Good afternoon. As I call this meeting to order, I respectfully acknowledge that we are on Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of the Cree, Dane,
Storneco de Sue, de Soto, and the Adjiva First Nations, and the Métis people. The Town of Mornville is dedicated to ensuring the spirit of Treaty 6 is honored and respected.
with that, we will move on to two, which is the adoption of the agenda, and I want to
make sure that we recognize that we will have a break between 6.30 and 7 p.m. if needed.
And with that, I will ask for adoption of the agenda as presented,
Councillor.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would move that council approve the agenda as presented.
Thank you.
I don't need open.
Thank you.
Are there any questions to council?
Seeing none, I'll ask the question.
All those in favor?
All right.
With that, we'll move to 2.3.
I would go to consent agenda.
I have any Councillors.
Deputy Mayor.
Thank you, Mayor Borisma.
I would like to pull 9.1.1.
9.1.2 and 9.1.3.
All right, do we have any other ones?
I'd like to pull 8.1, 0.1.
Can I please pull 8.2, 0.1?
Are there any others?
If not, I'll ask for motion.
Councilor Defol.
So move, Mr. Mayor.
All right.
You don't want to open?
You're good.
Okay.
No need to open or close, sir.
All right.
I'll ask the question.
All those in favour?
All right.
All right,
so with that, we will move to protocol items.
Are there any protocol items, Councilor DeFo?
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
I just want to point out that on December 19th, that's a Thursday evening at 7 p.m.
At the Moranville Community Cultural Center, there will be the 44th edition of the Community Christmas Celebration.
This was started by a teacher in town 44 years ago, and in recent years it's been taken over by the
Maureenville Minsterals, a singing group here in town, and we wouldn't have it without their volunteer
efforts. I encourage everyone to come out. Anyone who is gone knows what a great evening it is.
Thank you. Are there any others?
With that, I do want to note that December
Proclamation is today is Human Rights Day, 2024 marks the 76th anniversary of one of
the world's most important ground-blaking global pledges.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by UN in 1948.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Each person is entitled to fundamental rights, including the right to equality,
the right to life, liberty, and security of the person.
It also recognizes the right of freedom of religion and speech.
And the right to participate in the cultural life of community.
Also, I'd like to speak a little bit about community spirit and I hope that many of you
were there at light up the night was an amazing event and the Christmas festival in total
between December 29th and December 1st and I know it was real cold out.
Some of us didn't notice because our hands were frozen but it was an amazing night.
Lots of candies handed out, lots of kids were happy so it's great to see families out
and the wonderful fireworks that came with it.
So again, thank you for everyone coming.
And we also have the giving tree.
It'll be up until December 13th, so please feel free to stop by at the MCC and
purchase a gift for a deserving senior.
Those are important members of our community.
I also want to recognize that on December 10th and
On May 11th, Town Hall will be open until 6 p.m., so knowing that there's a postal strike on, they'll be able to pick up paper copies of the utility bills.
So be sure to bring a valid photo ID to confirm you are the account holder.
So with that, we also wish everyone to have a great Christmas, and Councillor Defoe, go ahead.
Sorry, Mr. Mayor, I do have another one.
Bornville Community High School does an annual drama production, and that starts tomorrow.
There's a matinee in the afternoon for students, but the first show is tomorrow night, doors open
at 6.30, showtime is 7 p.m., it'll be on Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night.
This year they've gone with a comedy, it's called The Drowsy Shaperone, and it looks like
it's going to be another great event.
I have my tickets for Bonnie and I for tomorrow night and I encourage everybody to get out and see some good theater tickets are available
15 bucks at the door they're ten bucks in advance and you can buy them through the school website
Right on and they do an amazing job for sure, so
Anyone else got anything else? So good. Okay, so then we will move on to six delegations. So we will
Ask Sergeant to come forward, thank you very much.
Good afternoon everyone, thanks for inviting me this afternoon to present our second quarter
update from the Moore and Valar C&P detachment.
Hopefully hit the right button here, so this update will provide our second quarter report,
which covers the period of July 1st to September 30th activity at our detachment here in Moore
andville.
Again, the purpose of these updates provided an update on two council on the operations
of the Morinville RCMP Detachment, and an overview of our jurisdiction and call volume.
The Morinville RCMP Detachment provides 24-hour policing services,
to several municipalities and communities including the Alexander First Nation,
Sturgeon County, Towns of Bonacore, Gibbons, LaGalle, and of course, Morinville.
Human Resource Update, the Morinville RCMP Detachment is comprised of 40 personnel,
which includes 26 police officers, starting with one staff sergeant.
We have one sergeant, five corporals, 18 constables.
In addition to that, we have one constable who acts in our school resource officer position.
Four public service employees, four town of Bornville Fulltown employees,
five town of Bornville Casual employees, one reservist constable,
and our officers are also supported by what's now Central Alberta Regional Victim Services and five guards.
Just a quick update on our human resource movement during this quarter.
As you all know, on our report at the last update, Sergeant Lewis-Ims moved on to a
Laduk detachment by way of promotion in August.
Happy to announce effective last month on November 12th that Sergeant Mike Fibraro was identified
as the successful promotional applicant, Sergeant Fibraro was actually joining me this afternoon.
So he has taken the place as our operations NCO for the Mornville detachment.
Mike has been here for several years already, very familiar with the Mornville detachment area.
He is an excellent police officer and just a fantastic leader and it was an easy choice.
Just some further updates on our supervisor ranks. Corporal Ryan Lemay and Corporal Jonathan Corp
both started at our detachment in September. Corporal Lemay came from the Central Alberta District General Investigation Section.
And Corporal John Corp came from the Fort Saskatchewan detachment, both started in late September.
We also welcomed a new supervisor to our detachment, Corporal Samantha Barrett,
was identified as a successful Corporal applicant. She started at our detachment two weeks ago.
She came from the St. Albert detachment. She has several years of experience.
And she used to actually be a Constable on the front line here in Morneville several years ago.
I can also update on the Constable ranks. We have Constable Andrew Fontana, who has two years of service,
is going to be coming to our detachment brand new from Chatee detachment,
which is up north near the Northwest Territories border.
He'll be starting with us just a few days after Christmas,
and I'm sure he'll welcome the change.
For departures, we saw Constable Darren Ryan leave our detachment
after several years.
He was selected for a promotional opportunity in Evansburg.
He left about three weeks ago now,
and also Constable Marianne Marin,
who left on a lateral transfer to Maskwood Chiefs detachment,
both at the same time, about two or three weeks ago.
That will leave us at this point with two vacancies,
one in the Constable ranks,
and one in our corporal ranks that Sergeant Fibero just vacated.
I expect to have some updates on those very shortly.
We also have two police officers currently on sick leave
and we have one on parental leave.
The criminal statistics update for a quarter two.
Criminal code and traffic offenses have seen a general reduction
from the previous year.
Our criminal code occurrences include persons crimes,
which are down 25 percent.
This quarter compared to this time last year.
Property crimes are up 19 percent,
which I'll get to in a moment.
Other criminal codes are up 13 percent.
Our total criminal code cases are up 6% of volume total from 189 to 201 this quarter compared to last
Looking at those numbers. That's pretty consistent where we're holding pretty steady with that our traffic offenses
Criminal code traffic fences down from three to two and our provincial
Traffic offenses again very steady 113 to 120 before
I move on to this
Next slide. I'll just touch on the
The property crime, I want to just mention that one.
So if you go into the detailed report on crime statistics that was provided, you'll also
notice that we had 14 vehicle thefts this quarter, and that's a comparison, a pretty
stark comparison to the five that we had over the same period last year.
So we're getting to work on that.
We did make one arrest recently of one young offender who obviously won't be identified.
We also have a continuing investigation and I am expecting further arrests shortly and
making some progress on these.
Other policing statistics, common policing activities have seen increases in some areas and decreases in others.
False alarm is pretty consistent, 9-8 this year, 9-1-1 calls have gone 1-2.
Suspicious persons, vehicles, property, suspicious activity complaints, we've seen a pretty good increase on that, and that's good.
That's one thing I've really been pushing the public for since I started here seven months ago, was to try to get these reports up.
No call too small when it comes to reporting suspicious activities.
So we've seen a nice increase there from 29 to 42 compared to the summer previous.
Nope, persons reported missing this quarter compared to five last year.
Cases where spousal abuse or spousal was an element of the complaint that we went to has stayed pretty much on par with last year.
And no mental health calls for this quarter.
I'm also happy to report that the Mornville detachment was selected in August.
As one of two new, our past locations in Central Alberta District remotely pilot aircraft system also known as drones.
The ARPASS has been in use at the Morinville Detachment
since September of 2024.
Very, very excited about this one.
This provides us with access to an ARPASS system
that is, as I mentioned, accessible.
That's a big thing for us.
We have it right here locally at our detachment.
We don't have to go through different channels
and go through red tape.
We don't have to reach out to Edmonton or district anything.
It's right here in house.
We need it.
It's in the air.
We have two locally trained pilots, which I'll get to in the next slide, we don't have
We have to, again, look for anyone to come into our community to do it. We already have it right here and we have the people to use it right here. It's also cost effective, obviously. We are able to put eyes in the sky and help us with investigative measures, and with tactical needs, and a very cost effective measure. And it's safe. We don't have to put people in harm's way to see what we're going into if needed. We can use this arpastism. It's just a great thing. Some of the commonly, sorry, arpats are commonly known as drones or UAVs.
unmanned aerial vehicles.
They do provide, again, cost effective aerial photos,
HD imagery, 3D imagery, FILIR, video and photos,
which are thermal imaging, infrared night vision,
vegetation disturbance patterns, and old burial sites,
and real-time situational awareness.
When can our past be used?
Some examples of use include traffic-related investigations,
emergency or disaster response, search and rescue,
major crime scenes, investigations and areas
where no expectation of privacy exists,
and when a warrant has been obtained.
As I mentioned, we have two members at the Morneville detachment currently trained as pilots.
It's already been used on ten occasions since its arrival in cases of missing persons,
vehicle thefts, and suspect pursuits.
And I can also add to this that our neighboring detachments and our neighboring communities
are also beneficiaries of us having it here in Morneville.
We've assisted other detachments such as ports of schedule and immersing persons cases.
An update on our community policing activities.
Our school resource officer program has been up and running with
constable Tanner Willes since the start of the school year and I'm on-thrilled with
the work that he's doing at Mooreville Community High School and at
Sturgeon Comp. Among the many activities and the many initiatives that Tanner has
taken charge of, one was distracted driving presentation, the prevented
locally here to several schools that came in and robust in from the area and I
attended myself, I was very impressed with it. Tanner also spearheaded a
November fundraiser and he partnered with local students to grow what was intended to
be mustaches and they raised $900 that they were able to donate to cancer research.
It was just fantastic and a great opportunity to work with the kids.
Coffee with the Cops sessions, again we continued attending a number of coffee with Cops sessions
throughout Tart de Tashroom Terry which included one July 2nd session here in Mornville, our communication
location strategy, which we got running up to full speed in the summertime.
Positive ticketing campaign, we're in the early stages of this one.
What I'd like to do is, right now I'm working with community partners.
What I'd like to do is have this up and running by the end of this school year,
where we have a system in place throughout our detachment area, where we can go out and
hand out positive behavior tickets with coupons or gift certificates to local kids.
And we do have something like this running on a smaller scale here with municipal enforcement in Morinville.
What we're looking at is rolling out something that's maybe a little bit bigger scale across
our detachment area.
Our members also attended Remembers Day ceremonies here in town, and we also attended
the light-up the night parade, actually myself and Sergeant Fibaro, we're both present for
that, and we'll be participating in the Candy cane check stop later this week.
We also had a capital detachment capital project meeting last week with the operational strategy
branch out of K division, where they provided some basic information to us on some of the
Restrictions and requirements when it comes to considerations for a new detachment that included issues and items on location space uses and cost I found it very informative
I expect this is going to lead to some further discussions in the new year as we move forward on that one to determine feasibility and with that I'll put to the group for questions
Thank you very much, Staff Sergeant McGillical, and thanks for the update, and I'm really impressed
with your ARPAS system that you showed off tonight, so glad our community has it, so are there
any questions of Staff Sergeant? Councillor Saintinini.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Staff Sergeant, for the update.
Right, would be remiss not to acknowledge, I really appreciate the human resources update and just using officers by name it's not lost on me and everyone in this room that these folks wear a lot of different hats in our community or the communities that they're coming to us from.
And so, with an understanding that turnover is a part of the job but it's sad to see a lot of these families have to relocate, but with an understanding that there's some incredible officers and families that will be coming to our community, including the officer from the north.
So, really appreciate the way that you framed all that.
I do have one question, it's a bit of an outlier, but I wanted to ask nonetheless.
So on page 70, there was like this weird anomaly where municipal by-law infractions
were significantly down in 2023 and then returned to sort of a normal number in 2024.
And I'm just curious, I know that you weren't here at that particular moment in time,
but I'm just wondering if you have any sort of insight into why numbers were down so much.
That job did that me as well.
So when it comes to the municipal by-law numbers coming reported into our detachment,
Obviously, it's not a primary mandate to investigate municipal by-law matters.
At the same time, though, the nature of the complaints that come in through our dispatch
center to the members that we have on the road can be of that nature, and sometimes we
forward them, but we still gather those statistics.
So they will vary a little bit.
As far as, you know, seeing a sixfold increase from one period in municipal by-law complaints
to the other, I really don't have an explanation.
Other than we'll always forward that to municipal enforcement if we think that it's appropriate
for them to follow up.
Councillor White.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
And thank you for the report.
The stuff with the drones is amazing.
What a great tool to help out with law enforcement in our community.
The one question I have for you and I've asked you this before.
Is there any update on the St. Charles Baptiste fire?
Yeah, there is.
So that investigation is ongoing.
