Nanaimo meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Nanaimo council passes tenant assistance bylaw, approves $142,000 for Beban Park lighting

Nanaimo City Council passed several bylaws affecting tenants, development, and parking over the past two weeks, while approving funding for park infrastructure and a non-market housing pilot. The decisions came out of regular and special council meetings on July 20 and July 27.

Tenant assistance and housing bylaws adopted

Council unanimously passed the Residential Tenant Assistance Bylaw 2026 No. 7459 at its July 20 meeting. The same bylaw was adopted at the July 27 special meeting, along with the Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw 2026 No. 7453 and the Housing Agreement Bylaw 2026 No. 7458. The Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw 2026 No. 7454 also passed unanimously on July 20.

Beban Park field lighting funded

Council unanimously approved $142,000 for Beban Park field lighting, with $100,000 of that coming from Nanaimo United FC. Council also unanimously approved $6,000 in Community Program Development Grants at the same July 20 meeting.

A $75,000 contribution for a non-market housing delivery system pilot carried with opposition from Councillors Armstrong and Brown.

Northfield Road rezoned

Council unanimously approved rezoning of 1821, 1825, and 1885 Northfield Road to Medium Density Residential. At the July 27 special meeting, council approved first and second reading of Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2026 No. 4500.258 for 2080 and 2160 East Wellington Road.

Two development permits were issued unanimously: Development Permit No. DVP495 for 1451 Belford Avenue and Development Permit No. DP1397 for 3679 Shenton Road.

Nanaimo Accord endorsed

Council endorsed the Nanaimo Accord as a shared framework for partner alignment and collective action, with Councillor Brown opposed. Council also postponed consideration of the Emissions Intensive Heavy Industry Uses report, with Councillors Brown, Geselbracht, and Manly opposed to the postponement.

Permissive tax exemptions for 2027

Council awarded 2027 permissive tax exemptions to three organizations: the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, Nanaimo Youth Services, and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 15. Six organizations were excluded from the 2027 Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw by a unanimous vote.

Friendship City and invasive plants

Council unanimously approved a Friendship City relationship and memorandum of understanding with Yangzhou, China. Council also directed staff to restrict the sale and distribution of invasive plants via the business license bylaw, with Councillor Thorpe opposed.

Committee and panel meetings

The District 68 Sports Field and Recreation Committee met July 22, adopting its agenda and the minutes from its June 27, 2025 meeting. Staff presented updates on capital projects, the South End Community Centre, and regional sports facilities. No decisions beyond agenda adoption were recorded.

The Design Advisory Panel met July 23, but the agenda contained only boilerplate and metadata. No decisions or discussions were listed, and minutes had not yet been published.

Coming up

The Board of Variance is scheduled to meet August 6. The agenda contains only procedural boilerplate with no substantive items for discussion or decision.

Council backs Seacliff funding bid; committee advances $142,000 Beban Park lighting plan

Nanaimo council and its committees moved several items forward this past week, with the most concrete decisions coming from a special council meeting on July 13 and a Finance and Audit Committee session on July 15. Several other meetings on the calendar carried only procedural business.

Council backs Seacliff Properties funding request

At a July 13 Special Council Meeting, council unanimously approved a letter of support for Seacliff Properties (Sandstone) Ltd.'s application to the Build Communities Strong Fund Direct Delivery Stream. The motion carried after an amendment to the wording, with all members voting in favor. Council also adopted the meeting agenda unanimously and adjourned unanimously. No public questions were received.

The Build Communities Strong Fund is a federal infrastructure program; the letter of support signals council's endorsement of Seacliff Properties' application but does not itself commit city funds.

Finance and Audit Committee recommends $142,000 for Beban Park lighting

The Finance and Audit Committee met July 15 and advanced several recommendations to council, all carrying unanimously.

The committee recommended that council approve a $142,000 addition to the 2026–2030 Financial Plan for Beban Park field lighting, paired with a cost-sharing agreement with Nanaimo United Football Club. It also recommended $6,000 in community program development grants and changes to the Sport Tournament Grant program, including renaming it the Sport Project Grant.

The committee adopted its agenda and the minutes from its June 17 meeting unanimously. These items now go to council for final decision.

July 6 council agenda: trail funding, zoning bylaws on the table

Minutes have not yet been published for the July 6 Regular Council Meeting, so it is not confirmed which items were decided. The agenda listed a proposal to allocate $550,000 for a recreational trail between Junction Avenue and Extension Road along the E&N railway corridor, funded by reallocating $189,000 and $361,000 from the unallocated Active Transportation budget.

The agenda also included adoption of Zoning Amendment Bylaws 4500.226, 4500.243, and 4500.252; adoption of Traffic Demand Management Reserve Fund Bylaw No. 7456; and consideration of a covenant amendment at 2137 Boundary Avenue to allow up to four dwelling units. Delegations were scheduled on Departure Bay beach safety, bike lanes, and Rock City Wetland development.

