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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022.02.14 Council Package adopted
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
1600-2nd Street NE
Three Hills, AB
T0M 2A0
February 14, 2023
8:30 a.m.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER Pages
1.0 Agenda 1-2
1.1 Additions to the Agenda
1.2 Adoption of the Agenda
2.0 Approval of Minutes
2.1 Regular Council Meeting Minutes of January 24, 2023 3-7
3.0 Appointments (Public Hearings & Delegations)
3.1 Three Hills RCMP, Sgt. Jamie Day@ 8:35 a.m. 8-13
4.0 Infrastructure- Roads/Bridges/Water/Wastewater/Environment
No Report
5.0 Community Services
5.1 Planning
No Report
5.2 Agricultural Service Board & Parks
5.2.1 Council Appointment of ASB as SCA Appeal Board 14-16
5.3 Protective Services
5.3.1 Fire Engine Purchase 17-21
5.4 Economic Development
No Report
6.0 Corporate Services
6.1 2023 Operating and Capital Budget Presentation (Phase 1) 22-
7.0 New and Unfinished Business
7.1 Kneehill Area Community Discovery Nights 2023
7.2 Joint Advocacy for Improved Solar Farm Governance
8.0 Disposition of Delegation & Public Hearing Business
8.1 Three Hills RCMP
9.0 Council and Committee Reports
9.1 Community Futures Wildrose
9.2 Councillor McGhee Division 1 Report
1 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
February 14, 2023 Council Meeting Agenda
Page 2 of 2
10.0 Council Follow-up Action List
11.0 Closed Session
11.1 Third Party Business Interest (Section 16- FOIP)
11.2 Intergovernmental Relations (Section 21- FOIP)
12.0 Motions from Closed Session
2 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
1
________
Initials
MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 24, 2023 REGULAR MEETING
OF THE COUNCIL OF KNEEHILL COUNTY HELD AT THE KNEEHILL COUNTY
OFFICE, 1600- 2ND STREET NE, THREE HILLS, ALBERTA
PRESENT:
Division No. 1 Faye McGhee, Councillor
Division No. 3 Jerry Wittstock, Reeve
Division No. 4 Carrie Fobes, Councillor
Division No. 5 Laura Lee Machell-Cunningham, Councillor
Division No. 6 Wade Christie, Councillor
Division No. 7 Kenneth King, Deputy Reeve
ABSENT:
Division No. 2 Debbie Penner, Councillor
ALSO PRESENT:
Chief Administrative Officer Mike Haugen
Director of Infrastructure Mike Ziehr
Director of Community Services Kevin Gannon
Protective Services Manager Debra Grosfield
ASB & Parks Manager Shelby Sherwick
Tax Clerk Caroline Siverson
Environmental Services Manager John McKiernan
Manager of Planning and Development Barb Hazelton
Recording Secretary Carolyn Van der Kuil
CALL TO ORDER Reeve Wittstock in the Chair
Reeve Wittstock called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
AGENDA 1.0 Agenda
1.1 Additions to the Agenda
Additions under New Business
7.2 Community Grant Application- Trochu Ag Society
Additions under Council and Committee Reports
9.2 Trochu Housing
9.3 2023 ASB Convention
ADOPTION OF
AGENDA
1.2 Adoption of Agenda
16/23 Councillor Christie moved approval of the agenda as amended.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
COUNCIL MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 2023
2
_________
Initials
MINUTES 2.0 Minutes
2.1 Regular Council Meeting Minutes of January 10, 2023
17/23 Councillor McGhee moved approval of the January 10, 2023, Council
Meeting minutes as presented.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
INFRASTRUCTURE 4.0 Infrastructure- Roads/Bridges/Water/Wastewater/Environment
4.1 Kneehill County Transfer Sites - Overview
18/23 Deputy Reeve King moved that Council receive the presentation for
information as presented.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMUNITY
SERVICES
5.0 Community Services
PLANNING 5.1 Planning
5.1.1 Starland County/Kneehill County Intermunicipal
Development Plan
19/23 Councillor Fobes moved that Council provide second reading to Bylaw
1869, Starland County & Kneehill County Intermunicipal Development
Plan.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
20/23 Councillor McGhee moved that Council provide third reading to Bylaw
1869, Starland County & Kneehill County Intermunicipal Development
Plan.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
AG SERVICES 5.2 Agricultural Service Board and Parks
5.2.1 2023 BMO Stampede Farm Family Award
21/23 Councillor Christie moved that Council nominate Lemay Agribusiness
Ltd. (Mike & Suzanne Lemay) to receive the 2023 BMO Calgary
Stampede Farm Family Award as recommended by the Agricultural
Service Board, as well as approves attendance to the event for Deputy
Reeve King as the County Representative.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
PROTECT SERV 5.3 Protective Services
5.3.1 Appointment of Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief of
Torrington Fire
22/23 Deputy Reeve King moved that Council appoints Jason Michielsen as
Torrington Fire Chief and Derek Benedict as Torrington Deputy Fire
Chief for a two-year term to January 31, 2025. Should either of these
4 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
COUNCIL MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 2023
3
_________
Initials
members leave the department, their position will be deemed vacant
immediately.
CARRIED
The Chair called for a recess at 9:25 a.m. and called the meeting back
to order at 9:51 a.m. with all previously mentioned Council members
present.
CORPORATE SERV 6.0 Corporate Services
6.1 Overview of Oil and Gas Tax Arrears
23/23 Deputy Reeve King moved that Council receive for information the Oil
and Gas Tax Arrears report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
6.2 Tax Cancellation – Trident Exploration
24/23 Deputy Reeve King moved that the amount of $4,913,262.83 be
expensed and cancelled on Rolls 29253332100, 29260310700,
29260341600, 29261010800, 29261041600, 29261410700,
29261420300, 30251410110, 30251910700, 30251931200,
31222510100, 32220642100, 32223541000, 32231020410,
32231510800, 32232320600, 32232731300, 32233420400,
32233631400, 32233641000, 33220310800, 33221710800,
33221831100, 33221910700, 33222910700, 33231310100,
33232410800, 33233010100, 34213231300, 34213240900,
34222431300, 40000410000 as this is amount is no longer collectible.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
6.3 Tax Cancellation
25/23 Councillor McGhee moved that Council approve to cancel the taxes on
Roll 30211533000 & 50000000022 in the amount of $1,340.38.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
NEW BUSINESS 7.0 New and Unfinished Business
7.1 Renewable Energy – Information and Lobby Efforts
26/23 Deputy Reeve King moved that Council direct Administration to
prepare an information package for landowners considering or affected
by renewable energy development.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Chair called for a recess at 11:17 a.m. and called the meeting back
to order at 11:40 a.m. with all previously mentioned Council members
present.
5 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
COUNCIL MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 2023
4
_________
Initials
7.2 Community Grant Application – Trochu Ag Society
27/23 Deputy Reeve King moved that Council provide funding to the Trochu
Ag Society, through the Community Grant program, in the amount of
$17,500.00.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COUNCIL REPORTS 9.0 Council and Committee Reports
9.1 Community Futures Wildrose- Loan Portfolio Report was
provided.
9.2 Trochu Housing Corporation- A verbal report was provided by
Deputy Reeve King.
9.3 2023 ASB Conference- A verbal report was provided by Councillor
Christie.
28/23 Councillor Christie moved that Council receive the Council and
Committee reports for information, as presented.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COUNCIL ACT LIST 10.0 Council Follow-Up Action List
29/23 Councillor McGhee moved that Council receive for information the
Council Follow-Up Action List as presented.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
CLOSED SESSION 11.0 Closed Session
30/23 Councillor Christie moved that Council convene in Closed Session to
discuss Personnel pursuant to Section 17 of the Freedom of Information
and Protection of Privacy Act, at 12:06 p.m.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Councillor Christie left the meeting at 1:11 p.m. and returned at 1:40
p.m.
31/23 Councillor Cunningham moved that Council return to open meeting at
1:53 p.m.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1:53 p.m. – meeting recessed to allow return of public.
1:55 p.m. - meeting resumed.
12.0 Motions from Closed Session
6 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
COUNCIL MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 2023
5
_________
Initials
32/23 Councillor McGhee moved that Council authorize the hiring of a fourth
Community Peace Officer Level 1 position.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:57 p.m.
________________________
Jerry Wittstock
Reeve
_______________________
Mike Haugen
CAO
7 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Delegation Request Form
Please submit completed form to
carolyn.vanderkuil@kneehillcounty.com
This personal information is being collected under the authority of Section (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of
Privacy Act and will be used in scheduling you as a delegation before Council. If you have any questions about the collection of
this information, please contact the FOIP Coordinator at 403-443-5541.
Regular Council Meeting Date & Time:
GUIDELINES
• Presentations are not to exceed 15 minutes, including questions, unless permitted by Council.
• The Delegation Request Form and related documents will become part of the public record and
will be released/published in the agenda and minutes and will be made available to the pubic in
a variety of methods.
• Persons interested in requesting a presentation to Kneehill County Council must supply all
pertinent information including handouts, PowerPoint Presentations no later than 4:00 p.m. on
the Wednesday prior to the scheduled Tuesday meeting. If your material is not published in the
agenda, bring ten (10) copies with you to the meeting. Note: distributed documents will
become part of the public record.
• The County’s Council meetings are video recorded and live-streamed on the County’s website.
Please submit completed form to carolyn.vanderkuil@kneehillcounty.com
PRESENTER DETAILS
Name: (Person Making
presentation)
Company or Group Represented:
Contact Number:
Email:
Mailing Address:
MEETING DETAILS
Please Note:
Regular Council Meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of every month unless otherwise
posted. Please see Kneehill County Website or contact Administration for more information.
8 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Delegation Request Form
Please submit completed form to
carolyn.vanderkuil@kneehillcounty.com
This personal information is being collected under the authority of Section (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of
Privacy Act and will be used in scheduling you as a delegation before Council. If you have any questions about the collection of
this information, please contact the FOIP Coordinator at 403-443-5541.
PRESENTATION TOPIC
Will the presentation require PowerPoint facilities? Yes No
The topic of the discussion is (be specific, provide details, and attach additional information, if
required so that all necessary details may be considered.):
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION
☐ Information Only ☐ Request Action/Support ☐ Request Funds ☐ Other
Desired Resolution (What is the decision you are asking to make?)
• Have you included all attachments?
