Council Highlights - December 04, 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.

Bernie Kreiner, Hinton Rotary
Kreiner came before Council on behalf of the Hinton Rotary to present information regarding the Hinton Movies first year, saying that the organization has achieved growth in both their numbers of attendees and ticket sales. Kreiner then informed Council of reduced access statistics at the Hinton Food Bank, saying this is a good sign for economic conditions in the community.

Bernie Kreiner
Kreiner also came before Council personally, sharing his thoughts on ongoing budget discussions.

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.

There were no delegations.

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. First Reading for Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-7 (Variance) - Presented by Dani Woodman
The purpose of the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) is to regulate land use and development within Hinton. The LUB is reviewed every six months to recommend amendments that continue to keep the LUB current and supportive of growth and development. Proposed amendments to LUB No. 1088-7 is for the purpose of granting increased Variance authority for Cannabis Retail to align with minimum separation requirements as prescribed in the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act and the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation (AR 143/96), as amended from time to time. It was moved that Council gives First Reading to Land Use Bylaw 1088-7 as presented. This motion carried.

2. Request to Write-off Property Taxes on Manufactured Home - Presented by Carla Fox
The owners of the manufactured home located at 313, 133 Jarvis Street have not made a property tax payment since 2011. A property tax lien has been registered on the manufactured home due to unpaid property taxes. The Town is required to put the manufactured home to public auction before March 31, 2019. The owners of Hillcrest Estates have ownership of the mobile home through the courts. To ensure minimal financial impact to the Municipality, Administration’s recommendation is to write-off the outstanding property taxes, on condition that the manufactured home is destroyed no later than the end of May 2019. Write-off of taxation will only occur once proof of destruction has been received by the Corporate Services Department. If the timeline is exceeded, all outstanding taxation amounts will be payable in full. It was moved that Council approve the write-off of outstanding property taxes for a total $3,197.11 for a manufactured home at 313, 133 Jarvis Street, located in Hillcrest Estates, on the condition that the manufactured home is destroyed no later than the end of May 2019. This motion carried.

3. Fire Services Master Plan - Presented by Todd Martens
Council’s endorsement of the Fire Services Master Plan would allow Administration to move forward with implementing elements of the Master Plan, providing clear direction for the next few years. If this Plan is endorsed, every financial decision throughout the Plan will follow our budget process and seek Council approval as necessary. It was moved That Council accept the Fire Services Master Plan as information and enable Administration to consider this information for future planning. This motion carried.

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.

1. Land Purchase Discussions (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSA 2000, Chapter F-25, Sections 23 and 25)

Council returned from In Camera to make the following motions:

That Council proceed with the offer to purchase Plan 182 1995, Block 30, Lots 1 and 2, Plan 182 1997, Block 10, Lot 4 and Plan 182 1998, Block 23, Lot 14 from J. McMillan Equities Ltd. at the price with terms / conditions as previously circulated and reviewed by Council In-Camera.

and

That Council Direct Administration to move forward with the required borrowing for the land purchase following Debenture Bylaw No. 1127 once the 30-day petition period is up on December 20, 2018.

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.

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 Trevor Haas: Councillor Haas reported to Council in regards to the Hinton Municipal Library's "Shaping a Greater Community", thanking all attendees for their valuable input to the library 3 year plan. Haas went on to thank administration for their work on the Christmas lights and banners in the community.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh spoke to his attendance at a Mountain Pine Beetle meeting, and thanked Mayor Michaels for filling in at a CEAC meeting. Waugh then went on to speak about his attendance at a Community Futures West Yellowhead Christmas Party and Strategic Planning meeting. Waugh concluded by thanking the Chamber for their work on the Snowflake Parade.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Councillor Maguhn reported attendance at a golf society meeting, with discussion surrounding budgeting for the new year.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: Councillor Ostashek reported attending a recent HREDC meeting and discussions surrounding the economic development strategy, saying he looks forward to the strategy coming before Council in the coming weeks.

Councillor Dewly Nelson: Councillor Nelson reported his attendance at the Energy Futures Roadshow, calling it one of the best events he's ever been to in Hinton.

Councillor Joann(Jo) Race: Councillor Race thanked Mayor Michaels, saying that the lights celebrated by Councillor Haas she believes stem from a motion made by Mayor Michaels.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels thanks Councillor Nelson for his attendance at Energy Futures, and went on to speak to his attendance at the FCSS conference over the previous week and want to investigate further Council involvement with FCSS. Michaels also spoke to his role in assisting fundraise for the Nordic Centre at a casino night. Michaels concluded by speaking to the CEAC meeting he filled in on.

Interim CAO Mike Koziol: Interim CAO Koziol reported that he and CAO Martin Taylor have been engaged in continued conversation, saying that CAO Taylor will attend meetings in the coming week ahead of starting in the new year.

Town of Hinton Newsflash

Parks, Open Spaces and Trails Master Plan: Phase 2

The Town of Hinton is developing a Parks, Open Space and Trails (POST) Master Plan for the Town and an Outline Plan for the Maxwell Lake Recreation Area. The purpose of the POST Master Plan is to identify gaps, needs and priorities for these spaces within the town, while the Outline Plan focuses on the establishment of the Maxwell Lake Recreation Area specifically. ISL Engineering and Land Services is supporting this work. We are currently in the second phase (Explore) of the projects and, in November, we will be seeking input on the concept designs that were developed based on what we heard and learned in Phase 1. Learn more here.

Please Adjust Parking Practices at Dr Duncan Murray Rec Centre

Staff have installed signs serving as the first part of expanded enforcement of fire lane/no parking zones in front of the recreation centre facility.

This fire lane is an important part of ensuring that emergency personnel, should they ever need to attend the facility, are able to quickly and efficiently move into action.

While this fire lane has always been in place, the sign installation will begin a new awareness and enforcement campaign in the area.

Signs were installed on November 8th, starting a 30 day grace period wherein Bylaw enforcement staff will make violators aware of the firelane.

At the end of this grace period, Bylaw will begin issuing tickets for violation of the fire lane.

All recreation centre patrons and staff are asked to please review the above map (also available here) to view permitted and forbidden locations for loading and short term parking in the Rec Centre area.

For any further questions related to the recreation, please contact Heather Waye, Interim Parks, Recreation & Culture Manager.

For any question relating to Bylaw enforcement, please contact Protective Services.

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 1600 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 December 11, 2018, at 4pm
in the Committee Room.