HALIFAX REGIONAL COUNCIL
AGENDA

Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 10:00 a.m.; Reconvene 6:00 p.m.

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

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1.

CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

1.1

SPECIAL PRESENTATION - POET LAUREATE AND YOUTH POET LAUREATE - 1:00 P.M.

2.

SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - April 8, 2025 Budget Committee and April 8, 2025 Regional Council

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: 15.1.2, 15.1.3, 15.1.5, 15.1.6

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 21402 - Update to the Development Controls along the Sackville and Little Sackville River Floodplains

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the proposed amendments to the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy as set out in Attachment A of the staff report dated December 23, 2024; and

2. Adopt the proposed amendments to the Secondary Municipal Planning Strategies and Land Use By-laws for Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains, and Upper Sackville, Bedford, Sackville and Sackville Drive as set out in Attachments B1 to B4 and Attachments C1 to C4 of the staff report dated December 23, 2024.

13.

CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

13.1

Correspondence

13.2

Petitions

13.3

Presentations

13.3.1

Downtown Halifax Business Commission's Vision 2030

14.

INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD

None

15.

REPORTS

15.1

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

15.1.1

Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 17, Respecting Remuneration for Members of Council

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Reaffirm the Employment Expense Reimbursement Policy, as set out in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated January 24, 2025, and;

2. Adopt the amendments to Administrative Order 17, the Council Member Remuneration Administrative Order, as set out in Attachment 2, as revised, of the staff report dated January 24, 2025.

15.1.2

Proactive Vegetation Management Program*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to:

1. Develop an inspection program for Active Transportation (AT) connections not currently within scope of Public Works Right-of-Way inspection program, including support of the Asset Management Internal Maintenance Responsibility project; and

2. Continue development of the formal, proactive maintenance program for non-turf vegetation adjacent to trails on Parkland.

15.1.3

2025-26 Events East Business Plan – Halifax Convention Centre*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the 2025-26 Events East Business Plan for the Halifax Convention Centre Corporation, submitted to the Municipality on March 31, 2025, as set out in Attachment 2 of the March 31, 2025 staff report.

15.1.4

2026-2030 Strategic Planning Process

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council adopt the strategic planning process as set out in the discussion section of the staff report dated March 14, 2025 for the development of the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.

15.1.5

Municipal Support for Community Led Events*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Approve the criteria, set forth in the Discussion section of the staff report dated March 31, 2025, that an event must meet in order for the event to be considered in the Annual Calendar of Municipally Delivered Events; and

2. Approve the Annual Calendar of Municipally Delivered Events as set forth in Table 2 in the Discussion section of the staff report dated March 31, 2025.

15.1.6

Dismantling Racism and Hate Update*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the draft outline attached to the staff report dated March 14, 2025 as the framework to guide the development of a Dismantling Racism and Hate Plan and direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to task the Office of Diversity & Inclusion/African Nova Scotian Affairs Integration Office (ANSAIO) with leading the development of the plan, in collaboration with internal business units and external community partners

15.2

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

15.2.1

Councillor Austin - Leave of Absence Request for Environment and Sustainability Standing Committee

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council, pursuant to the Halifax Regional Municipal Charter section 22 (1), grant Councillor Austin a leave of absence in respect to meetings of the Environment and Sustainability Standing Committee until May 2, 2025 due to the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference.

15.2.2

Councillor Deagle Gammon - Regional Council Endorsement for Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Board of Directors

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 nominations and make recommendations to Regional Council; 

2. Endorse Councillor Deagle Gammon to stand for election to the Federation of Canadian Municipality’s Board of Directors for a term from June 2025 to June 2027; and 

3. Assumes all costs associated with attending FCM’s Board of Directors meetings.

15.2.3

Councillor White - Downtown Halifax Vision 2030

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report that includes an assessment of the Halifax Downtown Business Commission’s Downtown Halifax Vision 2030 plan to determine how it aligns with current Municipal priorities. The staff report should also include an implementation plan along with an accountability structure to help guide the completion of the Municipal components of the plan. 

15.2.4

Councillor Morse – Sustainable Funding and HRM’s Reserves

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to return to Council in June 2025 with a staff report with options for managing HRM’s reserves for optimal financial sustainability, taking into account the increased funding pressures being experienced by the Municipality.

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 - April 8, 2025

Motion:
That the In Camera (In Private) minutes of April 8, 2025 be approved as circulated.

17.2

LEGAL ADVICE - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to legal advice eligible for solicitor-client privilege.
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated April 11, 2025; and 

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated April 11, 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 April 16, 2025; and 

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated April 16, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

17.4

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

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 convene to in camera (in private) to discuss the matter. 

18.

ADDED ITEMS

19.

NOTICES OF MOTION

20.

ADJOURNMENT

21.

INFORMATION ITEMS

21.1

Proclamation - GBS and CIDP Awareness Month - May 2025

21.2

Memorandum from the Chair of Community Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee dated April 17, 2025 re: Integrated Tourism Master Plan 2023 Status Update

21.3

Memorandum from the Municipal Clerk dated April 23, 2025 re: Requests for Presentation to Council - Christopher Quigley, Rubi Ubhi

21.4

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated March 26, 2025 re: Legislative Update – 2025 Spring Sitting

21.5

Proclamation - Emergency Preparedness Week - May 4 - 10, 2025

22.

IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) INFORMATION ITEMS

22.1

Private and Confidential In Camera (In Private) Information Report re: Public Security