• Does your summary contain all pertinent information?
• Have you provided enough information to enable Council to make an informed decision?
• Have you reviewed your presentation to ensure that it will fit within the specified timelines?
9 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
1 of 2
2023-01-24
Sergeant Jamie Day
Detachment Commander NCO i/c
Three Hills, Alberta
Dear Reeve Wittstock,
Please find attached the quarterly Community Policing Report that serves to provide a quarterly
snapshot of the human resources, financial data and crime statistics for the Three Hills RCMP
Detachment spanning the October 1st to December 31st, 2022 reporting period. This report is a
key tool to address any questions or concerns you may have, as part of our continued
commitment to engage with your leadership team and the constituents you represent.
As we embark on 2023, the top priority for the Alberta RCMP remains the safety and security of
all Albertans. Thus, this letter and attached appendixes will provide for you an update on our
Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) upgrades in our Operational Communications Centers (OCC).
The Alberta RCMP OCC Program provides response to police emergencies and routine calls for
service to approximately 1.3 million citizens of Alberta, including 22 First Nations communities.
The OCC provides police dispatch and call-taking services supporting 117 RCMP detachments
and several contracted and/or integrated units. Our call-taking services also serve as a
Secondary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Alberta’s 9-1-1 system.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has mandated the
replacement of the current Enhanced 9-1-1 service in Canada with NG911. This change will
enhance public safety communications in an increasingly wireless society and will
fundamentally change 9-1-1 and emergency services operations as it exists today. The
evolution of NG911 future improvements are anticipated to include:
• 9-1-1 Real-time Text (RTT) by Spring 2024.
• Further location improvements including the potential addition of azimuth to enhance
coordinates, vehicle telematics, and building schematics.
• The potential to communicate with 911 operators via video call.
As early adopters of this transition to NG911, the Alberta RCMP’s lead in modernizing public
safety communications demonstrates our commitment to the safety and security of all
Albertans.
10 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
2 of 2
As a further update, we are also getting the process underway for multi-year financial plans for
MPSA and PPSA contracts. If you are policed under a MPSA, I will be working directly with you
to craft the multi-year financial plan for your community. If you are policed under the Provincial
Police Service (communities under 5,000), the Alberta RCMP will be working directly with the
Province of Alberta to develop the multi-year financial plan.
The attached reporting along with your valued feedback will help ensure we are meeting your
community needs on an ongoing basis. As the Chief of Police for your community, please do not
hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Sergeant Jamie Day
Detachment Commander NCO i/c
Three Hills Detachment
11 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Alberta RCMP OCC Program
RCMP Emergency 9-1-1
Alberta RCMP Operational Communications Centre Page 1 of 2
A. Who we are….
The Alberta RCMP has two 9-1-1 call taking centres located in Edmonton and Red Deer. Each
centre employs 75 highly trained 9-1-1 call taker / dispatchers, responding to police emergency
and routine calls. Employees working in RCMP Emergency Communications has successfully
completed a mandatory national certification program consisting of 320 hours of facilitator led
classroom and another 700 hours of on-the-job training with a Field Coach.
B. What we do….
The RCMP Provincial Operational Communications Centres (OCC) are the secondary answering
point for approximately 1.3 million Albertans, and dispatching 117 RCMP detachments/units.
In 2021, we received and processed 236,669 9-1-1 and 361,271 complaint (routine/non-
emergency) calls, which equates to about 1,600 calls per day. Approximately 60% of these calls
will result in the creation of a police file which will be dispatched to a front-line police officer.
Call takers are tasked with asking numerous questions to ensure an appropriate response.
These questions will focus on your/the incident location (exact address expedites the process),
what is occurring and who is involved. You can expect questions regarding weapons, alcohol
and drugs, to ensure everyone’s safety. And don’t worry, often while we are continuing to ask
questions, we have already dispatched a police officer who is enroute.
C. How it happens….
When you call 9-1-1, you can expect the first response to be “9-1-1 what is your emergency?”,
followed by “what is your exact location?”. At this point dependant upon your response, you
may be transferred to the correct emergency service provider (i.e. Police, Fire or Ambulance).
You will then be asked a 2nd time for your exact location. The more specific you are, will
expedite our ability to generate a file for dispatch.
The call taker is generating an electronic file …..
D. How you can help….
1. Know your location. A specific address is always best.
2. Be patient and respond to the questions asked. There is no delay in emergency service
response but we must ensure the most appropriate personnel, equipment are enroute to
you and make sure everyone is safe.
12 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Alberta RCMP OCC Program
RCMP Emergency 9-1-1
Alberta RCMP Operational Communications Centre Page 2 of 2
E. What’s next….
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) is the Government
of Canada body that regulates telephone and cellular service companies. These companies
create networks that make it possible to connect 9-1-1 calls to call centres. These centres then
dispatch emergency responders, such as police, firefighters and paramedics.
On March 7, 2019, the CRTC directed that all telecommunication service providers and
incumbent local exchange carriers (phone, cable & wireless services) must evolve their current
networks to provide Internet Protocol-based capabilities by 2025. The new and improved
platform is known as Next Generation 9-1-1 or NG9-1-1.
NG9-1-1 networks and services will allow Canadians access to new, improved and innovative
emergency services. The design and related interconnection arrangement of NG9-1-1 networks
are secure, reliable, resilient and cost-effective for stakeholders.
F. How will NG9-1-1 changes impact me….
The Next Generation 9-1-1 network and related communications technology will provide
emergency service providers with new opportunities to keep the public and field responders
safer, while also giving 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatch Centres tools to make them more effective
and efficient within their communities.
Some of the improvements that will assist in providing improved and safer service delivery will
include, better location accuracy (three-dimensional mapping showing which floor of a high rise
etc.); improved crash data (vehicle telematics etc.); real-time video and picture sharing; text
with 9-1-1 for the deaf and hard of hearing community; new services such as language
assistance/translation services; downlinks to smartphone applications (i.e. medical records
etc.); and improved coordinated responses and information sharing amongst emergency
service providers.
G. To find out more….
To find out more about Next Generation 9-1-1, you can visit the CRTC website.
To find out more about RCMP 9-1-1 Call Taking/Dispatch jobs, please visit our website.
13 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
14 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
5.2.1
Page 1 of 2
Version: 2022-02
Subject: Council Appointment of ASB as SCA Appeal Board
Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Prepared By: Shelby Sherwick, Manager of Agricultural Services and Parks
Presented By: Shelby Sherwick, Manager of Agricultural Services and Parks
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
That Council appoints the Agricultural Service Board as the Soil Conservation Act Appeal Board,
per Section 14(a) of the Soil Conservation Act.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: (Check all that apply)
☐ ☐ ☐
☒
☐
High Quality
Infrastructure Economic
Resilience Quality of Life Effective
Leadership Level of Service
RELEVANT LEGISLATION:
Provincial – Soil Conservation Act, Section 14 (a)(b)(c)(d)
Composition of appeal Committee
14 An appeal committee shall consist of
(a) In the case of a municipal district, the Board, or, if there is no Board, at the discretion of the
council,
(i) the council
(ii) at least 3 members of the council appointed by a resolution of the council
Soil Conservation Notice Regulation
Council Policy -
BACKGROUND/PROPOSAL:
There are a number of provincial enactments under which the Kneehill County Agricultural Service Board
appoints officers for carrying out these acts as legislated, including the Soil Conservation Act. In addition
to appointing soil conservation officers, there is a notice and appeal process outlined in the Soil
Conservation Notice Regulation for which an Appeal Board is required.
Approximately every 5 years, Kneehill County ASB participates in regular field visits conducted by
Provincial Agricultural Specialists as part of engagement with ASBs and an opportunity to observe the
programs utilizing provincial grant funding at the local level, and also to showcase different programs by
ASBs.
15 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
5.2.1
Page 2 of 2
Version: 2022-02
DISCUSSION/OPTIONS/BENEFITS/DISADVANTAGES/OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
As part of the 2022 Provincial Field Visit, one of the Recommendations included in the Field Visit Report
was that it was noted that there was no previous documentation pertaining to the appointment by Council
of a Soil Conservation Act Appeal Board, so it was recommended that Kneehill County Council appoint
the Agricultural Service Board as the Soil Conservation Appeal Board per Section 14.(a) of the provincial
Soil Conservation Act.
FINANCIAL & STAFFING IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
RECOMMENDED ENGAGEMENT:
Directive Decision (Information Sharing, One-Way Communication
Tools: Public Notification Other:
ATTACHMENTS:
N/A
COUNCIL OPTIONS:
1. That Council appoints the Agricultural Service Board as the Soil Conservation Act Appeal Board,
per Section 14 (a) of the Provincial Soil Conservation Act
2. That Council receives as information
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:
Should any appeals come forward under the Soil Conservation Act, the Kneehill County Agricultural
Service Board will serve as the SCA Appeal Board.
APPROVAL(S):
Kevin Gannon, Director of Community Services Approved- ☒
Mike Haugen, Chief Administrative Officer Approved- ☒
16 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
5.3.1
Page 1 of 5
Version: 2022-02
Subject: Fire Engine Purchase
Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Prepared By: Debra Grosfield, Protective Services Manager
Presented By: Kevin Gannon, Director Community Services
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
That Council approve the increase in funding for the Three Hills Engine Replacement, for a total
cost of $993,352.80, to be funded from the Capital Equipment Reserve.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: (Check all that apply)
☒ ☐ ☐
☐
☐
High Quality
Infrastructure Economic
Resilience Quality of Life Effective
Leadership Level of Service
RELEVANT LEGISLATION:
Provincial (cite)- NA
Council Bylaw/Policy (cite)- Memorandum of Understanding Agreement with the Town of Three Hills to
jointly purchase one engine replacement for the Town (30% funding) and County (70% funding).
BACKGROUND/PROPOSAL:
Council made a motion in November to move forward with multiple Capital Equipment Plan purchases,
including the Engine for the Three Hills fire district. A Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase
was signed identifying the ownership split between the Town (30% funding) and County (70% funding).
With the quotes now in, all options are above the $790,000 that was budgeted.
DISCUSSION/OPTIONS/BENEFITS/DISADVANTAGES/OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
Kneehill County and Three Hills have mutually agreed that the proposed new engine is expected to be
the replacement for the two aging units, reducing the fleet with a cost savings of approximately
$1,000,000.
