and proceed to the public consultation, as set out in the private and confidential staff report dated February 16 , 2016; and
2. The private and confidential report dated February 16, 2016 not be released to the public.
16.3 Property Matter
A matter pertaining to providing instruction and direction to officers and employees of the Municipality pertaining to the acquisition / sale of land in regard to
16.3.1 Parkland Acquisition – Long Hill, Cole Harbour – Private and Confidential Report
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Authorize municipal staff to enter into negotiations with respective property owners, to acquire the recommended properties as specified in Table 1 of the private and confidential staff report dated February 22, 2016, for the purposes of preserving view planes from Long Hill to the Cole Harbour marshes, and for securing land as a park for public recreation uses;
2. Direct municipal staff to negotiate with the Province to provide financial and/or management support toward potential acquisition of the recommended properties as specified in the private and confidential staff report dated February 22, 2016, and to develop a recommended approach toward the land's management; and,
3. It is further recommended that the private and confidential report dated February 22, 2016 not be released to the public.
Private and Confidential Information Items
1. Private and Confidential In Camera (In Private) Information Report – re: Agreement of Purchase and Sale, Bloomfield Property
2. Private and Confidential In Camera (In Private) Information Report – re: Write-off of Uncollectible Accounts
17. ADDED ITEMS
16. 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:
16.4 Legal Advice – Proposed Amendments to the Halifax Regional Water Commission Act
A matter pertaining to legal advice eligible for solicitor-client privilege.
18. NOTICES OF MOTION
19. ADJOURNMENT
INFORMATION ITEMS
March 22, 2016
1. Proclamation – Easter Seals Month – March 2016 [PDF]
2. Proclamation – Saint Patrick’s Day Festival – March 11-17, 2016 [PDF]
3. Proclamation – Purple Day for Epilepsy – March 26, 2016 [PDF]