1
00:10:26,512 --> 00:10:30,759
We ready to proceed. Yes, Mr. Mayor, we're ready. All

2
00:10:30,759 --> 00:10:32,839
right, we'll call the meeting to order Council meeting for

3
00:10:32,879 --> 00:10:37,911
July 21st, 2026. And we'd like to acknowledge that Strathcona

4
00:10:37,951 --> 00:10:40,951
County is located on Treaty Six Territory, and the Homeland

5
00:10:40,991 --> 00:10:44,071
of the Mate Strathcona County honours the First Peoples of

6
00:10:44,252 --> 00:10:47,271
this land. We recognise that we stand upon the land

7
00:10:47,271 --> 00:10:50,791
that carries the footsteps of Cree, Mathie, and Blackfoot amongst

8
00:10:50,831 --> 00:10:53,271
many other nations who have been here for thousands of

9
00:10:53,311 --> 00:10:57,591
years. Therefore, Strathcona County has an inherent responsibility to foster

10
00:10:57,631 --> 00:11:01,591
healthier relationships with First Nations, and further the calls to

11
00:11:01,631 --> 00:11:07,508
actions outlined by the truth and reconciliation commission. Motion to

12
00:11:07,529 --> 00:11:10,228
adopt the agenda, and he changes the agenda, Councillor Lawrence.

13
00:11:11,229 --> 00:11:15,608
Madam Clerk, anything there? As presented. Okay, as presented, thank

14
00:11:15,608 --> 00:11:20,070
you. Questions of clarification, debate, and raise your hand if

15
00:11:20,070 --> 00:11:26,229
you're in favor. And that is unanimous. Over online. Oh,

16
00:11:26,269 --> 00:11:34,431
we're online. Oh, there we are. It is, no one

17
00:11:34,471 --> 00:11:44,095
change your vote. Okay. Proclamation

18
00:11:44,436 --> 00:11:49,479
highland gathering days. The Highland gathering days offers residents and

19
00:11:49,479 --> 00:11:53,399
visitors, a unique opportunity to experience and explore Celtic traditions

20
00:11:53,500 --> 00:11:58,519
in a fun, welcoming, and engaging environment. This family -

21
00:11:58,519 --> 00:12:02,999
friendly event provides activities and experiences for all ages, encouraging

22
00:12:03,100 --> 00:12:06,811
participation from the entire community. Strathcona County is proud to

23
00:12:06,832 --> 00:12:12,331
support community events that celebrate heritage, culture, and community connection.

24
00:12:12,371 --> 00:12:16,251
Therefore, I mayor Rod Frank to here by declared July

25
00:12:16,352 --> 00:12:21,731
25th, 26 is Highland Gathering Days and Strathcona County. I

26
00:12:21,731 --> 00:12:23,451
see some of the high - end folks in here.

27
00:12:26,275 --> 00:12:30,379
Do you wish to do a photo. Or no? Yes.

28
00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,739
A photo? Okay, I'll just read one more proclamation, we'll

29
00:12:33,739 --> 00:12:37,019
do the photo at the end. So it's also lemonade

30
00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,539
standee over the past 12 years, junior lemon squeezers have

31
00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,219
operated lemonade stands to help raise over 3 million for

32
00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:48,851
the strawlery children's hospital foundation. With support of simply supper

33
00:12:48,891 --> 00:12:51,891
and sponsors, registered youths are given the opportunity to learn

34
00:12:51,931 --> 00:12:56,131
about entrepreneurship, marketing, and customer service at a young age.

35
00:12:56,131 --> 00:12:59,171
Strathcona County is proud to encourage our community members to

36
00:12:59,272 --> 00:13:02,371
recognise the efforts of our local youth and visit lemonade

37
00:13:02,392 --> 00:13:05,651
stand. Therefore, aye, Mayor Rod, Frank, to hereby proclaim August

38
00:13:05,832 --> 00:13:09,491
30th, 2026 has lemonade standing Strathcona County. Now, if you

39
00:13:09,491 --> 00:13:10,531
wish to do a photo op, we can do that

40
00:13:10,531 --> 00:13:10,611
now.

41
00:15:27,165 --> 00:15:32,104
Gonna be hot. I hope so. All right, item four

42
00:15:32,125 --> 00:15:40,377
consent agenda motion to pass consent agenda, Councillor. Thank you,

43
00:15:40,377 --> 00:15:46,937
Mr. Mayor. 5. 1 that the July 7, 2026 Council

44
00:15:47,838 --> 00:15:52,738
meeting minutes be approved. 6. 1 that the road names

45
00:15:52,759 --> 00:16:00,516
Evans Boulevard, Pons Landing, Horizon Drive, Fields Landing. Headland Way.

46
00:16:02,117 --> 00:16:11,576
Hedge Grow Crescent, Furrow Link, Solstice Bend, Lome Wind, or

47
00:16:11,637 --> 00:16:15,376
Wynn, and the Park named Solstice Park for the Bremener

48
00:16:15,397 --> 00:16:19,056
Neighborhood's 1 and 2 as set out in enclosure 3

49
00:16:19,056 --> 00:16:24,541
of the July 21st, 2026 planning. And development services report

50
00:16:24,722 --> 00:16:30,710
be approved. 6. 6, that an expenditure of 3, 000

51
00:16:30,811 --> 00:16:35,030
dollars from community funding sponsorship as displayed for the purpose

52
00:16:35,771 --> 00:16:40,230
of providing funds to the Y string ensemble society for

53
00:16:40,731 --> 00:16:45,910
cost associated with the Strathcona County String Music Camp be

54
00:16:45,910 --> 00:16:50,612
approved. That's all thank you. Questions of clarification. Debate, and

55
00:16:50,612 --> 00:17:00,531
we'll vote. Carried 9

56
00:17:00,632 --> 00:17:06,337
- 0. And we'll move on to 6. 2 capital

57
00:17:06,377 --> 00:17:07,057
budget amendment.

58
00:17:32,502 --> 00:17:35,961
Alright, good morning, Council. My name is Sharon Deal. I'm

59
00:17:35,961 --> 00:17:38,381
the Director of Financial and Strategic Services, and with me,

60
00:17:38,381 --> 00:17:42,141
I have Ms. Kirstie Roller, the Manager of Financial Planning,

61
00:17:42,141 --> 00:17:44,861
and to her left, I have Mr. Graham as Bister,

62
00:17:44,861 --> 00:17:47,859
the Manager of Integrated Business Support Office. And lastly, we

63
00:17:47,859 --> 00:17:51,859
have Mr. Ryan Wilson, director of Transportation Engineering and Operations.

64
00:17:53,055 --> 00:17:57,154
So this is not part of our normal process. We

65
00:17:57,154 --> 00:18:02,074
usually have gated capital budget amendments. We have three that

66
00:18:02,575 --> 00:18:05,939
happen throughout the year. But this is considered in a

67
00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:09,299
mered capital budget amendment, and this is due to the

68
00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:13,199
rain and flooding impacts we've seen across the county. And

69
00:18:13,199 --> 00:18:15,299
so what we're going to walk through is first, we're

70
00:18:15,299 --> 00:18:20,179
going to talk about the impacted assets to the county.

71
00:18:20,179 --> 00:18:23,139
And then Ms. Roller will walk through funding that we're

72
00:18:23,179 --> 00:18:25,539
looking to seek from the government of Alberta. It is

73
00:18:25,539 --> 00:18:30,099
called the hazard assess hazard assistance and resilience program. Um,

74
00:18:30,139 --> 00:18:32,979
and we've put forward an application with the government of

75
00:18:33,019 --> 00:18:35,699
Alberta to seek funding for the damages that we've seen

76
00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,099
across the county. So I'll just pass it over to

77
00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,899
Mr. to walk us through some of the key damages

78
00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,955
we've seen. Good morning, Mayor and Council. Before we discuss

79
00:18:46,976 --> 00:18:49,195
the HARP application, I'd like to discuss the state of

80
00:18:49,235 --> 00:18:51,755
our infrastructure that was impacted. At the time of the

81
00:18:51,795 --> 00:18:54,555
flooding events, the infrastructure that was impacted was all in

82
00:18:54,555 --> 00:18:57,595
good working order. This means that the infrastructure would have

83
00:18:57,595 --> 00:19:00,555
received a health score of C or greater as part

84
00:19:00,555 --> 00:19:03,595
of our state of infrastructure report. As a result of

85
00:19:03,595 --> 00:19:06,715
the flooding events in June, 2026, our community received a

86
00:19:06,755 --> 00:19:09,435
record amount of rainfall, a once in a century storm.

87
00:19:10,256 --> 00:19:13,275
As a result, the natural assets were exhausted, and in

88
00:19:13,275 --> 00:19:16,955
some cases, river banks failed. Due to this natural disaster,

89
00:19:16,955 --> 00:19:19,995
we had infrastructure that washed out, resulting in roads being

90
00:19:20,016 --> 00:19:24,475
submerged for large lengths of time, road closures, laying closures,

91
00:19:24,496 --> 00:19:28,475
bridge culvert washouts, road washouts, and near failure of critical

92
00:19:28,496 --> 00:19:31,515
infrastructure that cannot be left in its current state. These

93
00:19:31,555 --> 00:19:36,028
are all core pieces of infrastructure. Administration has had to

94
00:19:36,049 --> 00:19:40,028
expedite response to the numerous impacted areas, enclosure two is

95
00:19:40,028 --> 00:19:42,988
an itemized list of capital projects that require immediate attention

96
00:19:43,649 --> 00:19:48,412
as a result of the flooding natural disaster. Although comprehensive,

97
00:19:48,452 --> 00:19:51,532
these are evolving in real time. The estimate class of

98
00:19:51,532 --> 00:19:54,492
these projects would be classified between an estimate class 4

99
00:19:54,532 --> 00:19:57,847
or 3. Now I'll hand it over to Ms. Roller

100
00:19:57,887 --> 00:20:02,087
to discuss the HAARP and financials. Thank you. So as

101
00:20:02,087 --> 00:20:05,927
Ms. Deol mentioned, administration is applying to the hazard assistance

102
00:20:05,948 --> 00:20:09,687
and resilience program, REP, uh, with the province of Alberta

103
00:20:09,708 --> 00:20:13,687
to support the recovery efforts from the June 2026 rain

104
00:20:13,687 --> 00:20:18,167
events. Um, this program provides financial assistance to municipalities impacted

105
00:20:18,207 --> 00:20:22,186
by natural disasters, uh, which does include flooding. As the

106
00:20:22,226 --> 00:20:24,826
application moves through the review process, we will continue to

107
00:20:24,847 --> 00:20:28,266
update Council accordingly. I do want to flag that under

108
00:20:28,306 --> 00:20:30,746
this program, there are various funding streams that can be

109
00:20:30,847 --> 00:20:36,266
accessed, um, which includes emergency response, private essential and restoration.

110
00:20:36,266 --> 00:20:40,186
So that's home and small business. Restoring public infrastructure and

111
00:20:40,186 --> 00:20:43,626
relief and recovery efforts. Uh, this is important because under

112
00:20:43,647 --> 00:20:47,386
the private essential and restoration stream, residents in small businesses

113
00:20:47,407 --> 00:20:51,706
that have been negatively impacted can potentially access funding, pending

114
00:20:51,706 --> 00:20:54,851
the review of our application. And finally, I just want

115
00:20:54,851 --> 00:20:57,251
to note that while we have applied for this financial

116
00:20:57,432 --> 00:21:00,931
assistance, currently these projects are being funded via our capital

117
00:21:00,952 --> 00:21:05,171
reserves. If grant funding is not successful, administration will revisit

118
00:21:05,192 --> 00:21:08,211
and reprioritize other sources of grant funding as well as

119
00:21:08,211 --> 00:21:13,364
the capital plan. So just in closing, we will come

120
00:21:13,465 --> 00:21:16,324
forward to council following Council's break in the fall to

121
00:21:16,364 --> 00:21:19,604
give an update on, um, the HARP application once we

122
00:21:19,604 --> 00:21:23,924
receive any information from the government of Alberta. And we'll

123
00:21:23,945 --> 00:21:27,284
continue to update Council as we progress through the application.