Kneehill County’s engine was placed in service in 2003 and the second engine (Three Hills engine) has
been in service since 1998. Our fire apparatus equipment replacement strategy is based on the National
Fire Protection Association Standards (NFPA) which recommends that “apparatus more than 15 years old
that have been properly maintained and are still in serviceable condition be placed in reserve status;
Apparatus that were not manufactured to the applicable NFPA fire apparatus standard or that are over
25 years old should be replaced.”
It is not our recommendation that the 2003 Kneehill County engine be placed in reserve. Currently the
other engine located in Three Hills has already supported the community for 25 years and is expected to
be in service for an additional 5 years with the extension approval from NFPA. Reliability of our
equipment is an essential part of the fire service teams ability to provide essential fire protection to the
community. As the age of equipment increases, and is stretched beyond the recommended standards for
17 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
5.3.1
Page 2 of 5
Version: 2022-02
replacement, its reliability can diminish placing risk to the fire services ability to provide the required level
of service to the community. Having two (2) engines within the same fire district that are at the end of their
recommended lifecycle increases the risk of being able to provide services to our municipality.
Managing the potential risk and following our current replacement plan which aligns with NFPA standards
we have moved forward in acquiring quotes for the replacement of the two units in Three Hills and
replacing it with one (1) new engine.
Once the new engine is received the two aging engines will be decommissioned and will be disposed of
as per the respective municipal policies.
QUOTES
In an attempt to keep fire engines similar/standardized throughout the County, we have put out the
request for quotes for a Top Mount Engine, similar to the 2020 engines ($575,000 in 2019).
Through our purchasing process, we have received three options for purchasing:
1. Avenger, Custom Top Mount - $1,100,000 plus 10 % County project contingency
a. Total cost $1,200,000
2. Pierce, Top Mount - $1,101,233 plus 10 % County project contingency
a. Total cost $1,211,356.30
3. Rosenbauer - $903,048 plus 10 % County project contingency
a. Total cost $993,352.80
b. Rosenbauer has advised if one of their current chassis is still available upon awarding the
contract a $30,000 project savings could be available at a project cost of $873,048 plus
10 % County project contingency
i. Total cost $960,352.80
Administration is recommending awarding the contract to Rosenbauer. If Council approves the increase
in funding the breakdown of costs between Three Hills and Kneehill County will be:
Kneehill County Three Hills Total Cost
$663,346.96 $330,005.84 $993,352.80
NOTE: The full project cost will be incurred by Kneehill County, and then we will receive 30% re-
imbursement from the Town of Three Hills plus $32,000 for the requested upgrade of a light tower. Three
Hills Administration has confirmed that they have an approved budget for the increased cost.
INCREASE JUSTIFICATION
The unit cost has increased $328,048.80 which is a 57% increase over a three (3) year period for
the same engine.
As per Statistics Canada “Prices for products manufactured in Canada, as measured by the Industrial
Product Price Index (IPPI), rose 2.7% month over month in May and were up 16.4% compared with May
2020. Prices of raw materials purchased by manufacturers operating in Canada, as measured by the Raw
18 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
5.3.1
Page 3 of 5
Version: 2022-02
Materials Price Index (RMPI), increased 3.2% on a monthly basis in May and were up 40.1% year over
year”
* Stats Canada https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210630/cg-b001-png-eng.htm
19 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
5.3.1
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Version: 2022-02
An increase cost in raw material and an increase in production cost has been determined as the
reasoning for the increase. We have also been informed to expect another 3% cost increase if any
additional orders are placed after March 1st.
Risk of not approving the replacement may include but not limited to:
• Decrease in Fire level of service
• Increase in maintenance cost and equipment downtime
• Stats suggest a significant increasing trend in costs year after year compounding the financial
cost of the required replacement
• Potentially reducing recruitment and retention of fire fighters
• Potential increase cost in insurance
Stakeholder review has included:
Kneehill County The Town of Three Hills
CAO CAO
Director of Community Services Director of Community Services
Director of Corporate Services Fire Chief
Manager of Protective Services
Fire Chief
FINANCIAL & STAFFING IMPLICATIONS:
In 2023, a 10% deposit will be needed - $100,000
In 2024, chassis payment will be needed - $250,000
In 2025, final payment will be needed – $643,352.80
Please note that Kneehill County covers the initial cost of the engine as per the above payment schedule.
Once the engine is received, we will then invoice the Town of Three Hills for re-imbursement for their
portion of the engine cost.
RECOMMENDED ENGAGEMENT:
Directive Decision (Information Sharing, One-Way Communication
Tools: Individual Notification Other:
ATTACHMENTS:
NA
20 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
5.3.1
Page 5 of 5
Version: 2022-02
COUNCIL OPTIONS:
1. That Council approves the increase in funding for the Three Hills Engine Replacement, totaling
$993,352.80.
2. That Council recommends administration provide more information at a future meeting, including
other options for truck purchasing.
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:
Purchasing of engine.
APPROVAL(S):
Kevin Gannon, Director of Community Services Approved- ☒
Mike Haugen, Chief Administrative Officer Approved- ☒
21 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
1
Budget
Setting the Stage
22 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Budget 2023 Schedule
Budget
Adoption
March 14th
Response to
Questions &
Information
Requests
February 28th
Budget Book
&
Budget
Deliberation
February 21st
Setting the
Stage &
New Projects
February 14th
2
23 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Agenda
Environmental Scan
Assessment/Taxation
Fiscal Conditions and Comparators
Provincial and Economic Pressures
Project Introductions
3
24 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
4
Environmental Scan
SOCIAL & CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC
25 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Environmental ScanSocial & Cultural
•Population is aging but youth not significantly declining
•Volunteers are aging, and in some areas declining, and municipal units
are seen as the default funder
•Public expectations are increasing
Cycle times for services
Need for traditional service delivery but high demand for self service
Enhanced communication & participation
Options for services
5
26 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Environmental Scan Environmental
•Regulatory and environmental compliance and regulations
are more complex and expensive
•Greater Awareness
•Conservation
•Recycling
•Health & Well Being
6
27 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
7
Environmental ScanEconomic
More positive outlook for oil and gas sector
Assessment is declining due to aging linear assets
Uncertainty surrounding provincial policy decisions and impact
on municipal sector
Inflation in excess of “normal” levels
Supply chain issues –IT equipment/parts, fleet equipment
availability and some other supplies
28 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
8
Environmental ScanEconomic
•Non controllable costs continue to be pressures in the
budget (fuel, electricity, insurance, road materials)
•Our tax burden is competitive
•Aging infrastructure –balancing act
•Municipalities are more focused on investment attraction
and retention
•Multi-year impacts resulting from provincial policies and
further downloading will continue
29 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
9
Assessment/Taxation
ASSESSMENT DRIVERS WELL DRILLING ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT TRENDS
30 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
What Drives Assessment Change
•Growth –New homes, improvements, wells, business and pipelines
•Housing –Market Demand
•Farmland –Regulated (Provincial Government Policy)
•Non-Residential
•Business –Various Factors
•DIP/Linear –Age of asset, asset characteristics (material type,
capacity, etc.), depreciation factors (set by provincial policy),
assessment modifiers (set by province)
10
31 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Number of New Wells 2000-2022
81
121 113
233
481
790
727
534
587
280
374
126
79 93 67
28 11
61 39 30 5 10
44
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
11
Between 2022 and 2024 “New” wells and pipelines
will not pay taxes. County will only start seeing tax
revenues on those new assets in 2025.
32 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
12
Assessment by Property Class 2015 –2022
$0
$1
$2
$3
2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Non-Residential 1,273,826,850 1,272,799,590 1,307,253,950 1,475,472,990 1,427,257,020 1,457,529,320 1,649,056,630 1,775,430,030
Residential 542,795,920 516,047,340 509,879,860 484,700,050 467,346,145 452,589,480 457,733,000 521,710,560
Farmland 151,702,440 151,703,550 151,693,610 151,741,980 151,738,715 151,784,120 151,794,360 151,806,420
Bi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Farmland Residential Non-Residential
33 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
13
Fiscal Condition and Comparators
MEASURES OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION
LONG -TERM FINANCIAL
FORECAST
MUNICIPAL
COMPARATORS
MUNICIPAL ASSETS
34 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
14
Measures of Financial Condition
•Competitive tax rates
•Stable and adequate reserve balances
Stabilization reserves
Replacement reserves
Capital investment reserves
•Predictable and reasonable tax and user fee increases
•Debt levels are manageable and reasonable
•Maintenance of service standards
•Asset replacement and maintenance not deferred
35 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
15
Long Term Financial Forecast
•Long term (10+ years) of capital and operating needs incorporating:
Council's priorities
Master plans
Infrastructure renewal requirements
Growth requirements
•Forecast of:
Capital driven operating costs
Reserve & Debt levels
Assessment base
Resulting tax or user rate requirements
•Foundational Strategies:
Forecasting Improvement
Asset Management Maturity
Reserve Strategy
36 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
16
Who Gets
What
Share of
the
Property
Taxes
County
81%
Province
19%
County
56%
Province
44%
County
81%
Province
19%
All property taxes:
Residential:
Non-Residential:
37 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
How Do We Compare?
17
3.30
4.83
2.95
4.54
4.18
2.86
5.31
5.63
4.27
3.42
4.22
Kneehill Lethbridge Mountain View Beaver Red Deer Cypress Starland Flagstaff Newell Wheatland Average
2022 Residential Tax Rates (Counties)
38 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
18
under 2.5
(7)
10%
2.6 to 5.0
(44)
67%
5.1 to 7.5
(13)
20%
over 7.5
(2)
3%
Residential Tax Rate Distribution 2022
(MD/Counties)
Kneehill Rate = 3.30
Average Rate = 4.37
39 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
How Do We Compare?
19
11.07
25.23
8.32
17.68
9.44
4.80
13.88
18.13
7.57
12.77 13.09
Kneehill Lethbridge Mountain
View
Beaver Red Deer Cypress Starland Flagstaff Newell Wheatland Average
2022 Farmland Tax Rates (Counties)
40 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
20
Under 5.0
(14)
22%
5.1 to 10.0
(16)
25%
10.1 to 15
(20)
31%
Over 15.1
(14)
22%
Farmland Tax Rate Distribution 2022
(MD/Counties)
Kneehill Rate = 11.07
Average Rate = 10.82
41 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
How Do We Compare?
