Council directed administration to prepare a proposal to the Beaver Regional Partnership to review shared services agreements within the region. This initiative aims to ensure equitable and efficient collaboration across municipalities.
Extending Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks
Council authorized administration to amend and extend the review process for the Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks with seven neighbouring municipalities (Strathcona, Lamont, Minburn, Wainwright, Flagstaff, Camrose, and Leduc Counties) to 2027.
Sustainable Infrastructure
Leasing of County Property
Council approved the lease of the below county owned properties to ensure efficient land use and community benefits:
Municipal Reserves
Parcel in the east end of the County
Undeveloped land in the Equity Industrial Park
Responsible Finance
2025 Budget Approved
Council approved the 2025 Interim Operating Budget, allocating $22,891,634 in total expenditures and setting the tax levy at $14,955,669.
After revisions (Tracey – the revision was defeated, so does maybe remove these 2 words), Council also approved the 2025 Capital Budget with total expenditures of $11,292,198 and a tax levy of $1,566,700, ensuring funding for key projects and infrastructure needs.
Strong Leadership
Policy Updates:
Policy #PD-008 - Verification of Compliance
Council approved minor amendments to clarify what aspects of a property are reviewed. The timeline for issuing verifications was removed, as some properties may require issue resolution before verification can be completed, ensuring flexibility and accuracy in the process.
Policy #CS-019 - Mediation Services
The policy outlines the scope of mediation services and how residents can access them. The policy allows SCCMS to accept referrals from the County or direct requests from residents and includes provisions to discontinue services if respect or safety is compromised.
Policy #GOV-004 - Councillor Orientation and Training
The policy addresses orientation and ongoing training for councillors, including pre-election candidate materials, legislated post-election training sessions, and mid-term or ongoing development to support effective governance throughout their term.
Policy #GOV-003 - Council and Administration Roles and Responsibilities
The updated policy allows councillors to have informal information exchanges with senior administrative staff from other municipalities. These discussions cannot involve directives, commitments, or expenses, and the CAO must be informed of all such interactions. (Tracey – there's a lot more to this policy than that. What you mentioned is just a tweaking of the amended policy)
Bylaw Approvals:
Bylaw #24-1162 - Fees, Rates, and Charges
Introducing a new fee for the impoundment of dogs prior to contractor pick-up and removing "rush" fees for verification of compliance in Planning and Development.
Bylaw #24-1161 - Criminal Record Check
Council approved a bylaw requiring election candidates to submit a certified criminal record check conducted by the RCMP. The check must be completed within three months prior to nomination and is at the candidate’s expense.
Bylaw #24-1163 - Election Nomination Deposit
Council approved this bylaw requiring election candidates to pay a nomination deposit of $100 when submitting their nomination for councillor.
Bylaw #24-1153 - Municipal Development Plan
Council approved this high-level document guiding future land use, development, infrastructure, and municipal servicing, while ensuring coordination with neighbouring municipalities.
Bylaw #24-1154 - Land Use Bylaw
Council approved this Bylaw, which regulates and manages land and building use and development throughout the County.
Council Stays Involved in the Community
Council members actively represented the County at a variety of regional meetings and events, fostering relationships and engaging in discussions on topics ranging from watershed protection and economic development to emergency services.
For more information on items discussed at the Council Meeting, please review the full Agenda Package for this meeting. New and/or amended Policies and Bylaws are uploaded to the County website after they have been signed.
