Rocky View County (RVC) continues to work with its neighbours on intermunicipal documents, with council approving a slew of Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs) at a regular meeting Feb. 25.
“ICFs identify how municipal services are delivered between two adjacent municipalities,” said Ben Manshanden, RVC intergovernmental affairs co-ordinator.
According to Manshanden, ICFs between RVC and its neighbouring municipalities that are not part of the Calgary Metropolitan Regional Board must be completed by April 1.
An ICF with Irricana – adopted unanimously – identified shared services including fire and emergency management services, along with a solid waste agreement, Manshanden said. A recreation agreement was not necessary, he noted, as the Town applies for grants from the County. The ICF also did not identify opportunities for shared transportation, water or wastewater services.
Council also passed a resolution that an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) with Irricana was not necessary. As pointed out by Manshanden, changes to the Municipal Government Act made in December 2019 allow municipalities to opt out of the requirement to complete an IDP if both councils pass a resolution to that effect.
Irricana passed a resolution Feb. 3, and, as the area adjacent to the shared municipal boundary is primarily agricultural, RVC administration felt there was minimal risk associated with not adopting an IDP, Manshanden said. He added the ICF identifies shared services and provides a mechanism for dispute resolution.
“If either party decides an IDP is warranted in the future, it can be completed upon request,” he said.
Two other ICFs were unanimously approved at the meeting. An ICF with Kneehill County included collaboration on fire and emergency management services, Manshanden said, pointing to an IDP between the neighbour for co-operation on planning and development issues. It also included a transportation agreement where Kneehill will grade and snow plow a portion of Township Road 290 in RVC. The ICF did not identify opportunities to share solid waste, recycling or recreation services.
An ICF with Beiseker included collaboration on fire and emergency services and identified a cost-sharing agreement for a recycling site. Manshanden noted this commits both municipalities to update a recreation cost-sharing agreement and prepare a road maintenance agreement, where RVC will grade a portion of gravel road in the village on a cost-recovery basis.
Council also supported the submission of a request for a time extension to complete an IDP with Wheatland County. According to senior planner Stefan Kunz, the one-year extension is available upon the request of both municipalities to Municipal Affairs.
Coun. Jerry Gautreau was absent from the meeting.
Previously, council granted second reading to an IDP with Kneehill County, while opting out of an IDP with Mountain View County (MVC). An ICF with MVC and the Municipal District of Bighorn have also been approved by council.
Ben Sherick, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @BenSherick
