District 8 Update #32 – Cornwallis taskforce recommendations, Walk, Ride and Roll to Africville Protest, Halifax Transit Mask requirement, Happy Pride and more!

Walk, Ride and Roll to Africville Protest 2019

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

Update:

Response to COVID-19: Halifax Mobility Response – Streets and Spaces
Slow Street Implementation:
Public Libraries now open!
Recreation programming, recreation centres and summer camps
HRM Parking Permits
Halifax Transit Mask requirement
Reopening toolkits
HRM Parking Permits
Centre Plan Package B
Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History recommendations
Joint Public Hearing – Case 22682 5558 Bilby Street
2020 Halifax Pride Festival Reimagined
Walk, Ride and Roll to Africville Protest
Halifax Cycling Coalition Urban Cycling 101 Course

Items of Interest:

RoadWorks Map (Sidewalk/street Closures & Disruptions)
Sign up for hfxALERT
Halifax Water Board Reports
North End Business Association
Quinpool Road Business Association
Regional council – Next meeting: Tuesday, July 21, 2020, 10 am | Virtual Meeting
Regional Centre Community Council – Next meeting: Monday, July 20th, 2020, 6:00 pm | Virtual Meeting
Community Design Advisory Committee – Next meeting: Wednesday, July 22nd , 2020, 11:30am | Virtual
Board of Police Commissioners – Next meeting: Monday, July 20th 2020, 12:30pm | Virtual Meeting

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

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:

Covid-19 Related Information

Response to COVID-19: Halifax Mobility Response – Streets and Spaces
The first phase of the Halifax Mobility Response plan began earlier this week with the widening of sidewalks in high traffic areas, traffic signal modification and the implementation of temporary loading spaces for businesses in downtown Halifax and Dartmouth. Learn more about these changes, here.

Slow Street Implementation:
Slow streets’, are open to local traffic only, to reduce vehicle volumes and to create a space for residents to walk, roll and cycle while adhering to physical distancing guidelines. A Shape Your City Halifax project page has been created to provide residents with an opportunity to share suggestions on where additional actions would be helpful to help residents move safely..

Only those motorists who live, are visiting, or are accessing a business on these streets are considered local traffic.

Public Libraries now open!
All branches of Halifax Public Libraries have opened again to offer in-person services specific to their location. Click here for branch hours and information.

Recreation programming, recreation centres and summer camps
The municipality will be offering modified summer day camps, outdoor recreation, and rural recreation opportunities throughout July and August.

There is still availability for our July summer day camps like at the George Dixon Community Centre. Registration for August camps starts on Wednesday, July 22^nd at 11am. Half day camps are $50 for the week. If participants have received discounts though our Affordable Access Program last summer, their discount has been extended automatically for this summer. New applicants can apply https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/affordable-access-program/apply-affordable-access-program.

Chocolate Lake Rec Centre
Captain William Spry Community Centre
George Dixon Community Centre
Dartmouth North Rec Centre
Sackville Sports Stadium

More info here https://www.halifax.ca/recreation/programs-activities/online-recreation-services

HRM Parking Permits
Typically, parking permits are purchased and processed in person at our Customer Service Centres, but due to Covid-19 closures we can accept applications and scanned documentation via email. Purchased permits are being mailed to residents until our Customer Service Centres reopen.

Annual Residential Parking Permit

Only one (1) permit will be issued per dwelling unit. All permits will expire one (1) calendar year after date of issue and cost $30 annually.

To apply you must provide the following:

Completed and signed application form Annual Residential Parking Permit Application
Valid photo identification
Valid vehicle permit(s)
If the applicant is not the vehicle owner, they must have a letter from owner stating permission to use vehicle or a signed authorized of vehicle use contract
Proof of your residential address dated within 30 days from the date of application
i.e. Utility bill, bank statement, government letter

Payment can be made by:

Credit card (over the phone with Customer Service) or,
Cheque (pay to the order of Halifax Regional Municipality) and received by mail at: Attention: Parking Services

Halifax Regional Municipality
PO Box 1749
Halifax, NS
B3J 3A5

More info: https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/parking/parking-permits

Halifax Transit Mask requirement
Starting July 24^th, it will be mandatory for drivers and passengers to wear a non-medical mask on public transportation. Children under two and people with a valid medical reason for not wearing a mask are exempt.

