Council Highlights - October 12, 2021

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.

None.

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.

None.

Boards and Committees of Council Reporting

None.

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.

None.

Discussion Items

None.

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.

None.

Closed Session

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.

1. Golf Course Expression of Interest - Closed per Section 16 of FOIP

That Council accept the Hinton Golf Course Land Economic Opportunities Update for information and direct Administration to invite Proponents as discussed in Closed Session to present their development plans to Council at the November 9, 2021, Standing Committee Meeting.

Carried 6-0

2. Appointment of Interim Chief Administrative Officer - Closed per Section 17 & 24 of FOIP

That Council appoint Laura Howarth as interim Chief Administrative Officer and enter into an employment contract as presented in Closed Session.

Carried 6-0

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.

None.

Action Items

1. Fortis-Alberta Franchise Fee Rider for 2022

This item is before Council to review the annual franchise fee that is part of the Electric Distribution Franchise Agreement. The franchise fee (or the local access fee) is charged to FortisAlberta allowing them access to municipal lands to construct, maintain, and operate distribution systems. The fee is recovered by FortisAlberta from their customers, by way of a rider %, to cover municipal costs for local municipal land access. The rider is charged on electric billings of all customers that receive electric service in the municipal service area.

Council Motions:

That Council set the Fortis-Alberta Franchise Fee Rider at 12.7% for 2022 and that Administration notify Fortis-Alberta before November 1, 2021, of this “no change” status.

Defeated 1-5
For: Race
Against: Haas, Michaels, Maguhn, Nelson, Ostashek

That Council direct Administration to advertise for two consecutive weeks, the Town’s intent to decrease the Fortis-Alberta Franchise Fee Rider from 12.7% to 11.73% effective January 1, 2022; and

That the Fortis-Alberta Franchise Fee Rider for 2022 report, with public notification feedback, be brought to a future Regular Council Meeting before November 1, 2021, for decision.

Carried 6-0

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Information Items

None.

Council Reporting:

Councillor Dewly Nelson: Attended a Community Futures meeting and updated policies to be in line with Western Economic Diversification. Thanked all of Council, Administration, and Hinton Residents for their support over the last four years.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: Thanked all of Council, Administration, and Hinton Residents for their support over the last four years. Wished all 2021 Municipal Election candidates the best of luck on Election day.

Councillor Trevor Haas: Thanked all of Council, Administration, and Hinton Residents for their support over the last four years.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh was not in attendance.

Councillor JoAnn Race: Thanked all of Council, Administration, and Hinton Residents for their support over the last four years.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Thanked all of Council, Administration, and Hinton Residents for their support over the last four years. Wished all 2021 Municipal Election candidates the best of luck on Election day.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Thanked all of Council, Administration, and Hinton Residents for their support over the last four years. Wished all 2021 Municipal Election candidates the best of luck on Election day.

Interim CAO Laura Howarth: There were 471 people who voted on the second day of advance polls, with future advance polling dates happening on October 13, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Election Day happening on October 18, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thanked Council for the last four years of service.

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, 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.

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 channel 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. Like us today by clicking here!

You can view the entire agenda package here.

The next Regular Council meeting will be held March 02, 2020,

at 4 pm via Zoom and streamed via YouTube.

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