27 Jul 2026 Special Council meeting Economy

Consideration of New Permissive Tax Exemptions for 2027 (Part 1)

Motion
That Council award permissive tax exemptions for the 2027 taxation year to the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board – 6374 Metral Drive.
Minutes, page 5
Sources
Agenda itemCity agenda
Staff reportPage 1
Purpose
To present the Permissive Tax Exemption applications received for the 2027 taxation year for consideration by Council.
Staff report, page 1
Staff recommendation
1. That Council: (a) award permissive tax exemptions for the 2027 taxation year to the following organizations and properties:  Vancouver Island Real Estate Board – 6374 Metral Drive  Nanaimo Youth Services – 290 Bastion Street  Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 15 – 245 Fraser Street (b) Direct Staff to exclude the following organizations and properties from the 2027 Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw:  Bethlehem Investors Group – 2393 Arbot Road & 2371 Arbot Road  St. …
Staff report, page 1
DocumentsStaff report about Economic Development

Ben Geselbracht No

Thank you very much Councillor Gesselbrock. Thanks. Um, I guess I was just a little surprised to see, um, the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board as an applicant for permissive tax exemption. And my understanding, it's an association of, um, realtors and, you know, and they've lobbied council and they provide professional oversight and guidance. But, um, I just curious our criteria for selecting. I was just surprised one the need for public subsidy for the association and the building and just looking at the membership dues and what it would cost, you know, consideration of financial need and also just the eligibility, um, because I'm, yeah, I'm surprised and that there is a need from the association for um, I think there's, it looks like there's quite a broad, you know, what community benefit is and no doubt the great work that's done there. And I think just look in the need and also the amount of subsidy that we do provide. I'm struggling a little bit with that, but I guess we'll, I'll, I'll save that for secondaire. Councillor Eastmer. Any discussion. Councillor Geselbrock. Thanks. Yeah. I mean, I think our, our policies just, um, seeing the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, looking for a tax exemption of, you know, for 27, 000 dollars and revenues these association. I'm not entirely clear sort of the scope of public benefit. I do understand some work that they do. But I also understand that it is an advocacy and work for a professional group. And I'm curious, like we're so broad that, you know, the lawyers association and the different groups, you know, coming that do provide some professional guidance, um, but also, uh, just leads it open to a whole lot of other people applying. That may not necessarily meet what I originally thought with, you know, community service, uh, nonprofits. And so I can't support the permissive tax exemption at this time for BYUREP. So I'll be voting, not in favor. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Questions and answers

Councillor Paul Manly
Speaker identificationConfident
No

asked
with them. Thank you for that. Would they be able to then come back to us for tax exemption. I
City staff answered
believe that tax assumption would go directly to BCSSment. And they would be valued at two dollars for the land, which is actually, for understanding better than what we could
followed up
offer through the Permissive Tax Exemption policy. Okay. I appreciate that. I appreciate the explanation to you. I remember the discussion that there are a lot of, uh, housing units around the community. I just really understand the work that they're doing at telecom lay them. I appreciate what they do. And I'm, I'm happy to hear that staff are