Drumheller Town Council Meetings | DrumhellerMail - Page #59
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Council Notes from the Regular Council meeting of Monday, December 9, 2019

 

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Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town
Council Regular Council Meeting
Monday, December 9, 2019

Deputy Mayor Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk thanked volunteers for their support during the Red Bag Food Drive and the Toy Drive. While the toy drive is complete, she notes the Salvation Army would still be willing to take donations. She also noted the Annual Senior’s Dinner at DVSS on Thursday, December 12.
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Council’s package included the 2020 Council Meeting Schedule and a Notice of a Special Meeting on December 16 for the purposes of passing second and third reading of the Utility Rates Bylaw.
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Amanda Panisiak of the Big Country Primary Care Network presented on the Community Dementia Program. The core components of the day program are socializing, cognitive stimulation, and physical activity. They have provided families with information on how to carry on these activities at home. They had eight participants, giving caregivers 80 hours of respite each week. The program had a 100 per cent satisfaction rate and 100 per cent were interested in returning to the program. Caregivers were able to attend a support group and connect with other caregivers. She requested a formal letter of support from the town to present to Alberta Health Services to continue the program.
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Director of Protective Services Greg Peters presented a Request for Decision for the 911 Fire Dispatch Services Agreement renewal with the City of Red Deer. There has been an agreement since 2002 and a new five-year contract proposal has been presented by Red Deer. The cost for 2020 is $20,275, escalating by approximately 3 per cent per year to $22,828.52 in 2024. Council authorized the CAO to enter into an agreement with the City of Red Deer for Fire Dispatch Services.
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Robert Jenkins of the Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Program spoke on a Request for Decision to award a 5-7 year contract for the provision of land services to assist the Drumheller Flood Mitigation and Climate Adaptation System program. This would be to assist in the negotiation of various interests in land, including the acquisition of some properties as well as indigenous consultation. Council approved a motion to award a Land Services Contract to Scott Land and Lease Ltd for five years, with the provision of a two-year extension, and that Council authorize an initial appropriation of $1.2 million for the contracted land services and a further $150,000 for advertisements and public engagement for the program. Councillor Jay Garbutt noted his wish to see a global budget for the project to answer questions on how much of the $55 million project will be spent on consultants.
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Council Repealed Bylaw 19-16, known as the Prepayments of Taxes Bylaw. This bylaw provided a discount applied to the early payment of taxes. Administration has found that over the years the program was not well used and eliminating the program will save the town about $5,000.
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Town passed first reading of Bylaw 18.19 to establish the 2020 Utility Rates. It calls for a 5 per cent increase in water rates, a 2 percent increase in wastewater rates and a 25 cent increase in the recycling fee. These increases follow the council’s established Utility Rate Model.
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Director of Corporate Services Barb Miller presented a draft of the 2020 Utility Budget for information. This shows a global budget of $1,170,610 for water and $996,260 for wastewater.
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Miller also presented a draft of the 2020 Service Fee Schedule. Some notable proposed changes include a 2 per cent increase for tax certificates, a 10 per cent increase in lots for hangers at the airport, a one per cent increase on pool rentals, an approximate one per cent increase on ice rentals, and ball diamond increases. Badland Community Facility admissions and memberships so far have remained unchanged, however, facility room rentals are slated to be increased by 1 per cent.


council Notes from the Regular Council meeting of Monday, November 25, 2019

 

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Council Overview
Information from Drumheller
Town Council Regular Meeting
Monday, November 25, 2019

