All right, we'll start the regular council meeting for Tuesday, February 11th, 2025. As we gather, we
reminded that the town of Bonneville is situated on Treaty 6 Land that is steeped in rich indigenous
history and is the traditional homeland and home to first nation and mighty people today. We respect
the histories, languages and cultures of first nation, mighty and all first people of Canada
whose presence continues to enrich our community. Okay. First up, we have our agenda where there
are any additions to the agenda. Nothing from administration. Okay. I can get a motion to approve, please.
Councilor Blanchett, I'll live adoption of the agenda as presented. All in favor? Okay.
Next, we have the meeting minutes from January 28th, 2025. Were there any additions or
deletions, changes? None will look per motion to approve, then as presented. Councillor Johnson.
I'll make the motion to accept the minutes as presented. All in favor? Carried. All right. We have a
delegation this evening, the child and adolescent mental health collaborative. Welcome.
Yeah, please, if you can come up. Yeah. Well, we'd like you to use the mic. Oh, yeah. Yes, please.
If you don't mind. We want to hear about you. Oh, we're back again. And we want everybody else to hear.
Hi, everybody. Thank you for having us. Thank you. Kendra, can you just turn over?
Is that better? Okay. Okay. We are here representing the child and adolescent mental health
collaborative again here. We have gotten recent updates to our funding partners that greatly impacts
the operations, facilitations, and services, and supports that our collaborative offers to our
community. So we wanted to come forward in front of the town to give that update as we did not have
it back in September when we were here last time for our requests for funding. So this is just an update
again on the three funding partners that have previously provided funding for the child and adolescent
collaborative. The Bonnieville MD providing 25,000 in matching the towns 25,000 previously.
In September, we did request 50,000 if possible to increase the supports that we've been trying to
provide over the almost 10 years now, which is amazing. So that's 50,000 still sets as the request that we
would hope to receive. And I will update you guys on what would that entail now that Alberta
Health Services also known now as recovery Alberta. Previously gave us 67,000 for our mental
health navigator position. So we can get to the next slide. So the recent update a few weeks ago that we
got from recovery Alberta is that they will be discontinuing all funding in terms of all 67,000 for that
position and the supports of their child mental health therapists to our Tuesday collaborative with
our clinical team. Unfortunately, they did state that we perform very well. Our numbers in providing
decreased emergency visits, primary care access, and supports to our families does very well. But at this
time, it doesn't meet the new mandate for recovery Alberta and the initiatives that they are providing
support for. Those exact mandates were not given to us on why it doesn't meet. Through a few
conversations, it does look like that we don't fall necessarily under an addiction's bracket for them right
now. Although we do provide some of our adolescent support around addictions if they have them because it
is often a core morbidity of a diagnoses of the other ADHD anxiety and depression that we do assess
and monitor and provide support for. So that funding will cease to exist as of March 31st of
this year of 2025. So that leaves us with essentially our mental health navigator position with no
funding to continue. At that time that we were updated, we did request a extension for at least time
for us to figure out a new financial plan and just as of last week we were informed that that was also
declined. They are trying to work with a few different alternative ways for us to connect our,
we have a case load of 70 families right now that are accessing supports from us. And so we are trying
to work with them if they have any alternative routes to getting these families access and support at
the level of a physician monitoring medication treatment and therapeutic goals that that mandates
through our collaborative. And so again, that full 67,000 is allocated usually for a mental
health navigator position. If you can get to the next slide, these are just some of the jobs and
duties of that position. We wanted to give you guys full transparency on what that position holds and what
that funding entails. And so that community navigation piece in that they don't have to be
connected referred to the clinical team. The navigator also is a community resource in navigating
families that aren't connected to the supports that they mean at a primary care lens, whether that
be in schools, whether that be through community agencies or just directly self ask questions about
the program itself about mental health itself and what that can tell. That position also deals with all
of our referral coordination, referral intake, operations and management of that assessment clinic,
administration of the clinic schedule. Like I mentioned, we hold 70 families, so there is follow-up care,
discharge care when we discharge, that all is monitored and managed by the navigator at this time.