We have spoken to witnesses recently and we are going to be forwarding immediately shortly,
seeking the identification and conferring the identification of three suspects on that matter,
so it is progressing. Thank you.
Yeah, I'll also mention too, I know it's somewhat related to that outside the community though,
but we did also make two arrests recently on a church fire on the Alexander First Nation.
Suspects, I will say, are not believed to be related to the one here in Mornville.
If you may, but I'm cool.
Thank you, Staff Sergeant McGonagall for, it's always robust.
You bring lots of great energy into the room, so thank you so much for being here and for
the presentation.
I certainly echo my fellow councillors, just the, you know, good stuff's happening.
I noticed that the sexual assault complaints in 2023 were quite high, and I know that there
There was a number of media releases around that, about some, a gentleman that was, I used
the term loosely, was doing some internet stuff with some minor children.
And I'm wondering if, I know that was part of it.
There was a number of press releases that you guys had also sent out about this person.
I'm wondering if that has now subsided just because we're seeing the numbers come down.
And initially, there was concern that there might be more folks coming forward.
and certainly parents had been asked to have those conversations with our kids.
And obviously, if those numbers are coming down, you guys are doing your job amazingly well.
But wondering if that has somewhat wrapped up?
Yeah, I certainly do attribute it to that.
Again, not directly related to what we have in town here, but we also had a case of kind of related to that in the Gibbons area recently that we were made an arrest on.
And yeah, we're, I'll tell you right now just kind of a sneak peek of the quarter update that I'll be presenting next, you'll see again that trend going in that direction of that decrease.
Thank you again, just for the great work you're doing and thank you for bringing some wonderful people into our audience here tonight.
I really appreciate that. Thank you.
Anyone else?
All right.
Well, thank you very much, Sergeant.
I'm so appreciate it.
And again, we'll see you here in a couple of days with
Handy or the candies and stuff.
But you guys are doing a great job and so appreciate it having
the community and just also want to put a hat off to Sergeant Willis
for doing his job just getting in touch with those kids.
I've heard nothing but good things about that.
So again, thank you very much.
Thank you for being such cooperative partners.
We really appreciate it.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
All right.
With that, we will have a delegation for Rose Ridge wastewater, so we'll ask Ms. Berry and Mr. Kus to come forward.
So should, just sorry, should we go into closed session right now, or is there speaking before that?
No, okay, so I will have to get someone to move to go.
Okay, Councillor White.
I would move that Council move into closed session to discuss item 6.2 pursuant to section 23 and 24 of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act, RSA 2000, CH.F.25.
I don't need to open.
Thank you. All right. Any questions? Any debate? I see none. I'll ask the question. All those in favor.
So I know we have a big crowd here right now, so I'm just going to ask you just to go into the lobby until we're done our close.
All right, so with that, at this time, I don't see any public presentations. So I will move on to
business and 8.1. We'll move on to election by-law number 2020-24, and I will have administration
speak to that, Ms. Gilbert.
Good evening, Mayor and Council, and happy holidays. The election by-law
is presented for second and final reading.
As mentioned previously, this by-laws being brought forward due to changes from the Municipal
First Attitude Amendment Act, Effective October 31, 2024, also known as Bill 20.
Additionally, it's always best practice to ensure the election by-law is reviewed within each
election cycle for any changes that it needs.
In addition to mandatory provisions in the Local Security Election Act, there are a number
of discretionary items, Council can consider such as nomination and requirements for candidates.
Any changes, though, related to nomination requirements must be approved prior to December 31,
2024, as the nomination period begins January 2025. This includes the number of required signatures,
the candidate deposit amount, and whether to require a criminal record check.
Considerations for an implications of a criminal record check requirement were included in the report to council.
Council has the option to approve the by-law as presented, or they could direct that criminal record check be added as listed in the options of the reports.
Our recommended procedural process to ensure this by-law is approved within its legislative timeline while ensuring council is confident in the by-law approved.
is listed under the alternative section of the report and includes draft motions.
So, for minimal amendments to candidate nomination requirements, that must be passed prior to December 31st.
Council approval of second reading. Council could direct an amendment and then we could approve third reading of the by-law as amended. Both alternatives one and two outline that process. That being said, if council needs more information on items requiring approval prior December 31st, council could also call a special meeting to address this item before year end. Overall, our approach was to provide all updates to this by-law in one go.
But if there's any amendments as per council direction we'll be happy to implement that and we can also answer any questions
Thank you very much miss Gilbert
Are there any questions of council on this by-law?
Councilor and Helger just
had a question in the in the briefing note it
You highlighted the need to
to offer the electors' assistance at home.
And how was that done?
Was it previously done with portable ballot boxes?
Because that's not, my understanding was that Bill 20 says
that we're not allowed to use those any longer.
So how do we facilitate the electors' assistance at home?
It's still a program under the Local Authorities Election Act
that we can do.
I do understand that amendment clause about,
I believe it was a centralized collection point.
So with special ballots, we can't have a ballot box anymore to collect special ballots.
It has to be received by the returning officer directly with voting assistance at home.
Two deputy election workers typically will go to the house,
assist them with voting and return with their ballots to bring to the elector assistant at home ballot boxes.
So each voting station outside of the typical voting day will have a ballot box that's secured until we are counting center opens.
So that's the same process for whether we're doing advanced voting, institutional voting,
electors, assistant homes, special ballots, they're all secured when those voting stations close, and
they're all collected by election workers as allowed under the local police election act.
So it's just specifying that we can't have a drop box.
It has to be received by a person.
Thank you very much.
Anyone else have any questions?
If not, someone would have forward the motion.
I'll get you to Mayor.
Thank you, Mayor.
I'll move that council approved second reading of the election bylaw, number 20-2024.
And they don't need to open, but I definitely want to thank Ms. Gilbert for her very hard work.
Thank you and your bait question all right did you want to close all right I'll ask the question all those in favour all right not
unanimous and then I'll move on to is anyone want to put third reading on forward
councilor wait thank you Mr. Mayor I would
We move that council approved third reading of the election bylaw, number 2-0-2-0-2-4.
And just a bit of an opening here, I want to thank Ms. Gilbert for all the work that she
did as well.
Obviously, there was a lot of work created by the changes that came in Bill 20 and that's
not always easy to implement without looking at the ramifications and implications that
that could have to other parts of the election by law.
And by my reading of this, you did a very thorough job of going through everything.
So I support the way it is written and thank you for your work.
Thank you very much.
Is there any debate on this or questions?
All right, I'll ask the question.
All those in favor?
All right, and that is unanimous.
And we will move on to 8.21 and I will turn that over to the administration.
Thank you, Mayor Borza.
It's my pleasure tonight to present the T2 Report to Council.
As you'll recall, this is our reporting cadence for progress against Council's strategic plan and administration's cascading corporate business plan.
As usual, I will just pick the odd highlight from each goal to cover and then certainly be
willing to take any questions from there.
With that, so goal one, community building, the go-to for me on this goal is always the
engagement that was a priority for council.
And so in T2, I know council will have seen out and about the extensive engagement plan that
we had put in place for the development of our municipal development plan.
and so in T2 that got off and running,
and I know that council saw that out in the community.
We also around community safety and well-being,
we saw it in goal two.
We implanted the 40 kilometer an hour speed limit
across Moornville supported by a comprehensive educational campaign
to help raise awareness among residents.
And we also constructed an emergency access route
at Notre Dame Point Subdivision.
It was completed, so it enhanced accessibility and safety for that community.
As well, the more villager centers saw the introduction of the wellness and recreation
access program, which there's an updated my CAO report later, and corporate memberships
were added as of August 1st to promote well-being in the community.
With respect to call 3, we are pleased to report that our advertising and sponsorship program
continues to perform very well exceeding revenue productions and receiving very positive feedback.
And in terms of what that looks like on the ground, we had the Pembena Activate Program was expended.
Flowpoint was confirmed as a sponsor for the free skate.
And we also were able to install a billboard in town that helped us with additional revenue generation.
In terms of goal for environmental responsibility, we completed the waste audit in partnership with GFL.
and that helps continue to inform our management strategy, and we've also had some discussions
that are at least renewal for the community gardens.
With respect to goal five, around economic development, the more and more in-vill campaign
was actively promoted.
This was when our successful developer block party was held to showcase development opportunities
in the municipality, and as well as Mayor Boersma participated in the Urban Development Institute
to Munchen, strengthening those regional relationships
and providing more and more as an attractive destination
for investment.
We also, I'm happy to report, receive your requests
for information from Edmonton Global,
which led to a site visit for a local business,
showcasing our potential as a desirable location
for investment.
And then in terms of goal six,
we continued to support our good neighbors
out of Alexander First Nation with attendance and support for their multitude of cultural events.
But we also had a collaboration of a very practical way too,
which was we had a member of our staff ask to support a recruitment process with the nation.
And then on page 15 or 15 of the report and 146 of your agenda,
you can see some of those highlights, so the developer block party is there,
got festival days, the MDP, bike rodeo and so forth.
It also includes your financial update for T2, so both revenue and expenses had positive
variances, and the revenue variances were mostly due to higher than budgeted user fees,
and the expense variances were driven by lower contracted services and salaries that
benefits expenses.
There's also a capital projects update, and your ATEs statistics are included, and there
are staff on hand to help answer questions.
It's a great report to read and lots of information.
So again, thank you very much for getting all this out to us and for the completions that
we can see.
Are there any questions of Council on the T2 report?
Okay, comment from Deputy Mayor.
Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Miss Hayes.
I'm really quite pleased actually to see the in goal six around the collaboration with
the county looking at similar purchasing opportunities and I think that's a key thing.
It's been a long-running joke for Councillor Whiteney every time we see some of their
Councillors about the salt shed in the salt services.
So I'm so excited to see that there, I feel like we should go celebrate, but really good
and stuff and a lot of completion, and it's really nice to see the movement through here because we're not always abreast of what's going on.
So just my thanks and really pleased as well to see what's happening with our First Nations neighbors.
Anyone else?
Councilor Deifel.
Thank you, Mayor.
Mr. Mayor, not a question, but a comment.
I just want to thank staff for correcting the statement of operations where it relates to
honorariums and per diems when I read through the agenda and saw that I was the highest paid
and by a margin of 5,000 I knew that absolutely wasn't correct so with the corrected numbers
I'm pleased to see that I'm under my budget allocation as I should be and that everybody
is a lot closer to where they should be.
You're just testing you to keep your sharp but in all honesty thank you for allowing us
the opportunity to rectify that?
Yeah, no.
I'm always looking at numbers.
And thank you for catching that.
Again, thank you for staff for helping along with that.
Councillor Sainte-Denise.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Yeah, and thank you as always for the update
and for shining a light on some of the progress
that we see and often feel in our community.
So it's nice to have a visual.
I do have one question.
I'm just wondering on the statement of operations on page 148 under gain loss on capital asset
disposal.
I'm just curious what is, what does the 31,676 represent?
So generally speaking, gain or loss on asset disposal means when we advertise an asset,
a physical asset, when you dispose of it, there is a certain amount of amortization that's
been built up on that asset.
So basically when you have the initial purchase value what we call the book value is the purchase value less how much
amortization we booked against that asset. When we go and sell an asset depending on what we get in the at the at auction or what we're able to recover back on
that you would either recognize a gain or a loss depending on whether that amount was above or below what our book value is. So if we are able to return a
higher amount than what our book value is.
We recognize a gain and then that flows through
as income through our income statement
and basically help support surplus that council can
and allocate at the end of the year
or through our reserve policies.
If we were to sell something and unfortunately
not be able to get as much as what the book value was,
the reverse happens and we have to book a loss against that.
So I'm not familiar with, off the top of my mind,
what the actual asset that was, it was just posed,
but that's how gain and loss on tangible capital assets works.
Yes, and this is a gain.
So in this case, we were able to recover more than what we had on our book value.
Okay. No one I appreciate that. Yeah, I was wondering if it was like one particular piece of infrastructure, but yeah, so thank you.
Thank you. Anyone else?
All right. Seeing none, I need a motion for it. Okay, go ahead and dip your mirror.
Alonco. Thank you, Mayor. I will make the motion that Council accept the town of Morinville,
TG Strategic Plan, progress report 2024th information. No need to open or close.
Yes.
Thank you.
All right.
Any other questions on that?
If not, ask a question.
All those in favour?
All right.
And that is unanimous.
And with that, I have, I'll recommend that we need another motion to bring us into committee
of a whole.
Councillor Deifold, so move, Mr. Mayor.
All right.
All those in favour?
All right.
All right, so move the chair.
Thank you, Mayor.
Let's move on to business 9.1, 9.1, 1.1.
Council of Renemoration Review, Committee Report.
I'll tear that over to Ms. Brush and administration.
All right, thank you, Deputy Mayor.
So for those of you who don't know me, I'm the manager of Human Resource Services here at the town of Moornville.
My name is Jennifer Brush.
I'm just going to do a brief introduction before we head into the Council Remuneration
Review Committee report.
So as you can recall from the February 27, 2024, regular meeting of Council, Council
approved the establishment of a Council Remuneration Review Committee, which consisted of five
mournful electors and myself as the administrative facilitator to review the Council Remuneration
Review, results, and the Council Remuneration Review Policy and Develop Recommendations for
Council's consideration. The committee was solely formed of more
and more electors appointed by Morinville's Chief Administrative Officer, and this was
to maintain the important principle of neutrality. Their main date was to ensure fair and equitable
compensation for elected officials commenced with the responsibilities while also considering
fiscal responsibility and transparency in the governance. The committee was focused on
the accountability to the community, the ability to attract and retain qualified candidates
for public office, aligning compensation with the demands and expectations of civic leadership,
and fostering public trust in the process through the involvement of independent members of the
public. The updated red line draft policy has been attached to your agenda package that has
been prepared by the committee for council's review and to contextualize the committee's recommendation.
