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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-23 Council (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL June 23, 2022 The regular Council Meeting of the County of Newell was held in the County Office and livestreamed to the public via Lifesize on Thursday, June 23, 2022 commencing at 10:18 a.m. Notice was posted at the front entrance advising the public of the meeting. MEMBERS A. Doerksen, Reeve PRESENT: COUNCILLORS: D. Short A. Skanderup L. Kopp H. Johnson G. Skriver K. Christman E. Unruh A. Philpott N. Johnson STAFF: M. Fenske, Chief Administrative Officer L. Johnson, Director of Corporate Services T. Green, Director of Agricultural Services (Moderator) G. Tiffin, Manager of Planning, Development and Engineering S. Simpson, Development Officer Z. Forest, Municipal Intern - Planning M. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Services S. Christensen, Manager of Corporate Safety Services R. Nesbitt, Corporate Safety Services Officer C. Knibbs, Corporate Safety Services Officer A. Ferguson, Fire and Safety Administrative Assistant S. Luchies, Rural Fire and Emergency Services Coordinator A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant OTHERS IN L. Velez, Colliers Project Leaders ATTENDANCE: J. Bailey, Armor Building D. Reid-Mickler, Village of Duchess CALL TO ORDER Reeve A. Doerksen called the meeting to order at 10:18 a.m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING All members were in attendance at this meeting. Regular Council June 23, 2022 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Council (June 9, 2022) C-203/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that the June 9, 2022 Council Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 4. CALL FOR POST AGENDA ITEMS Reeve A. Doerksen called for post agenda items. 5. ADOPTION OF AGENDA C-204/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR AMANDA PHILPOTT that the agenda be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 6. QUESTION PERIOD/NOTICE OF MOTION A question period and notice of motion was held. No County Ratepayers were in attendance. The moderator indicated that there were no questions from the public. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 10.1 Select Date- Municipal Development Plan (MDP) Council Visioning Session The Municipal Intern - Planning provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Discussion followed and Council agreed that the Municipal Development Plan Council Visioning Session would be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 beginning at 9:00 a.m. 7. BYLAWS 7.1 Bylaw 2033-22 - 22 LUA 004 (NE 28-17-12-W4 - A-GEN to I-GEN) The Manager of Planning, Development & Engineering provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-205/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ADENA SKANDERUP that Bylaw 2033-22, being a bylaw to amend Land Use Bylaw 2016-21 by redesignating a portion of the NE 28-17-12-W4 from Agriculture, General District to Industrial, General District as shown in schedule A, be given THIRD and FINAL reading. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING G. Tiffin, Z. Forest, and S. Simpson left the meeting at 10:27 a.m. Page 2 of 9 Regular Council June 23, 2022 9. AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BUSINESS 9.1 ASB Update There was no update on the recent activities of the Agricultural Services Department provided at this meeting. 9.2 2022 ASB Resolution Report Card The Director of Agricultural Services provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-206/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council accepts the report card recommendations from the ASB Provincial Committee and Accepts in Principle Resolution 6-22. MOTION CARRIED 9.3 Rural Beautification Awards - Review Policy 2016-PAG-029 & Assign Council Judge The Director of Agricultural Services provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council regarding the Rural Beautification Awards program. C-207/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN SHORT that Policy 2022-PAG-029 (Rural Beautification Awards) be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Discussion followed and the Director of Agricultural Services responded to further questions regarding the judging. Councillor L. Kopp volunteered to judge the Rural Beautification Awards July 18 -19, 2022. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS — continued 10.2 Townhall on Federal Funding for Rural Communities The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-208/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that the County of Newell participates in the townhall on federal funding for rural communities. MOTION CARRIED Discussion followed regarding issues impacting economic development in the region that will be included in the response. ARRIVED AT MEETING S. Christensen, R. Nesbitt, C. Knibbs, and A. Ferguson arrived at 10:40 a.m. Page 3 of 9 Regular Council June 23, 2022 The issues that will be communicated are human capital, communications network, and rural healthcare and education. Further discussion followed. 