[0:32] Thank you.

[0:38] » I know.

[0:57] All right.

[1:06] In the spirit of respect, authenticity,

[1:08] and reconciliation, the town of

[1:09] Slavelike honors and acknowledges that

[1:11] we are situated on the traditional lands

[1:13] of sovereign First Nation within Treaty

[1:15] 8 territory, home to indigenous, matey,

[1:17] and Inuit peoples who have occupied

[1:19] these lands since time immemorial.

[1:21] Councelor Gamick.

[1:27] I'd

[1:28] >> like to make a motion to adopt the

[1:30] agenda as presented.

[1:31] >> Motion on the floor. Any further

[1:33] discussion? Call to question. Those in

[1:35] favor and that one is carried. Perfect.

[1:38] We can move right into reports of new

[1:40] business and service level on dust

[1:43] control, gravel roads, and street

[1:45] sweeping.

[1:47] Alvin, floor is yours.

[1:50] >> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Purpose

[1:53] of the report is to provide council a

[1:56] summary of dust control uh gravel roads

[1:58] and street sweeping. The background

[2:01] every year the town performs the dust

[2:03] control, gravel maintenance program and

[2:05] street sweeping. The programs are

[2:07] essential and a part of of maintaining

[2:09] gravel uh paved and gravel streets to

[2:12] prevent higher capital costs in the

[2:14] future. uh discussion

[2:17] uh dust control involves the application

[2:19] of a dust control agent uh to gravel

[2:23] roads to minimize the dust. The dust

[2:26] suppressant used in town is calcium

[2:28] chloride. The calcium is applied to the

[2:31] gravel and retains moisture to help

[2:33] weigh the dust particles down. It also

[2:36] acts as a road stabilizer

[2:40] by adding uh calcium to the gravel.

[2:43] helps bind the smaller particles to the

[2:45] aggregate together and tighten up the

[2:48] road surface. This also helps seal the

[2:51] road to minimize water penetration when

[2:53] it rains. Repeating this pro process

[2:56] every year will improve the road surface

[2:58] and base for better quality of roads.

[3:02] All gravel roads uh are are part of the

[3:06] dust pro program. In Slave Lake, there's

[3:09] about 17 kilometers of roads that need

[3:11] dust control, excluding alleys.

[3:15] Every road in town receives one

[3:16] application per year. In the spring,

[3:19] until the frost is out of the ground, we

[3:20] try uh to disturb the surface as little

[3:23] if possible. This differs from roads

[3:26] that do not have any treatment. Treated

[3:29] roads form a hard crust and minimize the

[3:31] soft spots and prevent the help prevent

[3:35] the frost boils. That's a dark mudlike

[3:37] crap. Um, disturbing these frost boils

[3:41] opens up the crust and spreads quickly

[3:44] to become larger spots that will need uh

[3:47] lead to more expense extensive repair.

[3:51] Once frost is out of the ground and the

[3:53] roads firm up, usually end of May to

[3:56] early June, the roads are shaped up by

[3:58] the grater in preparation for the dust

[4:00] control or for gravel. Uh gravel can be

[4:03] typically laid uh mid June or mid yeah mid to late June.

[4:11] The successful contract of of our gravel

[4:13] maintenance program will deliver the

[4:15] gravel and roughly spread it down the

[4:17] road. The greater will finish spreading

[4:19] the gravel

[4:21] and uh work it into the road. Each

[4:25] summer, we budget for approximately 50%

[4:27] of the roads, putting a 2-in lift of

[4:29] gravel to maintain the structure of the

[4:31] road. When the gravel is placed, uh when

[4:36] the gravel when all the gravel is

[4:37] placed, the grater will dress up the

[4:39] road and prepare it for calcium. After

[4:42] all the gravel roads are finished being

[4:45] dressed up, the calcium is brought in

[4:47] and sprayed evenly down the road.

[4:50] Maintenance after requires pre-wetting

[4:52] the road uh prior to grading to maintain

[4:55] the effect effectiveness of calcium.

[5:00] Grading throughout the summer months

[5:02] happens once uh

[5:05] every uh one to two weeks. Uh we monitor

[5:09] the roads weekly and if they need it, we

[5:11] grade them sooner.

[5:13] This process is done earlier.

[5:17] Uh this process is not done earlier as

[5:19] it we would require two amounts of

[5:21] calcium and would be uh covered with the

[5:24] gravel when we do our gravel maintenance

[5:26] program. The pro the full process cost

[5:30] approximately 95 or $94,000.

[5:33] Uh the cost uh includes purchase of the

[5:36] gravel, preparing the roads uh purchase

[5:40] of gravel as well as maintaining the

[5:42] roads after the dust present.

[5:45] Uh street sweeping is another form of

[5:48] dust control. This allows for the

[5:50] removal of sand and salt throughout the

[5:53] winter that we use throughout the

[5:54] winter. This process cleans up the

[5:57] streets and prevents trash, dirt, and

[5:59] other debris from commun commun

[6:01] accumulating in the storm system.

[6:05] Uh there are two components to sweeping.

[6:07] The first is the initial uh cleanup

[6:10] including lawn and boulevard sweeping.

[6:12] The second is the ongoing maintenance

[6:14] throughout the summer. Uh water jets on

[6:17] the sweeper are used to minimize the

[6:19] dust that is kicked up by the brooms.

[6:22] Street sweeping starts in the spring

[6:23] when the overnight temperatures are

[6:25] constantly above freezing and most of

[6:28] the snow snow is melted. The initial

[6:30] cleaning starts with the two large

[6:32] brooms uh going out and doing the mains

[6:35] collectors arterials and picking up the

[6:38] bulk of the winter sand and salt.

[6:41] Once the remainder of the snow was

[6:43] melted off the lawns, the little

[6:44] sleepers sent out uh to remove the sand

[6:47] and salt that was left over from snow in

[6:50] the windross.

[6:51] Uh res residential lawn and sidewalk uh

[6:55] cleaning only occurs to properties that

[6:57] are on the designated side of the road.

[6:59] That's the side of the road that we put

[7:01] the snow on. The debris the debris is

[7:04] swept onto the road and then the bigger

[7:06] sweepers pick it up and haul it out to

[7:08] their snow dump. This completes the

[7:12] initial spring cleaning.

[7:15] After the cleanup has happened, we shift

[7:17] into m summer maintenance. Downtown core

[7:21] uh is scheduled to be cleaned once a

[7:23] week. This generally happens in the

[7:26] middle of the night on night shift. All

[7:28] means, arterials and collectors will

[7:30] also be cleaned once a week. This

[7:32] happens during normal hours. Residential

[7:35] sweeping will occur twice per month. Uh,

[7:38] and this also happens during regular

[7:40] hours. And of course, this is all very

[7:43] weather dependent as we found out this

[7:46] year.

[7:48] Um,

[7:49] any questions?

[7:53] » Councelor Hughes.

[7:54] >> Thank you, Calvin. Um, just to your

[7:56] comment about whether then, so are we a

[7:58] little bit behind with sweeping in

[8:00] residential areas at this point just due

[8:02] to all the rain or

[8:04] >> Yeah, we are. We have swept residential

[8:06] twice. Um, All quadrants.

[8:08] >> Yeah.