It is important to note that the draft was prepared by the committee, not administration, and is therefore intended for information only. Following council's direction to bring back the remuneration policy for formal review, administration at that time can prepare a formal draft update for council that includes administrative updates, recommendations, the recommendations of the committee and any specific direction of council. At this time, I'd like to introduce the committee's chair, Brian Brost, to provide the committee's recommendations to council for consideration.
Thank you, Jennifer.
Set this down here.
Again, my name is Brian Brost.
I am the appointed chair of the Council Remuneration Committee and it's a pleasure to be in front of you all today.
And on behalf of the committee, I would like to express my thanks of the committee members and my family for your contributions to this community as members of council.
It's a noisy task and it's one that is very important in establishing good governance for a community and we do thank you for that.
So with that, go into our presentation.
I'm going to touch on a few points here today for agenda.
So the background is about an establishment of the committee, the introduction of our
committee members, our mandate, some foundational information that we want to share with you.
Particularly recommendations for council consideration that are going to include updated policy and
schedules, changes in comparator groups, or recommended change, recommended target percentile
that Council remuneration would be based on and analytics supporting this information.
As administration noted, a policy red line version is included in your agenda package
that encompasses the changes or the recommended changes to that policy and our rationale for that.
So the background is to establish on the committee.
It's important to note that this is a voluntary group and one that is in part separate from anything of council.
and we wish to acknowledge Council's decision of past motions in 2024 for the approval of the by-law to have this
independent Council remuneration review committee. There was work done by a report from the
2023 Hillcress Report that undertaken a complete review of all of the
comparator municipalities by Council's policy and that we are an independent group of citizens bringing forward recommendations for your consideration.
We do recognize that it is truly recommendations and the authority still rests with yourselves in ultimately establishing what if any by-law or policy changes will be coming from that.
Our appointment has been by the CAO of this past year in June and we have met seven times between June and November through establishment of our own terms of reference in alignment with the mandate per council by-law.
So the introduction of your committee members, there were five of us appointed to it.
Myself is chair, appointed by our committee.
Mr. Kelvin Collier, who's with us today is vice chair and members Fred Barer, Rainier
Kubis and Kelvin Kusik is unfortunately unable to be with us today.
So those gentlemen that are with us today, thank you for attending and being in part with
us here as well.
And as well, I'd like to express our thanks on behalf of the committee for the administrative
support through Ms. Jennifer Brush.
It has been very appreciative for the work that she's contributed to this.
And as she noted earlier on, all the decisions and the information brought forward to today is by ourselves as a committee.
So the mandate of this committee for by-law of council, and this is no
new information for yourselves, is to review the remuneration and benefits paid to Mordville's council.
It is to provide a report to council with our recommendations for council's consideration regarding the remuneration and benefits for Mordville's council, including the onerium benefits, pensions,
per DMs, and any other forms of remuneration, and to provide a recommendation on revisions
to Mordville's policies or that by-law, and to provide any methodology to be used to
establish future adjustments to remuneration, including comparators and frequency.
For you today, this presentation is our report.
So the foundational information that we've utilized for our determination and the, ultimately,
the recommendations for you today is based on the Mordville's current Council remuneration
policy, the 2023 Hillcrest Third Party Council Remuneration Report, corresponding current
policy-compared-to-musicalities by the policy of council, which are those comparative
municipalities, and their by-laws, as well as other municipal council-remuneration
by-laws and policies within the direct-compared-to-group.
The direct-compared-to-group is a group of other municipalities that, more than the administration
uses for their comparison for their staff, comparison in their respective wages and remuneration.
The committee has also researched populations of Morgil and Warnville's regional comparison
municipalities and those of the direct comparators.
With that, fundamentally, we are bringing forward a recommendation which I'll provide further
information on that in my presentation of a revised comparator group of municipalities
which we believe Warnville aligns most closely with.
So Council's Remuneration Review Committee, beyond the bylaw mandate of Council, we applied
these additional lenses, and that is accountability, fiscal responsibility, efficiencies, transparency, and clarity, as well as alignment with other municipalities and government practices.
So for our council remuneration policy recommended amendments, these include, but they're not limited to the following key areas.
3.1, council compensation was includes that compared to group, 4.2 which includes the cost of living and absence, 4.3
per diems, including eligibility, committee alternates,
four, which is expenses, which includes reimbursements
for meals and travel, professional development,
encompassing activities without a province travel,
and then schedule B, which is the council remuneration rates,
including updated recommended onerium,
per diem, mileage, and meal allowance rates.
So for our current market comparators
that's been established by Mooreville Council,
encompasses the city of Beaumont, Devin Forza,
Scotch and Lecombe, Cochran, Hinton, White Courts,
This is Bruce Grove, Stony Plain, and Surgeon County.
We have reviewed that, and the policies and
by-laws of his municipalities.
And in considering those, we've viewed that there is a need for
new market comparators that are more comparative to the civic functions and
the demands of council for Mornville, the comparative community populations,
as well as recognizing the geographic location that's in proximity to a large urban center.
So, while those recommended market comparators will include new recommended comparators were identified by an asterisk, including some of the other ones that remain on the recommended new grouping, which includes a town of blackfolds, coal dail, town of Devon, town of Hinton, town of Innisfail, city of Lakom, town of Olds, town of Stony Plain, the town of Taver and the town of White Court.
Those in themselves, for following statistics, you'll see some of the population rationalization
will be brought to with that, as well as what we view are the similarities of our community,
whether that be demographics of our community, whether that be civic functions of our community,
the level of service or type in kinds of service that our community offers, we view this to be more
aligned with Mornville.
So of this recommended new comparator group, you can note on this table here,
the municipality listed by name on the left.
The population as at the 2021 federal census,
the percentile population,
encompassing where Morinville is at,
at 64% based on those population numbers.
And then of course, our percentage
of that being at that 60, 64th.
So with this numbers in hand,
Morinville is residing at a part of that 65th percentile
based on the population of this comparator group.
So I go back.
Comparison, and I don't have this as a table,
Moornville is currently established by policy, by remuneration, to be at the 50th percentile for honorariums and per diems alike, of what the current comparator group is.
So we are bringing forward a recommendation to not necessarily be at 50, but to be at 65th of the new comparator group, and I'll explain later.
So for that, the recommended policy updates include.
Number 3.1.4, the Council, Honorary and Pre-DM shall be reviewed and adjusted accordingly by annually to the equivalent population percentile of the Comparative Group specified in 3.1.3.
The rationale, and I'm going to jump back and forth in a couple slides here for that. I should go back to that one.
The rationale, I'll explain later on that one, and as well recognizing that there was a motion put forward by Councillor White in 2024,
the Council direct administration to bring forward the Council remuneration policy, that's a tongue twister,
CP 194-DAS 2022, with an amendment to clause 4.2.1 to allow Council to vote on whether or not they receive the cost of living adjustment.
Now, we weren't present in when that motion was put forward, but in considering the context of what that does,
It brings the decision of whether or not council would A, it would normally be automatically
as a cost of living adjustment.
By motion of this, this brings it to the table that council has to vote on that on an
annual basis and not be an automated cost of living adjustment.
We view that the committee in terms of reviewing the above motion, we don't support council eligibility
for COLA.
and the recommended policy update achieves reasonable honorarium and
per-dem adjustment potential in alignment with being at the 65th percentile
every two years. So essentially if Mornville Council supports this being at
the 65th percentile of that comparator group and the 65th percentile of those
respective honorariums or per-dems of those other councils that would be an
adjustment by annually. So every two years there would be an eligibility for
adjustment and where more and more resides that in that population and commensurate with that population.
Honorary arms with respect to cost of living and absence, the recommended policy updates include
under 4.2.1.1, mayor and council honorems are not eligible for that cost of living adjustment during their term
and that council honorems should be reviewed and adjusted accordingly, again, as I stated earlier,
by annually to the equivalent population percentile of the comparative group.
So we are recommending that the honorariums are commenced again with that population percentile being at that 65th percentile item 4.2.3.1
Notwithstanding policy section 4.2.3
Members of council will be excused for up to two meeting absences per year without approval by council resolution.
Currently, it is up to four meeting absences per year, and the rationale for that is relative to the accountability of council, of a councilor member, whether one is either absent or not, and reducing that from four to two.
We view that there is a greater importance for a member of council, if they are to be absent, it is to be by council resolution as an approved absence.
4.2, 0.3, 0.2, in cases where it is determined that honorarium will not be retained due to an
unapproved absence from meetings, deductions will be applied in the amount of $250.
That is the same equivalent amount for the per diem for that of a council meeting.
So if a member is unapproved or exceeds that two absences per year, for those absences
is there that they are an exceedance of, they will have a deduction of their honorarium
based on that other honorarium, but they're per diem for that equivalent amount.
So going back again for the rationale from our committee, for 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.1.2 combined, the
coal is not deemed applicable for council, whereas the honorems are reviewed and adjusted every two
years, equivalent to the population percentile of the new recommended comparative group, and the
committee deems this frequency and method for potential adjustment to be reasonable. And it's
highlighted and not highly, but identifies as a potential adjustment, is commensurate with our
population or mournville's population with out of that comparator group.
So in the example where if mournville would be increasing to the 70th percentile of
that comparator group, mournville's honorarium would therefore be at the 70th percentile of the amounts
comparative to those comparator groups.
Conversely, if mournville was to start decreasing in terms of its population state on
On that comparative group, Council's interim would be equivalent to that same percentile
as a reduction.
So it's very much tied to where Marnville rests in terms of its growth and comparison
with that new recommended comparative group.
Again, as I stated previously, in capturing it for your presentation, with respect to the
number of approved absences per year, going from 4 to 2, demonstrates an increase of accountability
and commitment to the responsibilities as a council member.
Increasing the honorarium penalty from $100 to $250
as a more significant financial consequence
in the event of unapproved absences.
Next, with respect to 4.3 per diem,
including the eligibility for per diem,
the committee alternates and values,
it's recommended policy updates include,
4.3.9.2.1.1,
The appointed alternate attendees are lauded per diem to a maximum of three meetings per year per committee in which they are the designated alternate when accompanying the main board member, and removal of 4.3.9.2.1.4,
where non-appointed alternates shall be paid at the Mornville
per-dem rates, per section 4.3 of this policy,
to a maximum of three meetings per year.
The rationale for those two respective recommendations,
although the committee recognizes the importance
of upholding alternate members for boards and committees
of council, including functional continuity
and sharing and transferring the information
between that of council and council members,
and representation of our council.
The committee deems that attendance of an alternate at a board or committee meetings when the main designated board member is present
Capping the eligibility for peer DM to a maximum of three meetings pre
Chair, demonstrate some fiscal prudence or more fiscal prudence than what could be in place right now. And it's not by any means suggesting that any particular member of this council would be purposefully attending more meetings that what they need to be or when the alternate is the main board member is there by bringing this into policy. It demonstrates that openly and transparent that it removes that particular opportunity for financial gain just by sitting on board committee meetings.
4.3.9.2.1.4, excuse me, again, very similar to the above one.
It removes, by removing this policy article, it eliminates the potential for financial
motivated meeting attendance by a nonadpointed member of council.
So in the area of expense reimbursement for meals and travel, the recommended policy and
updates includes the area of 4.4.4, which meal reimbursement will be set equivalent to
the Canada Revenue Agency simplified reimbursement method at current published rates. That
will be included in your package under Schedule B for further information. And when breakfast
lunch or dinner is provided at a conference, some are workshop or meeting, then meal
will not be reimbursed without Council approval.
By applying the Canada Revenue Agency simplified rate,
it essentially eliminates the need for the policy amendments,
perhaps on an annual basis, or the frequency of policy changes
where Council yourselves or future councils will determine
what that rate should be at.
It is more efficient for administration,
and it is consistent with those CR rates
that is applicable in other jurisdictions.
As for the standard mileage, it will be reimbursed to the current Canada revenue agency mileage rate,
where again, similar to that of the meals, it isn't a need for council to make a decision
on how much cost per kilometer a councilor should be reimbursed for mileage, or that of
what the current rates shall be for breakfast lunch or dinner.
Those are established per fixed rates that are updated annually by the CRA.
So with that, members of council may claim for, sorry, that was that one.
The next one we have is 4.4, 0.6, 0.2, 0.1.
Members of council may claim for disposal or guest expenses in circumstances where it is
expected that they be accompanied by their spouse or guest to a maximum of $200 per year.
And that was including, but not limited to the FCM conference gala.
We are recommending that that be removed and the rationale for that is that the committee
views that is not expected for a member of council to have a spouse or guest accompany
them at events, nor shall such accompaniment be eligible for expense reimbursement.
Removing this policy article demonstrates fiscal responsibility and prudence and should
a guest, a tenant event, the respective members of the council, shall be personally responsible
for the expenses of their guests and attendants.
In modern day, as much as some view may view in the past where one needs to have a spouse
or a partner attend a gala or event, the committee had discussed this and, again, reinforcing
the view that our, or yourselves as council members are the elected representative of our community,
and it is the elected member of the community that is supporting our community and he
responses, again, is your personal discussion or future council's discussion, whether you
want to be there or not.
I need not explain further, again, for why we had brought
forward the meal reimbursement change, but again, we've used and demonstrated alignment with
the national standard, other jurisdictions, and enables updates to the respective reimbursement
values without the need for undertaking council policy amendments of those noted values.
With
regard to 4.6 professional development activities, including out-of-up province travel,
the recommendation of the committee is that only two members of council may attend the
same out-of-proven conference, convention, seminar, workshop, or course.
The attendance of two members of council shall be by resolution.
The rationale for this from our committee is that the committee views that attending professional
development and representation of council through attendance of conference, convention, seminars,
workshops. Yes, it is an important aspect of your roles or future members' roles of council
and a function of governance. However, establishing that only two members of council
shall attend the same out-of-profits event yet upholds reasonable and appropriate representation
of our council at those events and demonstrates fiscal prudence for Mornville.
