Council Notes
Drumheller Town Council
Regular Council Meeting
Monday, November 26, 2018
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Council heard a delegation from Trisha Sewell of the Cactus Corridor Economic Development Corporation regarding signage in relation to a scenic driving route from the Royal Tyrrell Museum to Dinosaur Provincial Park. Canadian Badlands is looking at creating signage to guide visitors from the Tyrrell to the provincial park to ensure they know they are on the correct route and how far away they are. Sewell are requesting the town commit to produce and install signage within the town for the summer 2019 season, saying it will help increase traffic and visitors to Drumheller from Dinosaur Provincial Park. Councillor Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk asked for an estimate on the costs, and Sewell said that is up to the town’s discretion. A representative in the gallery said smaller signs were around $200 and large signs approach $3,000. Councillor Tony Lacher asked about the number of signs, and Sewell said the town could add to existing signage into town but there would have to be additional signs directing visitors out of town and towards the provincial park.
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Council held second and third reading of Bylaw 13.18 regarding the ATCO Franchise Agreement, which would grant ATCO Electric the rights to provide electricity within the town. Councillor Tom Zariski asked how much the town made from the franchise fee from ATCO and was told $730,000. Council approved second and third reading of the bylaw.
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Council held and passed first reading of Bylaw 16.18 being a bylaw to redesignate a lot of land on Bridge Street in north Drumheller from highway commercial to residential.
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Council heard and passed first reading of Bylaw 17.18 being a bylaw regarding the implementation of tax cancellation for non-residential developments, which would waive first year municipal taxes for new business construction or significant business expansion.
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Council heard and passed first reading of Bylaw 19.18, being a bylaw which would waive municipal business fees for new businesses in existing non-residential vacant buildings.
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Council held and passed first reading of Bylaw 21.18 to set the 2019 utility rates which would see an increase to recycling fees, a 5 per cent increase to water utilities, and a 2 per cent increase to waste water utilities.
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Council reviewed draft bylaw 22.18, being a bylaw to implement a tax incentive program for owners of an existing non-residential vacant building, which would see a tax incentive given to a business occupying a non-residential vacant building. The building must be vacant for a minimum of one year, the business has to remain active for a minimum of one year, and a maximum of $5,000 of tax cancellation. It will be brought back for first reading.
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Council approved a request for decision to appoint Dennis Harder to the Economic Development Advisory Committee for a three year term after a recent resignation from the committee.
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Council held a public hearing to consider amending Bylaw 14.18 Land Use Bylaw 10.08 to change rules affecting ‘home occupations,’ which would remove the requirement to renew a home occupation development permit annually if there are no deviations from the original permit application. Council heard from a representative from Palliser Regional Municipal Services who recommended the amendment. There were no written correspondence or other members of the public in attendance. Council then passed second and third readings of the bylaw.
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Council heard a review from CAO Darryl Drohomerski regarding a potential toboggan hill lease. They’ve identified a couple sites including some land owned by the town, including land adjacent to the Passion Play site, but they were not willing to allow access to the land due to “crime” concerns. Drohomerski said they are still looking for a suitable place which would not require significant work.
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Council heard an update regarding Dino Brand Standards from economic development officer Julia Field regarding updating the town logo, saying information will be coming back to council in the future.
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CAO Drohomerski said a survey will be made public regarding recycling options to see community interest regarding blue bin collection and organic waste collection.
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Council heard a delegation from members of the local SPARKs association.
