Well, that’s a wrap! After almost six hours of debate and discussion, our NWP city councillors were able to make some progress…and in other areas not so much. Here is a quick summary – as best we can recall – of what happened last night.
- The Royal City moniker is officially gone! Mayor Johnstone and his Community First council colleagues ruled Councillor Daniel Fontaine’s motion out of order. Even though the motion simply asked that city staff halt the process of phasing out the moniker. – a decision that was made in the dead of last summer.
- It was stated publicly for the first time last evening that ALL citizen advisory committees are now under review and some of them may not survive the city’s strategic planning process.
- Cllr. Fontaine proposed a new Crime and Safety Committee. It was shot down by a vote of 4-2.
- A motion by Cllr. Fontaine to create a new Finance and City Services Committee was approved – kind of. Council voted to establish the committee – but more details will be worked out next year at the upcoming Council strategic planning session.
- A motion by Cllr. Fontaine to review the costs associated with the City’s container recycling program was approved. A report will be coming back to Council in 2023.
- Cllr. Fontaine moved another motion (he previously tried on November 28th but it was voted down) to try and provide inflation relief to NW Electrical Utility ratepayers. He requested Council temporarily suspend its unique climate tax of 3.5% charged on all NW hydro bills. The motion was voted down 4-2.
- A motion to set up a new Amateur Sport and Recreation Advisory Committee was deferred to the council’s strategic planning process. There is no guarantee this will ever come back to council for discussion or approval.
- A previous motion by Cllr. Fontaine requesting a review of the impacts the new 6th Street bike lane is having on local merchants triggered a staff report. The staff report recommended the city consider providing further mitigation and supports to the impacted businesses. This motion was passed unanimously.
- A motion by Cllr. Fontaine to ensure the public is provided with at least five business days notice regarding staff and committee reports passed by a vote of 4-2.
- Council agreed to a request by Cllr. Fontaine that staff review the City’s contract with the operator of the Q2Q Ferry to see if more can be done to temporarily extend the hours of operation for this service during weather-related emergencies such as the recent November 29th snowstorm.
- Council deferred a motion by Cllr. Fontaine to re-establish the Railway Community Advisory Panel to the 2023 strategic planning process. Once again, this likely means it won’t be reinstated anytime soon. However, a portion of the motion asking for quarterly updates to council did pass, along with a request that staff more regularly update our website with more current information.
- Council voted down 4-2 a motion put forward by Cllr. Fontaine to significantly increase mental health supports in the Metro Vancouver area. The motion called for a letter to be sent to Premier David Eby.
- Cllr. Paul Minhas provided a formal thanks and recognition to the member of the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar who helped stranded motorists during the November 29th snow storm.
Next Council Meeting on January 9th, 2023
The next meeting of Council is scheduled for Monday, January 9th. Delegations can sign up at 8:30 am on January 3rd. There will be four motions up for discussion and debate.
- Reducing the cost and time related to the development of new housing in New Westminster
- Delaying the demolition of the Centennial Community Centre and beginning to address citywide infrastructure deficit
- Quantifying the downloading of costs from senior orders of government as it pertains to the city of New Westminster 2023 operating budget
- Supporting the need for a “snow summit” in Metro Vancouver
PHOTO: The Anchor