Council Highlights May 6 2024

City Council added the following items to the agenda:

• 800 block of 2nd Street SE – letter of interest

Under Councillor Announcements, Deputy Mayor McGrogan acknowledged Mental Health Week, and the importance of focusing on compassion. 

City Council received the following items into the corporate record:

• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of April 15, 2024
• Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of April 18, 2024
• Energy, Land & Environment Committee Meeting Minutes of April 18, 2024
• Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2024

City Council received the following items for information:

• Community Vibrancy Advisory Board Minutes of February 28, 2024
• Public Services Outstanding Items of April 15, 2024
• Development and Infrastructure Outstanding Items of April 18, 2024
• Energy, Land & Environment Outstanding Items of April 18, 2024

City Solicitor Bullock introduced Bylaw 4799 to amend the Tax Incentive Bylaw to City Council. The amendments authorize the CAO to establish guidelines, rules, and procedures regarding the application process for, and the administration and implementation of tax incentives under Bylaw 4667. The update also removes references to Section 364.1 of the Municipal Government Act from the Bylaw (a provision dealing with tax incentives for brownfield properties) and moves the tax incentive processes previously held in Policy 0170 under the Bylaw as procedures. Following a public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw 4799.

Under unfinished business:

• Following a minor corrective amendment, City Council passed Bylaw 4735 to amend the Unsightly Property Bylaw, as amended. The amendments to the Unsightly Property Bylaw include adding a definition of “Reasonable State of Repair”, imposing a positive obligation to maintain a property in a Reasonable State of Repair, adding a definition of “City Manager”, adding a definition of “Dilapidated Vehicle”, adding a definition of “Occupier”, expanding upon the coating requirements for exterior doors, windows or other openings covered with wood, adding a new section prescribing minimum security standards, adding a  comprehensive new section prescribing property maintenance standards, creating new offences relating to property maintenance and obstruction, and increasing the fines for first time offences.

• Director of People Services, Karla Kochan, shared updates made to the proposed Respectful Workplace policy as per Council direction following the presentation on April 22.  Following the discussion, City Council approved Respectful Workplace Policy 8047 and rescinded Workplace Violence and Prevention Policy 8040 and Respectful Workplace Policy 8023.

• City Council approved a motion to direct Administration to include other municipalities’ practices regarding disclosure of severance agreements and expense claims in the environmental scan from Councillor McGrogan’s previous motion (see December 18, 2023 Council Highlights.)

• Council defeated a motion to direct the City Manager to provide a detailed accounting of all funds reallocated in 2023 pursuant to Section 20 of the Administration Organization Bylaw 4662, or otherwise.

• Council defeated a motion directing the City Manager’s expenses and p-card statements be submitted tri-annually to the closed audit committee, going forward.

• City Council approved a motion to direct Administration to prepare accounting of estimated person hours and budget for each of the items listed on the Mayor Clark’s February 20, 2024, written inquiry.

Under New Business:

• Council approved a motion to authorize Administration to enter into a Real Estate Purchase Contract for the sale of the property described as the 800 Block of 2nd Street SE with a certain developer for a purchase price of $570,000 on terms and conditions satisfactory to the City Solicitor and City Manager, and if this transaction fails to close, to list the property on the open market at the identified fair market value.

Under Committee Business:

• Jaret Dickie, Manager of Municipal Services Business Support, and Gareth Chudleigh, Corporate Strategic Analyst, presented the 2024 Water Conservation Incentive Program to City Council. Following the presentation, City Council approves an amendment of the Hat Smart program to incorporate water conservation efforts beginning in 2024 and one-time funding of $150K to support water conservation initiatives to reduce community water use in 2024.

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