HALIFAX REGIONAL COUNCIL
AGENDA

Tuesday, March 18, 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

2.

SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - February 25, 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: 13.1.1, 13.1.2, 15.1.2, 15.1.5, 15.2.1, 15.3.1, 15.4.1, 16.1.

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.

HEARINGS

12.1

HERITAGE HEARING

1:00 p.m.

12.1.1

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 approve the request to include 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.

12.2

PUBLIC HEARING

6:00 p.m.

12.2.1

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

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt 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.

2. Adopt the proposed amendments to Administrative Order 48, the Community Council Administrative Order, as set out in Attachment 4 of the staff report dated November 29, 2024.

13.

CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

13.1

Correspondence

13.1.1

Fly-past Request – Battle of the Atlantic Ceremony*

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council grant permission for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to fly RCAF assets in formation over Point Pleasant Park as per the enclosed diagram in the letter dated March 5, 2025 (routed from sea and turning inland to fly directly over the memorial) at an altitude of 500 feet above the highest obstacles at 10:58 a.m. on May 4, 2025, as part of the Battle of the Atlantic ceremony.

13.1.2

Fly-past Request – Highway of Heroes Tribute*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council grant permission for the Canadian Armed Forces to fly an aircraft at a height of 500 feet above the highest obstacle at approximately 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. for transit, practice, and shows on August 16, 2025, as part of the Highway of Heroes Tribute being held at 12 Wing Shearwater.

13.2

Petitions

13.3

Presentations

13.3.1

Halifax Water Five-year Business Strategy and 2025/26 Annual Business Plan

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council endorse Halifax Water’s Five-year Business Strategy as described in Appendix A of the staff report dated March 10, 2025 and 2025/26 Annual Business Plan as described in Appendix B of the staff report dated March 10, 2025. 

14.

INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD - February 11, 2025

14.1

Councillor Purdy - Update on the Moving Forward Together Plan

14.2

Councillor Morse - Housing Accelerator Fund: Annual Update

14.3

Councillor Morse - Implementation Plan for 10 National Disaster Mitigation Program Projects

15.

REPORTS

15.1

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

15.1.1

Proposed Administrative Order 2025-001-ADM, Respecting Grants for Second Units

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council: 

1. Adopt Administrative Order Number 2025-001-ADM, the Second Unit Incentive Program Administrative Order, attached to the staff report dated February 18, 2025 as Attachment 1; and

2. Approve the allocation of $1,500,000 of Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) funding from Cost Centre C350 for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support grants issued under the Second Unit Incentive Program.

15.1.2

Facility Operating Agreement – Wallace Lucas Community Centre*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve a Facility Operating Agreement with the Wallace Lucas Community Centre Society (WLCCS) for the Wallace Lucas Community Centre (WLCC) facility at 596 Lucasville Road, substantially in the same form as set out in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated January 16, 2025 and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to execute the Facility Operating Agreement.

15.1.3

Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 29, Respecting HRM Civic Addressing Policies - Case CA142 - Street Naming and Renaming from October 2 - December 31, 2024

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council adopt the proposed amendments to Administrative Order 29, Respecting Civic Addressing Policies as set out in Attachment A of the staff report dated January 8, 2025 to approve:

1. The naming of 7 private roads;

2. The naming of 3 public streets; and

3. The renaming of a portion of Stanfield Ave, Dartmouth; and

4. Minor amendments to Schedule A.

15.1.4

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

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Give First Reading to consider:

a) Approval of the proposed amendment to the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy as set out in Attachment A of the staff report dated December 23, 2024;

b) Approval of 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;

and schedule a public hearing.

15.1.5

Appointment of Heritage Officer - 2025*

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council end Seamus McGreal’s appointment as Heritage Officer, and appoint Jesse Morton as the Heritage Officer pursuant to Section 19G(1) of the Heritage Property Act, and that this appointment be effective for the duration of their current conditions of employment with the Halifax Regional Municipality.

15.2

AUDIT AND FINANCE STANDING COMMITTEE

15.2.1

2024/2025 Write Off of Uncollectible Accounts*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve:

a) The real property tax accounts in the amount of $20,759.93 comprised of $17,363.85 principal and $3,396.08 interest as summarized in Schedule 1 of the staff report dated January 10, 2025 be formally written out of the books of account;

b) The general revenue accounts in the amount of $16,517.67 comprised of $13,298.31 principal and $3,219.36 interest as summarized in Schedule 1 of the staff report dated January 10, 2024 be formally written out of the books of account; and

c) The recreation accounts in the amount of $2,789.40 comprised of $2,789.40 principal and $0.00 interest as summarized in Schedule 1 of the staff report dated January 10, 2024 be formally written out of the books of account.

15.3

BUDGET COMMITTEE

15.3.1

Request for Letter – Drop-In Centre*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Mayor to write a letter to the Minister to increase funding and an additional drop-in centre. 

15.4

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDING COMMITTEE

15.4.1

Halifax Rugby Football Club*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council decline the proposed Halifax Rugby Football Club (HRFC) clubhouse construction proposal and direct to staff to engage the HRFC, and other stakeholders, on additional project elements that could be considered when a washroom capital project advances.

15.5

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

15.5.1

Councillor Purdy - Update Animal By-law A-700

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report to determine a reasonable increase to the fine amount for feeding wildlife, in particular deer.

16.

MOTIONS

16.1

In Camera (In Private) Ratification from Regional Council February 25, 2025 – 17.6 PERSONNEL MATTER*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated February 24, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated February 24, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

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 - February 11 & 25, 2025

Motion:
That the In Camera (In Private) minutes of February 11, 2025 and February 25, 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 24, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated February 24, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

17.3

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to contract negotiations and legal advice.

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

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

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated March 11, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

17.4

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 March 17, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated March 17, 2025 be maintained private and confidential.

18.

ADDED ITEMS

19.

NOTICES OF MOTION

20.

ADJOURNMENT

21.

INFORMATION ITEMS

21.1

Proclamation - Ghanaian Heritage Week - March 6-9, 2025

21.2

Proclamation - Saint Patrick's Day Celebration - March 14-17, 2025

21.3

Memorandum from the Chair of the Audit and Finance Standing Committee dated February 18, 2025 re: Third Quarter 2024/25 Financial Report

21.4

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated February 18, 2025 re: Options for Eliminating or Limiting US Goods and Services in HRM Supply Chain

21.5

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated December 5, 2024 re: Collaboration with Universities to Consider Heritage Buildings on Campuses-Information Report for Case H00501

21.6

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated February 9, 2025 re: Mid-term Update on Implementation of the JustFOOD Action Plan

21.7

Memorandum from the Municipal Clerk dated March 10, 2025 re: Requests for Presentation to Council - None

22.

IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) INFORMATION ITEMS

22.1

Private and Confidential In Camera (In Private) Information Report re: Legal Advice

22.2

Private and Confidential In Camera (In Private) Information Report re: Intergovernmental Relations

22.3

Private and Confidential In Camera (In Private) Information Report re: Legal Advice