Council Highlights - June 12, 2018

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.

There were no speakers

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.

1. Seniors Week Report and Passport Draw - Presented by Randy Smith
Smith informed Council of the 29 events that took place over Seniors Week, and the 1869 attendees that came out to take part in them. Smith also requested Mayor Michaels suport (see photo below) in drawing prize winners. This years big winners were:

Two nights at the Mount Robson Inn in Jasper - Deanna Teskey
$250.00 Overlander Mountain Lodge Gift Certificate - Merle Waller
Samsung Galaxy Tablet - Ginnie Blair
Two tickets to Les Miserables -Therese Pempeit
$100.00 Freson Bros. Gift Card -Tom Watson
$50.00 Smitty's Gift Card - Ruby Ramsay

Mayor Michaels and Randy Smith draw prizes

2. RCMP Quarterly Report - Presented by S/Sgt Chris Murphy
View Staff Sgt. Murphy's presentation here.

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.

There were no public hearings.

Action Items

1. Flag Policy #AD-1202 - Presented by Jenna Altrogge
The Town of Hinton flies the National Flag of Canada, the Flag of the Province of Alberta, and the Flag of the Town of Hinton on municipal flagpoles at various Town properties. Flags are important symbols, and half-masting flags is a visual statement that speaks to a shared sense of loss and sorrow. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of inquiries from members of the community as well as visitors regarding the Town’s half-masting practices. There has also been an increased trend in the requests and expectations for half-masting the flags (e.g. for passing of Town staff and in response to national and global tragedies). As such, Administration reviewed the policy, comparing it to other flag policies across the province, as well as the provincial and federal guidelines set out for the flying and halfmasting of flags. It was moved That Council approve Flag Policy #AD-1202 as presented in Attachment #1. This motion carried.

2. Regional Assessment Review Board Bylaw #1123 - Presented by Jenna Altrogge
This item is before Council due to legislative changes to the Municipal Government Act, RSA 2000, Chapter M-26 affecting the establishment of regional Assessment Review Boards. The revised Regional Assessment Review Board Bylaw #1123 (Attachment #1) has been developed to ensure compliance with legislative changes, and to ensure that the regional board operates effectively. Council granted the Bylaw first and second reading.

3. Request to Waive Property Tax Penalties for 127 Athabasca Avenue - Presented by Carla Fox
The property located at 127 Athabasca Avenue, Bodywise Fitness Centres Ltd., has recently been taken over by Carpo Inc. The Director of Carpo Inc., Mr. Kent Hansen, is requesting that the outstanding amount owing on this building be eliminated or reduced. Carpo Inc. was aware of the delinquent account when they took on this property and did pay a portion of the outstanding amounts owing, leaving a remaining balance of $8,528.39. It was moved that Council decline the Owner’s request to reduce or waive property tax penalties in the amount of $8,528.39 for the property located at 127 Athabasca Avenue.. This motion carried.

4. Approval to Write Off Outstanding Landfill Accounts Receivable and Accounts Receivable - Presented by Carla Fox
It is a necessary accounting practice to write off uncollectible Landfill Accounts Receivable and Municipal Accounts Receivable to ensure the municipal accounting records are kept current and reflect a receivables amount that is deemed reasonably collectable. It was moved that Council directs Administration to write off the outstanding balance of $6,021.30 of delinquent Landfill Accounts Receivable, And That Council directs Administration to write off the outstanding balance of $3,318.85 of delinquent Accounts Receivable. Both motions carried.

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.

An administrative inquiry was lodged in writing regarding a rainbow crosswalk for the Town of Hinton. Options were suggested and direction requested regarding timelines (whether to try and achieve during Pride month, or next year during the opening of Pride). Mayor Michaels spoke to a want to consider the information before determining a course of action.

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.

It was moved that Council direct Administration to present Land Use Bylaw #1088 and Business License Bylaw # 1020 for Cannabis to the June 26, 2018 Standing Committee meeting. This motion carried.

It was also moved that Council direct Administration to apply for the FCM Climate Change Staff Grant of up to $125,000. This motion also carried.

Information Items

Councillor Trevor Haas: Councillor Haas informed Council of his attendance at multiple Seniors Week events, calling it an excellent experience. He also spoke his attendance at FCM, saying he enjoyed being able to listen to the leaders of all the federal parties speak. He went on to discuss his attendance at a Blanket Ceremony there, saying he valued the insight and history gained from the experience. Haas went on to speak to some enticing safety and outdoor equipment options displayed at the FCM Trade show, and then concluded by speaking to a want to move forward with Cannabis planning, particularly in cooperation with neighbouring communities.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh informed Council of his recent attendance at the final Mountain Pine Beetle meeting, saying more information on that groups plan of action is anticipated soon. He also spoke to upcoming CFWY events. He finished his reporting by speaking to his enjoyment of his time as Deputy Mayor, including the role he was able to play at the Seniors Lifetime Achievement Awards and the opening of Freshii alongside the Chamber and HREDC.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Councillor Maguhn spoke to his attendance at a Golf Society meeting, saying that the cash in the bank is great, with ongoing operational expenses proceeding normally and membership promotions forthcoming.