Public transportation includes:

Municipal transit buses and ferries
School buses
Community transit vehicles
Private taxis and shuttles

Standing passengers are asked to monitor physical distancing and should avoid positioning themselves immediately next to seated passengers or other standing passengers. Alternating seats will continue to be blocked off with appropriate signage.

Buses and ferries continue to operate on a reduced schedule and fare collection remains suspended until further notice.

Reopening toolkits
The Halifax Chamber recently released a 5-step plan to help businesses reopen safely. Read the full plan here and find more resources at halifaxchamber.com/covid19.

Halifax Water Rate information
Halifax Water has recommended to the NSUARB that there be no increase in water rates for fiscal 2020/21 and 2021/22. In addition, the utility is recommending no increase in overall wastewater rates in 2020/21 and an increase to wastewater treatment/usage charges effective April 1^st, 2021.

To further assist customers, Halifax Water is also withdrawing some planned increases to miscellaneous fees and charges and is recommending the current temporary customer assistance measures in place be extended to August 31, 2020. Disconnection for non-payment of service have been suspended. Customers facing economic impacts due to the COVID-19 situation that will cause them to struggle with paying their accounts are asked to please contact Halifax Water’s Customer Care Centre at customercare@halifaxwater.ca or 902-420-9287 to discuss payment arrangements.

HRM Meetings/Updates

Centre Plan Package B
HRM is currently in the process of completing Centre Plan Package B is the second part of the Centre Plan that will replace all of the existing established residential zoning in Dartmouth inside the Circumferential, and Peninsula Halifax, create new zoning for Park and institutional areas, and update the Downtown Halifax Plan. COVID-19 has disrupted the scheduled public engagements which means that the goal of completing Centre Plan Package B in September 2020 will not be met while ensuring that the public is adequately consulted. The project timeline will be updated when there is greater certainty on when these important public consultations can be safely completed.

To still be able to gather feedback from residents, the Centre Plan team has created a series of surveys. Fill out the surveys and provide feedback here.

Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History recommendations
In April of 2017 Council requested a staff report to create an expert panel to review and advise Council regarding the commemoration of Edward Cornwallis on municipal assets, including Cornwallis Park and Cornwallis Street, and recommendations to recognize and commemorate the indigenous history. The Committee was a joint committee to reflect an equal partnership between Halifax Regional Council and the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs. The finial report included 20 recommendations, you can read the full report here.

I want to highlight one recommendation, Recommendation 5: That Cornwallis Street, subject to an expression of approval by the congregation of the New Horizons Baptist Church, be renamed “New Horizons Street.” Although I agree that the name should be changed, I believe that is important to have further engagements with residents and community members when deciding on a name. I will be asking for further engagement during our meeting of Council.

Public Hearings

Joint Public Hearing – Case 22682 5558 Bilby Street
Tuesday, July 21^st, 2020, 6:00pm |Virtual

Application by Lindsay Construction requesting amendments to the Halifax Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Halifax Peninsula Land Use By-law (LUB) and non-substantive amendments to an existing development agreement on lands at 5558 Bilby Street to allow an extension to the date of commencement of construction by one (1) year.

Community Events/Meetings

2020 Halifax Pride Festival Reimagined
July 16^th – 26^th
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic Pride looks very different this year, but it’s positive impact will still continue. Most of this year’s Pride events have gone online, you can check out there physical distancing and online events here.

Walk, Ride and Roll to Africville Protest
From pier to pier and park to park, let’s connect our history with Halifax! Join us on Saturday, July 25^th @ 1:00pm for the second annual Walk, Ride and Roll to Africville. This protest will build awareness of the inaccessibility for the community to get to Africville, a special place and important part of our history. The protest will take place along Barrington Street and finish at the Africville Museum. An art unveiling and dedication event will follow at the Museum.