124
00:21:29,838 --> 00:21:32,875
Well, thank you for the presentation. As the report says

125
00:21:33,296 --> 00:21:36,955
this is, could be categorized as once in a century

126
00:21:36,976 --> 00:21:39,915
events, these rings. And I want to thank staff, first

127
00:21:39,915 --> 00:21:42,075
of all, for dealing with all that. We'll open up

128
00:21:42,115 --> 00:21:45,355
to Council for questions and comments. Councillor Tanita. Yeah, thank

129
00:21:45,355 --> 00:21:47,035
you, Mr. Mayor. Thanks very much for bringing the list

130
00:21:47,056 --> 00:21:50,475
forward, uh, at this point in time. Now I'm assuming

131
00:21:50,736 --> 00:21:55,355
these are anticipated cost, how close are we to the

132
00:21:55,355 --> 00:21:57,275
actual numbers? Or do you have to start digging into

133
00:21:57,315 --> 00:21:59,995
these roads? And before you really get a handle on

134
00:21:59,995 --> 00:22:03,255
what the cost is going to be. Through you, Mr.

135
00:22:03,356 --> 00:22:07,295
Mayor, the cost currently are our best estimate based on

136
00:22:07,295 --> 00:22:09,735
the engineering we have. Right now, a few of the

137
00:22:09,756 --> 00:22:14,001
sites are still underwater. So the full detailed engineering is

138
00:22:14,022 --> 00:22:17,641
ongoing. So every, every day or as opportunities exist, we

139
00:22:17,641 --> 00:22:20,721
try to tighten up our design and estimate as well.

140
00:22:20,721 --> 00:22:24,721
So I would say to we have contingency within the

141
00:22:24,822 --> 00:22:27,201
proposed budget in front of you, but we do expect

142
00:22:27,542 --> 00:22:30,081
there could be some unknowns as we see water levels

143
00:22:30,262 --> 00:22:34,841
receipt. Okay. And this is preliminary. Do we have, is

144
00:22:34,841 --> 00:22:38,481
this covering all the affected properties that have been damaged

145
00:22:38,742 --> 00:22:41,761
at this point or is it just sort of an

146
00:22:41,761 --> 00:22:46,432
early warning report. Mr. Mayor, through you, this is, this

147
00:22:46,533 --> 00:22:50,592
report's really focused on our emergent, our infrastructure that was

148
00:22:50,592 --> 00:22:52,992
damaged and a significant way that we have to react

149
00:22:53,173 --> 00:22:56,272
to. We are starting to really go through in more

150
00:22:56,272 --> 00:23:00,112
detail the rest of the roadways, other infrastructure that could

151
00:23:00,293 --> 00:23:03,632
have impacts. Um, but right now this would be our

152
00:23:03,653 --> 00:23:07,632
critical big locations to get roadways back open and safe.

153
00:23:07,813 --> 00:23:12,003
Okay, final question. Any buildings affected. I could take that

154
00:23:12,003 --> 00:23:16,148
one, Mr. Mayor. Through you do Councillor Tanita. We had

155
00:23:16,329 --> 00:23:19,728
minor issues within a number of buildings, but nothing, um,

156
00:23:20,169 --> 00:23:21,908
too far out of the ordinary and nothing that had

157
00:23:22,329 --> 00:23:24,708
major damage. Okay. Thank you very much. If I can

158
00:23:24,748 --> 00:23:26,468
just add to that, I think what's important to recognise

159
00:23:26,489 --> 00:23:29,108
is with buildings, we have insurance. So we have the

160
00:23:29,148 --> 00:23:32,788
ability to go through insurance. Whereas heart funding are items

161
00:23:32,828 --> 00:23:35,908
that are not applicable to insurance linear roads, that sort

162
00:23:35,908 --> 00:23:38,640
of infrastructure. Okay, well, thanks for the report. And thanks

163
00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:42,960
for acting so quickly. Manoah number of these flood damage

164
00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:47,660
issues generate responses from residents who are affected immediately. And

165
00:23:47,660 --> 00:23:50,480
so you're a quick response is much appreciated. Thank you.

166
00:23:51,621 --> 00:23:55,760
Thank you, Councillor Councillor Harvey. Yes. Uh, three Ms. Mayor.

167
00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,640
Thank you very much for the presentation. And thank you

168
00:23:58,661 --> 00:24:00,320
and your staff for all the work you've managed to

169
00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:05,520
do throughout this, uh, the weather events of this year.

170
00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,400
Still raining this morning. Sun's starting to shine. Anyways, I

171
00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:10,640
just got a question. Uh, I didn't see on this

172
00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:15,180
list to township road 530 between 224 and 225. And

173
00:24:15,180 --> 00:24:17,120
my understanding is that road is still closed and we'll

174
00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:19,880
be open till next month sometime. So I'm kind of

175
00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:23,907
curious around that. Mr. Mayor, for you to Councillor Harvey,

176
00:24:23,907 --> 00:24:28,507
uh, so 530 baseline road is an operational project. So

177
00:24:28,507 --> 00:24:31,907
we are, we have replaced the culvert. We are hoping

178
00:24:32,008 --> 00:24:34,387
today if the weather holds to be paving the final

179
00:24:34,408 --> 00:24:38,127
lift and have it open, really weather contingent. We'll see

180
00:24:38,127 --> 00:24:39,107
by the end of the day, but we would expect

181
00:24:39,448 --> 00:24:42,107
in the next year to that roadway's back open. So

182
00:24:42,488 --> 00:24:48,227
some of our minor culverts are smaller infrastructure as operational.

183
00:24:48,227 --> 00:24:49,587
Whereas the list in front of you would be our

184
00:24:49,627 --> 00:24:52,067
larger capital work. So you kind of explain that when

185
00:24:52,107 --> 00:24:54,707
you say operational, because I mean, the road's been shut

186
00:24:54,707 --> 00:24:57,027
down for a couple of weeks and there's damage to

187
00:24:57,048 --> 00:24:59,833
it from the weather. Yeah. Through you, Mr. Mayor, so

188
00:24:59,894 --> 00:25:02,753
the culvert on base on roads is smaller culvert as

189
00:25:02,753 --> 00:25:05,953
compared to the list for the CBA is more our

190
00:25:05,993 --> 00:25:09,073
bridge size culverts that are more significant. So the smaller

191
00:25:09,414 --> 00:25:13,633
through grades approach culverts county staff or operations team will

192
00:25:13,673 --> 00:25:17,233
typically look after that. And they're at a smaller scale.

193
00:25:17,233 --> 00:25:20,993
However, the impact of baseline road closure is because it's

194
00:25:21,033 --> 00:25:24,033
deep and has been ongoing water flowing through it for

195
00:25:24,073 --> 00:25:27,153
the duration of when we're trying to reinstall the pipe.

196
00:25:27,153 --> 00:25:32,273
So it's significantly impacted, but definitely our hope is to

197
00:25:32,273 --> 00:25:34,273
have it open right away. Okay. I still don't kind

198
00:25:34,273 --> 00:25:36,833
of understand why it won't be on this lesson. Maybe

199
00:25:36,873 --> 00:25:39,713
I'll take a shot. So, so the items that are

200
00:25:39,974 --> 00:25:44,673
on the list are capital projects. That, um, Mr. Wilson

201
00:25:44,694 --> 00:25:48,593
is saying is that is an operational budget item. That's

202
00:25:48,593 --> 00:25:51,233
because the cost is much lower? Much lower. Yeah. Oh,

203
00:25:51,273 --> 00:25:57,779
do we know the cost of that one about. You,

204
00:25:57,779 --> 00:26:00,524
Mr. Mayor? It would probably be around 200, 000. Okay.

205
00:26:00,545 --> 00:26:03,077
By the time we're done. Well, we got one on

206
00:26:03,117 --> 00:26:06,757
the list that says 172. I think what Councillor Harvey's

207
00:26:06,757 --> 00:26:09,237
asking is, um, would we not want to get heart

208
00:26:09,277 --> 00:26:14,998
funding for that. Yeah. Basically, that's why I'm asking why

209
00:26:15,019 --> 00:26:16,838
it's not in the list. If I can add to

210
00:26:16,878 --> 00:26:20,598
this, I think, um, and Graham can definitely support this.

211
00:26:20,598 --> 00:26:23,038
But when it's a capital asset, as you're aware, it

212
00:26:23,038 --> 00:26:27,318
increases the betterment of the capital asset itself and the

213
00:26:27,358 --> 00:26:30,238
life of it. I would assume, and I'm going to

214
00:26:30,238 --> 00:26:32,998
ask Mr. Evister to add to this, the work we're

215
00:26:32,998 --> 00:26:34,678
doing to it is not going to add that sort

216
00:26:34,678 --> 00:26:36,758
of life to it so that it would be a

217
00:26:36,758 --> 00:26:40,278
operational, um, expense versus a capital expense, which would then

218
00:26:40,278 --> 00:26:42,678
make it ineligible for heart funding. But I'm going to

219
00:26:42,779 --> 00:26:46,993
ask for Graham to confirm that. Okay. Through the Maria

220
00:26:46,993 --> 00:26:48,753
to Councillor Harvey and to echo at Ms. Cannon said

221
00:26:48,793 --> 00:26:50,593
that is correct. So when we met with the Province

222
00:26:50,633 --> 00:26:54,273
in terms of what is eligible and ineligible, um, regarding

223
00:26:54,694 --> 00:26:59,233
our capital repairs and capital replacements versus the operating adjustments,

224
00:26:59,233 --> 00:27:02,433
we had to be very purposeful as to where those

225
00:27:02,454 --> 00:27:05,793
projects landed. So although to your point, it looks like

226
00:27:05,814 --> 00:27:10,273
a very large issue on that road. It wouldn't constitute

227
00:27:10,374 --> 00:27:13,873
a capital project or capital repair in their definition. Your

228
00:27:13,873 --> 00:27:17,393
goal wasn't on that list. Okay. And I believe Mr.

229
00:27:17,414 --> 00:27:19,553
Wilson said hoping to have it opened by the end

230
00:27:19,553 --> 00:27:24,020
of this week. You correct if the rain holds off.

231
00:27:24,681 --> 00:27:30,136
Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you, Councillor Councillor Burkhofer.

232
00:27:30,865 --> 00:27:32,604
Thank you Mr. Mayor. I want to start off by

233
00:27:32,705 --> 00:27:36,044
thanking all the staff that were involved. So transportation across

234
00:27:36,044 --> 00:27:40,124
all the departments utilities, RPC, whomever in the past weeks

235
00:27:40,164 --> 00:27:41,404
that have been dealing with this. I'm one of the

236
00:27:41,404 --> 00:27:43,964
star off by thanking them for all their extra overtime

237
00:27:44,225 --> 00:27:47,244
and dedication to this. And of course the administration for

238
00:27:47,425 --> 00:27:49,864
going towards applying for this as well. So we can

239
00:27:49,864 --> 00:27:54,044
get some funding back. Um, just looking at enclosure one.

240
00:27:54,044 --> 00:27:55,484
And we see the list of the different items. I'm

241
00:27:55,505 --> 00:27:57,644
just wondering with some of the closures that are still

242
00:27:57,684 --> 00:28:01,404
in place. Are there any properties that the individuals can't

243
00:28:01,585 --> 00:28:04,044
access their properties or have they been rerouted enough that

244
00:28:04,084 --> 00:28:06,424
they can still access their properties with any of the

245
00:28:06,424 --> 00:28:11,621
closures that we see. Mr. Mayor, through to Count Sperghofer,

246
00:28:11,621 --> 00:28:14,901
all properties do have at least one way access and

247
00:28:14,922 --> 00:28:18,501
out. So at this time, the one with limited access.

248
00:28:18,501 --> 00:28:20,581
Okay. And then timeline for some of these. Like obviously

249
00:28:21,162 --> 00:28:24,261
their largest one. We have an 11 million dollar budget

250
00:28:24,282 --> 00:28:27,061
item on here, not budget item, but listed item here.

251
00:28:27,162 --> 00:28:29,861
I wonder what timelines might be for some of these.

