A request from the Chestermere Area Youth and Community Development Society (Synergy) for capital funding of approximately $18,000 to purchase a passenger van and cargo trailer was approved unanimously by Rocky View County (RVC) council June 14.
The vehicle will be used to provide transportation for youth to Synergy’s various programs throughout the Bow North region, and store and transport supplies.
Council also approved several other funding requests at the recommendation of the Regional Recreation Board, including $143,350 for facility upgrades, life cycle enhancements and general operating expenses for the Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Park Society; $320,000 to assist with general operating expenses for the Springbank Park for All Seasons Agricultural Society; and $80,000 to assist with an artificial ice expansion project from Springbank Park for All Seasons Agricultural Society.
A request was also approved for a business planning exercise for Springbank Park for All Seasons, which is conditional upon mutually agreeable Terms of Reference to be ratified by council.
“Administration will bring forward a report for council consideration once the terms, planning scope, and the costs are identified,” said Corwin McCullagh, manager of recreation and community support with RVC.
Bylaw repealed
RVC’s Maximum Working Hours Bylaw was repealed by an unanimous council vote. According to Human Resources Manager Greta Martin, the bylaw set a limit of 12 working hours for County employees, while in practice, County firefighters are on 24 hour shifts and road maintenance equipment operators often work more than 12 hours a day to meet operational demands and services.
“The bylaw is not required as policy for working hours is determined through the Collective Agreement between RVC and RVC Fire Fighters Union for firefighters, the Traffic Safety Act for equipment operators and the Alberta Employment Standards Code for all other employees,” she said.
Terms delayed
Adoption of a Terms of Reference for the comprehensive Land Use Bylaw review was tabled by council June 14 to allow administration more time to examine further options, as this will be the first comprehensive review of the document since it was adopted in 1998. The Terms of Reference will outline the proposed project scope and timeline for the review, including elements like public and stakeholder consultation, assessment of the bylaw structure and a review of land use definitions, general regulations and land use districts.
A motion to approve the terms as presented failed by a vote of a 3-6, with opposition from Councillors Jerry Arshinoff, Rolly Ashdown, Lois Habberfield, Eric Lowther, Deputy Reeve Earl Solberg and Reeve Greg Boehlke. Councillors Bruce Kendall, Margaret Bahcheli and Liz Breakey voted against the motion to table the item, but the motion was carried 6-3.
“I’m hopeful that we can get administration to bring back fairly quickly a more succinct, efficient method to come up with our new Land Use Bylaw that will incorporate all the changes that are needed,” Habberfield said.
