March 14 Council meeting notes

Council meeting notes are an informal recap of each regular Council meeting. 

These notes are not an official record of Council meetings; official minutes are posted online once approved by Council.

View Council minutes

March 14, 2023 Council meeting notes

View the March 14 agenda.

Staff service awards

The following staff member was recognized for their years of service at Leduc County:

20 years

• Andy Patterson, Senior Peace Officer – Enforcement Services

Municipal Development Plan – interim review and project charter update

At the Sept. 13, 2022 Council meeting, Council approved the Municipal Development Plan interim review project charter. The motion was as follows:

• That Leduc County Council approve the Municipal Development Plan interim review project charter and that the project begins on the Regional Agricultural Master Plan (RAMP) approval by the province or the five-year interim review of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Growth Plan (EMRGP) approval by the Board.

RAMP was approved by the province through Ministerial Order 017/22 on Dec. 21, 2022. Administration provided an update on the project, including an adjusted timeline due to the delay in approval of RAMP by the province.

Administration recommended Council approve the update to the MDP Interim Review Project Charter as presented.

Council approved the recommendation.

Bylaw 04-23: Adopt Leduc County/Village of Warburg Intermunicipal Development Plan and repeal Bylaw 10-19

Leduc County/Village of Warburg Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP)

The Leduc County/Village of Warburg Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) was adopted in 2019 to comply with the Municipal Government Act (MGA).

Section 5.6.1 of the Leduc County/Village of Warburg IDP requires that the IDP be reviewed every four years to ensure that the principles and policies remain current.

On Feb. 24, the Joint Intermunicipal Liaison Committee met to discuss the Leduc County/Village of Warburg IDP. At that time, the joint Intermunicipal Liaison Committee reviewed suggested revisions. The committee endorsed the approval of revisions by Leduc County Council and Village of Warburg Council.

Administration presented revisions to the Leduc County/Village of Warburg Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP), and recommended Council adopt Bylaw 04-23, the Leduc County/Village of Warburg Intermunicipal Development Plan, and repeal Bylaw 10-19.

Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) between Leduc County and Village of Warburg

The purpose of the ICF is to provide for the integrated and strategic planning, delivery and funding of intermunicipal services. The MGA requires municipalities that share a common boundary that are not members of a growth region to have an ICF. To comply with this requirement, Leduc County and the Village of Warburg adopted an ICF in 2019.

Section 4.b of the ICF requires that the Intermunicipal Committee meet at least once every four years commencing no later than 2023 to review the terms and conditions of the agreement.

On Feb. 24, the Joint Intermunicipal Liaison Committee reviewed the ICF and suggested revisions. The committee endorsed the approval of revisions by Leduc County Council and Village of Warburg Council.

Administration presented revisions to the ICF between Leduc County and the Village of Warburg, and recommended Council adopt Bylaw 05-23 to repeal Bylaw 30-19, the Leduc County/Village of Warburg ICF. Once Bylaw 30-19 is repealed, administration will present an updated ICF to Council for approval by resolution.

Council gave first reading to Bylaw 04-23 to adopt the Leduc County/Village of Warburg Intermunicipal Development Plan and that Bylaw 10-10 be repealed.

Council gave first reading to Bylaw 05-23 to repeal the Leduc County/Village of Warburg Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework Bylaw 30-19.

Leduc County/City of Leduc Tax Share Agreement

Leduc County has been sharing property tax revenues collected from Edmonton International Airport (EIA) lands with the City of Leduc since 1989. The original memorandum of understanding was renegotiated and replaced with a new agreement in 2010. The 2010 agreement specifies that the parties were to initiate a review of the terms of the agreement by 2017; however, other priorities forced a delay in the review process.

The two parties, represented by negotiation committees comprised of Council members appointed by the respective Councils, began formal negotiations to review and replace the 2010 agreement in November 2019. In early 2022, the two parties authorized their respective administrations to meet and discuss the possible terms of a new agreement.

Administration presented Council with a draft agreement, and recommended Council approve the Leduc County/City of Leduc tax revenue sharing agreement, entitled “Agreement Relating to the Edmonton International Airport,” and authorize the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer to sign the agreement on behalf of Leduc County.

Council approved the recommendation.

Public hearing: Bylaw 03-23 (second and third readings) Southern Country Residential Area Structure Plan

A public hearing was held at 1:46 p.m. regarding the Southern Country Residential Area Structure Plan Bylaw 03-23.

Administration provided a presentation and recommended – subject to input received at the public hearing – Council give second and third reading to Bylaw 03-23 to adopt the Southern Country Residential Area Structure Plan.

Afterwards, Peter Vana, Planning Advisor with V3 Companies of Canada made a presentation.

No additional correspondence had been received that was not already part of the agenda package.

