Date:
Time: 10:00 a.m., Reconvene 6:00 p.m. if required
Location: Council Chamber, 3rd Floor City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax
Minutes: June 4, 2024 Halifax Regional Council Minutes (PDF)
Agenda
1. CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
2. SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 21, 22 & 23, 2024
This item was deleted from the agenda.
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: 15.1.1, 15.2.1, 15.3.2, 15.4.1, 15.4.6.
6. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES
7. CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
8. MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION – NONE
9. MOTIONS OF RESCISSION – NONE
10. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS – NONE
11. NOTICES OF TABLED MATTERS – NONE
12. HERITAGE HEARINGS – 1:00 P.M.
12.1 Case H00567: Request to Include 2552 Gottingen Street, Halifax in the Registry of Heritage Property for the Halifax Regional Municipality
- Report [PDF]
- Presentation [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the request to include 2552 Gottingen Street, Halifax in the Registry of Heritage Property for the Halifax Regional Municipality, as shown on Map 1 of the staff report dated January 16, 2024, as a municipal heritage property under the Heritage Property Act.
12.2 Case H00568: Request to Include 5561 Cogswell Street, Halifax in the Registry of Heritage Properties for the Halifax Regional Municipality
- Report [PDF]
- Presentation [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the request to include 5561 Cogswell Street, Halifax, in the Registry of Heritage Property for the Halifax Regional Municipality, as shown on Map 1 of the staff report dated March 14, 2024, as a municipal heritage property under the Heritage Property Act.
13. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
13.1 Correspondence
13.2 Petitions
14. INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD – May 21, 2024
14.1 Councillor Mancini - Board of Police Commissioners 2023-2024 Annual Report
- Report [PDF]
- Presentation [PDF]
14.2 Councillor Mancini - Status of Dangerous or Unsightly Orders [PDF]
15. REPORTS
15.1 CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
15.1.1 Administrative Order 50 – Disposal of Surplus Real Property PID 40050098 Lot 1 St. Margaret’s Bay Road Highway 3, Beechville: Beechville Community Development Association Request for Extension to Proposal Deadline* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the request from the Beechville Community Development Association to extend the deadline for the submission of their proposal regarding the conveyance of Lot 1 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, Highway 3, Beechville (PID 40050098) to November 30, 2024 and delegate authority to the Chief Administrative Officer, or their delegate, to further extend the deadline upon request for a term not to exceed November 30, 2025.
15.1.2 Canada Infrastructure Bank Borrowing Agreement
- Report [PDF]
- Presentation [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council authorize the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the Canada Infrastructure Bank to borrow from CIB for capital infrastructure projects as they become eligible, which meet the bank’s lending criteria, and direct the CAO to execute the memorandum of understanding.
15.1.3 Alignment of Public Safety Reports [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Endorse Recommendation V. 14, Mobilizing a Society Wide Response, in the Mass Casualty Commission Final Report, and declare gender-based, intimate partner, and family violence to be an epidemic that warrants a meaningful and sustained society-wide response;
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report with respect to the municipality’s role in providing a meaningful and sustained society-wide response to gender-based, intimate partner and family violence, including reviewing the municipality’s internal policies and identifying any gaps;
3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to review and update By-law P-100, incorporating references to Dr. Ian Loader, “In Search of Civic Policing: Recasting the ‘Peelian’ Principles”, as appropriate; and
4. Direct the Mayor to write a letter to the Minister of Justice requesting a review and update of the Police Act, in light of recent studies and recommendations.
15.1.4 Port Wallace Utility Corridor – Cost Sharing Agreement [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to negotiate, finalize and execute a cost sharing agreement with Halifax Water, containing the key terms and conditions in Attachment A of the staff report dated May 27, 2024.
15.1.5 Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 2014-012-ADM, Respecting Grants for Rural Transit – Rural Transit Funding Program [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt the amendments to Administrative Order 2014-012-ADM, Respecting Grants for Rural
Transit, to allow for a one-time increase in the 2024/25 fiscal year to the lump sum funding available
to applicants from $5,000 and $10,000 to $6,381 and $12,763 respectively, and an increase to the
per vehicle kilometre rate funding from 50 cents to 64 cents, as set out in Attachment 2 of the staff report dated May 7, 2024, and;
2. Adopt the amendments to Administrative Order 2014-012-ADM to account for inflation by
increasing funding annually based on the five-year average for inflation, as set out in Attachment
2 of the staff report dated May 7, 2024.
