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Home My WebLink About2024-01-15 Committee of the Whole (Regular) MinutesCOUNTY OF NEWELL Meeting Minutes Committee of the Whole January 15, 2024 The Committee of the Whole Meeting of the County of Newell was heid in the County Office in Room 154/156 on Monday, January 15, 2024 commencing at 11:00 a.m. Notice was posted at the front entrance advising the public of the meeting. CHAIR: H. Johnson COUNCILLORS: A. Doerksen, Reeve A. Skanderup L. Kopp G. Skriver K. Christman E. Unruh A. Philpott N. Johnson ABSENT: D. Short STAFF: M. Fenske, ChiefAdministrative Officer L. Johnson, Director of Corporate Services M. Harbicht, Director of Municipal Services G. Tiffin, Manager of Planning, Development and Engineering R. Fernell, Director of Information and Technology Services C. Siakaluk, Communications Officer A. Nielsen, Executive Assistant 1. CALL TO ORDER Councillor H. Johnson called the meeting to order at 11:00 a. m. 2. EXCUSED FROM MEETING W-01/24 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ARNO DOERKSEN that Councillor D. Short be excused from the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1 Minutes - Committee of the Whole - Interim Budget Review (November 15, 2023) W-02/24 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR AMANDA PHILPOTT that the November 15, 2023 Committee of the Whole - Interim Budget Review Meeting minutes be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED Committee of the Whole January 15, 2024 fi' 4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA W-03/24 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that the agenda be adopted as presented. MOTION CARRIED 5. BUSINESS FROM MINUTES 5.1 Strategic Priorities Update The Chief Administrative Officer provided an update on Strategic Priorities, indicating that Administration is focusing on the following: • Crop Diversification Centre South • Recreation agreements • County of Newell Water Project Phase 2 • Electoral Division Review • Municipal Policing Study (new) • Fire Needs Assessment - Behr Integrated Solutions will be presenting a report to Council February 1, 2024 • Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association project • Steveville Bridge Access - meeting with Alberta Parks and Special Areas January 16, 2024 Council was given the opportunity to ask questions. Council requested more public promotion and recognition of completed items. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Residential Development Adjacent to Confined Feeding Operations (CFOs) The Planning & Development Supervisor provided background information on this item. • notifications for subdivision and residential development required by the Municipal Government Act can be expanded to include landowners not directly adjacent to the subject property • the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) establishes minimum distance separation (MDS) requirements between proposed CFOs and neighbouring residences • a new or expanding CFO must obtain signed waivers from residences within the MDS • the County does not currently require a development permit for agricultural operations • does approval of a residential development or subdivision not directly adjacent to a CFO affect the CFO's ability to expand? Discussion followed and the Committee of the Whole provided direction for adjustments to the County's notification process for residential development and subdivisions. Page 2 of 6 Committee of the Whole January 15, 2024 W-04/24 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LYNETTE KOPP that Planning & Development staff be directed to draft policy that includes registered Confined Feeding Operations (CFOs) within the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) from residences estabiished by the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) in the notification process for proposed residential developments or subdivisions. MOTION CARRIED 6.2 Road Closure Policy & Road Lease Agreements The Planning & Development Supervisor provided background information on this item. • determine what use of the road a//owance (i. e. irrigation, grazing, cultivation, etc.) requires a/ease or a license and apply that policy fairly throughout the County • under what circumstances would a road allowance be closed and sold? • recognize that development of irrigation requires a significant investment by the landowner • a large number of undeveloped road allowances are being used without /ease agreements in place •/ease agreement should require the leaseholder to hold adequate liability insurance • current policy requires at least one mile to be closed • can require the road allowance to be consolidated with adjacent parcels in a closure and sale situation Discussion followed. The Committee of the Whole directed staff to determine provisions for when a road allowance sale would and would not be considered. The Planning & Development Supervisor will determine how