252
00:28:29,861 --> 00:28:30,981
Are we looking that it's going to be a couple

253
00:28:31,002 --> 00:28:33,941
of years? Or how long do you think? I mean,

254
00:28:34,362 --> 00:28:38,021
obviously some are weather dependent. Is there any idea of

255
00:28:38,061 --> 00:28:41,201
what it might look like? Mr. Mayor, through you, the

256
00:28:41,201 --> 00:28:43,861
Council Berghofford. So the larger one, that one on 232

257
00:28:44,442 --> 00:28:47,061
would be about a three to four month construction window

258
00:28:47,082 --> 00:28:50,741
if everything goes. Okay. According to plan, we are on

259
00:28:50,781 --> 00:28:53,461
most of these locations have started engineering. We have started

260
00:28:54,202 --> 00:28:56,501
the procurement of the pipe materials. You got to get

261
00:28:57,002 --> 00:29:00,101
bridge on order. And some of those are already started

262
00:29:00,522 --> 00:29:03,141
that discussion and have the orders ready. So we do

263
00:29:03,242 --> 00:29:05,621
expect as soon as we can get the go ahead

264
00:29:05,661 --> 00:29:08,181
and the material. Some of them would be pretty quick

265
00:29:08,522 --> 00:29:10,821
that we would expect this fault to have lots of

266
00:29:10,842 --> 00:29:13,861
these in construction. And under there any changes like with

267
00:29:13,901 --> 00:29:17,781
mitigation with potential future failures that could go in place

268
00:29:17,781 --> 00:29:20,661
that were addressing that these same sites may not have

269
00:29:20,701 --> 00:29:24,821
a repeat. Mr. Mayor, it's a great question. So anytime

270
00:29:24,821 --> 00:29:29,941
we go to, uh, replace a bridge culvert, we reassess,

271
00:29:29,941 --> 00:29:34,101
ensure the known impacts are addressed. So the one example

272
00:29:34,141 --> 00:29:36,181
we are changing the size and the type of the

273
00:29:36,362 --> 00:29:40,501
bridge culvert to a larger different span multiplate that would

274
00:29:40,922 --> 00:29:45,381
allow, um, debris and different aspects to flow through in

275
00:29:45,381 --> 00:29:47,061
a different way. And also bring it up to the

276
00:29:47,162 --> 00:29:50,741
current standard for environmental requirements as well. Okay. Wonderful. Those

277
00:29:50,781 --> 00:29:53,857
are all my questions. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Councillor

278
00:29:53,897 --> 00:29:56,097
Nelson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah. You know what? Thank

279
00:29:56,097 --> 00:29:57,697
you so much for all the work at you and

280
00:29:57,697 --> 00:29:59,217
your team has been doing on this. Um, this is

281
00:29:59,257 --> 00:30:02,177
a daily conversation for me. I'm thinking today I'm expecting

282
00:30:02,198 --> 00:30:04,417
two or three more calls over this issue. I just

283
00:30:04,438 --> 00:30:07,377
wanted to go away already. But, um, I get it.

284
00:30:07,377 --> 00:30:10,337
My question is most answered by Councillor Burkehoff for there.

285
00:30:10,337 --> 00:30:13,457
But, um, how do we fare against other municipalities? Like

286
00:30:13,457 --> 00:30:15,297
when it's raining here, we're feeling it's the entire province

287
00:30:15,638 --> 00:30:18,897
is being hit. We'll know it's not. Um, how, are

288
00:30:18,937 --> 00:30:20,257
we in the same boat as a number of other

289
00:30:20,297 --> 00:30:23,457
ones? Are we going to be competing against harp funding

290
00:30:23,478 --> 00:30:28,727
from other ones. Through the merit accounts are Nelson. Um,

291
00:30:28,727 --> 00:30:30,947
when we did meet the province about two and a

292
00:30:30,947 --> 00:30:32,987
half weeks ago, we are not the only community who

293
00:30:33,168 --> 00:30:36,267
is applying for this funding. The amount. I don't know.

294
00:30:36,267 --> 00:30:39,627
We didn't ask. But we conventured a guess that there

295
00:30:39,648 --> 00:30:42,327
are multiple communities who are applying for this funding, um,

296
00:30:42,327 --> 00:30:46,146
based on the flood natural disasters that are happening. That

297
00:30:46,146 --> 00:30:49,300
are impacting more than just our community. So are we

298
00:30:49,321 --> 00:30:51,860
like one of the worst impacted in my is what

299
00:30:51,860 --> 00:30:53,460
I was kind of reaching for? Or is your other

300
00:30:53,460 --> 00:30:57,700
ones that are Mr. Mayor Strewden Council Nelson? Um, we

301
00:30:57,721 --> 00:31:01,300
do see some of our neighbours with impacts. The toe

302
00:31:01,300 --> 00:31:05,540
field was one example there significant flooding event. And then

303
00:31:05,540 --> 00:31:08,180
you look at the city of Edmonton after us. They

304
00:31:08,180 --> 00:31:11,460
saw those kind of micro bursts in the thunderstorms that

305
00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:15,460
had impacts in different ways. So the prolonged exposure to

306
00:31:16,281 --> 00:31:18,980
high water levels in the rural. Some of our neighbours

307
00:31:19,020 --> 00:31:22,340
have seen similar. I'm not aware of their overall damage

308
00:31:22,761 --> 00:31:28,477
at this time. Sure. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Councillor

309
00:31:28,477 --> 00:31:31,277
Lawrence. Well, thank you Mr. Mayor. Yeah. Thanks for that

310
00:31:31,378 --> 00:31:36,077
information. Um, so the money that we're applying for to

311
00:31:36,077 --> 00:31:39,197
the province, but there still must be other costs that

312
00:31:39,298 --> 00:31:45,463
will have to absorb. Through Mayor Frank Councillor Lawrence. Yes.

313
00:31:45,463 --> 00:31:48,823
So we are using our reserves, our capital reserves to

314
00:31:48,863 --> 00:31:53,063
fund the procurements right now because we're trying to expedite

315
00:31:53,063 --> 00:31:55,543
that. So we will be using our reserves at this

316
00:31:55,543 --> 00:31:58,423
time with the intent that we hope if we don't

317
00:31:58,463 --> 00:32:01,943
get this funding, we will be looking at our LGFF

318
00:32:01,964 --> 00:32:04,503
funding to help support this. And we would be looking

319
00:32:04,543 --> 00:32:07,143
at maybe shortening some of the projects that we have

320
00:32:07,183 --> 00:32:09,703
not committed to in the upcoming years to help support

321
00:32:10,844 --> 00:32:12,343
if this work, if I can add to that, I

322
00:32:12,383 --> 00:32:15,543
also think it's important to recognise that with HARP funding,

323
00:32:15,543 --> 00:32:17,063
uh, a lot of times you can get some of

324
00:32:17,063 --> 00:32:21,443
the operational cost covered with the OT, the overtime, um,

325
00:32:21,644 --> 00:32:23,383
or any of the vehicles that we use during the

326
00:32:23,423 --> 00:32:28,263
overtime. So it's really, um, from an administrative perspective, we

327
00:32:28,284 --> 00:32:31,978
made sure that we isolated those costs as well. Yeah.

328
00:32:32,479 --> 00:32:35,978
No, that's, that's fine. I just, I was, the lists

329
00:32:36,018 --> 00:32:39,378
seemed a little short, um, there was a few, I

330
00:32:39,378 --> 00:32:43,098
was just thinking of old highway 14 between 204 and

331
00:32:43,138 --> 00:32:45,990
203. I mean, it took that whole highway out. I

332
00:32:45,990 --> 00:32:50,230
mean, it's what 16 feet wide and 12 feet deep.

333
00:32:52,099 --> 00:32:56,038
So what we pick up the costs for that? Or

334
00:32:56,038 --> 00:33:00,478
would we apply for that. Through the merit of Councillor

335
00:33:00,518 --> 00:33:02,318
Lawrence? That would be again an op one of those

336
00:33:02,358 --> 00:33:04,238
operational cost pieces. So right now it is sitting in

337
00:33:04,278 --> 00:33:07,838
our operational budget. So we are, we are funding it

338
00:33:07,878 --> 00:33:11,358
through our operations. Um, as part of that, um, overall

339
00:33:11,459 --> 00:33:13,598
heart application. We'll see if it is eligible. But right

340
00:33:13,598 --> 00:33:16,318
now it's part of our operating funds. Okay. Yeah. No,

341
00:33:16,318 --> 00:33:19,198
I have complete confidence in what you guys are doing.

342
00:33:19,198 --> 00:33:21,198
Don't get me wrong. I just, I know that was

343
00:33:21,238 --> 00:33:24,318
probably one of the worst ones down in the southeast.

344
00:33:24,318 --> 00:33:28,398
It literally took the road out. Um, and it's, it's

345
00:33:28,438 --> 00:33:31,678
a fairly major link, but you can dogleg around it

346
00:33:31,718 --> 00:33:35,282
to get somewhere. But, uh, okay. Yeah. No, thank you.

347
00:33:35,282 --> 00:33:38,162
Thanks for all that information. I might just add, when

348
00:33:38,162 --> 00:33:40,962
we think about the HARP application, um, I think a

349
00:33:40,962 --> 00:33:42,482
lot of times we think of it being like potentially

350
00:33:42,522 --> 00:33:47,042
like an insurance fund. But it's not. It's disaster relief

351
00:33:47,063 --> 00:33:51,362
program. So it's there for very specific criteria and purposes

352
00:33:51,463 --> 00:33:55,042
to help communities in, in a disaster. But then there

353
00:33:55,063 --> 00:33:58,482
is the expectation that some of those other operational pieces,

354
00:33:58,482 --> 00:34:01,762
we will have to, um, fund those ourselves. Because this

355
00:34:01,762 --> 00:34:05,042
isn't an insurance program like you would potentially have a

356
00:34:05,082 --> 00:34:11,715
games like your vehicle or your house. Thank you, Councillor

357
00:34:11,816 --> 00:34:15,475
Councillor Derbischhirter. Commissioner. And again, just echoing with the rest

358
00:34:15,475 --> 00:34:18,755
of councils said in terms of our overall response to

359
00:34:18,795 --> 00:34:22,115
this has been amazing. And lots of good work done.

360
00:34:22,115 --> 00:34:24,275
But your last comment, uh, actually it was a great

361
00:34:24,296 --> 00:34:27,235
segue into where I wanted to go with this. From

362
00:34:27,235 --> 00:34:30,115
a once in a century perspective, things that seem to

363
00:34:30,136 --> 00:34:32,435
be happening once in a century every five years now.

364
00:34:33,078 --> 00:34:37,057
Uh, and I know Councillor Hartwick has asked for a

365
00:34:37,057 --> 00:34:42,657
comprehensive report on Strath County's mitigation and resiliency efforts long

366
00:34:42,697 --> 00:34:45,537
term. So we'll be, we'll be, will we be using

367
00:34:45,558 --> 00:34:49,937
this opportunity to kind of roll that into a broader,

368
00:34:49,937 --> 00:34:55,697
um, analysis and introspection in our infrastructure and understanding that

369
00:34:55,697 --> 00:34:58,657
these events are becoming much more frequent than they might

370
00:34:58,758 --> 00:35:01,777
otherwise have been and our infrastructure might not have been

371
00:35:02,518 --> 00:35:08,180
adequately prepared for some of these in the past. Mr.

