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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - March 26, 2024 Cape Breton Regional Municipality Council Meeting Minutes March 26, 2024 9:32 a.m. at City Hall Council Chambers Council Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill Councillor Gordon MacDonald Councillor Earlene MacMullin Councillor Steve Gillespie Councillor Eldon MacDonald Councillor Glenn Paruch Deputy Mayor James Edwards Councillor Ken Tracey Councillor Darren Bruckschwaiger Councillor Darren O'Quinn Councillor Lorne Green Staff Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Campbell, Chief Financial Officer Christa Dicks, Municipal Clerk Wayne MacDonald, Director of Engineering and Public Works Demetri Kachafanas, KC, Regional Solicitor Karen Neville, Acting Director of Planning and Development/Senior Planner Robert Walsh, Chief of Police Kirk Durning, Director of Recreation, Parks and Grounds, Buildings and Facilities Greg Campbell, Manager of Technical Support Services - Utilities John MacKinnon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Technology Sheila Kolanko, Property Manager John Crane, Manager of By-Laws and Building Inspections Rob MacNamara, Communications Advisor - Mayor's Office Christina Lamey, Communications Information Officer Jenna MacQueen, Communications Advisor Sharon MacSween, Senior Administrative Assistant Kelly McDonald, Recording Secretary Council Meeting - Minutes March 26, 2024 Approved April 23, 2024 Page 2 of 9 Absent Councillor Cyril MacDonald (regrets) Councillor Steve Parsons (regrets) The following does not represent a word for word record of the proceedings of this meeting. The agenda, reports, supporting documents, information items circulated, and video (if available) are online at verw.v..fir_„_c_b_rrr�..,..n_s c.. .. Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill called the meeting to order. Land Acknowledgement Roll Call O' Canada 1. Approval of Agenda Mayor McDougall-Merrill asked Council if it is preferred if item 7.2 be addressed at the end of the meeting as In Camera session, Council agreed. Motion Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Paruch, to approve the March 26, 2024, council agenda and addendum as presented. Motion Carried 2. Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators - Long Service Recognition Awards Program Mayor McDougall-Merrill reviewed the letter included in the agenda package to recognize John MacKinnon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Technology, for his remarkable fifteen years of service in municipal government management roles. Council Meeting - Minutes March 26, 2024 Approved April 23, 2024 Page 3 of 9 3. Proclamations 3.1 Purple Day Motion Moved by Councillor O'Quinn, seconded by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, that CBRM Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill and Council proclaim March 26, 2024, as "Purple Day" in an effort to raise awareness of epilepsy in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Motion Carried 3.2 Transgender Day of Visibility Motion Moved by Councillor MacMullin, seconded by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, that CBRM Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill and Council proclaim Sunday, March 31St, 2024, as Transgender Day of Visibility in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Motion Carried 3.3 National Dental Hygienists Week Motion Moved by Councillor Tracey, seconded by Deputy Mayor Edwards, that CBRM Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill and Council proclaim the week of April 4-10th, 2024, as National Dental Hygienists Week in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Motion Carried 3.4 Parkinson's Awareness Month Motion Moved by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Gillespie, that CBRM Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill and Council proclaim April 2024, as Parkinson's Awareness Month in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Motion Carried Council Meeting - Minutes March 26, 2024 Approved April 23, 2024 Page 4 of 9 3.5 Autism Acceptance Month Motion Moved by Deputy Mayor Edwards, seconded by Councillor Tracey, that CBRM Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill and Council proclaim April 2024, as Autism Acceptance Month throughout the municipality and encourage all our citizens to recognize the individuals/people with autism, family members, caregivers, educators, and other professionals who strive to make Nova Scotia an inclusive and accessible place for us all to call home. Motion Carried 3.6 Canada Community-Building Fund Motion Moved by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Paruch, that CBRM Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill and Council request that the federal government work with agreement signatories and municipalities to maintain the CCBF as a source of direct, predictable, long-term funding for local infrastructure priorities; and that the federal government commit, in Budget 2024, to the next generation of infrastructure programs, including a new program for water and wastewater infrastructure and an increase to the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund; and that the federal government convene provinces, territories and municipalities to negotiate a "Municipal Growth Framework" to modernize the way that municipalities are funded in order to enable Canada's long-term growth. Motion Carried 4. Planning 4.1 Final Approval - Public Hearing a) Text Amendments to CBRM's Land Use By-law Council Meeting - Minutes March 26, 2024 Approved April 23, 2024 Page 5 of 9 Acting Director Karen Neville reviewed the issue paper