Looking at conferences such as the FCM conference in particular, depending upon where it may be,
our committee has done an evaluation of the costs of what that could be.
And if we were to support what is currently in place where all members members of council attend FCM,
the cost for that would be near exceeding depending upon where is in Canada, upwards of $40 to $50,000
for all members of council to attend that conference.
I recognize what and the committee recognizes that it's important work what council does,
and being there and being present at those type of events, whether it be holder in part,
is an investment that may not be to the betterment or the benefit of our community, whereas two members of council could attain the same representation of our community and information for council to bring back.
So looking at more details, what would be scheduled be the honorarium comparative group, being at the 65th percentile as a target.
But the numbers in front of you show the 2021, and again, the municipalities on the
left are what the committee is bringing forward as the recommended new comparator group.
The 2021 federal census is what those values are based on, placing more than what the 64th
percentile.
The annual mayor on our area at 65,000, again, this is based on the 2023 rate setter in place
not including any cold adjustments subsequent to that or that of the rates per those other
respective communities. The annual councilor onerarium being at 35,280 and if you look and
apply that same numbers against the 50th percentile of the new comparator group, it would land
at $54,576 annual honorarium for the mayor and $25,331 for that of counselors for the honorarium.
Applying the 65th percentile value to the new comparator group
brings the honorarium for the mayor's position at $59,880 and the counselor honorarium at 27,594.
Again, these numbers are based on the 2023 numbers that we had from the Hillcrest Report.
And there is still a potential for changes in each of these respective values.
Should any of those other members or representative municipalities change their respective honor
areas?
Schedule B, per-DM expense reimbursement, the committee has reviewed this.
In adjusting these values, there are quite a range of per DM values across those recommended
new comparators for the hours of expense reimbursement for time and attendance of council or members
of committees, so zero to two hours from 50 to 6250 per DM rate, two to four hours, changing
from 100 to 125, a four-hour to eight-hour event from 200 to 250, a daily maximum of 300,
and recognizing the conference data maximum increasing from 200 to $250.
So, in closing comments, the committee, excuse me, I'm stuck.
We have undertaken a review of the current moral policies and that of other comparators in
alignment with the Council by-law mandate.
The information that we have reviewed and the decisions and the recommendations that are
being brought free today are all through a consensus of our committee members, as well
as the proposed policy and schedule amendments.
We understand that council is not bound by our recommendations, and ultimately we do respect
and appreciate the deliberation that council will take going through this and that those decisions
won't be made today, and they are not going to be easy decisions of council.
We also view that the purpose and function of the Council Tribune Nation Review Committee
to be an important aspect of demonstrating
responsible civic function for the betterment of Mornville.
It is our recommendations that council accept
the council remuneration review committee report is presented
for information and your demar work complete.
The council director administration to bring forward
a revised council remuneration policy
encompassing the recommendations that we brought forward
further in final review and as administration
indicated earlier, any other views and expressed opinion
by council for your consideration
at a future meeting. With that, I welcome any questions of Council.
Thank you very much, Mr. Roaston. Certainly. Oh, sorry.
That's all right. That's okay. It's all good. It's all good. Thank you, Mr. Roast, for this presentation.
I certainly can appreciate the robust work and not an easy task as well to take all of this on.
At this time, I'm going to open it up to the rest of my Council. I know the mayor is
I'm just chomping at the bit to have a conversation about this too, so no, I'm joking, no, I'm kidding, but I will open it up right now to the rest of council if there's some questions or comments.
Councillor St. Dini, we'll start.
Sure, thank you, Deputy Mayor. And thank you, Mr. Brost, for the presentation and to the committee members for, you know, obviously a tremendous amount of work that's gone into its seven meetings and obviously lots of work between July and now.
So my first question, it's really just a curiosity, so I'm wondering why the committee chose
not to interview or consult mayor council to better understand our local civic duties
and council demands which you referenced in the presentation.
And I only asked this because I did a little bit of digging because I have really only seen
are as our previous iteration and of the 12 council renovation or council compensation committee
reports that the first 12 that I found from 12 different municipalities and regions in the
province that have come forward since 2022 each and every one of those there was a touch point with
mayor and council to gather information. Yeah, too, you deputy mayor. Councilor Denny, that is a very
important question and one that is and was discussed amongst our committee, we did consider it
and in considering the what we believe to be the impartiality of what we are bringing forward
should mayor and council wish to bring forward any other changes than what we have recommended
that would be leaving that to yourselves to bring forward in your own respective debate
and consideration of those policy changes before council and in front of council.
Okay. No, I appreciate that. Yeah. Like to me, it just felt like that was a big omission,
you know, with an understanding, I guess, of the rationale. So, um, okay. Thank you.
Councillor White. Yeah, just a bit of a clarification on my motion. So the reason the motion
was put forward was we were getting the cola increases without voting on them. I thought it was
right for us to each vote on them without getting them automatically.
The motion was never put on the floor, never debated, and never passed.
So this motion was delayed, pending the outcome of this and the outcome of the actual council
renemoration policy that we'll be voting on at some time in the future.
Just, I just wanted to clarify that.
And if I may, W. Bolinco.
Thank you for the clarification, and that is what the committee had viewed, the rationale for that motion being brought forward.
We realize, and through our information from administration, that it was an automatic code adjustment to council.
And that it being said, being that it's automatic,
that in your motion was the fact that you want to bring that forward where the council actually does accept that or not.
or consider an increase or a decrease to what the COLA motion is.
We did review that motion, and again, from our presentation,
encompassing that any adjustments would be by based on a biennial basis,
per the percentile of the comparator group, or we'd be at,
would eliminate the need for contemplation of what the COLA specific would be for an adjustment,
but COLA could be accounted for without any other onerium values
that other comparator groups establish per their respective honorariums.
So it basically takes the COLA as an individual item to adjust annually, but that of a biennial review.
Okay, thank you, and I guess if the recommendation is to remove the COLA, then my motion would no longer be pertinent.
And that is clear.
Yes, our recommendation is to remove the COLA adjustment on an automated annual basis for council.
Council.
Councilor DeFo.
Thank you, Deputy Mayor.
A couple of things. First of all, I was pleased to see the number of permitted meetings
without permission reduced to two. In my first term, when we did a remuneration review
a game with the Public Committee and they did consult council, one of the concerns I had
was the number of absence that an individual was missing,
25% of my memory serves.
That resulted in that being added to the council compensation.
Originally, it had lobbied for two.
It got increased to four. I'm happy to see it go back to two.
So that's my comment. My question in line with Councillor St. Denis.
in the absence of interviewing counsel.
Can I respect that you wanted to remain impartial? What did you use UN the committee to understand the work that this council does? I mean, certainly we have some population numbers, and I understand getting us closer to populations like Hinton, which is very similar to us, some a little below, some a little above. But beyond population, what was used to determine the respective workloads?
because two communities of 10,000,
Moornville has EMRB, Edmonton, Global, Hinton doesn't,
but at the same token, Hinton probably would have some regional boards that we don't.
So help me understand the rationale and all of that.
Councillor Defoe, and through you, Madam Deputy Mayor,
I should say first, the response to that is that although we did not consult specifically
with yourselves as current members of council,
And indeed, that was to remain impartial to our decision so that it couldn't be viewed
by your input that was influencing what we were bringing forward.
That was one of the primary reasons.
In terms of the information that we reviewed, we're bylaws, we're pilot policies of those
respective comparator groups.
The committee also examined the types and kinds of those communities, as I noted, closer
or larger urban centers, recognize that there is other urban committees of council.
We could see in the schedules of all those respective comparator groups, the type and
kinds of committees that would be similar to that of Mornville.
And recognizing that each one of those isn't exactly or similarly aligned with Mornville.
But compared to that of the current comparator group, we viewed that it was not in alignment
is near as much as Moornville is as a community.
Recognizing population, recognizing the services that are offered by the community.
Also recognizing that the members of council, of some of those communities are either full time or part time or mayors or full time or part time.
Those were a number of the rationale and the information that we had reviewed for bringing forward the recommendations that we did.
Thank you for that.
Okay, anybody else?
Councilor Anhelliger, and then followed up by Mayor Borsma.
Yeah, I just have a question, actually, in regards to the changes that you'd recommended regarding the mileage rates in that,
why the change to government of Alberta, sorry, the federal, the federal mileage rate over the provincial mileage rate?
Because I believe, and this question is sort of for administration also, is that the same rate that staff is applied for staff for mileage, the government of Alberta rate also?
Sorry to park question.
So, the mileage rate for staff is CRE rates, the per-DM rate for meals is based on the
government of Alberta.
So I wasn't sexually through, actually, Councillor and Helder, we did not have or look
at what the staff reimbursement rates were, we were looking at the type and kind of reimbursement
rates that were applicable for mileage or meals with that of the current comparator groups
as well as the recommended new comparator groups,
and many of those are landing at what would be the CRA rate,
and additionally, we viewed that the current Alberta rate
was insufficient in our view,
for what that mileage should be at,
and comparative to the CRA rate.
Mayor Borseman.
I think it was answered earlier through Councillor Defoe,
but I was going to ask you on the community comparator group,
some of the policies that you suggested, are they similar, do they have similar policies right now?
Like you were talking about the two misses or even the funding or what it is exactly on those policies.
Mr. Mayor, yes, the recommended policy amendments, not everyone in its entirety, but a number
of the policy amendments we brought forward, whether it be by definitions or some of those
changes or the eligible eligibility for per diems, honorims, are specifically comparative or
equivalent to that of those in the policies of other municipalities.
Councillor Richardson?
Yeah, thank you.
And the same thing, most of my questions have been kind of answered or touched on a little
bit here.
I guess the only one that I still have is similar to the meeting, I see that it went from 100 to 200 for missing a meeting and there's talks about it coming from the per DM schedule, the 250 and I'm just looking at 250 is our conference rate, the 0 to 2 to 4 and 48 so if it was a 2 hour meeting, would the councillor lose 62 50 or is it just a flat rate of 250?
So that would be by a meeting of this council, so your council meeting.
So I guess right now I think in here it says that you would be docked 250 from your
honorarium if you missed the meeting, but the 250 is based on the conference which is typically
over eight hours and then we have the zero to two to four.
So I guess how did we land on the 250, is it more just to be punitive for somebody trying
to get them not to miss the meeting, or is it, yeah, okay, yes that is correct.
In fact, we viewed that not necessarily missing a committee meeting, but meeting a meeting of council, where one is not here, drawing that to an equivalent, or at least a punitive value for accountability of what one could have earned and the same equitable amount being returned.
Okay.
If there's not any more questions, perhaps this is an opportunity to open it up to comments
if folks felt so inclined. Oh, yeah. Councilor Unheliger.
I'm just going to jump back to the comparators. And so I understand entirely the focus on
the population. But when you first dug into this, then you would have been presented with our
direct comparator group and our regional comparator group. And those are the comparative groups
that we use for, or sorry, that we lose, that we use and help guiding conversation decision
around a lot of our other municipal decisions, budget related and all of that.
So when you looked at the current market comparators and you thought that some of the more weren't
appropriate, could you maybe just give me some insight into why you didn't, like I understand
And while you chose some of the new ones, what was the thought process around disqualifying the other ones?
Aside from just population.
Okay, so thank you for the question again.
Let's see, I'm trying to reinforce what we've brought forward.
We've identified population number one as a near closer alignment to Morneville.
We've identified the complexity or the type and kind of services that Morneville offers as a town.
We've identified the comparison with whether it be full-time versus part-time council or mayor's roles and duties, and then recognizing that there was a disparity based on some of the populations and the expectations with where if we used more inville as an example having a population of approximately 10,000 people, 10,000 people, common services that would be provided to the community in the
You're fulfilling your role in time of council as you do in council chambers tonight.
The committees that you attend, the calls that you get from residents of concern or the inquiries and the time that you spend with them.
For those that are of the larger centers, that would be exponentially of a higher level of expectation and demands on council.
Compared to that of those that we have here with similar populations of Moornville.
Noting particularly like, and I don't think it's no secret, the city of Spruce Grove, the city of Locom, is a city.
It brings a lot different diversity in some of the expectations.
Some of the subject and the content may be the same, but the demands of council would be more exceeding in those larger city facilities or not city facilities, but cities and the demands of residents and the time of residents compared to where we are as a comparative town municipality.
You'll note that we have not included Sturgeon County and recognizing that
Moornville resides adjacent to Sturgeon County and there's a lot of partnership and
communications that occur between Moornville and Sturgeon County.
It is that it is a rural jurisdiction compared to an urban jurisdiction and
we've viewed that the urban jurisdictions have a lot more similarities in that of
a council role and responsibility to that of a rural center.
here, as well as the contributing tax basis, is another aspect that we didn't touch on,
where the rural county will have a different tax based tax revenue compared to some of
those different cities.
And the diversity of those that you'll know there, and we recognize Hinton has a unique
tax base as does Inus fail with some of the agriculture, so there's a change, but we couldn't
have a one size fits all, but we tried to bring this to a comparison that we, again, viewed
more closely aligned with Mornville, and that's where you'll note the omissions or the exclusions of some of those cities, as well as Sturgeon County as a real jurisdiction.
Perfect, I appreciate you expanding.
Okay, we'll open it up for comments,
not all at once.
Actually, there's two recommendations here.
One is to say that the report has information and that the job of the committee is complete, and the second one is the recommendations.
Which one are you looking for a comment on that?
Well, we can make the first motion and then move into where we have the comments and recommendations moving forward.
So, somebody wants to make that first one, we can do that.
Okay.
I would move that council accept the council remuneration review committee report as information and deem the work of the committee complete.
Thank you for all the work that you put into this.
I'm not going to see, I agree with all of it, but it's nice that somebody had a fresh look at this that is no way tied to.