[8:09] >> Oh, okay.

[8:09] >> The hurdle we have is when it rains, uh,

[8:12] it's an oil field come uh, town, so when

[8:14] it rains, all the trucks bring the dirt

[8:17] and mud and stuff like that and they

[8:19] just like Caribou Trail, we've swept, I

[8:21] think, three or four times already.

[8:23] >> Okay.

[8:24] >> And it looks like it's just Yeah.

[8:27] >> Okay.

[8:27] >> So, the rain is uh not our friend when

[8:29] it comes to sweeping.

[8:30] >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

[8:34] Okay. Anything

[8:38] further from council on that? Councelor

[8:40] Chova.

[8:46] » I'd like to make a motion to accept the

[8:49] service levels summary of dust control

[8:51] gravel roads and street sweeping report

[8:53] as information.

[8:54] >> Okay. Motion on the floor. Any further

[8:56] discussion? Call to question. Those in

[8:58] favor and that is carried. Thanks.

[9:01] >> Thank you.

[9:03] >> All right. Next up, thank you. You too.

[9:09] >> Operating budget update. Roland.

[9:13] >> All right. Uh, [clears throat] good

[9:14] evening, your worship and members of

[9:15] council. Uh, the purpose of tonight's

[9:17] report is just to give council an update

[9:20] as to where we're sitting as of June

[9:22] 30th on our operating budget. Uh, I'm

[9:25] not going to go over everything. I am

[9:26] going to go over some of the highlights.

[9:28] Uh, some things are kind of in line. I'm

[9:30] just going to skip over those, but I

[9:31] will go with the ones that uh uh do have

[9:34] some variance uh on that. Uh the overall

[9:37] big picture right now uh for the revenue

[9:40] is that uh operating revenues are

[9:42] sitting at 18 18.2 million representing

[9:45] 71% of the approved uh $26 million

[9:48] annual revenue budget. Uh for municipal

[9:51] taxes, uh all municipal tax revenue has

[9:54] been invoiced for the year uh with

[9:56] revenues at 10.5 million or 100% of the

[9:58] annual budget. Uh this represents the

[10:00] total invoices build but not yet

[10:02] collected. Um I did provide a breakdown

[10:05] of exactly where we're sitting with our

[10:07] receivables uh as of July 1st for our

[10:10] taxes. Uh so currently we have $3.8

[10:12] million in 2026 outstanding. Um, that

[10:16] does seem like a big amount, but uh, for

[10:17] the most part uh, a lot of that is on

[10:20] the pre-authorized payment plan. So, not

[10:22] everybody pays the full amount on June

[10:24] 30th. We expect to collect most of that

[10:26] by December 31st. Uh, in 2025 we have

[10:29] $152,000 in rears. In 2024, we have

[10:32] 36,000. Uh, 2023 we have 9,000 and in

[10:38] 2022 and prior years we have 556,000.

[10:42] And in the 2022 total and prior, uh

[10:44] there's approximately three properties

[10:46] with one property in that range. That

[10:49] basically accounts for 90% of the uh

[10:51] total outstanding amount.

[10:54] Uh total arars uh total 754,000.

[10:58] Uh current roles are 1,392.

[11:02] Um and we do have 1,60 rolls that are on

[11:06] the pre-authorized payment plan. So, I'm

[11:08] just bringing that report back. When we

[11:09] did start the pre-authorized payment

[11:11] plan and tried to push this, we started

[11:13] around 56% about 8 years ago of the town

[11:16] that was on the pre-authorized payment

[11:18] plan. We're now sitting around 76%. So,

[11:20] that's come a long way. A lot of people

[11:22] have signed up to to pay their taxes on

[11:24] a monthly basis.

[11:26] Uh, so I think that's a a good thing.

[11:29] Uh, for user fees and sales are good.

[11:31] Um, so overall, we're sitting at 52% of

[11:34] budget. Not really any concerns here. uh

[11:37] the water and sewer uh fees are trending

[11:40] a little bit lower. Um not really

[11:42] surprising. It's been a very very uh wet

[11:45] year and winter never ended. So you

[11:49] don't have to uh water your grass and so

[11:51] we are seeing that. Um however the good

[11:53] news on that one is that re that lost

[11:56] revenue is uh offset uh with higher than

[12:00] expected revenues from our bulk water.

[12:01] So we're doing uh really good on our

[12:03] bulk water and our bulk sewer. um that

[12:06] to cover that kind of little dip in and

[12:10] less water usage.

[12:13] Uh penalties uh penalties are sitting

[12:15] around 42% of the year. Uh they're

[12:18] trending lower than expected. Um

[12:22] and I think this is just mainly

[12:23] attributed to the fact that our

[12:24] pre-authorization

[12:26] uh tax amounts uh are sitting at a

[12:28] record high of 76%. So we're having less

[12:31] people um paying once at a time kind of

[12:34] or you know failing to pay and incurring

[12:36] those penalties and going on the monthly

[12:38] plan. So uh we will be looking at

[12:40] projecting uh a different uh penalty

[12:42] revenue for the years going forward. Uh

[12:45] license and permits

[12:48] uh it's sitting around 90,000 or about

[12:50] 65% of budget. Uh this revenue here is

[12:53] projected to be under budget for the

[12:55] year. Uh so the two factors there just

[12:57] slightly lower than anticipated.

[12:58] business license revenue for the year

[13:00] and then the bigger one is just the

[13:01] cancellation fees for the planning and

[13:03] development permits for the year.

[13:06] Other than that, um the only other one

[13:09] other revenue where uh we have a little

[13:11] bit of variance there is just other

[13:13] revenue. It's sitting at 190,000 or 74%

[13:16] of budget. Um we are projecting revenue

[13:19] here to come in higher than budget and

[13:21] this is just a result of a number of

[13:23] donations made uh that were not

[13:26] anticipated during budget. Um however

[13:28] this additional revenue will be offset

[13:29] by uh the expenditures that we incur

[13:32] from the donations.

[13:35] Um so overall uh revenue we're uh

[13:38] looking good. Uh on the expense side

[13:41] uh same kind of story here. Total

[13:43] operating expenses are about 11 million

[13:45] representing 52%. Uh so halfway through

[13:48] the year right right around the half

[13:50] mark. Uh no uh no real overall concerns.