and recommendation in the agenda package. Mayor McDougall-Merrill called three times for any members of the public wishing to speak on the matter, no speakers came forth. Discussion took place regarding terminology, sea can requirements, and building code requirements. The following motion was then put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, final approval of the Amending By-law found in Attachment A of the issue paper included in the March 26, 2024, agenda package. Motion Carried S. By-Laws and Motions 5.1 Second/Final Reading - Public Hearing i) Wastewater Discharge By-Law No. W-100 Greg Campbell, Manager of Technical Support Services - Utilities, reviewed the proposed Wastewater Discharge By-law included in the agenda package. Mayor McDougall-Merrill called three times for any members of the public wishing to speak on the matter, no speakers came forth. The following motion was then put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Gillespie, seconded by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, final approval of the proposed amendments to the Wastewater Discharge By-Law No. W-100 included in the March 26, 2024, agenda package. Discussion: • Clarification regarding wastewater discharge • Costs, rates, expansions, and timelines • Users and consumption • Rebate requirements Motion Carried Council Meeting - Minutes March 26, 2024 Approved April 23, 2024 Page 6 of 9 iii) Area Rate By-Law Number A-200 Greg Campbell, Manager of Technical Support Services - Utilities, reviewed the proposed Area Rate By-law included in the agenda package. Mayor McDougall-Merrill called three times for any members of the public wishing to speak on the matter, no speakers came forth. The following motion was then put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Gillespie, seconded by Councillor Tracey, final approval of the repeal to the Area Rate By-Law Number A-200 indicated in the March 26, 2024, agenda package. Discussion: • Community rinks • Public engagement • Property assessments • Service agreements • Communication strategies Motion Carried 5.2 First Reading i) Passenger Vehicle for Hire By-law - Debit or Service Fee Provisions John Crane, Manager of Technical Support Services, reviewed the issue paper included in the agenda package. Discussion took place regarding discretion, competition, and merchant fees. The following motion was then put forward: Council Meeting - Minutes March 26, 2024 Approved April 23, 2024 Page 7 of 9 Motion Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Tracey, to approve for first reading of the Amending By-law found in Attachment B, included in the March 26, 2024, agenda package, and schedule a Public Hearing to consider adoption of the Amending By-law at an upcoming meeting of Council. Motion Carried 6. Presentations 6.1 Federation of Canadian Municipalities Geoff Stewart, First Vice President of FCM, provided a presentation titled, "FCM: The National Voice of Canadian Local Government". Discussion took place regarding funding, priorities, municipal growth, local leadership, and climate adaptation. 6.2 Update to Library Workshop Mayor McDougall-Merrill reviewed the memo included in the agenda package. Discussion took place regarding the former courthouse, engineering report, stakeholder input, site selection, timelines, and costs. Council recessed at 12:45 p.m. Council reconvened at 1:21 p.m. At the time the meeting reconvened, the following councillors were absent: • Councillor Gordon MacDonald • Deputy Mayor James Edwards • Councillor Ken Tracey 7. Corporate Services Issues 7.1 Affordable Housing Policy Acting Director Neville reviewed the issue paper and recommendation in the agenda package. The following motion was then put forward: Council Meeting - Minutes March 26, 2024 Approved April 23, 2024 Page 8 of 9 Motion Moved by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, to direct staff to bring the CBRM Affordable Housing Grant Policy and CBRM Affordable Housing Property Tax Adjustment Policy to an upcoming Council meeting for consideration. Discussion: • Clarification between tier 1 and tier 2 • Rental costs Motion Carried 7.2 Membertou Policing Agreement - Renewal This item was addressed at the end of the meeting as an In Camera session. 7.3 Request to Deem Property Surplus - Centennial/Bi- Centennial Complex Portion of PIDs 15092554, 15092570, and 15538077 Director Durning reviewed the issue paper included in the agenda package. The following motion was then put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, to declare the Centennial/Bi-Centennial complex surplus and schedule a public hearing to consider the sale of the property to Tomorrow Legends for the sum of one dollar. Discussion: • Property subdivisions • Need for future discussion regarding agreement specifications Motion Carried 7.4 Request to Deem CBRM Property Surplus PID 15368632 - South Head (District 8) Council Meeting - Minutes March 26, 2024 Approved April 23, 2024 Page 9 of 9 Sheila Kolanko, Property Manager, reviewed the issue paper and recommendation in the agenda package. The following motion was then put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, to declare the lands, identified as PID 15368632, surplus for sale at market value. Motion Carried 8. Committee Reports - N/A 9. Financial Statements 9.1 CBRM to January 31, 2024 For Information Only 9.2 Port of Sydney Development Corporation to January 31, 2024 For Information Only The Council met In Camera at 1:48 p.m. in accordance with Section 22(2)(e) and (g) of the Municipal Government Act for item number 7.2. Meeting adjourned In Camera at 2:45 p.m. Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill Mayor Christa Dicks Municipal Clerk /km