HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-25 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL
MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL
June 25, 2015
The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office on
Thursday, June 25, 2015 commencing at 10:57 a.m.
MEMBERS Molly Douglass, Reeve
PRESENT:
COUNCILLORS: C. Amulung
G. Simpson
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
A. Wickert, Manager of Planning & Development
D. Horvath - County Planner - ORRSC
K. Martin, Manager of Fire & Emergency Services
A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant
OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin
ATTENDANCE:
1. CALL TO ORDER
Reeve M. Douglass called the meeting to order at 10:57 a.m.
2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING
All members were in attendance at this meeting.
3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
3.1 Minutes - Council (June 11, 2015)
C-241/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ANNE MARIE PHILIPSEN that the June 11, 2015 Council
Meeting minutes be adopted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
Regular Council
June 25, 2015
4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS
Reeve M. Douglass called for post agenda items.
5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
C-242115 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the agenda be adopted as
presented.
MOTION CARRIED
7. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
7.1 Policy Review - 2015-PPW-022 Road Allowance Closure for Lease or
Purchase
The Manager of Planning & Development provided background information on
this item and responded to questions from Council. She outlined amendments
made to the Application to Close a Road Allowance form.
C-243115 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR WAYNE HAMMERGREN that Policy 2015-PPW-022 (Road
Allowance Closure Process) be adopted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
7.2 Update to the North Headgates Area Redevelopment Plan (SW 5-18-14-W4)
The Manager of Planning & Development provided background information on
this item. A meeting has been scheduled with the landowner's agent and the
planning firm this afternoon and she requested direction from Council. There has
been nothing further received from the planning firm since the County reviewed
the draft Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) and provided a list of suggested
revisions in the summer of 2014. She indicated that they would like the planning
firm to submit the ARP, with or without revisions, and the application fee so that
the process can move forward.
ARRIVED AT MEETING
K. Martin arrived at 11:06 a.m.
Discussion followed. The Manager of Planning & Development indicated that the
landowner has not confirmed his attendance at the meeting, but his agent has
the authority to speak for him and the planning firm will also be in
attendance. The goal of this afternoon's meeting is to discuss various points of
view and try to get all parties on the same page. The Manager of Planning &
Development indicated that the preferred course of action would be to give the
planning firm a deadline of September 1, 2015 to submit the ARP and application
fee and proceed with a stop order if the deadline is missed. The stop order
\---/ M19 would involve all developments that have been put in place since 2005 -
approximately 15 structures. The County Planner indicated that the County had
reviewed the draft ARP and responded with six pages of revisions, and they
hope to have at least some of these revisions implemented at today's
Regular Council
June 25, 2015
meeting. The Manager of Planning & Development responded to questions
regarding the development. Council provided direction to staff that a firm
deadline be finalized for the completed ARP. If the deadline is not satisfactory,
Council discussed the next step of registering a stop order for the removal of
anything constructed without a permit from 2005 to date. This item will be placed
on the July 9, 2015 Council Meeting agenda for further discussion.
10. INFORMATION ITEMS
10.1 Stop Order for Unauthorized Development
(Block 1, Plan 931 0333, NE 24-18-14-W4 - Div. 5)
The Manager of Planning & Development provided background information on
this item, indicating that CCR Technologies Ltd. is proceeding with legal action
against the owner of the land they are leasing. The hearing is scheduled for July
9, 2015 and could result in the landowner being required to provide consent for
the development permit application. The Manager of Planning & Development
indicated that the preferred course of action is to postpone issuance of a Stop
Order until after the court proceedings have occurred. Council accepted this item
as information.
LEFT THE MEETING
A. Wickert and D. Horvath left the meeting at 11:20 a.m.
6. BYLAWS
6.1 Bylaw 1839-15 - Fire Bylaw
The Manager of Fire & Emergency Services provided background information on
this item, outlining the changes that have been made to the bylaw. He
responded to questions from Council regarding fines and the definition of 'running
fire. '
C-244/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TRACY FYFE that Bylaw 1839-15, being a bylaw for the
prevention or extinguishing of fires, for the safety, health and welfare of people and the
protection of people and property from injury or destruction by fire, be given FIRST
reading.
