Council Highlights - November 15, 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.

No citizens wished to speak with Council.

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.

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.

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.

STARS Presentation – Glenda Farnden, Senior Municipal Relations Liaison and Jon Gogan, Provincial Director, Central and Northern Alberta Operations and STARS Pilot provided a presentation on STARS Projects and funding.

The presentation is provided in the November 15, 2021, Regular Council agenda package and can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Discussion Items

1. Mandatory Face Coverings Bylaw No. 1163 – Section 8.1.2

Council Motion:

That Council accept the mandatory face coverings bylaw No. 1163 section 8.1.2 to be accepted for information.

Carried Unanimously

2. Code of Conduct Bylaw – Working Group

Council Motion:
That Council appoint Mayor Michaels, Councillor Taylor and Councillor Ostashek to the Council Code of Conduct Working Group; and

That Council appoint Councillor Race as Alternate to the Council Code of Conduct Working Group and bring a draft bylaw amendment to a Committee of the Whole Meeting by March 31, 2022.

Carried Unanimously

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.

Closed Session

Closed Session is a legal term meaning in private; When a Council goes in Closed Session, 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. Council Remuneration Review Committee Discussion – Closed per Section 23 of FOIP.

Council Motion:
That the Regular Meeting of Council move out of Closed Session at 7:49 p.m.

Carried Unanimously

Action Items

1. Short Term Rentals Bylaw No. 1162 – First Reading

As per Council’s motion, Administration brought back a report to the Standing Committee Meeting of August 31, 2021, considering a stand-alone bylaw or an amendment to the existing Land Use Bylaw No. 1088 and Council made the following motion: “That Committee recommend Council give Short Term Rentals Bylaw First Reading at a Regular Council Meeting in November 2021 as presented; and That Committee recommend Council to schedule a Public Hearing at a Regular Council Meeting in December 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers to hear public comments on Short Term Rentals Bylaw”.

Council Motion:
That Council refer Short Term Rentals Bylaw No.1162 to the next Committee of the Whole Meeting for further discussion.

Carried Unanimously

That Council direct Administration to bring options regarding a transitional grace period rather than grandfathering for existing Short Term Rental accommodations.

Carried Unanimously

That Council direct administration to include in the draft Bylaw that all safety and accommodation inspections be completed prior to the application process.

Carried Unanimously

That Council direct administration to ensure where appropriate all “host responsibilities” as listed in the Short-Term Rentals information for hosts document are included in the draft Bylaw.

Carried Unanimously

That Council direct administration to bring back options to hold non-resident short term rental accommodation providers to at least the same standards as resident short term rental accommodation providers.

Carried Unanimously

called for vote to rescind Councillor LaBerge Motion – “That Council refer Short Term Rentals Bylaw No.1162 to the next Committee of the Whole Meeting for further discussion.”

Carried Unanimously

That Council rescind above carried motion “That Council refer Short Term Rentals Bylaw No.1162 to the next Committee of the Whole Meeting for further discussion.”

Carried Unanimously

That Council refer Short Term Rentals Bylaw No.1162 to the January 11, 2022, Committee of the Whole Meeting for further discussion.

Carried Unanimously

2. Appointment of External Auditor

A request for proposal was advertised on Alberta Purchasing Connections. Three (3) proposals were received of which two (2) have substantial experience in the public sector.

In 2017, KPMG was awarded the Audit contract for a term of three (3) years (2017 – 2019), which was extended two years to December 31, 2021.

Council Motion:

That Council direct administration to bring a closed session report regarding appointment of external auditor to the November 23, 2021, Committee of the Whole Meeting.

Carried Unanimously

3. Appointment to the Yellowhead Regional Library Board

Yellowhead Regional Library (YRL) is required by the Alberta Libraries Act to be governed by a library system board. This board comprises appointed trustees from each municipality and school division that are members of YRL. Thus, each member municipal Council and school division board will appoint one trustee to sit as its representative on the YRL Board.

Council Motion:

That Council appoint Hendrik Smit to the Yellowhead Regional Library Board for a one-year term to the 2022 Organizational Meeting of Council.

Carried Unanimously

4. Phone System Upgrade and Council Chambers Technology Upgrade Budget Reallocations

During the 2021 budget process Council approved two capital projects under the Information Technology Service Unit.
1. Council Chamber Technology Upgrades
2. Phone System Upgrade
This matter is before Council as Administration is seeking a reallocation of funds within the approved 2021 Capital Budget as there have been some scope changes to the above projects.

Council Motion:

That Council approve the funding reallocation between the Phone System Upgrade budget of $96,300 change to $42,800, and Council Chambers Upgrade budget of $42,800 change to $96,300.

Carried Unanimously

5. COVID-19 Resiliency Support Program Grant Review

The Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) is a major component of the health orders issued by Province of Alberta and this optional program is in place at the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre as of Monday September 20, 2021.

During a temporary service interruption, a security company was retained to carry out the entrance screening requirements at the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre. On Tuesday October 5, 2021, patrons were able to access the facility again, while employees could do their work in a safe and service-oriented manner.

Council Motion:

That Council accept the recommended changes to the COVID-19 Resiliency support Program Grant and direct Administration to implement the recommended changes.

Defeated 3-2
For: Maguhn, Ostashek, Taylor
Against: Michaels, LaBerge

That Council direct administration to bring back alternative options to redeploy the COVID-19 resiliency support program grant funds based on responses gathered from a Hinton business outreach by January 25, 2022.

Carried Unanimously

Information Items

1. COVID-19 REP Related Security Services Summary

Council Motion:

That Council accept the COVID 19 Restrictions Exemptions Program related security services report for information.

Carried Unanimously

Council Reporting:
Absent: Councillor Haas, and Councillor Race.

Councillor Stuart Taylor: Councillor Taylor thanked the Parks Department for their quick response to the fallen tree on the Beavor Boardwalk.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: Councillor Ostashek had no comments.

Councillor Brian LaBerge Councillor LaBerge had no comments.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Councillor Maguhn had no comments.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels spoke to the Remeberance Day Ceremony and looks forward to the continued turnout from the community for the years to come.

Interim CAO Laura Howarth: Interim CAO Howarth wished safe travels to the Councillors attending the AUMA.

Urgent Matters:

None.

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 December 7th, 2021,

at 4 pm via Zoom and streamed via YouTube.

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