And then the other parts of obviously the community building of building relationships, building awareness
education tools to our schools, to our community members and to other agencies in our community and
surrounding communities. You can get to the next page. So what we are here today is to request
so we have broken down, so we will basically not have that funding from recovery Alberta from April
to the next fiscal year of 26. But what we are asking of the town right now and also asking of the
MD to match is to supplement the funding from April to at least December so that we can either,
sorry, either apply for more grants, find other funding sources and just give us some time to try and
figure out how to keep this collaborative effective and operating. So our ask is an additional 25,000 on
top of the 50 that we requested and that we would also request the same 25,000 from the MD to supplement
to get us through to April to December of 2025, which doesn't get us our full fiscal year, but at least
it gives us enough time to apply for further funding. We are already on that road. We have already applied
for the child and mental fund, the federal grant that just came out at the end of 2024. We have sent an
application for that. We are in conversations with the Bonneville Health Foundation, Covenant Health,
and also applications for other local business support or local support in terms of
CNRL, Sonobes, those bigger business agencies. So we are also trying to do our best at not putting again
this all on our town and our MD for that support. But at this time, we were left with a two month,
basically, turnaround to try and secure providing supports for these families and for the community
in the mental health that it provides. The biggest thing that I don't know that recovery
Alberta maybe took into play is the child and adolescent mental collaborative is now the reason
that all of our Bonneville physicians that is our process of getting mental health supports for
children and adolescents around 16 to 17 because we don't have a pediatrician in the area because we
don't have child psychiatry that are accepting new patients, all of our Bonneville physicians that
follow with the Bonneville Medical Clinic use our clinic as triage to get their support for
psychiatry for their kids. So it's not just impacting the specific area that we provide. It's actually
affecting our entire Bonneville Medical Clinic and referral to children getting assessed for ADHD anxiety
and depression. So we are in a little bit of a bind in that but I also wanted you guys to know we are
avidly seeking where we can whether that's small thousand dollar donations, sponsorships,
all the way up to bigger 20s, 30s, 40,000 as well. So that's where we land today with our update from
our recovery Alberta. Questions for you? Thank you. Thanks for the update. I'll open it up to my council
first to see if there's any questions or comments. Elsa Johnson? You know I was going to add some
questions. Thanks for coming in and giving the presentation. Just curious on how the discussions are
going with covenant health is possibly partnering up. So we had a conversation with one of the representatives
from covenant health just between the Christmas break. It was left in her hands to kind of go up
a covenant chain to see if there was possibility of a funding opportunity that covenant health may
take over that recovery Alberta funding as our hospital is covenant health. We have not heard from
Brenda Poole on any updates on that as of this time. Okay. I'm curious did you guys have
managed to have your meeting with Emily Syr? We're just trying to accommodate the schedules around
our physician lead, which is a two to three months turn around in terms of her schedule. So
we are just in the mix of trying to make sure that we can have the right representatives to have that
conversation with. Yeah that's important to get in front of them because he's going to be the big one
advocating in the lead tree you guys. All right. And I think that was a voted. Thank you. Thank you.
Any other questions or comments? Thanks Madam Mayor. Thank you for your presentation guys.
So how long is H.S. supported this position? Since 2016. 2016 so outch. And do they have any way of
are they talked to you at all about replacing or how are you going to replace this? So they do not
have a replacement plan. They're currently trying to help us get access to maybe another
there's not another organization but another way to get families assessed. So they have brought out
Fort McMurray and Graham Prairie in terms of their psychiatric child program. As you guys know that
is a four hour and seven hour drive for our families and not the most realistic for primary care that
we follow up with our families, especially if they're on pharmaceutical treatment every six to eight weeks.
I know same Paul has a division. So the same Paul has an adult psychiatric division and so
there was a psychiatrist that was willing to take later teens. So 16 and above. But he is currently
not accepting any new patients at this time. So nothing in Cole Lake as well, right? No. So maybe Madam Mayor
maybe Nagel can maybe have a look at this because if it's a whole region, yeah, right, that maybe we can
do something there and try and help this situation because if it's not in this region anywhere,
pretty hits Nagel pretty good then. Yeah, child psychiatry for at least primary care providers in
our area, their option is to refer to a program called tele psychiatry. That is a referral consultation
with there's two psychiatrists that deal with the Norse own and it is consultation. So after that
assessment when they meet with them, it is virtual. They give their recommendations on what they
see as treatment but then it is on the referring physician to deal with those treatment goals whether
that be pharmaceuticals or therapy. It is the mandate of that physician to follow up with that family.
Most of I will say around 40% of our current case loader unattached patients. So that leaves our walk in
physicians or emerge physicians to be managing or prescribing those medications which they might as well
be having them as their private practice because they need to be responsible for the medication
that they're prescribing. This seems to be happening more and more where miscellaneous are getting
downloaded over and over and over again and it hurts every municipality in all of Alberta.
I'm hoping that HS I know they're going through a big of people right now so maybe it'll come out in the
wash but it's tough for us, you know, as a municipality as well. Thank you, though, guys. Thank you.
Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you for an excellent presentation for all the work you do in our
community. I'm just not a curiosity on your memo that was sent to us. You are applying for a $500,000
grant over four years for mental health initiatives and it says in there that you would this would allow
you to expand your services. Can you just touch base on what what areas and how you would expand please?
Yes. Yeah, so that is the grant that I was talking about that we sent the application for at the end of January.
So it is the child and mental health fund that was given a federal grant that was open for application at the end of
last year. So our plan is so that is 500,000 for four years for every fiscal year and the plan is actually
to diversify what is already existing within that collaborative team but actually appointing either
a nurse practitioner or physician lead. We would hope a psychiatrist but again it depends on what's available
within our rural stretch. That would also be two psychologists because another program that is the PCN
combined with Northern Light School Division and providing two psychologists and a mental health
nurse and navigator that go into Northern Lights and provide therapy. That
That program will also end in June. So, we lose those psychologists for Northern Lights. So, the hope in the goal is that we can provide this encompassed team of either a physician and nurse practitioner as a psychiatrist, two psychologists, a social worker, mental health navigator, a health coach, in a full encompassing holistic team. That would actually provide supports for not just bodyval, but our surrounding area and not just a certain school division.
All of the surrounding school divisions, the hope would it be, it would go all the way to Colt Lake. Same Paul, Glendon, lacklubish, if we could.
Pending on, it doesn't just then the physicians that we hold now with the collaborative, the criteria is that they're at least attending vulnerable medical clinic as their primary medical home base.
This team would allow us to remove some of that barrier to that bigger team so that we could provide more holistic supports for the entire area.
Perfect, thank you.
Thank you. Any other questions?
Okay, can you, I know you come as a delegation before and talk to us a lot about the mental health collaborative initiative as a whole.
So, can you just break it down? So, how? This is just one position within the collaborative.
A one point here talking about, we had access revenue due to COVID. We had a psychologist or is that disposition or so the revenue that was accumulated over COVID.