Councillor Dewly Nelson: Councillor Nelson informed Council that he had attended a number of meetings since May, but also that he wished to highlight the importance of the Energy Disruptors conference which he attended recently. He informed Council that there were over 1,500 attendees at the inaugural event, most of whom represented the Oil and Gas sector. Nelson went on to speak his enjoyment of the speakers who presented and the manner in which they presented on both current and future technologies and aspirations.

Councillor Joann(Jo) Race: Councillor Race spoke to her attendance at the FCSS Regional Meeting in Whitecourt last week, highlighting the importance of Hinton and regions Elder Abuse Coordinator and a want to speak further on ways to continue this position following the end of provincial funding.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels started off the reporting period by proclaiming ALS Month (read more here). Mayor Michaels spoke to his enjoyment of Halifax, and of the ways in which the community is growing and readjusting for modern wants. He also thanked Minister Shaye Anderson for his visit to the community, saying it is important to work with the Province, as well as a want to prioritize and focus on the Hinton Training Centre expansion. Mayor Michaels announced that Evergreens has selected their project management firm for the Pine Valley facility, with the scope of the project to come and shovels in the ground targeted for spring 2019. Finally, he reported his attendance at a recent ASH meeting, and the necessity to restructure the bulk rate following the overall learnings of the first year of operation thus far. He reports that everything appears to be viable and running well, with a full update expected in the fall budgeting process.

Interim CAO Denise Parent: Interim CAO Parent informed Council of the coming Mock Evacuation Scenario (read more here), as well as Wednesdays EOC Meet and Greet.

In Camera

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.

Following returning from In Camera, Council made the following motions:

1. Hinton Wildcats Junior A Hockey Club Facility Use Agreement (Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act, RSA 2000, Chapter F-25, Section 16, 24)
That Council direct Administration to bring the Hinton Wildcats Junior A Hockey Club Facility Use Agreement forward, including conditions directed In-Camera, at the June 19, 2018 Regular Council Meeting for decision. This motion carried.

2. Personnel Matter (added to agenda at start of meeting)
That Council relieve Denise Parent of her Interim CAO position effective immediately. This motion carried.

That Council appoint Denise Thompson interim CAO for the Town of Hinton effective immediately. This motion carried. This change is an opportunity to allow Ms. Thompson to begin her transition to full-time, permanent CAO prior than her confirmed start date later this summer. More information will be shared with the public as the transition gets underway.

Town of Hinton Newsflash

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Parks, Open Spaces, and Trails Master Plan Engagement Sessions

This Saturday is the Parks, Open Spaces, and Trails Master Plan Engagement Sessions throughout the community, including The Mud Run and Green Square.

This plan will guide the near future of outdoor spaces in the community, and your input will help ensure that the vision represents our community as a whole.

Learn more here: http://hinton.ca/909/Parks-Open-Space-and-Trails-Master-Plan

Thompson Lake Subdivision to be Site of Training Exercise June 14

From 10am to 3pm on Thursday June 14, 2018, Hinton Protective Services will be carrying out a mock evacuation scenario in the area of Thompson Lake. Learn more here.

Council Video Recordings

As some residents may have noticed, we have recently experienced difficulties with our streaming video provider online. The service provider has changed the accepted methods of posting, which has made all older videos in the inventory non-functioning. These non-functioning videos will removed from the inventory for the time being, however, administration is investigating ways of making a larger library available for residents to access online. In the interim, a new format has been selected, and new recordings are being posted as before; however, the new format is slightly larger, and so less videos will be accessible online than in years past. Recordings of the videos are also available on DVDs at the Hinton Municipal Library, which can be checked out and viewed on either computers or DVD players, or by contacting the Town of Hinton should those DVD recordings not be available.

The Town of Hinton is on Facebook!

As close to 1100 people have already figured out - The Town of Hinton now has a corporate Facebook page! This new tool adds another resource to the communications toolbelt, 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. We will, however, endeavour to ensure that we are sharing content relevant to the widest possible audience. Like us today by clicking here!

You can view the entire agenda package here.

The next Council meeting will be held June 19, 2018, at 4pm
in the the Council Chambers.