Council or administration in any way. And I think it was a very objective look at it.
However, I will make my recommendations when it comes to the other motion. Thank you,
Okay.
Perfect. And I guess you don't need an open to the hat one. So I'll call the question. All those
in favor? And that passes unanimously. Now we can have that introduction. Deputy Mayor
I just want to advise the second motion, directing administration to do work and any amendments we should just do that in the business arising.
Thank you.
Great, but I will open that up for, yes.
Yeah, I mean if we're just going on some comments, is that what you want to get into before we go back to the meeting?
I think, you know, there's a few things that I think are really good in here and obviously
a few that I kind of disagree with a little bit, and one of the things that I'll just say
is I find some of it pretty prescriptive, and I know Councillor DeIFO and myself have different
opinions on the missing and the meetings of Council from four to two, and the other thing
that I've seen in here is just the increase in the penalty. You know, I don't know if the
The punitive nature of it actually meets, I'll say the significance of missing a meeting
and I'll say we have some meetings sometimes that are an hour long that are pretty quick
and if you're missing that and you're being dinged $250 because it happens to be one
that wasn't approved by council, I think that unfortunately that seems a little bit harsh
for that penalty and on the other side of that is we do have some long meetings sometimes
more important which are budget and I think missing some of those are probably worthy of
about $250, subtraction from the honorarium if it wasn't approved to leave.
So, you know, kind of a little bit on the fence, either way on that.
And then the comparators as well, I find some of them, I don't think, really relate to the
same responsibilities that we have, which could reflect why the pay is different in other municipalities.
So, I know before we bring this back, I think that some of the comparators I would like
to see maybe changed or more resemble some of the work efforts that we put in.
So, that would be my comments on the kind of presentation.
Okay.
Anybody else?
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Councillor Dafo.
Yeah, thank you, Deputy Mayor.
There are just a bit of a response to Councillor Richards and, you know, I think the intent
with the meeting absence, well, first of all, you know, we're not ultimately approving
a policy for this council, although it would affect this council.
You're thinking of the role of councilor.
And as I've indicated in the past, we've had members that missed way more meetings than
they ever should have. But the important thing here I think is that this is you're allowed
to miss meetings without permission or resolution of the council. I think most of the meetings
that we miss would fall within that. We don't have anyone here that's simply not showing
up for a meeting or not showing up for a meeting because it's a controversial or contentious
issue that they don't want to vote on. We have people at mis-meetings because they have
work. And as I think you mentioned at one point, we don't want to preclude that shift
worker who may have to miss the occasional meeting from being able to run for counsel.
I don't think that's the intent here. So I'm not afraid of that going to, and I'm trying
not to debate because we don't have anything on the table. I'm not afraid of that going
down to two meetings and I'm not afraid of the $250 sting that's meant to be
punitive to say, hey, you should be in a meeting. So, so
I don't think we're as far apart on that UNI as your might think. Yeah, and I would agree. And, you know, Councillor Stinney can also talk to this a little bit too about, you know, his time coming council and having a full time job. And what that looks like in the stress that it puts on not only your full time job, but your family on making some of these meetings. And I would hate to have something prescriptive where somebody goes, well, you know, if the council doesn't like me, I can't get out of this and also you're being punitively hit by it. And really the electors elect the people that they feel that will represent
them the best, and sometimes that's not always represented in these meetings here, but just in general, and there's a lot of ways we represent our constituents without being here at this table.
Although this is a very big part of it, it's just not the only way that we represent them, so.
Mayor Boersma.
So, I love the insights that you've provided here tonight, and I'm not sure this.
The full reports are the accounts for the unique demands that we actually have in
Moornville are always seen.
I think the context, which we govern.
So I think transparency, responsibility, and
the Africa must remain at the forefront of our decision when we make one.
Transparency ensures our residents understand that Council's wages are just the cost.
And I think that's an important thing.
But it's an investment in the leadership required to move more and build forward.
So in the responsibility compels us to recognize that as part of Edmonton Metropolitan Region,
our council is uniquely positioned to engage in regional partnerships.
Don't see that in all of the comparator communities.
To advocate for local priorities and navigate pressures that smaller or more rural communities may not face.
Advocacy requires us to send standards that value leadership, not only for the current
officials, but also for those who will guide our community into the future.
So Mornville, obviously, as you know, has emerged from fiscal foretex stronger today.
Thanks to this council's collaborative effort and tough decisions.
I believe we've demonstrated fiscal responsibility and delivered results to date.
In light of the progress, I urge Council to take the report's findings and obviously under
advisement, which I really appreciate each one of you brought forward.
But to also consider the broader responsibilities and pressures that are unique to our community.
Which may not have been seen because of what you talked about earlier.
You really didn't look at each individual council or we're able to speak to it so you took
that under, I'll take that under advisement.
And I think the committee's port is very important that is put into this decision.
But there are also other inputs to consider as well.
So, what I would recommend is for administration to bring a comprehensive
comprehensive report to council that includes the findings of the Hillcrest Compensation
report, which I think some of us may have, you know, not looked at as close, and the recommendation of the council compensation committee, and any other relevant consideration, so, and I think I'll put that into a motion later on, but that's my comments on it.
Thank you, Mayor Borisma, Councillor White.
Thank you, Deputy Mayor.
Yeah, I'm totally in agreement with if I'm going to bring my spouse to anything, I'm
paying the freight for everything, everything because I don't think that the town of Hornville
should be covering off any expenses that I'm incurred by choosing to bring my spouse with
me.
So, I totally agree with that.
But the one thing there that it kind of sets me aside with the comparators is that very
early on in Council, when we were talking about a renomeration period, there was comments
made about you can't cherry pick comparators to get the results you want.
And that was something that stuck in my head for a while.
We live in the Edmonton region.
We buy homes in the Edmonton region in Moornville.
I don't know what prices are in table, I don't think it's relevant, but I may pay more
here than I would in table, so making my room-numeration the same as it is in table is not a fair
comparison. There's a lot of things that go into the whole part of being a counselor and it's not
just the time that you see here at the meeting. Today's meeting agenda was fairly thick.
I have at least 8 to 10 hours of reading this agenda package before I got here.
So it's not the time that I spent here that takes the time.
But it's also the issues that are in this document today.
We're living in my head for the last four days.
And that's, you know, it's a part of being a Councillor and I'm not complaining.
But you have to look at what is involved in the work to understand why we get paid what
we do.
But the other things that I really need to stress is that when you're looking at reducing
pay for somebody in the neighborhood of 24%, it should be done on a red circle basis.
So you would red circle that person in that until the next election.
and then the fresh people coming in and putting their name forward in September can look at what the new rate is going to be and say, yeah, that's worth it. I'll go for it.
And if I don't think it's worth it, then I don't go for it.
But when I put my name forward in 2021 in September, I looked at the rate of pay, the benefits.
And I made a decision that it was worthwhile for me to do this work.
work, but to take it a way midway through the term is completely wrong in my opinion
and any type of change to this, if there's going to be a reduction should be red circled
to September of next year and then the next council can decide whether they want to take
this role on for the money that is being put forward because quite frankly I think a lot
of people are not going to put their name forward.
I've got one more thing.
when the Hillcrest Trust report came out in February 27th, I was looking at that and thinking they're recommending that the mayor's pay go up 25.38% and council pay go up 14.86%.
And then this committee was struck and I'm thinking, okay, well maybe they'll balance that somehow.
But somewhere in the middle is where I think this needs to land.
And I think we're fixing something that isn't broke.
But that's my opinion, and I think that the way we handle it going forward, people should
be considered on how their employment with the town is working, and the changes that are
going to be made, and when those changes are going to be made.
Thank you, Councillor Dafo.
Thank you, Deputy Mayor.
I know for Councilor Wyden particular that increase in pay that was an issue for you
during the election and you're aware of this but I want to make others aware of it.
I think at that time of the Hillcrest report one of the reasons why the rate went up as
significantly as it did is that prior to that one third of what a Councilor was paid
was tax-free, and the federal government and their infinite wisdom took that away.
And that's why that was increased to kind of balance that out.
Where I have a slight disagreement with the last information that was presented.
If we're going to review this, and we're going to reduce as the committee recommends our
or honorariums, per diems are going up, so that's a moot point, but the honorariums,
then this council should be prepared to take a hit, because I don't want to be a guy
sitting here and going, well, that's a good pay for me, but the next group, and I know
that's not your intent, and I understand completely where you're coming from.
But if we're going to bring this back and we're going to consider taking a reduction in
what someone's sitting at the table is paid, we damn well better be prepared to take
that hit in our final year ourselves. And in reality, it's probably going to be the last
six months of the term. But that's just an outward thought that I have.
Okay, any comments from anybody else? I'm going to say something, Councillor White first,
just because I've been really quiet. It was a point that Councillor White had made around
the competitor groups, the majority of which are part of our EMRB, which I think are fairly
big players because the demands are big on us as well with Edmonton Global. And that report,
looking at that report, it wasn't just, and I can appreciate that Councillor Defoe,
the, you know, losing the one third, never has this role been a nine to five.
We don't have
predictable hours. I know myself a year and a half ago I was working school-based mental health,
health and had to leave that role because I had zero predictability with my schedule.
And I had kids who were depending on me and I wasn't able to accommodate that.
I think the same can be said for everybody around here.
It is not, it's a moving target all the time.
You're getting those calls late at night.
You are fielding things through social media.
You're answering emails.
You don't get to shut it down.
And so I appreciate the work that has been done by this committee, and I get looking from the outside in it may look one way or another, but the demands I feel on this rule come at a cost to all of us.
time with our family, getting lynched in stores in town.
I love to share this one I ran into a counselor at SOBI's from our
neighboring municipality, and I had a ball cap on and we just made eye contact,
looked at each other, all we did was nod, because any time we walk into SOBI's,
we know we're guaranteed a half an hour conversation.
Those are things that we don't account for, but they have value.
They have value in our community because we live here, we pay those same taxes, we want
to leave it better than we found it.
So when we look at that report with our competitor groups and I agree maybe some can change
and or ebb and flow when we're looking at that 50th percentile knowing that our mayor is
at 25% below and as council we are 15% below that 50th percentile.
I also think that narrative needs to be shared and it needs to be loud.
Thank you, Deputy Mayor. I just wanted to comment a little bit on our conference convention
stuff because this has been a very responsible council as far as all of us going to SCM.
We don't do that. We haven't done that once this term. I think that it was personal responsibility
on our part. But if you move forward with, there's only two people going to each thing.
Now you've got either the merit deciding who's going, or maybe the marigolds every time,
and we only get to go once or whatever, but you're setting this up for a new council.
And a new council, when you start, and if you go to SCM, you're going to take three or four courses
that are why you're there. You can't bring that back and just give everybody a council,
So the coals notes version of the four courses that you learned at.
So, I mean, it's an educational tool for new council, but I, you know, I agree that
not everybody should go to everything every time.
But I think that you should set the budget so that in my personal development, I only get
enough money to go to two or three or whatever so that I can make the decisions on what I want
to go to because I don't know what works for you, but I do know what works for me.
So, I mean, I think that you're setting the next council up for a bit of who goes where
thing and a big fight over it. If you start going to that, there's only two people going
to this and two people going to that. So, that's my comment on that.
Thank you, Councillor Richardson.
I think, actually, I was just going to talk about that as well. And, like Councillor
White has said, I think that this council has been fairly responsible, and it hasn't been
a huge uptake for FCM. But I've had this sentiment for a while that if I'm under my
professional development budget and my myelin subsistence budget.
I should be able to take what I feel is going to best help me represent the residents of Moornville.
And you know, some people might have more, I'll say ambition to go to something like my one of my other birds like Erwack where I want to go to a ban for a convention there.
And if you're doing that, then obviously you can't do FCM but if I'm not doing that in order to go to FCM.
Well, one's in Alberta and one's not, you know, how come I'm not able to do it if I'm still underneath my mileage and
subsistence and professional development. So, that one kind of is a little bit of a sticking point for me as well.
And, you know, maybe there isn't needs to be a cap, but I think two is pretty low. And like Councillor White said, you know, the mayor is probably the best suited to go there as he's the
this official spokesperson for the town of Warrenville. And then if one other person goes, that means two people aren't going in in a year.
and there's a lot of benefits from attending a conference like FCM, especially for a new
Councillor that can go there and learn about some of the stuff that Council should know
about. So, again, I don't know where I'd sit exactly
number wise, but I think 2 is probably too low and 7 is probably too high, so.
Thank you, Councillor Saint-Denie.
Thank you, Deputy Mayor.
You know, Councillor Richardson kind of spoke to a little bit of what I wanted to, I guess,
touch on.
I do had some concerns around some of the recommendations specific to the professional development.
You know, I do believe that there should be some autonomy. I look at this council, we each have our own unique
We have a full of boards, committees, and commission assignments which basically comprise of 28 different assignments. And of that 28, we also sit on a number of subcommittees, right? And so there's only so many opportunities to learn and so many windows of opportunity to do some of that professional development. And so most of these boards sort of plan around Alberta
immunies and FCM because it impacts the majority of folks that sit on,
around those tables.
And, you know, so putting a cap at two, I just, you know, I guess going back to Council
Richardson's point earlier, it seems rather prescriptive.
You know, and again, understanding the rationale for not consulting with Mayor and Council, I do
think that this is one particular area where, you know, I think us not having a voice in
any of this, I guess it upsets me a little bit.
You know, a big picture and it's been said a couple times, but nobody here at this table
is doing this for financial gain.
You know, when I look at my in and outs at the end of each month and I stack that up against
means the hours that I put in, and I know that my counterparts would certainly echo this.
It's sobering when you put that up against sort of the renumeration as is.
And then sort of what that represents in terms of sacrifice to family time and
all the other roles that each of us sort of bring to this table.
And I know that when we go into this, we do that with an understanding.
