HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-04 Agreement - ICF (Wheatland County) OF
County of Newell and
Wheatland County
Moving Forward in Providing Services and
Opportunities for the Future
INTERMUNICIPAL COLLABORATION FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
FOREWORD
The County of Newell and Wheatland County have distinct and similar municipal characteristics. Both are
rural municipalities based upon building and maintaining core services including roads, bridges and
emergency services which are designed to service an agricultural and resource-based economy.
Collaboration between the two municipalities,where desired,allows for the ability to provide more efficient
and better service levels to municipal ratepayers in the region.While some services can be provided solely
in a single municipality, working together can improve economies of scale, sustainability of some
services, quality of services, and efficiency in delivery.
The two municipalities are committed to identifying current and future issues where joint benefits may
be realized through more formalized and rigorous processes, cooperation, and agreements.
Recognizing that it is a legislative requirement of the Provincial Government for municipalities to
collaborate, the County of Newell and Wheatland County have agreed upon this Intermunicipal
Collaboration Framework Agreement.
Goals of the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework Agreement
The Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework has five main purposes:
1. To meet the requirements of provincial legislation.
2. To promote the principles of collaboration between neighboring
municipalities with a common border.
3. To ensure municipalities consult and communicate on intermunicipal
matters.
4. To clearly lay out a process where the partners to this agreement can review
service levels and decide if the service would benefit from being regionally operated
&funded.
5. To consider appropriate fair funding mechanisms and deal with differences which
may occur from time to time.
The ICFAgreement Between The County of Newell and Wheatland
County Will-
Where feasible and practical — each municipality will work together to
assess how commonly utilized services will be provided and funded for the benefit of ratepayers.
Each Council maintains the right to make
individual decisions for their ratepayers, but each agree that they will always consider regional service delivery
where feasible in the decision-making process.
Developing positive joint approaches where practical to create efficiencies
by sharing opportunities, connections, goals, knowledge and experience to promote the greater good
between both municipalities.
Embrace differences in respective municipaliti - The distinct characteristics of the individual municipalities
is advantageous in providing choice and diversity.
Although each municipality is responsible to its citizens there is recognition
that the citizens and businesses of the region share similar needs and interests and as such each Council will
emphasize cooperation and therefore not direct competition with respect to setting municipal policy.
Cooperation and collaboration requires communication that
in turn encourages understanding and better results in reaching common goals.
Commitment to Consultation and Cooperation - Consultation
Protocol
The fundamental basis of this agreement is communication and consultation and as such the two
municipalities agreeto consult on projects which have a regional impact, and both agree to meet and work
through matters as they arise. As issues arise,they will first be handled by the respective CAO's or their designate
and if that does not resolve the concerns at hand it shall be dealt with by a committee from each council
recognizing time may be of the essence.
It is understood that this agreement will encourage communication at all levels of the organization to
ensure opportunities are recognized, information is passed through the respective organization and
decision makers are informed not just about their own municipality but about regional issues and concerns.
Roles in Managing the Intermunicipa/ Collaboration Framework
Agreement
Each Council retains the ability and responsibility to make decisions on behalf of their residents. By
signing onto the agreement, each Council affirms the commitment to increased cooperation at both
the council and administration levels.
The CAOs have been identified as the principals responsible for maintaining the agreement, its delivery
and dealing with intermunicipal issues that surface from time to time during the term of this
agreement. The CAO's will foster increased communication and will act as conduits for facilitating the
sharing of information, identifying opportunities and prioritizing municipal actions for the consideration
of each Council. Disputes or disagreements between CAOs will be dealt with by a dispute resolution
committee set up with members from each council.
The Role of Staff
Staff will be responsible to ensure the principles of the agreement are carried out operationally. Staff
will work cooperatively with their municipal counterparts to address issues that arise within the scope of
their authority and mandate. Staff will also bring to the attention of their respective CAO any issues that
arise which require their attention with respect to meeting the commitment and intent of this agreement.
Disputes among staff or municipal contractors between the municipalities will be dealt with by the CAOs.
Conflict Resolution
The municipalities recognize the need to establish a conflict resolution process based upon the following
principles:
1. At the earliest opportunity and at the point closest to where the problems initiated the Chief
Administrative Officers and/or Chief Elected Officials will seek to address matters of conflict.
2. All matters of conflict should be sought to be resolved swiftly, inexpensively and in an
uncomplicated way.
3. All matters of conflict should be resolved using a clear procedural pathway.
4. Maintain at all times, the essence of collaboration on the majority of issues even though conflict
may exist on some issues.
5. If a conflict or dispute cannot be resolved between the Chief Administrative Officers and/or Chief
Elected Officials, then both municipalities will follow the Arbitration Act.
I F AGREEMENT - STATUTORY PROVISIONS
Amendments to the Municipal Government Act require municipalities to work collaboratively with
neighboring municipalities to plan, deliver and fund intermunicipal services. The Act requires
municipalities with common borders to develop an Intermunicipal Collaborative Framework Agreement.
This agreement must address services that benefit residents in more than one municipality and are to
identify which municipality is responsible for the services being provided and how the service will be
delivered and funded.
Emergency Services
The County of Newell and Wheatland County have jointly entered into a Mutual Aid Agreement, on July
1711, 2000, specific to providing mutual fire protection services. Both municipalities agree to assist each
other, where practical, in the event of large scale disasters.
No agreements exist or are currently required between County of Newell and Wheatland County for
other areas of service. Other services can be made available on a "cost basis" where service capacity
exists.
running Contrihutlu.
There will not be any cost shared funding applicable or required as a result of this agreement. However,
in the future, for those service areas where both municipalities deem it prudent to provide shared
services, then the two municipalities will work collaboratively towards funding the service in a manner
that is fair and equitable to both jurisdictions. A formula may be derived where each municipality pays
their proportional share.
COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION
The County of Newell and Wheatland County acknowledge and affirm that they will seek to fulfill both
the intent and the spirit of this agreement by seeking opportunities to collaborate where practical as
well as to honor all applicable legislation with respect to intermunicipal collaboration within the Province
of Alberta.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have hereunto set their hands and affixed their corporate seals as
witnessed by the hand or hands of its proper signing officers.
Approved by Wheatland County March 3, 2020.
Approved by the County of Newell February 20„ 2020.
FOR COUNTYOF NEWELL FOR WHEATLAND COUNTY
PER: PER:
REEVE REEVE
PER: PER:
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Dated this 4th day of May 2020. Dated this 1st day of _ MaY 2020.