Month: August 2024

Council – Aug 26, 2024

Posted on . by Patrick Johnstone. 1 Comment.

Our summer break slightly shortened, and the weather decidedly not summer-like outside , Council had its first meeting in 6 weeks, with a fairly short agenda.

We started with a number of items moved On Consent:

Application for Extension of Liquor Service Hours: #200-55 Eighth Street, Hyack Sushi
The owner of this restaurant downtown wants to extend their liquor service hours. There have been no issues with their current license, so the City is letting the Province know we are OK with this extension though a resolution that is required under provincial regulations.

Application for Grant Funding to the 2024 UBCM Asset Management Planning Program
The City often applies for grants from senior governments and those administered through UBCM or FCM. Some require a Council resolution to make the application complete. As we continue on our Asset Management journey as a City, there is some financial support available to do this work, for which we are applying. Cross your fingers!

Construction Noise Bylaw Exemption Request: 32 Eighth Street (New Westminster SkyTrain Station)
Some work at the New West Skytrain Station needs to occur at night when trains are not running and the platform isn’t full of people. We previously gave a permit for this off-hours noise exemption, but the work is delayed, and they need an extension, which council granted them.

Construction Noise Bylaw Exemption Request: Metro Vancouver Queensborough Pump Station – 304 Wood Street
Sewer upgrade work also needs to sometimes happen at night, because that is when sewer flows are lowest. This upgrade to vital pump station in Queensborough will happen over two days in September or October (when the weather is amenable, as that also impacts sewer flows), and requires a noise bylaw exemption, which Council is granting.

Construction Noise Bylaw Exemption Request: 330 East Columbia Street (Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Project)
There is a unique electrical conduit installation happening at the Hospital upgrade that takes about 24 hours to perform, and cannot be stopped once it is started, meaning they have to work through the night. This means noise bylaw exemption, which Council is granting.

Official Community Plan Amendment and Rezoning Application for 1084 Tanaka Court: Preliminary Report
This is a bit of an unusual one. There is a vacant property in Queensborough near the casino that was originally zoned for Industrial use until 2018, when Council granted them a rezoning to permit the building of a 3 story commercial building including a banquet hall, offices, and retail spaces. The owner has now decided that project is not financially viable, and wishes to sell the property. They wish to rezone again back into industrial, probably reflecting the change in industrial land values over the last few years due to a regional shortage. So we are looking at an OCP Amendment and rezoning. This is a preliminary application report, and will see consultation and a Public Hearing (as required by OCP Amendments), so I’ll hold my comments on the merits of the application until then. If you have opinions, let us know!

Provincial Housing Target Order for New Westminster
As was widely reported, the City is subject to a Housing Target Order from the province. We received the order officially on July 30, and this is an information report updating Council and the Public on the details of that order and what comes next.

Unfortunately, the order increases, not reduces, the confusion related to the provincial intent here. The number (4,432 new housing units by 2029) reflects 75% of the total estimated housing need determined from some slightly opaque provincial methodology. Notably, this is a different Housing Need number than the City has calculated using the methodology the province requires us to use for our own Housing Needs Assessment Report. So we have two sets of estimates driven by different methodologies coming out of the same Ministry in Victoria. Though the province “encourages” us to meet 100% of their new assessed need, we are only “ordered” to meet the 4,432 number, which should have everyone scratching their head about why we are striving to meet 75% of need, and how the last 25% of housing need will be met.

For the even stranger part, these “orders” are for occupancy, the day people are able to move into a newly built housing unit, where previous metrics have been for approvals. This is a problem because Cities may approve housing, but we don’t build it. We have no tools to force landowners to build what is approved on their lot. Look at the Tanaka Court application above: the City approved the banquet hall project, but we cannot force the owner to now build it, we simply don’t have the legal ability to do that. If you come into City Hall to apply for a permit to build a laneway house, we can grant you that permission, can approve it, but we can’t force you to build it on our timeline just because you applied and were approved. It would be a very different market if municipalities held this power, and it is unclear how the Minister thinks we are going to force building to happen.

