Date:
Time: Immediately following Budget Committee
Location: Virtual Meeting
Minutes: June 9, 2020 Halifax Regional Council Minutes (PDF)
Summary of recorded votes: June 9, 2020 Halifax Regional Council Special Meeting Summary of Recorded Votes (PDF)
Agenda
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – NONE
3. APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA*
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the following items: 9.1.2 and 9.1.3
5. CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
6. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS
7. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
7.1 Correspondence
7.2 Petitions
8. INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD – May 26, 2020
8.1 Councillor Austin - Cart Based Garbage and Recycling Collection [PDF]
9. REPORTS
9.1 CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
9.1.1 Dutch Village Road Complete Streets Functional Plan [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Suspend the rules of procedure under Schedule 7, the Transportation Standing Committee Terms of Reference, of Administrative Order One, the Procedures of the Council Administrative Order.
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to proceed with the detailed design of Dutch Village Road between Alma Crescent / Supreme Court and Joseph Howe Drive / Bayers Road as described in the Discussion section of the staff report dated January 24, 2020.
3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to consider the addition of streetscaping elements such as trees, benches, bicycle racks, waste receptacles and potentially other elements to beautify the corridor during detailed design, and if included, ensure the corridor is maintained as an ‘Enhanced Maintenance Area’.
9.1.2 Administrative Order 2019-006-ADM, Respecting Grants to Business Improvement Districts - Uniform Sum Amount* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. set the uniform sum amount pursuant to clause 14(1)(c) of Administrative Order 2019-006-ADM, the Business Improvement District Grants Program Administrative Order, at a fixed dollar amount of $5,000 for each business improvement district for fiscal year 2020-2021; and
2. direct the Chief Administrative Officer to include in the preparations of budget for fiscal years after 2021-2022, a uniform sum in the amount of $5,000 for each business improvement district, and such inclusion continue until such time as Council directs otherwise.
9.1.3 Bedford West Capital Cost Contribution Review* [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve an amended Infrastructure Master Plan for projects in the Bedford West Secondary Plan Area by revising the projects list as outlined and identified on Attachment C of the staff report dated February 20, 2020, and subject to availability of funding in future Capital Budgets.
9.1.4 Recommendations to the Current Provincial Aid-to-Municipality Program [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Suspend the rules of procedure under Schedule 7 of the Transportation Standing Committee Terms of Reference under Administrative Order One, the Procedures of the Council Administrative Order; and
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare the necessary amendments to By-Law S-400 to implement Option No. 1 as outlined in the Discussion Section of the staff report dated February 25, 2020 as the preferred approach for cost-sharing with the Province and abutters on the paving of provincially-owned village and subdivision streets.
9.1.5 Case 22322 - Incentive or Bonus Zoning Agreement 1872-1874 Brunswick Street, Halifax [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the Incentive or Bonus Zoning Agreement as provided in Attachment C of the staff report dated April 30, 2020 for the twelve-storey hotel at 1872-1874 Brunswick Street, Halifax.
9.2 HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
9.2.1 Case H00489 - Substantial Alteration to Municipally Registered Heritage Properties at 1724 and 1740 Granville Street, Halifax [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Approve the substantial alteration of 1724 Granville Street, Halifax known as the Acadian Recorder Building, as proposed in the committee report dated June 3, 2020 and its attachments;
2. Approve the substantial alteration of 1740 Granville Street, Halifax known as the Kenny-Dennis Building, as proposed in the committee report dated June 3, 2020 and its attachments; and
3. Give consideration that:
• The contingency plans exist to ensure the structural integrity with the retention of the heritage façade of each building during the construction of the parking garage
• Developers give some consideration to the incorporation of public art that is contextually sensitive, including the blank wall on Barrington Street
• The Developer must remain consistent with the plan as shown in Attachment E of the staff report dated March 1, 2020, with particular attention to the depth of the heritage façade on the Granville Street elevation.
9.3 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
9.3.1 Councillor Hendsbee - Infrastructure Funding Application for Active Transportation Enhancement to the Mineville Road [PDF]
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council request a staff report regarding submitting an Infrastructure Funding Application to the Province of Nova Scotia for Active Transportation enhancements to the Mineville Road.
10. MOTIONS
10.1 Ratification from Budget Committee May 22, 2020
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Endorse the capital projects in Attachments A and B of the staff report dated May 21, 2020, as well as the Halifax Regional Water Commission shovel ready projects attached to the staff report dated May 21, 2020 for potential infrastructure funding; and
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to submit these projects for funding in the event a Federal and/or Federal/Provincial infrastructure program is established.
10.2 Councillor Zurawski
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council request a staff report for a plan for the creation of a park at the Blue Mountain Birch Cove wilderness reserve. I request that this report include considerations for, projected land acquisition needs for the creation of the park, expected costs associated with land acquisition, projected costs of maintenance of the park before, during and after the acquisition of the necessary lands,
staff requirements to maintain the park, boundaries of the park, timeline for the creation of the park, potential sources of funding for the creation and maintenance of the park, and mitigation of threats to park at this juncture. The staff report is required because of the changing nature our municipal budgets, and because of threats to the existing forests from fire, pests, and overuse.