Mayor Heather Colberg announced the self-guided twinkle tour. Residents with decorated homes for Christmas can register by calling 403-823-1365 and be added to a map of homes in the valley where residents can take a self-guided tour. Homeowners need to register by December 2 to be included on the map.
Mayor Colberg also announced Drumheller Minor Soccer is hosting a fundraiser comedy night on November 30, and the annual Trail of Trees at the Badlands Community Facility is this Friday, November 29. The annual DVSS Senior’s Dinner is coming up on December 12 and this Thursday, November 28 the Red Bag Food Drive will be underway in the valley.
Mayor Colberg noted that on Thursday, November 21, members of council had the opportunity to tour the valley with Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women, Leela Sharon Aheer, and also noted Minister of Seniors and Housing Josephine Pon was in the valley to announce an investment of $7 million for Sunshine and Hillview Lodges.
Mayor Colberg welcomed Devi Sohanta from Cardiff, Wales visiting the community representing Connective Touch Biometrics.
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Council passed first reading of Bylaw 16-19 to close an unused lane in East Coulee. CAO Darryl Drohomerski explained years ago the owner of an adjacent lot built a home that was partially built on the lane. This bylaw will allow the owner to purchase the property.
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Council passed first reading of Bylaw 17.19 this is to close a portion of 3rd Steet SW in downtown Drumheller, which is a small gravel access to a back lane. A property owner discovered about a year ago their property is encroaching on town land. This bylaw would allow the homeowner to purchase about 2.8 metres of the laneway.
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Council approved Terri Murray and Brian Yanish be appointed to the Economic Development Advisory Committee. Murray has lived in town for two years has a background in urban and regional planning. She is currently part-owner of Canadian Tire in Drumheller. Mr. Yanish is the owner and operator of Marketing hits focusing on website development and marketing.
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Director of Protective Services Greg Peters presented a request for decision to purchase a 2019 Quint Aerial platform fire apparatus from Commercial Emergency Equipment Company of Calgary for $1,316,841. This is to replace the Simon Snorkel truck which is 37 years old, beyond the typical service life of such apparatus. The original budget was for $1.1 million and Peters did some research and realized about a $47,000 further savings. The outstanding balance would be funded through the town’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative funds. The increased cost comes partially from US steel tariffs. Councillor Fred Makowecki asked what will become of the older apparatus. Peters replied the new unit would allow the department to dispose of two trucks, including a pump truck as the new apparatus has water carrying capabilities. Council approved the purchase.
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Council moved to an in-camera session.
Council returned and held a Public Hearing for Bylaw 12.19 to amend the Land Use Bylaw to redesignate a lot on Newcastle Trail from R-4 Residential District to R2 Residential District. Devon Diano of Palliser Regional Municipal Services presented a summary of the changes. The owner has passed away and agents for the estate wish to sell the property. When requesting the town to provide a Certificate Respecting Compliance, they learned the principal dwelling on the property does not conform with the provisions of an R-4 District. To sell the property the land will need to be rezoned to R-2.
There were no submissions or affected residents wishing to speak on the matter.
The Public Hearing was then adjourned.
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Council returned to its regular council meeting.
Council passed second and third readings of Bylaw 12.19 to amend the Land Use Bylaw to redesignate a lot on Newcastle Trail from R-4 Residential District to R-2 Residential District.

Complete minutes from council meetings can be found at
www.dinosaurvalley.com once they have been adopted.

Council Notes from the Committee of the Whole Meeting of Monday, October 7, 2019

 

 

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Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town
Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Monday, October 7, 2019

Council held a review of strategic plan work priorities.
Council heard an update from the Director of Corporate Services, Barb Miller, on the Infrastructure Master Plan Tangible Capital Assets. She says the town has been completing an inventory and creating a database of town assets, with an expected timeline to finish the project in 1.5-2 years. The master plan will be required to receive federal grant funding in the future.
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Council heard an update on the Trail System gaps from Director of Infrastructure, Dave Brett. Mr. Brett presented an initial policy outline to identify trail gaps in the town’s walking trail system. Initial data and information has been collected and is being used to create a draft policy to govern how the town’s trails are managed and maintained. He said more information should be brought to council this winter, which will show cost estimates and levels of service. Councillor Tom Zariski suggested taking into account unmarked trails people use that may not be a part of the existing inventory.
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Greg Peters, Director of Protective Services, updated council on the Hoodoo Pay and Play parking system, which was introduced this summer to collect fees from visitors to offset infrastructure maintenance costs there. He said the program generated over $27,000 in net revenue, above the wages of two employees and other related costs. Over 41,000 cars visited the site over the summer during the pilot program. Discussions will be held in the future to see where to use the money at the site and whether to bring the program back next summer.
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Council opened discussions with communications officer Julia Fielding regarding a proposed town smartphone app. Council heard pitches from a few software developers last month to create an app to be used for communicating with the public. She said she looked at other communities of considerable size and found the apps had extremely low download numbers compared to each respective city’s population. It was noted the app would allow for better reporting from residents and would likely streamline work projects and complaint processing.
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Economic Development Manager Sean Wallace said a patio policy for businesses including restaurants. Update has been completed and will be brought to next week’s council meeting.
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Complete minutes from council meetings can be found at
www.dinosaurvalley.com once they have been adopted.


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