8. DELEGATIONS 8.1 Introduction of New Corporate Safety Services Officer The Manager of Corporate Safety Services introduced Council to the members of the Corporate Safety Department. LEFT THE MEETING S. Christensen, R. Nesbitt, C. Knibbs, and A. Ferguson left the meeting at 10:46 a.m. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS — continued 10.3 Joint Services Committee - Funding Request for Brooks Maternity Clinic The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. C-209/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that Council APPROVES a funding contribution of $0.48 per capita to fund clerical staffing costs for the Brooks Maternity Clinic; further, that Council adds this item to their advocacy efforts with the province including an initial letter to the Minister of Health from the Reeve. MOTION CARRIED 10.4 Requests for Functions of Council 10.4.1 Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) District 5 Golf Tournament (July 15, 2022) The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. This item was accepted as information. 10.4.2 Newell Pro Rodeo Pancake Breakfast (June 10, 2022) Discussion followed regarding Council being compensated for their attendance at the pancake breakfast. ARRIVED AT MEETING M. Harbicht arrived at 10:55 a.m. C-210/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that any Councillor be permitted to serve at the Newell Pro Rodeo Pancake Breakfast in Brooks, AB on June 10, 2022 as a function of Council MOTION DEFEATED Page 4 of 9 Regular Council June 23, 2022 10.4.3 Invitations to Reeve A. Doerksen Reeve A. Doerksen indicated that he had received invitations to events hosted by Brownlee LLP and Atco Gas. Discussion followed regarding whether County of Newell should be represented at these events. C-211/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that any Councillor be permitted to attend the Brownlee Barn Burner in Calgary, AB on July 7, 2022 as a function of Council. MOTION CARRIED 10.4.4 Meeting with Minister of Health & Alberta Health Services (June 23, 2022) C-212122 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that Reeve A. Doerksen and Councillor K. Christman -be -perm,i# el to attend the meeting with the Minister of Health and Alberta Health Services in Medicine Hat, AB on June 23, 2022 as a function of Council. MOTION CARRIED 11. MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUSINESS 11.1 2022 Field Day The Director of Municipal Services provided background information on this item and responded to questions from Council. Discussion followed. C-213/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ADENA SKANDERUP that a one -day Field Day be planned for the NW quadrant of the County of Newell on Thursday, September 15, 2022. MOTION CARRIED ARRIVED AT MEETING S. Luchies, L. Velez, J. Bailey, and L. Johnson arrived at 11:04 a.m. 8. DELEGATIONS — continued 8.3 Patricia Fire Hall The Rural Fire & Emergency Services Coordinator provided background information on this item. L. Velez gave a presentation that outlined progress made to date and a list of the cost savings that have been implemented and overall costing implications. If approved by Council, the next steps will be to finalize the drawing revisions and submit the final building permit application. She indicated that the structural steel order must be placed by June 30, 2022 to avoid further cost increases. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions regarding funding for the project. Discussion followed. L. Velez and the Rural Fire & Emergency Services Coordinator responded to questions regarding items that will be purchased through operational funds over the next 3-5 years. The Chief Administrative Officer and J. Bailey provided additional information. Page 6 of 9 Regular Council June 23, 2022 C-214/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that Council APPROVES proceeding with the construction of the Patricia Fire Hall by Armor Building Systems based on change orders that reduce the cost to $1,626,000 plus a contingency allowance of 10%, funded from the Fire Apparatus Fund. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING S. Luchies, L. Velez, J. Bailey, and L. Johnson left the meeting at 11:26 a.m. 12. COMMITTEE REPORTS 12.1 Brooks Region Tourism Councillor A. Skanderup submitted a written report. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. 