In attendance: Councillors Skehill, Day, Zinck, Wall, Damota and Mayor Ireland. Absent: Councillor Wacko

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

Environmental services operations: 

Streets: 

Snow clearing and removal as per maintenance standard.

Maintenance: 

Working in conjunction with activity centre renovations to monitor overlap between new construction and tie-in issues with existing systems.

Solid waste and recycling: 

Developing an inventory of all waste/recycle receptacles and route schedules for pick up.

Grounds: 

Sidewalk snow removal as required.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP REPORT, submitted by Janet Cooper, environmental stewardship co-ordinator:

Day Use and Campgrounds Recycle Programs Review: 

Cooper stated in her report that the Day Use and Campground Recycle Program Review was presented to Parks Canada visitor use managers and the town-site manager on Dec. 3, 2010. 

“Approval has now been secured from Parks Canada to implement the recommended strategy to improve the recycling program in the four main campgrounds.” 

Cooper stated that the ordering of collection bins and development and production of signage will take place over the winter months for the rollout of the new program in the upcoming 2011 summer season.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES REPORT - JANUARY 2011:

Beverage Container Recycling Donation Program: 

Cooper reported that the first four-month collection period of donated beverage containers ended on Dec. 31, 2010. Cheques will be issued to the participating charities by mid-January. 

“A few operational glitches mainly involving frequency of pick-up and cleanliness at the depot area, have been ironed out. Four new charities have been approved, bringing the total number of participating charities in the program up to eighteen,” she said in her report.

Cooper reported to council that for the first collection period of this program, $1,500 was raised and will be split between the participating charities.

Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee: 

Cooper reported that a new committee member, Monica Loughlin, attended her first ESAC meeting on Jan. 19. Two other members, Sheila Couture and Bhuwan Devkota have been re-appointed for two-year terms. Sheila Couture is the new chairperson of the committee. 

Jasper High School Annual Youth Sustainability Conference: 

Cooper reported that talks are underway with Amber Stewart, Integrated Land Use Planner with Parks Canada, to participate in the annual Youth Sustainability Conference at the Palisades Centre on April 14 to 16.

CORPORATE AND LEGISLATIVE SERVICES REPORT FOR JAN. 13, prepared by Verne Balding, director, corporate and legislative services

Street re-numbering/re-naming project:

As per the provisions of the Municipality of Jasper bylaw Street Naming and Address Numbering Bylaw 2010, street addressing changes become effective as of Jan. 31. Street renaming is as follows:

Cabin Creek Dr. from the Cabin Creek crossing to the Pine Ave. and Miette Ave. intersection is renamed Bonhomme St.; Pyramid Lake Rd. from the Pine Ave. and Miette Ave. intersection to the Pyramid Ave. and Bonhomme St. intersection is renamed Bonhomme St.; Patricia Cr. and extending from Cabin Creek Dr. to the Cabin Creek Dr. and Patricia St. intersection is renamed Patricia St.; Pyramid Ave. from the Pyramid Lake Rd. and Bonhomme St. intersection to Geikie St. is renamed Pyramid Lake Rd.; and Cedar Ave. from Geikie St. to Connaught Dr. is renamed Pyramid Lake Rd.

Doug Rodwell reported to council that the new street signs arrived in Jasper on Jan. 18.

“Some are already being switched to see how long it takes,” he said, adding that the hope is to change the signs of the streets that will not be renamed as soon as possible to get ahead on the work.

Grande Yellowhead land exchange:

Balding stated in his report that on Jan. 10, Grande Yellowhead’s legal counsel provided a draft of the Agreement’s Appendix ‘C’ (now designated Appendix ‘D’) to the municipality’s legal counsel in this matter, Sheila McNaughtan of Reynolds, Mirth, Richards and Fanner. 

“Sheila and I reviewed the document and found it to be inadequate in several areas. A revision was forwarded to Grande Yellowhead on Wednesday, Jan. 12. I’ve since spoken with Dean Lindquist, who has expressed some concerns with several provisions of the agreement. We continue to work on ironing out the details,” stated Balding.

