Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town Council
Committee of the Whole Meeting
Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Deputy Mayor Tom Zariski opened the Special Meeting portion of the Committee of the Whole meeting and immediately adjourned to a closed session to discuss land matters.
Following the closed session, council directed administration to abandon the Notice of Intention to Expropriate pertaining to a portion of the land described as Meridian 4, Range 20, Township 29, Section 10, portion of the northerly 150 feet of the southeast quarter which lies to the northeast of a strip of land 25 feet wide adjoining the Red Deer River, within the North Drumheller hospital berm project area.
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Rails to Trails Fundraising Task Force Chair Jason Blanke presented council with a financial update for the Rails to Trails project. As of Tuesday, October 10 the task force has raised over $300,000 to support the project, and members of the committee continue to engage with the public.
At this time the task force is looking to fill the position of secretary after its former secretary Lana Philips tendered her resignation; Mr. Blanke also noted the task force, which currently has about 10 members, continues to look for more people interested in joining.
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Acting Infrastructure Services director Kelcie Wilson presented the committee with concepts for the Rails to Trails Main Station and connector road, which would see the extension of 6 Avenue SE to Railway Avenue East. The Town previously retained Sedulous Engineering to complete a concept for the connector road; two alignment options were reviewed for feasibility to connect 6 Avenue from Highway 56 connect to 2 Street East or 3 Street East.
Upon review it was recommended the most feasible option would be to connect using 2 Street East due to geometry, connectivity, and taking the overall Downtown Area Revitalization Plan into consideration.
Sedulous also investigated options for the Rails to Trails Main Station and presented three options with modern, stone, or wood themed furnishings which would range between $251,066.40 for the wood theme, to upwards of $321,743.50 for the stone theme. This would include a concrete pad, shade structure, picnic tables and benches, a donation wall and trash receptacles. Committee members spoke at length about the estimated costs versus the sponsorship value of the Main Station and deliberated on alternate options.

Complete minutes from council meetings can be found on www.drumheller.ca once they have been adopted.

Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town Council Regular Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Council gave second and third reading of the Area Structure Plan repeal bylaw for the East Coulee Trestle Bridge Area Structure Plan.
Council previously gave first reading to the bylaw on September 5 and a public hearing was previously held during the September 18 council meeting, at which time no in person or written submissions were received.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Darryl Drohomerski noted this will prevent current and future owners of the property from developing the property within the floodway area.
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Council passed a motion to direct administration to abandon the notice of intention to expropriate a portion of a property in North Drumheller.
CAO Drohomerski explained a Notice of Intention to Expropriate was previously approved by council, and discussions and negotiations with the landowner have been ongoing. Since then, the landowner has agreed to sell the portion of the parcel required for flood mitigation work to the Town of Drumheller; this motion will allow the expropriation process to be stopped.
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Council gave second reading to the Business License bylaw as amended.
Economic Development manager Reg Johnston explained, of the public responses received during community sessions and surveys, that about 72 per cent of respondents were in support of regulating Short Term Rentals in some form, and about half of respondents had expressed the current version of the proposed bylaw is a “good start.”
There was some feedback received regarding an online complaint form, which will allow members of the public to submit a complaint about potential properties which are non-compliant; Mr. Johnston noted this is something the department will investigate implementing. These Short Term Rental regulations will not have any impacts on the ongoing home share project.
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Mr. Johnston also presented council with a total of seven tax rolls which are eligible for tax credits in the 2023 tax year in respect to the Residential Development Incentive Program. Council approved the tax abatement on these tax rolls, which will continue over a four year period at a rate of 100 per cent in the first year, 75 per cent in the second year, 50 per cent in the third year, and 25 per cent in the fourth year.
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Acting Infrastructure Services director Kelcie Wilson provided a status update on the ongoing Aquaplex repairs (see story Page 2).
Other work ongoing during the closure include the relocation of the northwest Aquaplex emergency exit door due to flood mitigation work, and replacement of the make-up air handling unit.
It is anticipated the Aquaplex will remain closed to the public until November.

Complete minutes from council meetings can be found on www.drumheller.ca once they have been adopted.