Action Items
1. Non-Residential Tax Incentive Bylaw No. 1161 - Third Reading
On June 4, 2019, the Government of Alberta introduced Bill 7, the Municipal Government (Property Tax Incentives) Amendment Act, which applies amendments to the taxation provisions of the Municipal Government Act (MGA). Bill 7 was given royal assent and came into force on June 28, 2019.
Bill 7 allows municipalities to grant tax Incentives in the form of tax deferrals or exemptions to nonresidential properties, to encourage the development or revitalization of these properties. It gives municipalities the discretion to determine how much they wish to reduce or defer taxes. (These Incentives will only apply to the municipal portion of the taxes, not external requisitions i.e., Education, Seniors etc.)
The availability of these incentives must be governed by a municipal bylaw. The bylaw must set out the criteria upon which applications for an incentive are considered and must set out the process for such an application
Council Motions:
That Council give Non-Residential Tax Incentive Bylaw No. 1161 Third Reading.
Carried Unanimously
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2. Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1153
Administration has incorporated the above directions into the Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1153. With the exception of:
“That Committee direct Administration to remove join in the debate on a question or from Section 16.5 from the Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1153.”
Removing “join in the debate on a question” from Section 16.5 left it stating “If the Mayor or Chair wishes to put a motion properly before Council, he or she shall vacate the Chair and request the Deputy Mayor or some other member of Council take the Chair.”
Administration has removed Section 16.5 in its entirety, as Section 10.4 outlines the process for when the Chair wishes to make a motion.
Council motions:
That Council give Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1153 First Reading.
Carried Unanimously
That Council give Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1153 Second Reading.
Carried Unanimously
That Council give Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1153 unanimous consent for Third Reading.
Carried Unanimously
That Council give Council Procedure Bylaw No. 1153 Third Reading.
Carried Unanimously
For more information click here 3. Rescinding Policy 018 Harassment in the Work Environment Policy
On November 5, 2019, Council approved Health and Safety Policy HS 1402 (Attachment 1). This was one of the initial steps in updating the Town of Hinton’s guiding documents, and aligning those documents with the Town Policies, Procedures, and Directives Policy CL 1106 (Attachment 2).
At that time, Harassment in the Work Environment Policy 018 (Attachment 3) remained in force until it could be updated to meet current legislation, best practices, and Town Policies, Procedures, and Directives Policy CL 1106. The Violence & Harassment Directive HS D1402.1 and associated procedures (Attachments 4-6) were approved on February 2021 by Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Emily Olsen and are attached for your information. The Town’s leadership is currently partaking in training on these documents. The remaining workforce is scheduled to trained by the end of 2021 Q3.
Council is not covered under the Violence & Harassment Directive HS D1402.1 as Council’s behavior is governed by Bylaw 1124 A Bylaw to Establish a Code of Conduct for Members of Council (Attachment 7).
Council motions:
That Council rescind Harassment in the Work Environment Policy 018.
Carried Unanimously
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4. Council Remuneration Policy No. CL 1103
The Council Remuneration Policy provides for a fair and reasonable level of remuneration for elected officials, ensuring that the Mayor and Councillors will receive fair remuneration for their time and expenses consistent with comparable communities. Further, the policy provides direction related to the establishment and ongoing operations of claims and payments for honorariums, meeting fees, expenses and benefits for the Mayor and Councillors.
On September 21, 2021 the Council Remuneration Review Committee presented Council with recommendations to the current Policy. Council reviewed the Council Remuneration Review Committee recommendations and directed administration to amend Policy #052 and bring to the October 5, 2021 Regular Council meeting for decision. MD-2341 sought the following additions, revisions, and clarifications:
That Committee recommend that Council maintain the Mayor honorarium at $5,000 per month;
That Committee recommend that the draft policy Section 3 reflect that it is the responsibility of administration to review and process time sheets of council (as per current policy);
The Committee recommend amending draft policy to include the Mayor may attend the FCM Conference, AUMA Conference, the Municipal Leaders Caucus, and the EDA annually and the Councillor’s attend the AUMA annually and FCM once per term; and
The Committee recommend the amended draft Council Remuneration Policy come back to the October 5, 2021 Regular Council Meeting.