He added that Grande Yellowhead has requested a meeting with council either on Jan. 24 or on Jan. 26 . Details are yet to be arranged.

“I’ve also met with Neil Wilson, who is assisting Grande Yellowhead with the development of landscaping plans for the proposed exchange lands. He has now been in contact with Grande Yellowhead’s landscape architects with the goal of providing several landscape plan options for discussion during the week of Jan. 24,” stated Balding. “Two general scenarios will be explored; one with the fenced division between the exchange lands and the school yard on the exchange lands boundary, and a second with the fence far enough inside the exchange lands boundary to provide for a full soccer field on the school yard. Each scenario will be illustrated with simple conceptual drawings describing three possible use scenarios for the parcel.”

At time of writing his report, Balding said that he and Lindquist are discussing several issues, including Grande Yellowhead’s involvement in public consultations.

Bylaw development:

Balding reported that the council agenda package contained a proposed amendment to the municipality’s utility rates bylaw to put into effect budget decisions made for the 2011 fiscal year.

Council had the first reading for Bylaw #141, pertaining to the increase in utility rates in 2011.

Municipal Manager George Krefting said that this is a standard, routine bylaw to provide for increases in rates in the approved 2011 budget. Councillor Day motioned for first reading and the motion was carried unanimously.

Request for direction:

Doug Rodwell, manager of licensing and enforcement, for the town, made a request for direction from council on Jan. 18.

“Winter in Canada has always created unique circumstances for communities and their residents. Cold temperatures mean some vehicles need to be plugged in to ensure that they start,” stated Rodwell in his report. “With the character of community design in Jasper, not all vehicles can be parked on the owner’s property and some find it necessary to park on the street. In most areas of the community, vehicles parked in the street cannot be plugged in without an electrical cord extending across the public sidewalk.”

Rodwell also reported that some residents do not appreciate it when they are approached by a bylaw officer about the cord issue. He asked council to guide him and his staff in their enforcement duties.

“I prefer not to be specific about how they (residents) do it, as long as they do it safely,” said Mayor Ireland.

Council advised bylaw officers to assess the safety of the cord before approaching the resident.

CAPITAL BUDGET 2011 AND THREE–YEAR CAPITAL PLAN 2011 – 2013, prepared by Municipal Manager George Krefting:

Recommendations: 

l. To adopt the 2011 Capital Budget items in the amount of $12,260,169.

2. To approve in principle the 2011 to 2013 Capital Plan in the amount of $16,994,753.

Commenting to the request, Krefting stated the Capital Budget for 2011 includes over $3 million from the 2010 capital budget. 

“The new projects for 2011 are a continuation of the long-range capital program and supports and is consistent with the Community Sustainability Plan and the facility strategy prepared by council in January 2011,” stated Krefting. “As has been the case with previous capital budgets, the majority (90 per cent) of the funding for the capital program is being obtained from conditional grants.”

He stated that the exact amount of MSI capital funding for 2011 and beyond is determined annually by the province of Alberta. 

“It could well be that this information will not be available until the provincial budget is tabled. The budget proposal estimates MSI capital grant funding at 75 per cent of what was projected in 2008,” stated Krefting. “The proposed capital budget for 2011 and the three-year capital plan will be posted on the town website, and opportunity for comments provided.”

Mayor Ireland and council members appeared to be unsatisfied with the amount of unknowns in the budget proposal thus far.

“If we are going to approve a three year plan, we should honour the principle,” Ireland said of the lack of information on certain projects included in the proposed plan.

Councillor Damota expressed his opposition to the Capital Plan proposal, saying that he believes there are too many issues that will arise (within the community) over the proposed library expansions.

The complete document can be found on the municipality’s website.

Councillor Zinck motioned that council make a decision to adopt (or amend) the 2011 Capital Budget items in the amount of $12,260,169 at the next regular council meeting on Feb. 1. The motion was carried, with Councillor Damota opposing the motion.

Councillor Day motioned that council make a decision to approve in principle the 2011 to 2013 Capital Plan in the amount of $16,994,753 at the next regular council meeting on Feb. 1. The motion was carried, with Councillor Damota opposing the motion.