many road allowances are currently being used for irrigation. This item will be brought back to the next Committee of the Whole meeting for further discussion. LUNCH Committee of the Whole RECESSED at 12:12 p.m. and RECONVENED at 12:58 p.m. ARRIVED AT MEETING Councillor N. Johnson arrived at 12:58 p.m. 6.3 Road Allowance Lease Rates The Director of Corporate Services provided background information on this item. • consider offering /eases at a flat rate or a differential rate based on use • easy to differentiate irrigated land from grazing land from aerial photos, but this changes over time • rate should not be a disincentive; in the past, there was opposition to paying $30 per mile Page 3 of 6 Committee of the Whole January 15, 2024 County is leasing an undeveloped road allowance, the leaseholder is making the investment for an irrigation upgrade future road allowance /eases will be for the purpose of irrigation Discussion followed. Committee of the Whole suggested a public consultation process involving existing leaseholders to determine acceptable /ease rates. LEFT THE MEETING M. Jackson and G. Tiffin left the meeting 6.4 Building Upon the Region's History as an Energy Production Hub The Director of Corporate Services provided background information on this item. The Chief Administrative Officer provided additional information regarding energy production pilot projects currently underway in Alberta. W-05/24 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR NEIL JOHNSON that Administration be directed to further explore potential roles and funding opportunities that would allow the County to pursue the development of a local hydrogen fuel industry. MOTION CARRIED 6.5 Council Communication Planning The Communications Officer provided background information on this item and requested direction regarding more Council-driven items in the Communications Plan. The Committee of the Whole suggested the following: • celebrate the County's accomplishments (projects and strategic priorities) • communications from Council should have a unified voice • show how we are planning for future success • controlled and consistent messages • feature businesses in the County • gather information throughout the year to feature during the annual report and State of the Region event • public question periods at least once per year • promote community events The Communications Officer indicated she would create examples of the communications above and develop a formal annual communications plan for Council. The Director of Information & Technology Services addressed concerns with the Council Chambers video equipment. Discussion followed and the Committee of the Whole indicated that voting via raised hands is preferable to electronic voting on the microphone units. The Director of Information & Technology indicated that she would investigate obtaining another camera that would be able to show the entire table during voting. LEFT THE MEETING R. Fernell and C. Siakaluk left the meeting at 2:12 p.m. Page 4 of 6 Committee of the Whole January 15, 2024 6.6 County Drought Plan The Director of Municipal Services provided background information on this item and requested direction regarding how to prepare a drought plan that would be effective for both hamlet and rural water users. Discussion followed. • focus on education and encourage responsible water use before the problem arises • communications on responsible water use include mail outs and posters in addition to social media and radio advertising • work with the Eastern Irrigation District as they control raw water for irrigation • discussion on drought planning should be regional with the EID and Newell Regional Services Corporation included • if users are asked to reduce consumption, more monitoring would be required • tiered water rates used by other municipalities could work in hamlets where water meters are used, but not rural • avoid a situation where neighbours are reporting each other • drought plan mirroring the EID's stages to be incorporated into the Water & Sewer bylaw and shared with the Joint Services Committee LEFT THE MEETING M. Harbicht left the meeting at 2:43 p.m. 7. IN CAMERA W-06/24 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KELLY CHRISTMAN that we move in camera at 2:43 p.m. to discuss the foilowing matters: • Land — FOIPPAct Section 25; • Intergovernmental Relations — FOIPPAct Section 21. MOTION CARRIED LEFT THE MEETING Councillor N. Johnson left the meeting at 2:56 p.m. W-07/24 MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ELLEN UNRUH that we move out of camera at 2:57 p.m. MOTION CARRIED 8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024. The Chairman will be Councillor Kelly Christman (Division 6). Page 5 of 6 Committee of the Whole January 15, 2024 9. ADJOURN Being that the agenda matters have been conciuded, the meeting adjourned at 2:57 p.m. Signed this �� day of r"fp��^ I , 2024 � t��--�' R ve �.,,� � CountyAdministrator Page 6 of 6