Kashif Ijaz

The Council meeting involved several agenda items, including the adoption of the agenda which included Peat Moss Harvesting, and the adoption of the minutes from the previous Regular Council Meeting held on April 18, 2017. Key discussions included directing Administration to gather information on peat moss harvesting. The Council received a presentation and discussed the 2016 Financial Statements and Auditor's Report, subsequently approving the 2016 Annual Financial Statements and directing that they be made available to the public. The Council accepted financial statements for the period ending March 31, 2017, and the 2016 CLASS/PAL Financial Statement Review as information. Decisions were made regarding the Council meeting schedule for the summer recess and election period, including the cancellation of specific July, September, and October meetings. Tender results were opened for Township Road 684A Base and Pave, and the Council awarded Tender TR-32-2017-08 for road extensions and stormwater pond base/paving to Rockhard Contractors Inc. The Council approved an advance payment of the 2018 operating grant to the Plamondon District Community Development Society for playground construction. Amendments were made to the Visitors Information Centre Services Contract to reflect revised 2017 operating hours. The Council reviewed and directed amendments to the 2017 Tax Rate Bylaws (17-007 and 17-008), ultimately passing all three readings for both bylaws. Property tax credits were approved for five non-residential properties outside the urban service areas. The Council also approved $9,000 for post-election training, scheduled a Special Council Meeting for May 18, 2017, and appointed members to the Task Force with Northern Lights Public Schools. Discussions concerning budget funding transfer for organizational development occurred during an in-camera session.

The meeting included the adoption of the agenda and a Land Acknowledgement. Key business involved giving first reading to Bylaw 26-001 regarding Land Use Bylaw Rezoning. Council received an annual update from the Northern Lights Library System and conducted a Public Hearing concerning Bylaw 25-020 (Land Use Bylaw Rezoning), which subsequently received second and third readings. The Council entered and returned from a Closed Session to discuss matters including a reserve bid for tax recovery properties, a committee appointment, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, transitional housing, and Mainstreet Parking acquisition. Actions taken included postponing the auction of tax recovery properties and directing Administration to work with owners on a payment agreement, appointing Dale Crossland to the MPC, and authorizing negotiation for the Main Street parking land acquisition. A Notice of Motion was introduced regarding an amendment to Procurement Policy FIN-10-004 to incorporate a 15% Local Preference Price Threshold.

The meeting commenced with the adoption of the agenda and the delivery of the Lac La Biche County Land Acknowledgement. Key discussions included receiving the Focus Indigenous - 2024 Year In Review presentation. Under New Business, Councillor Reports were received, followed by an update from the Indigenous Collaboration Committee. The Capital Projects Monthly Update and Year-to-Date Financial Reporting were presented. A motion directed Administration to schedule a delegation with a traffic flow consultant regarding options for a one-way street on 101 Street. The Council entered and exited Closed Sessions multiple times to discuss matters related to the Chief Administrative Officer Request for Proposals, Committee Matters, Integrity Commissioner Request for Proposal Update, Legal Matters, a delegation from Neil Timm, and a Personnel Matter. Following the Closed Sessions, Council directed Administration to cancel the CAO procurement and seek direct quotes, appointed a member to the Agricultural Service Board, directed Administration to proceed with Option 1 for the Integrity Commissioner RFP, directed Administration to present a report on a Legal Matter, directed Administration to bring back further information for the Neil Timm delegation item, and directed Administration to obtain legal advice on the Personnel Matter.

The Special Council Meeting primarily focused on hearing presentations from various community groups regarding their 2016 Operational and Capital Budget Requests. Delegations included the Plamondon and District Community Development Society, Lakeland Interpretive Society, Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre, Craigend Recreation and Agricultural Society, Lakeland Out of the Elements Men's Shelter, Lac La Biche Mission Historical Society, Lac La Biche Heritage Society, Lakeland Classic Wheels Club, Community Learning for Adult Students Society (CLASS)/Program for Adult Learning (PAL), Little Divide Search & Rescue, and Lac La Biche Agricultural Society. The meeting concluded with an In Camera Session to discuss Rich Lake Mediation and Lobbying the Government. Following the in camera session, resolutions were passed to have Administration prepare a briefing regarding the 2015 capital budget funding for the Rich Lake Recreation and Agricultural Society and to allocate funds for an occupancy evaluation of the Rich Lake agricultural centre, community hall, and existing senior centre.

The session focused on the Land Use Bylaw Review. A representative from ISL Engineering and Land Services presented a review of the current Land Use Bylaw, outlining the necessity for updates and proposed changes. Key areas under review included Land Use Districts (clarifications, deletions, combinations, and creation of new districts), Overlays (Airport Vicinity, Historical Resources, and Riparian Area Protection), General and Special Land Use Regulations, regulations for Aggregate/Peat Extraction, Campgrounds, RV Storage, and Work Camps, as well as standards for Parking, Loading, Landscaping, and Signage. Administrative provisions were also updated and clarified. Following the presentation and a brief recess, the next steps involving corrections and public consultation were reviewed.