Council Highlights - January 21, 2020

Citizens' Minute with Council

Residents are welcome to speak to Council about issues, events, celebrations or concerns during Minute with Council. At the beginning of each regular Council Meeting, Mayor Michaels opens the floor to the public to speak and share with Council members, administration and meeting observers.

Don Engerdahl, Winter Magic Festival
Events Coordinator Don Engerdahl shared information regarding the 2020 Winter Magic Festival, including the new passport and full event schedule.

Delegations

Presentations are required to be arranged through the Executive Assistant, so that presenters can be sure time is set aside for their presentations on the Council agenda. Find out more about how to be a delegation by following this link.

There were no delegations.

Public Hearings

In some instances, Council is required to conduct public hearings regarding land use bylaws, rezoning, etc., or on any other matter council deems appropriate.

1. Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-10
View the hearing package in the Agenda, available here.

2. Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-11
View the hearing package in the Agenda, available here.

Action Items

1. Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-10 - Second and Third Reading
Land Use Bylaw No. 1088 was adopted at the Regular Meeting of Council September 6, 2016. Since that time, Administration has identified some typographical errors and omissions. Attachment 1 is an Edits Overview accompanied by Attachment 2, a redlined copy of Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-9, and Attachment 3 Bylaw No. 1088-10. Attachment 1 Edits Overview summarizes all changes made (with rationale) for ease of reference. First Reading of Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-10 was achieved at the Regular Meeting of Council November 19, 2019. Council gave the bylaw second and third reading.

2. Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-11 - Second and Third Reading
Land Use Bylaw No. 1088 was adopted at the Regular Meeting of Council September 6, 2016. Since that time, Administration has identified some Uses not listed in any zoning district and has identified some existing Uses that require amendment. Attachment 1 is an Edits Overview accompanied by Attachment 2, a redlined copy of Land Use Bylaw No. 1088, and Attachment 3 Bylaw No. 1088-11. The Edits Overview summarizes all changes made (with rationale) for ease of reference. First Reading of Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-11 was passed by Council at the regular meeting held November 19, 2019, and a Public Hearing was held today, prior to this regular meeting of Council. Council gave the bylaw second reading, and then moved that Council postpone the third reading of Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-11 to the Regular Council of February 18, 2020 to allow questions from Council to be answered by Administration. This motion carried.

3. Beaver Boardwalk Committee Terms of Reference
The Beaver Boardwalk Committee (BeBo Committee) was established on July 9, 2019 through Council-approved Bylaw #1138 (Attachment 1). The BeBo Committee worked throughout the remaining months of the year with the goal to provide advice to Council so that informed and transparent decisions can be made regarding the future of the Beaver Boardwalk. As of the end of 2019, the BeBo Committee was unable to report to Council on recommendations regarding the 2020 Budget due to the unknown outcome of the application process required to obtain approvals from Alberta Environment & Parks (AEP) for projects on the Beaver Boardwalk (BBW) under the Water Act. At the Standing Committee of January 14, 2020, the Committee recommended that Council approve the amended Beaver Boardwalk Committee Terms of Reference as presented. It was moved that Council approve the amended Beaver Boardwalk Committee Terms of Reference as amended by Standing Committee. This motion carried.

5. Community Engagement and Advisory Committee Member Appointments
The Community Engagement & Advisory Committee (CEAC), collects and presents the views of stakeholders, based on the five (5) Community Sustainability Plan Pillars of Culture, Recreation, Education & Wellness, Local Economy, and Natural and Built Environments. Members of CEAC must be appointed by Council as per the Council Committees Bylaw 1070-4 (Attachment 1). Newspaper ads were placed during the general call for members to Boards and Committees in the Fall 2019. It was moved that Council appoint Jace Rush and Shawn Hodder to the Community Engagement and Advisory Committee for a two-year term. This motion carried.

In Camera

In-camera is a legal term meaning in private; When a Council goes in-camera, it means the Council meeting is closed to the public. In general terms, the exceptions include matters where disclosures could be harmful to personal privacy, individual or public safety, law enforcement, intergovernmental relations, or economic or other interests; reveal confidential evaluations, local public body confidence, or advice from officials; or disclose information that is subject to legal privilege.

There were no motions coming out of in camera.

Administrative Inquiries

If Councillors have queries they would like to submit to admin, this will be the time at which they do. This is in accordance with Council's procedural bylaw.

Councilor Race: Do we have prerequisites for being eligible for appropriation monies?

Notice of Motion

If Councillors have motions they wish to lodge, this will be the time at which they do. This is in accordance with Council's procedural bylaw.

