Council Highlights - September 01, 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.

Barb Holum, Farmers Market
Holum expressed concerns regarding recent interactions with the Hinton Centre contracted management.

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. Solid Waste Management Program - Bin Options

This Report was presented to Standing Committee on August 25, 2020 and Standing Committee provided the following direction to Administration: That Committee recommend Council select Type D bin for Solid Waste Collection within the Town of Hinton and direct Administration to proceed with implementation of the modernized waste collection and retrofit existing Type A Toter bins with the DuraLatch locking system. At the July 14, 2020 Regular Council Meeting, a report on the Solid Waste Management Program outlining options for the Town’s waste collection system was presented to Council. At this meeting, Council made the following motion: That Council direct Administration to bring a report on Toter bin options to a future Standing Committee meeting. As such, this report is being presented to review options concerning bin choices for Council’s consideration. It was moved That Council approve Type D bin for Solid Waste Collection within the Town of Hinton and direct Administration to proceed with implementation of the modernized waste collection and retrofit existing Type A Toter bins with the DuraLatch locking system. This motion carried.

2. Naming Policy DS-6105

The proposed Naming Policy DS-6105 will provide a process for the naming of development areas, roads, parks, and public facilities that recognizes and commemorates significant persons, history, heritage, and natural features of the community. This Policy outlines where authority will be delegated, including Council’s roles and responsibilities. Development Services prepared a Naming Procedure (Attachment 3) and Civic Addressing Procedure (Attachment 4) to accompany the Naming Policy, which are attached for Council’s reference. It was moved That Council approve Naming Policy DS-6105 as presented and that Council rescind Naming Policy 079. This motion carried.

3. 2021 Borrowing Bylaw Renewal - ATB Line of Credit

The Town requires a line of credit from Alberta Treasury Branches ("ATB") which is set up with a limit not to exceed the principal sum of $2,000,000. This amount is repayable upon demand at a rate of interest per annum not to exceed the Prime Lending Rate established by ATB, and such interest is calculated daily and due and payable monthly on the last day of each and every month. 1) A revolving line of credit $2,000,000, currently broken down as: a) A revolving line of credit of $1,236,891.40; b) Mastercard limit of $ 100,000.00; c) Letter of Credit in the amount of $ 663,108.60; The Mayor and the Chief Administrative Officer are authorized on behalf of the Town to apply to the ATB for the loan/line of credit and arrange with the ATB the amount, terms and conditions and security to be given. In an event where an extension to the term is required by the Town the Town and the ATB may together decide to extend the loan, any renewal or extension, bill, debenture, promissory note, or other obligation with proof by way of motion of Council and signed agreement, however typically the bylaw is in effect for one year and expires one year from the final passing. Due to the turn-over with the Town and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic a new bylaw was not passed, and ATB allowed the extension of the Bylaw until such time as a new Bylaw was passed. ATB, at this time, only requires a Bylaw for the 2021 year as an extension of 2018 could be accepted due to the circumstances. Council gave the bylaw first, second, unanimous consent, and third reading.

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.

Following the return from in camera, the following motions were made:

Direct Administration to bring a report that includes investigation options on the Code of Conduct item #3 from the September 1, 2020 In Camera agenda, to the September 15, 2020 Regular Meeting.
That Council approve the Code of Conduct investigation to be conducted as per Option 4 of the In Camera Agenda item 2.

Both motions carried.

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 administrative 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

1. COVID-19 Business Impact Survey and Economic Recovery Strategy

Find more information here. It was moved that Council accept the COVID-19 Business Impact Survey and Economic Recovery Strategy Report for information. This motion carried.

Councillor JoAnn Race: Councillor Race expressed appreciation for the opportunity to be a part of the signing of the Freedom Express agreement last week. Read more below.

Councillor Trevor Haas: Councillor Haas had nothing to report.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: Councillor Ostashek had nothing to report.

Councillor Dewly Nelson: Councillor Nelson shared his appreciation for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Mayor during the Gerard Redmond Convocation. Nelson then detailed having the opportunity to host the going away party for former Victim Services Unit Executive Director Deborah Grantham. Nelson concluded by sharing having supported MLA Martin Long at a golf tournament in Whitecourt.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh had nothing to report.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels shared a thank you to Councillor Nelson for attending the Convocation in his stead. Michaels detailed working on CAO Recruitment procedures and policies, with more work to come, and a quick Evergreen meeting around the sale of a piece of property.

CAO Emily Olsen: CAO Olsen detailed that with Health and Safety and Corporate Services assistance, the Committee Room had been evaluated for social distancing so as to allow for social distancing, hence the new seating arrangements.

Town of Hinton Newsflash

Facility Opening Plans

For residents convenience, the Town of Hinton has prepared, and updated, the above image representing open statuses and plans for many core facilities.

For further reference on Community Services' statuses and updates, please view ComServ (more information below).

Reopened

Peoples Centre
- Restrictions in place - consult ComServ
Steve Hotchkiss Arena
Athabasca Riverfront Park
Spray Park/Change Rooms
- Operating hours now extended
All Outhouses Protective Services Building (RCMP)
Infrastructure Services Building
Government Centre
Courts/Other Indoor Facilities
- Bouldering Wall will remain closed until precautionary measures are in place.
West Fraser Guild Emergency Services Building
Hinton Municipal Library
- Phase 2 Now in Effect

In Progress

Kinsmen Park Public Washroom Facilities
Pool
- Pool opening tentative: mid-September
Bill Thomson Arena

Minute with Council Access

Early in the Town Response to COVID-19, Town Council meetings were moved to remote environments, closed to the public, and streamed online to allow for easy access by residents. However, one aspect of our Council meetings that was lost in this necessary response was Minute with Council.

Traditionally, Residents have been welcomed to speak to Council about issues, events, celebrations or concerns during Minute with Council. At the beginning of each Council Meeting, the chair of the meeting opens the floor to the public to speak and share with Council members, administration and meeting observers.

As we determine the "new normal" in this pandemic response, the Town of Hinton has established a procedure to take part in Minute with Council remotely, temporarily, as we prepare for further steps in our reopening plans.

This process is being established to avoid risks of public meeting teleconferencing, such as inappropriate or abusive interjections by anonymous or false identities.

We appreciate your understanding should this cause any inconvenience for you.

Please use this form to receive an invite code to join our proceedings remotely.
Should you encounter difficulty using the form, please call 780-865-6072.

Learn more here.

Left to Right: Hinton Councillor JoAnn Race, Mayor Marcel Michaels, FCSS Manager Caryn Bouchard, Evergreens CAO Kristen Chambers, Edson Councillor and Chair of Evergreens Foundation Janet Wilkinson

Freedom Express Agreement Signed

August 26, 2020

Monday, August 24, 2020, the Town of Hinton and the Evergreens Society officially signed an agreement for the transfer of the Accessible Transportation Service Freedom Express, as confirmed via the motion made by Council at the August 18, 2020 Council Meeting permitting this transfer to proceed, with the service transfer anticipated to occur in fall of 2020.

Read more here.

ComServ Issue #9 Available Friday

Download the PDF here. Subscribe here.

ComServ is the Community Services Status Guide, a new product of Community Services and Strategic Services at the Town of Hinton to provide an all encompassing update on our Pandemic Status.

The Town of Hinton is on Facebook!

As close to 2500 people have already figured out - The Town of Hinton 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 September 15, 2020,
at 4pm via Zoom, in the Committee Room, and streamed via YouYube.