Hinton Town Council briefs

Nov. 7 meeting

Action Items

HInton Grant Funding Advisory Committee Recommendation Presented by Denise Parent

The Community Grant Program (CGP) provides local nonprofit organizations with funding to maintain, improve, or initiate community projects, operations, and events. The funds allocated through the 2017 Intake #2 reflect the best interests of the overall community and align with Town Council priorities and vision. The Community Grant Program continues to be a very popular program and provides funding to numerous community groups. Since 1999, under the Quality of Life/Community Grant Fund Program, the Town has provided funding to various non-profit groups in the amount of $1,472,809.

It was moved that Council award the community grant program funding intake #2, for a total of $115,173 as outlined in the Agenda package; this motion passed unanimously.

Councillor Albert Ostashek then made a second motion, That Council direct Administration to bring the Community Grant Fund Program back to the second Standing Committee meeting in January 2018 for review and discussion regarding possible revision. This motion also passed.

Membership Applications for Council - Appointed Boards and Committees - Presented by Denise Parent. On an annual basis, Council appoints citizens to fill vacancies to the following boards and committees:

• Community Engagement and Advisory Committee (CEAC) (one vacancy),

• Hinton Grant Funding Advisory Committee (HGFAC) (one vacancy),

• Hinton Municipal Library Board (two vacancies).

As per Council Procedure Bylaw #1060, Council shall appoint citizens to fill these vacancies through ballot voting.

Before filling the vacancies, Councillor Albert Ostashek made a motion that the decision regarding the Citizen Appointment to the Hinton Grant Funding Advisory Committee and associated members from CEAC and Municipal Library Board be deferred to Regular Council Meeting of December 5, 2017 pending a report from Administration regarding the revision to the make-up of the Hinton Grant Funding Advisory Committee, Bylaw #1085-1. Ostasheks motion passed unanimously.

Council then voted for the positions unaddressed in the motion.

It was moved:

That Bevan Bently be appointed to the Community Engagement and Advisory Committee for a two - year term..

That Council representation on the Hinton Municipal Library Board be changed from two Council representatives to one representative, with Trevor Haas as the Board Member and Tyler Waugh as the Alternate. This motion passed unanimously.

That Hanna Arnesen, George Higgerty, and Jace Rush be appointed to the Hinton Municipal Library Board for two-year terms.

Hinton Mountain Pine Beetle Advisory Committee - Presented by Mayor Marcel Michaels

The Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) has reached a critical level with major inflights from

British Columbia into Jasper National Park, and now, into the Hinton-region.

Based on recent media reports, field surveys have shown there are ~500,000 trees that would need to be controlled this season, with the majority of those being in the Hinton/Edson Forest Area.

In 2016, that number was ~26,000. Based on the experience of communities throughout Alberta and British Columbia (that have been affected by the MPB), both in terms of the economic impact on businesses, as well as the impact on the quality of life of residents, the time has come for Hinton to play an active leadership role. It is envisioned, that an advisory committee be established that will advise Council (using an evidence-based approach) on strategies to mitigate, as well, communicate the effects of the MPB on our region both locally, provincially and nationally.

Locally, work on the MPB infestation is ongoing. On October 16, 2017, Mayor Rob Mackin and the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer met with Provincial Ministers (Municipal Affairs and Forestry and Agriculture) to highlight the devastating impact of the MPB todate, but also to communicate to the Province the need for a strategic, collaborative, well-funded approach moving forward.

In addition, Forestry companies continue to have ongoing discussions with Provincial government staff to discuss field assessments, and potential mitigation strategies. As well and locally, on October 31, 2017, Administration submitted a Mountain Pine Beetle Municipal Grant Funding Program application to the Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture.

It was moved that Council approve the revised Terms of Reference for the Hinton Mountain Pine Beetle Advisory Committee; this motion passed. It was then moved That Administration work with Mayor Michaels to bring forward a complete list of names of individuals to sit on the Committee, for approval at the December 5, 2017, Regular Council meeting (or sooner if possible, which would require Council calling a Special Council meeting). This motion also passed unanimously.

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.

Board & Committee Appointments (Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy RSA 2000, Chapter 19)

Grant Funding Agreements (Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy RSA 2000, Chapter F - 25, Sections 16, 21, 23, 24, 25)

Following the in camera portion of the meeting, two more motions were made:

That Town Council authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to:

a) Enter into a signed Agreement as presented, for the purpose of accepting a financial contribution to complete a Geothermal Feed Study.

b) develop and/or negotiate terms and conditions that establish legally binding Agreements or Addendums with the Ministerial funding bodies, Epoch Energy and others as may be necessary.

This motion was carried

That the Request for Decision titled, “Grant Funding Agreements” and attachments, remain private pursuant to Sections 16, 21, 23, 24 and 25 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSA 2000, Chapter F-25.

This motion was also carried.