There were no notices.

Information Items

Councillor Trevor Haas: Councillor Haas had nothing to report, but did share his thanks to staff who continued to deliver Town services over the previous week's cold snap.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh had nothing to report, but offered a welcome to new CEAC members and expressed excitement at the coming meeting.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Councillor Maguhn shared that there is information soon to come from the Golf Society, including hiring details and assets.

Councillor Joann(Jo) Race: Councillor Race reported having attended the ASH meeting on Monday, saying that the PATH facility is now capable of streaming in feeds of popular programming. Race also encouraged the use of the Guild tip jar, saying that the funds help encourage youth programming at the facility. Race concluded by speaking to the Hinton Youth Advisory Council meeting the previous week, and the Happy Creek Housing announcement earlier in the day.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: Council Ostashek detailed a recent HREDC meeting which covered the Town's Strategic Plan and how some elements of statistical changes in the community should encourage a redirection of some elements of the plan. Also discussed was the Public Market, and EV Charging potential locations. Ostashek concluded by speaking to a coming Bebo Committee meeting.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels also mentioned the HYAC, saying he is inspired by their commitment and interest in politics. Michaels then spoke briefly to the Happy Creek announcement.

Interim CAO Emily Olsen: Interim CAO Olsen thanked Town staff for their support during this time of transition, and shared that the next phase of budget discussions will be coming soon.

Town of Hinton Newsflash

Split Assessments

In 2020, Hinton residents will experience the first year of a different, more transparent, assessment and taxation notice process. Council and Town Administration has made the decision to move our community to a split assessment and taxation notice, creating numerous efficiencies and allowing for a more accurate budget estimation and tax rate computation. This move brings the Town of Hinton taxation process in line with many communities across the province, including major cities Edmonton and Calgary as well as similar sized communities like the City of Lacombe. To provide answers to likely questions arising from this change, Town of Hinton Corporate, and Strategic, Services have partnered with the Powers & Associates Appraisal Services to provide the following Ask the Town.

View the webpage to learn more by clicking here.

Happy Creek Estates Additional Building Opening

The Town of Hinton is pleased to announce the unveiling of 9 additional housing units at the Happy Creek Estates additional building.

Just after 1:30pm, as a small crowd of Hintonites and dignitaries observed, three ribbons recognizing the contributions of the Province, Town of Hinton, and private business interests were cut by MLA Martin Long, Mayor Marcel Michaels, and Harry Arnesen respectively.

Mayor Michaels shared a quote regarding the development:

“Affordable housing is more than a place to sleep; it’s access to economic mobility, to healthy childhood development, to nutrition and health. This new affordable housing development means a better life for more Hintonites, at a time when need in our community is great.”

Hinton Golf Club Statement

The Town of Hinton, in partnership with the Hinton Golfing Society, wishes to inform all residents of Hinton and in particular users and members of the Hinton Golf Club, that we are working to support preparation and operations for a 2020 golf season. An approval of an extended timeline to use funds, approved by Council earlier this fall, will allow the Town of Hinton and the Hinton Golfing Society to further partner, support, and facilitate the continued operation of this facility and maintain its role as recreational infrastructure within the Northern Rockies region.

The Town wishes to thank The Hinton Golfing Society, for their professional and productive assistance over the last two months, as we collaboratively determine the future of golfing in Hinton.

Council Video Recordings

As some residents may have noticed, we have recently experienced difficulties with our streaming video provider online. The service provider has changed the accepted methods of posting, which has made all older videos in the inventory non-functioning. These non-functioning videos will removed from the inventory for the time being, however, administration is investigating ways of making a larger library available for residents to access online. In the interim, a new format has been selected, and new recordings are being posted as before; however, the new format is slightly larger, and so less videos will be accessible online than in years past. Recordings of the videos are also available on DVDs at the Hinton Municipal Library, which can be checked out and viewed on either computers or DVD players, or by contacting the Town of Hinton should those DVD recordings not be available.

The Town of Hinton is on Facebook!

As over 1800 people have already figured out - The Town of Hinton now has a corporate Facebook page! This new service adds another resource to the communications toolbelt, and will house information on many different areas; some days, you’ll see information on bylaws, others recreation programs, others information about council decisions or highlights from Council meetings. We will, however, endeavour to ensure that we are sharing content relevant to the widest possible audience. Like us today by clicking here!

You can view the entire agenda package here.

The next Regular Council meeting will be held February 04, 2020, at 4pm
in the Council Chambers.