[13:55] Um I did provide two breakdowns here. So

[13:57] salaries, wages, and benefits overall

[14:00] the total big picture. Um we're sitting

[14:03] at 51% of budget and we don't expect uh

[14:06] to exceed that budget. Uh the devil's in

[14:09] the details within certain departments

[14:11] where we do have certain uh overruns,

[14:13] but overall big picture, we should be

[14:15] able to offset some of the overruns uh

[14:17] where we have unridges in other places

[14:20] to kind of cover all the overall

[14:22] salaries and wages. uh budget

[14:26] uh contracted and general services. Um

[14:30] no anticipation of overages here. Again,

[14:33] uh the big caveat on this one is um

[14:36] snow. So we have used up our entire snow

[14:39] budget. We did budget for that. We

[14:41] anticipated that um should we have you

[14:43] know a massive snowfall again if the

[14:46] spring and winter stays the same. Yes,

[14:48] we are going to have a bit of a

[14:49] challenge on our overall contractors and

[14:52] general services. But for right now um

[14:54] we believe we can maintain uh budget

[14:58] materials supplies and utilities

[15:02] um currently represent uh 1.4 million

[15:05] representing about 45% of budget. Uh

[15:07] right now utilities, power and gas are

[15:09] trending lower and are expected to come

[15:11] in under budget. Uh the assumption here

[15:14] again is made for uh a mild summer

[15:17] season along with average fall

[15:19] temperatures. Um, if we see 30°ree

[15:22] September and 30°ree August, of course,

[15:24] air conditioning goes up, power might go

[15:26] up. That could affect that. Um, I'm not

[15:28] anticipating that. Um, the only other uh

[15:32] area here where we are definitely going

[15:34] to exceed budgeted limits. However, um,

[15:37] with this lower power and gas things, we

[15:40] should be able to offset that is just

[15:41] our fuel expenses. Uh so both fuel

[15:44] budgets at fire services and operations

[15:46] are expected to exceed amounts by about

[15:49] $10,000 and $50,000 respectively. Um and

[15:53] that's just due to uh overall increased

[15:55] fuel prices uh for the whole year and

[15:58] then we'll see what the the fall brings.

[16:02] Um

[16:04] so overall um on the big picture for

[16:07] expenses uh we are expecting to kind of

[16:09] come in right on the mark right now uh

[16:12] with a current projection with a small

[16:14] surplus of about $12,000.

[16:17] Um where were uh where where we had some

[16:20] concerns uh within the individual

[16:21] departments. Uh so council right now is

[16:24] sitting at 62% of the budget. Um looking

[16:27] at the uh meeting fees, uh council has

[16:30] now spent its entire meeting budget for

[16:32] the year. So we are going to have some

[16:34] cost overages there uh for the end of

[16:36] the year. Again, looking at other areas,

[16:39] we do have some other areas where um

[16:41] we'll be able to cover some of those

[16:43] overages. Um

[16:47] uh the other areas where we expect some

[16:48] a little bit of overages here, uh fire

[16:50] services, uh currently total is 1.4 4

[16:53] million or 55% of budget. Um, and while

[16:57] revenues right now are currently sitting

[16:59] at 60% of budget, uh, we did take uh, we did budget in this year for about

[17:04] a $200,000 in deployment revenue. And of

[17:08] course, then Mother Nature decided to

[17:11] uh, make it rain and squash all of our

[17:14] potential fires.

[17:17] Um so we probably won't be again you

[17:20] never know uh receiving that uh revenue.

[17:22] So in uh in that case here this revenue

[17:25] shortfall will have to be split between

[17:27] the town and the MD.

[17:33] Um other than that those were just the

[17:34] two areas of concern right now where we

[17:37] just expected some overages or we're not

[17:40] collecting the revenue. All other uh

[17:42] departments right now are currently

[17:44] sitting at that 50% mark. um kind of in

[17:47] line with prior years and we don't

[17:48] really have uh at this time uh any

[17:51] expectation of uh further budget

[17:53] overruns uh as of today.

[17:58] With that, I'll open it up to any

[17:59] questions for council.

[18:04] In the uh two sheets there too, you'll

[18:05] have your year to dates and the

[18:07] projections also as in the columns

[18:10] there.

[18:10] >> Well, I'll start it off with some

[18:12] questions. Um, so my questions are

[18:13] actually just regarding the forecast

[18:15] versus the approved budget. Um, and just

[18:19] some curiosity. So, water supply and

[18:21] distribution. I've got here

[18:24] approximately a $217,000

[18:28] increase expected for the forecasted for

[18:30] the 2026 year. I'm just wondering why

[18:32] such a swing based on the budget.

[18:34] Usually, water's fairly stable

[18:37] >> for Okay, so which revenue expenses

[18:40] >> uh expenses? water supply and

[18:41] distribution. I'm just looking at your

[18:43] forecasted year end column and your

[18:45] approved budget column because it just

[18:47] the forecast is

[18:48] >> Oh yeah. So u so on this run right here

[18:52] I have reserves transfers built right

[18:53] in. So that does cover that. So uh based

[18:56] on the current revenue project and our

[18:58] current expenses I'm expecting that

[19:00] we'll be able to transfer a little bit

[19:01] more into reserve. So it's not an

[19:02] overall bad thing. it just shows a

[19:05] higher

[19:06] >> expense because of the reserve

[19:07] >> in this in this format uh reserve

[19:10] transfers are included in the

[19:12] department.

[19:12] >> So in that same comparing those two

[19:14] columns my other questions would be

[19:16] there's a projected

[19:19] um community services it's looking like

[19:21] it's under approximately 246,000 off of

[19:24] the budget for year to date. utilities

[19:27] and power power and gas right now for uh

[19:30] the MRC are definitely working in our

[19:33] favor.

[19:34] >> Okay. Um same thing. So administration

[19:37] I've got 400,000 as a discrepancy.

[19:40] >> Um that's again where we're offsetting

[19:42] some of that. So administration we did

[19:44] add a new position and there's some

[19:46] other

[19:47] >> why it's lower that you have 2.9 million

[19:49] for forecasted and approved budget is

[19:51] 3.3.

[19:53] So that's what my curiosity is why it's

[19:57] If we're trying to because we've been

[19:58] trying to get budgets as aligned as

[19:59] possible. So if there's big swings like

[20:00] a power and gas that's expected. I was

[20:04] just curious why the discrepancy in

[20:05] administration.

[20:09] » Let me get back to you.

[20:10] >> Yep. That'd be great. Um and then as far

[20:14] as the overages for meeting fees. So for

[20:16] council for meeting fees is that what is

[20:18] that? Is that the hourly? Which

[20:19] category?

[20:19] >> Hourly because there is that's the only

[20:21] one left, right? We have the bi-weekly

[20:22] allowance and then you have the hourly.

[20:24] So when we did that originally I budget

[20:27] it's uh 40 we had that spreadsheet about

[20:29] 40 meetings a year.

[20:30] >> Okay.

[20:31] >> So we've basically I said for council

[20:33] you've probably hit that mark right now.

[20:35] >> Okay. So it's the meeting fees are the

[20:36] hourly meetings that we've under

[20:38] budgeted for.

[20:39] >> Okay.

[20:47] Anything further from the rest of

[20:48] council?

[20:51] Okay. Okay. So, yeah, if you can just

[20:52] get back to us on that uh on that

[20:55] discrepancy there, that would be great.

[20:57] I would entertain a motion from council

[20:59] then.

[21:05] Councelor Choba.

[21:07] >> Thank you.

[21:09] Um I'd like to move to

[21:14] accept the operation budget update as

[21:16] information.

[21:16] >> Motion on the floor. Any further

[21:18] discussion?

[21:19] Call to question. Those in favor and

[21:22] that one is carried. Thank you.

[21:27] councelor Hughes is

[21:30] >> just Okay, perfect.

[21:32] >> Okay, next up,

[21:36] Joe.

[21:41] » It's a quick turnaround on a bylaw.

[21:44] >> Mhm.

[21:47] » Under the circumstances.