No registered speakers were in attendance.

No one was in attendance to speak in support of or against the subject of the public hearing.

The public hearing ended at 1:57 p.m.

Bylaw 03-23: Southern Country Residential Area Structure Plan (SCRASP)

Council provided second and third reading to Bylaw 03-23.

Sponsorship – Leduc Community Hospital Foundation

In 2023, the Leduc Community Hospital Foundation is celebrating 30 years of supporting the community and raising funds for the Leduc hospital.

Leduc County is an annual sponsor of the Foundation through their spring golf tournament with a sponsorship of $1,750.

This spring, Parks and Recreation will partner with the Foundation for a partners in health challenge. The goal is to challenge the community to improve their health through activity.

Administration recommended Council approve a sponsorship of $2,500 to the Leduc Community Hospital Foundation in support of its 30 anniversary and a partners in health community challenge.

Council approved the recommendation.

Sponsorship – New Humble Farmraiser event

On April 15, the New Humble Community School Association is hosting a farmraising event to support their vision of enhancing their outdoor facilities, farm and programs.

Administration recommended Council approve a sponsorship of $1,000 to the New Humble Community School Association in support of their farmraiser event.

Council approved the recommendation.

Sponsorship – Amplified Alzheimer’s event

A committee of local volunteers is planning an event on Aug. 26 to raise awareness and support for the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta. The committee continues to refine the event with the hopes of raising more than $10,000 to be donated to the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta.

Administration recommended Council approve a sponsorship of $1,000 to the Amplified for Alzheimer’s committee for an Alzheimer’s awareness and fundraising event.

Council approved the recommendation.

2022 year-end information update – transfers to reserves

As part of the annual year-end process, administration brings forward a recommendation to transfer surplus dollars to reserves. At this time, $2.7 million is available to transfer to reserves due to higher than anticipated interest, additional permit revenues, and operational savings.

Administration recommended that Council approve the following year-end financial transactions:

1. Transfer of $700,000 to capital asset lifecycle management – building management reserve.
2. Transfer of $1,000,000 to operating stabilization and contingency reserve.
3. Transfer of $1,000,000 to operating special purpose multi-year/future year projects reserve.
4. Any additional surplus dollars, above approximately $60,000, identified during the year-end process be transferred to the operating stabilization and contingency reserve.

Council approved the recommendation.

Bylaw 06-23: Borrowing for the re-construction of Township Road 510 from Nisku Spine Road to Range Road 243.

As part of the 2023 interim budget approved on Nov. 28, 2022, capital project (2023-RD-002) to reconstruct Township Road 510 from Nisku Spine Road to Range Road 243 was approved using debenture as a funding source. In accordance with Section 254 of the MGA, a borrowing bylaw must be passed prior to the project starting.

Administration recommended Council give first reading to Bylaw 06-23 authorizing long-term debenture borrowing for the re-construction of Township Road 510 from Nisku Spine Road to Range Road 243 for up to $9,000,000 for a term not to exceed 20 years.

Council approved the recommendation.

Penalty waiver request – Deluxe Burger

Administration received a letter from Field LLP dated Jan. 20, 2023, on behalf of tax roll 8037550, requesting the following:

• Set up an 18-month payment plan to pay outstanding levies between 2019 and 2022
• waive existing penalties
• cancel future penalties

Other than a request to provide a tax statement, the company had not contacted Leduc County for any consideration prior to the letter being received. The last payment of $20,208.33 was made on May 5, 2019

Administration recommended Council deny the request to pay levies of $55,512.94 in 18 months, cancel future penalties and waive existing penalties of $29,117.04.

Council approved the recommendation and denied the request.

Removal of reserve designation for the purpose of a sale of a portion of County-owned land - Plan 0124826, Block 2, Lot 6 MR, Roll 6319110

Leduc County received a request from an adjacent land owner to purchase a portion of Plan 012 4826, Block 2, Lot 6MR (Roll 6319110). Inter-departmental consultation has concluded that a portion of this parcel could be sold because future County need of the property is not anticipated.

Administration recommended that Council direct administration to advertise for a public hearing pursuant to S. 674 Municipal Government Act to remove the reserve designation from Plan 0124826, Block 2, Lot 6MR (Roll 6319110) for the subsequent sale of a portion of the parcel. Upon removal of the reserve designation, administration will utilize policy CM-07 Land Disposal to direct the land sale process by means of a competitive bid.

Council approved the recommendation.

Annual appointment of fire guardians – 2023

Each year, fire guardians are appointed by Council to administer the Forest and Prairie Protection Act.

Administration recommended Council approve, as presented, the appointments of fire guardians for the 2023 fire season as per the Province of Alberta, Forest and Prairie Protection Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2,000, Chapter F-19, Section 4.

Council approved the recommendation.