21
16.13
9.00
10.50
18.40
12.45
7.13
20.22
17.70
9.04 8.62
12.56
Kneehill Lethbridge Mountain
View
Beaver Red Deer Cypress Starland Flagstaff Newell Wheatland Average
2022 Non-Residential Tax Rates (Counties)
42 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
22
Under 7.0
(5)
7%
7.1 to 14.0
(27)
41%
14.1 to 21.0
(27)
41%
Over 21
(7)
11%
Non-Residential Tax Rate Distribution 2022
(MD/Counties)
Kneehill Rate = 16.13
Average Rate = 14.13
43 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
23
Non-Residential vs. Residential
4.89
1.86
3.56
4.06
2.98
2.50
3.81
3.14
2.12
2.52
3.51
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
2022 Tax Rate Ratio
Kneehill Ratio = 4.89
Range = 1.66 to 11.25
44 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
24
Breakout of Asset Classifications
Total Original Cost $223.6 Million
Land/Improvements, $5.1,
3%
Buildings, $20.8,
9%
Machinery/Equipment, $11.3,
5%
Vehicles, $10.2,
4%
Bridges/Culverts,
$29.4, 13%
Roads, $89.1,
40%
Wastewater, $1.7,
1%Water, $55.2
25%
45 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
25
$ Millions
Original
Cost –
Tangible
Capital
Assets $180.7 $183.0
$193.7 $194.6 $196.4
$208.8
$216.8
$223.6
$160
$170
$180
$190
$200
$210
$220
$230
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
46 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
57.8%56.6%57.5%56.1%54.1%53.3%53.7%52.9%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
26
Percentage
of Assets
Remaining
Based on
Original
Costs
The County's average annual amortization is approximately $6.1 million
47 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
27
History of Outstanding Taxes and Allowance for
Doubtful Accounts
0
2000000
4000000
6000000
8000000
10000000
12000000
14000000
2022 Estimated 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Outstanding Taxes Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
48 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
28
History of Tax Write-Offs
$0
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$3,000,000
$4,000,000
$5,000,000
$6,000,000
2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
The tax write-offs in 2022 were fully
funded, apart from accrued
penalties in 2022.
The 2023 budget has funding of
$500,000 for tax allowances or
write-offs.
49 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
29
Unrestricted Surplus/Reserves
Reserves are a key tool in the development of any municipality’s
long-term financial plan. There are numerous purposes and
objectives that reserves are intended to assist with such as:
•Provide funding for rehabilitation of assets which are currently being consumed
and depreciated (Capital).
•Avoid spikes in the capital expenditure program and lessen the reliance on long-
term borrowing.
•Provide financial flexibility and ensure adequate cash flows (Working funds)
•Provide for future liabilities incurred but not funded (Sick leave, environmental)
•Provide stability for tax rate changes (Contingency).
50 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
30
Unrestricted Surplus/Reserves
Services provided by the municipality
Age and condition of infrastructure (roads, water, buildings, equipment, vehicles)
Economic conditions
Reserve policies and targets
Tax levy contributions to the capital program
The level of reserves required will vary by municipality for a number of reasons:
51 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
31
Reserves/ TCA/ Debt -2021
County Reserves
Millions
Original Cost
TCA Millions
% of TCA
Remaining
Reserves
% of TCA
% of Debt
Limit Used
Kneehill $49.6 $223.6 53%22%47%
Lethbridge $37.9 $401.3 30%9%38%
Mountain View $71.8 $529.2 30%13%24%
Beaver $31.9 $116.9 38%27%10%
Red Deer $35.0 $1,286.2 47%2%25%
Starland $7.9 $111.5 52%7%17%
Cypress $97.8 $365.6 41%26%15%
Flagstaff $40.2 $185.5 46%21%2%
Wheatland $47.3 $656.9 35%7%7%
Newell $110.4 $286.8 67%38%6%
52 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
32
Tax Levy Contribution to: Capital, Reserves and Projects
Historical
Funding Level
11.2
9.0
8.2 8.0
8.9
8.1
7.3
7.8
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Proposed
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
53 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
33
Provincial and Economic Pressures
54 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
34
Multi-Year Budget Pressures
55 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
35
Roots of the Municipal Infrastructure Deficit
•Structural imbalance of the sharing of revenues collected by the Federal
(42%), Provincial (50%) and Municipal (8%) levels
•Municipal revenues limited to regressive and slow growing property tax:
Collecting only 8 cents of every tax dollar paid by average household
Building or maintaining over 60% of core infrastructure (roads, bridges, recreation & parks, water and wastewater systems) in addition to providing many other services
•Chronic municipal funding crunch. Results were generally: cutting
service levels, deferring maintenance and rehabilitation, increasing
taxes or drawing down reserves in most municipal units
•County has “held its own” but will need to address the future
56 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
36
Project Introductions
OPERATING PROJECTS CAPITAL PROJECTS
57 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
37
Operating Projects
Type Project Name 2023 Cost Recommended
Funding Source
One-Time Strategic Initiatives $200,000 Reserve
One-Time Automation and Control Systems Master Plan (SCADA)$25,000 Reserve
One-Time Facilities Maintenance Master Plan $120,000 Reserve
One-Time Huxley Wastewater Assessment $25,000 Reserve
One-Time Peace Officer Tracking Software $30,000 Reserve
One-Time Fire Tracking Software $35,000 Reserve
One-Time Pavement Condition Assessment Report $60,000 Reserve
One-Time Gravel Inventory Replacement Strategy $25,000 Reserve
One-Time Wimborne Fluoride Reduction Study $12,000 Reserve
One-Time IT Master Plan $100,000 Reserve
Ongoing Offset of lost MSI funding contribution $600,000 Operating
Ongoing Roadway Line Painting $30,000 Operating
TOTAL 2023 Cost $1,262,000
58 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
38
Capital Projects
Project Name Type 2023 Cost Future
Capital
Costs
Annual
Operating
Budget
Impact
Recommended
Funding Source
Capital Equipment Plan
Purchases
Maintenance of existing asset $4,500,000 --CEP Reserve (Pre-approved)
Gorr Road ACP Overlay Maintenance of existing asset $3,200,000 --MSI (Pre-approved)
BF 13477 (SW 18-33-23-4)Replace with improved asset $50,000 $525,000 -Reserve
BF 75910 (NW 2-32-24-4)Replace with improved asset $500,000 $25,000 -Reserve
BF 78559 (NW 8-31-25-4)Replace with improved asset $500,000 $25,00 -Reserve
Torrington Lagoon
Rehabilitation
Replace with improved asset $12,000 $180,000 -Reserve
Advance Diagnostic Scan Tool Replace existing asset $14,000 -($2,000)Reserve
IT Plan Purchases Replace existing asset $96,500 --Reserve
1234YF Air Conditioning
Machine
New Asset $14,000 --Reserve
CPO Truck to Torrington Fire
Utility
New Asset $15,000 --Reserve
59 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
39
Capital Projects Cont’d
Project Name Type 2023 Cost Future
Capital
Costs
Annual
Operating
Budget Impact
Recommended
Funding Source
Traffic Speed Signs New Asset $14,000 --Reserve
Three Hills Local Facilities
Projects
Maintenance of existing asset $263,000 --Reserve
Transportation Facilities
Projects
Maintenance of existing asset $489,000 --Reserve
Airport Road Sealcoat Maintenance of existing asset $100,000 --Reserve
PBI Road Sealcoat Maintenance of existing asset $120,000 --Reserve
Gravel Road Reconstruction Maintenance of existing asset $200,000 $3,400,000 -Reserve
TOTAL 2023 Cost $10,087,500 $4,155,000 ($2,000)
60 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
7.1
Page 1 of 2
Version: 2022-02
Subject: Kneehill Area Community Discovery Nights 2023
Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Prepared By: Carolyn Van der Kuil, Legislative Services Coordinator
Presented By: Mike Haugen, CAO
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
That Council receive for information the Three Hills Community Discovery Night Report.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: (Check all that apply)
☐ ☐ ☐
☐
☒
High Quality
Infrastructure Economic
Resilience Quality of Life Effective
Leadership Level of Service
RELEVANT LEGISLATION:
Provincial (cite)- N/A
Council Bylaw/Policy (cite)- N/A
BACKGROUND/PROPOSAL:
An invitation has been received to attend the FCSS Three Hills Community Discovery Night. Attendance
to this event would be part of Council’s Base Rate. Therefore this Request for Decision is for Information
Purposes only and for Council to inform Administration on who will be attending.
DISCUSSION/OPTIONS/BENEFITS/DISADVANTAGES/OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
The scheduled dates for the events are as follows:
FINANCIAL & STAFFING IMPLICATIONS:
Kneehill County Peace Officers will also be in attendance and will have Kneehill County swag to give
away.
Attendance for Council has been budgeted through the 2023 Operating Budget Base Rate.
61 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
7.1
Page 2 of 2
Version: 2022-02
RECOMMENDED ENGAGEMENT:
Directive Decision (Information Sharing, One-Way Communication
Tools: Individual Notification Other:
ATTACHMENTS:
Kneehill Regional FCSS Request Letter
COUNCIL OPTIONS:
1. That Council receive for information.
2. That Council direct administration to provide further information.
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:
Administration will RSVP and reserve a table.
APPROVAL(S):
Mike Haugen, Chief Administrative Officer Approved- ☒
62 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
779 2nd St NE, Box 400 Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0
Tel: (403) 443-3800 Email: angie@krfcss.com
February 1, 2023
RE: Kneehill Area Community Discovery Nights 2023
Kneehill Regional Family and Community Support Services would like to invite your
organization to participate in Carbon, Acme and Linden Community Discovery Nights
scheduled for March 2023. The purpose of Community Discovery Night is to provide
residents with information about resources and programs available to them.
If your organization will be attending, we ask that you prepare a display and provide personnel
for your table. Tables are provided, but organizations are responsible for their own table
coverings. Please specify any additional needs at the time of registration (power, table
location, etc.).
The doors will be open 30 minutes in advance for you to set up your display. Details for
each evening is as follows:
Location: Linden Cultural Center (215 1st St. SE)
Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Event Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Location: Acme Community Hall (139 Allison St.)
Date: Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Event Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Location: Carbon Community Hall (718 Glengarry St.)
Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
Event Time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
RSVP deadline: Please RSVP with which evening(s) you would like to
attend by Friday, February 24th at 4:00 pm
You must RSVP for a table. To register, please contact Angie Stewart at 403-443-3800 or
angie@krfcss.com.
Sincerely,
Angie Stewart
Kneehill Regional FCSS Program Assistant
63 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
7.2
Page 1 of 3
Version: 2022-02
Subject: Joint Advocacy for Improved Solar Farm Governance
Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Prepared By: Mike Haugen, CAO
Presented By: Mike Haugen, CAO
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
That Council continue lobby efforts regarding renewable energy regulations through the Rural
Municipalities of Alberta.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: (Check all that apply)
☐ ☒ ☒
☐
☐
High Quality
Infrastructure Economic
Resilience Quality of Life Effective
Leadership Level of Service
RELEVANT LEGISLATION:
Provincial (cite)- Municipal Government Act Sec 619 (in part)
NRCB, ERCB, AER, AEUB or AUC authorizations
(1) A licence, permit, approval or other authorization granted by the NRCB, ERCB, AER, AEUB or AUC
prevails, in accordance with this section, over any statutory plan, land use bylaw, subdivision decision or
development decision by a subdivision authority, development authority, subdivision and development
appeal board, or the Land and Property Rights Tribunal or any other authorization under this Part.
(2) When an application is received by a municipality for a statutory plan amendment, land use bylaw
amendment, subdivision approval, development permit or other authorization under this Part and the
application is consistent with a licence, permit, approval or other authorization granted by the NRCB,
ERCB, AER, AEUB or AUC, the municipality must approve the application to the extent that it complies
with the licence, permit, approval or other authorization granted under subsection (1).
(3) An approval of a statutory plan amendment or land use bylaw amendment under subsection (2)
(a) must be granted within 90 days after the application or a longer time agreed on by the
applicant and the municipality, and
(b) is not subject to the requirements of section 692 unless, in the opinion of the municipality,
the statutory plan amendment or land use bylaw amendment relates to matters not included
in the licence, permit, approval or other authorization granted by the NRCB, ERCB, AER,
AEUB or AUC.
Council Bylaw/Policy (cite)- Start typing here
64 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
7.2
Page 2 of 3
Version: 2022-02
BACKGROUND/PROPOSAL:
A letter of request dated December 15th, 2022 from Rocky View County is attached.
Rocky View County is seeking to gather municipalities to take part in a joint advocacy campaign to make
changes to the Provincial framework governing renewable energy projects.
Specifically, Rocky View County is seeking a framework that would include broader municipal input into
siting considerations and protection from potential end of life liabilities associated with reclamation.
The effort would be undertaken through contracting of a third party – a lobbyist.
This item was previously tabled by Council so that further information could be obtained.
DISCUSSION/OPTIONS/BENEFITS/DISADVANTAGES/OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
The intent of the request is consistent with conversations/concerns that Council has previously held,
though Administration is seeking confirmation that these concerns are in fact consistent.
Council will need to determine if contracting an external lobbyist will form a beneficial approach to
addressing any concerns that Kneehill County may have.
At the time of writing Rocky View County has indicated that participating municipalities include: Rocky
View County, Cypress County, and MD of Willow Creek. At the current time Ponoka County, Starland
County and M.D. of Taber have indicated that they will not be participating. Rocky View County has
suggested that if fewer than 5 or 6 municipalities participate there may not be enough resources for the
project to move forward.
Provincial Information
Administration has been in contact with Alberta Environment and has been informed that while the
Province does require reclamation to an equivalent land capacity, there is no security being collected.
RMA Information
Administration can also report that RMA has met with the AUC on a staff to staff level. During discussion
the AUC stated that renewable energy projects are in the public good. RMA put forward that food security
is also in the public good and needs to be considered as part of the review process.
The RMA has also indicated that the AUC may be present at the upcoming RMA Spring Convention. This
is not confirmed but is in discussion.
RMA currently has an active resolution (7-20F) calling on the GOA to amend section 619 to require
agencies to consider municipal plans when approving projects. The government response does not
indicate any plans to consider amending the section.
In addition to resolution 7-20F (also included below), there are other relevant resolutions currently being
actioned by the RMA:
21-22F: Loss of Agricultural Land to Renewable Energy Projects
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta request the Government
of Alberta to work collaboratively on policy that will find a balance between the development of
renewable energy and protection of valuable agriculture lands.
65 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
7.2
Page 3 of 3
Version: 2022-02
6-22S: Responsiveness of Service Delivery by Quasi-independent Agencies in Alberta
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta request that the
Government of Alberta review the continued use of unelected, quasi-independent agencies for the
administration and delivery of essential public services, with the results of the review published for
public examination.
7-20F: Amendments to Municipal Government Act Section 619
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta urge the Government of
Alberta to amend Section 619 of the Municipal Government Act to clearly state that the Natural
Resources Conservation Board, the Energy Resources Conservation Board, the Alberta Energy
Regulator, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board or the Alberta Utilities Commission must consider
municipal statutory land use planning related to the protection of productive agricultural lands when
making decisions on licenses, permits, approvals and other authorizations under their jurisdiction.
11-19F: Requirement for Municipal Authority Input on Energy Resource Development Projects (Expired)
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta request that the
Government of Alberta directs the Alberta Energy Regulator to incorporate municipal authorities’
input into the energy resource development project and change of use approval process.
FINANCIAL & STAFFING IMPLICATIONS:
The request is for a contribution of $10,000. Should Council approve of this direction, Administration will
include the required funds in the 2023 proposed budget.
RECOMMENDED ENGAGEMENT:
Choose an item.
Tools: Public Notification Other:
ATTACHMENTS:
December 15th, 2022 Letter from Rocky View County regarding Joint Advocacy for Improved Solar Farm
Governance
COUNCIL OPTIONS:
1. Council may opt to join Rocky View County in a joint advocacy effort.
2. Council may opt to pursue advocacy efforts through the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.
3. Council may opt to not pursue this effort.
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:
Administration will inform Rocky View County of Council’s decision.
Administration will include funding in the 2023 budget if required.
APPROVAL(S):
Mike Haugen, Chief Administrative Officer Approved- ☒
66 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
67 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
68 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
69 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
70 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
8.1
Page 1 of 1
Version: 2022-02
Subject: RCMP Reporting on Council’s Priorities, Public Safety Update
Meeting Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Prepared By: Carolyn Van der Kuil, Legislative Services Coordinator
Presented By: Mike Haugen, CAO
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
That Council move to accept the RCMP presentation for information, as presented.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: (Check all that apply)
☐ ☐ ☐
☐
☒
High Quality
Infrastructure Economic
Resilience Quality of Life Effective
Leadership Level of Service
RELEVANT LEGISLATION:
Provincial (cite)- N/A
Council Bylaw/Policy (cite)- N/A
BACKGROUND/PROPOSAL:
The Three Hills RCMP were a delegation to Council earlier this meeting.
DISCUSSION/OPTIONS/BENEFITS/DISADVANTAGES/OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
As part of their accountability to our community, RCMP are providing Council with reporting on statistics,
community engagement, and community priorities.
FINANCIAL & STAFFING IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
RECOMMENDED ENGAGEMENT:
Directive Decision (Information Sharing, One-Way Communication
Tools: Individual Notification Other:
ATTACHMENTS:
N/A
COUNCIL OPTIONS:
1. Approve the recommendation as presented.
2. Amend the recommendation as presented.
3. Administration to come back with other options.
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:
Continued partnership and collaboration with detachments on reporting to Council.
APPROVAL(S):
Mike Haugen, Chief Administrative Officer Approved- ☒
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REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
9.0
Page 1 of 1
Version: 2022-02
Subject: Council & Committee Reports
Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Prepared By: Carolyn Van der Kuil, Legislative Services Coordinator
Presented By: Mike Haugen, CAO
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
That Council accepts for information the Council & Committee Report, as presented.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: (Check all that apply)
☐ ☐ ☐
☒
☒
High Quality
Infrastructure Economic
Resilience Quality of Life Effective
Leadership Level of Service
RELEVANT LEGISLATION:
Provincial (cite)- N/A
Council Bylaw/Policy (cite)- N/A
BACKGROUND/PROPOSAL:
The purpose of the Council and Committee Reports is to provide each member with the opportunity to
bring forward any matter of general interest to Council or the County.
DISCUSSION/OPTIONS/BENEFITS/DISADVANTAGES/OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
Council reports will be included on the agenda when requested by Council and reports may be either in
writing, or verbally, or a combination of both.
FINANCIAL & STAFFING IMPLICATIONS:
The recommended motion does not have any financial implication.
RECOMMENDED ENGAGEMENT:
Directive Decision (Information Sharing, One-Way Communication
Tools: Individual Notification Other:
ATTACHMENTS:
Council & Committee Reports
COUNCIL OPTIONS:
1. That Council accepts the Council and Committee Report.
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:
N/A
APPROVAL(S):
Mike Haugen, Chief Administrative Officer Approved- ☒
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan
82 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan
©2022 Government of Alberta | Published: December 2022 | ISBN 978-1-4601-5577-6
This publication is issued under the Open Government Licence – Alberta (https://open.alberta.ca/licence).
Please note that the terms of this licence do not apply to any third-party materials included in this publication.83 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 3
Contents
Minister’s message ..........................................................................................................................................4
Rural Alberta economic highlights .................................................................................................................5
The need for a rural economic development plan .........................................................................................6
The Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan (EDRAP) ........................................................................7
Defining rural in the Alberta context .................................................................................................................8
Shared rural vision ............................................................................................................................................8
Guiding principles .............................................................................................................................................8
Strategic actions/directions ............................................................................................................................9
·Ongoing supporting initiatives .........................................................................................................................9
·Strategic direction 1 - Economic development-enabling infrastructure ..........................................................10
·Strategic direction 2 - Rural business supports and entrepreneurship ...........................................................11
·Strategic direction 3 - Support for labour force and skills development .........................................................12
·Strategic direction 4 - Marketing and promoting rural tourism ........................................................................13
·Strategic direction 5 - Rural economic development capacity building ..........................................................14
Ongoing collaboration and reporting ............................................................................................................15
84 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 4
Minister’s message
Rural Alberta will help lead Alberta’s economic growth. Supporting sustainable growth and
diversification in our rural economy remains a top priority for Alberta’s government.
We are listening to rural Albertans, and have gathered their perspectives to help support rural
economic development. We heard clearly from rural Albertans that rural challenges are unique and
need different approaches than what works for their urban neighbours.