Further, large development projects at the scale that will be required to hit 5,000 housing units in 5 years take years to plan, design, finance, and build. The two large towers being completed on the riverfront right now are going to receive occupancy permits this year meaning those ~700 units will be all we need to hit our occupancy target in year one of the Provincial Order, but that project was approved in 2017 – more than seven years ago! It is safe to say that our meeting this “target” in years 2, 3 and 4 will rely on rapid completion of projects that are already either approved or so far down the approval road that these new targets are meaningless to their success. So what’s the point?

But that all seems Inside Baseball.

Looking at the report, it’s clear that aside from tracking numbers and reporting out, there is no fundamental change the City needs to make, or can make, to meet this housing order. We have enough “zoned capacity” in the City to accommodate this number of units, and are working on our OCP updates to comply with the provincial Transit Oriented Area and SSMUH regulations. We currently have about 6,000 units in process (under construction, approved, or under planning review), however, we simply cannot predict, nor have any legislative or coercive control over, which of these are completed an occupied in the next 5 years. So we are complying with provincial regulation, doing our job as ordered, then getting back to work on the important stuff like planning for the infrastructure needs of the City.

We then had a raft of Bylaws for Adoption:

Council Procedure Bylaw No. 6910, 2004, Amendment Bylaw No.8467, 2024
This Bylaw that brings out Council Procedure Bylaw in compliance with new provincial regulations on Public Hearings was adopted by Council.

Heritage Revitalization Agreement (203 Pembina Street) Bylaw No. 8425, 2024 and
Heritage Designation Bylaw (203 Pembina Street) No. 8435, 2024
These Bylaws that enable construction of six townhouse units at 203 Pembina Street and designate an Oak Tree as a heritage trees was adopted by Council.

Parks and Recreation Fees Amendment Bylaw No. 8465, 2024
This Bylaw that amends our Parks and Recreation fees (after comparison to other Lower Mainland communities – which is relevant to a later motion) was adopted unanimously by Council.

Riparian Areas Protection Bylaw Miscellaneous Amendment Bylaw No. 8468, 2024
These Bylaws that update the language of our RAP Bylaw to comply with Provincial language was adopted by Council.

Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 8469, 2024
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 8470, 2024
These bylaws that simplify our ticketing an fining bylaw were adopted by Council.

Zoning Amendment Bylaw (1005 Ewen Avenue) No. 8452, 2024
This Bylaw that permits the development of 23 townhouse and duplex units and a commercial building in Queensborough was adopted by Council.

Zoning amendment Bylaw (1923 and 1927 Marine Way) No.8466, 2024
This Bylaw that permits the construction of a 90-unit affordable housing building near 22nd Street Station was adopted by Council.

Then we had three Motions from Council:

Enhancing Commercial Areas and Corridors in New Westminster
Submitted by Councillor Campbell and Councillor Nakagawa

WHEREAS The City’s Retail Strategy identifies current and emerging trends in the retail ecosystem, namely Micro Retailing and Combination Stores, and the Retail Strategy further underscores that both retail concepts have direct positive implications on the evolution of commercial areas and corridors in New Westminster; and
WHEREAS Micro-Retailing includes multiple vendors ‘co-locating’ in a shared space, utilizing shared resources or may encompass individual retail units that are much smaller than the average, with the intention to provide entry-level ‘gateway’ for small businesses to establish a bricks-and mortar location, without the financial requirements and risks typically expected in a standard retail lease; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED The City of New Westminster identify potential location(s), operating considerations, necessary resources and local partners to activate Combination Stores and Micro-Retailing commercial areas using shipping containers or similar concept to create a retail ecosystem that provides small businesses, artists, artisans, crafters and other vendors with affordable storefront locations and, at the same time, enhances commercial areas and corridors in New Westminster, with a report back to council on implementation feasibility.

