A relatively small redesignation application, returning before Rocky View County (RVC) council for third reading July 23, caused tempers to flare.
“[This] is back here because of how it was handled. This was approved already once, this [motion], and then, due to administration and [CAO Al] Hoggan giving me advice as to what would be–” Area Coun. Crystal Kissel said about the application, before Reeve Greg Boehlke interjected.
“Hang on,” he said. “That’s completely out of order, and that’s not how it went and I explained that to you.”
When Kissel pushed back, Boehlke limited the discussion.
“When I ask for control of this meeting, it’s not just in jest,” he said. “Please, be quiet. You made a comment that was out of line and you should apologize for it, because you know full well it had nothing to do with that.”
The application – which facilitates the creation of two 1.98-acre parcels and two equivalent remainders on the west side of Camden Drive – first came before council July 9. As the application proposed the first R1 land use designations in the area, administration suggested a conceptual scheme would be beneficial.
After council unanimously granted first reading, Kissel moved to table the item and direct the applicant to prepare a limited-scope concept plan, which was carried 7-2.
Subsequently, according to Kissel, she was approached later in the day by Hoggan and Acting Executive Director of Community Development Services Richard Barss, who highlighted concerns that the original motion did not provide sufficient direction.
“I took the recommendation of administration,” Kissel said following the meeting. “I think that’s really important, when they tell us that we’ve made an error, that we’re OK to just fix it…. And I understood where they came from.”
The application was reconsidered, with a unanimous vote to rescind the tabling motion. Kissel presented a more detailed tabling motion, supplying specific concerns the limited-scope concept scheme was meant to address. However, three councillors in favour of the previous motion – Couns. Daniel Henn, Kim McKylor and Mark Kamachi – changed their minds and voted against Kissel’s new motion, which failed 5-4.
The application then received second reading but did not receive unanimous permission to proceed to third, prompting its return July 23.
Hoggan took umbrage at Kissel’s remarks.
“I find it unacceptable that myself and my staff are blamed for a decision of council,” he said. “We merely asked [Kissel] to clarify in the motion what the conceptual scheme was going to be. That was all, as opposed to something that was open-ended. We tried to do it for the ratepayers’ benefit, for council’s benefit and for our benefit.”
His remarks, in turn, prompted Coun. Samanntha Wright to raise a point of order.
“How was [Hoggan] allowed to reply to [Kissel] when we don’t know where [Kissel] was going?” she said.
Boehlke replied that Kissel had made her statement, and when Wright countered, added, “Don’t argue, please.”
Council voted 6-3 to grant third reading to the application – Kissel and Wright, along with Coun. Kevin Hanson, voted in opposition – and Boehlke dismissed the meeting for a break. As he left council chambers, Boehlke and Wright exchanged words, which were not captured on the County’s video recording of the meeting available at rockyview.ca.
The episode prompted apologies from council at the conclusion of the meeting.
“I apologize that I got a little temperamental, especially to [Wright],” Boehlke said. “It’s been a long day and I got testy, and I apologize for my behaviour.”
Kissel, likewise, apologized.
“I would like to apologize to staff,” she said. “I will go back and watch the video, because sometimes my words maybe are not quite as well stated as they should be, and so I do apologize if I have offended any one of you.”