We allocated to a social worker position. Who's our family wellness advisor.
So, that was a support that we had that access funding. We saw a need in connecting our parents to natural supports and strategies and family or parenting strategies before we see with the clinical team.
That funding is that for the navigator position. So, without further funding we potentially lose that social work position.
So, so that is something separate. So, we we will be losing that the social worker.
So, we don't have a funding because of my drop in FTE coming back. We can potentially have her at a part time position.
But, again, we wouldn't allocate any business decisions until we know kind of where we are going to be at. I believe.
Kelly, do you know the exact number that we operate on? Is it 100?
Sorry, I just want to make sure my numbers are accurate for you on a total operations.
And where we go annually. Like, this year was 140, but we've given the law off of the project.
Yeah. And so, the hope when we hired that social work position is that we would receive more funding eventually because we have not received an increase in any of our funding since 2016.
So, the goal was that we would hopefully or either split both of these roles enough to accommodate the funding that we did have to still be able to provide the support or try and accumulate all of the roles within one position if we had to.
So, the mental health collaborative initiative will continue.
It's just with without a mental health navigator.
What am I understanding? You know, wouldn't continue because the navigator is the standard to it all.
Okay, yeah, I'm trying to understand.
Yeah, okay.
So, the town and the MD funding that was previously given is usually been to operational costs, never to roles of the navigator or the social worker.
Unless there was revenue from our COVID year when we moved basically virtual world and didn't need the rent and things like that.
Sorry.
Okay, and then just another piece for clarification.
So, you've already taken, you're asking for an increase of 25,000.
Is that taking into consideration that we've already allocated 50,000 so you're asking 25 on top of that to top you up to 75.
We're asking for 75 to basically take what a chess was giving splitting it between town and MD to supplement us to at least December so that we can have a plan.
Financial aid to move forward.
Can you be asking sorry, so you'll be asking the MD for 25 as well.
Yeah, on top of there already 25 that they give so we'd be asking them for 50.
Yeah, okay.
Okay, thank you.
That's very, it applies a lot for me.
Yeah, it's, it's really too bad to hear that.
I really wanted to fight just even for the social worker and to hear that we have to now advocate and fight just for the navigator position.
That's a huge impact for our, you know, our community and our region and many families.
That's, that's a lot.
I can tell that you're passionate about it and it's affecting you guys a lot.
So thanks for taking the time and answering our questions this evening.
I think we'll put our heads together on how we can advocate and have a discussion.
Hopefully it our next meeting on whether we can support that or not.
Thank you.
Thank you, everybody.
Thank you.
Okay.
Next we have.
Okay.
All right.
By law, multi unit housing incentive.
Thank you, Madam Mayor.
Council at the January 28th meeting provided first reading to by law number 158925.
The multi unit housing incentive grant by law.
The purpose of this by law is to provide a grant to encourage the development of new multi unit residential housing within the town.
By law number 1589-25 provides reimbursement grant of $10,000 for each new dwelling unit constructed to a maximum of 50 units.
The units would consist of new developments with two or more dwellings that are constructed on R3 or R4 zone property.
The grant would be provided to the owner once the construction is complete and the occupancy permit has been issued with no deficiencies.
The timeline for completion of the project is 24 months from the date the building or development permit has been issued.
This by law does have an interim of December 31st, 2025 and the program would be reviewed annually during budget season.
The total cost of the program will add an additional $500,000 to the 25 operating budget.
If approved and the program is 100%, 100% subscribed.
Funding would be allocated from the general operating reserve, which would increase the reserve transfer required to balance the budget to $1,278,775.
Administration is recommending that council provides second and third reading to by law number 1589-25.
Thank you. Any questions for administration on this by law?
How's our question?
Thanks Madam Mayor.
I remember us talking about this at governance priorities and we had some reservations about an apartment coming in and taking all the $500,000 in one apartment.
And so I see that with this by law that can happen because our four is where apartments can be built.
So might not happen, but I just want us to to realize that if somebody comes in and builds an apartment, everybody else, all the smaller people who may be want to build a duplex or a fourplex or an eightplex are going to get shut out in this.
It's first come for service. So that now I realize we can also add to this if we want to.
So we can we initially started with a million dollars on this, decided to go down the 500,000.
See how it went and go from there.
But in this by law the way I read it unless administration think I'm incorrect.
I can see that if an apartment building want to come in, there goes our 500,000.
If they have 50 to 50 units. So just something to think about as we go forward with this.
Thank you.
Question any other questions or comments?
Are you okay with the by law then going through like that as it is now with the permanent buildings?
I mean I hear what you're saying. I don't really recall the conversation.
But I'm not saying you're just want to know.
We'd like to have at least a second reading on this.
Well, I won't be voting for it because of that.
I would like to see our builders that are around here have a shot at this money not just from some.
Some outside entity because that will most likely be an outside entity.
That's going to be building an apartment building.
Don't be one of our smaller businesses around here.
So I, as it sits now, I will not be voting for this.
I would like to see it go back and then come back to us at the next.
Next meeting.
Would be my.
Okay.
Councilor Lange.
Thank you Madam Mayor.
It's to comment to Councillor Kushner.
So I understand and I do remember us talking about the apartment side.
The way the way that I'm looking at it is.
We haven't we have a lack of rentable places in Bonnieville right now and that includes apartments.
And the price has been driven up in our apartments currently because of the lack of.
availability.
The way I look at it is this this grant is to spur development.
If we can spur someone to build a 50 unit apartment to me that hate great and like you said we can go back and say hey if you know we're going to top this up because we had so much success.
