CORRECTION: Council Highlights - April 18, 2017

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Minute with Council

Hinton Grant Funding Advisory Committee Intake #1 Recommendations - Presented by Trevor Haas
Haas presented on the procedure undertaken by the Grant Funding Advisory Committee, and the decisions undertaken by the group as they prepared their recommendations to Council. Extended discussion occurred in regards to the recommendation for no funding to HELP's homelessness initiative; The Committee stated the decision was made due  to HELP not having a long term lease secured at the time of the decision. HELP Chairperson Deanna  Fuller offered to speak, and was encouraged to do so when the matter returned later in the meeting as a action item. Find the Grant Funding Advisory Committee's full presentation in the Agenda package, available by clicking this link.
 
Homelessness in Hinton Action Group - Presented by Ashley Grzybowski
Presenting as a member of Hinton Employment and Learning Place, with the support of the Community Action Group on Homelessness and Housing, Grzybowski defined homelessness, its causes, the range of homelessness, some statistics of homelessness in Hinton, some of the existing supports in the community, and barriers that exist to housing these individuals.  She then proceeded to provide a number of ways in which Council and the community at large can provide support to the community, including proven methods employed in other communities, harm reduction strategies, and efforts being undertaken by HELP. Find Grzybowski's report in the agenda package, available here.

Hinton Grant Funding Advisory Recommendations - Presented by Denise Parent
The Community Grant Program (CGP) provides local non-profit organizations with funding access to maintain, improve or initiate community projects, operations and events. The funds allocated through Intake #1 reflect the best interests of the overall community and align with Town Council priorities and vision. Deena Fuller spoke on behalf of HELP, saying an opportunity to provide a lease to the grant committee was not provided; a 5 year lease was since been acquired. Responding, Trevor Haas spoke to the committee being in favour of supporting the group. Other members of the advisory committee also spoke, confirming Haas' statement. It was moved that Council award the 2017 Community Grant Program Funding Intake #1 for a total of $120,773 as identified in Attachment #1, including full funding for the HELP Resource Centre; this motion was carried.

Hinton Golfing Society (HGS) - $1,500,000 Loan - Presented by Denise Parent
The HGS has been reviewing its operation and is requesting Town support to 1) refinance their existing clubhouse construction loans and 2) purchase/refinance capital equipment. The HGS cannot restructure its debt and accounts payable without Town’s support as the Town owns the land where the clubhouse is located. Council gave first reading to Bylaw #1113, giving administration direction to proceed with the advertisement process, and also gave first reading to Bylaw #1114 and directed Administration to proceed with the advertisement process. Councillor Taylor then put forth a motion that Council appoint a Councillor to the Hinton Golfing Society Board as a voting member as a condition of the loan; this motion was carried. Councillor Ostashek then moved that Council extend the payback deadline of the $75,000 short term loan until such time as the $1.5 Million loan has been secured. This motion was also carried.

Affordable Housing - Happy Creek Estates Proposal - Presented by Wendy Jones
Happy Creek Estates is a successful affordable housing model that supports our community. This proposal provides the opportunity for 12 additional apartments to be made available immediately. The funds being requested to be returned have been acquired through the income of Happy Creek Estates and will be used to subsidize 12 additional units.
The availability of affordable housing in our community is important today and the years to come. An investment of $21,564 with the offer to maintain a rent subsidy for 10 years for these additional 12 apartments provides Hinton with the opportunity to continue meeting the requests of many housing needs. It was moved that Council accept the proposal from Happy Creek Estates dated January 23, 2017 and as presented at Council Standing Committee meeting on March 14, 2017, by: a) Directing Administration to return to Happy Creek Estates $21,564 representing the three payments made under the Rent Increase Sharing Agreement between Happy Creek Estates and Town of Hinton dated November 2, 2012; and b) Direct Administration to terminate the Rent Increase Sharing Agreement dated November 5, 2012 between Happy Creek Estates and Town of Hinton. It was also moved that Council direct Administration to enter into the Mountainview Rent Subsidy Master Agreement that provides 12 affordable units for a cumulative period totaling 10 years to the Town of Hinton. These motions were carried. 

2017 Tax Levy Bylaw #111 - Presented by Denise Parent
Administration has prepared the Tax Levy Bylaw based on the 2017 approved operational budget. The bylaw contains all components (Municipal, Education, Evergreens Foundation requisition) and is ready for adoption by Council. In 2016, the municipality collected from the residential tax base and the non-residential tax base 47.1% and 52.9% of the total municipal taxes collected respectively. In 2017, the residential category (more specifically the single-family residence) assessments decreased by an average of 7.64%.and the non-residential sector had a slight increase of .27%. If the 2016 split rate of 1.82 was maintained then the residential share of the overall amount of taxes collected would drop to 45.1% and the non-residential share would increase by 54.9%. At the April 11th Standing Committee Meeting Council, provided direction to adjust the split tax rate to 1.70% to collect approximately the same proportion from the residential and non-residential tax base as in 2016 or 46.8% and 53.2% respectively. It was moved that Council give First reading of Bylaw #1111, which was carried. Councillor Michaels then moved that Bylaw #1111 provide the split rate of 1.74; this motion was defeated. It was then moved that Council give Second reading of Bylaw #1111; that motion was carried. It was attempted to reach unanimous consent for third reading; that was not reached, and so the Bylaw will return for THIRD reading in two weeks.
 
2017 Supplementary Property Tax Bylaw #1112 - Presented by Denise Parent
This item is before Council to give Council the necessary authority under the Municipal Government Act (section 313) to levy supplementary property tax. The 2017 Budget contains supplementary property taxation revenue in the amount of $50,000. In order to collect this revenue, it is necessary to put in place a supplementary property taxation bylaw. In order to assess and collect taxes for the 2017 taxation year on newly completed improvements, it is necessary to pass a bylaw each year to provide for supplementary taxation. The Bylaw received unanimous consent for first, second, and third reading.

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National Volunteer Week Canada's National Volunteer Week is April 23-29!
Thank you Canadian volunteers, for 150 glorious years.

In 2017, volunteering comes in many forms and is as diverse as Canada itself.  Someone who shovels their neighbour’s laneway or who brings a lost pet to the animal shelter is helping to build a stronger community.  Sometimes we miss recognizing these people as volunteers, because they do not occupy a formal role within an organization or group. 

To celebrate all volunteers and to get you thinking more deeply about volunteering, during NVW Volunteer Canada will release a series of crossword puzzles that reveal the impacts, benefits and diverse ways Canadians are involved in communities. Some answers may be obvious, while others may cause you to stop and say: “Volunteering, Eh?”

However you recognize volunteering in 2017, one thing remains timeless…and that is volunteer efforts create positive impact in communities across Canada.

Visit Hinton.ca/VolunteerWeek for more information

Pitch-In Week Hinton's Pitch-In Week is April 22-29, 2017!
During Pitch-in Week, we ask every Hinton resident to get involved in the spring cleaning of our community. Every year Hintonites are asked to volunteer an hour or two to help clean up. The Town will support you in doing it, providing gloves and garbage bags (which are always available, year round, if the garbage picking mood strikes) at the Infrastructure Services office. Employees are also available to pick up any garbage you gather, with just a phone call to the office for the bags’ location. We have employees trained and ready to help residents deal with any possibly bio-hazardous material you may come across, so there’s no need to compromise your safety to help clean up our Town. Workplace's are encouraged to participate together, or to join Mayor Rob Mackin in the Natural Resources Interpretive Park on Monday April 24 at 1:30 to help clean up!