Civic Art Collection
Council was asked to approve the City’s Urban Art Gallery initiative, which involves installing vinyl decals of City-owned artwork on windows of vacant buildings along Water Street within the Downtown Pedestrian Mall area. The project aims to promote the Civic Art Collection, beautify properties, and enhance the downtown experience. The decals qualify as temporary signs under the Sign By-Law and will remain in place for at least six months. As they exceed the 50% window coverage limit in Heritage Areas, Council approval is required. The Built Heritage Experts Panel supports the initiative, and City staff recommend approval.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
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Audit Standing Committee Report
- December 31, 2024: Council was asked to approve the City’s audited financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2024. The auditors issued a clean report, confirming the statements fairly represent the City’s financial position. Unlike the City’s annual budget, these statements are consolidated (including St. John’s Sports & Entertainment and the St. John’s Transportation Commission) and prepared on an accrual basis per Public Sector Accounting Standards. Key accounting differences include treatment of debt, amortization, and capital contributions. A summary of these differences is provided in Schedule 7. Cash results will be presented separately.
- 2025 Audit Plan: Council was asked to approve the 2025 Audit Plan developed by the Office of the City Internal Auditor. The plan follows internal audit standards and focuses on three main objectives: risk management, compliance with policies and directives, and alignment with strategic goals. It includes program reviews, follow-up audits, and administrative tasks. Reviews were selected using a risk-based approach informed by management input, jurisdictional scans, and professional judgement. The plan does not include time for new requests, which must be evaluated by the Audit Committee. Some audits are expected to continue into 2026.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
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Appointment: Shea Heights Community Centre Board of Directors
Council was asked to approve the appointment of Dave Howell as a new At Large Member on the Shea Heights Community Centre Board of Directors to fill a vacancy. The Board, appointed by the City, supports his nomination following a public call for volunteers and discussion at a Board meeting.
Decision: Approved unanimously. Councillor Ellsworth abstained due to a conflict of interest.
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Landmark Sign Location
Council was asked to approve the location of a new Landmark Sign at Bannerman Park. The sign is 38 feet wide, 6 feet tall, made with durable materials, and features customizable LED lighting. While other city-owned land was considered, Bannerman Park was chosen for its scenic setting, year-round foot traffic and photo-friendly space. The sign’s sides and back will also display decals, offering another way to showcase local artists and public art.
This landmark will help put St. John’s in line with other Canadian cities by adding an iconic, accessible attraction in the heart of the city.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
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Street Naming Policy
Council was asked to approve a revised Street Naming Policy. Following discussion with Council and direction from Legal and Senior Executive, it was determined that naming streets after people carries a number of risks:
- Problematic legacies.
- Political polarization.
- Disparity in representation/cultural marginalization.
To reduce these risks, the Street Naming Policy has been updated to remove the option to submit people names. Going forward, "The City shall not approve any submission requesting a street be named after a person, regardless of whether that person is living or deceased."
Submissions requesting a street be named after a person that were received prior to approval of the revisions will be processed as per the previous policy.
Decision: Approved unanimously.
Special Events Regulatory Committee
The Royal Canadian Legion will hold a Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on July 1. A rolling road closure will take place from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. along Queens Road, Duckworth Street (eastbound), Cochrane Street (southbound), and Water Street (westbound).
A march will then proceed from the War Memorial along Water Street and south on Ayre’s Cove. This section of Water Street will be closed from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The RNC and City Parking Enforcement Officers will provide support for the event.
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.
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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.
Weekly Payment Vouchers
Council approved the weekly payment vouchers for the weeks ending June 4 and June 11.
Proclamations
The below proclamation took place at the meeting. All proclamations are also shared on our website.
View Proclamations for June 2025
World Refugee Day 2025
