HALIFAX REGIONAL COUNCIL
AGENDA

Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 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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PLEASE NOTE:  All Regional Council meetings will be audio and/or video recorded for the purpose of creating a record of the proceedings.  

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1.

CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

2.

SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - October 1 and November 5, 2024

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.

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 - October 1, 2024

14.1

Integrated Tourism Master Plan 2030

15.

REPORTS

15.1

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

15.1.1

2025 Halifax Regional Council Meeting Schedule

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Suspend the rules of procedure under Schedule 6, the Executive Standing Committee Terms of Reference, of Administrative Order One, the Procedures of the Council Administrative Order.

2. Adopt the proposed 2025 Regional Council meeting schedule as outlined in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated September 20, 2024.

15.1.2

2025/26 Business Planning & Budget Schedule*

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council approve the 2025/26 Business Planning and Budget Schedule as outlined in Table 1 of the staff report dated November 12, 2024.

15.1.3

2024 Councillor Appointments to Boards, Committees and Commissions

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Suspend the rules of procedures in Administrative Order One, the Procedures of the Council Administrative Order, for the Standing Committees to make recommendations or nominations to Regional Council respecting the appointments to various Boards, Committees and Commissions

a. by the Executive Standing Committee under section 4 of Schedule 6 – Executive Standing Committee Term of Reference, and

b. by the remaining Standing Committees, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated November 8, 2024;

2. Appoint the Members of Council to Boards, Committees and Commissions for a term to November 2026, as outlined in Attachment 2 of the staff report dated November 8, 2024;

3. Appoint the Members of Council, who are the successful candidates after receiving the most votes after a vote by secret ballot, to the various Boards, Committees and Commissions as outlined in Attachment 3 of the staff report dated November 8, 2024, for the following terms:

a. a term to November 2026, except for two appointments to Halifax Water Board of Commissioners, and

b. for two Members of Council appointed to the Halifax Water Board of Commissioners, for terms to November 2027.

15.1.4

Deferral of Deputy Mayor Appointment

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Suspend the rule of procedure in Administrative Order One, the Procedures of the  Council Administrative Order, requiring the election of a Deputy Minister in November annually;

2. Extend the term of Councillor Cathy Deagle Gammon as Deputy Mayor until the later of December10, 2024, or a new Deputy Mayor is elected by Regional Council; and

3. Defer the appointment of the Deputy Mayor to the December 10, 2024, meeting of Regional Council.

15.2

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

15.2.1

Councillor Austin – Affordable Housing Tax Relief

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report on increasing HRM’s tax relief for non-profits that provide affordable housing beyond the 50% grant that HRM current provides to as much as 100%.

15.2.2

Councillor Young – Beaver Bank Cross Road Traffic Light Installation

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report on the potential of a traffic light at the Beaver Bank Cross Road and Sackville Drive to alleviate traffic congestion and allow for positive traffic flow in the area that will also coordinate with the Millwood Drive traffic light.

15.2.3

Councillor Young – Hammonds Plains Road Traffic Congestion

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report on the potential to widen Hammond Plains Road where applicable from Westwood Drive to the Bedford Highway to include a reversible third lane, multi-use pathway, designated park and rides, express transit buses direct to highway non-stop to downtown Halifax.

15.2.4

Councillor Young – Halifax Transit to consider a connector bus from Lucasville Road to Timber Trails to the Sackville Terminal

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report and presentation to Halifax Transit to consider a connector bus from Lucasville Road to Timber Trails Trailer Park to the Sackville Terminal. The report should include data on the vehicle daily traffic numbers- with peak period during the day- Monday to Friday and Saturday to Sunday on the Lucasville Road, potential transit stops, potential cross walk locations, potential size of the community transit terminal at the Timber Trails Trailer Park, potential size of the community transit terminal (park and ride) at the Timber Trails Trailer Park, potential hourly schedule times for the connector bus on this proposed transit route, a future community engagement for this potential connector bus route, any potential land acquisition, any potential infrastructure planning prior to project implementation which would include the residents of Lucasville.

15.2.5

Councillor Young – Avebury Court Middle Sackville - Designated Greenspace

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report on if a Designated Greenspace exist for a section of Avebury Court in Middle Sackville.

15.2.6

Councillor Young – Lakeview Avenue Sidewalk Plans

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to follow up if a staff report was previously done on the Lakeview Avenue Sidewalk Plans. If so, what is the status of those plans. If not, please prepare a staff report on the potential for sidewalks on Lakeview Avenue.

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

LEGAL MATTER - 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 October 29, 2024; and 

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated October 29, 2024 be maintained private and confidential. 

17.2

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 November 13, 2024; and 

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated November 13, 2024 be maintained private and confidential. 

18.

ADDED ITEMS

19.

NOTICES OF MOTION

20.

ADJOURNMENT

21.

INFORMATION ITEMS

21.1

Proclamation - Building Futures Day - November 14, 2024

21.2

Proclamation - Economic Abuse Awareness Day - November 26, 2024

21.3

Memorandum from the Municipal Clerk dated November 12, 2024 re: Requests for Presentation to Council - None

21.4

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated September 23, 2024 re: Legislative Update – 2024 Fall Sitting