[21:50] Uh good evening uh your worshiing

[21:52] council. Uh presenting tonight bylaw

[21:55] number 10-2026

[21:57] leisure economic assistance program

[21:59] bylaw. The purpose of this report is to

[22:01] present the revised and updated leisure

[22:03] economic assistance bylaw number 10-2026

[22:07] for council's consideration and to

[22:09] recommend that council give the bylaw

[22:10] reading um as the revisions from last

[22:14] week strengthen the overall governance

[22:16] framework for the town's leisure

[22:18] economic assistance program by improving

[22:20] administrative clarity, enhancing

[22:22] accountability, expanding eligibility

[22:24] provisions, and establishing consistent

[22:26] procedures for program administration.

[22:28] Again, for background, the existing

[22:30] leisure economic assistance policy was

[22:32] adopted in 2015 and has served the

[22:34] foundation for the town's recreation fee

[22:36] assistance program. Since that time,

[22:38] municipal practices, legislative

[22:40] requirements, and community expectations

[22:42] have evolved significantly.

[22:44] Administration undertook a comprehensive

[22:46] view and have created a bylaw to ensure

[22:47] it reflects current best practices,

[22:49] improve accessibility for residents

[22:51] experiencing financial hardship, and

[22:53] provides a moderate administrative

[22:54] framework for the delivery of recreation

[22:56] fee assistance.

[22:58] administration has completed a detailed

[23:00] review of the proposed bylaw

[23:01] incorporating council's feedback to

[23:03] improve clarity, consistency, and

[23:05] operational effectiveness and

[23:06] legislative alignment. Uh the bylaw also

[23:09] reflects current privacy requirements,

[23:11] establishes clear administrative

[23:13] responsibilities and strengthens dispute

[23:15] resolution process while ensuring

[23:17] stewardship of municipal resources.

[23:20] administration has completed a review um

[23:23] to ensure that it provides a clear,

[23:25] transparent and sustainable framework

[23:27] for administering the LEAP program. Uh

[23:29] the revisions improve the readability of

[23:31] the bylaw by expanding definitions uh

[23:33] and responsibilities. Uh there are three

[23:36] options administration that I

[23:38] administration has identified. The

[23:40] recommended option is to give the

[23:41] reading of the bylaw. Uh this option

[23:44] modernizes the fee assistance program as

[23:46] discussed. Uh section 7 provides three

[23:49] options for council's consideration and

[23:51] approval that community services can use

[23:53] moving forward as the program benefit

[23:55] guidelines. Implementation can occur

[23:57] using existing administrative resources

[23:59] and will support improved customer

[24:00] service and operational efficiency.

[24:02] Alternatively, the council may refer the

[24:04] bylaw back to administration for

[24:05] additional revisions. While this would

[24:07] provide an opportunity for further

[24:08] refinement should council identify

[24:10] additional changes, it would obviously

[24:12] delay implementation of the updated

[24:14] policy and require additional staff time

[24:16] and future council consideration.

[24:18] Council may also choose to defeat the

[24:20] proposed bylaw. This option would

[24:21] maintain the existing policy framework,

[24:23] however, would leave the town operating

[24:25] under an outdated policy that doesn't

[24:27] fully reflect current administrative

[24:29] practices.

[24:30] The proposed revisions in this proposed

[24:32] bylaw, taking it from policy to a bylaw,

[24:35] are not expected to create significant

[24:37] financial or staffing impacts beyond

[24:39] those already approved through the

[24:40] annual operating budget process. The

[24:43] LEAP program will continue to operate

[24:44] within council approved funding.

[24:46] Administration will manage approvals in

[24:47] accordance with available budget

[24:49] capacity. Operationally, the revised

[24:51] bylaw is expected to improve

[24:52] administrative efficiency by

[24:54] standardizing procedures, clarifying

[24:56] eligibility requirements, reducing any

[24:58] inconsistencies in decision-m, and

[25:01] improve overall program administration.

[25:06] As mentioned last week, this bylaw

[25:09] repeals and replaces policy D-025

[25:13] from 2015, establishing a much more

[25:16] modern governance framework for the LEAP

[25:17] program.

[25:19] The communication strategy following

[25:21] adoption of the bylaw administration

[25:23] will implement a communication strategy

[25:25] to ensure residents and stakeholders are

[25:26] aware of the revised program.

[25:29] Information will be published on the

[25:31] town's website. Application forms and

[25:33] supporting materials will be updated and

[25:34] community organizations, schools, social

[25:37] service agencies, and recreation user

[25:39] groups would be advised of the changes.

[25:41] Internal training will also be provided

[25:42] to community services staff to ensure

[25:44] the revised bylaw is implemented

[25:46] consistently and that applicants receive

[25:48] accurate and timely information

[25:50] regarding eligibility application

[25:52] requirements and available programs. And

[25:54] depending on which of the three options

[25:56] are chosen, there may be minimal impact

[25:58] to our residents and our users. Uh and

[26:01] it very well could be the status fairly

[26:03] much the status quo. Uh the proposed

[26:05] bylaw supports council's commitment to

[26:07] fostering a healthy, inclusive, resil

[26:09] resilient community by reducing

[26:12] financial barriers to participation in

[26:13] recreation and leisure opportunities.

[26:16] The bylaw promotes equitable access to

[26:18] municipal services while ensuring

[26:19] responsible stewardship of public

[26:21] resources through transparent

[26:23] eligibility requirements and accountable

[26:25] administrative processes. Recommendation

[26:27] to council's administration recommends

[26:29] that council uh give all three readings

[26:32] in unanimous consent. Uh the proposed

[26:35] revisions significantly strengthen the

[26:37] bylaw uh as discussed in this

[26:39] presentation and it better position the

[26:41] town to provide equitable and

[26:43] transparent recreation fee assistance

[26:45] while ensuring responsible stewardship

[26:47] of municipal resources.

[27:06] get to the right page here.

[27:17] » So, a couple administrative things from

[27:20] me. 4.10 10 refers to appendix B, but

[27:23] appendix B is blank in here. Is that

[27:25] because it's based on our choices? Okay.

[27:28] >> And then

[27:29] >> and appendix A reads that u

[27:32] >> it's labeled a schedule A

[27:33] >> for the purposes of the bylaw. So that

[27:35] this isn't something as any of the LICO

[27:37] amounts and in discussions with Darcy

[27:39] and FCSS and and kids sports, I think I

[27:42] mentioned to you out of chamber that the

[27:44] rates that they use for LICO are

[27:46] actually higher.

[27:48] >> It's this plus 50%.

[27:49] >> Yeah. Which is interesting because I was

[27:51] just I don't understand why they make

[27:52] the LICO rates with the discussion from

[27:54] last week that we had. Same thing I said

[27:56] if they set rural rates that are for

[27:58] towns their size. It's interesting that

[28:02] those aren't the ones that are used by

[28:04] peers etc. I just found it very odd.

[28:06] That's why my questioning was around

[28:07] that because obviously you hadn't done the research about that. So

[28:10] appendix B is going to have the details

[28:13] based on what we decide here. Just a

[28:15] note that um the body of the bylaw

[28:18] refers to appendix A, but it's labeled

[28:19] as schedule A. So

[28:22] >> B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B was sort of an option in relation to

[28:24] limiting benefits, I think, because

[28:25] we're suggesting to mayor and council

[28:27] that our current program stays the same

[28:29] out of the three options that are listed

[28:31] within section 7.

