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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Minutes - April 9, 2024 Cape Breton Regional Municipality Council Meeting Minutes April 9, 2024 6:01 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers Council Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill Councillor Gordon MacDonald Councillor Earlene MacMullin Councillor Cyril MacDonald Councillor Steve Gillespie Councillor Eldon MacDonald Councillor Glenn Paruch (Arrived at 6: 16 p.m.) Councillor Steve Parsons Deputy Mayor James Edwards Councillor Ken Tracey Councillor Darren Bruckschwaiger Councillor Darren O'Quinn Councillor Lorne Green Staff Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer John MacKinnon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Technology 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 Kirk Durning, Director of Recreation, Parks and Grounds, and Buildings and Facilities Peter Vandermeulen, Planner Cindy Hynes, Recreation Program Coordinator Paula Jacobs, Recreation Program Coordinator Mitch MacDonald, Recreation Program Coordinator Laura Goode, Recreation Program Coordinator Sharon MacSween, Senior Administrative Assistant Kelly McDonald, Recording Secretary Council Meeting - Minutes April 9, 2024 Approved June 25, 2024 Page 2 of 9 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.. .. The Council met In Camera on March 26, 2024, pursuant to Section 22 (2)(e) and (g) of the Municipal Government Act. Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill called the meeting to order. Land Acknowledgement Roll Call O' Canada 1. Approval of Agenda Mayor McDougall-Merrill noted that item number 5.2, 2024 Municipal and CSAP Elections - Polling Divisions, will be removed from the agenda to be postponed until a future council meeting. Motion Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Parsons, to approve the April 9, 2024, council agenda and addendum as presented. Motion Carried 2. Volunteer Week 2.1 Proclamation: 2024 Volunteer Week Motion Moved by Deputy Mayor Edwards, seconded by Councillor Tracey, that CBPM Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill and Council proclaim April 14th to April 20th, 2024, as "Volunteer Week” in recognition of the splendid efforts of our volunteers who provide service to our residents and communities in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Motion Carried Council Meeting - Minutes April 9, 2024 Approved June 25, 2024 Page 3 of 9 2.2 Presentation of 2024 Volunteer Awards The order of the awards was adjusted in contrast to the April 9, 2024, council agenda. b) Gary McDonald Memorial Award: Awarded in recognition of an outstanding community volunteer. Mitch MacDonald, Recreation Program Coordinator, provided background information and criteria for the Gary McDonald Memorial Award. The district four councillor provided the biography on Teal to Heal. Co-Recipient: Teal to Heal Presented by: Councillor Gillespie; and Mayor McDougall-Merrill; and Gary McDonald's son and grandson. Dena Edwards Wadden thanked Council for the award. The district eight councillor/deputy mayor provided the biography on W.E.B.'s Creative Closet. Co-Recipient: W.E.B.'s Creative Closet Presented by: Deputy Mayor Edwards; and Mayor McDougall-Merrill; and Gary McDonald's son and grandson. Representatives from W.E.B.'s Creative Closet thanked Council for the award. a) Anne Holland Memorial Award: Awarded in recognition of an outstanding community project. Paula Jacobs, Recreation Program Coordinator, provided background information and criteria for the Anne Holland Memorial Award. The district one councillor provided the biography on Matthew Fortune. Recipient: Matthew Fortune Presented by: Councillor Gordon MacDonald; and Mayor McDougall-Merrill; and Bill and Collette Smith. Matthew Fortune thanked Council for the award. Council Meeting - Minutes April 9, 2024 Approved June 25, 2024 Page 4 of 9 c) Youth Volunteer Award: Awarded in recognition of an outstanding youth volunteer. Laura Goode, Recreation Program Coordinator, provided background information and criteria for the Youth Volunteer Award. The district twelve councillor provided the biography on Natalie Costello. Recipient: Natalie Costello Presented by: Councillor Green; and Mayor McDougall-Merrill Natalie Costello thank Council for the award. 3. Proclamations and Resolutions 3.1 National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week Motion Moved by Councillor Gillespie, seconded by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, that CBRM Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill and Council hereby acknowledges and recognizes the vital work of 911 Operators as First Responders encouraging increased awareness and understanding of the indispensable role played by 911 Operators; and express its deepest gratitude and appreciation to all 911 Operators within our municipality for their unwavering dedication, professionalism, and commitment to public safety; and that a copy of this resolution be transmitted, framed, and displayed at the 911 center recognizing their outstanding contributions and ensuring that their work is duly acknowledged. Motion Carried Council Meeting - Minutes April 9, 2024 