372
00:35:08,220 --> 00:35:11,060
Mayor, three great question. And I think it ties into

373
00:35:11,100 --> 00:35:15,460
the motion that obviously has been debated later on. What

374
00:35:15,460 --> 00:35:18,020
we want to look at would be our present day

375
00:35:18,121 --> 00:35:21,140
infrastructure, how it relates to if this is one in

376
00:35:21,140 --> 00:35:24,580
the century, hopefully storm, um, or is it becoming some

377
00:35:24,620 --> 00:35:26,500
of the new norm? We see some of the impacts

378
00:35:27,001 --> 00:35:31,060
of rainfall volumes amounts like this rainfall is one of

379
00:35:31,060 --> 00:35:34,660
our largest months we've seen. And then since early 19

380
00:35:35,081 --> 00:35:38,260
routes. And so for us as we look at as

381
00:35:38,260 --> 00:35:40,500
we compare the urban versus rural, some of the rural

382
00:35:40,500 --> 00:35:44,180
area was not an engineered design infrastructure. So that is

383
00:35:44,201 --> 00:35:47,620
what'd be part of that holistic approach to what are

384
00:35:47,620 --> 00:35:50,740
our standards? Are we prepared and ready resilient for what's

385
00:35:50,780 --> 00:35:55,360
coming or the new sustained water levels we're seeing? But

386
00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:57,060
having said that, the average over the past five years

387
00:35:57,161 --> 00:36:01,460
has been varying year to year. And last year we

388
00:36:01,481 --> 00:36:04,580
were more drought like conditions. And this year significant rainfall

389
00:36:05,161 --> 00:36:07,620
and winter storm. So thank you for all your work

390
00:36:07,660 --> 00:36:09,700
on this file. Just to supplement that through Mayor Frank

391
00:36:09,740 --> 00:36:13,780
Council Dribbeshar. So, um, two things we do do a

392
00:36:14,041 --> 00:36:16,540
state, state of infrastructure report, which we're planning to do

393
00:36:16,540 --> 00:36:19,860
by 2028. We will start that work again. And it's

394
00:36:19,860 --> 00:36:21,380
usually about a four year cycle. So that'll give us

395
00:36:21,401 --> 00:36:25,520
an assessment of all of our infrastructure and grades. The

396
00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:27,780
second piece just to highlight is that we're working on

397
00:36:27,881 --> 00:36:31,620
our long - term financial sustainability framework. And so obviously

398
00:36:31,881 --> 00:36:35,620
risk mitigation is part of that process. And lastly, just

399
00:36:35,641 --> 00:36:38,740
on a reserve strategy, our reserves are used. Like think

400
00:36:38,740 --> 00:36:41,060
of it as insurance. And this is what the reserves

401
00:36:41,241 --> 00:36:44,660
are intended for is situations like this. And so that's

402
00:36:44,681 --> 00:36:48,340
why the reserve strategies imperative for us to maintain in

403
00:36:48,361 --> 00:36:51,380
this upcoming budget cycle over the next four years to

404
00:36:51,420 --> 00:36:56,918
support our capital plan. Thank you for that. Thank you,

405
00:36:56,918 --> 00:36:59,078
Councillor Councillor Lawrence. Yeah, thank you, sorry. I should have

406
00:36:59,118 --> 00:37:03,078
got this on the realm before Councillor Derbisher went kind

407
00:37:03,078 --> 00:37:05,878
of where I was going to go. Um, this will

408
00:37:05,878 --> 00:37:08,918
give us a good, a good sense to get out

409
00:37:09,099 --> 00:37:12,198
and assess where we had some weak points. And they

410
00:37:12,198 --> 00:37:15,238
might not be critical to fix today, but its projects

411
00:37:15,419 --> 00:37:18,358
we could do into the future. I'm thinking more of

412
00:37:18,539 --> 00:37:22,918
culverts. We're going to, we, we certainly saw where the

413
00:37:23,179 --> 00:37:26,678
weak links were in the flow system. And this is

414
00:37:26,718 --> 00:37:29,698
what I hear from, from the residents mostly is, you

415
00:37:29,698 --> 00:37:31,958
know, they're saying, well, these culverts, they're no good. They're

416
00:37:31,979 --> 00:37:34,198
too small. And I said, well, you know, you don't

417
00:37:34,198 --> 00:37:37,238
get ahead of yourself there. We, we've, you know, it's

418
00:37:37,278 --> 00:37:40,038
a one in a hundred or whatever it's going to

419
00:37:40,059 --> 00:37:44,487
be. But, um, yeah, we'll be assessing all that. And

420
00:37:44,508 --> 00:37:46,647
so I'll just ask for your response on that. Thank

421
00:37:46,668 --> 00:37:50,674
you. Mr. Mayor, through the Council Lawrence for sure. What

422
00:37:50,674 --> 00:37:53,634
we're seeing in the rural area and in some cases,

423
00:37:53,634 --> 00:37:56,034
many of the newer rural residents haven't seen water like

424
00:37:56,034 --> 00:37:58,754
this in their area. So we have a good level

425
00:37:58,855 --> 00:38:02,834
of detail on those areas that we're impacted. And as

426
00:38:02,935 --> 00:38:06,194
we look and look to address some of these concerns

427
00:38:06,535 --> 00:38:09,394
and we're seeing them throughout has definitely take that action.

428
00:38:11,874 --> 00:38:14,093
Yeah, we're just going to take a chance to comment

429
00:38:14,354 --> 00:38:16,633
to the, a lot of, uh, a lot of the

430
00:38:16,633 --> 00:38:20,013
problems that I've seen were decisions that were made with

431
00:38:20,194 --> 00:38:23,713
the old Edmonton regional planning long before, you know, we

432
00:38:23,713 --> 00:38:26,013
kind of get blamed. And when I say, look, this

433
00:38:26,053 --> 00:38:28,893
was all approved through a whole different board many, many

434
00:38:28,893 --> 00:38:31,993
years ago that literally didn't really look at a lot

435
00:38:31,993 --> 00:38:35,453
of these issues. Certainly water flow. They just, I don't

436
00:38:35,453 --> 00:38:40,413
even think they did physical, um, on the landscape. They

437
00:38:40,434 --> 00:38:43,373
just, uh, had a map in an office in Edmonton,

438
00:38:43,373 --> 00:38:45,964
put a grid over top of it. And stamped it.

439
00:38:45,964 --> 00:38:47,724
And it was sold. And then when we get these

440
00:38:47,905 --> 00:38:51,324
wet years, we suffer with all these mistakes. So I

441
00:38:51,364 --> 00:38:54,844
don't mind taking the hit if we've done something wrong,

442
00:38:54,844 --> 00:38:57,724
but, uh, it's pretty tough because just about everything I've

443
00:38:57,764 --> 00:39:01,804
seen is, has been somebody else's decision. Now again, not,

444
00:39:01,844 --> 00:39:03,804
not passing the buck, but I just tried to make

445
00:39:03,985 --> 00:39:06,684
the, make it clear that, uh, we're doing the best

446
00:39:06,945 --> 00:39:09,244
we can and certainly with our new planning the way

447
00:39:09,244 --> 00:39:11,564
we do planning. We look at those types of top

448
00:39:11,585 --> 00:39:16,204
of bank, floodplains, setbacks. Cause I know people get frustrated.

449
00:39:16,204 --> 00:39:18,044
They want to say, well, why can't I build there.

450
00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:21,779
Well, you can't build there because I think the last

451
00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:25,459
month has proven why he would have been underwater. And,

452
00:39:25,459 --> 00:39:27,859
um, a lot of outbuildings and things that were built

453
00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:32,099
over the years that were underwater that, you know, now

454
00:39:32,099 --> 00:39:35,299
we're being accused, well, we shouldn't, uh, you know, what

455
00:39:35,299 --> 00:39:37,059
are you going to do? Well, first off, he didn't

456
00:39:37,059 --> 00:39:39,859
have a permit. And secondly, we're not going to do

457
00:39:39,859 --> 00:39:45,299
anything. So it's a little frustrating. But again, it'll be

458
00:39:45,339 --> 00:39:48,019
a good time for us to assess what worked and

459
00:39:48,059 --> 00:39:51,949
what didn't work. So look forward to that information. Thank

460
00:39:51,949 --> 00:39:57,142
you. Thank you, Councillor Councillor Parks. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

461
00:39:57,142 --> 00:39:58,342
And thanks again for all the work that you and

462
00:39:58,382 --> 00:40:00,182
your teams have done over the last month here to

463
00:40:00,203 --> 00:40:03,782
do the mitigation cleanup, repairs and all those things. Um,

464
00:40:03,883 --> 00:40:06,582
just a couple of financial questions I did have though.

465
00:40:06,582 --> 00:40:09,222
Um, so in the projects there, we've got eight of

466
00:40:09,222 --> 00:40:12,423
them that have been deemed the most urgent. There. I

467
00:40:12,423 --> 00:40:14,143
assume we're going to see more of these over the

468
00:40:14,143 --> 00:40:16,783
next couple of months is that fair to assume that

469
00:40:16,804 --> 00:40:18,143
we'll likely see you guys in front of us again

470
00:40:19,044 --> 00:40:23,815
in the fall with some more requests. Mr. Mayor, through

471
00:40:23,815 --> 00:40:26,615
your L maybe start, I'm not the financial person to

472
00:40:26,636 --> 00:40:31,095
answer, but, um, currently these are known locations with the

473
00:40:31,196 --> 00:40:34,375
major issues. We have done a quick visual inspection of

474
00:40:34,415 --> 00:40:38,775
our other bridge structures to see current condition. They are,

475
00:40:38,775 --> 00:40:42,115
uh, those that were visible are an okay condition, uh,

476
00:40:42,156 --> 00:40:45,155
so we do expect there is potential for more. Um,

477
00:40:45,155 --> 00:40:47,175
but this will be the known ones today for sure.

478
00:40:47,516 --> 00:40:51,895
Okay. And in the 16. 2 or so that we're

479
00:40:51,895 --> 00:40:55,175
requesting today, how much contingency do we have built into

480
00:40:55,356 --> 00:40:58,695
the, uh, request for construction? Do we have any contingency

481
00:40:58,716 --> 00:41:01,655
built in there? Or I'm assuming we do because these

482
00:41:01,655 --> 00:41:05,735
numbers can fluctuate pretty good. So Mr. Mayor, for you,

483
00:41:05,735 --> 00:41:07,975
you have most of them are around 20 percent contingency

484
00:41:07,996 --> 00:41:12,455
within them. And that's very, uh, connected to the lack

485
00:41:12,476 --> 00:41:15,495
of engineering detail we have at this time for them.

486
00:41:15,495 --> 00:41:18,615
Understood. And I assume we've got, we've already gone out

487
00:41:18,636 --> 00:41:21,095
and started lining up contractors and things like that to

488
00:41:21,095 --> 00:41:25,166
get work started right away. Yeah. Mr. Mehr, two parts.

489
00:41:25,166 --> 00:41:27,966
We've, we have some of the contractors in negotiations right

490
00:41:28,006 --> 00:41:32,686
now under emergency procurement. And as well, we're also procuring

491
00:41:32,707 --> 00:41:35,406
the materials needed as well to move as quick as

492
00:41:35,587 --> 00:41:39,486
we can. Excellent. Of those answers, my questions. Yeah. This

493
00:41:39,486 --> 00:41:45,208
is must reasonable. Okay. That's it for questions from council.

494
00:41:45,208 --> 00:41:52,502
Do we have a motion. Councillor Nelson. Um, I moved

495
00:41:52,502 --> 00:41:55,782
that an amendment to the 2026 Capitol budget in the

496
00:41:55,963 --> 00:42:00,982
Mount of 16, 273, 000 for the emergent rainfall infrastructure

497
00:42:01,022 --> 00:42:05,622
replacement and rehabilitation 2026 project as set out and enclosure

498
00:42:05,643 --> 00:42:09,462
one of the July 21, 2026 financial and strategic services

499
00:42:09,963 --> 00:42:12,742
report. And with the funding from the municipal capital reserve

500
00:42:12,843 --> 00:42:16,957
be approved. And that administration provide a report for Council's

501
00:42:16,957 --> 00:42:19,757
consideration by the end of 2026 on the outcome of

502
00:42:19,757 --> 00:42:24,077
the hazard assistance and resilience program, uh, application that resulting

503
00:42:24,098 --> 00:42:27,437
impacts of the on capital funding sources and any projects

504
00:42:27,618 --> 00:42:34,234
deferrals or repriotizations with a focus on core infrastructure. Questions

505
00:42:34,335 --> 00:42:38,038
of clarification. Debate. And we'll vote.

506
00:42:46,340 --> 00:42:52,686
Carried 9 - 0. Thank you for the presentation. And

507
00:42:52,686 --> 00:42:54,046
we'll move to Smith House.