Accessibility committee to weigh Sunflower network recommendation

The Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness met July 8. Minutes are not yet published. The agenda included a recommendation that council direct staff to prepare a report on joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network, a program that uses a sunflower symbol to signal non-visible disabilities.

The committee was also scheduled to hear a presentation on Loudon Park improvements by FaulknerBrowns, receive verbal updates on OV Arts Centre accessibility and parking and on the Maffeo Sutton Park washroom project, and consider a council motion to review accessible parking at the arts centre.

Other meetings: mostly procedural

The July 9 Design Advisory Panel Meeting, the July 10 Special Mayor's Leaders' Table (which included a Compass Initiative progress update and a review of The Nanaimo Accord), the July 13 Governance and Priorities Committee, and the July 16 Public Hearing all carried agendas with no specific items listed or only procedural content. Minutes are not yet published for these sessions.

Coming up

Four meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks, though all currently list only procedural content:

• **July 20** — Regular Council Meeting
• **July 22** — District 68 Sports Field and Recreation Committee
• **July 23** — Design Advisory Panel Meeting
• **July 27** — Special Council Meeting

No substantive items appear on any of these agendas as currently posted. Residents should check the city's meeting portal for updates, as agendas can be revised.

Nanaimo council set to weigh $550,000 E&N trail allocation; recent meeting minutes not yet published

Nanaimo's most consequential pending item this past fortnight is a proposed $550,000 allocation for a recreational trail along the E&N railway corridor, scheduled for consideration at the July 6 Regular Council Meeting. All recent meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so no outcomes are confirmed.

Regular Council Meeting — July 6

Council's agenda includes a motion to allocate $550,000 for a recreational trail connecting Junction Avenue to Extension Road along the E&N corridor. The funding would come from reallocation of $189,000 and $361,000 from the unallocated Active Transportation budget.

Other items on the agenda:

• Adoption of Zoning Amendment Bylaws 4500.226, 4500.243, and 4500.252.
• Adoption of Traffic Demand Management Reserve Fund Bylaw No. 7456.
• Consideration of a covenant amendment at 2137 Boundary Avenue to allow up to four dwelling units.
• Delegations scheduled on Departure Bay beach safety, bike lanes, and Rock City Wetland development.
• Presentations on public art at traffic signals and the final Climate Hazard Assessment and Mapping Project.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not known which items were adopted, amended, or defeated.

Special Council Meeting — June 30

This was a procedural meeting with a single item: a motion to close the meeting to the public under Community Charter Section 90 to discuss confidential information regarding negotiations with other governments and Indigenous entities. No substantive public agenda items were listed.

Board of Variance — July 2

The Board of Variance agenda listed one application: BOV00798, a request to increase the maximum accessory building height from 4.5 m to 4.62 m at 3681 Howden Drive, related to a secondary suite. No decision outcome is available.

Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness — July 8

The committee was scheduled to vote on a recommendation that Council direct staff to prepare a report on joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network. Other agenda items included a presentation on Loudon Park improvements by FaulknerBrowns, a verbal update on OV Arts Centre accessibility and parking, a verbal update on the Maffeo Sutton Park washroom/amenity building project, and a Council motion to review accessible parking at the OV Arts Centre. A dependent care reimbursement policy for committee members was also listed. No outcomes are confirmed.

Mayor's Leaders' Table — July 10

This special session was scheduled to receive a progress update on the Compass Initiative and to review The Nanaimo Accord, followed by a roundtable discussion. No decisions were listed on the agenda.

Design Advisory Panel — July 9

The agenda contained only procedural boilerplate with no specific items for discussion or decision.

Coming up

Several meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks, though most agendas currently list no substantive items:

• **July 13** — Governance and Priorities Committee (no items listed)
• **July 13** — Special Council Meeting (no items listed)
• **July 15** — Finance and Audit Committee (no items listed)
• **July 16** — Public Hearing (no items listed)
• **July 20** — Regular Council Meeting (no items listed)
• **July 22** — District 68 Sports Field and Recreation Committee (no items listed)
• **July 23** — Design Advisory Panel (no items listed)
• **July 27** — Special Council Meeting (no items listed)

Residents interested in the E&N trail funding, zoning bylaw adoptions, or the Boundary Avenue covenant amendment should watch for the July 6 Regular Council Meeting minutes to be published, and monitor the July 20 Regular Council Meeting agenda for any follow-up items.

Nanaimo council advances parking bylaw, files construction violations, and eyes $550,000 trail allocation

Nanaimo City Council gave first three readings to new off-street parking regulations in a 7-2 vote on June 22, with Councillors Armstrong and Thorpe opposed. The same meeting unanimously established a Traffic Demand Management Reserve Fund and advanced pre-zoning for social housing. Council also directed a letter to the Minister requesting dry supportive housing at 250 Terminal Ave.