[28:33] >> Y

[28:34] >> um and and part of the discussion I had

[28:36] with with Darcy was relation to uh those

[28:38] communities that have a 75% off policy.

[28:42] It still creates a situation that family

[28:43] four needs to come up with a

[28:44] considerable amount of money if you're

[28:46] on a budget. So I believe we figured out

[28:48] a family of four or a family of five

[28:49] would need to come up with over $300 to

[28:52] pay that 25% portion of a family pass.

[28:55] So though it's an option here on the

[28:56] page, it's not my preference or

[28:58] recommendation to council. I think our

[29:00] current model, particularly based on

[29:02] usage, as discussed last week, is very

[29:04] reasonable and and fills a need within

[29:07] the community, but it's not something

[29:08] that's overtly been used and we have

[29:12] tremendous numbers. It's a small portion

[29:14] of the community that

[29:14] >> is that so is that option one, two, or

[29:16] three? Just

[29:19] >> 75%.

[29:20] >> Uh the option I'm suggesting is that the

[29:22] it 7.1.1

[29:24] >> it's the one 7.1.2 he's talking about

[29:26] the

[29:27] >> I'm discussing 7.1.2, which is the

[29:29] second option.

[29:30] >> Third option is what some communities

[29:32] use similar to St. Albert where it's an

[29:35] either or situation. It's one free

[29:37] six-month pass or again 75% off an

[29:40] annual pass.

[29:41] >> And so you're suggest So administration

[29:43] is suggesting

[29:44] >> administrator suggesting 7.1

[29:46] >> 1.1.

[29:49] >> So the multif family membership hassles

[29:51] and a $40 discount.

[29:54] >> Okay. So what so the first one

[29:56] >> is what we do now and then the other two

[29:58] options are for council's discussion and

[30:00] consideration now

[30:01] >> for consideration

[30:05] » what she's saying is you change it to

[30:07] schedule a notending

[30:15] you got to change it to schedule aendex

[30:18] >> okay gotcha

[30:25] So currently annual multif family passes

[30:27] plus a $40 program discount. So that is

[30:31] we provide it to if they qualify for the

[30:33] program anyone that qualifies and that's

[30:36] to all the pool MRC etc.

[30:39] >> And we have never administered the $40.

[30:41] It's never been used. It's always just

[30:43] >> the $40 program discount. So that's when

[30:45] it's outside. So that would be if you

[30:47] wanted to sign up for

[30:48] >> summer splash.

[30:48] >> Okay,

[30:49] >> it is but traditionally people would

[30:50] apply for greater funding through kids

[30:52] sport or jump start.

[30:54] >> Okay, so that's that one's just usually

[30:56] not used, but it is a tool there if

[30:58] someone chose to use it. So right now we

[31:01] can it's free essentially annual multif

[31:05] family passes for those that qualify in

[31:06] the program.

[31:07] >> It's sort of a try out fee. $40 would

[31:09] cover usually one day at camp, right? to

[31:11] see whether or not there's a fit for the

[31:12] children andor should they apply next

[31:14] year for maybe jump start and and apply

[31:16] for the whole

[31:18] >> Okay. And so that would be for the

[31:19] obviously not just the facility usage is

[31:21] that's for

[31:22] >> Okay. Okay. No, I just wanted to make

[31:23] sure I understood what that was that

[31:25] kind of stuff.

[31:26] >> Okay.

[31:28] Any questions from council on that or

[31:30] discussion on preferred options?

[31:33] >> Council Hughes.

[31:34] >> The only other one that had flagged for

[31:36] me here was our discussion last week

[31:37] just regarding um being in good

[31:39] standing. So, I was just looking at the

[31:41] 5.1.6.

[31:43] Um, and you're just basically saying as

[31:45] long as they're in good standing with

[31:46] the community service department of the

[31:47] town and the MD, including having no

[31:50] outstanding community services related

[31:52] obligations, um, that would affect their

[31:54] eligibility. So, nothing in terms of

[31:56] other town departments then?

[31:58] >> Not at this time. That's not the

[32:00] suggested administration. We keep

[32:01] focused to the services that we offer

[32:03] and in good standing with us as the

[32:05] offering department.

[32:07] >> Okay.

[32:09] Um,

[32:10] >> yeah, that was just one of our Oh,

[32:11] sorry. Go ahead.

[32:12] >> A lot of times these people applying are

[32:13] renters, so they wouldn't have

[32:15] outstanding taxes. A lot of them are in

[32:17] low-inccome housing.

[32:18] >> In low income. Okay.

[32:20] >> Okay. Yeah, that was just one thing that

[32:22] was kind of a topic of discussion. So, I

[32:24] just thought I would highlight it here

[32:25] and sort of say to council, everybody

[32:28] seems okay with that [laughter]

[32:30] one and moving through that. I was

[32:32] initially on the other like the oppos

[32:34] side that it should be all of that, but

[32:35] I understand if we're looking at

[32:36] barriers to entry for access to

[32:38] community services and recreation. I can

[32:40] see how it makes sense to go with

[32:42] administration's recommendation of oper

[32:44] of it in a silo of good standing with

[32:46] community services

[32:47] >> and and it is at the discretion of the

[32:48] director. So in that situation,

[32:50] councelor Hughes, if there was someone

[32:52] that it was brought to my attention that

[32:53] was another outstanding matter, for

[32:55] instance, uncut lawns or something that

[32:57] bylaw was, you know, dealing with that

[32:59] was an outstanding issue or a vehicle

[33:01] that wasn't being moved. Those would be

[33:03] pieces we could consider and maybe have

[33:05] a conversation with the applicant to

[33:06] say, "We have a concern of the

[33:07] department. It's creating a bit of a

[33:10] delay and try and figure out best

[33:12] possible solution." again u looking at

[33:16] our previous client base and people who

[33:18] were applying for the program I don't

[33:20] see that being the issue that was

[33:22] discussed in our first meeting with tax

[33:24] concerns or water concerns as discussed

[33:27] and again each application's done on a

[33:28] case-by case basis if there's any

[33:31] recommendations or mention from staff

[33:33] that provide new information that should

[33:34] be considered it would be done at that

[33:36] time and obviously if any leap

[33:39] assistance was not provided to that

[33:41] person it would be spelled out in a

[33:43] letter and then the appeal process would

[33:44] start.

[33:45] >> I did read that that you would respond

[33:46] to them with the reasons and I also

[33:48] think that that's great. So everything

[33:49] else in the bylaw I found to be fine. I

[33:51] just wanted to open that up for

[33:53] discussion and make sure everyone was

[33:54] comfortable. But I do appreciate that

[33:55] you guys will be taking it by a case by

[33:58] case basis and I feel confident in that.

[34:00] So

[34:01] >> Alex wanted to weigh in. So, just to add

[34:02] and support support um the community

[34:05] services, one of the things we talked

[34:06] about if if a family uh parents cannot

[34:09] afford their taxes per se or or they've

[34:11] got a grass cutting bylaw fine, is that

[34:13] fair to the children that might be five

[34:15] or six years old to want to go to the

[34:16] pool? So, that's why we left it with the

[34:18] community services department and not

[34:19] punishing the entire family for maybe

[34:22] they can't pay $1,500 in taxes um but

[34:25] they should still be able to get some of

[34:27] that mental health relief. So, that's

[34:28] where we left it at that as a support to

[34:30] what they just said. Okay. Thank you.