508
00:43:16,475 --> 00:43:21,654
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so today was actually supposed

509
00:43:21,694 --> 00:43:26,774
to be our director of FFM director McKenzie was going

510
00:43:26,774 --> 00:43:29,574
to be doing this presentation. So you're getting the second

511
00:43:29,675 --> 00:43:33,956
string he was unable to be here today. This report

512
00:43:33,956 --> 00:43:38,276
is before you, for approval to negotiate and execute a

513
00:43:38,377 --> 00:43:42,436
market value license agreement with the Beaver Hills biosphere association

514
00:43:43,097 --> 00:43:46,360
for use of the Smith House. At a high level,

515
00:43:46,360 --> 00:43:49,960
this item's about making productive use of an existing county

516
00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:52,760
- owned building in a way that is aligned with

517
00:43:53,341 --> 00:43:57,400
site's location. The broader conservation context and public - facing

518
00:43:57,501 --> 00:44:02,120
mandate of the association. In terms of context, Smith House

519
00:44:02,221 --> 00:44:06,040
is located on the east edge of Strathcona County at

520
00:44:06,061 --> 00:44:10,520
52 - 521 Range Road 211 and sits at the

521
00:44:10,621 --> 00:44:14,280
entrance of the Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail. Because of that

522
00:44:14,461 --> 00:44:18,200
setting administration feels and sees a strong fit between this

523
00:44:18,301 --> 00:44:25,166
property and the association's work. The association's mandate is centred

524
00:44:25,166 --> 00:44:31,726
on stewardship, biodiversity, conservation, education, collaboration, and sustainable regional development.

525
00:44:32,638 --> 00:44:36,137
Locating the Association at the site would create a clearer

526
00:44:36,177 --> 00:44:39,417
connection between the property and the public purpose it can

527
00:44:39,417 --> 00:44:43,577
serve. The county already provides annual operating funding to the

528
00:44:44,318 --> 00:44:49,897
Beaver Hills biosphere association, as does Ladue County Beaver County

529
00:44:50,158 --> 00:44:53,817
and Lamont County, all of which fall within the biosphere.

530
00:44:55,575 --> 00:44:59,354
The request is separate from the ongoing operational support. So

531
00:44:59,354 --> 00:45:03,554
this request for an agreement there, a license agreement. However,

532
00:45:03,895 --> 00:45:07,874
it's related, it can help stabilize the association's physical presence

533
00:45:08,215 --> 00:45:12,114
and location that is supportive of the mandate while strengthening

534
00:45:12,615 --> 00:45:16,754
the alignment between the organization's activities and county - owned

535
00:45:16,754 --> 00:45:20,722
assets in the area. In accordance with the county's disposal

536
00:45:20,722 --> 00:45:24,562
of surplus municipal land, any lease of the building must

537
00:45:24,583 --> 00:45:28,562
reflect fair market value. The property currently has a residential

538
00:45:28,663 --> 00:45:34,882
tenant. And the arrangement has provided some practical benefit through

539
00:45:34,922 --> 00:45:37,282
on - site presence in an area that's fairly remote.

540
00:45:38,461 --> 00:45:43,482
And taking care of the asset. So upgrades to the

541
00:45:43,522 --> 00:45:47,482
building are required in accordance with the National Building Code.

542
00:45:47,482 --> 00:45:49,882
The required improvements are based on the change of use

543
00:45:50,063 --> 00:45:56,762
classification. And from a private residential use to Office occupancy.

544
00:45:56,762 --> 00:45:58,842
So in order to put the association in there, it

545
00:45:58,882 --> 00:46:02,964
needs to meet the new building code. So based on

546
00:46:03,025 --> 00:46:08,204
current estimates, the building and accessibility improvements to support Office

547
00:46:08,225 --> 00:46:15,864
occupancy are estimated 75, 000 dollars with the association, and

548
00:46:15,864 --> 00:46:18,604
they are very willing to enter into a license agreement

549
00:46:18,945 --> 00:46:23,644
at farm - market compensation. But do not currently feel

550
00:46:23,825 --> 00:46:28,524
that they could do the improvements that are required that

551
00:46:28,524 --> 00:46:32,838
are required for this change in use. Pending a fair

552
00:46:32,859 --> 00:46:39,158
market review of assessment. Administration would seek a budget adjustment

553
00:46:39,179 --> 00:46:43,558
later in 2026 or early next year as part of

554
00:46:43,819 --> 00:46:51,007
the 2027 budget. And for fleet and facility management, this

555
00:46:51,007 --> 00:46:55,167
would be an operating item because it is only 75,

556
00:46:55,188 --> 00:46:57,167
000 dollars, but it would be something that needs to

557
00:46:57,207 --> 00:47:00,527
be added to the budget. The market rate license fee

558
00:47:00,628 --> 00:47:03,807
would be structured to account for the total cost of

559
00:47:04,068 --> 00:47:06,287
improvements made to the building in order to support the

560
00:47:06,548 --> 00:47:10,687
new occupancy type. What we're looking for today is council's

561
00:47:10,727 --> 00:47:14,607
authorization to enter a fair market license agreement with the

562
00:47:14,647 --> 00:47:18,317
Beaver Hills biosphere association. And I'd be happy to take

563
00:47:18,418 --> 00:47:23,364
any questions, Council may have. Thank you for the presentation.

564
00:47:23,364 --> 00:47:26,885
Councillor Parks. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so we're looking

565
00:47:26,906 --> 00:47:30,725
at investing 75, 000 into the building and then turning

566
00:47:30,765 --> 00:47:34,805
it over as a lease to the organisation. Um, quick

567
00:47:34,826 --> 00:47:37,125
question. I'm assuming then that we'd be looking at having

568
00:47:37,226 --> 00:47:40,525
the 75, 000 dollar cost built into the rent. So

569
00:47:40,525 --> 00:47:42,885
we'd have the rent commence certainly go up to have

570
00:47:42,925 --> 00:47:45,525
a repayment schedule for us on it. The fair market

571
00:47:45,706 --> 00:47:48,325
assessment that we'd be doing would take into account the

572
00:47:48,346 --> 00:47:50,965
improvements that would be done to the building. So yes,

573
00:47:51,066 --> 00:47:55,045
the answers. Are there any additional expected cost lifecycle costs

574
00:47:55,045 --> 00:47:57,845
for utility septic wealth systems, snow removal of those things

575
00:47:58,186 --> 00:48:00,645
are there included in that? Or are we looking at

576
00:48:00,685 --> 00:48:04,485
anything needing for life, you know, general life cycle with

577
00:48:04,485 --> 00:48:09,328
this building? Is it in good condition otherwise? The building

578
00:48:09,509 --> 00:48:13,408
is in good shape still. I don't have the exact

579
00:48:13,429 --> 00:48:17,328
age in front of me. FFM would, um, yeah, it's

580
00:48:17,328 --> 00:48:19,808
in good shape. We aren't anticipating any additional costs than

581
00:48:20,229 --> 00:48:22,928
what we currently see with a renter in the building.

582
00:48:22,928 --> 00:48:26,528
Okay. And do direct negotiations comply with our disposal policy

583
00:48:26,789 --> 00:48:29,168
or should other potential users be given the same opportunity

584
00:48:29,589 --> 00:48:31,808
or are we pretty comfortable with the process we've got

585
00:48:31,808 --> 00:48:35,512
here? When it comes down to the use of the

586
00:48:35,512 --> 00:48:39,132
building, this is why we think that this is a,

587
00:48:39,132 --> 00:48:46,652
an opportunity to have a tenant in that location that

588
00:48:47,313 --> 00:48:49,532
is familiar with the site and could see a beneficial

589
00:48:49,633 --> 00:48:52,572
use of that site. Um, using it as just a

590
00:48:52,593 --> 00:48:57,282
rental or a private residence. Doesn't have the same, I

591
00:48:57,322 --> 00:49:00,082
guess, appeal. Okay. No, I'm comfortable with it. Thank you.

592
00:49:00,500 --> 00:49:03,919
Thank you, Councillor Councillor Lawrence. Oh, thank you. Thank you

593
00:49:03,919 --> 00:49:06,959
for the presentation. Just a little background on that property

594
00:49:07,300 --> 00:49:10,399
was purchased in 2009. The House is 30 years old

595
00:49:10,980 --> 00:49:15,339
actually this year. And, um, just on an average, uh,

596
00:49:17,860 --> 00:49:22,319
180, 000 dollars over it since we've owned it. So

597
00:49:23,060 --> 00:49:27,999
it's put that money into general revenue. And, um, so

598
00:49:28,500 --> 00:49:32,319
in a way it's paid for itself, but the agreement

599
00:49:32,319 --> 00:49:35,599
that the biosphere wants to enter into is that would

600
00:49:35,599 --> 00:49:38,719
be worked into the rental fee we would make sure

601
00:49:38,820 --> 00:49:43,919
that we're covering that cost of whatever it takes to

602
00:49:43,959 --> 00:49:47,659
bring it up to a commercial standard. So we're, uh,

603
00:49:48,260 --> 00:49:51,519
we're very happy that it's moving along. And, uh, I

604
00:49:51,519 --> 00:49:55,119
want to thank administration for the work they've done. And,

605
00:49:55,119 --> 00:49:58,079
uh, yeah, so the questions I could take them to.

606
00:49:58,798 --> 00:50:02,629
Motion. Yeah. I'll make the motion, yes. Do you want

607
00:50:02,629 --> 00:50:05,126
to do that now. Or are we going any questions?

608
00:50:05,307 --> 00:50:06,886
No, for the question. So yeah, we'll look at the

609
00:50:06,886 --> 00:50:07,046
motion.

610
00:50:18,115 --> 00:50:22,414
All right. That administration be authorized to negotiate and execute

611
00:50:22,435 --> 00:50:26,014
a market valued license agreement with the Beaver Hills biosphere

612
00:50:26,035 --> 00:50:29,694
association for the use of the Smith House located at

613
00:50:30,515 --> 00:50:36,814
525 21 Range Road 211 subject to compliance and.

614
00:50:40,373 --> 00:50:45,472
There. Land use building code accessibility legal and financial requirements.

615
00:50:47,436 --> 00:50:50,935
Clickable. That's what I was trying to say. Questions are

616
00:50:51,276 --> 00:50:56,326
questions of clarification. I have one. This captures this language.

617
00:50:56,326 --> 00:50:58,966
We'll capture the fact that 75, 000 dollars has to

618
00:50:58,966 --> 00:51:03,634
be built into the lease payments also, correct? Yes. Where

619
00:51:03,634 --> 00:51:08,114
it says, uh, it says market value license agreement. Right.

620
00:51:08,114 --> 00:51:10,834
But they've said they can't afford the 75, 000 right

621
00:51:10,855 --> 00:51:12,274
now. So we're going to build it into the lease

622
00:51:12,314 --> 00:51:15,154
payments. Absolutely. We, as I said, we will be doing

623
00:51:15,575 --> 00:51:20,034
assessment of the property and license agreement will reflect that

624
00:51:20,135 --> 00:51:26,505
cost. Okay. Uh, debate. Do you close councillor. Nope. We're

625
00:51:26,505 --> 00:51:35,764
good. We'll vote. Carried

626
00:51:35,865 --> 00:51:44,920
90. Thank you. Thank you. 6. 4 motion following notice

627
00:51:44,920 --> 00:51:48,200
of motion 2026 rainfall and flooding event review and resilience

628
00:51:48,240 --> 00:51:56,253
assessment. I know. I would like to move that administration

629
00:51:56,514 --> 00:51:59,933
preparer report for Council's consideration by the end of Q4,

630
00:51:59,933 --> 00:52:03,533
2026 that provides an overview of the recent rainfall and

631
00:52:03,533 --> 00:52:06,333
flooding event, including the nature and extent of impacts on

632
00:52:06,354 --> 00:52:11,533
residents. County infrastructure and municipal services. It elevates the performance

633
00:52:11,533 --> 00:52:15,453
of the county stormwater management systems drainage infrastructure and related

634
00:52:15,474 --> 00:52:20,573
engineering works, including whether they function as intention as intended.

635
00:52:20,754 --> 00:52:24,333
Identifies any infrastructure operational maintenance or system related factors that

636
00:52:24,354 --> 00:52:27,773
may have contributed to flooding impacts. Reviews the adequacy of

637
00:52:27,773 --> 00:52:32,813
the county's current engineering design standard stormwater management criteria and

638
00:52:32,813 --> 00:52:36,253
infrastructure planning assumptions in the context of evolving precipitation patterns

639
00:52:36,674 --> 00:52:40,893
and climate projections. It identifies opportunities to enhance the county's

640
00:52:40,933 --> 00:52:44,573
resilience to future extreme rather events, including potential changes to

641
00:52:44,674 --> 00:52:50,253
engineering standards policies, capital planning, asset management practices, emergency response

642
00:52:50,293 --> 00:52:54,573
measures, or public communication approaches. And outlines the financial implications

643
00:52:54,994 --> 00:53:00,733
risk resource requirements and implementation considerations associated with any recommended

644
00:53:01,554 --> 00:53:10,085
actions. The end. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, I think with,

645
00:53:10,106 --> 00:53:13,845
with, uh, with what we saw, we need to look

646
00:53:13,866 --> 00:53:16,965
into what worked where there were gaps, whether our current

647
00:53:16,986 --> 00:53:21,605
engineering standards remain appropriate. And also this outlines any financial

648
00:53:21,626 --> 00:53:24,405
implications. So Council can make informed decisions in the future.