So I have concerns about the precedent that this would set for
future councils with an understanding that we want to attract qualified skilled,
motivated residents that want to serve our community for all the right reasons.
And I just wonder, I don't think that any of us would ever be in the position to ask for a raise.
That's not what we're doing, but to roll back to the degree that is recommended.
I just worried that we could be placing barriers for qualified skilled motivated residents that may want to put their name in for the next election in October of next year.
So those are my thoughts.
Councillor Anheliger and then Councillor DeFo, sorry, did you?
We'll see.
Okay.
Perfect.
I just so my comments to the committee, I really appreciate this work and I definitely,
I understand the approach in using comparators and focusing on the population because in
In terms of providing governance and serving populations, I understand that thought.
One thing I do think that maybe was missed in this is considering what our goal is in
terms of attracting people to council.
And I don't think of it that just in terms of, well, I mean, yes, the rate of pay is important.
And everybody here can say that they're not doing it for the money.
And everybody here can also sit around and say that this is not our primary job and
probably not the primary funder of paying our bills and that.
And acknowledging that I'm coming to this table with some privilege and ability to say that.
But we have people around this table with exceptionally flexible schedules for their work
life who are able to mitigate all of that.
And if a reduction in, well, maybe salary, I worry, what considerations put into what
kind of people we want to attract to this role?
Do we want people who are semi-retired, part time of employed, that sort of thing?
I think that that's a consideration we need to make.
And on top of that, it's not just the salary we are acknowledging the increase in moving
to the CRA rate and acknowledging the increase in the per diems because that takes care
of a lot of that subcommittee and committee work that we do and I think that's important.
But I didn't, I thought we'd see maybe some expenses come forward.
Mornville has a median age in the mid-30s, so that's a population of families, parents,
stay-home parents in that.
We did the committee look at opportunities or expenses, perhaps for childcare.
What are we doing to reduce barriers to get people in this role and attract people to this
role?
And I think just the remuneration doesn't, isn't quite the full picture.
So in administration bringing this back, I would like to see us follow up on some of those additional considerations as well, but I really appreciate the thought and the work that went into this and how prudent.
I think this committee's approach is very indicative of mournville residents and their need to see financial good financial stewardship.
And I think that this is reflective of this, so starting here, I think council and administration has something to work towards, and I'd like to see some additional considerations in the next iteration of the policy.
Thank you, Councilor and Heliger. Yes, no, Councillor Dafoe.
Well, I was going to talk about FCM and that's been done to death, so I don't think I will.
But what Councillor and Hellerger said has great value to me.
As an older guy with gray hair and gray beard, and I look at the committee and all do respect
to the committee, I also see a lot of gray hair and all men.
And that's no reflection on the committee because they are the ones who step forward to
volunteer for this position, but maybe when we're recruiting next time, we can, you know, we can try to have some women on that committee because childcare is something that I'm not thinking of but your generation absolutely would. So I think, I think there's some value in, in we have this committee's work, but bringing those types of things forward. And I know we, we talk a great game and municipalities about diversity on committees.
but we didn't have that, and that's not taking away anything that your committee has done.
And I'm respectful and appreciative of that, but like you say, we might have missed some of those things.
Because for me, I'm not going to be here next time. I don't care.
I'll be a taxpayer sitting on that side of the room.
But I want to make sure that we have good people around the table, and if there are any barriers to good people
because, you know, a shift worker can't do it, or a mom can't do it because it's not
enough to cover child care. That would be a missed opportunity.
Okay, Councillor Richardson?
Yeah, I was just going to add one thing that when Councillor Nelger had said, what type
of people are we trying to attract? One of the things that I thought about, as soon as
I saw this, was the per-dem chaser. And you know, where your honorarium's not enough
to, I'll say help with some of those bills, especially if you, let's just say you need
it for a secondary income or something.
So then you would have people that are just going to, to meetings and conferences just
to collect the per diem to up their wage or up their honorarium, which isn't something
you want.
You want people that are actively engaged at the meetings and boards that they're adding
of people are just going just to collect money to help subsidize the the loss
or I think we're in a worse spot than we are now with people who are going to
meetings because they want to be there. So, you know, that was just something
that I that jumped out at me, especially some of the bigger increases. But okay,
can
we last round this one and can we move on? Okay, I think it's been a really robust
Just a conversation for sure, let's, we'll wait and do that recommended motion when we
come out of community of the whole.
We'll move on at this point with certainly our thanks to the Council Renemoration Review
Committee for the work and for the thought that went into all of this and for your patients
listening to our questions and commentary here this evening.
Thank you.
And thank you for being invested in our community.
And we'll move on at this point then to 9.1.2, the highway 642 snow maintenance, please.
Thanks, Council. So with us tonight we have two people from our infrastructure services building
to discuss our favorites of their snow, which it seemed to be letting it do outside.
And some of the challenges that were not challenges, but some of the changes that we're facing
and opportunities that are there. So I'll turn over to Mr. Longos to you to take you through those.
Good
evening, Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Council.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to me tonight.
So previous to this no season, the service levels were looked after by, on Highway 642 through town along the 100th Avenue was through Mcon contracted by Alberta Transportation.
So the season, the contract has changed to Ledcore and they will be looking after the snow maintenance along the 100th Ave throughout the town.
boundaries and limits.
So, through this, because it has changed, the contract has also changed with the town.
So, now that the led course taken over, they'll be looking after the snow maintenance
as long as on the highway.
To meet the council's desired service levels as outlined in the snow maintenance control policy,
and the agreement with the former third-party Mcon to perform stolen removal services within its jurisdiction.
Specifically, Montenegro managed snow maintenance along Highway 642 along its boundaries.
For snow accumulations ranging from 0 to 500 meters or during icy conditions.
As part of the Montenegro snow maintenance services, residents, businesses together with Montenegro's operational teams would move snow from walkways and ballboats onto Highway 642.
The operational team would then clear the snow from curb to curb using graders pushing into the center of the highway creating temporary windows and removing it from there.
With the new service provider, they throw through town and do one clearing and push it to the side.
And for us to, our immediate response would be to move that and get it out of the way, but there is logistics and
and reasonings as to why they don't allow that.
So we would,
beginning in 2024, a snow season,
they continued to the next decade.
The third party provided a led core would be response for the snow removal services,
along Highway 642 within the town boundaries.
In accordance with the led core's guidelines bound by their contract obligations of a transportation,
they will perform a single pass through Marble, clearing the snow pushing to the curb edge with snow plows.
but not immediately removing the snow from the highway 642 corridor.
Snow removal will be completed at their discretion.
Some of the challenges that we are facing as noted,
the lead corridor will be pushing the snow to the parking lanes
without immediately removing it.
The communities that snow at the curb edge,
particularly when combined with the snow pushed by businesses,
will recreate a windrow potentially and likely obstructing parking
and pedestrian access to the adjacent walkways.
Additionally, during freeze-thaw cycles,
materials, materials, what could complete, could impede trading leading to the formation
of ice dams and creating safety hazards for pedestrians.
With this change in responsibilities, more of those residents are expected to have more
questions and concerns with regards to this and increase our administrative efforts required
to address the inquiries and the perception that more of those performing operational snow
services.
Given the nature of led course snow maintenance practices, the immediate response from
more of that would be to remove curbside, the curbside snow to keep the snow policy in place.
So some of the challenges that we have facing that, we would have to, when blowing snow
from the opposite side of the tandem.
So as shown in the report, we'd have to switch our snowboards to the opposite side.
And also the proximity of the snowboard of the chases walkways increases the risk of debris
being thrown into walkways and businesses.
is raising concerns about pedestrian safety and potential damages to be disaffronted to the frontages.
Bloins, no one in the opposite direction may cause a breach to be blown onto oncoming traffic as well.
Fabrication and snowboard amounts would be required to allow installation of passenger side of the town of truck.
Hello,
so thank you for that information, Chris.
And I would like to say that it's my first formal interaction with council.
And it's a pleasure and I'm honored to be serving the ratepayers, the stakeholders.
There's my GM, the CAO, and the Council of the town of Morinville in the capacity of
manager of infrastructure services.
And so just to summarize the information that Mr. Longo has brought forward, essentially
ATEC has a new service provider.
They retended out their new contractor has been established, which is led core.
And the town had a previous arrangement in place, and that service provider was willing
at that time to come to an agreement with the town in order to customize the snow clearing
options for a grant and a view.
And so in order to maintain the same service level, we've gone through that process with
Ledcore to try to collaborate and negotiate with them to this extent in order to achieve
the same thing.
At this point in time, led core is
This is basically in the position where they can either adhere to coming into a third party agreement with us, or they could just choose to simply keep consistent with their agreement that they have with the Alberta transportation, which is to push the four lanes, while granted an avenue is a six-lane wide road, and clear their four lanes of snow into the parking lanes, whereas the town then has to deal with the problem of removing that snow. And so we have a current snow and ice control policy.
And some of the information that we received from like core is that they have new increased
service levels designated from AT that they have to adhere to, which means essentially
within a three centimeter snow accumulation they have to start clearing that road within
four hours or the way it's written is two hours within a lane, but essentially four hours.
So that service level is increased then what we currently have within our town of Moranville
policy. And in attempting to achieve anything different than that, again, it has to be,
we have to form an agreement or an arrangement with flag core. So to summarize that without
getting into much further details, essentially that's kind of an executive summary of the current
situation and the information included within the report at this time. If there is any questions,
however, yeah. Just noting here of the impact, this is administration is continuing to collect
to determine what budget impacts are coming back or we'll come back so I'm guessing this is not the last we will hear of this policy or this new issue but I will certainly open it up if there's any questions or comments here within council.
Councillor Richardson?
Yeah, I guess my only comment is if, you know, this new contract is going to cause us some undue hardship because of what they're doing.
I think that the mayor needs to have a conversation with our MLA or the Department of Transportation and try to figure out an amicable solution because, you know, hearing that their snow clearing could happen at any time within a snowfall could leave us in spots where we have.
Like you said, I spilled up and potential hazards for pedestrians to cross in those areas, so I think we need to have some sort of conversation, governance conversation with the MLA and a bird transportation.
Thank you, Councillor Richardson. Anybody else? Councillor Dafo?
Thank you. Somewhat flippantly, Deputy Mayor, if we took control of the road, that would probably be less of an issue than we have now, right?
just saying out loud.
Well said, I just quickly need to note that we are at 6.30.
I know that this is our break.
We're supposed to have, but I would ask if we could at least consider moving forward
after this one with our resident concern just because these folks have been sitting very,
very patiently here for many, many hours and we certainly appreciate that you filled
up our council chambers this evening and I don't want you to wait any longer this evening.
So, if there's no more questions around the Highway 642, if I can look at the recommended
motion, if somebody could do that for me.
Anybody?
Okay.
Councillor White.
I move that the committee accept the Highway 642 snow maintenance report as information.
I don't need to open.
I don't need to close.
Perfect.
I'll call the question.
All those in favour?
wonderful that passes unanimously. Now let's move on. 9.1.3 with our thanks to, I asked for the report.
Thank you again, Council. So this evening we are presenting an information report to Council on the basis of a motion given to us
from resident concerns that were raised and submitted to administration and also CCD Council.
bill. Essentially, the residents are concerned about safety and accessibility along 100
streets. And a quick summation here is that they are
concerned about increased pedestrian traffic, unclear traffic patterns, and insufficient
lighting as some of the safety concerns. Specifically, we're all focused tonight on the three sort
of requests or issues raised, which look like a stop sign relocation at the exit point
of Morenville. We'll talk about the consideration of a crosswalk across 100 streets from the entrance,
and then we'll also discuss the streetlights north of the entrance. And so in order to do that,
I just wanted to flag for council that this has been a collaborative effort internally as there are
a number of departments that we're collaborated with and sought their expertise including our
infrastructure services team, our enforcement services team, and our planning team in order to be
able to bring you a holistic set of information to consider in this matter.
So for the most part, Mr. Hauer is going to be helping us walk through some of the
intricacies of this and the locations, and so I will run his PowerPoint, and he will
convey his knowledge.
Thank you, Ms. A.
So here we just have some aerial images to say identifies on the left, the intersection
of 100 street, 107 out of the new and meadows drive.
You can see there the location of the stop sign just on the west side of the private
property line.
You can also see there is one existing street light and the identification of what potential
future street light locations would be following existing infrastructure standards.
It's the aerial to the right, you will see the existing crosswalk for our trail network.
That's sort of at the north end of the urban development boundary of town.
And this is the location where the street lighting would be requested to, based on the
resident concern raised.
So with that location context, we can move on to our first set of findings is regarding
the stop sign.
So the stop sign is currently on private property, technically a stop sign is not required in this location, but it is very common practice.
Meadows drive is a private road similar to other access roads to condominium developments or large commercial developments.
So where you will see on the south end of town, like the no frills development, where those stop signs are provided by the private property owner and are located.
by them. So that's a similar pattern. And if there was interest, then we could engage the
private property owner on relocating that stuff sign into public land.
So regarding the crossing
itself, so the crossing to the north that was pointed out in the previous slide is approximately
130 meters from this location. There's another crossing approximately 200 meters to the south,
at 105th Avenue. There's currently no pedestrian infrastructure on the west side of 100 street
or on meadows you drive for a crosswalk to connect to or pedestrians to be directed to.
So meadows drive is the primary vehicular access for the meadows of more and build development.
So while we do have some findings here, we would potentially be creating a conflict point and there are some safety considerations where you have pedestrians being led to no pedestrian infrastructure at a primarily drive access.
So the pedestrian count data is required for us to complete the transportation association of Canada, pedestrian control, control guide, decision support tool, treatment selection matrix.
