HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-01 Council Pre-Budget Planning Meeting (Special) Minutes COUNTY OF NEWELL
MINUTES OF 2020 PRE-BUDGET PLANNING MEETING
August 1, 2019
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
M. Fenske, Manager of Finance
S. Hanson, Assistant Manager of Finance
T. Green, Director of Agricultural Services
R. Fernell, Director of Information & Technology
' M. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Services
OTHERS IN S. Stanway, Brooks Bulletin
ATTENDANCE: C. Bews, Brooks Bulletin
4 County Ratepayers
Reeve M. Douglass called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
1. 2020 Budget Planning Meeting Overview
The Manager of Finance began by providing an overview and summary of the current
situation and factors that should be taken into consideration when planning for the future.
2. Department Initiatives
2.1 Agricultural Services
The Director of Agricultural Services provided Council with an overview of the
manner in which services have been provided by the Agricultural Services
Department for community groups throughout the County that operate community
facilities. The matter for Council to provide direction on is whether efforts should
be made to recover a portion of costs incurred by the Department to provide
services for community group operated facilities. Council expressed interest for
continuing with the status quo for this service.
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2020 Pre-Budget Planning Meeting
August 1,2019
2.2 Information Technology
The Director of Information & Technology provided Council with an overview of
options available for the safe backup and storage of organizational data.
C-252/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the 2020 budget include provisions
for decommissioning the current backup system with Vulcan County—to be replaced with
cloud storage backup.
MOTION CARRIED
Council engaged in further discussion regarding the Agricultural Services matter
of managing costs incurred to provide service for Community Groups. After a
discussion of the options, the Manager of Finance suggested it would be
appropriate for this to be dealt with through the Schedule of Fees Bylaw, which
offers a desired degree of flexibility. Council agreed that would be an appropriate
course of action to pursue.
2.3 Municipal Services
The Director of Municipal Services reviewed the history of the shoulder pull
program. Council engaged in an extensive discussion and determined that this
item will be considered together with the other Municipal Service Department
matters that are on the agenda.
The Director of Municipal Services provided an overview of the current aggregate
management program and various options.
The Director of Municipal Services provided background information on the dust
abatement program—both residential and non-residential applications—and rates
charged for the service.
C-253/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BRIAN DE JONG that Council supports increasing the
residential share from 50% to 75% with amendments to be made in the Schedule of Fees
Bylaw.
MOTION DEFEATED
C-254/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR CLARENCE AMULUNG that Council supports increasing the
residential share from 50% to 65%with amendments to be made in the Schedule of Fees
Bylaw
MOTION CARRIED
The Director of Municipal Services discussed details of the current program for
replacing graders, including options that could be considered.
The Director of Municipal Services discussed details about the current line painting
program and options that could be considered.
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2020 Pre-Budget Planning Meeting
August 1,2019
LUNCH
The Pre-Budget Planning Meeting RECESSED for lunch at 12:10 p.m, and RECONVENED at
1:05 p.m.
2.3 Municipal Services —continued
The Director of Municipal Services discussed details and provided an update on
the EID/County Drain Rehabilitation program and options for the future.
C-255/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR WAYNE HAMMERGREN that Council supports painting the
centerline every year and alternating shoulder line painting at a 1/3 cost savings, or
approximately $35,000 per year.
MOTION CARRIED
C-256/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that Council supports continuing the
EID/County Drainage Partnership as it is, funded $1 million dollars annually from both
parties.
MOTION CARRIED
C-257/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ANNE MARIE PHILIPSEN that Council supports continuing
the Shoulder Pull Program as it was historically planned, revisiting the program based on
findings of the 2020 Gravel Road Study update.
MOTION CARRIED
C-258/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council supports a 15,530 linear
meter (15.5 km) reduction in 100% County-funded non-residential dust abatement
locations with estimated savings of$71,440.00.
MOTION CARRIED
2.4 Finance
The Manager of Finance discussed options for Council to proceed with a split mill
rate in the future.
C-259/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council direct Administration to
move forward with drafting the bylaws for splitting the non-residential assessment classes
and tax rate structure.
MOTION CARRIED
The Manager of Finance reviewed the history regarding rates charged for water
and sewer utilities throughout the County and the recovery of costs for operating
these systems.
C-260/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR WAYNE HAMMERGREN that Administration report back with
details for an acceptable percentage 2020 utility rate increase.
MOTION CARRIED
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2020 Pre-Budget Planning Meeting
August 1,2019
M. Fenske provided an overview of regulated rates applied to the assessment of
farmland and suggested changes that would enhance the degree of fairness in the
assessment and taxation of farmland.
C-261/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the recommended increases to the
farmland rate be included in the 2020 budget and forecasted years as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
2.5 Corporate Services
The Director of Corporate Services provided an overview of the Municipal Energy
Manager Program and the opportunity to participate in a joint program and funding
initiative with the City of Brooks.
C-262/19 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LIONEL JUSS that Council approve a decision to support the
City of Brooks Municipal Energy Manager application with the understanding that the
County will share the local cost on a 50/50 basis with the City of Brooks.
MOTION DEFEATED
The Director of Corporate Services provided an overview of the Municipal Solar
Program and the potential opportunity for the County to submit a formal funding
application under that program. Council engaged in a discussion and expressed
reservations about the benefits and that the funding contribution required from the
County would likely take longer than anticipated to fully recover through energy '
savings. This item was accepted as information.
3. Councillnitiatives
Reeve M. Douglass asked if there were any Councilor initiatives that individual members
of Council wanted to bring forward for consideration. No initiatives were submitted.
Reeve M. Douglass adjourned the meeting at 2:43 p.m.
Signed this � day of , 2019
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Reeve
C u y Administra r
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