Beaver Council Meeting Highlights
COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 5, 2020
via WEBCONFERENCE - ZOOM
2021 Budget
Council reviewed a preliminary estimate for the 2021 budget. The initial draft of the budget balances the budget with no increases in tax levy planned, while accommodating a loss of tax income from oil and gas properties. The initial draft of the budget also includes significant road upgrades in 2021, some of which have are funded by a grant from the Province of Alberta. Many savings were found in County department budgets, and the only major increase is due to the increase in police funding that we must pay to the Province of Alberta. This police funding requisition from the Province increases each year for another two years after 2021.
Municipal Operating Support Transfer
The Provincial Government has provided municipalities with a Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST grant) to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant may be used for COVID- related expenses for the period April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.
Council passed a motion authorizing administration to allocate the Municipal Operating Support Transfer to uncollectible taxes and other projects at the discretion of the Chief Administrative Officer, subject to grant eligibility requirements.
Beaver Emergency Services Commission 4th Quarter Grant Payments
Council passed a motion authorizing the payment of the fourth quarter operating and capital grants, on the understanding that 2020 cost-sharing will be reconciled on the 2020 audited financial statement rather than on the 2020 budget, in the first quarter of 2021
Council also requested that a future discussion occur for the purpose of reconciling the BESC 2020
capital budget with the "long-term capital funding and expenditure plan", otherwise known as the currently recognized BESC Apparatus Replacement Report and BESC Business Plan.
2020 Agricultural Service Board Scholarship
The mandate of the Agricultural Service Board Scholarship Policy is to support young people pursuing a career in agriculture or a related field.
Council passed a motion approving the Agricultural Service Board (ASB) recommendation to award the
2020 ASB Scholarship to Landon Schmidt and Sidney Zemlak as per the criteria determined in the ASB
Scholarship Policy.
Building in the Hamlet of Bruce
At the September 2, 2020 Council meeting a presentation was made to Council regarding an unsightly building. Council passed a motion directing that administration contact the owner and request permission to contact the Bruce Ag Society and/or the Bruce Stampede Association to assist with beautification of the building.
On October 29, 2020, a non-binding petition was received with regards to the building. The 36 residents who signed the petition are requesting that the building be repaired by the owner or demolished.
Following a recorded voted Council passed a motion that Council express their gratitude to the residents who signed the petition regarding the building in Bruce and direct no further action at this time.
Lindbrook Drainage
At the May 20, 2020, Council Meeting, Council authorized administration to proceed with an Engineered Drainage Study to investigate the cause(s) of flooding within Lindbrook Estates Subdivision. As described in the study, the primary cause of the flooding was found to be the filling of a natural drainage course prior to 1993.
Council passed a motion authorizing administration to engage the landowner of Lot 5 Block 2 Plan 7920020 (#30 Lindbrook Estates) for the purposes of reinstituting a drainage course through the property.
Bylaw 20-1091 – Land Use Bylaw Consolidation
Council authorizes amendments to the Land Use Bylaw through amendment bylaws; however, these bylaws are not formally incorporated into the LUB until a consolidation bylaw has been authorized by Council in accordance with the Municipal Government Act. Bylaw 20-1091 will consolidate all amendments made to Land Use Bylaw 98-801 since its last consolidation in 2017.
Council passed all three readings of Bylaw 20-1091.
Bylaw 20-1096 – Municipal Development Plan Consolidation
Council authorizes amendments to the Municipal Development Plan through amendment bylaws; however, these bylaws are not formally incorporated into the MDP until a consolidation bylaw has been authorized by Council in accordance with the Municipal Government Act. Bylaw 20-1096 will consolidate all amendments made to Municipal Development Plan Bylaw 98-800 since its last consolidation in 2017
Council passed all three readings of Bylaw 20-1096.
Inter-Municipal Assessment Review Board Code of Conduct/Board Policies & Bylaw 20-1094 – Inter-Municipal Assessment Review Board
The Intermunicipal Assessment Review Board has been in place in the region since 2010. The current
bylaw needed to be updated to align with recent changes to the Municipal Government Act. A Code of Conduct and Policies and Procedures have also been prepared.
Council passed a motion approving the Intermunicipal Assessment Review Board Code of Conduct, approving the Intermunicipal Assessment Review Board Policies and Procedures, appointing Jennifer Goertzen as Chair of the Intermunicipal Assessment Review Board, appointing Margaret Jones, Assistant CAO of Beaver County, as Clerk of the Intermunicipal Assessment Review Board, and approving remuneration to the Intermunicipal Assessment Review Board Chair and members.
Council passed all three reading of Bylaw 20-1094.
Inter-Municipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Agreement and Bylaw 20-1095 – Inter-Municipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board
The Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board has been in place in the region since 2006. A Municipal Accountability Program audit conducted in 2 municipalities in the region noted that the current bylaw and agreement need to be updated to align with recent changes to the Municipal Government Act. The documents have also been changed to reflect the evolution of the region’s Board composition and hearing procedures over the years.
Council passed a motion approving the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board agreement with the Towns of Tofield and Viking and the Villages of Ryley and Holden; approving the appointment of Kennedy Agrios LLP as Clerk of the Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, and approving remuneration to Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board members.
Council passed all three readings of Bylaw 20-1095.
Bylaw 20-1097 – Fee for Services Bylaw
The Fee for Services Bylaw provides for a refund of the fee paid to appeal a decision of the Development Officer or Subdivision Authority.
The appeal fee is $200 and is meant to offset the cost of the Board to hear an appeal. There are no guidelines in place to determine when a refund will be granted or how much of the fee will be refunded.
Administration recommended that the Fees for Services Bylaw be amended to indicate when the appeal fee will be refunded, as follows:
If the appeal is denied No refund
If the hearing is cancelled 100% of the fee
Council passed all three readings of Bylaw 20-1097.
Campground Public Input Direction
Council passed a motion directing administration to move forward with a public survey, to gather input relating to the operation and future of the County campgrounds.
Paving of Secondary Highway 626
Council discussed a letter that had been forwarded to MLA Jackie Lovey by Reeve Kallal regarding the need to pave Secondary Highway 626 east of Tofield for approximately 18 km to Secondary Highway 854 north of Ryley.
Council passed a motion to forward a letter to Alberta Transportation and MLA Jackie Lovely and MLA Rick Wilson that flashing stop signs be installed at the intersection of Secondary Highway 834 and Secondary Highway 14, due to the high number of accidents that occur at that location.
Future Dates
The next Special Closed Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, 2020, commencing at 1:30 pm, to be conducted in Council Chambers.
The next Regular Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2020, commencing at 8:30 am, via Zoom.
Live Streaming of the meeting is available on the day of the meeting via YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJelgBIzpUup4GDeMECLHcQ
Please note that Council will be meeting via electronic means until the COVID-19 physical distancing requirement has been lifted.
For more information, contact Beaver County toll free at 1-866-663-1333 or 780-663-3730. Did you know…our website is a useful way to get the information you need. www.beaver.ab.ca