Now, in the report, you will see that the current, the tech matrix completed with the current
data that we do have would support a crosswalk at this location for context that is based
off previous council direction to use the high standard of a 100 meter threshold between
crosswalks based on previous considerations on 100 avenue.
and the trigger really for that recommendation is the fact that as evidenced by the letter provided to council, there is a pedestrian desire to cross that location, but it's not other technical considerations that would be driving that recommendation.
So, in the additional review of looking at the Council's 10-year capital plan, so there
are street lights along the east side of 100th Street in line with this arterial standard
up until approximately 105th Avenue.
That's where identified that existing crossing approximately 200 meters south of this location,
and the light previously shown at 107F.
Within Council's tenure capital plan,
there is a levy funded project scheduled for 2028.
That would extend this arterial standard,
so street slides crossings from 105 Avenue
to 107 in Meadows Drive.
So within the scope of that project based
on our tax assessment, that would include
Pedestrian crossing at that time, then streetlights north of 107AV is actually part of the
arterial upgrade that would go from 107AV to the north boundary of the municipality.
So beyond the urban development footprint that we see in the map shown, full quarter
section to the north boundary, and that is currently scheduled beyond council's 10-year
capital plan.
So,
in terms of next step, in order to adequately complete the the tack matrix and in response to the letter provided from the community administration will gather that pedestrian count data in 2025 and administration will continue to implement council's capital plan as scoped and scheduled.
Thank you, Mr. Hour. Thank you, Ms. Hay. At this point, I will open that up to Council
and allow for comments or questions. Councillor Stainty, I knew it was going to be you first.
Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Yeah, the one leading out today, which maybe isn't always the best
thing, but thank you to Administration. I know that all of this was actioned prior to the
emotion and that this work was already happening behind the scenes and certainly want to recognize
also just the advocacy that's happened that continues to take place from the residents
of the metals and mornville. Really just a couple questions. With respect to the interim
crosswalk, it totally makes sense that there should be pedestrian infrastructure in place
separate from the vehicle access point to ensure pedestrian safety.
In saying that, how did we get around like, how did we get around this with the crossing
just south for P.K. Court?
Because when you look at their entry point, it's very similar.
There isn't a pedestrian sidewalk for safe passage.
Thank you, Councillor Sainte.
Through you, Mayor Boersma, looking at that location, it is the north boundary of the
the previous arterial upgrade and you'll see there is pedestrian infrastructure on one side of
the street, so at least crossing the the culvert to get access to that and then leading to a wider
sort of entrance way on the other side of the street. But yeah, in that case, it does only provide
pedestrian infrastructure on one side of the street. Now, that is to a single development
which I don't have the current population figures for, but with the anticipated population of the meadows of Moornville being about 154 dwelling units and 400 population at full build out, it is a bit more of an intensive development.
Okay, no thank you. Yeah, and certainly understand that there is the infrastructure in place on the east side of 100 street.
Can this ask me one more question?
Just for clarification purposes, so the landowner has the authority to move the stop sign,
has had the authority to move the stop sign anywhere on metal drive adjacent to 100 streets.
So if the stop sign was relocated to a more neutral, natural exit point adjacent to 100
street, would it still be on private property, or would that stop sign then be on public property?
Thank you, Councillor Santini, and through you, Mayor Boersma.
So currently the stop sign is located at the limit of the private property.
So the private property owner wouldn't have been able to relocate it of their own will
at any given time.
They would have required municipal authorization to locate it on public land.
Thank you very much.
I've got a couple more, but I'll wait.
No, okay.
It's back to you.
Oh, sorry.
Sorry, I didn't see you.
So, would there be an option of putting a temporary crosswalk in there, a couple of signs
and paint a crosswalk in there until it is fully developed and the 10-year plan kicks
in and the design is completed the way it's supposed to be in the capital plan, or is
that illegal?
Thank you, Councillor White.
Through you, through you, Mayor Burstman, to my knowledge, it is not illegal.
The challenge there would just be as highlighted in the report that essentially there's no sidewalk on either side of the street.
You're crossing culvert, right, because it's still at a rural standard of drain and ditch.
So you're providing the perception of safety that may not be there for the pedestrians and potentially guiding them to interacting at a vehicle conflict point.
So, that...
What would be consideration to what sort of treatment would be appropriate and what sort of messaging is given to the driver and pedestrian, but as I stated, no, it is not illegal to my knowledge. Thank you.
Okay, we're going to go mayor Boersma, then Councillor Hilleger, then Councillor Richardson, and then back to Councillor St. D.D.? Let sure you answer this earlier, but is there a concern that there's no sidewalk coming out of the metals? Just the street?
Thank you, Mayor Boersma, yes, so the lack of connection into any sort of pedestrian network is part of the current concern, both on the public side of the property and the private side.
You're good with that.
So how do you suggest we connect that down the road then, if that's a concern today, that would be concerned tomorrow.
So how do you suggest we?
Thank you, Mayor Boersma, through the arterial upgrade of 100 street.
That would address the presence of the culverts, that would also address the lighting, and
it would also complete the pedestrian network that, with analysis of that time, may or may
not utilize that entry to meadows of mornville.
Thank you.
Councillor Ann Hillier?
Perfect.
So when mentioned, you said the stop sign being located on private property right up to the
the boundary of the property.
So what would the process be if the owner, stop saying, wanted it on public property?
Is that an option?
You said that it's at their expense.
So I'm just curious, is that can we facilitate that at all, or where does that go, and
or have any of those conversations with the property owner occurred?
Thank you, Councillor O'Hallagher. Through you, Mayor Boersma, I'm not aware of those conversations
to date. Certainly if we were requested by the property owner to consider the sign relocation
administration would be happy to work with them. Obviously considering our own perspective
on on-site lines and at location. But yeah, we would be more than happy to work with the
property owner.
Councillor Richardson? Thank you.
Yeah, I guess a bit of a comment.
I like to find solutions, especially in situations like this, where we know that there's people crossing the road there.
They're not on an island, they're residents in our community.
And we know that's the means to access the rest of the community.
We're not going to ask somebody to walk in the ditch because that's hazardous in itself.
So I think we need to do something here.
And if it's something temporary to hold us over, I think doing your due diligence to make sure it's as safe as possible.
Knowing that we already have people crossing the street there and doing nothing is
Turning a blind eye is probably not a great thing either. So I think that we need to do something there
And I'd like to look into some sort of temporary solution until we can see the full build out happen there
I
sense some motions arising coming out of
Community of the whole Caldarsine Deney.
Yeah, thank you, Councillor W. Mair.
I was looking for a little direction on just stop sign relocation.
I guess my question to administration is does administration require direction from
council to meet with the private land owners?
I think that to me seems like the next logical step sort of in this partnership, right?
To discuss not only this report but the pedestrian count matrix that was referenced this evening,
the artier upgrade timelines and potential next steps, including perhaps a temporary
solution to bridge the gap until 2028 when there could be an interim crosswalk.
So yeah, I guess I'm looking for some direction from administration.
So I would suggest that we don't need it, that that's something we would sort of intuitively
do, but I also understand the practicalities of giving that direction.
So it's kind of a, at your call.
Okay.
Yeah.
Like, if you're comfortable helping me just make a motion to continue this conversation
with the private landowner, I think that to me seems like a logical step.
Yeah, we'll work on something for motions arising.
Perfect.
Have I missed anybody else?
Okay. I certainly echo everybody's sentiments here this evening and feel that one of the things
we really pride ourselves on is the safety and walkability of our community and that needs
to be for all of our community members. So certainly appreciate the effort and the showing
up that you folks have done here in our community and patiently waited. And even so much you
didn't even blur anything out. Like you were so wonderful and respectful and so we appreciate
that you also value that same safety and security here within our community.
At this point, there is a recommended motion if somebody is able to make that one.
Yeah, Councillor Santini.
Yeah, thank you, Deputy Mayor.
Yeah, I will move that count that Council accept the resident concern medals of more of the
report as information.
And are you okay without an open or do you need one?
Okay.
Perfect. And then I'm guessing no close. So let's call that into question here. Call that question. All those in favor?
And that passes unanimously and that also brings us to 10 to 7. So we will call the the break
And we can certainly have that conversation with any folks here that are looking to converse
But we will call that break from 650 until 720 will come back in
Thank you, everybody, for your patience and coming back promptly for 20 after. We're back into committee of the whole, and at this point, the last we had a motion to accept the resident concern from the Meadows of Mornville, and now we'll move on to our wonderful CAO report. And I'll hand that back to the administration. Thanks. So I'll just recap my written report quickly for council. As you may recall, we've implemented supplemental
assessment and taxation and so I'm pleased to report that for 2024 we've been able to generate
an extra 300 I wish $35,824 in supplementary tax revenue so that's a good new story for us for
sure. A couple of things that go along with the season so the Christmas hampers and the giving
tree are in full swing so Christmas hampers midstream and more of a adoptive family are we're
We're partnering with them through our FCSS to refer clients to them to pick up Christmas
hampers so that, I'm sorry, and connecting them with those types of supports.
The giving tree is about seniors and how is adults, and so the time is getting short
on this one, but so far 71 individuals have registered to get a name and then return a gift
and that goes to need to be returned by about mid-December, so if anyone was interested
did now is the time.
Update on our wellness and recreation access program
or rap as we like to call it.
We've had 54 residents access it,
and we've given out $13,450 of the $15,000 budget this year.
So another good news story.
The poppy tree, I mean, it's good news all around right now.
The poppy tree had a record high of $585 contributed
from its 10th year with the town.
And also in good news, and hopefully nothing ever happens to us.
We've been approved for cyber insurance
So starting January for his 2025 we'll have protections in that regard, you're well
apprised at the Canada Post Strike and some of the things that we are doing as mentioned
also in protocol.
And then I wanted to flag for council to you that we've had one of our land use experts
on Shugupta.
She wrote an article for the Journal of Alberta Professional Planners Institute or APPI that
was published about our historic places in Mornville.
And it caught the attention of the government's historic resources management branch who
in late November came out for a walking tour to look at some of our historical heritage buildings
of significance and some of the architectural characteristics and such. And so we're looking
forward to seeing how the MDP will capture some of our policy statements around our history.
Wonderful, all good news stories and that was lovely when it came across our email today just sharing
and that it's nice to have that focus
and that good work's been captured or looked upon.
At this point, I'll open it up.
Anybody comments, questions?
Mayor Boersma?
So I just want to take a moment to thank Miss Gupta
for the exceptional piece she created.
I know I read it and then the depth of thought
and creativity she put into it is truly remarkable.
And I appreciate the clarity inside
that it brings, can see considerable effort into what it went into crafting it.
And, you know, the ability for her to present as material, it was compelling.
And obviously, because government came, it was a true testament to her skills and
dedication of what she does and certainly happy that she's in our community.
So again, thanks again for outstanding work and
look forward to more of the contributions she has to our community.
Very
well said, with that being said, wondering if somebody would make a motion that we accept
this firm information, looking at this side of the tables.
Councillor Richardson.
I'll make the motion that we accept that the report is information.
Thanks.
All those in favour?
Perfect.
That passes unanimously.
And then quickly we'll move on and thank you Ms. Hafer.
that report to our Council Board's committees and commission reports. I'm going to start with
you, Councillor Richardson.
Yeah, so actually, I'm trying to think here. I missed our last Erwack meeting. I was
in Moisture when that one went on, so nothing to report on there.
Yeah, I think that's everything
actually.
Councillor Saintinier. Thank you, Deputy Mayor.
In terms of updates, so for homeland housing, we had a meeting plan for about seven weeks with Minister Nixon, and he was unable to attend sort of last minute, so it was a little disappointed in that specific to the 22 St. Thomas Street project in St. Albert.
still remaining optimistic that this project will move forward with the City of St. Albert and
CMHC putting their financial commitments to the project.
Just past our budget and operating and capital plan with homeland requisition
position for municipalities is 2.5% for 2025.
Mornville Library met a couple of weeks ago as a board to go over, oh man.
Plan a service, yes, which was a great exercise.
For our new board, we have a number of new members that sit on the board
and so that will come back to the Board for approval, actually this week. So, yeah, that's
all I got for my boards.
Councillor Ann Heliger. Okay, yes, your report's there. Mayor
Worseman.
Apologies. Spent some time with Evan and Global
shareholder, both Bill and I, Mayor from,
I've got to think here, Mayor Danilock, thanks.
I was trying to think.
We sat on as shareholders with the Ebb and the Global Board, and it was approximately
four hour meeting, but certainly, lots of insights, and it was great to actually sit there and hear
We're about stuff and then also to see what we as a community, how we can enhance that
as mayors together so that was good.
I also met with the MLA with Sturgeon Regional mayors on transportation, local transportation
so we have a meeting every quarter which then we have touch points on all of the regional
issues we have with province and how he brings that forward back to transportation. So thank
you very much. Wonderful. I'll go to yourself, Councillor
Wait. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. So...
Thank you, Zach meeting, our first meeting on November 28th. It was a good introduction. I'm looking forward to working with the committee.
The chamber did their luncheon on December 4th. And it was, there was presentations from different charities that were present at the lunch. It was really good and informative. And the Marvel Historical and Cultural Society had, we had a meeting last night, a lot of dialogue on different things, especially
some of the historical stuff that we'll be dealing with as a result of the good
work of Ms. Cooper. One thing that I wanted to mention with that is on light
up the night festival they had 153 visitors. So in the picture 153 people down
there I can't but it was a good weekend for them and they really enjoyed having
all those people through there and then the only, the last thing I have is my first meeting
with Rose Ridge is on Thursday.
Wonderful. Thank you. Councillor Dafo.
Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Arrow Utilities last meeting I did not attend because that's
same week they fetched me off to the hospital and I felt with the medication I was on,
probably best not to drive in the morning. I did attend CSAC the November 28th meeting.
It was a short meeting, primarily it was to introduce ourselves to the new board members,
new committee members rather than them to us.
Our library manager will be the recording secretary.
We received a thank you letter from our past recording secretary.
I can't quite remember her name.
