Hinton Town Council briefs
July 18 meeting
Municipal Reserve Disposal for 176 Cheviot Drive - Presented by Lorraine Walker
Town Council, at their Regular Meeting of June 20, 2017, gave direction to Administration to initiate the reserve disposal process for 176 Cheviot Drive; Plan 5662RS, Block 13, Lot R1. to proceed with the proposed housing project. As required by the MGA, notice to the public included advertising in the local newspaper, notification to the affected landowners and a posting on the land itself. Council delayed voting on this item following the Public Hearing, requesting further information regarding impact to real estate in the area.
Land Use Bylaw No. 1088-2 for Rezoning 180 Cheviot Drive - Presented by Lorraine Walker
As result of Councils decision on item one, this item will also return for decision and public hearing in the August 15, 2017 Council Meeting.
Municipal Development Plan Bylaw No. 1084 - Presented by Lorraine Walker
Municipal Development Plan (MDP) is a statutory document required by the Province of Alberta and adopted pursuant to the Municipal Government Act (MGA). The MDP is a high-level policy document designed to guide the physical development of Hinton over the next 30 years (to 2047), and provide clear direction with regards to the community’s social, environmental and economic well-being over time. The MDP was identified as a focus of Council’s 2014 – 2017 Strategic Plan. Review and updating is needed to reflect community changes and priorities and to align with new municipal plans like the Community Sustainability Plan, Land Use Bylaw, Area Structure Plans and new land use policy directions at the municipal and provincial levels, as well as respond to changing socioeconomic conditions. The Town retained ISL Engineering and Land Services to undertake a Comprehensive Planning and Development Strategy (CPDS) involving the review and updates of four major plans; one of them being the MDP. A Community Engagement Plan has been developed to inform and gather feedback from key stakeholders and public at key milestones. The first stage has been focused on information sharing and education on the purposes and intent of the plan. To date, two Public Open Houses were held on March 23 and June 15, 2017, covering CPDS deliverables that include the MDP, West and East Area Structure Plans, and the Land Development and Established Area Guidelines. Following the Open Houses, the information has been posted on the website for an additional two weeks to gather feedback from stakeholders and public. The Public Hearing will be an opportunity for Council to engage with the public to obtain feedback in support of sound decision making prior to second and third reading. Administration will continue to engage the community-at-large for feedback via the web-site and advertisement in the local newspaper. Any feedback received will be evaluated and amendments made as deemed appropriate and presented in the second reading for adoption. The proposed September 5, 2017 Public Hearing will allow for feedback and will work towards achieving Second and Third Reading to support Council in the successful adoption of the MDP and works to Council’s Strategic Plan being achieved. The MDP received Unanimous First Reading.
Membership Application for Hinton Municipal Library Board - Presented by Jenna Altrogge
This item is before Council to review the citizen applications for membership on the Hinton Municipal Library Board that have been received as a result of advertising. Council reviewed the applications In Camera during the June 13, 2017 Standing Committee meeting. As per Bylaw 1105-1, new members appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the remaining term of his/her predecessor. Thus, the proposed terms are recommended on the basis that these applicants shall complete the terms of the members who recently resigned from the Board. Due to Board Member resignations, there are currently vacancies on the Hinton Municipal Library Board. Appointing these applicants will ensure this governing board can maintain business continuity and meet the legislated requirements outlined in the Libraries Act. Council moved that George Higgerty be appointed to the Hinton Municipal Library Board for the term ending October 2017, and that Vivian Sergeen be appointed to the Hinton Municipal Library Board for the term ending October 2018.
Replacement of Fire Rescue Services Wildland/Bush 25 - Presented by Todd Martens
This item is before Council to provide information and request a decision for the purchase of a new wildland/bush truck for the Fire Rescue Department. The state of the current truck is in question since Bush 25 has seen a significant increase in maintenance and mechanical cost over the last few years including three motors and four turbo units. The unit has been temporarily fixed by putting in a third (used) motor to get us through until the acquisition of the requested truck (recommendation of our mechanics). The truck was scheduled to be replaced in 2018 as part of the fire rescue capital replacement for the sum of $221,000. Administration’s review of the current situation is that by waiting until the 2018 budget is approved the acquisition would be delayed into July of 2018 while the town is at its highest hazard wildfire time, therefore the request is being made early. The current aging piece of apparatus (2003 Ford F550 – Bush 25) requires significant maintenance upgrades and warrants replacement with a new functional and better equipped truck. This truck would serve many functions but be predominately used as an urban interface wildland fire truck. Council approved the purchase of a new wildland/bush truck for up to $125,000 to be funded from the Fire Rescue Reserve.
Capital Equipment Purchases for New Rescue Truck and Aerial Truck Presented by Todd Martens
Administration has received notice from YHC that they will no longer fund 50% of the equipment proposed for the new Rescue Unit 29 budgeted for total of $175,000 and the $13,000 remaining to finish equipping the Aerial Truck Unit 23. The original budget had been approved by Council of $175,000 for each apparatus to be funded 50% from the Town Fire Rescue Reserve and 50% from YHC. Administration’s recommendation is to proceed with the purchase of the equipment for both new units as the existing equipment from the replaced units is incompatible with the new units and/or is 22 years old and reaching the end of its lifespan. If Council accepts this report for information, then the remaining equipment purchases will not proceed as the originally approved budget was to be cost shared at 50% between Town and YHC. It was moved that Council approve funding an additional $100,500 from the Fire Rescue Reserve to compensate for a change in Yellowhead County’s anticipated contribution of 50% towards the 2017 projects of 17-OE4 Equipment for Aerial Truck Unit 23 ($13,000) and 17-OE5 Equipment for Rescue Unit 29 ($87,500). This motion passed.
Automated Traffic Enforcement Stop Sign Program - Council Requested Discussion Item
Council requested this item come to a Regular Council Meeting for discussion. S/Sgt. Fitzgerald reminded Council that Automated Traffic Enforcement is under Provincial oversight, and that all governance of any service falls to police service. He also informed Council that contractor Global Traffic Enforcement proposes zones for enforcement, and that if their recommendations lines up with safety data, the Staff Sergeant can approve. He also informed Council that the ATE program has recently completed an audit as required by the Provincial government. Following questions made by Council, S/ Sgt Fitzgerald also informed Council that the expectation for ATE is that all power stands with the RCMP. If Council wants a particular intersection to not be enforced, that decision would lie with the RCMP. Council was also informed that a contract is in place with 64 hours a week, within that administratively we can decide what to enforce and implement. It was moved that the stop sign enforcement and red light enforcement be delayed until the ATE program is discussed with the ATE Committee; this motion was passed unanimously.