15.1.6 Strategic Opportunities to Address Homelessness
- Report [PDF]
- Presentation [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Direct the Mayor to write to the Premier of Nova Scotia and the Minister of Community Services to request that the Province of Nova Scotia:
a. structure the pending and new sheltering and housing resources that are being developed to
adequately meet the needs of those currently sleeping rough in community recreation and event spaces;
b. prioritize opportunities that would support persons with the highest acuity;
c. accelerate the purchase and installation of pallet shelters;
d. ensure that the outreach services for those sleeping rough provide each person with an individualized case management plan, with a clear housing plan, so that such persons are ready and supported to accept a new sheltering or housing option when available and offered;
e. provide increased and ongoing mental health care and addiction services to those sleeping rough, living in shelters and temporary housing. The services must be such that they result in a tangible improvement a person’s mental health, allowing them to consider new options and choices for themselves;
f. renovate and utilize available existing spaces to create additional supportive housing resources;
g. support, through the provision of funding and administration, a housing and homelessness summit in the fall of 2024, bringing together all orders of government, service providers, and other interested parties to discuss such issues as the state of homelessness in HRM and along-term approach to eliminate the need for encampments;
h. provide the support and resources necessary to create supportive or managed encampment sites until suitable sheltering and housing resources are available for persons sleeping rough; and,
i. contribute $180,000 in funding to support a 2024/2025 winter sheltering recreation vehicle program at Shubie Park.
2. Endorse the no encampments approach as outlined in the staff report dated May 20, 2024 as the long-term approach of HRM in addressing the needs of those choosing or needing to sleep rough.
3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), as an immediate and short-term approach, to designate additional encampment locations, including the Marketplace Lane and Bancroft Drive location, as well as in other municipal park spaces, to accommodate the growth of community members sleeping rough.
4. Direct the CAO to continue to support those staying in existing and other encampments which may be designated for the immediate or short-term, by continuing to provide the current level of services as performed by the municipality, including paying the costs to prepare those future sites, all in accordance with the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated May 20, 2024.
5. Direct the CAO to hire additional staff to enable the municipality to provide increased levels of encampment support, supervision, and management to mitigate the harmful impacts of encampments for all community members, costs consistent with the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated May 20, 2024.
6. Direct the CAO to increase capacity to allow for the efficient and effective management of the support services HRM provides to provincial housing initiatives, such as snow and ice control, garbage and waste management, and general maintenance, costs consistent with the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated May 20, 2024
7. Direct the CAO to implement a civilian-led response team to address non-criminal activities and complaints in situations with persons experiencing homelessness, costs consistent with the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated May 20, 2024.
8. Direct the CAO to allow the 2024/2025 budgeted operating funds of $598,000 for the homeless drop-in centre to be used by Shelter Nova Scotia to complete necessary capital upgrades to the location it has identified, contingent on the province doing so as well with their budgeted operating funds.
9. 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 that requires Audit and Finance Committee to review and make recommendations regarding withdrawals from reserves not approved in the approved budget before being tabled at Regional Council.
10. Approve an unbudgeted reserve withdrawal from the Options Reserve (Q421) of up to and no more than $4,000,000 to create a community led response team, prepare a non-park space for use as a designated location, and provide additional managed encampment supervision and resources for two sites.
15.2 COMMUNITY PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
15.2.1 Supplemental Report on Ball Diamonds* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to continue with the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Playing Field Strategy as they relate to ball diamonds.
15.3 EXECUTIVE STANDING COMMITTEE
15.3.1 Halifax Regional Municipality Emergency Management Program Document Review [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Accept the recommendations in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated May 2, 2024;
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to implement the recommendations in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated May 2, 2024; and
3. Direct the CAO to report on status of implementation of report’s recommendations twice yearly to Executive Standing Committee.
15.3.2 By-law M-200, Respecting Standards for Residential Occupancies – Communications Strategy – Youth Advisory Committee* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council endorse the communication strategy outlined in the Discussion section of the staff report dated March 11, 2024.
15.4 GRANTS COMMITTEE
15.4.1 Regional Special Events Grants Report 2024* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Approve 13 Event Grants (12 Community Celebrations and 1 Significant Anniversary) for a total of $12,975 as identified in Table 2 of the staff report dated March 8, 2024 from the approved 2024/25 Operating Budget – C760 Events; and
2. Approve a supplementary grant withdrawal from the Community and Events Reserve (Q621) in the amount of $13,000 to be allocated to “Open Streets HFX”.
15.4.2 Less Than Market Value Lease: Sackville Rivers Association [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve a less than market value lease with the Sackville Rivers Association for the premises located at 45 Connolly Road, Middle Sackville and the lease is to contain terms and conditions that are similar to those set out in Table 1 and in the discussion section of the staff report dated April 30, 2024 and direct the Mayor and Municipal Clerk to execute the less than market value lease.