When: Saturday, July 25 @ 1:00 pm
Rain date: Sunday, July 26 @ 1:00 pm
WALKERS: meet at Duffus and Barrington St. at 12:55pm
RIDERS and ROLLERS: meet at Richmond and Barrington St. at 12:55pm

Please respect your fellow participants by wearing a mask and by practicing social distancing.

Halifax Cycling Coalition Urban Cycling 101 Course
Do you want to get around the city by bike? The Urban Cycling 101 Course will help you build your confidence to cycle on urban streets. The course will help you to feel safe riding in mixed traffic in Halifax and Dartmouth. Take the course and find a sense of freedom that comes with the simple act of riding a bike.

Learn more here: https://cyclehalifax.ca/civi/event/info/?reset=1&id=187

Find more community events on my Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/LindellSmithHFX/events

Items of Interest:

RoadWorks Map (Sidewalk/street Closures & Disruptions)
View the RoadWorks map to see current and upcoming sidewalk and street closures.

Sign up for hfxALERT
hfxALERT is our mass notification system for the municipality, keeping residents informed about emergencies and operations updates. Sign up here

Halifax Water Board Reports
Please find below the link that will take you to the location where all of the Halifax Water Board meeting reports are posted (with the exception of In-Camera reports
https://www.halifax.ca/home-property/halifax-water/about-your-water/board-commissioners

North End Business Association
For an update on what is happening with businesses in the north end please visit the North End Business Association http://gonorthhalifax.ca/ and sign up for their monthly email.

Quinpool Road Business Association
For an update on what is happening with businesses on Quinpool Road please visit their website: www.quinpoolroad.ca/
https://quinpool.shop/

My other Committee and Board commitments:

Regional Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council
Next meeting: Tuesday, July 21, 2020, 10 am | Virtual Meeting
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council/july-21-2020-halifax-regional-council-special-meeting

Notable agenda Items:

Regional Centre Community Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/community-councils/regional-centre-community-council
Next meeting: Monday, July 20^th, 2020, 6:00 pm | Virtual Meeting
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/community-councils/july-20-2020-regional-centre-community-council-special-meeting

Halifax and West Community Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/community-councils/halifax-west-community-council

Community Planning & Economic Development
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/standing-committees/community-planning-economic-development-standing-committee

Halifax Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/h/halifax-peninsula-planning-advisory-committee

Community Design Advisory Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/a-c/community-design-advisory-committee
Next meeting: Wednesday, July 22^nd , 2020, 11:30am | Virtual
Continuation of Centre Plan Package B draft discussions
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/july-22-2020-community-design-advisory-committee

Transportation Standing Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/standing-committees/transportation-standing-committee

Board of Police Commissioners
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/a-c/board-police-commissioners
Next meeting: Monday, July 20^th 2020, 12:30pm | Virtual Meeting
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/july-20-2020-board-police-commissioners-special

Notable agenda items:

2.1 Defunding the Police – Discussion
2.4 Halifax Regional Council’s Motion of Rescission Regarding the Armoured Rescue Vehicle
- BOPC Responsibility for Police Capital Budget Items
2.9 Commissioner Smith – Independent Opinion on Legal Council for Board of Police Commissioners [PDF]

Motion: That the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners seek an independent opinion to determine if the Board of Police Commissioners should or shouldn’t have its own legal counsel separate from HRM and HRP. The opinion should include:

1. If the Police Act or the Board of Police Commission’s Policy Manual allows the Board to seek independent legal counsel;
2. If the current legal counsel arrangement provided by HRM could present as a conflict of interest; and,
3. How the board could receive on-going counsel for Commission meetings and any other responsibilities of the Board.

HRM Grants Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/d-g/grants-committee

Halifax Forum
http://www.halifaxforum.ca/

(CACE) The Council on African Canadian Education
http://www.cace.ns.ca/