Off-street parking and social housing

Council approved first three readings of the Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw (7-2). The Traffic Demand Management Reserve Fund was established unanimously. A Zoning Amendment for Social Housing passed first reading unanimously, and staff were directed to hold a public hearing on that amendment. Officer Designation and Zoning Amendment bylaws were approved unanimously, as was the 2025 Annual Municipal Report. Council approved $4,870 in other grants unanimously. Consent items included requests for dry supportive housing, sewer trunk upgrades, and a tenant protection bylaw.

Bylaw contravention notices filed

At a special four-minute meeting on June 25, council unanimously approved filing bylaw contravention notices against five property owners who began construction without building permits. The notices will be registered on title at the Land Title and Survey Authority. No property owners attended to speak. The properties are: 1226 Lawlor Road, 2966 Colwood Road, 230 Haliburton Street, 1363 Fielding Road, and 796 Albert Street.

Meetings with no substantive items

The Design Advisory Panel met June 25 with only procedural boilerplate on the agenda; no projects or policy items were listed. A Public Hearing the same day also had no specific items listed. Minutes for both have not yet been published. A special council meeting on June 30 included only a motion to close the meeting to the public under Community Charter Section 90 to discuss confidential information regarding intergovernmental and Indigenous entity negotiations.

Board of Variance

On July 2, the Board of Variance was scheduled to review Application BOV00798, a request to increase the maximum accessory building height from 4.5m to 4.62m at 3681 Howden Drive for a secondary suite. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

July 6 — Regular Council Meeting: Council will decide on allocating $550,000 for a recreational trail between Junction Avenue and Extension Road along the E&N railway corridor, funded by reallocating $189,000 and $361,000 from unallocated Active Transportation budget. Council will also consider adopting Zoning Amendment Bylaws 4500.226, 4500.243, and 4500.252, adopting Traffic Demand Management Reserve Fund Bylaw No. 7456, and a covenant amendment at 2137 Boundary Avenue to allow up to four dwelling units. Delegations will address Departure Bay beach safety, bike lanes, and Rock City Wetland development.

July 8 — Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness: The committee will vote on recommending council direct staff to report on joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network. Presentations include Loudon Park improvements by FaulknerBrowns and updates on OV Arts Centre parking and the Maffeo Sutton Park washroom project.

July 10 — Special Mayor's Leaders' Table: Members will receive a progress update on the Compass Initiative and review The Nanaimo Accord.

Meetings on July 9 (Design Advisory Panel), July 13 (Governance and Priorities Committee), July 15 (Finance and Audit Committee), July 16 (Public Hearing), and July 20 (Regular Council Meeting) list no substantive agenda items.

Nanaimo council advances parking bylaw with divided vote, files construction notices

Nanaimo council gave initial approval to a sweeping update of off-street parking rules while also registering five bylaw contravention notices against landowners who began building without permits. The parking bylaw passed first, second and third readings by a 7–2 vote on June 22, with Councillors Armstrong and Thorpe opposed. The same meeting saw council launch a new traffic-management reserve fund, advance a social-housing rezoning, and send a letter seeking dry supportive housing at 250 Terminal Ave.

New parking rules get initial approval

The Off-Street Parking Regulations Bylaw passed three readings after a 7–2 split. The bylaw would replace the city’s existing off-street parking rules. Councillors Armstrong and Thorpe voted no; the remaining council members supported the measure. The bylaw must still undergo a final reading before it can take effect.

Social housing pre-zoning moves ahead

Council voted unanimously to give first reading to a zoning-amendment bylaw that would allow social housing on a yet-to-be-specified site. Staff were directed to schedule a public hearing on the proposal, which could bring new affordable units to the city. The same meeting saw unanimous support for an officer-designation bylaw and another zoning-amendment bylaw; no details on those measures were released in the published minutes.

Unpermitted construction notices filed

At a brief special meeting on June 25, council unanimously directed staff to register bylaw contravention notices on title against five properties where construction started without building permits. The affected addresses are:

• 1226 Lawlor Road
• 2966 Colwood Road
• 230 Haliburton Street
• 1363 Fielding Road
• 796 Albert Street

The meeting lasted four minutes. No property owners appeared to speak. The notices were filed with the Land Title and Survey Authority.

Other council actions

Council established a Traffic Demand Management Reserve Fund by unanimous vote. No dollar amount was allocated at this stage. The 2025 Annual Municipal Report was approved unanimously, and a total of $4,870 in other grants was authorized. Council also voted unanimously to send a letter to the minister responsible requesting dry supportive housing at 250 Terminal Ave.

The Design Advisory Panel and a public hearing on June 25 contained no substantive items, according to agendas published for those dates. A June 30 special council meeting dealt only with a motion to close the meeting to discuss confidential intergovernmental negotiations.

Coming up

No public meetings are listed for the next two weeks as of this writing.