Council approved the Alberta Mid-sized Towns Mayors’ Caucus Terms of Reference as amended. The Alberta Mid-sized Towns Mayors’ Caucus (MTMC) currently comprises Mayors representing 15 municipalities in Alberta, including the Mayor of the Town of Drumheller. Its purpose is to strengthen the significance and position of mid-sized towns as a relevant and important voice within the province-wide framework, collaborating, strategizing, and advocating to address matters that directly impact mid-sized towns.
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Council approved the Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan -2024. The Housing Accelerator Fund 2.0 (HAF) is a $400 million-dollar fund for local governments to fast-track the creation of new housing inventory. The objective of the program is to support lasting changes to the supply of housing through changes in local government land use planning and development approvals. Only applicants from the first round are allowed to re-apply. The initiatives Drumheller is applying for include Secondary Suites Incentive Program, development permit public reporting system, affordable housing project with DHA, E-Permitting and non-residential conversion to residential incentive program.
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Council passed three readings of Bylaw 26.24. This is to convert an undeveloped right of way to a Public Utility Lot in Newcastle.
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Council approved the cancellation of the 2024 Municipal Tax levied against Roll No. 04029906 (Drumheller Housing Administration) in the amount of $15,035.22. They first rescinded a previous motion to cancel the municipal portion of taxes levied of $14,526.74.
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Council provided direction to administration to explore a minimum property tax. In the 2024 tax year, there were 1,021 properties in Drumheller that were paying less than $750 taxes, while the average residential property owner is paying $2,123.36.
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Council provided direction on proposed revisions of the Fire Services Bylaw. Specifically, Council’s approval was sought for the implementation of charges for fire response costs, motor vehicle collision costs, false alarms, and fire inspections, as a means of partial cost recovery. The Fire Services Bylaw has not been updated in 17 years.
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Council approved the awarding of a 5-year contract to Environmental 360 for both Residential and Commercial Solid Waste Collection within the Town of Drumheller. The first-year rate for the new contract is $262,000.00 which is an increase of $27,500.00 for the 2025 operating year. Environmental 360 scored the highest of all submissions when Cost and Technical submissions were reviewed. Environmental 360 scored 2nd highest in Residential costs and 1st in Commercial costs. When year-over-year increases are taken into account Environment 360 is the clear choice of award.