I mean if they were to take the $500,000 I can't imagine the cost of building a 50 unit complex right now you're looking at millions of millions of dollars.
So we're going to be part of what I understand we put these incentives together for we're to you know spur development obviously and then as well you know we're going to be.
Collecting taxes on these properties for years and years to come so I understand what you're saying I think if someone wants to invest in our community that's a major investment to make by building something like that.
I'm not opposed to it.
I would just say like if if we do successfully have someone that in the one case scenario that would take up all 50 units.
And obviously the administration could bring this back to us and say hey guys we're having so much success with this incentive program do we want we have a few more applications for.
Orplexes or townhouses but what do you guys think so I'd rather go that way myself but just my comments.
Thanks that very valid point council language.
Through the administration how easy is that to do like let's say somebody came in and wanted to build a and part of building great how easy it is for us to to top that up then.
It would have to come back to council as a request for decision to let you guys know that the program was fully subscribed with the administration administration.
Researching we're to forget additional funds whether it's from a reserve or another program that's not being subscribed to.
But definitely just bring it back for us for decision.
Wouldn't be like a six month thing it would be like one meeting type thing is that correct could be well we yes because it would just be reallocating money the bylaws already been drafted so if this happens in 2025.
Then we could just reallocate money in 2025 to make it go further we would do a new bylaw for 2026 if the program was to go beyond that year.
Okay I'm okay with that.
Yeah yeah I like that too okay.
Okay good we're looking for a decision council language.
If everyone's all right with that and then I will.
Move the council right second reading to bylon number 1589-25.
Okay thank you all in favor.
There you.
All right we'll be looking also for third reading.
Are you going to finally answer Johnson.
I'll provide third reading for bylon number 1589-25 multi-hosing incentive grant bylaw.
All in favor.
Okay that bylaws carried thank you.
Next bylaw loan bylaw for the Clayton Bellamy Foundation for the Arts.
Thank you Madam Mayor.
At the January 28 council meeting Clayton Bellamy Foundation came as a delegation to request council's consideration to guarantee a loan to complete the construction of the Strathcona Performing Arts Center.
The amount required to complete the project is estimated to be 1.1 million and the foundation has secured a loan from the Northern Lights school division in the amount of 300,000.
Leaving an $800,000 shortfall.
After reviewing the request the direction from council was rather than a loan guarantee.
We draft a loan bylaw whereby the town lends the funds to the foundation to complete the project.
This could include different terms than was outlined in the loan guarantee term sheet which was set for demand loan for a one-year term.
As per the MGA Section 264-2, I mean this palliative may lend money to a non-profit organization if the council considers the money loan will be used for the purpose
of the general public.
Attached is bylaw number 1591-25, a bylaw to provide the foundation a loan of up to $800,000 for the purpose of completing the construction of the Performing Arts Center.
The bylaw as drafted includes all of the requirements of Section 265-2 of the MGA.
As per the MGA the bylaw states that the amount of money to be loaned is up to $800,000 and is for the purpose of completing the construction.
The minimum rate of interest is 5% per annum with a term of three years.
Administration is suggesting this term as the foundation does not know the status of the CFEP grant and it will allow time for further fundraising.
Responsorship's and annual gallas without having to create another bylaw.
And it does include monthly payments for the interest portion of the loan as well as additional payments on the loan with them should the foundation receive extra money.
The source of the money to be loaned is from the general capital reserve with all payments of interest and principle being reallocated back to the reserve when received.
As this bylaw is being passed on to part 8 of the MGA it is subject to the advertising requirements of Section 606 and the petition requirements of Section 231-3.
Administration is recommending that council provide first reading to bylaw number 1591-25.
Thank you. All open it up for questions or comments.
Councillor Blanchett. Thank you Madam Mayor, through good administration. What I didn't see in the loan agreement was any sort of security on this loan.
Can you provide clarity on that, please? Yes, there is no security for this loan as any of the improvements in the performing arts center would be under the lease agreement that they have with BCHS, so they would hold the assets.
And had we run any other sort of security by the foundation?
We did ask if they would be willing to do a personal guarantee on the loan. The response back was that due to the time commitment that they put into the project already, the board members, as well as some of the financial implications that they've had and the personal finances, because of those time commitments, they were unwilling at this time to provide a personal guarantee.
And just one more question, can you just walk us through the process if we provide first reading to this tonight? And we were wanting to make any changes, would it have to be re-advertised then?
Depending on the changes, it may have to be re-advertised, so any changes you're thinking should probably be included tonight with the amendment and then first reading provided so they can be advertised.
Because it'll take up until the next three weeks for advertising and then this bylaw wouldn't come back for second at their reading until March 25th.
Okay, thank you.
Any other questions? Councillor Schurn?
Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor, through to administration.
First of all, I just want to say that this is a project that we need in our community. It's so important that I've been involved in theater and the fine arts since I was in high school.
So to have something like this in our community is a bonus.
Having said that, this is quite a quite a liability for us as a town.
I know administration has just mentioned that they're not willing to do any type of security agreement.
But even if it was a small one, I'm not asking for the full 800,000, but if there would be some initiative from there and just to show that they're all in it as well, that's just my comments.
Moving on, are we going to have a copy of the insurance as well if this does go through?
The property insurance?
Yes.
It can be requested if that's.
Yeah, if we're holding the loan, I think we should it would be prudent for us to have a copy of that.
And then as excellent contract here that you have written up, there's a lot of highlights.
Just one I want to ask, we're under number five.
