Council Notes From All Over

CITY OF WETASKIWIN COUNCIL
Barry McDonald

Wetaskiwin City Council invites the public to attend their regular meetings in Council Chambers (4705 - 50 Ave). . 

Bylaw 1803-13 proposing fee adjustments defeated: 
    Council failed to pass  following fees in Bylaw 1648-06 be amended to: Tax Searches - On-line $10.00; Tax Searches – Manual  $20.00; Tax Certificates  $40.00; Subscription WebMap Access $30.00 per month; Archive Research Fee (City Resident) $20.00 ½ hour or part thereof;  Archive Research Fee (Non - City Resident) $10.00 service fee; Archives digital image fee $15.00 jpeg,  $20.00 tiff file

Roadway closure for  52nd Avenue on June 1:
    Mr. Justin Wieclaw, Education Program Director for the Boys and Girls Club of Wetaskiwin and Ms. Debbie Pearson Funding and Community Co-ordinator described  the annual Race for Kids scheduled for June 1st 2013 and requested a road closure between 50th and 51st Street from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Council approved the request.

Remuneration and expense reimbursement guidelines for Mayor and Council:
    Annual Remuneration for Mayor - $37,541.26 per annum for fees and $ 18,770.57 per annum for expenses ($56,311.83)   
    Annual Remuneration for Aldermen  - $18,019.76 per annum for fees and $9,009.90 per annum for expenses ($ 27,029.66)   
    Deputy Mayor Remuneration  - $325.00 / Month while Acting in that capacity   
Per Diem Rates  - $50.00 for up to two hours,  $ 100.00 for two to four hours, $200.00 for full day
    Remuneration is in consideration of: any and all other activities undertaken while representing the City as a Member of Council.  

Eligible benefits:
    Members of Council shall be eligible to receive the following benefits:   Life Insurance  100%,   Accidental Death & Disability 100%;  RRSP Contribution Plan (Based on employer Local Authorities Pension Plan contribution rates)  
Optional  benefits:  
    Extended Health Care  90%; Dental Plan  90%    
    Registration fees and expenses for eligible activities will be paid or reimbursed by the City subject to submission of completed expense claim forms with receipts (including sales tax details) attached.  
    All travel by Members of Council outside of the Province of Alberta, for City of Wetaskiwin business, require Council approval prior to registration or travel arrangements being made.   
       The Mayor and two members of council will be given the opportunity to attend AUMA in the subsequent years of the Council term.  Each Member will be given the opportunity to attend the AUMA annual convention at least twice during a term each term of Council.  
    Mayor Elliot to attend the Aviation Hall of Fame Dinner in Ottawa, Ontario on May 30, 2013.
    Each year Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame inducts persons for their contributions to Canadian Aviation.   The City of Wetaskiwin is honoured to have Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in our community and would like to publicly recognize the inductees with a plaque and a proclamation as honorary citizens. 
    City Council proclaimed Mr. James Francis Edwards, Mr. John William Sandford, Mr. Joseph Fernand Henley, and Mr. Victor Robert Bennett  as honorary Citizens of the City of Wetaskiwin.  Mayor Elliot to attend the Aviation Hall of Fame Dinner in Ottawa, Ontario on May 30, 2013.

CITY OF LEDUC COUNCIL

Lorna Lowe

    Council was called to order at 7:00 pm with all Councillors present.
There were no changes to the agenda and no public commentary.
Long Term Facilities Master Plan: 
    This plan has been in the works since 2011, with the results of numerous studies and open houses incorporated into the final draft. 
    Council was informed that the plan had been broken up into several short and long term goals with the main keys to continue to develop three main campus areas within the City, namely the Alexandra Park campus, the LRC campus, and the west end campus.
    At the end of the presentation all Councillors and the Mayor concurred that the plan was thorough, well thought out and clearly presented. Council voted unanimously to accept the LTFMP.
    
Main Street Crossing Lease Proposal: 
    Schrader Holdings had approached Council a while ago about leasing them the old TD Bank building on the corner of 50 St. And 50 Ave. as a new location for the Public Library. The advantage would be to anchor a popular service in the downtown core to draw more people into the area. 
    However, the Library Board expressed some reservations regarding the site mainly to do with parking availability and future expansion space.
    Administration also informed Council that moving the Library to that site would double the cost of the expansion and the money would be going into a building that the City doesn't own. 
    Councillor Smith commented that it was good to see the energy and new concepts coming forward from developers, and that it was hard to walk away from this exciting idea that could help revitalize the downtown core, but there were financial considerations that had to be looked at.
    Council unanimously voted to have the Public Library remain at it's current site and continue to move forward with the planning of the expansion at Civic Centre. 
Property Sale:
    An offer had been received on the last of three city owned lots along 47 St. and was brought before Council for approval. The lot located at 4434-47 St. had been listed for sale for $360,000.00 and an offer had just been received on it for $320,000.00. Administration said that they believed it to be a fair offer for this property, and that the profits from this sale would go toward the acquisition of the west end lands. Council voted unanimously to accept the offer.

