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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-05 Council (Regular) Minutes COUNTY OF NEWELL MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL March 5, 2020 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office on Thursday, March 5, 2020 commencing at 10:01 a.m. MEMBERS M. Douglass, Reeve PRESENT: COUNCILLORS: C. Amulung H. Kallen W. Hammergren T. Fyfe K. Christman E. Unruh B. de Jong L. Juss ABSENT: A.M. Philipsen STAFF: K. Stephenson, Chief Administrative Officer L. Johnson, Director of Corporate Services W. Schaap, Manager of Agricultural Services C. Hok, Environmental Services Supervisor G. Tiffin, Manager of Planning, Development & Engineering M. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Services T. Schroeder, Manager of Operations A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin ATTENDANCE: K. Steinley, Newell Regional Services Commission R. Wurz, NSC Minerals K. McTaggart, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers 1. CALL TO ORDER Reeve M. Douglass called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING C-59/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that Councillor A.M. Philipsen be excused from the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Council (February 20, 2020) C-60/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BRIAN DE JONG that the February 20,2020 Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Regular Council March 5,2020 4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS Reeve M. Douglass called for post agenda items. 5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-61/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HUBY KALLEN that the agenda be adopted as amended. MOTION CARRIED 6. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION A question period and notice of motion was held. No County Ratepayers were in attendance. 8. AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BUSINESS 8.1 ASB Update The Manager of Agricultural Services provided an update on strychnine and gopher control. The Environmental Services Supervisor provided information regarding the reduction in the Agricultural Services Board Grant and what this means for the County. Further updates were provided on the activities of the Agricultural Services Department. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Environmental Services Supervisor responded to questions regarding Environmental Farm Plans. The Manager of Agricultural Services responded to questions regarding the reduction in grant funding and strychnine. LEFT THE MEETING W. Schaap and C. Hok left the meeting at 10:16 a.m. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 9.1 Planning & Development Report The Manager of Planning, Development & Engineering presented an update on the recent activities of the Planning & Development Department. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Manager of Planning, Development& Engineering responded to questions regarding the cannabis production facility and the Tilley solar development. C-62/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the Planning & Development Report for February 2020 be accepted as presented. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING G. Tiffin left the meeting at 10:19 a.m. Page 2 of 7 Regular Council March 5,2020 9.2 Terms of Reference -Joint Services Committee Discussion followed regarding the suggestion to review waste management fees. Councillor L. Juss responded to questions, indicating that the Newell Regional Solid Waste Management Authority Board would be reviewing the numbers. The Chief Administrative Officer suggested that the Joint Services Committee could deal with administrative items of a regional nature, but items specific to landfill operation should be dealt with byNRSWMA. He provided further information on waste management fees and determining a fair user pay structure, indicating that those discussions could happen at a political level with administrative support. Discussion followed. The Joint Services Committee would discuss issues and make recommendations to the Councils, who would make the decisions. Discussion followed regarding representation on the Joint Services Committee being two Councillors per municipality. The suggestion was made to start the meeting at 1:00 p.m. and not provide lunch. Discussion followed regarding how to deal with the Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) Committee meetings, which are held immediately prior to the Joint Services Committee meetings and are very short. The Chief Administrative Officer reported that the IDP agreement is up for review and changes could be made to the requirement for meetings. Discussion followed regarding administrative responsibility for the Joint Services Committee meetings being rotated among the municipalities and whether some municipalities may not have the capacity. Discussion followed regarding economic development. The Joint Services Committee receives regular updates on economic development but makes few decisions. The Joint Services Committee does participate in an annual workshop where economic development goals are discussed, and it was suggested that municipalities could bring forward initiatives during this time. The Chief Administrative Officer suggested that economic development be a separate function involving representatives with expertise in economic development. There are benefits to working together and identifying long term initiatives for the region. This item will be discussed further during the March 19, 2020 Council meeting. 9.4 Cheques for Payment There were no cheques for payment to discuss at this meeting. ARRIVED AT MEETING K. Steinley arrived at 10:47 a.m. 9.5 Payment Register The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. C-63/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR CLARENCE AMULUNG that the Payment Register be accepted. MOTION CARRIED Page 3 of 7 Regular Council March 5,2020 10. MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUSINESS 10.1 Utilities - NRSC Report K. Steinley presented The Utilities - NRSC Report to Council, giving an overview of the highlights. The required annual maintenance tasks have been completed and no major issues were found. The rural water supply to the regional landfill froze in the meter vault. One of the pumps at the Lake Newell Resort lift station has been reinstalled and minor electrical upgrades were also done. ARRIVED AT MEETING T. Schroeder and R. Wurz arrived at 10:53 a.m. The pump at the Tilley lift station was cleaned out. A small leak on the Newell Regional Services Corporation transmission main to the Rolling Hills pump house has been repaired. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. ARRIVED AT MEETING M. Harbicht arrived at 10:54 a.m. K. Steinley responded to questions from Council regarding line location and provided further information regarding mapping underground utilities. LEFT THE MEETING K. Steinley left the meeting at 10:56 a.m. 10.2 Director of Municipal Services Report The Director of Municipal Services presented his report to Council, giving an overview of the highlights. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Director of Municipal Services responded to questions about potential road bans, roadside brush control, and provincial highway maintenance contracts. Trees should be planted far enough from the road allowance to manage road safety and liability issues. C-64/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TRACY FYFE that the Director of Municipal Services Report and the Utilities - NRSC Report for February 2020 be APPROVED as presented MOTION CARRIED 10.3 Tender Award - Dust Abatement The Manager of Operations provided background information on this item, indicating that product requirements were changed to allow more companies to bid. He also explained the results of testing alternative dust abatement products, indicating that they will continue to explore other options. Page 4 of 7 Regular Council March 5,2020 ARRIVED AT MEETING K. McTaggart arrived at 11:14 a.m. The Manager of Operations provided an overview of the tender results. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Manager of Operations responded to questions regarding the tender process and how the costs are estimated. C-65/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BRIAN DE JONG that Council accepts the low tender as submitted and awards the contract for supply and application of dust abatement product to Kortech for a three-year period at the submitted rates. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING M. Harbicht, T. Schroeder, and R. Wurz left the meeting at 11:23 a.m. 7. DELEGATIONS 7.1 Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) K. McTaggart provided background information on the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and their members. She displayed a graphic showing changes to the global energy mix from 2018 to 2040, noting that while there has been a rapid increase in renewable energy, renewables are not outpacing fossil fuels. Development of natural gas is key to the future of the oil and gas industry. K. McTaggart displayed graphs showing upstream capital investment and the prices of crude oil and natural gas over time. She provided an update on oil pipelines and the natural gas market. K. McTaggart gave an overview of CAPP's priorities. She indicated that the COVID-19 virus will have an economic effect on the oil and gas industry as a result of reduced use of product for travel and factory closures. She invited Council to subscribe to the CAPP Context newsletter. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. K. McTaggart responded to questions regarding the Supreme Court of Canada's decision on the Transmountain Pipeline and provided further information on other large pipeline projects. She also explained the difference between orphaned and abandoned wells. K. McTaggart provided information regarding the cost of Canadian oil versus foreign oil, indicating that government regulations reduce the competitiveness of the Canadian oil and gas industry. Discussion followed and K. McTaggart indicated that she would provide further information regarding the multiple levels of taxation on the oil and gas industry. K. McTaggart responded to further questions from Council regarding emissions and environmental restrictions. LEFT THE MEETING K. McTaggart left the meeting at 12:02 p.m. Page 5 of 7 Regular Council March 5,2020 LUNCH Council RECESSED for lunch at 12:02 p.m. and RECONVENED at 12:45 p.m. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS—continued 9.3 Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) 2020 Spring Convention Resolutions Council was presented with the resolutions package for the RMA 2020 Spring Convention. Discussion followed on the resolutions and whether to support them. 9.6 Requests for Functions of Council There were no functions of Council to discuss at this meeting. 11. POST AGENDA ITEMS 11.1 Sturgeon County - FCM Reception Invitation Council was presented with a letter from Sturgeon County inviting participation in a reception at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) convention to promote Alberta. The Chief Administrative Officer reported that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta organization has been in contact with Sturgeon County and is aware of the proposal but are not involved. Further, the RMA encouraged Sturgeon County to communicate with the group planning a similar presentation to avoid overlap. Discussion followed and Council expressed concerns with individual municipalities acting on behalf of the province, indicating that a unified approach through the RMA is required. 11.2 Annual Report (Long Version) Council requested clarification on the decision made during the February 20, 2020 Council meeting to stop producing the short version of the Annual Report document. The Executive Assistant indicated that reports from the Director of Municipal Services, Director of Agricultural Services, and Manager of Planning, Development&Engineering and the Reeve's Message can be included in the long version of the Annual Report. Discussion followed. The Director of Corporate Services indicated that staff will ensure that all reports are included in the Annual Report. 12. INFORMATION ITEMS 12.1 Upcoming Community Events Council was provided a form to submit information for upcoming events in their community. Page 6 of 7 Regular Council March 5,2020 13. IN CAMERA C-66/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HUBY KALLEN that we move in camera at 1:11 p.m. to discuss the following matters: • Intergovernmental Relations - FOI PP Act Section 21; • Land - FOI PP Act Section 27; • Land - FOI PP Act Section 27. MOTION CARRIED C-67/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that we move out of camera at 3:25 p.m. MOTION CARRIED 14. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m. Signed this 19th day of March 12020 Reeve fl--- County Administrator Page 7 of 7