It says the occurrence of any one of the following shall constitute an event of default for the purposes of this loan agreement.
So if they go and default, there's under number six.
It says the foundation agrees to promptly inform the town in writing of any default that if they can't make their payment.
If all these conditions are then not met and they do go into default, what happens then?
This I couldn't really see or it's not clear in there as to what what the next steps would be.
It would be legal proceedings.
Okay, thank you.
Thanks.
Sounds for a language.
Thank you Madam Mayor.
One question through to the administration.
So in how you haven't written up.
We have here that the loan would be up to 800,000 now.
If that number changes because of the we find out what happens with their CFEP grant.
Is that something like walk me through.
How does that get communicated?
So like obviously the loan by us has up to.
If they receive the the 500,000 from CFEP and they're only need of 300,000.
Is that a change it has to be made on the loan by law or is that something that we can just roll with.
It doesn't have to be changes.
It's up to 800,000.
They would provide us with their invoices the documentation that we request.
If they get the CFEP funding and they can pay 500,000 of the outstanding progress claims then that means probably they would bring less to us.
So it could only be the 300,000 and that's what they would have to pay back.
Okay, thank you.
I guess just a comment.
I know this one has been a lot of conversation around our table and as well as.
In the community with obviously it's a project since the.
Emolition of the Lyle Victor Albert Center.
The town really has not had a you know a small venue that's strictly dedicated to the arts.
We have a very busy centennial center that gets.
Used very very frequently we know how busy that is and it's something.
Obviously we know that is is needed and we've gone back and forth with the foundation multiple times.
They've come in for requests.
On three different occasions and so it's on the finish line is so close.
And my thought process on this is.
I do believe that the foundation has done a good job of surrounding themselves with some.
Business minded people that's been a change you know seeing some of our community leaders that are now on their board that are helping them.
Try to get to the finish line on this.
And as well.
I know there's a large risk as far as the unsecured nature of the loan, but I think.
My opinion I'd like to see us pass first reading and by the time second reading would be coming about we would know the nature of that sea.
And that could really push us I think one way or the other, but I would like to see us support this first reading tonight.
And see how it goes because we all know that this is a very important project in our community.
Thank you.
Excellent. Thank you.
Councillor Johnson.
Through to administration.
So we have it as a three year loan currently.
If they needed an extension at the end of three years that they weren't didn't quite have it quite paid.
Is it easy to just extend it or will we have to rewrite the whole by law?
We would have to bring back a by law.
Okay.
I just is just me thinking out loud here.
They have a one year demand loan for the 300,000 that they have to pay off to the bank.
Our loan would be a three year loan.
So they have basically two loans to start paying right in that first year and it would really leave them only two years to pay it off.
I'd like to see them give them every opportunity for success and maybe move it to four years so they would have a good three years just in case.
And the only reason I'm saying that is bringing this back to rewrite a by law go through all the steps again.
You're talking legal fees.
You're talking labor from our staff to redo everything again and go through the whole process.
So it's just to streamline it a little bit just I'm not talking going any more than four years just just to make sure we give them that avenue for success.
And just a little further on I agree with a lot of the comments that.
The counselors have brought up here tonight and I echoed some of those to the committee last week.
I did a lot of thinking over this last few days.
The first call was the first.
The theater was named after L. Victor Albert playwright produced all over Canada North America Europe and down in Australia his plays were produced.
He inspired them to build a stage and get this going.
We have Mike Plum.
Ernie Baselattis who is in the band with him since high school Clayton Bellamy Brett Kissel all shared that stage local guys.
Juno winners, nominees all of that.
They were inspired by that stage and they've proudly carried they were from the Lakeland they're from Bonnieville further.
I had people that were living here that moved on to some great things that I use that stage George Canyon.
Classical guitarist Don Ross, which a lot of people aren't familiar with him he performed at home a jam at the very first opening.
His first.
His first album was called Kihuin he taught old a Kihuin school and he performed that night.
I've never seen anybody play a ten string guitar like he did.
And one of his albums went on to be a top ten billboard hit on their new age chart.
Add into that.
We have a number of community members who've used that stage over the years.
Late former counselor, Claude LeBlanc.
Rosemary Cameron, Randy Pitlowski, Guidamers, Darren Horne, Keith Johnson Allen,
Curtis Jolly Art Lairman, Shane Lairman, Kevin Downshot.
These are guys that I just popped into my head that were part of Bonnieville live Bonnieville country.
I just I needed to get that out to say, hey, how important this has been to our community, how much it's been used and a lot of these jam sessions things that were done were done with youth
and older people on the stage learning and having a good time.
And for the youth that got to use that stage myself included, it gave you the confidence to get up there in front of people and for public speaking.
And all of that is not measurable in dollars.
It is measurable in the confidence in what people have given back to our communities, which a lot of these people are very familiar names.
So I'm in support of this. I know it's a risk.
We've done it for the Bonnieville Pontiacs in the past, the previous council gave them a non-secured loan.
We went through this at the C2 with the Gen Mackay C. Alhol. We were $300,000 short and the MD stepped up and gave a loan for that.
So we could get the whole project done because the longer a project sits, the longer you wait, the more it's going to cost.
So sorry for the long winded thing, but I had to get that out because these are the things that aren't easily quantified by dollars.
So I am in support. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Councilor Kushner.
Thanks, Madam Mayor. Councilor Johnson you had me at holo.
No. I agree with you 100%. I also agree with council Shirun, the unsecured part is sticky.
I don't know if we can do this because they have the other demand loan of $300,000.
