Council Highlights - August 28, 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.

Robert De Roo
De Roo spoke to Council in regards to his concerns on bylaw enforcement, and the parking of recreational vehicles.

Sue Allen
Allen shared her concerns regarding the coming Animal Control Bylaw.

Marie Michener
Michener shared her concerns regarding the coming Animal Control Bylaw.

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. Public Transit Study Review - Presented by Dan Levy and Brian Mills
View the entire presentation in the agenda package, available 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. Public Transit Study Review - Presented by Hans van Klaveren
At the April 3, 2018 Regular Meeting of Council, the following motion was carried: “That up to $50,000 be allocated from the One-Time Operating Reserve to fund an external Public Transit System Review.” Dantec Associates was awarded the contract to undertake this review and produce a full report, which they have developed over the past several months; this item is before Council in conjunction with their presentation of the Final Report. It was moved that Council refers the Hinton Public Transit Review Report from Dantec Associates to the Standing Committee Meeting of October 9, 2018 for further discussion. This motion carried.

2. Application for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Municipal Asset Management Program Grant - Presented by Mindi Petkau
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has a grant available that supports the improvement of asset management activities within Municipalities. One of the requirements of the grant application is to provide a resolution from Council authorizing the application and providing a commitment that the project will proceed should the municipality receive the grant. FCM also requires Municipalities to demonstrate that they have financially committed to developing an Asset Management. Administration will be demonstrating this commitment through the approved 2018 Capital Budget.

It was moved that Council direct Administration to:

Apply for a grant opportunity from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Municipal Asset Management Program for Hinton’s Asset Management Program and
Complete two stages of Hinton’s Asset Management Program project; Stage 1: Asset Management Policy; and Stage 2: Asset Management Strategy Objectives.

This motion carried

3. Draft Public Participation Policy #1209 - Presented by Emily Olsen
This item is before Council to formalize public participation practices, including a framework for the Town of Hinton’s approach to the engagement of municipal stakeholders, as well as the categories of approaches for public participation in municipal decision-making. Section 216.1 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires all municipalities to develop a Public Participation Policy to define the circumstances in which Council would seek the public’s perspective in support of municipal decision-making; and the categories or approaches of public participation that the municipality will follow. Council gave Policy #1209 first, second, and unanimous third reading.

4. Council Meeting Schedule Changes - Presented by Jenna Altrogge
Administration is recommending changes to Council’s current meeting schedule to ensure operations progress effectively. It was moved that the September 11 Standing Committee Meeting be changed to a Regular Council Meeting; this motion carried. It was then moved that the September 25 Standing Committee Meeting be cancelled, due to attendance at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Annual Conference; this motion also carried. Finally, it was moved that the October 23, 2018 Standing Committee meeting is followed by the 2018 Organizational Meeting; this motion carried.

5. First Reading for Business License Bylaw No. 1126 - Presented by Wendy Jones
The purpose of the Business License Bylaw No. 1126 is to provide for the regulation and licensing of businesses in Hinton. At the August 21, 2018 Standing Committee Meeting of Council, Council directed Administration to:

reduce the Commercial/Industrial, Home-Based Business/Home Occupation and Regional Residential Business license from the proposed $160.00 per Calendar Year to $100.00 per Calendar Year;
amend the original Bylaw timeline to be presented on August 28, 2018 for First Reading

It was moved that Council grant Business License Bylaw No.1126 as presented and appended to the report as Attachment 1; this motion carried. It was then moved that Council direct Administration to present Business License Bylaw No. 1126 for Second/Third Reading on September 11, 2018; this motion also carried.

6. Cannabis Consumption Bylaw No. 1125 (first reading) - Presented by Todd Martens
Regulating Cannabis Consumption by banning consumption of cannabis in public places will protect children, adults and seniors from exposure to second hand cannabis smoke, while still allowing people to smoke it in their privately owned or rented space. This Bylaw aligns with federal and provincial legislation, and strikes a balance between economic opportunities and efforts to mitigate community concerns.