This is an idea supported by our Retail Strategy, and discussed at and supported by the Arts Culture and Economic Development Committee. It also supports the nurturing of small local entrepreneurs by reducing risk and cost for set up, especially at a time where commercial lease rates are making it more difficult to find a place to start a brick and mortar operation in the City. The part I’m not sure about is what the role of the City is other than making sure we have a supportive permitting process, so I look forward to the reporting back form staff now that this was approved by Council.

Determine fee structure of New West business licenses and park and recreation programs compared to other Metro Vancouver cities
Submitted by Councillor Minhas

WHEREAS it is important for New West families and businesses to be charged fees for licenses, programs and services that are in line with other Metro Vancouver cities; and
WHEREAS there is no readily available and up-to-data analysis regarding how much our fees compare to other neighbouring municipalities; and
WHEREAS we strive to make New Westminster as affordable and competitive as possible;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to conduct a review of business license fees to determine how we compare to other Metro Vancouver cities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to conduct a review of the charges and fees imposed by the Parks and Recreation Department for similar programs and services that are also delivered in other Metro Vancouver cities. The review should encompass core services such as: a. Annual gym pass; b. Swimming passes; c. Exercise classes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this information be incorporated and provided to the public as part of the 2025/26 budgeting process.

This motion completely baffles me. I don’t know how to square it with paying attention in Council meetings over the last two years. Because this motion asks for us to do things we already do every year, including in the most recent Council meeting in July. This seems like something I can unpack a but more in my next Newsletter, but here’s a quick timeline with links to the relevant public reports:

June 12, 2023 we received a report on the process to adjust Parks and Recreation fees, including this quote: “This will align the resulting proposed fees with the City’s comparative neighbours and keep costs relatively similar for residents who may have utilized services in those communities”. That report was approved unanimously by this Council.

July 10, 2023 Council reviewed and voted to update fees based on the process approved above, with the report including a spreadsheet comparing our fees to comparative municipalities, prior to 2024 Budget adoption.

July 8, 2024 Council received a report on the 2024 fee schedule, including this quote: “The annual staff review of existing fees and comparative data from neighbouring municipalities suggests relatively few modifications are required to the existing Parks and Recreation bylaw.” an attachment entitled “Comparative Municipal Analysis of Admission and Pass Fees” was included in that report.

Aug 26, 2024 (this very meeting!) Council unanimously adopted the new fee schedule informed by the above report.

On the business licence side, this is a work item identified as part of the 2024 work plan for our Economic Development department and was included in the resource ask for 2024 budget enhancements in the December 11th and January 22nd workshop reports. Progress on the work was reported back in April to the Arts, Culture and Economic Development Advisory Committee, of which the mover of this motion is a member. The Agenda and the minutes of the meeting where this was discussed are online with a spreadsheet comparing our Biz License fees to cohort municipalities.

So this motion asks staff to do again what it just did, or are already doing. I simply don’t understand how someone present at Council meetings could be unaware of this, and just what they thought they were voting for when they raised their hand to support those several reports previously received. Its baffling, and perhaps a bit concerning. Council did not support the motion, it being redundant.

Provide long-term funding to support the Walking School Bus Program to support the City’s stated goal of tackling climate change
Submitted by Councillor Fontaine

WHEREAS the Walking School Bus program reduces vehicle congestion around schools, greenhouse gas emissions as well as improves air quality in communities; and
WHEREAS the Walking School Bus program improves a student’s physical and mental health; creates an opportunity to make new friends through shared experiences; provides an inherent sense of belonging in being a part of a group; and
WHEREAS the City of New Westminster has a longstanding commitment to tackle climate change; and
WHEREAS the City’s Climate Action Reserve Fund has approximately $42 million as of Dec. 31, 2023;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff continue to work with the New Westminster District Parent Advisory Council, Society of Children and Youth, TransLink and SD 40 to seek out opportunities to expand the Walking School Bus program to other neighourhoods throughout New Westminster; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT to reduce the impact to residential taxpayers regarding the expansion of this program, that the City’s Climate Action Reserve Fund decision-making framework be applied, and that potential partnership funds be sought from the School District, Translink, and/or senior government(s) before the City commit to long-term funding, and that the Society of Children and Youth be directed towards the City Grant application process.