[34:37] Okay. Anything further from council,

[34:42] » council?

[34:43] >> No. If there's no other questions, I'll

[34:44] make a motion. But it recommends give

[34:46] second reading, but unless I'm mistaken,

[34:48] we haven't given first reading. So,

[34:50] that's what I'm going to do, right? Y

[34:52] >> needs to be first reading.

[34:53] >> I'll move that council gives bylaw

[34:55] number 10-2026

[34:57] first reading.

[34:58] >> Motion on the floor. Any further

[34:59] discussion? Call to question those in

[35:02] favor and that one is carried.

[35:09] Councelor Bows move that council gives

[35:12] bylaw number 10-2026

[35:15] second reading.

[35:16] >> Motion on the floor. Any further

[35:17] discussion? Call the question. Those in

[35:20] favor and that is carried. Councelor

[35:22] Choba.

[35:23] >> I move that council gives biler number

[35:25] 10-2026

[35:27] unanimous consent for third reading. Any

[35:30] further discussion? Call to question.

[35:32] Those in favor and that is carried. And

[35:35] councelor Williams.

[35:37] >> I move that council gives bylaw number

[35:39] 10-2026

[35:41] third reading.

[35:42] >> Motion on the floor. Any further

[35:43] discussion? Call to question. Those in

[35:45] favor. And that is carried.

[35:49] Okay. Thank you very much.

[35:56] » Okay. On to the CEO update. Alex, floor

[35:59] is yours.

[36:00] >> Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh, so

[36:01] we'll start with planning development on

[36:03] the update today. Um, some of the

[36:05] activity taking place, the staff

[36:06] attended an intermunicipal uh,

[36:08] subdivision appeal or ESTAB hearing um,

[36:11] in support of a local applicant. Some of

[36:13] the summer events taking place. There's

[36:15] been lots of special events which uh,

[36:17] have been benefited the community and

[36:18] the permits are all approved. Again,

[36:20] we're still challenged with some of

[36:21] these events coming in with very short

[36:23] notice, but our planning and development

[36:25] partners has been department has been

[36:26] done a very good job of working through

[36:27] them quickly so that these events can

[36:29] take place. Uh they and the uh again

[36:32] continue to work closely with the other

[36:34] um activities that are taking place

[36:36] coming up

[36:38] under human resources. Um we have some

[36:40] training coming up uh and taking place

[36:42] respectful workplace for all of our

[36:44] staff and mental health for leaders and

[36:47] supervisors is on ongoing. Um it's a quick online takes about an hour

[36:51] for our staff. Um and we've made it

[36:54] through all of our from full-time

[36:56] directors down to the part-time staff.

[36:58] And our internal audit um under health

[37:00] and safety is beginning this year

[37:02] because of our high score last year and

[37:04] all the work that went in is just a

[37:05] report for the next couple years. So we

[37:07] don't have to do all the interviews and

[37:08] audits and things like that. Um which is

[37:09] a feather in the cap to the team. um for

[37:12] projects. So, the multi-purpose HVAC and

[37:15] washroom upgrades have gone out to RFQ

[37:18] or request for proposal.

[37:20] The new diving board has finally been

[37:22] ordered and we're hoping for a delivery

[37:24] in late July and then we'll work on

[37:26] getting it installed. So, that was a

[37:28] carryover project from last year. Um the

[37:30] water main replacement on 11th Avenue um

[37:33] has started. the letters have gone out

[37:35] and as mentioned last week the overlay

[37:37] and grind and fill program um the

[37:40] companies have been notified and they're

[37:41] getting ready to uh mobilize in town. Um

[37:45] community services under FCSS the parade

[37:48] of programs is on September 12th. Um the

[37:50] internal grant applications there was

[37:52] seven received they will be coming to

[37:54] council on August 11th. Uh the pool the

[37:56] school year end swims wrapped up with

[37:58] over eight eight swims with over 100

[38:00] patrons each. Um the MRC had Canada Day

[38:03] with over 500 attendees and um we keep

[38:06] um speaking about the,200 pancakes that

[38:09] were served by the fire department. So

[38:10] that was a a good news on their behalf.

[38:13] The legacy has uh we we installed a

[38:16] ghost kitchen. So if you're not sure

[38:17] what that means, basically anybody can

[38:19] come and just rent the kitchen. It

[38:20] doesn't have to be for an event. And

[38:21] we've had two people sign up for that.

[38:23] So it's another way that we're looking

[38:24] at creating some revenue over there.

[38:27] Um, we have a couple of baseball

[38:28] tournaments that just took place as well

[38:30] as provincials are coming up this

[38:32] weekend and we've had two hockey camps

[38:34] at the MRC and two more coming up uh

[38:37] next month.

[38:38] The fire department, so they've been

[38:40] busy um as even though it's been wet

[38:42] weather, they've still been busy there

[38:44] on the inspection side. There was four

[38:46] inspections, two investigations, and

[38:47] four complaints that were handled in

[38:48] June. the WOOI team coordinator, the

[38:51] admin program coordinator and did some

[38:53] wildfire assessments in a couple of MD

[38:56] properties. They're really pushing

[38:57] wildfire assessments through um Fire

[39:00] Smart Canada right now. There's an

[39:02] online app and our fires smart

[39:03] coordinator is able to handle that. Um

[39:06] their calls uh so far as of July 6 are

[39:09] 344. They're trending up slightly from

[39:11] last year, but nothing um nothing like

[39:14] years previous to that. And currently

[39:16] there's 118 members across the region. A

[39:19] couple of side notes that weren't in the

[39:20] report. Um, recently you may have saw

[39:22] that we put out a post on behalf of the

[39:24] RCMP um for some stolen property. We

[39:26] included pictures, which is something we

[39:28] haven't done in the past very much. So,

[39:30] um, in speaking with the RCMP detachment

[39:32] commander, that's they that's something

[39:33] they're starting to do a little bit more

[39:35] of when they have um good pictures of of

[39:38] potential suspects that they want us to

[39:40] share. So, we're working with them on

[39:41] that. our peace officer. Um he was away

[39:44] last week so I wasn't able to get a

[39:45] quick or an update but he did spend time

[39:47] adjusting his schedule for river boat

[39:49] days, helping out with the parade,

[39:50] fireworks, and patrolling the grounds.

[39:52] Um dealing with unsightly properties at

[39:54] this time of year with all the weather

[39:55] uh the moisture. So we we've got lots of

[39:57] grass um complaints coming in and as as

[40:02] normal right now the encampments

[40:05] operations. So we heard a bit of their

[40:06] street sweeping gravel roads. They

[40:08] weren't able to do the the uh calcium

[40:11] just yet because of the wet weather, but

[40:12] the wet weather also helps with keeping

[40:14] the dust down. So, it is still ongoing.

[40:16] Um recycle keeping that um get grass

[40:18] removal and garbage pickup as needed. Um

[40:20] pothole repairs. I did ask today there

[40:23] was a couple questions on Main Street.