12.2 FCM 2022 Convention Councillor E. Unruh and Councillor L. Kopp submitted written reports. Councillor N. Johnson provided additional information. Discussion followed. 12.3 Grasslands Regional FCSS Councillor A. Skanderup submitted a written report. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. 12.4 County of Newell Library Board & Shortgrass Library Board Councillor L. Kopp submitted a written report. Councillor K. Christman responded to questions from Council. 12.5 Newell Housing Foundation Councillor A. Philpott submitted a written report. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. 12.6 Palliser Economic Partnership Councillor H. Johnson submitted a written report. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Page 6 of 9 Regular Council June 23, 2022 12.7 Safe Communities Committee Councillor A. Philpott submitted a written report. She responded to questions from Council, indicating that the Safe Communities Committee will be encouraged to include hamlets in their community relations work. 12.8 Small Town Smoke Down BBQ Competition Councillor K. Christman submitted a written report. Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. 12.9 Joint Services Committee Councillor G. Skriver reported that the Joint Services Committee had received a presentation on the state of health services in the region. ARRIVED AT MEETING D. Reid-Mickler arrived at 11:34 a.m. The Joint Services Committee also approved the branding change to Brooks Newell Region. Councillor G. Skriver responded to questions regarding timelines for changing the brand. 12.10 Rolling Hills Hamlet Advisory Board Councillor D. Short reported that the Annual General Meeting of the Rolling Hills Hamlet Advisory Board was held on June 22, 2022. Topics discussed were future sewer upgrades, Hays bridge traffic, safety in the community, streetlight improvements, a dog park, and improving communications and transparency between Council and the Hamlet Advisory Board. Councillor D. Short responded to questions from Council. 13. POST AGENDA ITEMS There were no post agenda items to discuss at this meeting. 14. INFORMATION ITEMS 14.1 Payment Registers The Chief Administrative Officer responded to questions from Council. This item was accepted as information. 14.2 Mini Bus Monthly Report (May 2022) This item was accepted as information. Page 7 of 9 Regular Council June 23, 2022 14.3 Strategic Priorities Chart This item was accepted as information. 14.4 Brooks Newell Region Economic Development Report This item was accepted as information. 14.5 Lightcatch - De -risk the Local Crime Rate The Chief Administrative Officer provided background information on this item, indicating that crime rates in the County are currently tracked by the RCMP and presented in their quarterly reports. This item was accepted as information. 14.6 Letter from Town of Bon Accord - Increasing Utility Fees This item was accepted as information. 8. DELEGATIONS — continued 8.4 Rural Economic Development Forum D. Reid-Mickler reported that she participated in a series of engagement sessions with Alberta Agriculture, Forestry & Rural Economic Development that were focused on furthering rural economic development. A list of priorities has been developed from these sessions. She requested feedback from Council on any items the region would like brought forward during a Rural Economic Forum next week. D. Reid-Mickler responded to questions from Council. Council will forward any further suggestions for discussion at the forum. LEFT THE MEETING D. Reid-Mickler left the meeting at 11:49 p.m. 8.2 Request for Appointment of County Representative - Brooks & District Health Foundation Discussion followed. Councillor K. Christman and Councillor E. Unruh provided information regarding their experiences as volunteers on the Brooks and Bassano Health Foundation Boards. ARRIVED AT MEETING L. Johnson returned at 11:51 a.m. Discussion followed. The delegation will be rescheduled for an upcoming Council meeting. Page 8 of 9 Regular Council June 23, 2022 C-215/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DAN SHORT that the request to appoint a Council member to the Brooks & District Health Foundation board be TABLED until more information is available. MOTION CARRIED 15. IN CAMERA C-216/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLY JOHNSON that we move in camera at 11:55 a.m. to discuss the following matters: • Labour - FOIPP Act Section 17; • Intermunicipal Relations - FOIPP Act Section 21. MOTION CARRIED C-217/22 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ADENA SKANDERUP that we move out of camera at 12:15 p.m. 16. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been concluded, the meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m. Signed this 2-i S day off 2022 4!5eve .� County Administrator Page 9 of 9