HALIFAX REGIONAL COUNCIL
AGENDA

Tuesday, September 09, 2025, 10:00 a.m.; Reconvene 6:00 p.m.

Council Chamber, 3rd Floor City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax

 

(Joint Meeting with Halifax and West Community Council for the purposes of Item 12.1)

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1.

CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

2.

SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - August 19, 2025

4.

APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS

5.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve recommendations in the following items: 15.1.3, 15.2.1, 15.2.2, 15.2.3, 15.2.4, 15.3.1, 15.3.2, 15.4.1.

6.

BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES

7.

CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

8.

MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION

None

9.

MOTIONS OF RESCISSION

None

10.

CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS

None

11.

NOTICES OF TABLED MATTERS

None

12.

PUBLIC HEARING

6:00 p.m.

12.1

Case MPSA-2024-00975: Amendments to the Regional Centre MPS and LUB and associated DA for 2764-2778 Robie Street, Halifax (PID 00005181) (Joint Meeting with Halifax and West Community Council)

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council adopt the proposed amendments to the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and Regional Centre Land Use By-law, as set out in Attachments A and B of the staff report dated July 29, 2025, to enable a 12-storey building in a tall mid-rise form at 2764-2778 Robie Street, Halifax (PID 00005181).

It is further recommended that the Halifax and West Community Council:

1. Provisionally approve the proposed development agreement for 2764-2778 Robie Street, Halifax, which shall be substantially of the same form as contained in Attachment C of the staff report dated July 29, 2025; and

2.Require the agreement be signed by the property owner within 120 days, or any extension thereof granted by Council on request of the property owner, from the date of final approval by Council and any other bodies as necessary, including applicable appeal periods, whichever is later, otherwise this approval will be void and obligations arising hereunder shall be at an end.

13.

CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

13.1

Correspondence

13.2

Petitions

14.

INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD - August 19, 2025

14.1

Councillor Austin - Tax Relief for Non-Profit Organizations: Market Leasing

15.

REPORTS

15.1

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

15.1.1

Second Reading By-law C-703, Respecting Municipal Cemeteries, and Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 20, Respecting Fees for Cemetery Services

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to adopt the proposed amendments to Administrative Order Number 20, Respecting Fees for Cemetery Services, and Cemetery By-law C-700, as outlined in Attachments C and E of the staff report dated August 5, 2025.

15.1.2

PLPROJ-2024-01075: Dartmouth Cove Water Lots

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council defer consideration of any amendments to the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and Regional Centre Land Use By-law concerning the Dartmouth Cove water lots until such time that the Downtown Dartmouth Waterfront Revitalization (DDWR) Project has returned to Regional Council for consideration. 

15.1.3

Drought Monitoring and Water Delivery*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to distribute drinking water to HRM residents who do not have well water available at a volume of 4L per day per person.

2. Approve an unbudgeted reserve withdrawal to be funded from the Risk Resilience Reserve (Q416) to a maximum of $200,000. 

3. Direct that any funding that is received from external resources, such as the provincial or federal government, be reallocated to the Risk Resilience Reserve (Q416).

15.1.4

Nomination to Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Board

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Suspend the rules of procedures under Schedule 6 of Administrative Order One, Executive Standing Committee Terms of Reference, requiring the Executive Standing Committee to review the nomination outlined in the staff report dated August 28, 2025 and make a recommendation to Regional Council; and

2. Nominate Councillor Austin as the Halifax Regional Municipality Representative to sit on the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Board for a two-year term.

15.2

COMMUNITY PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDING COMMITTEE

15.2.1

Park Steward Program*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop the Park Stewardship Program as outlined in the discussion section of the staff report dated June 10, 2025.

15.2.2

Lighting Strategy in Existing Parks*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to include the park pathway and court lighting as identified in the staff report dated May 29, 2025, in the 2026/27 capital plan, within current funding levels and with implementation occurring over 5 years, subject to the annual capital project prioritization process.

15.2.3

Proposal for an Air-supported Dome for Tennis Courts at Gorsebrook Field*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report responding to the request of Headstart Tennis to install an air-supported dome over the four planned tennis courts at Gorsebrook Park per the park plan, including recommendations for public consultation and engagement with this organization as a stakeholder when the existing courts are at end of life.

