Council Highlights - January 17, 2017

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 Mackin opens the floor to the public to speak and share with Council members, administration and meeting observers.

There were no speakers.

Delegations

Presentations may be arranged through the Legislative & Executive Assistant. You are strongly urged to register in advance so that you can be sure time is set aside for your presentation on the Council agenda. Find out more about how to be a delegation by following this link.

There were no Delegations for this meeting.

Action Items

1. Town of Hinton Library Board Bylaw #1105

Council formally approved the Letter of Understanding between the Town of Hinton and the Town of Hinton Library Board at the Regular Meeting of Council on September 20, 2016. As citizens may recall, the Letter of Understanding addresses funding and operational models while providing the Board autonomy on providing and maintaining services. As a final step in that process, Bylaw #1105 TOWN OF HINTON REQUEST FOR DECISION formally establishes the Library Board under the authority of the Libraries Act and provides a framework for board membership, terms and role of the board. Council gave first and second reading of Bylaw #1105. Administration will bring the bylaw back for third and final reading on February 7, 2017.

2. 2017 Draft Operating & Capital Budgets

Council accepted for information the 2017 proposed Operating Budget of $34,322,855 and the One time Operating and Capital Budget of $18,625,058, and instructed Administration to circulate the budget for public feedback over a period of four weeks.

Council also approved $6,985,000 from the Capital Budget in order to tender the projects in a timely manner to complete the work in 2017.

Information Items

Councillor Glen Barrow: Barrow reported excitement following discussions in the community of the return of the Soap Box Races.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Expressed his pleasure and gratitude for the 1,000,000 dollar grant from the Federal Government's Canada Cultural Spaces Fund for the Hinton Performing Arts Venue.

Councillor Matthew Young: Young will be attending a Golf Course meeting, and will provide a report on its status to Council next meeting. He also motioned that Council direct Administration to investigate an initiative to subsidize or provide transit passes based on an economic threshold. The motion was carried.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: In December, a swell of concern for homeless in the community suffering due to the cold was observed. A CEAC subcommittee has been formed, and they have already met with a number of social services groups to begin finding new ways to support this group.

CAO Mike Schwirtz: Following a report by a resident that fines administered by Automated Traffic Enforcement for stop sign violations is exceeding the Provincial guidelines, CAO Schwirtz explained that a Police Officer may use discretion to use one of two traffic violations, depending on the situation; Failure to Stop, amounting to 388 dollars, and Failing to Obey a Traffic Control Device, amounting to 233 dollars. ATE cannot make these discretionary decisions, and issues a ticket based on the exact infraction. A violator may, however, attend court and request that a Judge reduce the fine to the lower amount. Schwirtz also reminded that a fine issued by an Officer comes with demerits; ATE does not.

Schwirtz wished to clarify a matter from last week's Standing Committee Meeting; Administration submitted a Capital Project to develop a Master Plan for the Beaver Boardwalk; said Plan has not already been developed. Administration has also not, at this time, suggested that the Boardwalk may require a full time employee.

Schwirtz also recognized the achievement of Randy Smith, Services for Individuals and Families Coordinator. In 2016 alone, he helped seniors in our community access 117,000 in benefits and government supports that they may not have been aware of previously. This has been an effort spanning multiple years, growing in success as the program continues.

Town of Hinton Newsflash

Following Councils decision, Budget 2017 is now available for viewing online at http://www.hinton.ca/budget. It contains contextual information and updates by department. The document represents an opportunity to inform citizens on municipal spending, and also celebrates achievements of the previous year while setting goals for the next.

A number of venues are available for residents to share their feedback.

Coffee with Council – before every Hinton Town Council meeting, residents have the opportunity to speak to their Councillors. Councillors are available from 3:30 – 4:00 PM.

Open House – An Open House for Budget 2017 will be held on February 8, 2017, in the People's Centre, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM.

Hinton Listens – At any time, and on any subject pertaining to Hinton, Hintonites can share feedback, compliments, requests, and more through the Hinton Listens tool, available at http://www.hinton.ca/322/Hinton-Listens

Citizen Budget Tool - The Town of Hinton is launching the use of an educational budget simulator to encourage citizen feedback on the 2017 budget. Question topics were chosen based on the results of the Ipsos Citizen Satisfaction Survey which was completed fall 2016. Questions were designed to identify key themes related to community priorities on projects, services and programming and will assist in informed decision making by Hinton Town Council. Results from the budget consultation process will be reviewed and may be referenced in future budget cycles. The simulator will be available at http://hinton.citizenbudget.com/

As per consensus by Council, the Budget is now out for public feedback for a period of four weeks. It will return for decision during the Regular Council Meeting of February 21, 2017.

You can view the entire agenda package here.

As a reminder, the next Council meeting will be held February 7, 2017 in Council Chambers at 4:00 pm.