15.4.3 Less Than Market Value Lease: Sackville Seniors Advisory Council [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve a less than market value lease with the Sackville Seniors Advisory Council for the premises located at 45 Connolly Road, Middle Sackville and the lease is to contain terms and conditions that are similar to those set out in Table 1 and in the discussion section of the staff report dated April 30, 2024 and direct the Mayor and Municipal Clerk to execute the less than market value lease.
15.4.4 Less Than Market Value Lease: Early Childhood Interventionists Association of Nova Scotia [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve a less than market value lease with the Early Childhood Interventionists Association of Nova Scotia for the premises located at 45 Connolly Road, Middle Sackville and the lease is to contain terms and conditions that are similar to those set out in Table 1 and in the discussion section of the staff report dated April 30, 2024 and direct the Mayor and Municipal Clerk to execute the less than market value lease.
15.4.5 Less Than Market Value Lease: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Halifax [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve a less than market value lease with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Halifax for the premises located at 45 Connolly Road, Middle Sackville and the lease is to contain terms and conditions that are similar to those set out in Table 1 and in the discussion section of the staff report dated March 18, 2024 and direct the Mayor and Municipal Clerk to execute the less than market value lease.
15.4.6 HRM Community Grants Program: Fiscal 2024 – Recommended Awards* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve fifty-three (53) awards as detailed in Attachment 2 of the staff report dated May 1, 2024 for a combined total of $470,808 from Operating Account M311-8004 Community Grants.
15.5 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
15.5.1 Councillor Russell – Request from Lake District Recreation Association [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report to respond to a request from the Lake District Recreation Association (letter attached) for HRM to enter into a Service Agreement with annual funding.
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 – May 21, 2024
Motion:
That the In Camera (In Private) minutes of May 21, 2024 be approved as circulated.
17.2 PROPERTY MATTER - Private and Confidential Report – Deferred from May 21, 2024
A matter pertaining to providing instruction and direction to officers and employees of the Municipality pertaining to the acquisition / sale of land.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated March 19, 2024; and
2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated March 19, 2024 be maintained private and confidential.
17.3 INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS - Private and Confidential Report
A matter pertaining to any subject, the discussion of which could, violate the confidentiality of information obtained from another body of government, or a public body.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated May 13, 2024; and
2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated May 13, 2024 be maintained private and confidential.
17.4 PROPERTY MATTER - Private and Confidential Report
A matter pertaining to providing instruction and direction to officers and employees of the Municipality pertaining to the acquisition / sale of land.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated June 4, 2024; and
2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated June 4, 2024 be maintained private and confidential.
17.5 CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS - Private and Confidential Report
A matter pertaining to contract negotiations and legal advice.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated May 17, 2024; and
2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated May 17, 2024 be maintained private and confidential.
17.6 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 May 22, 2024; and
2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated May 22, 2024 be maintained private and confidential.
17.7 CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
A matter pertaining to contract negotiations and legal advice.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council convene to In Camera to discuss the matter
17.8 INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS - Private and Confidential Report
A matter pertaining to any subject, the discussion of which could, violate the confidentiality of information obtained from another body of government, or a public body.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated May 21, 2024; and
2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated May 21, 2024 be maintained private and confidential.
18. ADDED ITEMS
Deletions:
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 21, 22 & 23, 2024
Additions:
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:
17.9 INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS - Private and Confidential Report
A matter pertaining to any subject, the discussion of which could, violate the confidentiality of information obtained from another body of government, or a public body.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated May 31 2024; and
2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated May 31, 2024 be maintained private and confidential.
18.1 Appointment of Acting Deputy Mayor
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council appoint Councillor Pam Lovelace as Acting Deputy Mayor from June 5 until June 9, 2024.
18.2 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Appointments
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council pass a resolution to:
1. endorse Councillor Patty Cuttell a member of Council to stand for election on Federation of Canadian Municipality’s Board of Directors, to the end of the Council term, and that the Council assumes all costs associated with attending FCM’s Board of Directors meetings.
2. endorse Councillor Lindell Smith a member of Council to continue serving on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Standing Committee on Anti Racism and Equity and Standing Committee on Municipal Finance, Infrastructure and Transportation, as a non-board member, to the end Council term, and that the Council assumes all costs associated with attending FCM’s Board of Directors meetings.
Information Item 6 – Proclamation – Brain Injury Awareness Month – June 2024 [PDF]
19. NOTICES OF MOTION
20. ADJOURNMENT
________________________________________
INFORMATION ITEMS
June 4, 2024
1. Proclamation – United Nations (UN) International Day of Play – June 11, 2024 [PDF]