It was moved that Council accept Cannabis Consumption Bylaw No.1125 for information; this motion carried. It was then moved that Council direct Administration to present Cannabis Consumption Bylaw No. 1125 for First Reading on September 11, 2018; this motion also 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.

There were no inquiries

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.

There were no notices.

Information Items

Councillor Joann(Jo) Race: Councillor Race informed Council of her recent attendance at an Arts Society of Hinton meeting, where they discussed the coming Alberta Culture Days events scheduled for September 29, 2018. She spoke of the plans to have indigenous craftspeople and performers at the PATH, as well as possibly an Elder speaker. Race went on to say that they are currently discussing appropriations and pursuing a Canadian Cultural Spaces grant for equipment.

Councillor Dewly Nelson: Councillor Nelson spoke to a recent West Yellowhead Regional Waste Management Authority meeting, whereat the group spoke about coming years priorities. Nelson then discussed his attendance at the Steve Daniels Memorial Horseshoe Tournament, where $12,000 was raised to support Alex Howarth and his family.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh informed Council that he had nothing to report, but is looking forward to coming work with Community Futures West Yellowhead.

Councillor Trevor Haas: Councillor Haas had nothing to report, but did inform Council that the Hinton Municipal Library is working on its budgeting process.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels opened his reporting by making two motions:

1. That Council establishes the Personnel Committee with members as follows: Mayor Michaels, Councillor Maguhn, Councillor Ostashek, and Councillor Race, to ensure consistency with Town Manager Recruitment Policy #098.

and

2. That Council direct Administration to provide George Cuff with an honorarium of $500 for his services and support in the recruitment process of the Interim Chief Administrative Officer.

Both motions carried.

Mayor Michaels then spoke to a busy couple of weeks, informing Council of visits from sister city Wanouchi, as well as local Leaders by Nature summer camp attendees. Mayor Michaels thanked administration for their assistance in welcoming the visitors. Mayor Michaels then informed Council of advancements with Evergreens, saying that dates have been selected for the Pine Valley expansion, with a goal to begin work in early June 2019. The expansion aims to add 60 beds, at an estimated cost of 19.5 million.

Interim CAO Mike Koziol: Interim CAO Koziol preempted coming budget discussions with an update to Council of some of this budget cycle's realities, including a previously negotiated wage increase, and changes to the funding of some positions that will have budgetary implications. Koziol then informed Council that he is preparing terms of reference for a request for proposals for a efficiency and effectiveness review of administration. Should funding be available, Koziol informed Council that he believed the review could be complete by February.

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:

Interim CAO Contract Adjustments (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSA 2000, Chapter F-25, Sections 17, 23)

That Council amends sections 7(a) and 7(d) of the Interim Chief Administrative Officer Contract as follows:

that section 7(a) be extended by two weeks and
that section 7(d) be increased to $2,000 per month, due to the calculated costs of living.

This motion carried.

Town of Hinton Newsflash

Maxwell Lake Pedestrian Bridge Replacement

The Maxwell Lake pedestrian bridge is closed to all foot traffic, and construction is expected to begin today (August 29) on the replacement bridge.

The Town of Hinton has approved the replacement of the Maxwell Lake Bridge in the 2018 Town of Hinton Capital Budget. The existing pedestrian bridge is slumping into the wetland and is structurally compromised and no longer safe for public use.

The new bridge profile is raised higher to support the water flow changes in the Maxwell Lake from year to year. The bridge has been designed to support and enable those with mobility aids to access the bridge. The bridge design supports equipment for boardwalk maintenance by Town of Hinton in areas that were not readily accessible throughout the year.

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 over to 1500 people have already figured out - The Town of Hinton now has a corporate Facebook page! This new service 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 September 11, 2018, at 4pm
in Council Chambers.