District 8 Update #16 – I am away, Council Summary from January 16-17, HRM Event Grant applications due date, Next Halifax Common Master Plan Engagement sessions, Winter Info, +more

Hello Readers,

From January 20^th – February 10^th I will be participating in International Visitor Leadership Program through The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State and our United States Consulate General of Halifax. The purpose of this project, is to observe many different aspects of the social, economic, political, cultural and educational institutions and practices in the United States. https://eca.state.gov/ivlp
This means, I will have limited access to email and phone during this period, but will be checking periodically. My coordinator will also be monitoring all emails and messages during this period.

List of events and notices – here’s what is included:
Update:

• Council Summary from January 16^th & 17^th
• Winter Parking Ban and Snow information
• HRM Event Grant applications due date
• Budget Committee 18-19 Budget
• Transit Priority for Robie Street and Young Street: Public Engagement Session
• Next Halifax Common Master Plan Engagement sessions
• African Heritage Month Events
• Casserole Luncheon at St Margaret of Scotland Church Hall
• Learn meditation Sponsored by St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church
• Out of the Cold Emergency Winter shelter needs supplies

Items of Interest

• January North End Community Circle Roundtable Notes
• North End Business Association
• Quinpool Road Business Association
• Other Committee and Board commitments

Contact me:
Phone: 902-579-6975
Email: Lindell.Smith@halifax.ca
Website: www.LindellSmithHfx.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindellSmithHFX/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindellSmithHFX
Council Coordinator: Nadine Yuriev
Phone: 902.490.1577
Email: Yurievn@halifax.ca

311 – HRM’s Call Centre
HRM’s call centre is open 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-5:30pm weekends to respond to routine inquiries and complaints from HRM residents. Please use this service since it helps HRM keep track of issues that are of concern for residents (missed solid waste pickup, sidewalks not cleared, transit info or complaints, etc.) For more information please visit http://www.halifax.ca/311/
Please send your feedback on issues before Community Council and Regional Council – and on any municipal issue. If you would like to send your comments to all Regional Councillors please email the Clerk’s Office (clerks@halifax.ca) so that your comments are shared and are part of the public record.
If you would like to send events or information to be possibly included in my e-newsletter, please email with the subject line “E-Newsletter”

Update:

Public Hearing: 6009 and 6017 Quinpool Road (Case 18966)
Regional Council conducted a public hearing for Case 18966. After hearing from a number of speakers, Regional Council deferred the matter and directed staff to prepare a supplementary report which outlines options to allow for an increase to the overall allowable maximum height from 62 meters to 78 meters through the provision of affordable housing units and other enhancements such as those raised at the public hearing as the contribution for any incentive or bonus zoning applicable to the development, and report back to Council no later than March 20, 2018.

HRM Activity Related to Indigenous Affairs – Update and Next Steps
Regional Council directed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to continue to develop a Municipal Strategy to engage First Nations that is in alignment with the action summary set out in the staff report dated June 28, 2017. This staff report can be found online here: https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/180116rc1415.pdf.
Council also directed the CAO, with the support of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, to initiate a dialogue with Indigenous governing organizations with a view to developing relationships with them, designate a Councillor as a representative to act on behalf of the Mayor, when requested by the Mayor, as principal representative for government to government interactions require a political representative as Regional Council’s Indigenous Community liaison and direct staff to report annually to the Executive Committee regarding progress and next steps.

Youth Advisory Committee
Regional Council approved a two-year pilot project to establish a Youth Advisory Committee, to be supported administratively by the Municipal Clerk’s Office, to be developed in two phases, adopted an administrative order to establish a Youth Advisory Committee to come into force on September 1, 2018, adopted amendments to Administrative Order One to direct the Youth Advisory Committee report to the Executive Standing Committee to come into force on September 1, 2018.

Options to Reduce or Eliminate the use of Plastic Shopping Bags in the Municipality
Regional Council directed the Chief Administrative Officer to ensure staff engages with appropriate Nova Scotia Environment staff and members of the Solid Waste-Resource Management Regional Chairs Committee to discuss options including, but not limited to, Extended Producer Responsibility for a unified approach to reduce or eliminate the use of plastic shopping bags in all Nova Scotia municipalities, particularly considering the changing plastic film commodity markets worldwide. Council also directed staff to collaborate to engage with retailers and external experts on options to eliminate or reduce use of plastic shopping bags in the Municipality.Council also directed Mayor Savage to write to the Premier of Nova Scotia to reaffirm HRM’s support for Extended Producer Responsibility and a Provincial ban on retail plastic bags.