Council Notes

Drumheller Town Council
Regular Council Meeting
Monday, March 18, 2019

***
The Committee of the Whole meeting of Monday, March 25 is cancelled.
***
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.
***
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.
***
Council held first reading of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan bylaw which would replace an existing emergency management bylaw.
***
Council held first reading of the Public Behaviour Bylaw which would allow fines for offences such as public cannabis consumption, spitting, etc.
***
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.
***
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.
***
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.
***
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.
***
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.
***
Council moved to appoint Riddell Wiebe to the Heritage, Arts, and Culture Steering Committee for no-fixed term.
***

Council Notes
Drumheller Town Council
Committee of the Whole Meeting
Monday, March 11, 2019

***
Council heard a delegation from Ryan Semchuk, chair of Travel Drumheller, to provide an update of the organization’s work in 2018 and plans for 2019. He highlighted the organization’s social media and internet stats, as well as marketing and promotions being done by Travel Drumheller.
***
Council discussed feedback from the open houses regarding the three different tax incentive bylaws currently being developed, which provide incentive for new businesses in vacant buildings, new commercial developments, and incentives for existing property owners of vacant buildings. One letter was received saying one of the incentives, which would exempt new business from one year of paying property taxes, would affect other taxpayers. Councillor Jay Garbutt said that was a risk needed to be taken to attract new business to Drumheller who might choose to locate elsewhere.
***
Council discussed feedback from the tourism corridor bylaw and the community standards bylaw. Mayor Colberg said she heard feedback suggesting the term ‘reasonable time’ in the bylaw is vague and asked for clarification. Director of Protective Services Greg Peters said that language exists in legislation and laws and said he would be hesitant to come up with a definition of reasonable time because it depends on the context of the situation and business. Councillor Garbutt said that should be communicated
to the public and bylaw will be working with individuals and hope they are doing the best they can do to clean up potential violations. Mayor Colberg agreed people would be asked to show their effort to clean up or fix violations. Councillor Kristyne DeMott suggested when the bylaws are passed it be clearly communicated to the public which bylaws, including the land use bylaw, affect whom and how, and communications officer Julia Fielding agreed. Councillor Fred Makowecki asked whether the tourism bylaw affected all properties adjacent to the corridor routes, and Mr. Peters said it might be good to include properties visible from the corridor.
***
Council held discussions of the operating budget, but a copy of the changes made since last week’s meeting were not provided to the public. Look for these in the council meeting notes next week when they are brought to the regular council meeting.