Approved June 25, 2024 Page 5 of 9 3.2 Dangerous and Derelict Properties Motion Moved by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, seconded by Councillor Green, that CBRM Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill on behalf of Council and residents of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, send a letter of request to Honourable John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, to agree to provide financial assistance in the amount of $1,000,000 annually for the next 3 fiscal years, to CBRM as a one-off situation for staffing and financial support for demolition of vacant and derelict properties, within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, as discussed during the recent MOU negotiations, as the situation is dire in CBRM. Discussion: • Specific dangerous and derelict properties • The importance of resolving dangerous and derelict properties • MOU process and the importance of provincial support • The importance of public health and safety Motion Carried 4. By-Laws and Motions 4.1 By-Laws a) First Reading i) CBRM Licensing By-Law for Shared Dwellings and Licence Fee Policy Peter Vandermeulen, Planner, reviewed the issue paper included in the agenda package. The following motions were then put forward: Council Meeting - Minutes April 9, 2024 Approved June 25, 2024 Page 6 of 9 Motion Moved by Councillor MacMullin, seconded by Councillor Cyril MacDonald, to approve for first reading of the new CBRM Licencing By-law for Shared Dwellings found in Attachment B of the April 9, 2024, agenda package and to schedule a Public Hearing to consider adoption of the CBRM Licencing By- law for Shared Dwellings. Motion Carried Motion Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Parsons, to direct staff to bring the CBRM Fee Policy: Licencing to an upcoming council meeting for consideration. Discussion: • Suspension and/or revocation process Motion Carried S. Corporate Services 5.1 NSCC Parking License John MacKinnon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Technology, reviewed the memo and recommendation included in the agenda package. The following motion was then put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, to approve the License Agreement with NSCC, included in the April 9, 2024, council agenda, to provide 250 monthly parking spaces around Centre 200 for a period of 3 years with two (2) 3-year renewal options. Discussion: • Potential additional parking spots not included in the NSCC Parking License Agreement • Clarification on terms of agreement and costs Council Meeting - Minutes April 9, 2024 Approved June 25, 2024 Page 7 of 9 Motion to Amend Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, that the NSCC Parking License Agreement document states that renewal is dependent negotiations between CBPM and NSCC. Amended Motion Carried Main Motion Carried 5.2 2024 Municipal and CSAP Elections - Polling Divisions This item was removed from the agenda. 6. Council Agenda Request 6.1 Request for Advocacy - Nova Scotia Coastal Protection Mayor McDougall-Merrill reviewed the memo included in the agenda package. The following motion was then put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Cyril MacDonald, to request the NSFM Board of Directors to consider Nova Scotia Coastal Protection an advocacy priority for NSFM and that the issue be reviewed by the Climate Change Advisory Committee. Discussion: • Municipal Planning Strategy • Letters of support to coastal protection organizations Motion Carried 6.2 Request a Presentation from CN Rail re End of Cape Breton Rail Line Subsidy Councillor Bruckschwaiger reviewed the council agenda request form and recommendation included in the April 9, 2024, council addendum. The following motion was then put forward: Council Meeting - Minutes April 9, 2024 Approved June 25, 2024 Page 8 of 9 Motion Moved by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, seconded by Councillor Tracey, to request that a representative from CN Rail provide a presentation at the next possible council meeting to discuss future planned operations in Nova Scotia, specifically on Cape Breton Island. Motion Carried 7. Committee Reports - N/A 8. Review of Action Items from this Meeting Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill noted the following action items: • Send a letter of request to the Honourable John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, to agree to provide financial assistance in the amount of $1,000,000 annually for the next three fiscal years, to CBPM as a one- off situation for staffing and financial support for demolition of vacant and derelict properties; and copy all MLAs on the letter. • To request that a representative from CN Rail provide a presentation at the next possible council meeting to discuss future planned operations in Nova Scotia, specifically on Cape Breton Island. • Request an update from Novaporte to the council appointed Steering Committee regarding the current development at the Port of Sydney. Council Meeting - Minutes April 9, 2024 Approved June 25, 2024 Page 9 of 9 Meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m. Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill Mayor Christa Dicks Municipal Clerk /km