HALIFAX REGIONAL COUNCIL
AGENDA

Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 10:00 a.m.; Reconvene 6:00 p.m. If Required

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 - May 13, 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, 15.2.1, 15.2.2, 15.2.3, 15.2.4.

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.

HERITAGE HEARING

1:00 p.m.

12.1

HRTG-2024-00694: Request to include 6 to 16 and 20 Ropewalk Lane, Dartmouth in the Registry of Heritage Properties for the Halifax Regional Municipality

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the request to include 6 to 16 Ropewalk Lane, in the Registry of Heritage Property for the Halifax Regional Municipality, as shown on Map 1 of the staff report dated February 19, 2025, as a municipal heritage property under the Heritage Property Act.

13.

CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

13.1

Correspondence

13.1.1

Fly-past Request - REMAX NOVA IWK Classic Golf Tournament*

Motion: 
That the Halifax Regional Municipality grant permission of a flyby by Canadian Armed Forces aircraft as low as 500 feet above the highest obstacles, for the planned REMAX NOVA IWK Classic Golf Tournament being held at Hartlen Point Golf Club for transit, practice and shows on June 16, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m.

13.2

Petitions

14.

INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD

None

15.

REPORTS

15.1

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

15.1.1

2025-26 Community Area Rate Amendment and Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 2018-003-ADM, Respecting Private Road Maintenance

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Amend the commercial area rate tax for Sackville Heights Community & Cultural Centre set by Halifax Regional Council on April 8, 2025 from 0.000 to 0.007 per hundred dollars of taxable assessment.

2. Adopt the amendments to Administrative Order 2018-003-ADM, the Private Road Maintenance Cost Recovery Administrative Order, as set out in Appendix A to the staff report dated April 25, 2025.

15.1.2

Update on Regulation of Short-Term Rentals

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council: 

1. Maintain the current Development Permit requirements for Short-Term Rentals;

2. Maintain the current regulatory approach to Short-Term Rentals of secondary units; and

3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop a proactive enforcement program for Short-Term Rentals as outlined in the Discussion section of the staff report dated April 3, 2025.

15.2

AUDIT AND FINANCE STANDING COMMITTEE

15.2.1

2025/26 Capital Budget Adjustments*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve:

1. The increase to four 2025/26 capital project budgets, as detailed in the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated April 14, 2025, for new contribution agreements awarded after budget approval with no net increase from HRM funding; 

2. The transfer of funding between approved 2025/26 capital project budgets, as detailed in the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated April 14, 2025.

3. The budget increase to the HRFE - Sheet Harbour Fire Station project CB210018 and PR - Sheet Harbour Rec Centre (ESLC) project CB000080 to be funded by debt financing, as detailed in the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated April 14, 2025.

4. The amendment to the 2025/26 Multi-Year Capital Projects schedule, as per Attachment 1 to the staff report dated April 14, 2025.

15.2.2

One-time Withdrawal from the Options Reserve Q421 for Year 10 (2025/26) Funding for the Halifax Mobile Food Market*

Motion: 
Halifax Regional Council approve a one-time, unbudgeted withdrawal from the Options Reserve Q421 to fund $175,700.00 for Year 10 (2025/26) of the Mobile Food Market (MFM), as approved by Halifax Regional Council on March 25, 2025 and outlined in the attached staff report dated May 4, 2025. 

15.2.3

Increase to Project No. CB210020 Halifax Common Pool Recon and Award RFP 2024-0662 Halifax Common Playground*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Approve an unbudgeted transfer of $200,000 (net HST included) from CP200001 Park Recapitalization to CB210020 PR - Halifax Common Pool Recon. and,

2. Award RFP 2024-0662, Halifax Commons Playground Request for Proposals (RFP), to the highest scoring proponent, Turf Masters Landscaping Ltd., for $1,042,339 (net HST included) with funding from CB210020 PR Halifax Common Pool Recon., as outlined in the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated March 14, 2025.