Indemnification Agreement: 
    It was being recommended by administration that the City enter into an indemnification agreement with Melcor Developments Inc. for the storm water drainage through a natural drainage course from the north 1/2 of section 31-49-24-W4 east to Saunders Lake. This drainage would service the future light industrial area that is planned on the east 1/2 of the NW section of 36-49-25-W4. Council voted unanimously to enter into the agreement.
Stageworks Grant Request:     
    Stageworks had presented a grant request to Council for $1,500.00 to help offset the travel expenses of 31 students travelling to the upcoming Dance The World event in Florida. 
    Mayor Krischke asked why the amount was less than the $100.00/student than was allowed, and Councillor Finstad replied that due to the fact there were more than 30 students going, the grant guidelines state that it is a suggested maximum of $50.00/ student allowed.
    After much discussion over the fact that the guidelines have been bent on many occasions in the past, and this is the only time this year that the troupe can apply for this funding, Councillor Smith made a friendly amendment to the motion to increase the grant to $3,100.00. Council unanimously agreed.

Relay For Life Grant Request: 
    Council unanimously agreed to grant Relay For Life  $1,500.00 to help offset the costs of their annual event in Leduc on June 14, 2013.
    Redistricting Of Stage 1 Telford Industrial Park - Second and Third Readings: 
    The redistricting of 17.63 ha of the east half of NW-36-49-25-W4 from Urban Reserve Agricultural to Light Industrial and Utilities was placed before Council. This land is the first phase of the Telford Industrial Park along 65 Ave. east of 43 St. Upon completion phase one will consist of 12 light industrial lots and two public services utilities lots. Council unanimously passed both Readings

Redistricting Meadowview Stage 13 - First Reading:                 This Redistricting encompasses the land between the current ends of Moberg Rd., Meadowview Drive, and McLean Bend in Meadowview. The proposed plans show 50 single family residence lots, 40 duplex lots and 7 parkland lots. The Public Hearing for this Redistricting will be held in Council chambers on March 11, 2013. Council unanimously passed the First Reading of this Redistricting.
    Council was adjourned at 10:10 pm with no in camera items.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal Presentations:             

Mayor Krischke and MLA Rogers came forward to present a total of seven Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medals this evening. Mayor Krischke stated that a quality community is the product of quality people and was very pleased to be able to present these medals on this evening.
    The first four medals were presented to Fire Services Captains Ray Senio and Harry Krabbes, along with firefighters Chris Brunker and Doug Britton for their many years of service excellence and involvement in various training and educational programs.
    Mrs. Pat Klak was the next recipient of the medal, with her many years of service in promoting the City of Leduc around the world as the Executive Director of the EDA, amongst many other volunteer positions. Her hard work in generating a close working partnership between Leduc and the German city of Grimma was specifically noted.
    Mr. Eugene Miller then came forward to accept a medal for his work as former Superintendent of Public Schools, his volunteer time spent on many different boards in Leduc including Leduc LINX, and for his efforts in teaching the English as a Second Language classes at the public library. Mr. Miller also received Leduc's Community Spirit Award in 2010.
    The final medal recipient was Leduc's City Manager Mr. Paul Benedetto. Mr. Benedetto was being honoured for his many years of hard work and service to the City of Leduc and was visibly touched during the ceremony, coming near to tears just before the medal was pinned on his jacket.
    Once all of the medals had been presented all the Councillors came down to shake hands and congratulate the recipients.

The first four medals were presented to Fire Services Captains Ray Senio and Harry Krabbes, along with firefighters Chris Brunker and Doug Britton for their many years of service excellence and involvement in various training and educational programs.

Mrs. Pat Klak was the next recipient of the medal, with her many years of service in promoting the City of Leduc around the world as the Executive Director of the EDA.

Mr. Eugene Miller accepting his medal for his work as former Superintendent of Public Schools, his volunteer time was spent on many different boards in Leduc including Leduc LINX, and for his efforts in teaching the English as a Second Language classes at the public library.

Mr. Benedetto was being honoured for his many years of hard work and service to the City of Leduc.