Council motions:
That Council amend Schedule “A” of the Council Remuneration Policy CL 1103 to include 0 - 1 hour at $37.50.
Defeated 2-5
For: Haas, Maguhn
Against: Michaels, Nelson, Ostashek, Race, Waugh
That Council approve Council Remuneration Policy No. CL 1103 as presented.
Carried Unanimously
That Council rescind Council Remuneration Policy # 052.
Carried Unanimously
For more information click here 5. Request to Waive Tax Penalties -109 A,B,C,D Reimer Drive
In 2020, Administration identified the need to streamline the Town’s two payment plan options for taxes: the Self-Directed Property Tax Monthly Payment Plan and the Auto Deposit plan. The Self-Directed payment plan, true to the name, was self-directed to allow taxpayers to pay any amount at any time during the month, whereas the Auto Deposit Plan occurs on the same day each month. Administration reviewed the two plans finding continuity issues between the two plan’s guidelines and overall framework. With all factors considered, the Self-Directed property tax payment plan was discontinued.
Currently, the Town of Hinton’s monthly payment plan, the Auto Deposit plan, is a program that allows taxpayers to pay their property taxes monthly over the calendar year. The payment is automatically withdrawn from their bank account on the set date of the 15th of every month.
Administration sent out notifications to discontinue the Self-Directed Property Tax Monthly Payment Plan service on June 15, 2020, and again on January 4, 2021, for customers to have their balances paid in full by the deadline of June 30, 2021
Council motions: That Council require the owner(s) of the properties located at 109 A, B, C, D Reimer Drive to pay their tax penalty in the amount of $297.52 in full; and that the August 1, 2021, tax penalty be waived should payment be received on or before October 29, 2021.
Carried Unanimously
For more information click here6. Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee Appointments
The Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee (BBOC) was established by Council on July 6, 2021, with the purpose of:
“[enhancing] communication between Administration and the community, considering the varying needs and perspectives of Hinton residents, with the purpose of ensuring that the Beaver Boardwalk Vision is maintained, transcending Council and Administrative staffing changes.”
The BBOC Terms of Reference (TOR) are established through Bylaw No.1158 (Attachment 1) which sets out the membership for the Committee as follows:
“Nine community members representing the following stakeholder groups:
a) Maxwell Lake Area Resident (two members)
b) Town of Hinton Resident at Large (two members)
c) Educational Representative (one member)
d) Recreation and Tourism Representative (one member)
e) Environment Representative (one member)
f) Youth Representative (one member)
g) Indigenous Representative (one member)”
Council motions:That Council postpone the Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee appointments to the Organizational Meeting.
Defeated 6-1
For: Nelson
Against: Haas, Maguhn, Michaels, Ostashek, Race, Waugh
That Council Appoint Kevin Gedling as a Maxwell Lake Area Resident Representative to the Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee;
That Council Appoint Doug Lamb as a Maxwell Lake Area Resident Representative to the Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee;
That Council Appoint Tom Marshall as a Town of Hinton Resident at Large Representative to the Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee;
That Council Appoint Trevor Boutilier as a Town of Hinton Resident at Large Representative to the Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee;
That Council Appoint Beth MacCallum as the Educational Representative to the Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee;
That Council Appoint Jan Vassbotn as the Recreation and Tourism Representative to the Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee; and
That Council Appoint Vivian Sergreew as the Environment Representative to the Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee.
Carried Unanimously
For more information click here7. Hinton Historical Society - 2021 Gap Funding Report
At the September 14, 2021, Standing Committee Meeting, Council received a delegation presentation by the Hinton Historical Society (Attachment 1 – page 3). The group explained that the 2021 municipal funding reduction from $85000 to $65000 has contributed to the Society's need for additional funding in order to ensure that the museum can remain open for the remainder of 2021, and into March/April of 2022 when they would typically receive Civic Agency funding from the Town.