I wrote the motion here as it was amended through a lengthy discussion at the Council meeting. The Walking School Bus is a good program run as a pilot at a half dozen schools in the Lower Mainland (two in New West) by the Society for Children and Youth of BC, with support from the City, the School District and TransLink. There is some uncertainty about its longer-term funding, never mind how we might fund an expansion of the program. It is important that we connect with the people whose program it is before we start barging in with changes, which is the nature of the amendments brought forward.

Council voted unanimously to support this, and will reach out to the partners operating the program and find potential funding sources.

And that was the end of business for a shortish agenda. Hopefully you get to go out and grab one more sunny long weekend of summer before we are back in the whirlwind of September.

Paving Sixth Ave

Posted on . by Patrick Johnstone. 1 Comment.

Paving a stretch of road in the City shouldn’t be news-worthy, the City spends something like $4 million a year on pavement management, and there are lots of roads that have seen recent paving, but the stretch of Sixth Ave in the West End has been such a bouncy boulevard of broken seams for a while now that people have been asking me why this key road in the City is so bad.

Now that we have timeline for re-paving, it’s a good time to talk about why it took so long, and why bumpy roads are sometimes running on top of a good news story. The West End has been the location of a lot of infrastructure upgrades over the last couple of years, and some of it is coming to an end.

The big project is the West End Sewer Separation and Watermain Replacement project. The main drive behind this project is replacement of the City’s old combined-flow sewer systems in the area with separate sanitary sewers (wastewater from homes that goes to the sewer treatment plant) and storm sewers (rain run-off from roads that goes to the river). This includes 8.4 km of new sewers, along with 24 rain gardens designed to decrease peak flow runoff. This will result in less storm water going unnecessarily to the water treatment plant for expensive treatment, and less chance of combined sewer overflows in to the Fraser River during storm events. There are also some older water mains in the area that need to be replaced and upgraded, , and it only makes sense to coordinate that work at the same time if you are tearing up the road anyway.

The timing of this project was also influenced by the significant support we received from senior governments to make it happen. The total project cost is $14.3 Million, of which $3.8 Million will be paid off over time by water and sewer utility users. The rest was paid by infrastructure grants from senior government: $5.7 Million from the Federal Government and $4.8 Million from the provincial government.

At the same time, this project overlapped with two major Metro Vancouver projects – the Annacis Island Water Main and the Central Park Water Main, and although only one of these crosses Sixth Ave specifically, the overlap with the bigger West End project was such that timing needed to be coordinated to manage traffic flows, cross-cutting infrastructure, and some excavation works.

Finally, because of new federal requirements, these projects required archaeological assessment work and the development of new chance find protocols for the City. This is a new area of work for the City, but an important step in reconciliation and meeting our UNDRIP commitments. This requires (you guessed it) digging of various test holes to identify where the native soils and underlying non-organic sediments interface, and identification of potential hot spots for archaeologic findings.

Overall, this was about a year and a half of work, and there were many occasions to break pavement during these works: various trenches for sewer or water lines or relocation some existing infrastructure, along with installing access chambers, valves, flow monitors, and tie-ins and the occasional archeological test pit. At some spots poor quality soils needed to be removed and replaced with competent backfill to support the sewer works or roadway above. Over that year and a half, there is really little point in spending a lot of money re-grading the road base and repaving when there are so many more excavations coming. Those temporary backfills begin to pile up, and the road becomes the bumpy patchwork quilt that is Sixth Ave. With the bulk of digging work now completed, the pave is about to begin.