Government has developed the Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan based on the insights
gained from our engagement with targeted rural stakeholders. This plan includes key strategies and
measurable actions to ensure rural Albertans have economic opportunities where they live.
Recent government actions around broadband, healthcare and infrastructure investment demonstrate government’s commitment
to rural communities. And we’ll keep this momentum going through the strategic directions and actions outlined in the Economic
Development in Rural Alberta Plan.
Alberta’s government will continue to support our province’s economic growth and create jobs by ensuring rural Alberta businesses
and employers have access to the tools and resources they need to be successful.
Nate Horner
Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
85 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 5
Rural communities produce about 30 per cent of
Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with
220,000 rural businesses representing nearly 17
per cent of Canada’s employers.
Rural Alberta accounts for 18 per cent of the provincial
population and is home to 41 per cent of the public and private
investment in the province and 26 per cent of the provincial GDP.
$279,525,229 - Revenue of Indigenous tourism operators in
Alberta in 2021, the second highest provincial total in Canada.
Since 2016, there has been a 2.7 per cent decline in the rural
Alberta population.
More than 30,000 Albertans working for small- and
medium-sized businesses rely on the forestry industry for their
livelihoods, including shop owners, restaurants, local hardware
suppliers, environmental consultants, and many more. Forestry
companies are committed to supporting the
local communities they operate in by prioritizing
buying from local small and medium-sized
businesses located close to industry site
operations, spending about $2.5 billion over the
past five years with local suppliers.
Alberta’s forest companies provide well-paying jobs and
meaningful work, with an average annual compensation of about
$62,317 to those under 25 – higher than average for Canadians
working elsewhere in the forest industry. The sector supports
31,573 jobs in the province, including the direct employment of
16,565 people. The sector is also an important part of Alberta’s
supply chain and contributes to employment through indirect
jobs, with the transportation industry most impacted by upstream
employment, accounting for 1,378 jobs.
Rural Alberta
economic highlights
Alberta’s provincial parks generate more than
$1 billion in economic activity, and contribute
more than 9,000 jobs through direct and indirect
employment at more than 740 sites across the
province, the vast majority of these in rural areas.
Alberta anticipates $3.75 billion in renewable sector investment
by 2023, creating 4,500 jobs.
Limited access to communications infrastructure makes
attracting new business to rural Alberta a challenge.
Small businesses account for 98 per cent
of all businesses in Alberta, representing an
important segment of the rural economy.
18 projects, worth $321.9 million, were
supported with $124.1 million in funding from the Investing
in Canada Infrastructure Program’s Rural and Northern
Communities Infrastructure stream. These projects are estimated
to have created 1,801 direct jobs for rural Albertans.
There are 133 active capital maintenance and renewal projects in
rural Alberta communities. Alberta has invested about $78 million
to fund these projects, creating more than 440 jobs.
There are 21 active capital projects (health,
school, post-secondary institution) in rural
Alberta communities. Alberta has invested about
$510 million to fund these projects, creating
about 2,800 construction-related jobs.
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 6
With a focus on Alberta’s economic growth, it is more important than ever that rural communities
are strong, vibrant and inclusive places to call home. When rural communities succeed, all of
Alberta is made stronger. However, areas of Alberta located away from major centres or with small
populations have difficulty taking advantage of economic opportunities. They require a supportive
economic development environment that enables capacity building within their communities, so
they have the skills and knowledge to take advantage of regional economic opportunities and
increase business retention, expansion and attraction.
The need for a rural
economic development
plan
Over the past year, the Government of Alberta has refocused
its rural economic development efforts, demonstrating a
commitment to Alberta’s rural communities and acknowledging
the positive impact they have on the province’s economy.
The appointment of a minister responsible for rural economic
development led to a series of engagement sessions with
rural stakeholders and Indigenous communities to gather their
perspectives on the successes, challenges and opportunities for
rural economic development.
Rural Alberta is made up of different landscapes and
communities including Indigenous Peoples. Each community
has unique characteristics that contribute to its economic
well-being and the province’s prosperity. In the past decade,
many Alberta towns, villages and rural areas have experienced
population decline, while cities and urban municipalities continue
to grow. Further, the extended downturn in the resource sector,
supply chain issues and other world events have, in many cases,
negatively affected the economies of rural communities.
Alberta’s economy is evolving and modern rural economies
extend beyond agricultural production and primary resources.
New industries and opportunities are emerging alongside
traditional economic drivers. Rural Alberta deserves a strong plan
for economic development that reflects innovation, diversification
and sustainable long-term growth.
87 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 7
Developing a rural economic development plan started with a series of engagement sessions with
rural stakeholders and Indigenous communities from across the province over the fall of 2021 and
into the spring and early summer of 2022.
The Economic
Development in Rural
Alberta Plan (EDRAP)
In June and July 2022, six hybrid engagement sessions brought
participants back together for more in-depth conversations
on specific topics. In total, 168 participants gave feedback
through this round of conversations, either online or in person.
The sessions presented key aspects of the draft EDRAP for
information, further discussion and the opportunity to provide
additional input into plan development. Three information
sessions were also conducted with the Rural Municipalities of
Alberta, Alberta Municipalities and Economic Developers Alberta.
The engagement sessions confirmed that rural economic
development requires unique considerations to address rural
challenges and opportunities. Issues of growth and sustainability
in rural and Indigenous communities are not necessarily the
same as those found in urban centres. Supporting business
growth and retention and increasing investment requires a
concerted effort to improve efficiencies, provide community
services which enable economic development, attract labour and
investment and support tourism infrastructure.
The conversations that informed the EDRAP development were
wide-ranging and covered topics of concern related to rural
economic development and community services such as access
to health care, education and other services. It is important to
note that the EDRAP is not a plan for community development.
Instead, the EDRAP focusses on strategies for sustainable
economic development which emphasize regional collaboration
and enhancing economic development capacity.
Communities that work together can more optimally pool
resources to pursue common issues and opportunities. Regional
collaboration enables communities and other stakeholders to
work together to achieve more strategic outcomes. Participating
in a regional partnership mitigates a rural community’s “grow on
your own” challenge and maximizes the benefits of a collective
experience.
The purpose of these engagements was to:
•Gather the rural perspective on economic development
challenges and opportunities in the participant’s communities
and regions.
•Connect rural stakeholders and Indigenous groups to new and
existing economic development programs being offered by the
Government of Alberta.
•Solicit ideas to inform sector strategies and future actions
that will ensure rural Albertans are able to benefit fully from
Alberta’s economic growth.
•Obtain insights on rural issues that will be shared throughout
government.
The Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) hosted 17
virtual engagement sessions with more than 370 rural Alberta
stakeholders, receiving 3,500 comments. An online survey
was conducted concurrently and received an additional 919
responses. Government met with key stakeholders from the rural
economic development field, from multiple regions and economic
sectors, all with an interest in the success of rural Alberta. The
engagement sessions were attended by municipal leaders,
business owners, community-based economic development
organizations, chambers of commerce and Indigenous
communities.
Data received from the sessions and the online survey was
analyzed and used to develop the EDRAP vision, guiding
principles and strategic directions. These were refined and
validated through phase two targeted engagement with the same
stakeholders.
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 8
Defining rural in the
Alberta context
Defining rural is difficult. It is sometimes defined by population
size, density, or distance to other communities and services.
However, in the context of economic development, rural refers to
a community’s capacity to sustain itself and grow, the quality of
life for residents and the industries that contribute to its economy.
During the engagement sessions, participants suggested the
most common characteristics of rural communities include:
• a population of less than 20,000 people,
• limited geographic proximity to population centres over 25,000
that could provide employment and services,
• communities may be remote or have in them, or around them,
a significant amount of nature, natural resources, agricultural
land and wilderness areas, and
• a workforce largely focused on primary economic activity,
including oil and gas, agriculture and forestry.
While not all of the characteristics listed apply to every rural and
Indigenous community, many rural Albertans will see aspects of
themselves and their communities represented.
Shared rural vision
Successful rural economic development requires the
participation and dedication of community members, civil society
organizations, communities, the private sector, regional alliances
and multiple levels of government all working collaboratively
towards common goals.
During the phase one rural economic development engagement
sessions (fall of 2021), rural Albertans and Indigenous community
members outlined their vision for rural Alberta, which was further
refined and validated with participants during the phase two
engagement sessions:
Vision statement
Alberta’s rural community is resilient, innovative and
prosperous, providing sustainable economic opportunities
for individuals, families, businesses and visitors.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL ALBERTA PLAN (EDRAP)
Guiding principles
Implementing the EDRAP will require a set of guiding
principles to shape and inform the development of
implementation plans, future policies, initiatives and
programs. Through the targeted engagement
sessions, these guiding principles have been
developed, refined and validated:
Community- led
Community input and participation in programs and
services to focus on building economic development
capacity.
Achievable
Establishing clear linkages between action items and
available resources.
Flexible
Considering new and emerging industries and
opportunities while continuing to build on existing
foundational industries.
Collaborative
Fostering a collaborative ecosystem across all levels
of government, including Indigenous communities
and rural stakeholders.
Inclusive
Building inclusive approaches for all rural and
Indigenous communities’ capacity, resources and
geography.
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 9
Strategic actions/directions
Based on feedback collated from the engagement sessions,
several themes readily emerged to support rural economic
development and prosperity in Alberta: critical infrastructure, red
tape reduction, workforce strategies, rural investment attraction,
rural tourism and rural business supports.
Analysis of the feedback received from phase one engagement,
informed by national and international jurisdictional scans that
examined rural economic development best practices, led to
five strategic directions that were validated by rural stakeholders
through phase two engagements, including economic
development enabling infrastructure, rural business supports,
support for labour force and skills development, marketing rural
and promoting rural tourism, and rural economic development
capacity building.
Red tape reduction is a well-established core government action
adopted in December 2019. Under the Red Tape Reduction
Act, all government policy and program development must
incorporate red tape reduction, which is already integrated into
the EDRAP.
Throughout the engagement sessions, rural stakeholders and
Indigenous communities continuously stressed the importance
of collaboration as essential to the success of EDRAP actions.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL ALBERTA PLAN (EDRAP)
Consequently, collaboration was established as a guiding
principle of the EDRAP.