649
00:53:25,718 --> 00:53:28,577
Thank you for the motion. Councillor, questions of clarification, Councillor

650
00:53:28,617 --> 00:53:31,617
Parks. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just a couple of questions.

651
00:53:31,718 --> 00:53:36,737
Um, will this report distinguish between infrastructure that failed infrastructure

652
00:53:36,758 --> 00:53:40,417
that potentially was blocked or inadequately maintained an infrastructure that

653
00:53:40,678 --> 00:53:48,412
operated as designed but was exceeded. Mr. Mayor, through you.

654
00:53:49,863 --> 00:53:52,362
That would be part of how we were respond to

655
00:53:52,583 --> 00:53:55,147
these questions. Because as you said, there's a number of

656
00:53:55,168 --> 00:54:00,507
different reasons why infrastructure or why flooding occurred. And that

657
00:54:00,547 --> 00:54:02,747
would have to be report put together in the report

658
00:54:02,768 --> 00:54:06,594
as well. Okay. And now, well, most of our infrastructure

659
00:54:06,775 --> 00:54:10,574
that was failed, and I won't say infrastructure failed, but

660
00:54:11,175 --> 00:54:13,154
major incidents were in the rural areas there. We did

661
00:54:13,154 --> 00:54:16,834
have some neighbourhood flooding. And, um, well, neighbourhood flooding in

662
00:54:16,834 --> 00:54:19,474
prior complaints be specifically examined because we've seen some problem

663
00:54:19,655 --> 00:54:22,194
spots, especially in the urban areas where this has been

664
00:54:22,695 --> 00:54:27,423
REO occurring every time we get a major reign. Mr.

665
00:54:27,463 --> 00:54:30,863
Mayor, through you to Councillor Parks, actually that work is

666
00:54:30,884 --> 00:54:34,143
ongoing as we speak. Um, so especially in the urban

667
00:54:34,183 --> 00:54:38,303
areas, where we saw issues that we felt were out

668
00:54:38,303 --> 00:54:44,063
of the ordinary and say overflow structures weren't functioning as

669
00:54:44,103 --> 00:54:47,823
designed. We're already looking into that. Okay. Uh, will the

670
00:54:47,823 --> 00:54:51,743
final report be public apart from legitimately privileged personal information

671
00:54:52,084 --> 00:54:54,463
or are we looking at this being primarily an internal

672
00:54:54,564 --> 00:55:00,586
report? Yeah, it will be presented to Council, so it

673
00:55:00,586 --> 00:55:03,123
would be a public document. Perfect. And are we good

674
00:55:03,123 --> 00:55:05,683
with the timeframe of Q4 2026? That seems awful fast

675
00:55:05,723 --> 00:55:12,691
to do a lot of this work. It will be

676
00:55:12,691 --> 00:55:16,291
a high level review. There's probably going to be recommendations

677
00:55:16,331 --> 00:55:19,811
for further investigation. So, um, at the level that we're

678
00:55:19,811 --> 00:55:22,051
looking at, we think we can complete it by the

679
00:55:22,051 --> 00:55:26,833
end of the year. Excellent. Well, thank you. Okay. Debate

680
00:55:26,833 --> 00:55:30,249
on the motion. Do we wish to close? I'm good.

681
00:55:30,510 --> 00:55:31,449
We'll vote on a motion.

682
00:55:40,330 --> 00:55:49,726
It's carried 9 - 0. And we go to 6.

683
00:55:49,747 --> 00:55:52,126
5 motionfall. I notice the motion review of the casino

684
00:55:52,147 --> 00:55:58,499
bylaw. Mr. Mayor, I would like to move the administration

685
00:55:58,680 --> 00:56:01,779
prepare report for Council's consideration by the end of Q4

686
00:56:01,819 --> 00:56:07,059
2026, outlining the potential economic social and community impacts of

687
00:56:07,059 --> 00:56:10,419
permitting casinos with in Strathcona County, including an analysis of

688
00:56:10,459 --> 00:56:15,619
the advantages and disadvantages and providing information to support council's

689
00:56:15,659 --> 00:56:19,699
review of the casino bylaw. Um, Mr. Mayor, I'm bringing

690
00:56:19,699 --> 00:56:23,299
the motion forward recognise that casino is something that was

691
00:56:23,339 --> 00:56:26,979
involved over time in Alberta since 1975, um, over 30

692
00:56:27,960 --> 00:56:32,579
casinos have been established across Alberta, including 10 and Everton,

693
00:56:32,579 --> 00:56:35,779
I think 12, including the surrounding areas. Six of those

694
00:56:35,800 --> 00:56:39,991
being operated by First Nations. As of July 13th, just

695
00:56:39,991 --> 00:56:43,671
this past week, uh, the Province introduced online gaming and

696
00:56:43,711 --> 00:56:48,151
expects to generate 76 million dollars year over, um, through

697
00:56:48,172 --> 00:56:51,251
online gaming as well. And they, they say that, uh,

698
00:56:51,452 --> 00:56:54,231
close to 390 million dollars in revenue comes in across

699
00:56:54,271 --> 00:56:58,071
Alberta as a result of a casinos. Um, cause you

700
00:56:58,071 --> 00:57:02,951
know, also bring significant revenues to local municipalities. Um, many

701
00:57:02,991 --> 00:57:05,511
of our user groups in town go outside of our

702
00:57:05,612 --> 00:57:08,871
community now, uh, seeking an opportunity to raise revenues to

703
00:57:08,871 --> 00:57:12,791
support their operations through casinos. Um, by bringing one to

704
00:57:12,831 --> 00:57:16,851
Strathcona County, we're enhancing the opportunity within our community. Um,

705
00:57:16,972 --> 00:57:20,071
I do think that there is interest. I get asked

706
00:57:20,071 --> 00:57:22,311
by seniors groups in particular. Could we get a bus

707
00:57:22,652 --> 00:57:25,911
that would take us into, uh, this casino in Edmonton

708
00:57:25,951 --> 00:57:28,711
or that cause, you know, um, and I understand that

709
00:57:28,812 --> 00:57:31,431
even among young people today, it's becoming a form of

710
00:57:31,452 --> 00:57:36,391
entertainment, uh, that's drawing them out of Strathconda County, taking

711
00:57:36,892 --> 00:57:40,551
their dollars with them, um, as they leave and seek

712
00:57:40,591 --> 00:57:44,231
entertainment elsewhere. Um, so it seems to be an activity

713
00:57:44,271 --> 00:57:47,751
that supports people of all ages. But casinos are more

714
00:57:47,932 --> 00:57:50,631
than simply gaming centres. If you look at the ones

715
00:57:50,732 --> 00:57:54,791
that exist, um, in Edmonton and surrounding area, they become

716
00:57:54,972 --> 00:58:00,631
an important entertainment centres that bring shows, operate recreational spaces.

717
00:58:00,631 --> 00:58:04,311
In some cases spas, restaurants, other venues to meet the

718
00:58:04,311 --> 00:58:08,311
recreational needs of residence. And so it's, I'm not basis

719
00:58:08,351 --> 00:58:10,471
that I'm bringing this motion forward today. And I'm simply

720
00:58:10,572 --> 00:58:15,511
asking, simply asking administration to do a good review to

721
00:58:15,511 --> 00:58:19,351
help us understand the pros and cons of allowing such

722
00:58:19,612 --> 00:58:22,471
establishments to be built in the county and to analyse

723
00:58:22,572 --> 00:58:27,591
the economic, social, and community impacts of such operations. Now

724
00:58:27,692 --> 00:58:31,271
I know if we make a decision at some point

725
00:58:31,532 --> 00:58:33,671
to say, yeah, let's review the bylaw, that still doesn't

726
00:58:34,092 --> 00:58:37,271
approve of casino. It simply allows us to take a

727
00:58:37,271 --> 00:58:40,711
look at whether it's something that's worthy of consideration and

728
00:58:40,892 --> 00:58:46,831
does it benefit our community. And happy to take questions.

729
00:58:47,252 --> 00:58:52,722
Questions of clarification. Councillor Nelson. Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

730
00:58:52,722 --> 00:58:55,602
Um, I'm just curious, would this, I still have some

731
00:58:55,783 --> 00:58:58,322
concerns over, but with a report, I'd be interested in

732
00:58:58,322 --> 00:59:01,602
seeing it. But would this report include how enforcement services

733
00:59:01,863 --> 00:59:04,482
resources are going to be impacted? And how often does

734
00:59:04,522 --> 00:59:08,002
the RCMP get called to casinos, um, and how, what's

735
00:59:08,002 --> 00:59:11,122
the average amount of time they're spending casinos? It kind

736
00:59:11,122 --> 00:59:12,482
of makes sense, doesn't it, if we're looking at the

737
00:59:12,503 --> 00:59:15,442
social and community impacts, if that's one of the impacts.

738
00:59:17,120 --> 00:59:19,659
I would think that it's doable to request that. I

739
00:59:19,659 --> 00:59:21,499
don't know if we need to demand the motion to

740
00:59:21,539 --> 00:59:28,072
get that information. I just, my question, a timing, is

741
00:59:28,072 --> 00:59:32,365
that going to work? For Q4 through the mayor to

742
00:59:32,365 --> 00:59:36,045
Councillor, Tanita, we can certainly put in requests through Edmonton

743
00:59:36,146 --> 00:59:38,685
in particular in terms of the Edmonton Police Service and

744
00:59:38,725 --> 00:59:43,645
the impact on their work. In terms of our ability

745
00:59:43,685 --> 00:59:45,645
to meet the timelines, it would depend on the other

746
00:59:45,685 --> 00:59:49,645
agencies having access to that information. And whether it's actually

747
00:59:49,746 --> 00:59:53,885
broken down, uh, specifically to casinos versus other types of

748
00:59:54,466 --> 00:59:57,645
bars and whatnot, but we can certainly put the request

749
00:59:57,685 --> 01:00:05,787
in. Okay. Debate. Councillor Parks. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I

750
01:00:05,787 --> 01:00:09,284
will not be supporting the motion. StreatConic County residents have

751
01:00:09,324 --> 01:00:13,444
already answered this question, not once, but twice. In 2001,

752
01:00:13,484 --> 01:00:15,364
the casino issue was put directly to voters through a

753
01:00:15,404 --> 01:00:18,804
plebiscite during the municipal election and there was a decisive

754
01:00:18,825 --> 01:00:22,724
result that led to the casino bylaw we have today.

