Council Highlights - April 16, 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.

Trevor Bamsey
Bamsey spoke to Council regarding the coming Cannabis Culture celebrations on April 20th, and encouraging Council to pursue ways to allow for respectful public consumption of cannabis during events within the community.

Deanne Fabrick & Nancy Robbins
Fabrick and Robbins came before Council to share details regarding a coming event in the community, known as Lemonade Day, which will encourage children and youth to learn entrepreneurial skills.

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. RCMP Annual Report - Presented by by S/Sgt Chris Murphy

Find the presentation in the agenda package, available here.

2. Growing Great Kids - Presented by Jenna Altrogge

Find the presentation in the agenda package, available here.

3. White Wolf Inn - Joseph Han and Yuki Choi

Han and Choi spoke to Council regarding a previous Council decision, requesting leniency on outstanding taxes.

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. Town of Hinton Consolidated Financial Statements Year Ended December 31, 2018 - Presented by Carla Fox
Municipal councils must approve the annual financial statements and the financial annual return of the municipality. The reports on the annual statements must be in accordance with the form and the reporting standards recommended by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Further, the returns and statements must be made public and forwarded to the Minister by May 1st of the following year. It was moved that Council approve the Town of Hinton Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year ending December 31, 2018 as presented. This motion carried.

2. Intermunicipal Development Plan - Bylaw No.1133 - Presented by Lorraine Walker
The purpose of the IDP is to facilitate and sustain long term strategic growth and to identify joint development opportunities in the Rural-Urban Fringe (RUF) between Hinton and Yellowhead County.

Key principles from the plan are:

To ensure compatible and complementary land uses to minimize conflicts;
Pursuing mutually beneficial opportunities for the future development of land, transportation and infrastructure systems;
Retain, protect, and enhance environmentally sensitive areas including rivers, wetlands, trails and wildlife corridors within the plan area where possible; and
Ensure consistent execution and enforcement of development standards within the plan area.

The IDP was also identified as a key strategy of Council’s 2017 – 2021 Strategic Plan by strategically developing and diversifying Hinton’s economy. The IDP replaces Joint Area Structure Plans between the Town and Yellowhead County and Hinton’s 2009 Annexation of County lands impacted the boundaries of the Joint ASP’s. All statutory plans and plan amendments as well as future land use, subdivision and development in the plan area shall comply with the policies of the IDP. It was moved that Council give the Intermunicipal Development Plan Bylaw No. 1133 First Reading. This motion carried.

3. Athabasca Watershed Council Membership - Presented by Emily Olsen
The AWC was established in 2009, with the mission to “demonstrate leadership and facilitate informed decision-making in the Athabasca watershed by bringing stakeholders and Indigenous peoples together to promote, foster respect, and plan for an ecologically healthy watershed that supports social responsibility and economic sustainability.”

The Athabasca Watershed Council (AWC) requires representation from municipalities in its jurisdiction, like the Town of Hinton to realize their vision of an ecologically healthy, socially responsible, and economically sustainable watershed, and to create and implement an Integrated Watershed Management Plan.

Council then made the following motions:

That Council approve the Town of Hinton’s 2019 - 2020 membership with the Athabasca Watershed Council.
That Council appoint one Councillor as organizational member and appoint one Councillor as alternate.
That Council approve a $1,000 donation for the Athabasca Watershed Council from the Economic Development grant fund.

These 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.

There were no in camera items.

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 new motions.

Information Items

Councillor Trevor Haas: Councillor Haas had nothing to report.

Councillor Tyler Waugh: Councillor Waugh had nothing to report.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Councillor Maguhn informed Council that he would be able to share the new Golf Society members following their next meeting, that Prime Restaurant in the Clubhouse is now open, and that the Golf Society is excited for the new season.

Councillor Dewly Nelson: Councillor Nelson spoke to his, the Mayor's, members of administration, and representation from the HREDC's recent attendance at the Economic Developers Association convention. Nelson then went on to detail recent West Yellowhead Regional Waste Management meetings to confirm financials, he and Mayor Michaels attendance at FCSS' Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, and concluded by speaking to recent Community Futures activity including Grow Yellowhead local food initiative and his hope to be involved in the previously mentioned Lemonade Day.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: Councillor Ostashek spoke to Council's recent attendance of an Asset Management Seminar held by Planning and Development for Council, as well as his own attendance at the River Valley Riding Association Dinner and Auction. Ostashek concluded by discussing the RVRA's coming events, including the Mary Reimer Rodeo, the Oil Country Barrel Challenge, and (new this year) a horseback Poker Rally.

CAO Martin Taylor: CAO Taylor shared updates on an number of Administration projects, including:

Communications' work on the Don't Play with your Trash campaign, supporting Infrastructure Services
Economic Development's work alongside the Where magazine, both on their Jasper Map and (new this year) a Hinton specific map.
Human Resources' ongoing work to recruit a permanent Infrastructure Services Director and Economic Development Officer
Infrastructure Services' ongoing efforts on street cleaning, landfill, and new equipment purchases
Protective Services' receiving a grant from Pembina Community Investment, as well as work ongoing in preparation for the Second Annual Emergency Services Day event with Parks West Mall
Corporate Services' updates to the Bellamy/Serenic software, IT's work to support said updates, and work recently completed in transitioning the Water Treatment Plant's data and information services
Planning and Development's work on the Asset Management project

CAO Taylor concluded by extending his welcome to Peter Vana, Interim Planning and Development Director.

Further reporting on Administration activities include:

FCSS' continued support of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (which has now assisted over 300 residents) and the coming Medically at Risk Driver session tomorrow (Thursday)
Parks' work supporting Pitch-In Week and general spring readiness and cleaning work
Aquatics coming Recruitment and Retention project
Events' work supporting the Challenge in the Rockies

Town of Hinton Newsflash

Don't Play With Your Trash

Put the bins wheels to the road - or have to put your wheels to the road as you drive your refuse to the landfill.

The Town of Hinton ISB staff have noticed a significant amount of improperly placed bins on residential streets, and have begun an education campaign with Communications to help everyone understand how to place your bins.

Click here to learn more.

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 1700 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 Regular Council meeting will be held May 7, 2019, at 4pm
in the Council Chambers.