[40:24] So, there is some overlay taking place

[40:26] by between Second and Third AB. So,

[40:28] that's kind of in front of RBC. Um

[40:30] there's going to be some more potholeing

[40:31] done by the the uh Legion. Um, so there

[40:34] is some on more ongoing work going there

[40:36] and line painting um will finish up once

[40:39] the new overlay takes place on the south

[40:41] end of Main Street.

[40:43] Um, and at the water plant, they're

[40:45] painting the new shop, getting that

[40:47] almost finished up and prep work on the

[40:49] line repairs, uh, sewer line repairs and

[40:51] water lines in town. Any questions?

[41:06] Just double checking on that. I asked a

[41:07] question last week about potholes. So I

[41:09] heard you say now that they're doing

[41:10] some work in front of the Legion. Is

[41:12] that

[41:13] >> So there's a um some of the ones the the

[41:16] now that the plants are up and running, there's a a section in

[41:18] front of the Legion um kind of by Carlos

[41:20] there that needs to be worked on. Okay.

[41:22] >> And then the section in front of RBC

[41:23] that's part of the overlay, there's

[41:24] going to be grind and fill done in that.

[41:26] So the little holes won't get filled

[41:28] until the grind and overlay takes place.

[41:29] Okay.

[41:30] >> And and then residential's ongoing, but

[41:31] those are the big ones that are standing

[41:32] out in the community right now on Main

[41:34] Street.

[41:34] >> Okay. So we can expect within the next

[41:36] several weeks that the majority should

[41:38] be filled, I would.

[41:39] >> Yeah. Ongoing. Um those ones are very

[41:41] major, so they'll probably get on them

[41:42] sooner rather than later. Okay.

[41:43] >> And then as the grind and fill takes

[41:45] place, they'll do the ones outside of

[41:46] that patching program.

[41:49] >> Any further questions from council

[41:51] councelor Hughes?

[41:52] >> Uh motion to accept the CAO update.

[41:55] >> Motion on the floor. Any further

[41:56] discussion? Call to question. Those in

[41:57] favor and that is carried.

[42:01] Okay, moving forward into

[42:07] where am I at? Management task list.

[42:10] >> So, thanks again. I just Sorry, I lost

[42:12] my place. Just pulling it up. So, there

[42:14] is a couple things on the management

[42:15] task list.

[42:18] uh the um advertisement for the the kind

[42:23] of the projects was completed and sent

[42:24] out on our social media pages. The um

[42:27] tri council health meeting has been um

[42:30] uh planned and the sale of the VIC for

[42:35] the 64 $642,500

[42:38] was signed last week. So that has been

[42:40] completed. It's just in the MD hands now

[42:41] to finalize the that and the land

[42:44] transfer and all of that. So everything

[42:45] on the current task list has been

[42:47] completed as of today or or just about

[42:49] finalized as of today.

[42:51] >> Councelor Hughes,

[42:52] >> is there a timeline on when things with

[42:55] the VIC will be sort of finalized?

[42:57] >> Yeah, it's uh it's basically in getting

[42:59] the land titles adjusted and getting the payment processed. Um I would

[43:03] suspect be done by the end of August.

[43:05] Okay.

[43:05] >> Uh land titles is a little bit behind,

[43:07] but it's really not. It's just the

[43:08] payment once we have the payment, but

[43:09] the paper the documents were signed by

[43:11] the mayor and myself last week. So our

[43:12] end is done now. is just accepting the

[43:14] payment and finishing the land title.

[43:16] >> Okay, thank you.

[43:17] >> Okay,

[43:23] councelor Choba

[43:24] >> like to move to accept the management

[43:26] task list as information motion on the

[43:28] floor. Any further discussion? Called

[43:30] questions in favor and that is carried.

[43:33] Um, anything for question period?

[43:37] >> Oh,

[43:39] trouble. [clears throat]

[43:41] Quick question, Alex. Um,

[43:46] at our tri council health meeting, we

[43:49] agreed that the town should send a

[43:52] letter to

[43:54] I'll give you um AHS medical affairs. um

[43:59] just supporting

[44:02] our local hospital um and chatting with

[44:05] them about the decision to move or or

[44:09] basically relocate a physician without

[44:11] proper consultation or replacement

[44:14] plans. So basically would admin like me

[44:18] to make a motion on that or is that

[44:20] something that you can take with?

[44:22] >> Yes.

[44:22] >> Okay. All right. I guess I will make a

[44:26] motion tasking admin to um write a

[44:30] letter of support

[44:33] supporting our local um hospital to AHS

[44:38] medical affairs um letting them know

[44:40] about our displeasure in how they've

[44:44] handled the physician relocation from

[44:46] Slave Lake without consultation and

[44:49] replacement planning.

[44:52] >> Okay, there's a motion on the floor. Um

[44:55] any further discussion? Call to

[44:57] question. Those in favor and that is

[45:00] carried and then councelor Chobbo if you

[45:01] can provide the relevant details to

[45:03] administration. Assume there's a bit

[45:06] more specifics that would need to be

[45:07] included in that. Anything further for

[45:10] question period

[45:12] as I see none we can move forward into

[45:15] the committee minutes.

[45:18] Okay. First three are me. So, uh,

[45:21] intermunicipal meeting was held this

[45:24] month. Um, there was discussion

[45:25] surrounding the MD boat launch and

[45:27] needed repairs and the potential for a

[45:29] joint grant application regarding the

[45:31] approximately $75,000 repair cost. We

[45:34] also had a presentation of the

[45:35] intermunicipal bylaw first draft for the

[45:37] MGA. A bylaw is required to govern the

[45:39] intermunicipal committee and it needs to

[45:41] be established to spell out quorum

[45:43] voting requirements and dispute

[45:44] resolution. So, just doing some of the

[45:46] cleanup on the legislative end. uh

[45:48] moving into Alberta North Central

[45:50] Alliance um was presented the ACP

[45:54] housing document that ANSA has been

[45:55] working on for a while. So it was an

[45:57] update on our regional housing study um

[45:59] gathering the data from all the member

[46:01] uh member communities uh regarding

[46:03] vacancies

[46:05] um housing needs. It's actually quite

[46:07] detailed. So, similar to the mental

[46:09] health um information that was gathered

[46:11] and presented just about everywhere in

[46:13] the region, the housing document is

[46:15] intended to have that same presentation

[46:17] as it's as it's finalized. Um so, a lot

[46:20] of the data has never been put into the

[46:21] same place at one time. So, it's very

[46:23] interesting um going through it because

[46:25] it went through all the nations that are

[46:27] members and all of our communities as

[46:29] well. Um and it's uh it's quite

[46:32] detailed. Um so, there we talked about

[46:34] next steps for review and approval on

[46:35] that. There was also discussions

[46:37] surrounding the proposals for using

[46:39] there's an approximately 74,000

[46:40] remaining for the uh related ACP grant.