15.2.4

Ice Rink Availability, Allocation and Rate Fee Considerations*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report with:

1. An update on the Long-Term Arena Strategy and the approach to future facilities planning for arenas;

2. A review of the impacts of the single, flat rate as set by the HRM Rate Fee By-law for Spring and Summer and the dates for those seasons on Provincial Sport Organizations; and

3. Information on the implementation of the current ice allocation policy, challenges and opportunities for improvement.

15.3

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY STANDING COMMITTEE

15.3.1

Community Based Stewardship Program for Wilderness Parks*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report that assesses and makes recommendations on the development of a community-based stewardship program for wilderness parks, that includes the identification of possible staff resources for a coordinator and other financial implications including consultation with relevant community groups.

15.3.2

Municipal Letter for the St Barbara and Natural Forces’ Closed-Loop Hydro Renewable Energy Project*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to provide a staff report to consider a Municipal letter of support to the Nova Scotia’s Minister of Energy and the Premier of the Province of Nova Scotia for the St Barbara and Natural Forces’ Closed-Loop Hydro renewable energy project proposed for the site of the former Touquoy Gold Mine in Moose River, Nova Scotia.

15.4

EXECUTIVE STANDING COMMITTEE

15.4.1

First Reading Proposed By-law C-1103, Amendments to By-law C-1100, the Campaign Finance By-law*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council give First Reading to By-law C-1103, amending By-law C-1100, the Campaign Financing By-law, as set out in Attachment 2 of the staff report dated July 10, 2025.

15.5

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

15.5.1

Councillor Austin - Sunshine List

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report on potentially amending Administrative Order 2015-006-ADM Respecting Disclosure of Employee Salaries to increase the $100,000 disclosure threshold.

15.5.2

Deputy Mayor Mancini - Halifax Mooseheads Proposal

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to prepare staff report to return to Community Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee (CPED), including analysis of the costs and benefits to the municipality and a recommendation on the proposal from the Halifax Mooseheads.

15.5.3

Councillor Austin - Deed Transfer Tax

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council directs the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report on increasing the deed transfer tax rate in order to help fund HRM capital projects. The report should include a jurisdictional scan of deed transfer tax rate in other Canadian municipalities and how a tiered approach to deed transfer tax rates might mitigate the impact of any increase on more affordable, lower value properties.

15.5.4

Councillor Cuttell - Request for Exemption from District Capital Fund Policy – Jost Mission Daycare Society

This item was deleted from the agenda.

16.

MOTIONS

17.

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:

17.1

In Camera (In Private) Minutes - August 5 & 19, 2025

Motion: 
That the In Camera (In Private) minutes of August 5, 2025 and August 19, 2025 be approved as circulated.

17.2

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 report dated July 22, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated July 22, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

17.3

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to any subject, the discussion of which could, violate the confidentiality of information obtained from another body of government, or a public body. 

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated August 15, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated August 15, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

17.4

LEGAL ADVICE - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to litigation or potential litigation in regard to an identifiable person and information whose disclosure could reasonably be expected to prejudice the interests of the Municipality.

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated August 28, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated August 28, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

17.5

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 report dated July 8, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated July 8, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

17.6

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 report dated September 9, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated September 9, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

18.

ADDED ITEMS

19.

NOTICES OF MOTION

20.

ADJOURNMENT

21.

INFORMATION ITEMS

21.1

Memorandum from the Chair of the Audit and Finance Standing Committee dated August 20, 2025 re: Investment Activities – Quarter ending March 31, 2025

21.2

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated July 23, 2025 re: Strong Mayor Powers

21.3

Memorandum from the Municipal Clerk dated September 2, 2025 re: Requests for Presentation to Council - Shalom Mandaville

21.4

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated May 26, 2025 re: Sulphide-bearing Material Management Issues and Alternatives – Final Report

22.

IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) INFORMATION ITEMS

22.1

Private and Confidential In Camera (In Private) Information Report re: Personnel Matter

22.2

Private and Confidential In Camera (In Private) Information Report re: Personnel Matter