Special Events Regulatory Committee - New Year's Eve Events
Council approved road closures and a noise by-law extension for two New Year’s Eve events in St. John’s.
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City of St. John’s Fireworks: Fireworks will take place at Quidi Vidi Lake on December 31 at 8 p.m. (with a backup date of January 1). Road closures for safety are recommended from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
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George Street Association Event: This free, all-ages event on George Street includes a DJ and pyrotechnics show. A noise by-law extension is requested until 12:30 am. A road closure on Duckworth Street (from New Gower Street to Bates Hill) is requested from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Both events will have security and parking enforcement in place to manage the closures.
Details on the road closures can be found in the decision note. An advisory will also be issued for all road closures prior to the event through the City's website to email subscribers and posted on social media.
Decision: approved unanimously
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Text Amendment - Public Consultation
As was discussed at the December 9 Committee of the Whole Meeting, Council considered a proposed text amendment to Section 4.8 of the Envision St. John’s Development Regulations, prompted by recent changes to the Urban and Rural Planning Act regarding public notice requirements. The amendment will update how the City provides notice for rezonings, text amendments, discretionary uses, and non-conforming uses.
Key updates include:
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Removal of the requirement to publish notices in a newspaper.
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Minimum notice requirements now include postings at City Hall, the John Murphy Building (Planning and Development area), and on the City’s website, with continued mailing to property owners within 150 metres and posting on social media.
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Introduction of on-site notices for Municipal Plan and Development Regulations text and map amendments, including a QR code linking to the City’s Engage St. John’s page. Applicants are responsible for maintaining the notice on-site.
The amendment aligns with provincial legislation, reflects modern public engagement practices, and is consistent with approaches used in other Canadian municipalities. Staff recommended advertising the text amendment for public review and comment, without requiring a public meeting.
Decision: approved unanimously
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Amendment to Annual Leave Allocations - Management Policy
Council approved an amendment to the Annual Leave Allocations Policy for management and non-union employees. The existing policy states that retiring employees are entitled to the same vacation or vacation pay as if they had worked until year-end. The amendment updates this to reflect current HR practice, where annual leave is allocated based on the employee’s retirement date: employees retiring between January 1 and June 30 receive half-year entitlements, and those retiring after June 30 receive full-year entitlements.
Decision: approved unanimously
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Permits Issued
Council was provided with a list of Development Permits and Building Permits issued since the last council meeting for their information.
Tenders
A list of contracts awarded from November 12 to December 11, 2025 was shared for Council's information.
Weekly Payment Vouchers
Council approved the weekly payment vouchers for the weeks ending December 3 and 10.