15.2.4

Halifax Transit Dual-Fuel (Diesel/Hydrogen) Bus Demonstration*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Approve the transfer of funds and budget increase between accounts as outlined in the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated April 22, 2025 and as follows:

a. Approve the transfer of $75,766 (net HST included) from Project Account CV210011 - Electric Bus Procurement to CV210014 - Transit Strategies/Studies; and,

b. Approve an increase to the gross budget of project CV210014, with no impact to HRM’s net budget of $443,266 (net HST included) to support the dual-fuel (hydrogen/diesel) bus demonstration project.

15.3

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

15.3.1

Councillor Hartling - FireSmart Vegetative Debris Management

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to develop a staff report exploring options to support vegetative yard waste and debris disposal pursuant HRM sanctioned community FireSmart events, and include a recommended option, with costing, for consideration.

15.3.2

Councillor Hartling - Municipal Litter Strategy

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to prepare a staff report outlining a comprehensive litter strategy. The strategy should be informed by a regional scan of successful anti-litter campaigns, relevant bylaws and maximum associated fines, with a specific focus on litter and debris from commercial, industrial, and construction sources. The report should explore:

• Fresh marketing, education material, and media campaigns related to the negative impacts of littering and related fines,

•  A proactive anti-litter approach targeting retail, construction and commercial properties, 

• Enhanced and sustained bylaw enforcement at landfills and Construction and Demolition (C&D) facilities, including the monitoring and fining of haulers transporting unsecured garbage, and

• Ongoing litter pickups in coordination with facilities that accumulate the most litter.

16.

MOTIONS

16.1

Councillor Cleary

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report that would codify a process for responding to Audits from the Auditor General for Halifax Regional Municipality, which would include additions or amendments to appropriate Administrative Order(s) to ensure an Action Plan is provided by staff within three (3) months of the Audit being presented to the Audit and Finance Standing Committee, and a Status Update provided on staff's Action Plan within 12 months of the Audit presentation.

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 - May 13, 2025

Motion: 
That the In Camera (In Private) minutes of May 13, 2025 be approved as circulated.

17.2

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to contract negotiations and legal advice. 

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council convene to in camera (in private) to discuss the matter.

17.3

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 May 22, 2025; and

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

17.4

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

17.5

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 May 26, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated May 26, 2025 be maintained private and confidential.

18.

ADDED ITEMS

18.1

Councillor Steele – New Timberlea School

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report, relative to the new school being planned on Maple Grove Avenue and Amalfi Way in Timberlea, that identifies:

a) opportunities and recommendations for municipal recreation enhancements; and

b) infrastructure such as sidewalks that may be necessary to support the school, and prospective funding and timing from the province and/or municipality for the installation of such services.

18.2

Appointment of Acting Deputy Mayor

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council appoint Councillor Becky Kent as Acting Deputy Mayor from Wednesday May 28, 2025 until Monday June 2, 2025. 

19.

NOTICES OF MOTION

20.

ADJOURNMENT

21.

INFORMATION ITEMS

21.1

Proclamation - Access Awareness Week - May 25 - 31, 2025

21.2

Proclamation - Brain Injury Awareness Month - June 2025

21.3

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated May 8, 2025 re: Award of Contracts Quarterly Report January 2025 to March 2025

21.4

Memorandum from the Municipal Clerk dated May 20, 2025 re: Requests for Presentation to Council - None 

21.5

Proclamation - Halifax Celtic Cultural Festival - May 21-25, 2025

21.6

Memorandum from the Chair of the Audit and Finance Standing Committee dated May 21, 2025 re: Investment Activities – Quarter ending December 31, 2024

21.7

Memorandum from the Chair of the Board of Police Commissioners dated May 21, 2025 re: Board of Police Commissioners 2024-2025 Annual Report and Work Plan

22.

IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) INFORMATION ITEMS

None