Council Highlights - February 05, 2019

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.

Bill Heir
Heir shared concerns regarding the Maxwell Lake Pedestrian bridge project.

Susan Stevenson
Stevenson shared concerns regarding the Maxwell Lake Pedestrian bridge project.

Bernie Kreiner
Kreiner shared concerns regarding the Maxwell Lake Pedestrian bridge project.

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.

Preserving the Beaver Boardwalk - Beth MacCallum, Whiskey Jacks Club
View MacCallum's 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 hearings.

Action Items

1. Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan - Presented by Emily Olsen
The Economic Development Strategy and Action plan provides a cohesive vision to advance Council’s Strategic Plan, specifically Goal 1: Responsibly grow, develop and diversify the town of Hinton and related objectives and key strategies. You can find the plan in the agenda package, available here. It was moved that Council approve the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan; this motion carried.

2. Potential Opportunity for Federal Minister Meetings (verbal) - Councillor Dewly Nelson
Nelson informed Council of a planned visit to Ottawa, where he would like to lobby on behalf of the Town of Hinton. Mayor Michaels then spoke to his want for lobbying to be completed on the topic of Mountain Pine Beetle. After asking for recommendations from Administration, it was moved that Council endorses and supports Councillor Nelson to speak on behalf of Town Council with various Federal Ministers during his visit to Ottawa at the end of February; this motion carried.

3. Parkland County Request for Letter of Support for Smart Cities Challenge - Presented by Martin Taylor
Learn more about the letter of support in the agenda package, available here. It was moved that Council direct administration to write a letter of support for the Parkland, Brazeau, Lac Ste. Anne and Yellowhead Counties Smart Cities Challenge submission. 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. Personnel Matter (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSA 2000, Chapter F-25, Sections 17, 23, 24 and 27)

It was moved that Council decline the Staff Grant as discussed in Camera. This motion 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 none.

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 none.

Information Items.

Councillor Trevor Haas: Councillor Haas reported having attended an ASH meeting, saying that there is much going on in February including movies, dinner theatre, and more. He shared notice that there is a need for volunteers to assist with the operation of events, including the seniors safe walk.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh reported his attendance at a recent CEAC meeting regarding social media, and a coming meeting on March 7. Waugh also reported having attended a Forest Resource Advisory Group meeting, speaking highly of the work coming. Waugh concluded by offering a "good job" to the Firefighters in their victory over the RCMP at the Battle of the Badges.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Councillor Maguhn reported having attended a meeting of the Golf Society, but stated that he cannot share details at this time.

Councillor Dewly Nelson: Councillor Nelson reported having attended the Battle of the Badges, saying it was a great event with only one (comedic) arrest. Nelson went on to report that the Chamber's Beer and Blue Jeans event was a great success. Nelson concluded by reporting having had some meetings with citizens in regards to Beaver Boardwalk, and then offered thanks to staff for their work through the cold weather.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: Councillor Ostashek reported his attendance, and enjoyment, of the Beer and Blue Jeans event.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels spoke to his attendance at the Beer and Blue Jeans event, offering his thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, saying that he looks forward to another event in the fall. Michaels then reported having attended a lunch with BigHorn Mining, saying things are progressing well with work anticipated to begin soon and bring even more jobs to the region.

CAO Martin Taylor: CAO Taylor introduced Terri Williams, the Town of Hinton's new Legislative Services Coordinator, and then informed Council of newly available online license purchases now available through the Town website (more below).

Town of Hinton Newsflash

Get Your Business or Animal License Online

The Town of Hinton has moved to a new digital payment system, and you can now conveniently apply for and purchase animal or business licenses online, 24/7!

Visit Hinton.ca/BusinessLicense to apply for a business license.

Visit Hinton.ca/Animals to apply for an animal license.

The license purchase system will not allow purchases through out-dated browsers, such as internet explorer.

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 February 19, 2018, at 4pm
in the Council Chambers.