755
01:00:22,724 --> 01:00:24,964
In 2021, many of this council were at the table

756
01:00:25,545 --> 01:00:28,564
when we were approached by a potential developer. And Council

757
01:00:28,665 --> 01:00:33,684
considered reopening the issue, but resident engagement showed little appetite

758
01:00:33,724 --> 01:00:37,924
to revisit it. And Council smartly voted it down. For

759
01:00:37,964 --> 01:00:41,364
me, this is a basic democratic principle here. When residents

760
01:00:41,364 --> 01:00:45,916
speak, clearly government should listen. We should not keep asking

761
01:00:46,177 --> 01:00:48,636
the same question every few years in the hope that

762
01:00:48,657 --> 01:00:52,006
eventually receive a different answer. I'm going to offer up

763
01:00:52,107 --> 01:00:55,926
a simple analogy. Residents have already closed this door. They've

764
01:00:56,027 --> 01:00:59,366
locked it twice. Council should not keep walking back down

765
01:00:59,387 --> 01:01:02,806
the hallway and jiggling handles just to check to see

766
01:01:02,806 --> 01:01:05,606
if the doors are still locked. This is also both

767
01:01:05,646 --> 01:01:11,206
priorities. We're facing major flood recovery costs, infrastructure pressures, emergency

768
01:01:11,246 --> 01:01:16,646
service decisions, and significant budget challenges. Administration's time and taxpayers'money

769
01:01:16,667 --> 01:01:19,446
should be focused on the issues residents are asking us

770
01:01:19,547 --> 01:01:22,886
to address, not reopening a debate that they have been

771
01:01:22,987 --> 01:01:26,246
repeatedly telling us they are not interested in having. I

772
01:01:26,267 --> 01:01:30,166
have not gotten one email, not gotten one call from

773
01:01:30,187 --> 01:01:33,126
a resident of any word asking me to revisit this

774
01:01:33,166 --> 01:01:37,206
issue for a second time this decade. This was not

775
01:01:37,387 --> 01:01:40,806
an unanswered question. It may be an answer some interested

776
01:01:40,827 --> 01:01:43,766
parties are not interested in hearing, but it is not

777
01:01:43,806 --> 01:01:46,596
one that we have not received. I trust the judgment

778
01:01:46,636 --> 01:01:49,556
of Strathcona County residents. I respect the decisions that have

779
01:01:49,577 --> 01:01:52,196
already been made on this twice, and I'll be voting

780
01:01:52,377 --> 01:01:55,530
no. I hope Council does the same. Thank you, Councillor

781
01:01:55,551 --> 01:01:58,921
Council Drew, Shire. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I will be

782
01:01:59,022 --> 01:02:02,521
supporting this, uh, motion. First of all, we're asking for

783
01:02:02,622 --> 01:02:07,081
a report. We're not presupposing whether or not a casino

784
01:02:07,102 --> 01:02:10,601
is going to get built. We're not presupposing any resident

785
01:02:10,601 --> 01:02:14,521
concerns or lack of concerns. I have heard from residents,

786
01:02:14,521 --> 01:02:17,641
uh, on the campaign trail. And since about the lack

787
01:02:17,662 --> 01:02:22,761
of a casino in Strathcona County, specifically from a fundraising

788
01:02:23,022 --> 01:02:26,261
and a youth engagement perspective, uh, many not - for

789
01:02:26,261 --> 01:02:30,841
- profits require or rely on casino revenue to support

790
01:02:31,022 --> 01:02:35,401
their operations, uh, forcing them to drive to cameras or

791
01:02:35,441 --> 01:02:40,321
other rural areas, uh, to raise those funds, I think

792
01:02:40,542 --> 01:02:43,321
is problematic when we have the opportunity here, but I'm

793
01:02:43,361 --> 01:02:46,521
getting ahead of myself. All we're asking for is a

794
01:02:46,521 --> 01:02:51,321
report. We're not presupposing any outcomes. We're asking administration to

795
01:02:51,361 --> 01:02:55,062
look into this. I'll be supporting this motion. Thank you.

796
01:02:55,062 --> 01:02:57,862
Councillor Council Brickhofer. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'll also be

797
01:02:57,862 --> 01:03:00,102
supporting this motion. I am one of the volunteers that

798
01:03:00,123 --> 01:03:03,462
has worked for the different nonprofits going to camera was

799
01:03:03,483 --> 01:03:06,982
also even into Edmonton to work casinos that these nonprofits

800
01:03:07,003 --> 01:03:11,142
and charities rely heavily for having one's closer buys, easier

801
01:03:11,243 --> 01:03:14,502
on volunteers to be able to access those funds in

802
01:03:14,502 --> 01:03:17,862
relating back to the 2001 motion. There's generations that didn't

803
01:03:17,883 --> 01:03:20,382
exist here. Our population has grown. I think back then

804
01:03:20,382 --> 01:03:23,622
was probably 66, 000 people were now well over 100,

805
01:03:23,622 --> 01:03:27,142
000. There's many individuals who didn't live here. They didn't

806
01:03:27,142 --> 01:03:30,022
have their say back in 2001, including myself. I didn't

807
01:03:30,022 --> 01:03:34,342
move here till February 2002. Um, there's different aspects in

808
01:03:34,382 --> 01:03:38,502
regards to the impacts of a casino in your community.

809
01:03:38,502 --> 01:03:41,542
I think this would help address it. It is a

810
01:03:41,563 --> 01:03:43,922
cultural change where I look at my 18 year old

811
01:03:43,922 --> 01:03:46,502
daughter and her friends. It is a social thing that

812
01:03:46,542 --> 01:03:49,942
they attend the different things. There's a different aspects. I've

813
01:03:49,942 --> 01:03:53,142
been out to, um, uh, River Cree. They have events.

814
01:03:53,142 --> 01:03:55,222
They have concerts there. I've also been to their hockey

815
01:03:55,222 --> 01:03:57,782
games. Then crossed over to go to the casino at

816
01:03:57,822 --> 01:03:59,942
the same time all within the same building. So there's

817
01:03:59,942 --> 01:04:04,242
different components that address having casino in your community. But

818
01:04:04,242 --> 01:04:06,422
I'd like to hear the positives, but also the negatives

819
01:04:06,523 --> 01:04:08,822
and how it could impact across the boards. And that's

820
01:04:08,822 --> 01:04:12,342
what this report is. It's only a report for an

821
01:04:12,342 --> 01:04:15,302
administration to give us more understanding. And that's what we

822
01:04:15,403 --> 01:04:17,702
didn't have in 2021. We didn't get to the point

823
01:04:17,742 --> 01:04:20,422
where we had information presented to us. And now we'll

824
01:04:20,443 --> 01:04:22,582
have that information so we can make the best decision.

825
01:04:23,803 --> 01:04:27,503
Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Harvey. Yes, thank you very much.

826
01:04:27,684 --> 01:04:30,143
Actually, I believe the motion was 2022 because I was

827
01:04:30,164 --> 01:04:33,663
here when we discussed it. So I remember voting on

828
01:04:33,663 --> 01:04:36,863
that and resident. So it might have been late 21,

829
01:04:36,863 --> 01:04:40,783
early 22, something like that. Anyways, uh, yeah, I haven't

830
01:04:40,804 --> 01:04:44,383
heard from any resident of mine requiring or asking about

831
01:04:44,484 --> 01:04:47,743
casino or busting people to casinos. Uh, I do understand

832
01:04:48,884 --> 01:04:53,823
the nonprofits would love to have a casino closer by

833
01:04:54,084 --> 01:04:57,743
so that they can get the revenue, uh, from it.

834
01:04:57,743 --> 01:05:02,143
But I don't believe that that is enough, uh, enough

835
01:05:02,183 --> 01:05:05,503
of, I guess, positive aspect to it, to have a

836
01:05:05,543 --> 01:05:10,503
casino in Strathical County. We've had this discussion before. I

837
01:05:10,503 --> 01:05:12,463
don't believe that we should keep bringing back. I do

838
01:05:13,284 --> 01:05:17,192
understand that this is just a report. But reports take

839
01:05:17,192 --> 01:05:19,832
time. They take resources. And I think our resources can

840
01:05:19,872 --> 01:05:23,672
be better spent on looking after some of the core

841
01:05:23,712 --> 01:05:27,192
necessities that our county residents are asking for rather than

842
01:05:27,293 --> 01:05:30,372
having them spend their time doing a report. So, uh,

843
01:05:30,573 --> 01:05:33,032
I, I just cannot support this. It's something that we've

844
01:05:33,133 --> 01:05:36,312
discussed in the past. And I don't believe that there

845
01:05:36,352 --> 01:05:40,712
is any want of a casino by residence of Strathcon

846
01:05:40,813 --> 01:05:42,792
County. So I would not support this. Thank you. Thank

847
01:05:42,792 --> 01:05:45,752
you, Councillor Councillor Lawrence. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It just

848
01:05:45,752 --> 01:05:47,512
leads into my question. I guess it would be to

849
01:05:47,533 --> 01:05:51,432
administration. Is this a lot of work to do this

850
01:05:51,613 --> 01:06:00,462
report. We can pulse them with a basic, um, information

851
01:06:00,643 --> 01:06:03,822
that we brought forward when we had the non -

852
01:06:03,822 --> 01:06:07,262
statutory public hearing. And then there's a little bit more

853
01:06:07,523 --> 01:06:12,362
detail that, I mean, it's, yes, it's, it's work, but

854
01:06:12,483 --> 01:06:16,062
we do have a fair bit of it. Um, but

855
01:06:16,163 --> 01:06:20,382
not the details. Right. No, I asked that because again,

856
01:06:20,643 --> 01:06:24,302
we're conscious of everybody's work time and what needs to

857
01:06:24,302 --> 01:06:27,662
be done. But I'm also respectful of, you know, this

858
01:06:27,763 --> 01:06:31,902
bench. A motion has come forward. I, I appreciate Councillor

859
01:06:31,942 --> 01:06:34,862
Parks remarks and the debate we have. I think this

860
01:06:34,963 --> 01:06:37,822
is the great thing about our democracy. We can debate

861
01:06:37,923 --> 01:06:41,822
these things. I'm always hesitant not to support someone's motion

862
01:06:42,003 --> 01:06:44,622
because all we're doing is moving it down the line

863
01:06:44,723 --> 01:06:47,582
a bit. We're not agreeing to anything. But I also

864
01:06:47,683 --> 01:06:51,342
don't want it to be a huge burden on staff.

865
01:06:51,342 --> 01:06:53,502
Um, kind of like, geez, we're going through this again,

866
01:06:53,502 --> 01:06:56,782
but if we've got a lot of this put together,

867
01:06:56,782 --> 01:07:01,350
um. I guess again, I'm asking, is this a huge

868
01:07:02,331 --> 01:07:08,827
amount of work. Yeah, I know it's a huge, it's

869
01:07:08,827 --> 01:07:11,467
a big open question. I'm sorry. If Councillor wants us

870
01:07:11,467 --> 01:07:14,667
to, we just have to repiv some of our work

871
01:07:14,707 --> 01:07:17,047
to do it. Um, again, we do have a lot

872
01:07:17,047 --> 01:07:20,987
of the foundation from the last go around, um, what

873
01:07:20,987 --> 01:07:22,667
I worry is that we're not going to capture everything

874
01:07:23,248 --> 01:07:27,187
that they call the details that if we're going to

875
01:07:27,187 --> 01:07:29,467
be asked to provide it, I think if we can

876
01:07:29,648 --> 01:07:31,947
get a really good handle on what it is that

877
01:07:32,768 --> 01:07:37,187
you're expecting us to bring back and what kind of

878
01:07:37,187 --> 01:07:40,232
level of detail that's going to be. All right. Well,

879
01:07:40,232 --> 01:07:43,752
I guess Councillor Tanita could answer that. But, uh, all

880
01:07:43,752 --> 01:07:47,191
right. Thank you for that. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor.

881
01:07:47,191 --> 01:07:51,431
Councillor Hartwick. Uh, thank you Mr. Mayor. I was here.

882
01:07:51,431 --> 01:07:54,311
This was done in December of 2021 or late November

883
01:07:54,351 --> 01:07:58,791
of 2021. And, um, and the public came out and

884
01:07:58,812 --> 01:08:01,911
spoke in droves to it. And I don't know what's

885
01:08:01,951 --> 01:08:05,251
changed. I understand that this is just a report. Um,

886
01:08:05,292 --> 01:08:08,711
and, and maybe things have changed. I doubt it. I'm

887
01:08:08,751 --> 01:08:12,279
concerned. But since this got brought up two weeks ago,

888
01:08:12,319 --> 01:08:16,839
I, I've actually restarted receiving calls already of people opposed

889
01:08:16,839 --> 01:08:19,639
to this casino. I had two yesterday that left me

890
01:08:19,980 --> 01:08:23,059
messages saying, um, because they didn't understand that it was

891
01:08:23,059 --> 01:08:26,019
just a report. So it's stirring up things within the

892
01:08:26,019 --> 01:08:28,679
community. And I know that the people that I hear

893
01:08:28,700 --> 01:08:32,599
from are certainly opposed to this. So, um, I'm not

894
01:08:32,639 --> 01:08:35,559
sure where I feel about having another report if we've

895
01:08:35,559 --> 01:08:39,319
already done it. So thank you. Thank you, Councillor Councillor

896
01:08:39,359 --> 01:08:42,279
Nelson. Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. You know, Councillor Parks

897
01:08:42,319 --> 01:08:46,119
made some really good points. Um, we went through this.