During this presentation, Council learned that Hinton’s museum offers a greater scope of services than any other within our region, yet they receive the least amount of municipal funding. Council also learned of challenges in accessing funding from Yellowhead County (YHC) due to current YHC policies with respect to ownership of the museum building. Grants for summer students which were awarded to the Society also had to be returned as matching funds were not available due to the 2021 reduction in municipal funding which had been leveraged for grant funding in previous years.
Council motions:
That Council approve the allocation of the remaining $9,100 from the Community Grant Program/ATE Reserve and $900 from Council Donations to the Hinton Historical Society for the purpose of maintaining operations from 2021 through to April 2022.
Carried Unanimously
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8. Evergreens Foundation Strategic Plan Support Letter
At the Standing Committee Meeting of Council held on September 14, 2021, Council received a presentation from the Evergreens Foundation highlighting their capital plan and upcoming initiatives in Yellowhead County (Wildwood) and the MD of Greenview (Victor Lake).
A letter included within the presentation package to Council highlighted a request from the Evergreens Foundation seeking Council’s support for the two projects and endorsement of their Strategic Plan. With respect to this request, Council provided the following motion:
“That Committee direct Administration to bring back a draft Letter of Support for the Evergreens Foundation and their Strategic Plan for developing Seniors Housing in Wildwood and Victor Lake to the October 5, 2021 Regular Meeting of Council.”
Council motions:
That Council direct Administration to issue the Evergreens Foundation Strategic Plan letter of support on behalf of Council.
Carried Unanimously
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9. Tax Penalty Bylaw No. 1164
The current Tax Penalty Bylaw 800-1 was last reviewed in 1995. Significant organizational and legislative changes have occurred that prompted the need to review this bylaw, including changes in position titles, program requirements and a review of the Municipal Government Act. The most significant revision is the addition of the legislative support for the Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP).
On September 21, 2021, Standing Committee received the proposed draft bylaw and the following direction was given:
That Committee direct Administration to amend section 3.2 of Bylaw No. 1164 to reflect the July 1st rate of 5% and an August 1st rate of 10%. (incorporated into Attachment #1 of this report)
That Committee direct Administration to bring the Tax Penalty and Tax Installment Payment Plan Bylaw No.1164 to the October 5, 2021, to receive all three readings.
council motions:
That Council give Tax Penalty Bylaw No. 1164 First Reading.
Carried Unanimously
That Council give Tax Penalty Bylaw No. 1164 Second Reading.
Carried Unanimously
That Council give Tax Penalty Bylaw No. 1164 unanimous consent for Third Reading.
Carried Unanimously
That Council give Tax Penalty Bylaw No. 1164 Third Reading.
Carried Unanimously
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10. Deferred Motion MD-2295 - Reserve Transfer - Brought forward from the July 6, 2021 Regular Council Meeting
NELSON - That Council direct administration to transfer $100,000 from the Operational Project Reserve to the Recreation Centre Construction Reserve.
MAGUHN - That Council postpone the direction to administration to transfer $100,000 from the Operational Project Reserve to the Recreation Centre Construction Reserve to after the 2020 Audit.
That Council direct Administration to maintain the funds associated with the Federal Gas Tax Fund grant, that were identified funding in the cancelled 2021 capital budget for the Pool Locker Replacement project, in Deferred Revenue until such a time that Council commits the funds to a new (FGTF eligible) project.
Council motions:
That Council Amend the original motion by replacing “Operational Project Reserve” with “Facilities and Components Reserve”.
Carried Unanimously
That Council direct Administration to transfer $100,000 from the Facilities and Components Reserve to the Recreation Centre Construction Reserve.
Carried Unanimously
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11.Notice of Motion - Brought forward from the September 7, 2021 Regular Council Meeting
RACE - That Council direct Administration to proceed with naming Scout Hall location and associated unnamed park the Diane Erickson Memorial Park.
Council motions:
That Council direct Administration to proceed with naming Scout Hall location and associated unnamed park the Diane Erickson Memorial Park.
Withdrawn
That Council direct Administration to retain Diane Erickson’s name on the Names Reserve List for future consideration.
Carried Unanimously
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