MOTION CARRIED
C-245/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that Bylaw 1839-15 be given SECOND
reading.
MOTION CARRIED
C-246/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that consent be given for Bylaw 1839-15 to
receive third reading this 25th day of June, 2015.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUS Y
Regular Council
June 25, 2015
C-247/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ANNE MARIE PHILIPSEN that Bylaw 1839-15 be given
THIRD and FINAL reading.
MOTION CARRIED
Councillor C. Amulung asked how the use of burning barrels is regulated in
Rolling Hills. The Manager of Fire & Emergency Services suggested that a
separate bylaw may be required to deal with the issue of burning barrels in
hamlets. He provided background information on the situation in Rolling Hills,
indicating that the direction to not allow the use of burning barrels within the
hamlet may have come from the Hamlet Advisory Committee. The Manager of
Fire & Emergency Services responded to questions about the potential for a fire
ban in the County of Newell in the near future.
LEFT THE MEETING
K. Martin left the meeting at 11:30 a.m.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS - CONTINUED
7.3 National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP)
The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item,
indicating that the request had been the result of a meeting in Vulcan with
several Foothills Little Bow Municipalities. The information on the program was
circulated internally and did not receive a lot of interest, but he iterated that good
data will have some real benefits in the future in planning around the 100 - 300
year flood events. He also noted that the level of commitment for the County can
be determined during project scoping. The Chief Administrative Officer
responded to questions from Council.
C-248/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ANNE MARIE PHILIPSEN that the County of Newell agrees
to participate in an inter -municipal application under Stream 2 of the National Disaster
Mitigation Program for the purpose of flood mapping, appointing Vulcan County to the
role of managing partner.
MOTION CARRIED
7.4 Cheques for Payment
C-249/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR CLARENCE AMULUNG that cheque 181289 in the amount
of $7,500,000.00 be APPROVED.
MOTION CARRIED
7.5 Payment Register
The Director of Corporate Services responded to questions from Council
regarding the soil sampling for grader sites, indicating that they are ensuring
there is no contamination before discontinuing the practice of parking graders on
private property. Discussion followed and the Director of Corporate Services
indicated that he would determine the number of grader sites.
!s
Regular Council
June 25, 2015
C7250/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BRIAN DE JONG that the Payment Register be accepted.
MOTION CARRIED
7.6 Requests for Functions of Council
There were no requests for functions of Council to discuss at this meeting.
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS
8.1 Bow River Basin Council
Councillor W. Hammergren reported that he attended the Bow River Basin
Council's Annual General Meeting with Councillor B. de Jong and Mayor
M. Shields. The highlights included a speaker from Australia who provided
information on sewage management and generating energy from human waste
and a review of a study on phosphorous levels in the Bow River. There was also
a presentation by students regarding a campaign to remove plastic microbeads
from personal hygiene products. Councillor B. de Jong provided further
information, indicating the microbeads cannot be filtered by treatment plants and
are harmful to fish and wildlife. He also indicated that he distributed a report to
Council regarding the snow pack as compared to previous years and noted that
rain gauges are available for those interested in helping collect rainfall data.
8.2 Newell Foundation
Councillor G. Simpson indicated that he attended the Alberta Senior Citizens
Housing Association conference with Reeve M. Douglass and C. Stephenson
where he was elected to the Board as South Region Director.
8.3 Shortgrass Library Board
Councillor K. Christman reported that library fines are now payable online. She
also outlined other online services available through the Shortgrass Library
System.
8.4 County of Newell Library Board
Councillor K. Christman reported that book houses have been ordered for Rolling
Hills Reservoir, Scandia, and Bow City. Brooks Composite High School will
create the book houses in September.
8.5 Bassano Doctor Recruitment & Retention
Councillor K. Christman provided details regarding a celebration to honor the
present doctor and welcome the new doctors in Bassano. The event will be held
Regular Council
June 25, 2015
on July 15, 2015 and she requested the attendance of a Council member at the
event.
