Posted on Friday, August 23, 2024

August 22, 2024 

Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Member Advocacy Letter Request for CN and CPKC Rail Shutdown Council supported the RMA’s request to send a letter to the Federal Minister of Labour calling on him to implement binding arbitration to resolve the dispute, while emphasizing the local risks and impacts that a rail work stoppage will have on the rural economy and communities.  

Agricultural Disaster –Council declared an agricultural disaster in the County of Grande Prairie due to poor crop yields because of extreme drought conditions.  

Ron Pfau Memorial Scholarship – Laura LaValley, CEO, and Ali Thibert, Development Manager, with the Northwestern Alberta Foundation (NAF), were in attendance to discuss the options and processes involved in transferring the management and administration of the Ron Pfau Memorial Scholarship funds. Council approved the transfer of the current fund balance in the amount of $11,866 to the Northwestern Alberta Foundation (NAF) and directed administration to include additional amounts that will generate an award in the amount of $1,000 for Council’s consideration during budget deliberations.  

Bylaw #3225 Council and Board Renumeration Review Committee Council passed Bylaw #3225, Council and Board Renumeration Review Committee Bylaw. The Committee will be appointed at the annual Organizational Meeting in October and will review remuneration and expense rates before the next municipal election.  

Application to Alberta Community Partnership Municipal Internship Component – Council directed Administration to proceed with the application to the Alberta Community Partnership Municipal Internship Component for the Finance Officer Stream. 

Family and Community Services Association of Alberta (FCSSAA) Resolutions – Council approved the Food Security resolution for submission to the FCSSAA Annual General Meeting on November 15, 2024, in an effort to advocate for a diversity of access points to address food insecurity and the rising costs impacting Albertans’ ability to meet their basic needs with rising costs. 

Regional Public Transportation Study – Administration along with consultant Tania Wegwitz, Vice President, Transportation with Watt Consulting, presented the final report and recommendations from the Regional Public Transportation Study for Council’s consideration and approval. Council took no action on the proposed Regional Public Transportation System.  

2024 Spring Home & Garden Show Report – The Spring Home & Garden Show evaluation report was presented to Council.  

With the current sponsorship commitment expiring in 2025, Council approved the continuation of the title sponsorship of the Grande Prairie Spring Home & Garden Show for another three-year term (2026-2028).  

Tax Sale Date - Council approved October 15, 2024, as the annual Tax Sale Date in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, a municipality can set their annual tax sale any time after the expiry of one year from the date of registration of the tax notification lien. 

Regional Hydrogen Hub Study - Council approved the Regional Hydrogen Hub Foundational Study as the first step towards the future development of a regional hydrogen hub. The project is being led by the County, on behalf of the partner municipalities, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The total project cost is $200,000 with the majority of the funding coming from Alberta Innovates and PrairiesCan and the remaining $50,000 funded by the County, City of Grande Prairie and the MD of Greenview. 

Request for Tender Award for Range Road 53 North - Council authorized Administration to award the Range Road 53 North and Subdivisions South of Arthur Lane contract to Wapiti Gravel Supplier, in the tender amount of $1,653,126.03, excluding GST. The estimated total cost of the contract including contingency, engineering and any other associated costs is $1,930,382.63, excluding GST with additional funding in the amount of $108,705.68 for Project C10513 Subdivision South of Arthur Lane to come from New Road Infrastructure Reserve. 

Interprovincial Meetings - Council directed Administration to send a joint letter with Saddle Hills County and Clear Hills County to the Peace River Regional District, City of Dawson Creek and the Village of Pouce Coupe urging the restarts of the Interprovincial meetings. 

Public Hearings – Council held the following public hearings: 

  • Council gave first reading to Bylaw #3233 to designate the Road Closure of a portion of Range Road 110 Undeveloped Government Road Allowance Bylaw and direct Administration to forward the Bylaw to the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors for approval.  
  • Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #2680-24-025 to redesignate 9.37 hectares within Pt. NE-10-73-4-W6 from the Agricultural (AG) District to the Highway Industrial (RM-4) District. 
  • Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #2680-24-026 to redesignate 0.22 hectares within Plan 1621816; Block 1; Lot 1; Pt. SW-15-73-6-W6 from the Agricultural (AG) District to the Rural Medium Industrial (RM-2) District.
  • Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #2680-24-027 to redesignate 3.59 hectares (8.87 acres) within Pt. SE-13-74-10-W6 from the Urban Reserve (UR) and Agricultural (AG) Districts to the Intensive Recreation (IR) District. 
  • Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #2680-23-033 to redesignate 2.01 hectares (4.97 acres) within Pt. NW-34-73-4-W6 from the Agricultural (AG) District to the Country Residential (CR-5) District and 2.17 hectares (5.36 acres) within Plan 122 2795; Block 1; Lot 1; Pt. NW-34-73-4-W6 from the Country Residential (CR-5) District to the Agricultural (AG) District. 

Clairmont Community Multi-Use Pad Tender Results - Council cancelled the tender for the Clairmont Community Multi-Use Pad due to budget constraints and directed Administration to review the scope and delivery timelines to proceed with the project in 2025 with the intent of meeting the allocated budget of $94,000 for full project services.   

Sponsorship Requests – Council approved the following sponsorship requests: 

  • $5,000 for the Wapiti Striders Track Club (PCWAC) and the gift in kind in use of the portable bleachers from Evergreen Park for the 12025 Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) Cross-Country Provincial Championships to be held on October 19, 2024, at the Wapiti Nordic Ski Trails.  
  • $1,250 for the Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention for the 14th annual Chair Extraordinaire event to be held September 28, 2024, at the Tara Centre. 

The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on September 9, 2024. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on August 30, 2024