11. 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:
11.1 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 staff report dated April 27, 2020; and
2. Not release the private and confidential staff report dated April 27, 2020 to the public.
11.2 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 staff report dated February 26, 2020; and
2. Not release the private and confidential staff report dated February 26, 2020 to the public.
12. ADDED ITEMS
12.1 Ratification from Budget Committee June 9, 2020 - Proposed 2020-21 Budget and Business Plan
Motion:
It is hereby resolved that:
a) the Operating Budget in the amount of $955,255,300 gross expenditures (which includes $787,055,300 in municipal expenditures including the reserve withdrawals specified in the Operating and Project Budget); $753,640,300 in property tax revenues (including area rate revenues) and $201,615,000 in other revenues be approved;
b) the Capital Budget in the amount of $149,826,333 be approved;
c) the general rates of taxation on residential and resource property be set at
(i) $0.670 for the urban area
(ii) $0.637 for the suburban area; and
(iii) $0.637 for the rural area
per $100 of taxable assessment;
d) the general rates of taxation on commercial property be set at
(i) $3.000 for the urban area;
(ii) $3.000 for the suburban area; and
(iii) $2.658 for the rural area
per $100 of taxable assessment;
e) the Halifax Transit Annual Service Plan and the tax rates associated with Transit Taxation be set at
(i) $0.047 for the Regional Transportation tax rate;
(ii) $0.098 for the Local Transit tax rate
per $100 of taxable assessment;
f) (i) the boundaries of the urban, suburban and rural areas are delineated in Attachment A of the staff report dated May 30, 2020, the “Tax Area Map”;
(ii) the boundary of the Regional Transportation Area includes all properties within communities included within Attachment B of the staff report dated May 30, 2020, the “Regional Transportation Area”; and,
(iii) the boundary for the Local Transit area includes all properties within 1km walking distance of any HRM transit stop;
g) Fire Protection rates shall be set at the rate of $0.014 per $100 for all residential and resource assessment and at $0.040 per $100 of the commercial assessment for properties which are within 1,200 feet of a hydrant that is designed and operated for public fire protection purposes;
h) the Provincial Area Rate for Mandatory Education on residential and resource property be set at the rate of $0.306; and at a rate of $0.311 for all commercial assessment;
i) the Provincial Area Rate for Property Valuation Services on residential and resource property be set at the rate of $0.016; and at a rate of $0.009 for all commercial assessment;
j) the Provincial Area Rate for Corrections Services on residential and resource property be set at the rate of $0.015; and at a rate of $0.007 for all commercial assessment;
k) the Provincial Area Rate for Metro Regional Housing Authority on residential and resource property be set at the rate of $0.007; and at a rate of$0.008 for all commercial assessment;
l) Supplementary Education, under Section 80 of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, shall be set at the rate of $0.023 per $100 of the residential and resource assessment and at $0.066 per $100 of the commercial assessment;
m) the final tax bills will become due on Friday, October 30, 2020;
n) the interest rate on the Special Reserve Funds, designated as requiring interest under Section 121(2) of the Halifax Charter, be set at the rate of return on funds invested by HRM for the period April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021;
o) the interest rate on all reserves except for those identified in (n) above will be set at the rate of return on funds invested by HRM for the period April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021;
p) Withdrawals from Reserves (capital and operating) in the amount of $111,860,100 are approved, as detailed in Attachment D “Schedule of Withdrawals from Reserves - 2020-21” of the staff report dated May 30, 2020;
q) Multi-Year Projects are approved in the amount of $241,984,300 from 2020/21 to 2024/25, found in the “Schedule of Multi-Year Projects” in Attachment C of the staff report dated May 30, 2020 are approved; and,
r) The “Schedule of Area Tax Rates” (Attachment E), and “Schedule of Budgeted Expenditures & Revenues for 2020/21 Area Rated Services” (Attachment F of the staff report dated May 30, 2020) are approved.
12.2 Ratification from Budget Committee June 9, 2020
Motion:
That the Budget Committee recommends that Halifax Regional Council rescind the decision to reserve fund the armored vehicle and return the funds, $500,000, to the Vehicle Fleet and Equipment Reserve Q531 and further to include the following funding in the recast 2020-21 budget: $53,500 in programming dollars for the Office of Diversity & Inclusion: $25,000 for special projects plus $11,000 to support Business Units to advance Public Safety Strategy actions in the Public Safety Office:, and use the remaining funds $300,0000 to support anti-Black racism efforts and initiatives with funding to come from the General Contingency Reserve Q421.
13. NOTICES OF MOTION
14. ADJOURNMENT
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INFORMATION ITEMS
June 9, 2020
1. Proclamation – Co-operative Housing Day – June 13, 2020 [PDF]