Council Highlights - December 18, 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.

Karen Graham
Graham shared their concerns in regards to the Maxwell Lake Outline plan portion of the Parks, Open Spaces, and Trails Master Plan.

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.

Proposed Maxwell Lake Boardwalk Upgrade and Enhancement Concerns - Presented by Maureen Harper and Bill Heir

Harper and Heir shared their concerns and research regarding the Maxwell Lake Outline Plan being created as part of the Parks Open Spaces and Trails Master Plan, as well as previously approved projects in the area. View their 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. 2019 Interim Operating Budget and 2019 Capital Budget - Presented by Carla Fox
As per Section 242(1) and 245 of the Municipal Government Act, Council must adopt an Operating and Capital Budget for each calendar year. Council may adopt an Interim Operating Budget for part of a calendar year until the Operating Budget for that calendar year is adopted. It was moved that Council adopts a 2019 Interim Operating Budget based on the 2018 Budget estimate of $33,968,521 until the final 2019 Operating Budget is adopted, and that Council adopts the 2019 Capital Budget of $7,745,331 as presented in Attachment #1. Both motions 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.

Following the return from in camera, Council made the following motions:

1. Citizen Committee Application Review (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSA 2000, Chapter F-25, Section 17)

That Douglas Heine be appointed to the Community Engagement & Advisory Committee for a two-year term to the 2020 Organizational Meeting of Council.

and

That James McClelland be appointed to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board for a two-year term to the 2020 Organizational Meeting.

Both motions carried

2.Land Matters (Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy RSA 2000, Sections 24 & 25)

That Council direct Administration to provide a report on addressing the major risks associated with the developer as per In Camera conversations.

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.

Councillor Race presented an administrative inquiry in regards to the retaining wall at Robb and Switzer.

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 Dewly Nelson: Councillor Nelson spoke to his attendance at the Town of Hinton Christmas Party, thanking Hans for his work hosting. Nelson then spoke to his attendance at the Forest Carbon Technical sessions recently, saying he looks forward to bringing a report on the work to Council in the near future. Nelson concluded by speaking to the Recreation Centre's Skate with Santa Event, thanking administration for the work and remarking that it was well attended.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: Councillor Ostashek offered warm Christmas tidings to his fellow Council, staff, administration, and the residents of Hinton.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh reported having attended a meeting the week before with a CEAC member, thanking administration for the support and guidance while the group evaluates social media options moving forward. Waugh then thanked the organisers of the "Pancakes with Santa" event, and concluded by offering Christmas tidings.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Councillor Maguhn spoke to recent Golf Society meetings, discussing the difficulty the group encounters annually with the realities of golf; this is the off season, but there are still tasks from the year before to resolve and from the next to prepare for.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels discussed work on going with the Evergreens Foundation on the Pine Valley expansion, saying the goal remains to see shovels in the ground soon. Michaels also spoke to his attendance at last nights Seniors Lights Tour event, sharing his appreciation for the skits that were held and the even in general. He then offered thanks to the work of ICAO Koziol over his term, and then delivering gifts with Council to staff. Finally, Mayor Michaels made the following motion:

That Council Direct Administration to partner with the Chamber of Commerce for a beer and blue jeans to be hosted at our Town Hall in 2019. Additionally, will also include a maximum $400 budget from the General Governance fund. This motion carried.

Interim CAO Mike Koziol: Interim CAO Koziol had nothing to report, and concluded his final report by thanking Council for their work and his time working for them, describing it as a pleasure and speaking very highly of the community.

Town of Hinton Newsflash

Holiday Hours

In addition to the adjustments to garbage pickup schedules and recycling hours previously shared (find it here if you missed it), the Town of Hinton will observe a number of closures for the holiday season.

Protective Services

Closed December 24, 2018 and reopening on January 2, 2019
Peace Officers will still be on regular hours and reachable at 780-865-6009.
Fire Department Remains on Call

Recreation Centre
Closed December 24, 2018 at noon. Regular hours resume December 27.
Closed December 31 at 4pm. Regular hours resume January 2.

Government Centre/The Guild
Closed December 24, at noon. Regular hours resume December 27.
The P&D Division will remain closed Dec. 24-28
Closed January 1.

ISB
Closed December 24, at noon. Regular hours resume December 27.
Closed January 1.
780-865-2634 available 24/7

Thank you for your understanding while we observe these closures to take part in the holiday season. All the best to you and yours in these festive days!

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 January 8, 2018, at 4pm
in the Council Chambers.