HALIFAX REGIONAL COUNCIL
AGENDA

Tuesday, August 05, 2025, 10:00 a.m.; Reconvene 6:00 p.m.; Reconvene If Required August 7, 2025 10:00 a.m.

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

 

(Joint Meeting with Halifax and West Community Council for the purposes of Item 15.1.4)

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1.

CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

2.

SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - July 8, 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, 13.1.3, 15.1.3, 15.3.1.

6.

BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES

7.

CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

8.

MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION

None

9.

MOTIONS OF RESCISSION - July 8, 2025

9.1

Morris Street Bike Lane Update

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. rescind the July 8, 2025 motion with respect to Item 15.1.6 (as set forth in the Origin section of the staff report dated July 25, 2025);  

2. direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to initiate additional functional planning and engagement for alternative cycling connections for the East Connection on Morris Street between University Avenue and Lower Water Street, as described in the July 8th Council report, and return to Regional Council with a recommendation on the preferred alternative cycling connection;

3. request the Mayor respond to the Premier’s July 16, 2025 letter advising of Regional Council’s direction to rescind the July 8th decision and that the Municipality will explore alternative cycling connections that do not require conversion of Morris Street to one-way traffic; and,

4. direct the CAO to carry out additional planning, design reassessment, and targeted stakeholder engagement for the proposed University Avenue portion of the Peninsula South Complete Streets project, prior to the commencement of preliminary and detailed design work, and provide a recommendation to Council as part of the report reviewing alternative network solutions and cost savings opportunities for the AAA bike network that was requested by Regional Council on June 24th, 2025.

10.

CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS - July 8, 2025

10.1

Councillor Hartling - Access-A-Bus Access in Communities that Currently Lack Transportation Options

This item was deleted from the agenda.

11.

NOTICES OF TABLED MATTERS

None

12.

PUBLIC HEARING

6:00 p.m.

12.1

By-law N-200, Respecting Noise - Exemption Application - Halifax Salsa & Bachata Festival

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the Halifax Salsa & Bachata Festival’s application for an exemption from the provisions of the Noise-By-law pursuant to the contents of the staff report dated June 23, 2025.

13.

CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

13.1

Correspondence

13.1.1

Fly-past Request - Remembrance Day Porters Lake Cenotaph Ceremony*

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 Remembrance Day Cenotaph Ceremony being held at Porters Lake Cenotaph for transit, practice, and shows on November 11, 2025.

13.1.2

Fly-past Request - Royal Canadian Navy Memorial Ceremony*

Motion: 
That the Halifax Regional Municipality grant permission to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to fly assets in formation over Point Pleasant Park, as per the enclosed diagram in the letter dated July 22, 2025, routed from sea and turning inland to fly directly over the memorial, at a height of 500 feet above the highest obstacles on August 8, 2025, at 9:15 a.m.

13.1.3

Fly-past Request - 35th anniversary of Operation Friction: Persian Gulf War*

Motion: 
That the Halifax Regional Municipality grant permission for a flyby by Canadian Armed Forces aircraft as low as 500 feet above the highest obstacles, for the planned signature national commemorative events marking the 35th anniversary of Operation Friction: Persian Gulf War being held at HMC Dockyard/HMCS SCOTIAN, Canadian Forces Base Halifax for transit, practice and shows on February 27 and 28, 2026.

13.2

Petitions

13.3

Presentations

13.3.1

Point in Time Count

14.

INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD - July 8, 2025

14.1

Councillor Young - Update on Implementation of the HRM Auditor General’s Recommendations

15.

REPORTS

15.1

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

15.1.1

Second Reading Proposed By-law S-317, Respecting Streets, Repeal of Ordinance 180, Amendment to By-law R-100, and Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 15, Respecting License, Permit and Processing Fees

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt By-law S-317, amending By-law S-300, the Streets By-law; repealing Ordinance 180, the Streets Ordinance of the City of Halifax; and amending By-law R-100, the By-Law and Ordinance Repeal By-law, as set out in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated May 16, 2025; and

2. Adopt the amendments to Administrative Order Number 15, the License, Permits and Processing Fees Administrative Order, as set out in Attachment 2, as set out in Attachment 2 of the staff report dated May 16, 2025.

15.1.2

2026-2030 Strategic Plan

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan and direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop Action Plans and Budget and Business Plans in alignment with this Strategic Plan for a period of four fiscal years commencing 2026/27.

15.1.3

Award - Request for Proposal 2025-0230 – Winter Maintenance of Streets and Sidewalks WSZ2 – Sackville, Beaver Bank, Fall River, Windsor Junction, and Surrounding Areas*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council award Request for Proposal (RFP) 2025-0230, Winter Maintenance of Streets and Sidewalks WSZ2 – Sackville, Beaver Bank, Fall River, Windsor Junction, and Surrounding Areas, to Dexter Construction Company Ltd for a value of $33,390,448.72 (net HST included) for four (4) years, with a potential estimated total value of $67,732,716.08 with funding from Operating Cost Centre R885 (PB Contracts Street & Sidewalks), as outlined in the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated June 25, 2025 and, delegate authority to the Executive Director of Public Works to exercise any contractually defined options, including option years.