There are a couple of spots that will still need one more excavation, likely in the spring, for good technical reasons. So that means a couple of the intersections are not going to be re-paved this time around, but will see their permanent paving next year. But for most of Sixth Ave from 12th to 20th, a smoother ride is coming soon. Sorry it took so long.

This Happened

Posted on . by Patrick Johnstone. Leave a comment.

I might have mentioned that I have a Newsletter. Over there, I talk a bit more about day-to-day events in the City, a bit of politics, a bit of opinion. You need to sign up to get it, which you can do by hitting this link. They come out (almost) every Wednesday night. Here is a preview of a few things that I wrote about this week, sign up if you want to know more!

It’s Pride Week, so we raised a few flags, including this one at Douglas College.
New Westminster has a vibrant Recovery community, and their family event in Tipperary Park last week is a manifestation of that community focus.
What is Brewhalla? A lot of sun, a bit of beer, a bit of music, a lot of fun.
The ‘Bellies are still in it, against all odds!
Sometimes that exotic looking thing is just a Lancia past its prime. Peripherally related, I wrote a bit about the history of the Show & Shine, and where it went.

Pride 2024

Posted on . by Patrick Johnstone. 1 Comment.

It’s Pride week in New West.

For the 15h year, New West is marking its own Pride Week with a series of events, you can check out the entire calendar here, because it isn’t just about the Street Festival on the 17th.

As the week kicked off with the Flag Raising at Douglas College (the DSU and the College itself have been incredible supporters of New West Pride, and were there to help it grow from a small, one-day walk to a week-long-plus event!), and a flag Raising at Friendship gardens at City Hall, and a flag raising at the NWPD department on Columbia Street. These events have had be thinking a bit more recently about the evolution of the Pride movement (represented in part by the evolution of the Pride Flag), and how recent events, locally and globally, have changed the context of Pride.

I think some of us (yes, there is a cis-normative and euro-colonial bias here) have felt that the “fight” has been won, and Pride is more of a celebration of that than a protest against continued injustice. Right to have your marriage recognized, protection from state discrimination or persecution, the end of sodomy laws, these were big fights worth celebrating. But there are active movements right now here in North America to move backwards on these rights, and to prevent basic human rights and appropriate informed medical care to people who are not cis-conforming, with Trans and Intersex people facing the brunt of the intolerance and hate. The inclusive pride flag reminds us that until we all have rights, none of our rights are safe.

It shouldn’t take the persecution of a cis-gendered woman on an international stage, simply because she didn’t conform to a Eurocentric standard of beauty or sense of gender stereotypes for people to speak out about the harms faced every day by Trans and Intersex people, but here we are.

I am not trans, I am not intersex, but I try to be an ally, and often don’t know what allyship looks like, especially when I have this bully pulpit (that term being used in the strictly Rooseveltian sense). It is one thing to say we will not tolerate offensive of discriminatory speech in Council Chambers, and to take action to limit that even with public delegates, but what about the broader discourse in the City? There are a few vocal anti-Trans activists in New Westminster, and a small number of familiar local Social Media denizens who post discriminatory and often hateful rhetoric about members of the Trans and Intersex community. What is my duty as a leader in the community to call this out? To call these people out?

Should I stay out of it or be more vocal? Would I only be calling attention, adding to their audience or even legitimizing their “alternate view” by daylighting it, considering they are operating in a small bubble? Do I run the risk of being a “bully” (in the literal sense) by punching down at people who are, in turn punching down? Or am I being complicit in my silence when I see it and don’t denounce it every chance I get? What’s the balance?

I have taken to opening this conversation with folks I am chatting with at Pride events, especially to people I recognize from social media. Because I think I need to take some guidance from the community on this, and from the community impacted. What’s my role? Learning, listening and thinking about this is my work this year to exercise my allyship. I’m sure it won’t be a consensus on what my role is in combatting local on-line hate, but I’d love to hear from you if you have an opinion.