I think it might have been Jennifer and Heliger or something like that.
But it was well received, and thanks were given back to Councillor Inhaliger for that.
December meeting has been canceled, but I understand that January will be fairly full.
And then Northern Light's library system was a virtual meeting and having looked at the
agenda.
I didn't feel there was real value there.
and I knew that Councillor and Helgier's report would have all the details that I needed.
I don't have a whole lot other than what's been put in my report, other than the fact
that back in October I was asked to join or given the opportunity to serve or appointed
the Safe and Healthy Committees or communities committee through AB Munis and I had my first meeting
on Friday, and although that is not one of our standard ones, I see a lot of really good
work. I see a group of really dynamic people sitting around that table, and we had an
all day session on Friday, and hope that I'm able to at least have some value added and
bring things back here to our community, but it's a pleasure to serve and be part of that
and see what's going on and the passion that is around the room, and certainly to share
some of the issues because there's some very small communities that are part of that, and then some big cities as well.
So that's about it, everything else is in our report, so if I could ask somebody to note we don't have to make the motion.
I'm going to ask if somebody would potentially be willing to make a motion passed here.
So moved.
All those in favor?
Wonderful, and it is yours again.
Thank you so we have business arising from the committee of a whole and I think we'll
start going to the, if there's any business coming out of it on the renumeration, I'd
I turn the chair to bring a, yes.
Sorry, I should have just kept it, okay.
All right, Mayor Boersma.
On Council Renemoration Review Committee, so I would like to put forward a motion.
Recommend administration bring a comprehensive report to Council that includes the findings
of the Hillcress Compensation Report, the recommendation of Council Compensation Committee, and
any other relevant considerations.
Okay, is there an open for you?
So I think we all heard, or we had lots of talks about the Renemoration Review Committee report tonight.
And I think it needs to go back to administration and get, look at full report,
add some of the items, and I think that what are the positives,
what are the negatives, what we can do, and get that report back to us to actually maybe
have a talk in committee or a whole, and then discuss that report full sum as a council
here. So hopefully everything comes back from administration, too. Thanks.
Perfect. Any comments or questions or?
Yeah, Councillor Saintini?
Just for clarification, Deputy Mayor, to administration, as part of this motion, can we
ensure that the new market comparators are a true reflection of who we are as a community
relative to the region?
Because I think I heard from most of, if not all, of Council, that there was some concern
around some of the comparators that were added and also removed from the previous list.
Yeah, for sure. We would explore with Council the rationale behind the policy decision,
the existing policy decision about why those comparators were chosen and ask some of the rationale
that I'm in behind that. So that would be coming as part of it. Those other relevant considerations.
Perfect. Thank you. Would you like to close? Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry, Councillor Defoe.
No, it's okay. Apologies if I didn't hear this, but when are we looking at this coming back?
So, when would, I guess I'll ask that question of administration, when do you feel that you can do this?
And I understand like, you know, we've got Christmas coming up here, but at the same time, it is a relevant question.
So, I totally respect that. And so, go ahead.
At this point, I'd say some time in a February meeting.
Okay, that works for me.
And the reason I asked the question is, as I said, during committee of the whole.
If we're looking at lowering council's pay, that needs to fall on this council.
Not this council making a decision to lower the pay of the next group.
Okay, would you like to close, Mayor?
No, Mayor Boisman, can I confirm the motion on the board if it's correct?
I think I might have missed the last point you made.
Okay, so I don't see it on the board, sorry.
Yes, you did.
So what I've got here is I recommend administration bring a comprehensive report to council.
That includes the findings of the Hillcrest Compensation Report, comma, the recommendations of
Council's Compensation Committee and any other relevant considerations to
the first meeting in February,
first meeting of Council, so don't know exactly what date that is, sorry, guys.
I can look
11, I believe
that's February 11,
25.
I don't know if
that's true or not.
Exactly.
Administration, do you feel that there's something missing?
Is that date working for you?
Yeah.
Now is that motion working for you?
Yeah.
Perfect.
Okay.
And you don't need to close.
You're good with this.
Okay.
Then I will ask the question, all those in favor?
And that passes unanimously.
I did open it up to you.
Okay.
Okay, and I will return the chair back to you unless you have another motion.
Okay.
All right.
I will ask Councillor Saint Denis.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
I would move that Council Director Administration to follow up with the medals of Mornville property owner to discuss next steps, including crosswalk considerations, streetlight additions, and stop sign relocation.
including crosswalk considerations,
street light additions,
and stop sign relocation.
Yeah, thank you very much.
Did you want to open?
Yeah, yes please.
So,
you know, with an understanding that these concerns were brought forward in early October through many conversations with the residents,
Since most of these concerns predate even our term on council.
So I do wonder if there's a temporary solution to bridge the gap between the pedestrian
count analysis that'll take place next year and the arterio upgrade scheduled for 2028.
Because obviously residents currently don't have a safe passage across 100 street.
And as it exists currently, children and adults of all ages are crossing the street without any safe passage.
So I guess my hope is that through collaboration with the owner that there can be a temporary solution and also some longer term solutions in this partnership.
Go
ahead, Councillor.
I guess I might have an amendment, because I'm just thinking this should almost be two motions.
One should be a conversation with the property owner regarding the next steps in moving the
sign, but the crosswalk itself for the pedestrian safety is probably something that we need to
be doing before we even have conversations or potentially while we're having conversations
because the property owner there wouldn't have anything to do with that correct?
Thank you for raising the point. I can see this going two different ways. With Councillor
Tannis motion it's closing the loop with this property owner and you are correct Councillor
Richardson that the one thing that we could transact with the property owner is about the stop sign.
So that's what they have some purview over and we could work them through next steps.
The other pieces of that motion would be just to relay what has gone into this meeting.
If we want to do more work on those two items that are not the purview of the proper
unit, that would be a separate option.
If I have that interpretation correct.
No, and I appreciate that.
Obviously, there were some concerns that were brought forward tonight with respect to pedestrian
infrastructure that currently exists or doesn't exist on the metals of mourn.
So private property. And so I guess my thought was that, you know, through, through, I guess this follow-up conversation that perhaps there's a greater understanding from, from the ownership side of some of the, the augmentations or options that they might have to expedite a potential crosswalk. But yeah.
All right. So you want to leave the motions as it stands right now then?
You
know, I guess, yes, I, yeah, I would keep my motion as it stands because I do think that I think there is a lens that the property owner also brings to this conversation that hasn't been captured and perhaps the owner has some ideas as to what that could look like with an understanding of what, like, what crossing, like, what that actually looks like right now because, you know, we've gotten input input from a number of residents, but I know that
That's some of the gents and home personnel have been at the previous two meetings.
They have a vested interest in this and I think they have a perspective that hasn't
yet been articulated.
We're always happy to have a conversation so I have no concerns with this motion.
All right.
Any other questions?
Go ahead, Councillor Whiteen.
Yeah, I'm going to definitely support this motion.
And, you know, if you look at the property itself and I've walked it several times and
I've walked across where there's no street crosswalk.
There is no sidewalk in the Meadows of Mornville, so it's not like that's the only place in
town where a sidewalk ends and there's no sidewalk to go to.
There's several places in town, so to say that we can't do it on this one because there's
no sidewalk to connect to, well there's other ones in town, but I think that this is the
right-in-term solution to a problem that's going to get resolved once everything gets built
out, but to provide the safety of an actual crosswalk for drivers to see pedestrians crossing
that road, even though it's not right up to Alberta transportation standards is better
than nothing, and that's what we have right now, and people are walking across that street
with nothing.
So, I think that hopefully the crosswalk consideration turns into an actual crosswalk, and I don't think
I think you'll be painting lines across that road in the snow, but, you know, first thing in the spring, it'd be nice to see the lines get painted and the signs go up.
Councillor, I'll end up here, Mayor.
Thank you, Mayor. I certainly want to speak in support of this.
As we broke, the two of the ladies came up, the two carons came up and they spoke, and the ones that her grandchildren crossed that road every single day.
And that's a really scary thought that they're doing so without that kind of safety and especially when it's dark at four o'clock here right now.
So certainly appreciate Councillor St. Denis making this motion and taking such a passionate role with all of this.
Anyone else?
All right.
I also, you know, I think it's a great motion and I think, you know, even what I heard tonight from the two parents, I didn't know their name was Karen.
I think I really appreciate the fact that the town is able to go and talk to them.
And also, you know, discussing even with the school system as a private owner to be able to look at what they can do to enhance that safety at this moment for the kids instead of having to walk across and just start that enhancement on his own property as private ownership of the road there.
So I'm sure that we will have a lot safer area in the matters of Maureenville for those kids, so I will be supporting this.
So with that, do you want to close?
No, I really appreciate the perspectives and certainly the support on this.
And I know that I wasn't the first member of council to bring this forward.
I know that others including Councilor White was sort of banging this drum early on in our
term in terms of with respect to some of the safety concerns that the residents brought forward
then and have continued to bring forward. And I'm really hopeful that there can be not only some
long-term solutions to ensure safe passage, but also some temporary solutions to bridge
the gap between some of the studies and some of the upgrades that are scheduled in the
coming years.
All right.
Thank you very much.
I'm with that.
I'll ask the question.
All those in favor?
All right.
And that is unanimous.
All right.
Any other motions coming out is Councillor Richardson?
Yeah, thanks. And actually, this is probably more of a subsequent motion on that one, but I'd like to make a motion that counsel directs administration to come back with a couple cross lock costs for that area, temporary solution, and then permanent solution so that would be my motion.
Right. You want to open or did you want to lay it out first?
Yeah, and I guess the address would be 100 street and Meadows Drive, or 107th Ave.
Councillor Richards, you want to look at the motion there?
That's the one.
All right. Did you want to speak to it?
Yeah, I'll just speak to the motion.
And I thought Councillor St. Denise's motion first was good.
I just worry a little bit about how, or say I said, maybe the transactional piece
where, you know, this is something that's set in stone, we're going to have something
come back. It gives us a solution. We can either take it, move it to another capital
project, but this at least gets the ball rolling here, and we're not kicking it down the street.
We're waiting for this to come back.
So anybody want to speak to that?
Councillor, when are we looking to come back, Rebecca,
how long do you think that would take
for you?
So February is good for me.
February 11th, then.
Did you want to put that on there?
Yeah, a February meeting of council is perfect for me.
Any other questions?
Well, she's finishing typing.
All right.
Did you want to close?
I guess just the only close is hopefully before February 11th, there's the meeting with the
landowner there, and potentially there's a solution that comes up before this.
If not, this is an opportunity for us to pick a solution, and hopefully make the crossing
they're safer for everybody.
Thank
you. With that, I'll ask the question. All those in favor? All right, and that motion has passed unanimously.
So, are there any other motions that have come out? All right. Seeing none, we'll move on to 11, 11.1 so Councillor
or they full notice of motions.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
So my motion that I put as a notice of motion
is that council direct administration
to bring the responsible pet ownership bylaw number five,
2016 to council, to review fines associated with sections
and you can see them there 6.3 A through,
as well as any other penalties council may wish to review.
Once you accept this, I'm going to make an amendment to that motion and I'll explain why in my opening.
Okay,
go ahead.
Okay, so if the motion is on the table, I want to immediately amend it.
If we can bring that up, I sent that in earlier today.
So my amendment would be that the proceeding motion be amended with two words.
Return to Council in T1 of 2025 with the Responsible Pet Ownership by Love 5, 2016 for review and
possible amendments.
The reason for that is I came to this with some very specific ideas surrounding loose
dogs, not picking up feces, loose cats, roaming cats, that kind of thing.
But as I started to dig a little deeper, I realized we haven't looked at this thing
in eight years, and it'll be nine years by the time we get to it.
And I thought it might be a good time to bring that policy back.
The only thing that I could find that we've done with it since then is getting an update
in 2018 to indicate that there wasn't a big uptake on special animals and chickens,
which is where this thing originally came into being so that's my opening I think we should take a look at the entire thing and at that time I'll speak to the fines and so on, which apparently haven't been increased in nine years.
Thank you very much. And are there any questions of council for council?
I think it's a good idea to look at policies before nine years, but we didn't so now's our opportunity.
Thank you, and I'll ask for the vote. All those in favor?
All right, and that is unanimously passed.
Was there any other notice of motions that came forward?
So he put forward an amendment motion so we just have to go back to the original as amended.
We just have to do that vote.
Okay, thank you.
So want to go to it.
All right.
Thank you very much for that.
So as the as amended so we will.
Does anybody have any questions or debate on this?
Seeing none, I know you don't want to close, so ask the question, all those in favor.
All right, that is unanimously passed.
Is there any other notice of motions? Go ahead.
At the January 14, 2025 council meeting, I intend to put forward the following motion.
the Council-directed administration to review and return to Council in the first quarter of 2025
with a report on enforcement services and its enforcement of community bylaws. The report
should, one, examine the current complaint-driven process compared to any proactive enforcement
work being undertaken, two, provide suggestions for improvement to existing processes,
three offer recommendations for potential enhancements to the program.
Thank you for bringing that forward and are there any other motions?
All right, seeing none, I will, I also need to motion to go past 8 PM tonight since we have a closed session coming up here yet.
So Deputy Mayor.
I'll make that motion so moved that we're past 8 p.m.
All right. Any debate on that? I'll ask the question. All those in favour? All right.
Okay, so we will then have a motion, a recommended motion, Councillor White.
I move that Council move into close session to discuss item 12.1. CAO slash Council's dialogue
log pursuant to Section 24, the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act, RSA 2000, CHF 25.
Thank you very much.
All right, there's no debate, seeing no debate, I'll ask the question, all those in favor.
All right, and that's unanimous.
All right, so we are, we came out a closed session and at 8, 16, and we are asking for adjournments since there's no business arising. So, Councillor Daveful, so move. All right, all those in favor? Thank you.