But I'd like to see some language in here that would say that the C-thep grant would go to paying loan, whatever the loan is.
And it's not going towards anything else other than paying either that loan or our loan.
That way we can bring down that unssecured thing is quickly as possible.
So if they get $500,000 on that C-thep for this year or next year or the year after, they could do that.
I don't know if that's in here or not through to administration.
It's not in here. It was asked if it could be added.
C-thep would have been for the capital project. So it would have to go towards capital construction costs.
We just can't add that it absolutely has to be put in hours or theirs.
So it just says the payments will be made back through sponsorship grants and other money that they get.
Okay. Just trying to, you know, we've got a $100,000 year sitting out there.
We need to get that finished. I agree with you a thousand percent.
Everything you said is true, Councillor Johnson. I would love to see it get finished for sure.
I think it's badly needed. It will bring revenue into this town as well.
So I'm behind the project. I am a little scared. Like everybody else sitting at this table.
It's unssecured, but you made good points that we've done this in the past as well as the council's done that.
So.
Thanks.
Thank you.
All right. Any other comments or questions?
I just want to come back to Councillor Schurn. You just made mention of the insurance.
And I know Councillor Blanchetta asked, you know, if we have to make any changes to the by-law, does it have to come back?
So I just want to make sure we're clear.
Is that a condition? Is that something you want to see or do you want us?
Because I am in favor of this. I agree with everybody around the table.
I do sit on the board of a financial institution and I also sit on community futures and we've been doing loans for I've been, you know, at the table.
I'm doing loans for almost nine years now. So I totally get the secured part.
But I do believe this is good risk for the betterment of our community.
So I'm in favor. I don't need to reiterate what everybody said.
But I do also understand that we want to make sure that the conditions are clearly outlined.
Okay, if this goes through for it to come back and then for us to take any longer. So I just want to clarify on that.
No, absolutely. Again, good discussion all around the table and a lot of support for this worthwhile cause.
It does say in there that they have to have insurance. So if they provide us a copy, that would be.
You're okay.
I'm okay with that.
I just want to make sure we don't.
Okay. So if there's not anything new to add to the conversation.
I'm looking for a motion and.
Sorry, did the administration.
I was just going to ask, did you want it with the motion?
Did you want to amend it as per Councillor Johnson suggestion to a four-year term?
Right. That's what I was going to ask before in the motion.
If you guys agree with that or not, I just want to give them every chance for success.
Three years might be a little short with having two loans to have to pay in that first year and two, you know, I don't know.
I agree 100% let's set them up for success. Let's don't set them up for failure. 100% agree with you.
Council.
And at the end of the day, it's less work for administration if we have to redo a by law.
And it saves us money there.
Councillor Blanche.
I'm going to move first reading a by law number 1591-25.
I have Clinton Bellamy Foundation for the Arts loan by law.
All in favour? Thank you. All great points in great conversation all around. Thank you.
Next, funding request, pushing for change.
Thank you, Madam Mayor. Attached is a donation request from Judy Sabai of pushing for change.
An organization requesting funding in the amount of $2,500 to assist with the cost of hosting a public speaking event for all Lakeland area high schools on March 25 with Joe Roberts as the keynote speaker.
There is also a public event scheduled for March 26 both events are being held at the C2.
Joe Roberts will be sharing his journey from Skid Row to CEO with his personal experience of being a homeless addict on the streets in Vancouver.
If approved, the funding would be used to cover the cost of the rental for the C2 Center.
The MD of Bonnieville in the City of Cold Lake will also be asked to provide funding for this event.
Schools are being asked to provide free-busting. Local businesses along with the Lakeland Credit Union will be providing 10 gift card educational certificates in the amount of $500 each that can be deposited at the Lakeland Credit Union in an educational fund account.
Administration is recommending that council approve a donation up to $2,500 for the pushing for change organization.
Thank you, opening it up for questions or comments.
I'll make a couple of comments.
Very neat initiative, especially that the amount that they want to bring in kids from all over the area for this.
And it's going to be open for adults for free to attend in the evening.
And I, you know what, if it helps, one or two kids, it's money well spent.
I myself, I don't have a problem going up to the $2,500 for this since it's including all the schools in the area.
They're bringing them to town here and it's open for you to the public afterwards.
That's my two cents on it.
Thank you.
Any other questions or comments?
Thanks, Madam Mayor.
I agree with Councillor Johnson.
Also, who's heading this up is Judy Saby.
And she's like a dog with a bone.
She will get this done.
So that's that's important.
Great that we get this thing done.
Great initiative as we heard earlier about mental health and in this region is always a challenge.
If these kids hear this story and he's a very really good speaker and people do listen when he talks.
They'll always have hope.
And for some of these kids that's all they have is hope.
And if they can just have that hope that this, this gentleman was off the street.
See, it was on drugs and became a CAO.
So that's pretty impressive.
So I would I would echo Councillor Johnson's $2,500 as well.
Thanks.
Councillor Blanchett.
Thank you, Madam Mayor.
It just dawned on me through to administration that FCSS did approve not a monetary grant.
But providing manpower to assist with the event.
So I don't I know that we have something in our policy.
I believe about other departments having provided support.
So I wanted to mention that before we do anything monetary support would affect.
Okay.
Through to administration.
Do we know have any of the schools confirmed their attendance?
No, we do not know.
So the hope is that schools will attend.
Yes.
Okay.
So no confirmation.
Is there also sorry?
Is there a reason that they didn't fill out an application for a request?
Yeah, under this particular policy, it letters all that is required.
