Council Notes
Drumheller Town Council
Regular Council Meeting
Monday, March 18, 2019
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The Committee of the Whole meeting of Monday, March 25 is cancelled.
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Council unanimously approved a request for decision to adopt the 2019 tax supported operating budget. CAO Darryl Drohomerski said council has found a 4.9 per cent reduction in operating expenses. Close to $30,000 in savings were suggested by closing the Badlands Community Facility on six general holidays, reduce the BCF’s recreational operating hours by closing one hour earlier each day, and to reduce the operating season of the outdoor pool (to operate from the last week of June to Labour Day). A 1.9 per cent increase to municipal property tax requisition was also proposed. The tax supported operating budget reflects a municipal requisition of $8,884,435 over the 2018 requisition of $8,718,766, which Mayor Heather Colberg said equated to about a $3 per month increase per household.
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Council held and unanimously passed second and third readings for three different bylaws regarding tax incentives for nonresidential development, tax incentives for non-residential vacant buildings, and for waiving fees for new businesses in existing nonresidential buildings.
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Council held first reading of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan bylaw which would replace an existing emergency management bylaw.
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Council held first reading of the Public Behaviour Bylaw which would allow fines for offences such as public cannabis consumption, spitting, etc.
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Council unanimously passed second and third reading of the Tourism Corridor Bylaw, which would create higher levels of upkeep and maintenance of properties along high-traffic areas used by tourists.
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Council held first reading of a Supplementary Tax Bylaw which would allow the town to impose a tax under part 10 of the Municipal Government Act, which is an annual process which allows the town to conduct a supplementary assessment if an issue arises part way through the year.
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Council moved to rescind the second reading of the Community Standards Bylaw as it was found council had forgotten to pass first reading. Then council passed first reading of the bylaw at this meeting.
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Council approved the Safety Policy which works to protect its employees, contractors, visitors, etc., physical assets, being a replacement to an existing policy to be compliant to new Municipal Government Act requirements.
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Council approved the appointment of Tony Ibrahim to a three year term to the Economic Development Advisory Committee. The position was made available after the recent resignation of Michael Todor from the committee. Council made a motion to move in-camera to discuss personnel issues.
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Council moved to appoint Riddell Wiebe to the Heritage, Arts, and Culture Steering Committee for no-fixed term.
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