15.1.4

Case MPSA-2024-00975: Amendments to the Regional Centre MPS and LUB and associated DA for 2764-2778 Robie Street, Halifax (PID 00005181) (Joint Meeting with Halifax and West Community Council)

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Give First Reading to consider the proposed amendments to the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy (SMPS) and Land Use By-law (LUB) for Regional Centre, as set out in Attachments A and B of the staff report dated July 29, 2025, to enable a 12-storey building in a tall mid-rise form at 2764-2778 Robie Street, Halifax (PID 00005181) and schedule a public hearing.

It is further recommended that Halifax and West Community Council:

2. Give Notice of Motion to consider the proposed development agreement, as set out in Attachment C of the staff report dated July 29, 2025, to permit a 12-storey building in a tall mid-rise form subject to meeting certain conditions. The public hearing for the development agreement shall be held concurrently with that indicated in Recommendation 1.

15.2

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY STANDING COMMITTEE

15.2.1

Second Reading Proposed By-Law L-202, Amendments to By-law L-200, Respecting Licensing of Construction and Demolition Recycling and Disposal Operations, and Repeal of Administrative Order 27

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council adopt By-law L-202, the purpose of which is to amend By-law L-200, Respecting Licensing of Construction and Demolition Recycling and Disposal Operations, including repealing Administrative Order 27, Respecting Materials That Shall Not Be Disposed Of In A C&D Disposal Site, as set out in Attachment C of the staff report dated April 1, 2025.  

15.3

HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

15.3.1

Case H00583: 2025/2026 Financial Incentives Program for Schmidtville and Old South Suburb Heritage Conservation Districts*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Approve the Financial Incentives Program applications listed in Attachment A of the staff report dated May 15, 2025, conditional upon the applicant’s compliance with sections 7 and 36-39 of Administrative Order Number 2020-005-ADM and the requirements specified in Attachment C of the staff report dated May 15, 2025 being satisfied; and

2. Approve the reallocation of excess Financial Incentives Program funds to the standby list properties in Attachment B of the staff report dated May 15, 2025, prioritizing 26-002 before other properties, if an approved project in Attachment A does not proceed or incurs expenses below the estimated amount, conditional upon the applicant’s compliance with sections 7 and 36-39 of Administrative Order Number 2020-005-ADM and the requirements specified in Attachment C of the staff report dated May 15, 2025 being satisfied.

15.4

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

15.4.1

Councillor White - Update Local Street Bikeway AO 2016-002-OP

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report on updating our approach to Local Street Bikeway (LSB) design to reflect the most recent professional guidelines, maximize safety and convenience of the route for vulnerable road users, and better enable experimentation and innovation. The report shall include a review of how other jurisdictions approach the implementation of LSBs and recommend that AO 2016-002-OP be updated or discontinued.

15.4.2

Councillor Young - Options to Manage Congestion on Hammonds Plains Road and Lucasville Road

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report on short and long-term options to manage traffic congestion on Hammonds Plains Road and Lucasville Road.

15.4.3

Councillor Steele - Follow up letter- Lobbyist Registry

Motion: 
That Regional Council direct the Mayor to write a letter to the Province requesting a response to the municipality’s 2018 request for the expansion of the provincial Lobbyist Registration Act to include regulation of lobbying conducted at the local government level.

15.4.4

Councillor Hartling - Potential Micro-Transit/On-Demand Transit Options in Communities that Currently Lack Transportation Options

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to provide a staff report on the feasibility and cost implications of expanding micro-transit or on demand transit service to include communities outside the Halifax Transit service boundary and lack other rural transit service providers. 

15.4.5

Mayor Fillmore - Mass Timber and Land Use Bylaw Changes

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report that: 

1. Considers amendments to the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-Law to further reduce built form barriers to mass timber construction to expedite innovative construction methods for housing including the potential to increase the height of the tall mid-rise built form requirements from 10 storeys to 12 storeys for mass timber construction; and 

2. Return to Regional Council with an initiation report in the Fall of 2025.

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 - July 8, 2025

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

17.2

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS - In Camera Information Item July 8, 2025

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. 

17.3

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 June 2, 2025; and

2. Release the private and confidential report dated June 2, 2025 to the public once the conditions as outlined in the report have been met.

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

18.1

Councillor Cuttell - Affordable Housing Support for Spryfield

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report on a one-time grant to Rooted: Community Development Partners to support the purchase a 6-unit building for use as affordable housing. The intent of the grant would be to provide the balance of the funding required to make the acquisition, after provincial and federal contributions have been accounted for.

19.

NOTICES OF MOTION

20.

ADJOURNMENT

21.

INFORMATION ITEMS

21.1

Memorandum from the Municipal Clerk dated July 28, 2025 re: Requests for Presentation to Council - None 

21.2

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated May 20, 2025 re: Administrative Order 2024-001-ADM – Schedule D: Organizations Providing Affordable Housing Rental Accommodations

22.

IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) INFORMATION ITEMS

None