Okay.
For me, I mean that I like the initiative.
But I mean with we're just hoping that people show up.
I really don't know.
I mean, I hope people come out in the evening.
I don't know how successful it will be.
It's hard when you don't see other people, you know.
Hopefully other people like in and other councils and municipalities are going to support this.
I just right now it's kind of just a hope in the win that that will happen.
I would like to see a supported at the 1500.
I think if the ask was the 1500, it wouldn't even have to come to council.
So that's where my support would be.
I would of like to see more guarantee that schools are going to be there or, you know, other organizations.
I just don't see any of that other support here in the ask.
So right now, I mean, we could be supporting an event that, you know, we might see one school attend.
And I mean, to your point though, I mean, that's all it takes.
And if it changes the lives of just a few, but my support would be at the 1500.
Anybody want to make a motion.
Or any other questions or councillors for sure?
No, I'm prepared to make a motion that council approve the donation of up to $2,500 to the.
I'm not really sure if the donation for change organization.
And again, with this mental health, I just attended an.
An ag society conference and so much mental health out there and especially with the farming community.
We had a couple of great speakers and it's just these are these are rough times for some people.
So, you know, like the previous counselors mentioned, even if we touch if one or two get touched and we save them.
I have 100 dollars is worth it. So, on behalf, I, I make that recommendation.
Councillor Cuisher.
Yeah.
Just to clarify the the motion, you set up to $2,500 are you taken the up to out.
Is $2,500?
It says up to $2,500 in the motion.
Yeah, but you don't have to go with that recommendation.
is, is your motion saying a donation in the amount of $2,500 or up to $2,500 and who's going to make that decision?
Okay, I'll make it up. I'll make it $2,500 donation. I will recommend.
Councillor Lankridge. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Just a clarification and third-hood administration.
So the recommendation that you guys have here is up to. And in the letter, it states that they
want to use to cover some of the rental costs of the C2. Now, is the reason why you have up to
because whatever the rental costs come back at, is that what we're going to cover, I'm just
kind of confused on where the ask is coming from. Yeah, the reason for the recommendation is because
administration can approve up to $1,500. So Council can approve anything over that. So we put up to
$2,500 if you wanted to go with a $1,500 as per the policy and the administration's approval or anything
over and above that. Okay, thank you. Okay, so we have a motion on the floor. Okay, to donate
$2,500. That's a rental of the facility. That's correct, Madam Mayor. Okay. All in favor? Okay.
Okay, committee reports will start with Councillor Kushner. Thanks, Madam Mayor. So I'm going to go back
in time here a little bit. January 16th had to be our a meeting, January 21st, governance priorities
meeting, the 20th second, the like a meeting, 23rd, ICC meeting here at Council, just to get all our
ducks in a row. January 24th we had Bill Rogers retirement. Then the 26th, 27th, and 28th, we went
to the ICC, which is the International Council of Shopping Centers. So on behalf of economic development,
myself and Councillor Scheroen were there. And we met quite a few groups and I'll just name a few of
them, the circle K, Redco, which is a land development company, Walmart, which they said were on the
cusp of being having enough people. So that's encouraging because I'd really love to see the lots out
by the highway there. So as soon as you get that, that one store in there, everything else is going to start
pop up. Avenue living, which is multi-family housing incentives, home depot, MBIprehense,
which is Mary Brown's chickens and fat bastard burritos, which is interesting name, but that's what it is.
Patterson food group, sobis, as well, we met with them, rexal, medicine shops, which is another pharmacy,
a redberry, which has burgling, Taco Bell, jersey mics, brands, choice properties. So they do
a lot of law laws, properties, CKE, which is Carl's Junior Burgers, Northern Development Investment Group.
This is a really good one, and Councillor Scheroen will talk a little bit more about that. And then
MTY, which is a food group and Canadian franchise or operator. So we had a lot of groups we met with,
very positive. So that was well, well attended, we really thought we're going to get a lot out of that.
January 29th, we had a meeting just with Council, January 30th,
Executive Design Workshop for downtown, I believe it was. February 3rd, Community Placing, February 6th,
the Open House with Stanteck and the Lakeshore Drive Park concept plans. And then yesterday,
Munich Court meeting. And that's all I have.
Okay, January 29th, I had several FCS Association-related meetings. January 30th, I had a regular
monthly check-in meeting with Assistant Deputy Minister Jen Anderson. January 31st, regular FCS Association,
Board meeting, February 4th, Library Board meeting, February 5th, I met with President of the Alberta
Seniors and Community Housing Association, as well as our respective executive directors,
to discuss our overlapping priorities in terms of housing and prevention. The very six, I participated
in an asset-based community development session with the Monica Wellness Coalition followed by the
Public Open House for the Lakeshore Drive Community Recreation Plan. And then yesterday evening, I had an
FPCA board meeting for me. Thank you. All right, so January 30th, I toured the new North Star
building. They're very well set up there and they're well on their way to building.
I think a new emergency management industry, I hope Council has had a chance and if you haven't yet,
sound to go over and do a tour, we can arrange that. January 30th had the active downtown urban
design workshop, January 31st. I've been having meetings through ABMA. We're, I'm creating, we are
the Association, creating a partnership with the region out of Quebec, of region of municipalities,
out of Montmagni. So, I'll be having more and more meetings with them as we develop a project
between our two provinces. Then on the 31st, I did the ceremonial puk-drop part of me for the 86 cancer
hockey game, where Reeve Kalinsky put me to work, selling 50-50s. I did not know that. I went
to be doing the work, which was fine. I was proud to wear my junior-a-pony axe apron, as I walked
around the Energy Center collecting money for cancer. Then February 11th, yes, also had another meeting
with ABMA with this regional municipalities out of Quebec. On to my next slide. Thank you very much.