[46:44] So discussions on how to further that

[46:45] housing document that's coming forward

[46:48] and and what that will look like as well

[46:50] as discussions regarding the economic

[46:51] development advisor courses as um doing

[46:53] that as a regional cohort. So uh be

[46:56] training that involves the certification

[46:58] course talking about how it's delivered,

[47:00] how it's going to be um presented and

[47:03] where. So discussions to make that uh as

[47:05] effective as possible because each uh

[47:07] municipality and nation sent multiple

[47:09] members to come to that to get their EDA

[47:11] training. And

[47:14] then housing

[47:16] the weight list went from 78 to 82. The

[47:19] increase is mostly in senior

[47:21] self-contained and Vanderwell which went

[47:23] from 19 to 24. So that would be from

[47:25] April to May. Um so we are seeing a

[47:29] consistent increase. I think I say this

[47:31] every time uh used weight list used to

[47:33] be 0 to5 about 3 four years ago and now

[47:36] we are seeing that 19 to 24. So we're

[47:39] taking a look at existing projects that

[47:41] we might be able to push forward. Um but

[47:44] that's uh there's significant need for

[47:45] seniors housing. Uh we also went along

[47:48] with our standard business reviewing

[47:50] policies and approval of the 2026

[47:52] business plan that was submitted to the

[47:53] province. Um we're working on improving

[47:56] scheduling. So taking a look at expected

[47:58] timeline for uh repair completion.

[48:00] Usually when tenants move out there

[48:02] sometimes there's repairs that need to

[48:04] be completed and lining that up with a

[48:06] tenant that's ready to go. So we're

[48:08] minimizing the downtime and the vacancy

[48:10] in in the social housing units. Um as

[48:12] well as we went on a tour of 11 units

[48:15] that were transferred from the province

[48:16] into the social housing portfolio. So,

[48:18] they are previously provincial owned and

[48:20] were transferred for a dollar um 11 of

[48:23] them, majority in the southeast into our

[48:25] portfolio, which is great. Um along with

[48:27] a um a grant that goes along with any

[48:30] repair to get them up to to current

[48:32] standards, although most of those units

[48:34] are in very good condition. Um and

[48:36] market appraisals were done ahead of

[48:38] time. So, the province is actually

[48:40] moving away from transferring units into

[48:42] housing authorities. So, uh, we're we're

[48:44] quite lucky to have those those

[48:46] properties transferred over. And that is

[48:49] my three. Tri Council Health. Sounds

[48:51] like you've had an entertaining time.

[48:54] Councelor Bows. So, uh, we had our one

[48:59] of our monthly meetings here just the

[49:00] other day and with it being summertime,

[49:03] of course, there's a lot of people away,

[49:05] so it wasn't very long meeting. Um, of

[49:08] course with summer holidays, this also

[49:10] correlates into longer wait times. if

[49:13] you're looking to get into the clinic.

[49:15] Um, however, we will have two new

[49:17] physicians that will be starting around

[49:19] the end of September or sorry, end of o

[49:22] August, beginning of September. And

[49:24] currently, there is a proposal for a new

[49:27] phone system. It has been submitted to

[49:30] senior management at AHS. So, we will be

[49:33] waiting to see what comes through on

[49:36] that.

[49:38] And that's it.

[49:41] Thank you. Um, library

[49:44] councelor Williams.

[49:46] >> Thank you. Um, so the library committee

[49:50] is pleased to share several positive

[49:52] updates. Um, beginning in September, the

[49:55] library will expand public service

[49:57] hours. Uh, we will be open until 8:00

[50:01] p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and open

[50:04] from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

[50:07] And that's uh beginning in September.

[50:09] Uh, so positive news. Uh the committee

[50:12] is excited to increase access to library

[50:14] services for families, students, and

[50:16] working residents. Um the library

[50:18] programs continue to see strong

[50:20] participation. During May and June, the

[50:23] library hosted 39 programs and

[50:25] activities with total attendance of 684

[50:29] participants.

[50:30] Uh some of the highlights included uh

[50:33] summer kickoff party with 85 attendees,

[50:36] museum day 79. Uh they had a Super Mario

[50:40] day with 65 attendees. Um also along

[50:43] with story times, English as a second

[50:45] language, conversation cafe, book club,

[50:48] writers group, and school visits. Uh an

[50:52] additional 200 craft kits were

[50:54] distributed to community members during

[50:56] that reporting time. as well. Uh the

[50:58] archives continue uh to preserve and

[51:01] promote Slave Lake's history through the

[51:03] community outreach, research assistance,

[51:05] and collection development. Recent

[51:08] activities include included hosting a

[51:11] local history event attended by 84

[51:14] participants, assisting with genealogy

[51:16] and historical research requests,

[51:19] processing donations of photographs,

[51:22] books, yearbooks, and historical

[51:24] materials, creating historical displays,

[51:27] and educational materials for the town's

[51:29] Canada Day celebrations, reviewing and

[51:32] organizing more than 900 pages of

[51:34] historical records. Uh, the library

[51:37] hosted the Alberta Foundation for the

[51:39] Arts traveling exhibit, Scouring Heaven

[51:41] and Earth, that will be showcased until

[51:43] July 22nd if you want to check it out.

[51:46] Uh, the library was also successful in

[51:48] securing a $2,800 in Northern Alberta

[51:51] Foundation grant funding to support

[51:53] future programming and services. Um, as

[51:56] we look ahead to the fall, the well

[51:59] closer to the fall and the new hours,

[52:01] the library committee is excited to

[52:03] welcome residents back for the expanded

[52:05] hours. the programs and continued

[52:07] opportunities to connect, learn, and

[52:09] explore. And thank our community for

[52:11] ongoing support of services.

[52:15] >> Thank you.

[52:17] Okay.

[52:19] Entertain a motion. Thank you, councelor

[52:21] Chova.

[52:23] >> Like to move to accept the committee

[52:24] updates as information.

[52:26] >> Motion on the floor. Any further

[52:27] discussion? Call to question. Those in

[52:29] favor? And that is carried. Uh next ups.

[52:32] Do we have anything for state in the

[52:33] lake from council?

[52:37] I see nothing currently. I would just

[52:39] like to note that council will be on a

[52:41] four-week regular meeting break um

[52:43] returning in August. I believe it's

[52:45] August 11th. So, happy summer to

[52:48] everyone. I think most of our committees

[52:49] are a little bit slowed down. Um so, and

[52:52] there's some holidays going on so uh

[52:54] looking forward to that. Councelor

[52:56] Hughes.

[52:57] >> Uh motion to go into close session.

[52:59] >> Any further discussion? Call to

[53:01] question. Those in favor? And that is

[53:03] carried.

[1:39:16] You will

[1:39:20] » a bird call me.

[1:39:23] >> All right.

[1:39:29] Welcome back, councelor Bows.

[1:39:32] >> Um, I would like to make a motion that

[1:39:35] council authorize administration to seek

[1:39:38] legal advice respecting the developers

[1:39:42] proposals prior to any negotiations or

[1:39:45] amendments to the existing development

[1:39:47] agreements. that administration will

[1:39:49] prepare a detailed confidential report

[1:39:52] including legal advice and

[1:39:54] recommendations and we'll bring it back

[1:39:56] to council for closed session in

[1:39:59] September of 2026.

[1:40:01] >> All right, we have a motion on the

[1:40:02] floor. Is there any further discussion?

[1:40:04] Call to question those in favor and that

[1:40:07] is carried. Councelor Choba

[1:40:10] make motion to adjurnn.

[1:40:11] >> Any further discussion? Call to question

[1:40:13] those in favor and that is carried.

Committee of the Whole July 14, 2026

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