HALIFAX REGIONAL COUNCIL
AGENDA

Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 10:00 a.m.; Reconvene 6:00 p.m. If Required

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

REVISED – February 10, 2025 - 12:45 p.m.

---

1.

CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

2.

SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 28, 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: 15.1.1, 15.1.2, 15.2.1.

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

None

13.

CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

13.1

Correspondence

13.2

Petitions

14.

INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD - January 28, 2025

14.1

Councillor Austin - HRM One Membership for Parks and Recreation Facilities

15.

REPORTS

15.1

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

15.1.1

Lake District Recreation Association – Contribution Agreement*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to:

1. Negotiate a contribution agreement with the Lake District Recreation Association for $100,000 per year for 5 years, with terms and conditions similar to those set forth in the staff report dated January 24, 2025, consistent with the Municipality’s standard contribution agreement; and

2. Execute the above mentioned agreement following approval of the funding in the Park & Recreation 2025/26 budget.

15.1.2

Community Mediation Pilot*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Direct funding in the amount of $100,000 for the creation and implementation of a Community Mediation pilot program, as identified in the financial implications section of the staff report dated January 17, 2025, to be added as an option over budget on the budget adjustment list (BAL) for Budget Committee to consider in the 2025/26 Operating Budget.

2. Subject to the approval of the 2025/2026 Operating Budget, direct the Chief Administrative Officer to provide a contribution of $100,000 to the United Way of Halifax to create and implement a Community Mediation pilot program for the fiscal year 2025/2026; and 

3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer, or their designate, to negotiate and execute a Contribution Agreement with the United Way of Halifax which is to include the key terms and conditions identified in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated January 17, 2025.

15.1.3

2025-2028 Accessibility Strategy

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council: 

1. Repeal the Accessibility Strategy and adopt the revised 2025-2028 Accessibility Strategy as set out in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated January 9, 2025, subject to budgetary availability and approval;

2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to include the recommendations contained in the Accessibility Strategy in the proposed 25/26 budget and as part of the budget and business planning process in each year required as per the strategy; and

3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to provide annual progress reports on the implementation of the Accessibility Strategy to Halifax Regional Council.

15.1.4

Urgent Changes to Planning Documents for Housing: Additional Sites & Housekeeping Amendments (2024-01198)

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council give First Reading to consider approval of the proposed amendments to the applicable secondary municipal planning strategies and land use by-laws, as set out in Attachments 2.02 to 2.18 of the staff report dated November 29, 2024, and schedule a public hearing.

15.1.5

Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 10, Respecting Partial Tax Exemption for Residential Taxation

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council adopt the amendments to Administrative Order 10, the Respecting Partial Tax Exemption Administrative Order, as set out in Attachment 3 of the staff report dated October 28, 2024.

15.2

HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

15.2.1

HRTG-2024-00773: Request to include 8 Sullivan’s Hill, Bedford in the Registry of Heritage Properties for the Halifax Regional Municipality*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council set a date for a heritage hearing to consider the inclusion of 8 Sullivan’s Hill, Bedford, in the Registry of Heritage Property for the Halifax Regional Municipality, as shown on Map 1 of the staff report dated December 16, 2024, as a municipal heritage property under the Heritage Property Act.

15.3

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

15.3.1

Councillor White - Removal of X as a Social Media Platform for HRM

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to write a staff report to determine the feasibility of removing X as a social media platform used by the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) to distribute information to residents. The staff report should provide a timeline of when HRM will be off the social media platform X and provide alternate options to distribute information to residents including looking at other social media platforms that we currently do not use.

15.3.2

Councillor Hinch - Update Hours for Free Transit Service for Seniors

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report that evaluates the financial and operational feasibility of expanding the hours for the free transit for seniors’ program currently offered by Halifax Transit on Tuesdays to start earlier in the morning and end later in the day.

16.

MOTIONS

16.1

Councillor Purdy

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to direct staff, as part of the current review of the Integrated Mobility Plan, to undertake a strategic review of how the inverted pyramid of travel modes (Complete Streets Hierarchy, IMP Page 56) is presented and used to guide the updated plan such that it more appropriately addresses true integration of all travel modes and how different areas (urban, suburban and rural) will require different approaches in applying the plan based on the differing geographic and demographic contexts.

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 - January 14, 2025

Motion:
That the In Camera (In Private) minutes of January 14, 2025 be approved as circulated.

17.2

PERSONNEL MATTER - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to an identifiable individual or group.

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated February 4, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated February 4, 2025, be maintained private and confidential. 

17.3

PERSONNEL MATTER - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to an identifiable individual or group.

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated February 4, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated February 4, 2025, be maintained private and confidential. 

17.4

LABOUR RELATIONS - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to reports, advice and recommendations, instruction or direction to officers and employees of the Municipality concerning labour relations and employee negotiations arising out of the contract or contract negotiations with one of the Municipalities unions.

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated January 31, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated January 31, 2025, be maintained private and confidential. 

17.5

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 January 31, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated January 31, 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 January 21, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated January 21, 2025, be maintained private and confidential. 

17.7

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

A matter pertaining to contract negotiations and legal advice. 

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 – Wear Red Canada Day - February 13, 2025

21.2

Memorandum from the Chair of the Community Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee dated January 16, 2025 re: Halifax International Airport Authority Update

21.3

Memorandum from the Municipal Clerk dated February 3, 2025 re: Requests for Presentation to Council - None

21.4

Proclamation - Canadian School Counselling Week - February 3-7, 2025

21.5

Proclamation - Kin Canada Week - February 16-22, 2025

21.6

Memorandum from the Chair of the Board of Police Commissioners dated February 3, 2025 re: Update on the HRM response to the Halifax Independent Civilian Review into August 18, 2021, Encampment Evictions

21.7

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated January 16, 2025 re: Update on the Moving Forward Together Plan

21.8

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated January 13, 2025 re: Annual Public Safety Strategy Report 2024

21.9

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated January 22, 2025 re: Award of Contracts – Quarterly Report October 2024 to December 2024

21.10

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated January 22, 2025 re: Planning & Development Key Performance Indicators

21.11

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated January 3, 2025 re: Housing Accelerator Fund: Annual Update

21.12

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated January 28, 2025 re: Implementation Plan for 10 National Disaster Mitigation Program Projects

22.

IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) INFORMATION ITEMS

None