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.

Margaret Schultz spoke in front of Council to introduce herself as the new Operations and Programming Manager at the Northern Rockies Museum. Schultz has an extensive background working at Museums from around Canada, a Degree in History, and a Master's in Public History. She spoke to her excitement for this opportunity here in Hinton.  

Delegations

1. Introduction to Northern Lakes College

The following attended via Zoom from Northern Lakes College:

• Dr. Glenn Mitchell, President & CEO
• Dr. Michelle Mitchell, Dean, Humanities, University Studies, and Quality and Interim Dean, Health
• Amy Saitz, Dean, Business, Academics, Trades & Regional Stewardship
• Rachel Ouellette, Director, External Relations, Marketing and Communication

Boards and Committees of Council Reporting 

Action Items

1. 2022 Operating Budget and 2023-2025 Plan Approval

The documents presented this evening reflected all amendments to the consensus direction of Council from the capital budget deliberations session January 14-15, 2022.

Council Motion: 
To direct Administration to place $3,133,000.00 into reserves in 2022

Carried Unanimously

To direct Administration to find any shortfall in the Operation Budget to the amount of $300,000.00.

Carried 6-1
For – Michaels, Maguhn, Haas, Ostashek, LaBerge, Taylor
Against - Race 

That Council direct Administration to increase the funding to the Hinton Historical Society to $70,000.00. 

Carried Unanimously

To direct Administration to bring back an RFD (Request for Decision) to appoint a Councillor to the Hinton historical society prior to the end of the first quarter.

Carried Unanimously

That Council direct Administration to find $275,000.00 in addition to the $325,000.00 quoted earlier from the base Operating Budget and bring back any service level implications to Council.

Carried 6-1
For – Michaels, Maguhn, Haas, Ostashek, LaBerge, Taylor
Against - Race

Direct Administration to reduce the Library Budget by $20,000.00.

Carried 4-3
For – Michaels, LaBerge, Taylor, Race
Against - Haas, Maguhn, Ostashek

2. Rapid Housing Operational Business Case Update

That Council endorse the Construction Plan associated with the Rapid Housing Initiative for the development of a minimum of 8 units with a goal of building 10 units on the Boutin Lands and undertake a debenture of $820,000.00.

Carried Unanimously

3. Appointment to Community Engagement and Advisory Committee

This matter is before Council to address the current vacant positions for public members on Council Boards and Committees. One application for the Community Engagement and Advisory Committee (CEAC) was submitted to Administration and was reviewed by Council at the January 25, 2022, Committee of the Whole meeting during a Closed Session. Council must now vote by way of secret ballot to determine whether the submitted application will result in appointment of the applicant to CEAC.

Council Motion: 
That Council appoint Rachel Arsenault to the Community Engagement and Advisory Committee for a two-year term.

Carried Unanimously

Discussion Items

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

Information Items

1. Council Information Package #3 for January 2022. 

Council Reporting:

Councillor Taylor: Councillor Taylor Spoke to the community feedback around the Short Term Rental Bylaw and the non-resident category. 

Councillor Race: Councillor Race expressed her enjoyment from her meeting at the Northern Rockies Museum and with Anne Resek.

Councillor LaBerge: Councillor LaBerge appreciated the time that the Historical Society took for their meeting. LaBerge attended a Green Square Business Owners meeting this past week. He enjoyed this meeting and brought up having a discussion on future festivals and events with the group to Council. LaBerge also attended the Community Futures Board meeting Thursday. 

Councillor Maguhn: Councillor Maguhn also attended the meeting with the Museum. 

Councillor Haas: Councillor Haas was unable to attend the meeting with the Museum due to work obligations but expressed his apologies for his absence. Haas attended the Alberta Municipality Webinar for Alberta Provincial Police, where over 500 people attended. The webinar was to prepare for the upcoming Provincial Meetings for Provincial Policing. He encouraged Council to take a look at the schedule of the upcoming meetings; Haas will also be attending.  Haas highlighted the main points from the webinar: cost to the taxpayers, service delivery, dispatch, and special services. Haas also attended a waste management meeting last week and discussed Yellowhead County taking over the administrative duties of our landfill. 

Councillor Ostashek: Councillor Ostashek also attended the Community Futures Board meeting and thanked Councillor Race for also attending. Ostashek spoke to the Community Futures West Yellowhead Open House on February 24, from 3 pm to 7 pm. He encouraged people to come out to the Community Futures office in Hinton to learn more about what Community Futures does and has planned for the future. 

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels spoke to his thoughts on the waste management changes and is all for administrators from each municipality wanting to reassess, regroup and move forward carefully. If it is with the Commission, he stated he does have his reservations but hopes for clarity to be provided on impact or progress at the next meeting. 

Interim CAO Paul Hanlan: Interim CAO Hanlan captured how his full first week as ICAO went. He appreciated the opportunity to be working with Council and Administration. He looks forward to spending more time out in the community to get to know Hinton better. Hanlan spent time at the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre; he reminisced about the nostalgic atmosphere that arenas have and how getting to see all the kids and their coaches having a great time was a great way to spend the evening. Hanlan toured the facility and spoke highly towards the library, the Rec Center and all of their staff. He hopes to have a status report for the next Regular Meeting once he has settled into his role here.

Closed Session 

 1. Personnel, CAO Update - Closed per Section 17 of FOIP

Minute with Council Access

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