HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-29 Council (Special) Minutes COUNTY OF NEWELL
MINUTES OF SPECIAL COUNCIL
December 29, 2020
The Special Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office on Tuesday,
December 29, 2020 commencing at 10:02 a.m. The purpose of the meeting was to consider
Bylaw 1998-20, a bylaw to change the number of Councii members to seven (7) and to formally
establish boundaries for seven (7) electoral divisions.
The Chief Administrative Officer, being the Designated Officer for the County of Newell, attended
at the County Council Chambers to allow members of the public to watch the livestream meeting
proceedings. Notice was posted at the front entrance advising the public of the meeting. No
members of the public were physically in attendance.
MEMBERS M. Douglass, Reeve
PRESENT:
COUNCILLORS: C. Amulung
H. Kallen
A.M. Philipsen
W. Hammergren
T. Fyfe
K. Christman
E. Unruh
B. de Jong
L. Juss
STAFF: K. Stephenson, Chief Administrative Officer
L. Johnson, Director of Corporate Services
T. Green, Director of Agricultural Services (Meeting Moderator)
A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant
OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin
ATTENDANCE:
1. CALL TO ORDER
Reeve M. Douglass called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.
2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING
All members were in attendance at this meeting.
3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
C-394/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HUBY KALLEN that the agenda be adopted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
Regular Council
December 29,2020
4. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION
A question period and notice of motion was held. No County Ratepayers were physically
in attendance. The moderator indicated that there were no questions from the public
viewing the livestream.
5. BYLAWS
5.1 Bylaw 1998-20 Establishment of Electoral Division Boundaries & Number of
Councillors
The Director of Corporate Services provided background information on this
item. As a result of feedback received from the public, a possible alternative
Schedule A map has been prepared and is included in the agenda package for
Council's consideration. The Director of Corporate Services reviewed the options
included in the Request for Decision and asked for direction from Council on how
to proceed.
Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Director of Corporate
Services outlined the next steps in the �process, which could include a motion
amending Bylaw 1998-20 with the new Schedule A if that is Council's preference,
followed by a motion providing second reading to Bylaw 1998-20 as amended and
a motion for third reading. He indicated that the amended Schedule A was not
required to be formally distributed to the public and was available online in the
agenda package.
C-395/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR BRIAN DE JONG that proposed Bylaw 1998-
20 be AMENDED by replacing Schedule A with the Seven (7) Division Map labeled
Version 9.
The moderator displayed the amended Schedule A Map on the
screen. Discussion followed. Councillor E. Unruh asked whether the eight or nine
Division maps submitted by ratepayers would be considered. Council indicated
that the original motion was to proceed with seven divisions and that the amended
map meets the goa/of even population distribution while keeping Scandia, Rainier,
and Bow City together within one division. The Director of Corporate Services
confirmed that, in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, an even number
of e/ected officials on a Council is not an option. Councillor W. Hammergren
indicated that he supported the amended map because it keeps the Division 4
communities together in one division, but he reiterated his concerns of insufficient
public consultation.
Reeve M. Douglass called the question.
Councillor E. Unruh requested a recorded vote.
Vote on Motion C-395/20:
In Favour- Division 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Opposed - Division 7
MOTION CARRIED
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Regular Council
December 29,2020
C-396/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TRACY FYFE that Bylaw 1998-20, being a bylaw to establish
electoral division boundaries for the County of Newell and to establish the number of
Councillors to serve on County of Newell Council, be given SECOND reading as
amended.
Councillor E. Unruh requested a recorded vote.
In Favour- Division 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Opposed - Division 4, 7
MOTION CARRIED
C-397/20 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that Bylaw 1998-20 be given THIRD and ,
FINAL reading.
Councillor E. Unruh requested a recorded vote.
Councillor W. Hammergren and Councillor E. Unruh reiterated concerns of the short time
frame and methods used for the public consultation. Discussion followed.
In Favour- Division 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Opposed - Division 4, 7
MOTION CARRIED
6. POST AGENDA ITEMS
There were no post agenda items to discuss at this meeting.
7. ADJOURN
Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Signed this -1 ' day of ���� , 2021
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