Body rub parlours, whistleblower policy on Wednesday’s council agenda

Regina city council is to continue the debate around a separation distance between body rub establishments and places like schools, parks, daycares and other massage parlours Wednesday afternoon.

At council’s Dec. 16 meeting, councillors discussed a report from city administration that suggested a 182.88-metre buffer zone with already-established body rub parlours to be grandfathered in.

After much discussion and no decision, council asked the administration to come back in the new year with another report, outlining the impact of an expanded separation distance of 365.76 metres and the inclusion of residences, places of worship and recreation facilities.

The new report came up with two options: Expand the buffer zone to 365.76 metres and include homes, places of worship and recreation facilities, or maintain the 182.88-metre separation distance but add that to include residences, places of worship and recreation facilities.

Although the hybrid option would allow more potential locations than the 365.76-metre buffer, the report noted that body rub parlour operators would “still likely experience challenges finding locations that work for their purposes.”

Ultimately, city administration is recommending council go with the original provisions of the 182.88-metre buffer zone it suggested in December.

Railyard Renewal Project update

Council is also set to look over its latest version of the Railyard Renewal Project, which adds the Yards Neighbourhood Plan — the policy framework that transitions the former Canadian Pacific Railway yard and the land around it into a “vibrant urban neighbourhood.”

According to the executive summary in the report, the goal of the Yards Neighbourhood is to better connect the Warehouse District to the downtown. It’ll include a “walkable environment” through a mix of residential, shopping and entertainment buildings while balancing “progressive and modern design concepts with tradition.”

This will begin through incremental developments, including: Transforming Dewdney Avenue along that stretch into a landscaped boulevard, installing a pedestrian bridge that connects to downtown and upgrading the railway underpasses at Albert Street and Broad Street.

Extending U-Pass to spring, summer semesters

The University of Regina Students Union (URSU) is asking city council to extend the U-Pass program into the spring and summer semesters for the next three years, starting in May.

According to the report set to go before council Wednesday, an extra $360,610 would be needed for the city’s transit and fleet budget in 2021 — that would be offset by the revenue collected by URSU.

Under the current agreement that started between the city and URSU in 2016, the U-Pass covers the fall and winter semesters (September to April).

After holding a referendum in March 2019, URSU found 1,844 students voted in favour of the spring/summer U-Pass and 323 voted against it.

“Many of our members have expressed concerns that studying in the spring/summer is cost-prohibitive to them if there is no accompanying spring/summer U-Pass,” URSU’s submission to council states.

Updating code of conduct, adding whistleblower policy

For the first time since 2002, council is set to vote on a new employee code of conduct, which adds a new whistleblower policy.

One big change to the code includes a larger section on conflicts of interest, outlining what constitutes a conflict of interest and what specifically prohibits employees from using their position with the city to further their own private interests, or the interests of their business partners or family.

Employees would also be required to disclose in writing any situations in which a conflict of interest is present or may arise. As it is now, city workers are only obligated to disclose interests in land.

A new section on “interactions with others” would also be added to the code. It requires city employees to be respectful toward the public and their co-workers — that extends to social media as well.

“An employee can be identified as a City employee in their social media, (but) they must be careful as to how their social media accounts reflect on the City’s image, other employees and the accuracy of information conveyed. This section includes the restriction that only authorized employees may speak on behalf of the City in a public forum,” the new code of conduct reads.

Under the new whistleblower policy, city employees are able to confidentially report any wrongdoing to the city manager.

“Employees may report wrongdoing through a confidential e-mail address, confidential mailbox or confidential telephone number established for such reporting. The Policy prohibits anyone from taking any action in reprisal against an employee making a report of wrongdoing,” the policy reads.

City council reconvenes in Henry Baker Hall at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.