The significant impact of rural communities on our province’s
economy means that getting it right is essential. As part of the
Alberta government’s focus on rural economic development,
a number of significant actions in Budget 2022 address key
challenges facing rural Albertans and Indigenous communities,
and are well underway. Notably, many of these touch on
concerns raised by rural stakeholders during phase one
engagement in the fall of 2021.
The EDRAP sets out an action plan for a five-year commitment.
Initiatives are designed to support capacity building in the key
areas of entrepreneurship, skills development, small business
supports, marketing rural and Indigenous communities
and promoting tourism and rural economic development
interconnectivity at the regional level.
The intent of the EDRAP strategic directions and the
corresponding actions are to compliment the extensive work
already underway and to enhance economic development
capacity, support to small businesses and entrepreneurship,
advance rural tourism initiatives and to build the workforce to
take on economic development projects.
ONGOING SUPPORTING INITIATIVES
The Alberta Broadband Strategy 2022 Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation
Investment and Growth Fund (rural stream) Alberta Health Services Nursing Initiatives
Forest Jobs Action Plan Energy Savings For Business (Emissions Reduction Alberta)
The Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program Climate Resilience Capacity Building Program
Alberta Advantage Immigration Strategy Rural Health Professions Action Plan
Aboriginal Business Investment Fund University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine program expansion
Travel Alberta’s rural tourism initiatives Results Driven Agriculture Research
Film and Television Tax Credit Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs
Irrigation Infrastructure Investment Building Forward: Alberta’s 20-Year Strategic Capital Plan
Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act Business Corporations Amendment Act
Alberta Investment Attraction Act Alberta’s Recovery Plan
The Rural Education Supplement and Integrated Doctor
Experience (RESIDE) program
First Nations Regional Drinking Water Tie-in Project
Workforce Partnerships Grants The Innovation Employment Grant
THRIVE Canada Accelerator Employment Partnerships Program
Stronger Foundations affordable housing strategy
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 10
Strategic direction 1
Economic development-enabling
infrastructure
Identify and improve economic development-enabling
infrastructure to support investment and growth in rural Alberta.
Power, water, telecommunications and transportation networks are
vital to residents and businesses to attract new investments. The
government has taken initiative to support the development of
economic development-enabling infrastructure.
Supporting initiatives
• $5.8 billion committed over three years to support infrastructure
projects in cities, towns and smaller communities.
• Almost $933 million invested in irrigation infrastructure in
partnership with 10 irrigation districts to expand and modernize
Alberta’s irrigation infrastructure.
• Budget 2022 makes reliable, affordable, high-speed internet a
reality across the province through a $390 million investment over
the next four years in the Alberta Broadband Strategy with
matching federal funds dollar-for-dollar, which will unlock a total
of $780 million in public sector funding.
• $100 million committed to provide reliable access to clean
drinking water to 14 Indigenous communities through the First
Nations Regional Drinking Water Tie-in Project.
• Alberta is spending $31.5 million over the next year on
transportation infrastructure for rural and smaller urban
municipalities as part of a $103.4 million investment over three
years under the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program.
• The Building Forward: Alberta’s 20-Year Strategic Capital Plan
takes a province-wide view to help government navigate its way
through the challenges and opportunities facing our province
over the next two decades, ensuring we will have the right
infrastructure in place to support Alberta’s future.
• Through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative, government
continues to make a significant investment in local infrastructure
priorities. From 2021 to 2023, an average of $722 million is being
allocated to municipalities and Métis Settlements, a significant
proportion of which will go to rural communities. Local
governments determine which local infrastructure projects will be
funded, based on local priorities.
New actions
1. Ensure all of Alberta has broadband service availability by 2026
and supports are in place to provide digital literacy training.
2. Build on work to further develop transportation corridors to
maximize economic development opportunities.
3. In 2024, the Municipal Sustainability Initiative will be replaced by
the Local Government Fiscal Framework, which will provide
permanent, predictable funding for a wide range of infrastructure.
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 11
Strategic direction 2
Rural business supports
and entrepreneurship
Advance entrepreneurship capacity and a culture of innovation
across rural Alberta.
The remoteness of rural communities can pose challenges to access
supports for entrepreneurship and small business.
Supporting initiatives
•Alberta Advantage Immigration Program’s Rural Renewal and
Rural Entrepreneur Streams are a flexible new strategy to attract
and support skilled newcomers with global skills and talent to
help diversify the economy and create jobs.
•The THRIVE Canada Accelerator supports early-stage startups
whose technologies help drive towards a more efficient,
sustainable, and secure agriculture future.
•Supporting value-added forest product manufacturing in
partnership with WoodWorks, an organization focused on
growing the use of Alberta wood products in Alberta and beyond.
•Through the Investment Growth Fund’s rural stream, $5 million
has been approved for three years, starting in 2022/23, to
support a rural investment attraction.
•Over five years, Alberta contributed more than $406 million
toward agriculture operations and value-added businesses
through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
•The Forest Jobs Action Plan includes awarding timber rights
to companies across northern Alberta through a request for
proposal process that requires specific benefits to local rural
communities, including Indigenous communities.
•Results Driven Agriculture Research promotes economic
development through research and innovation. Its mandate is to
target strategic investments in producer-led agriculture research
to power the competitiveness, profitability, productivity and
sustainability of agriculture in Alberta.
•The Labour Market Partnerships grant program supports labour
market research, workforce strategy development and local hiring
events.
New actions
1.Establish new targets and update the Alberta Agri-Food
Investment and Growth Strategy.
2.Support rural entrepreneurship training and leadership
development in rural Alberta through collaboration with key
partners.
3.Leverage changes to the Rural Utilities Act, enabling rural
electrification associations to capitalize on rural economic
development opportunities through innovation and business
development.
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 12
Strategic direction 3
Support for labour force and
skills development
Enable skills development in rural communities to enhance
workforce capacity today and for the future.
The rural labour force is declining as the population ages, and
younger Albertans often leave to settle in urban centres. With
a declining workforce and population, supporting community
services such as health, education and businesses becomes more
challenging.
Supporting initiatives
• Alberta’s government is investing $55 million over three years so
that Albertans have more access to affordable housing.
• Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs Strategy is a 10-year
strategy for post-secondary education in Alberta that will
transform the adult learning system to focus on providing the
high-quality education, skills and training needed for Alberta’s
future.
• The Rural Health Professions Action Plan will help ensure that all
Albertans can access high-quality care through initiatives that
support rural health education, rural health workforce recognition
and the attraction and retention of rural health professionals.
• The Employment Partnerships Program provides funding for
Indigenous skills and employment training programs that connect
Indigenous Peoples to meaningful employment opportunities.
• Government is supporting forestry labour development via grants
to Work Wild, an industry supported organization focused on
promoting forestry to young Albertans.
• Training for Work programs help Albertans gain skills to find work,
improve their employment situation and increase their ability
to cope with changing labour market conditions. The program
has invested $25.9 million in more than 55 urban and rural
communities across Alberta.
New actions
1. Leverage Alberta’s library system to support knowledge transfer
and skills development.
2. Improve awareness of agriculture and agri-food related careers
and support to attract and retain workers in rural Alberta.
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 13
Strategic direction 4
Marketing and promoting
rural tourism
Enhance rural Alberta’s reputation and capacity as a diverse
tourism destination.
Alberta’s rural economy has traditionally focused on primary
agriculture and natural resource industries. In recent years, small
business, tourism, manufacturing, renewable energy and value-added
processing have all become increasingly important to the rural
economy. Tourism has significant potential through natural assets
found in rural Alberta, and realizing that potential requires developing
new products and experiences that meets the needs of visitors. A
thriving tourism industry helps attract and retain talent that supports
other industries.
Supporting initiatives
• The Film and Television Tax Credit offers a refundable Alberta tax
credit certificate on eligible Alberta production and labour costs
to corporations that produce films, television series and other
eligible screen-based productions in the province.
• Travel Alberta’s destination marketing promotes rural Alberta and
Indigenous communities.
• Alberta Open Farm Days is an incubator for agri-tourism and rural
sustainability.
New actions
1. Support Alberta’s rural visitor economy to ensure rural and
Indigenous communities are strong and vibrant with opportunities
for employment and economic diversification.
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 14
Strategic direction 5
Rural economic development
capacity building
Enhance rural economic development through regional and
targeted capacity building.
Collaboration and cooperation at a regional scale leverages collective
resources and economic development opportunities.
Supporting initiatives
• The Alberta Agri-Food Investment and Growth Strategy set
targets to attract $1.4 billion in investment by 2024 and create
2,000 jobs in the agri-food sector.
• Government earmarked $59 million to expand the Veterinary
Medicine Program at the University of Calgary.
• The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund can partially or
completely fund capital costs for Indigenous community-owned
economic development projects.
• The Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation was
established in 2019 to facilitate investment by Indigenous groups
in natural resources, agriculture, telecommunications and
transportation projects.
• Continued collaboration with and investment in Regional
Economic Development Alliances, Applied Research
Associations and Agricultural Service Boards.
New actions
1. Invest Alberta will partner with local economic development
agencies to drive increased foreign direct investment to rural
Alberta.
2. Continued collaboration with and investment in Regional
Economic Development Alliances.
3. Work with all partners to further develop capacity building and
mentorship programming targeted to rural and Indigenous
community needs, and develop a regional policy approach to
rural economic development capacity building.
4. Develop a one-stop Alberta.ca webpage to highlight
programming for rural economic development initiatives.
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Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan 15
Implementation of the EDRAP will require a collaborative
approach both within the Government of Alberta and between
governments, rural economic development leaders and
Indigenous communities to identify key opportunities to enhance
current programs and services, advocate for new programs
that will address key challenges, and reduce duplication. The
government will ensure cross-ministry collaboration on rural
economic development through a senior-level committee. There
are also opportunities to collaborate with the Government of
Canada on rural economic development projects and initiatives
for rural and Indigenous communities.
Ongoing collaboration
and reporting
The Alberta government will collect data and narrative from
rural economic development key stakeholders, including other
government ministries, to develop annual progress reports
starting in 2023, an interim report in 2025 and a final impact
report in 2028. Highlights will be publicly available on Alberta.ca,
and reporting also provides opportunities to adjust or refine plan
actions as required.