I just need to, on the 15th of January, we had a Lakeland lodge and housing foundation meeting,
and I reported that there would be no requisition, what I, what I, I misunderstood, and it should be
noted that we are not requisitioning any more than what we did last year. Although the lodges have seen a
steady increase in the occupancy rates, at both Bonnie lodge and co-lake lodge, although the increase
in rental revenue has helped to offset the steady increasing cost of food, utilities, and costs of
supplies, we still have a shortfall. So it is going to stay at 900,000 this year.
On the 16th, I attended an Alberta Living Wage webinar, that was excellent. 21st governance in
priorities, 22nd kickstand. On to 23rd, we had a coordination meeting for the ICSC. On the 24th,
Bill Rogers retirement party. And from the 26th to the 28th, along with Councillor Kushner and Mark
Labor attended the ICSC conference. I'm not going to go into detail what Councillor Kushner did,
but this was, this was similar to not that I've done it, I speed dating conference. We met like
every 45 minutes with somebody new. Western.
Canada is the place to be now. They want to invest their dollars in here. It's an unsaturated market.
There's land. It's cheaper than in the cities. So everywhere we went, it was just amazing that the response we got from the developers.
As well, the building incentives that we have passed were so favorable. Everybody said it was an aggressive approach.
And they were very intrigued. Some of the developers are looking at, you know, some that are looking at some sort of a multi use housing on a top floor and perhaps businesses whatever at the bottom.
So we've seen, we've had presentations from from every genre of different types of businesses. And like I said again, Alberta and Bonnieville are open for business further to that two developers that we had spoken to made trips on their own here and we have been scouting out the area.
There are three others who are interested in March when it's a little bit warmer and nicer out and they want to have a common view of our community and see what we have to offer.
Another thing that they don't realize is when we are in a remote area and this comes from, you know, we've all, you know, had kids in hockey or different sports or just going to different functions.
We don't stick in our own community like it's nothing to drive an hour and a half to hours which is what really blew them away that we do travel and it's just because they don't have to in the big cities because it's everything is so close.
So we brought a lot of light to some of these developers that live in the bigger centers that we've got everything here. So again this is the first time I attended it was it was just amazing like it was man they like the speed dating it was interesting and you're going to sit and talk to somebody.
I believe it was moxies. I said like I told her that you know about the restaurant and stuff like that that my kids like whenever they go they'll go to one and they have to drive for it.
But at first her response was no we'd never build there not even going to look at it after we told her about the driving and what we have here she could be a potential as well so like all these things just came from sitting on the couch besides the regular meetings that we had.
St. Albert Sports Sports Flex. We co-coucitor co-coucitor spoke to Caterina Lopez from Kushman Wakefield Power Power River Center and carry on hunt FBM like so there were there were many developers that we talked to and I can honestly say totally positive comments at the end of the day.
On the 29th I had the CAO Recruitment Review on the 30th Downtown Urban Design Project Open House on the 30th the Hacks Society AGM and congratulations to Cory Dowes who was our new president.
February 6th I attended the Lake Short Open House on February 7th and 8th we had the Access ID conference in Hill was one of our keynote speakers and so was Jodi Carrington.
It's they were they were both amazing and got everybody going and we sat in a zone for meeting which is the zone for our area and we have to come up or they have to come up with some type of website.
Within an hour and a half of our community you could be doing something every weekend and day of the week there's just so much happening in our zone here so.
We don't have to travel far so there's always something to do so and that's from my report.
Alrighty short one for me on the 30th of February attended the economic development workshop on the downtown project on February 3rd the police committee on February 4th the library meeting and on February 6th I jumped over and checked out the open house at the Centales Center for the Lake Short Drive project.
Alrighty so January 3rd of 30th I went to the downtown urban design project at the C2 February 4th we had a meeting with Johanna Center and February 6th I was over at the Lake Short Drive area concept plans at the C2 as well.
That's it for me.
Excellent.
Alright we've got a couple items under correspondence letter from Minister McGyver just talking just responding in regards to the municipal.
So what we did is that we did a letter or an email from the RCMP regarding body worn cameras and then our community organization funding up to February 5th 2025.
Any questions for administration.
Yes Madam Mayor through to administration on the response from Minister McGyver.
I thought that our shadow population was more like 700 that's our hotel population.
That's the hotel population the shadow population was 300 that's why it's not included.
Okay thank you.
That's a question.
Yeah thanks Madam Mayor.
I'm just going to do a couple of shout-outs here I was walking as I want to do and I'm going to a beer.
I'm meeting in the morning and I see a garbage.
Our garbage truck parked on the side of the road and I'm going what's this now.
And then I see Darren Zelpa get out of it.
Go in this lady's backyard grab her garbage can bring it to the truck and then he dumps it and brings it back.
And I know that lady is over 90 years old.
I think she's like 95 or 96 and that's our public works in action.
They do so many things that people don't know about and that's one of them.
So kudos to everybody at public works for that.
And if you're looking for something to do around the Donald House hockey tournament is on this weekend at the Centennial Center.
And some of us will be announcing if you're tired of my voice you know go watch another game but I'll be doing some announcing.
So something else to do this weekend.
All right, we do have one item in camera if I can get a motion please move into camera counselor counselor counselor language.
Thank you all in favor.
Carried.