8.6 Tourism Representative
Councillor E. Unruh provided an overview of the Newell Regional Tourism
Association's Annual General Meeting, which was well attended. The County of
Newell has been featured on the Dimestore Fisherman television program and a
43 second commercial featuring Dinosaur Park and Drumheller has been running
in 126 theaters before showings of Jurassic World. The Newell Regional
Tourism Association has done away with membership fees for businesses to join
in an effort to attract more businesses. Councillor E. Unruh listed the businesses
that received funding through the Tourism Development Fund last year, which
include Tumbleweed Theater, the Brooks & District Museum, the EID Historical
Park, and Brooks & County Immigration Services.
Councillor A.M. Philipsen submitted a written report.
8.7 9-1-1 Committee
Councillor B. de Jong reported that tomorrow members of the 9-1-1 Committee
will be touring the Calgary EMS facility.
8.8 Governor General's Canadian Leadership Study Tour
Councillor A.M. Philipsen submitted a written report.
8.9 Land Use Bylaw Review
Councillor A.M. Philipsen submitted a written report.
8.10 Elected Officials Education Program Course - Regional Partnerships &
Collaboration
Councillor A.M. Philipsen submitted a written report.
8.11 Red Deer River Watershed Alliance
Councillor A.M. Philipsen submitted a written report.
8.12 Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference 2015
Councillor B. de Jong submitted a written report.
Regular Council
June 25, 2015
8.13 Bassano Rodeo
Councillor K. Christman provided details regarding the Bassano Rodeo which will
be held June 26-28, 2015.
LUNCH
Council RECESEED for lunch at 12:09 p.m. and RECONVENED at 12:50 p.m.
8.14 Reeve's Report
Reeve M. Douglass reported that she attended a joint meeting of the Southeast
and Southwest Mayors & Reeves Associations of Southern Alberta. Highlights of
the meeting included discussion regarding Municipal Sustainability Initiative
Funding and whether it would remain in place and a resolution to be submitted to
the Foothills Little Bow Municipal Association regarding broadband internet for
rural areas. There was also the suggestion to include common issues during
meetings with Ministers, such as sustainable funding and continuing to educate
ministers on rural municipalities. Reeve M. Douglass indicated that she would be
attending the Palliser Economic Partnership's Annual General Meeting tomorrow
on behalf of Councillor B. de Jong. Councillor K. Christman suggested a topic for
meetings with ministers could be the importance of regional collaboration.
9. POST AGENDA ITEMS
9.1 Funding Request - HALO
Council was provided with background information on this item. The Director of
Corporate Services responded to questions from Council. HALO has not
previously requested funding from the County of Newell. In 2014, STARS
received funding in the amount of $1.50 per capita, but no funds were allocated
in the 2015 budget. Discussion followed. Councillor C. Amulung indicated that
the services provided by STARS and HALO are constantly changing and that
Council should request more information prior to making a decision. Councillor
T. Fyfe noted that, following the STARS presentation during the May 21, 2015
Council meeting, they were to provide information regarding how they cooperate
with HALO. The Executive Assistant was directed to follow up with STARS
regarding this information and to invite representatives from HALO to a future
Council meeting. Councillor W. Hammergren suggested that financial support for
various organizations be discussed during the upcoming budget meetings. This
item was accepted as information.
10. INFORMATION ITEMS - CONTINUED
10.2 Strategic Priorities Chart
This item was accepted as information.
Regular Council
June 25, 2015
11. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION
A question period and notice of motion was held.
Reeve M. Douglass requested that potential agenda items for the upcoming meeting
with MLA D. Fildebrandt be discussed during the July 9, 2015 Council Meeting.
12. IN CAMERA
C-251/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ANNE MARIE PHILIPSEN that we move in camera at
1:06 p.m. to discuss a land and a labour issue.
MOTION CARRIED
C-252/15 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that we move out of camera at 1:55 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED
13. ADJOURN
Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m.
Signed this day of '2015
Reeve