Council Highlights - February 18, 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.

Tracy Sheppard
Sheppard shared thoughts regarding the land use bylaw discussion. Following Sheppard's conclusion, Council was reminded that they have closed the public hearing and thereby further comments couldn't be accepted in the decision making process.

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.

There were no public hearings

Action Items

1. Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-11 - 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 use categories not listed in any zoning district and has identified some existing use categories that require amendment. Attachment 1 is an Edits Overview accompanied by Attachment 2, a redline 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. Second Reading of Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-11 was approved by Council at the regular meeting held January 21, 2020. Council required postponement of Third Reading of Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-11 until this Regular Meeting of Council February 18, 2020, to allow questions from Council to be answered by Administration. It was moved That Council give Third and Final Reading of Land Use Bylaw Amendment No. 1088-11. This motion carried.

2. Notice of Motion by Councillor Nelson
Direct Administration to bring forward amendments to the Council Remuneration Policy #052 for implementation with the March 21, 2020 Review as follows:

Whereas Administration completes all Council Timesheets; And Whereas clarity regarding the definition of meetings is achieved; And Whereas any concurrent meetings be deemed a single meeting in relation to meeting fees; And Whereas any remuneration through Council approved committee meetings require a basic report that includes meeting start and end times including travel and a summary discussions and decisions; And Whereas committee reports become part of Council Committee meeting agendas on a monthly basis; And Whereas items that constitute ‘conference participation’ are tracked and reported separately from regular remuneration. 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 in camera items.

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.

There were no inquiries.

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 notice of motion.

Information Items

Councillor Trevor Haas: Councillor Haas reported an upcoming Hinton Municipal Library meeting and Pulp Advisory Committee on Monday.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh shared thanks to the organizers of Winter Magic Events, including Saturdays Battle of the Badges, going on to congratulate the Fire Department for their win. Waugh then shared attendance at a CEAC meeting last week, detailing that further community activity will be coming following last years outreach, and concluded by speaking to a Waste Management Authority meeting in the new week.

Councillor JoAnn Race: Councillor Race reported attendance at the ASH AGM last week, saying general financials were shared and new members welcomed. Race then detailed coming meetings including Interagency and Hinton Youth Advisory Committee.

Deputy Mayor Dewly Nelson: Deputy Mayor Nelson offered thanks to those who were involved with the Cups for Compassion event, saying it will continue until the end of the month. Nelson then spoke to the Beaver Boardwalk Survey and on location engagement earlier in the month. Nelson concluded by detailing a series of events including procedural bylaw review committee, BSN, and Synergy meetings.

Interim CAO Emily Olsen: Interim CAO Olsen shared the successful completion of a COR audit by Town Staff, and then detailed upcoming training opportunities for emergency response roles, concluding by sharing that the Beaver Boardwalk Survey mentioned by Nelson closed on Sunday to 177 responses.

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.

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 March 03, 2020, at 4pm
in the Council Chambers.