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open.alberta.ca/publications/economic-development-in-rural-alberta-plan 97 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Faye McGhee Division 1
Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP)
A link to the newspaper article was sent by email to all board members:
https://calgaryherald.com/business/twenty-municipalities-organizations-form-partnership-to-
call-for-better-rail-service
Kneehill Regional Partnership Steering Committee
February 8, 2023
Hosted an information session called “Privacy Do's and Don'ts for Elected Officials” facilitated
by Lorne I. Randa from BrownLee Barristers & Solicitors
-Very well attended. Councilors from each of the municipalities a well as staff from a few.
-Excellent information on the legal responsibilities and risks associated with being a councillor.
Marigold Library
Meeting Date: January 28, 2023 Virtual
-The board approved the 2023 budget as drafted. Accolades to the staff of Marigold who
worked to get a more agreeable rate from TRAC, (The Regional Automation Consortium).
-TRAC is the partnership of Marigold Library System, Northern Lights Library System, Peace
Library System and Yellowhead Regional Library. TRAC is a Society established in the late 1990s
to cost share and support a library management software system. Library cardholders can
search and borrow items from a combined catalogue of 180 libraries with a collection of
over three million books, DVDs and other material.
-Website and Social Media Statistics as of October 31, 2022
Website: marigold.ab.ca - Total Visits: 3341 (previous month: 3435),
average monthly visits in 2021: 3138
Website: braggcreeklibrary.ca – Total Visits: 61 (previous month: 59)
Facebook Likes: 580 (previous month: 576)
Instagram followers: 771 (previous month: 774)
Twitter followers: 728 (previous month: 725)
YouTube subscribers: 180 (previous month: 178)
-New eResources:
1. DigitalLearn is a Public Library Association’s website that provides digital literacy support
and training. It includes a collection of self-directed tutorials to help users increase their digital
literacy.
98 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
2. FamilySearch is a history and genealogy resource that includes billions of birth, marriage,
death, census, land, and court records from more than 130 countries. They add over 300 million
free genealogical records and images online yearly from all over the world, and they manager
the famous Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
-The Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation published a new Economic Development in Rural
Alberta Plan in December. The plan sets out a 5-year commitment that guides rural economic
growth, reflecting on innovation, diversification, and sustainable, long-term economic
development. The report states a new action to “Leverage Alberta’s library system to support
knowledge transfer and skills development.” (Page 12, Action
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/b3cb4a52-e3fb-4aeb-a69f-0d32a5a14eec/resource/b4342f56-
6762-4fdb-85c0-2856ae599d77/download/agi-economic-development-in-rural-alberta-plan.pdf
-The Ministries of Agriculture & Irrigation and Municipal Affairs have partnered to offer public
library boards serving populations of 20,000 or less one-time project funding to build capacity
and skills for work, learning, and digital literacy.
-In October, the seven regional library systems submitted a joint letter requesting an increase in
library funding to Minister Rebecca Schulz. Public Library Services Branch currently uses 2016
Municipal Affairs population to issue grants. Increased funding is urgently needed to sustain
operations in our seven library systems that serve 270 libraries in Alberta. We see the need for
increased funding at our member libraries as buyer power is impacted by inflation and some
are seeing significant jumps in population. Northern Lights Director James MacDonald and
Peace Director Louisa Robison were interviewed for this in a CBC article:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-s-rural-library-systems-plead-for-more-
provincial-funds-as-inflation-erodes-budgets-1.6644808
Anyone looking to advocate for the importance of libraries please see the attached resources:
Provincial Advocacy Handout and Provincial Advocacy Guide.
1Provincial Advocacy Handout.pdf 25 Provincial Advocacy Guide_Jan 1
99 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
REQUEST FOR DECISION
AGENDA ITEM #
10.0
Page 1 of 1
Version: 2022-02
Subject: Council Follow-up Action List
Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Prepared By: Carolyn Van der Kuil, Legislative Services Coordinator
Presented By: Mike Haugen, CAO
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
That Council receive for information the Council Follow-up Action List as presented.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: (Check all that apply)
☐ ☐ ☐
☒
☒
High Quality
Infrastructure Economic
Resilience Quality of Life Effective
Leadership Level of Service
RELEVANT LEGISLATION:
Provincial (cite)- N/A
Council Bylaw/Policy (cite)- N/A
BACKGROUND/PROPOSAL:
To request Council’s acceptance of the Council Follow-Up Action List.
DISCUSSION/OPTIONS/BENEFITS/DISADVANTAGES/OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
Please find attached the Council Follow-Up Action List. The Council Follow-up Action list is a list of items
from Council meetings that require follow-up. This document is regularly updated after each Council
meeting.
FINANCIAL & STAFFING IMPLICATIONS:
The recommended motion does not have any financial implication.
RECOMMENDED ENGAGEMENT:
Directive Decision (Information Sharing, One-Way Communication
Tools: Individual Notification Other:
ATTACHMENTS:
Council Follow up Action List
COUNCIL OPTIONS:
1. To receive the report regarding the Council Follow-up Action List for information
2. Council provide further direction or required changes/amendments
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:
N/A
APPROVAL(S):
Mike Haugen, Chief Administrative Officer Approved- ☒
100 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Meeting Date Motion #Description/Motion
Action Required Assigned To Due Date Status
23-Mar-21 139/21
Councillor Penner moved that Council direct administration to
cancel the current agreement with R&D Pilot Truck Ltd for the
hauling of gravel to the Hiller Stockpile and enter into an
agreement to sell the remainder of gravel located at the Delia
pit at a cost recovery.
COMPLETED Mike Ziehr
Payment for the remainder of
the gravel purchase has been
received from R&D Pilot Truck
and the ownership of the
gravel has transferred.
20-Jul-21 288/21
Councillor King moved that Council direct administration that
once the County has the financial background regarding the
Three Hills East Water Delivery Options, that the County then
complete a public engagement with the residents.
Christine Anderson
Meeting has been set for
March 8, 2023 in the Encana
Room at Three Hills Arena.
Invitations have been mailed
out.
22-Mar-22 97/22
AUMA Energy Audit- Deputy Reeve King moved that Council
request Administration to provide additional information for
the proposed projects as presented.
Mike Haugen/Director of
Community Services
It is anticipated that this will be
done as part of budget
discussions.
15-Nov-22 397/22
Councillor Penner moved that Council continue the Horseshoe
Canyon facility fee (formerly called the parking fee) program
for 2023.Shelby Sherwick
Planning for 2023 season in
progress
15-Nov-22 416/22
Councillor Fobes moved that Council directs Administration to
continue with the Horseshoe Canyon Branding Pilot Program.
Shelby Sherwick
Planning for 2023 season in
progress
13-Dec-22 435/22
Councillor King Request a meeting with the Minister of
Transportation at the Rural Municipalities Conference to
discuss this bridge.
Mike Haugen
We are starting to receive
invites for the RMA Convention
and will respond accordingly
when received.
10-Jan-23 9/23
Councillor Cunningham moved that Council table the Joint
Advocacy for Improved Solar Farm Governance agenda item
until the first meeting in February to provide further
information. On the February 14 Agenda.
10-Jan-23 14/23
Councillor Cunningham moved that Council request a meeting
with the Minister of Municipal Affairs at the upcoming RMA
Convention, to discuss concerns about siting of renewable
energy developments and end of life concerns.
COMPLETED Mike Haugen In Progress
24-Jan-23 18/23 Deputy Reeve King moved that Council receive the
presentation for information as presented.COMPLETED
24-Jan-23 19-20/23
Councillor Fobes moved that Council provide second reading to
Bylaw 1869, Starland County & Kneehill County Intermunicipal
Development Plan.COMPLETED
24-Jan-23 20/23
Councillor McGhee moved that Council provide third reading
to Bylaw 1869, Starland County & Kneehill County
Intermunicipal Development Plan.COMPLETED
24-Jan-23 21/23
Councillor Christie moved that Council nominate Lemay
Agribusiness Ltd. (Mike & Suzanne Lemay) to receive the 2023
BMO Calgary Stampede Farm Family Award as recommended
by the Agricultural Service Board, as well as approves
attendance to the event for Deputy Reeve King as the County
Representative.COMPLETE Shelby Sherwick
Completed nomination form
sent on January 24th, received
by Calgary Stampede
24-Jan-23 22/23
Deputy Reeve King moved that Council appoints Jason
Michielsen as Torrington Fire Chief and Derek Benedict as
Torrington Deputy Fire Chief for a two-year term to January
31, 2025. Should either of these members leave the
department, their position will be deemed vacant immediately.
COMPLETED
24-Jan-23 23/23 Deputy Reeve King moved that Council receive for information
the Oil and Gas Tax Arrears report.COMPLETED
Council Action Items
101 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
Meeting Date Motion #Description/Motion
Action Required Assigned To Due Date Status
Council Action Items
24-Jan-23 24/23
Deputy Reeve King moved that the amount of $4,913,262.83
be expensed and cancelled on Rolls 29253332100,
29260310700, 29260341600, 29261010800, 29261041600,
29261410700, 29261420300, 30251410110, 30251910700,
30251931200, 31222510100, 32220642100, 32223541000,
32231020410, 32231510800, 32232320600, 32232731300,
32233420400, 32233631400, 32233641000, 33220310800,
33221710800, 33221831100, 33221910700, 33222910700,
33231310100, 33232410800, 33233010100, 34213231300,
34213240900, 34222431300, 40000410000 as this is amount is
no longer collectible.COMPLETED
24-Jan-23 25/23
Councillor McGhee moved that Council approve to cancel the
taxes on Roll 30211533000 & 50000000022 in the amount of
$1,340.38.COMPLETED
24-Jan-23 26/23
Deputy Reeve King moved that Council direct Administration to
prepare an information package for landowners considering or
affected by renewable energy development.
24-Jan-23 27/23
Deputy Reeve King moved that Council provide funding to the
Trochu Ag Society, through the Community Grant program, in
the amount of $17,500.00. COMPLETED
24-Jan-23 32/33
Councillor McGhee moved that Council authorize the hiring of
a fourth Community Peace Officer Level 1 position.
COMPLETED
102 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted
AMENDMENT SUMMARY
Council Meeting Date: February 14, 2023
Purpose:
The purpose of the Amendment Summary is to explain the differences from the original package that
was presented at the Council meeting compared to the amended version.
Agenda:
Deletion:
3.1- Delegation- Three Hills RCMP, Sgt. Jamie Day
8.1- Three Hills RCMP
Package:
No additions were made to the package
103 2023.02.14 Council Package Adopted