898
01:08:46,119 --> 01:08:47,999
It was a very difficult situation for a lot of

899
01:08:48,460 --> 01:08:50,519
residents to go through this one. And the reason I

900
01:08:50,559 --> 01:08:52,759
asked the question earlier about the RCMP is because I

901
01:08:52,799 --> 01:08:54,839
spent some time with them. And their response to me

902
01:08:54,879 --> 01:08:58,759
was, um, was quite difficult to even understand, let alone,

903
01:08:58,759 --> 01:09:01,559
uh, try to support opening this door up again. I

904
01:09:01,559 --> 01:09:04,119
don't think I can support this even though it's just

905
01:09:04,300 --> 01:09:06,639
a report. It's just the difficulties that it's going to

906
01:09:06,700 --> 01:09:10,439
open up an old wound that I, in the future,

907
01:09:10,439 --> 01:09:12,839
I probably wouldn't be able to support regardless anyways. Thank

908
01:09:12,839 --> 01:09:16,756
you. We wish to close councillor, Tanita. Um, I will,

909
01:09:16,756 --> 01:09:18,596
Mr. Mayor, first of all, I want to clarify a

910
01:09:18,596 --> 01:09:21,876
couple of things here. First of all, in 2021, we

911
01:09:21,977 --> 01:09:26,276
did not get a report. We requested it. And the

912
01:09:26,316 --> 01:09:29,956
motion was defeated. In fact, two motions, one in September

913
01:09:30,777 --> 01:09:33,876
and one on November 30th, 2021 were defeated. So when

914
01:09:33,916 --> 01:09:37,476
we didn't get the information, we listened to the public,

915
01:09:37,476 --> 01:09:40,436
but we didn't go out and do that detailed analysis.

916
01:09:40,436 --> 01:09:44,036
So the report came in 2001. Um, it doesn't hurt

917
01:09:44,537 --> 01:09:47,956
once in a while to check the information. Um, yep.

918
01:09:47,977 --> 01:09:50,396
Maybe some of you haven't had calls. Some of us

919
01:09:50,396 --> 01:09:53,956
have had calls. Uh, I've heard from residents. And in

920
01:09:53,956 --> 01:09:55,876
fact, I was meeting with residents groups in some of

921
01:09:55,876 --> 01:09:58,356
our seniors facilities who said, could we get a boss

922
01:09:58,617 --> 01:10:01,876
too and others who said, we do once a month,

923
01:10:01,876 --> 01:10:03,696
take a bus and we go to the casino. Um,

924
01:10:03,817 --> 01:10:08,196
so that, um, what that tells me there is some

925
01:10:08,457 --> 01:10:11,396
interest out there. And I don't know that it's inappropriate

926
01:10:11,497 --> 01:10:15,476
to ask for information. Um, as Councillor Lawrence pointed out

927
01:10:15,817 --> 01:10:19,396
once in a while asking for information, getting your report

928
01:10:19,737 --> 01:10:21,556
is not a bad thing. And we shouldn't be afraid

929
01:10:22,777 --> 01:10:29,111
to seek the information. 2021, that's a generation ago. Um,

930
01:10:29,452 --> 01:10:33,431
and I think it's fair to reevaluate at least once

931
01:10:33,452 --> 01:10:35,831
in a generation, um, whether or not something like this

932
01:10:36,252 --> 01:10:39,351
is appropriate. So that's why I'm bringing it forward today.

933
01:10:39,351 --> 01:10:42,871
Um, I also well aware that if we have people

934
01:10:42,972 --> 01:10:47,697
leaving the community, they're taking their dollars. Outside the community,

935
01:10:47,697 --> 01:10:50,897
spending outside. We're not asking to build a casino here

936
01:10:51,318 --> 01:10:53,777
as a county. That's not what this motion asks for.

937
01:10:53,777 --> 01:10:58,157
It asks to allow the conversation to take place. And

938
01:10:58,157 --> 01:11:00,257
if there is a proponent that wants to come forward

939
01:11:00,518 --> 01:11:03,537
and suggest building one, it opens the door for them

940
01:11:03,638 --> 01:11:06,577
to make a proposal back to us. If indeed, we

941
01:11:06,678 --> 01:11:09,137
make that decision. That's all I'm asking for today. Just

942
01:11:09,137 --> 01:11:11,537
before you close, uh, the other debates you might want

943
01:11:11,537 --> 01:11:16,358
to speak again, but Councillor Parks further debate. No further

944
01:11:16,398 --> 01:11:19,798
debate. Just a point of clarification requesting a bus is

945
01:11:19,819 --> 01:11:22,438
not the same as asking for one being built in

946
01:11:22,438 --> 01:11:24,198
their community. I think that's got to be pretty clear

947
01:11:24,699 --> 01:11:27,238
that the two very different things. Seeing if the bus

948
01:11:27,278 --> 01:11:30,038
available is very different than asking if there can have

949
01:11:30,219 --> 01:11:33,658
one built in their neighbourhood. Absolutely. I've never heard both.

950
01:11:34,502 --> 01:11:38,401
Um, some people saying we would like that opportunity. Others

951
01:11:38,822 --> 01:11:41,281
have requested the opportunity here as well. It's coming forward

952
01:11:41,321 --> 01:11:48,479
because people have asked for it. Thank you. Okay. Councillor

953
01:11:48,500 --> 01:11:52,799
Dribbershire only items to speak to that have risen since

954
01:11:52,820 --> 01:11:55,839
Councillor T had just spoke because the debate's closing. I

955
01:11:55,839 --> 01:11:59,599
just want to just, uh, clarify a point made by

956
01:11:59,639 --> 01:12:03,439
some other councillors around their belief that things haven't changed.

957
01:12:03,439 --> 01:12:07,119
I believe in evidence. This report is asking for evidence.

958
01:12:07,119 --> 01:12:10,639
It's asking for economic impact, social impact community and bad

959
01:12:10,740 --> 01:12:14,559
evidence. Not what people think or feel it's asking for

960
01:12:14,740 --> 01:12:17,439
evidence. Evidence - based decisions are what this council should

961
01:12:17,479 --> 01:12:20,959
be working on. And again, I continue to support this

962
01:12:21,060 --> 01:12:26,479
motion. Okay. The debate is now closed concerted anything arising,

963
01:12:26,479 --> 01:12:27,039
nothing. We will vote.

964
01:12:46,778 --> 01:12:48,757
We're just going to resend the vote. Try again here.

965
01:12:49,098 --> 01:12:49,317
Okay.

966
01:13:07,188 --> 01:13:11,775
Okay. That deals with that item. Now, let's do, uh,

967
01:13:12,216 --> 01:13:16,141
Councillor Requests. We'll get that off the agenda. We'll start

968
01:13:16,141 --> 01:13:22,596
with Councillor Tinita. Any motions are coming this way. Councillor

969
01:13:22,617 --> 01:13:25,316
Durbishire? I do, Mr. Mayor. If the clerk can put

970
01:13:25,316 --> 01:13:29,376
it up for me. You got a paragraph there. Yeah.

971
01:13:29,376 --> 01:13:33,296
Thank you. Uh, Mr. Mayor at the September 15, 2026

972
01:13:33,397 --> 01:13:36,976
Council meeting. I'll move the following. That administration prepare a

973
01:13:37,016 --> 01:13:40,576
report for Council's consideration by the end of Q1 2027

974
01:13:41,157 --> 01:13:45,616
regarding noise complaints and enforcement within Strathcona County, including the

975
01:13:45,616 --> 01:13:48,976
number of noise related complaints received annually over the previous

976
01:13:49,157 --> 01:13:52,256
five years. The nature and source of those complaints, including

977
01:13:52,517 --> 01:13:57,756
residential, commercial, construction, vehicle, event related and other categories. And

978
01:13:57,957 --> 01:14:01,776
any notable geographic seasonal or temporal trends. The number of

979
01:14:01,797 --> 01:14:05,136
warnings tickets and other enforcement actions related to noise complaints

980
01:14:05,176 --> 01:14:08,496
over the previous five years. A breakdown of enforcement actions

981
01:14:08,757 --> 01:14:13,216
resulting from citizen complaints and proactive observations by community peace

982
01:14:13,256 --> 01:14:17,456
officers or RCMP officers and information regarding appeals, disputes, or

983
01:14:17,496 --> 01:14:22,816
prosecutions arising from noise enforcement actions, including conviction rates. A

984
01:14:22,856 --> 01:14:25,856
review of the effectiveness and enforceability of the county's current

985
01:14:26,037 --> 01:14:29,776
noise regulations in the community standards bylaw, including identification of

986
01:14:29,877 --> 01:14:34,656
any challenges encountered by enforcement personnel when applying provisions that

987
01:14:34,656 --> 01:14:38,976
rely on an officer's assessment or opinion regarding whether noise

988
01:14:39,016 --> 01:14:43,296
is unreasonable, excessive, disturbing, or otherwise in contravention at the

989
01:14:43,336 --> 01:14:46,896
bylaw. And information on whether they're a practical legal operational

990
01:14:46,917 --> 01:14:52,056
or evidentiary challenges associated with the current bylaw language. A

991
01:14:52,056 --> 01:14:55,696
review of noise regulation and enforcement practices and comparable Alberta

992
01:14:55,736 --> 01:15:00,176
municipalities and regional municipalities, including information regarding the use of

993
01:15:00,277 --> 01:15:05,696
objective noise measurement standards, decibel thresholds, time of dai restrictions,

994
01:15:05,696 --> 01:15:10,156
complaint based enforcement models, and other recognised best practices. And

995
01:15:10,156 --> 01:15:14,896
finally, recommendations, if any, regarding potential changes to policy, enforcement

996
01:15:14,997 --> 01:15:20,096
practices, public education, data collection, or bilaw provisions, including any

997
01:15:20,357 --> 01:15:25,136
opportunities to improve consistency, clarity, fairness, and forceability, and public

998
01:15:25,237 --> 01:15:29,456
understanding of Strathcona County's noise regulations. Okay, take a breath

999
01:15:30,037 --> 01:15:34,976
coming this way. Going down here further, nothing. Okay, that

1000
01:15:35,016 --> 01:15:38,336
deals with the item 9. 1. And now motion to

1001
01:15:38,376 --> 01:15:43,781
go into closed. Councillor Hartwick, questions of clarification debate. Are

1002
01:15:43,781 --> 01:15:48,485
we going to vote manually. Or we will try electronically,

1003
01:15:48,485 --> 01:15:57,487
please. Electronically. This is what's still on our meetingstown. We're

1004
01:15:57,527 --> 01:15:58,767
voting, if you want to close, then we'll take a

1005
01:15:58,767 --> 01:16:06,616
break. Security 90 and the current time is 10. 06

1006
01:16:06,637 --> 01:16:07,616
will come back at 10. 15.

1007
02:25:04,029 --> 02:25:10,748
Kate motions rising out of close Councillor Parks. Sorry. That's

1008
02:25:10,769 --> 02:25:14,862
ridiculous. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I've got one motion coming

1009
02:25:14,902 --> 02:25:18,095
out of closed here. That an amendment to the 2026

1010
02:25:18,276 --> 02:25:21,615
operating budget to defer the recruitment of eight firefighter positions

1011
02:25:21,716 --> 02:25:24,975
be approved, that the corresponding savings and the amount of

1012
02:25:25,316 --> 02:25:29,295
500, 000 dollars be reallocated to support the reserve strategy

1013
02:25:29,636 --> 02:25:33,455
required to maintain and sustained core infrastructure assets and ensure

1014
02:25:33,495 --> 02:25:37,355
a long - term funding approach for assets, sustainability, and

1015
02:25:37,476 --> 02:25:41,215
that administration include the reduction of the 2027 firefighter recruitment

1016
02:25:41,255 --> 02:25:45,775
from eight positions to four positions for Council consideration as

1017
02:25:45,775 --> 02:25:49,135
part of the 2027 budget process, and that previous multi

1018
02:25:49,175 --> 02:25:52,895
- year firefighter recruitment approvals be replaced by an annual

1019
02:25:53,076 --> 02:25:57,775
review through the budget process based on service requirements, operational

1020
02:25:57,815 --> 02:26:02,506
needs and organisational priorities through the budget process. Questions of

1021
02:26:02,506 --> 02:26:05,693
clarification. Debate. And will vote.

1022
02:26:15,623 --> 02:26:18,855
That's carried eight to one. And that adjourns the meeting.

1023
02:26:19,647 --> 02:26:20,266
Thank you all.