Council Notes
Drumheller Town Council
Committee of the Whole Meeting
Monday, December 18, 2017
•••
The Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting started with an announcement about the meeting schedule. Council will have their next COW meeting on Tuesday, January 2, the next regular council meeting on January 8, and the 2018 Operational Budget meeting on January 10.
Councillor Tom Zariski was sworn in as Deputy Mayor for the months of January and February, 2018.
•••
The Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce (DDCC) gave their semi-annual update to council. The presentation was directed by president Brock Harrington and executive director Heather Bitz.
Vice president Jeff Hall, past president Shelley Rymal and DDCC office coordinator Marley Henneigh were also in attendance.
•••
Neil Dobell, president of the Canadian Badlands Aquatic Club and Sheila Martin, head coach of the club gave an update on the current condition of the club.
They requested that the town increase better communication between the pool and club, better invoicing as it is difficult to understand, set up and take down the ropes that are in the pool, keep the water temperature lower than it is, and to cover the remaining expense of the starting blocks.
CAO Darryl Drohomerski explained the latest updates of the pool. Most issues have been repaired, tested, and passed but a couple more things must be fixed before reopening.
•••
Vance Neudorf, director of the Canadian Badlands Passion Play, presented his findings on the outcome of the 2017 tourist season as well as upcoming events or ideas for the Amphitheatre.
They have decided on a new name; The Badlands Amphitheatre to allow some of the other events planned to keep growing rather than the stigma of the Passion Play and its niche.
They also wish to repurpose the old benches currently being used into a boardwalk that would keep tourists busy in the valley.
•••
Family Community Support Services (FCSS) coordinator April Harrison gave a presentation how the recent Economic Needs Assessment within the FCSS department of the Town of Drumheller.
They did an Economic Needs Assessment survey which aligns with the 2016 census data. 726 responses were received translating to 8.4 per cent of the eligible Drumheller population.
More feedback sessions will take place before the final survey results will be announced in April 2018.
•••
ATCO came to the meeting with a delegation about the Drumheller Franchise Renewal. Patrick Charron, customer service supervisor, and Allan Gano, district manager of the southeast region presented.
The ten-year franchise agreement expires November 17, 2018. A franchise agreement betters the municipality and ATCO to provide an exclusive Electric Distribution Service. ATCO charges a franchise fee on its utility bill which provides a stream of revenue for the town.
A new AUMA template has come to light for council to deliberate.
They explained the benefits to the municipality and to ATCO by using this new franchise agreement.
•••

Council Notes

Drumheller Town Council

Regular Council Meeting
Monday, December 11, 2017

A public hearing commenced for Bylaw 12.17 being a bylaw to amend Section 30, the Downtown Transition district, by adding the following use of the list of discretionary uses; Self Storage Facility. The property in question, can best be described as the old High School property on 5th Street East.
November 14 was the passing of the first reading.
Cynthia Cvik, CEO and director of planning of the Palliser Regional Municipal Services presented their viewpoint on the bylaw amendment. The Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) endorses the recommendation of the Palliser Regional Municipal Services. MPC does not recommend the support for the proposed text amendment to add “Self Storage Facility” to the list of discretionary uses in the downtown transition district.
As stated in the current bylaw, this district is intended to promote tourism, service businesses and to retain the residential character of the neighbourhood.
The Town of Drumheller received letters from the community and the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce (DDCC). All parties recommended that the facility should be stationed in the Industrial end of town rather than the current location.
Council defeated the motion after second reading of the bylaw.
•••
Council went over Bylaw 14.17, being a bylaw to set the utility rates for 2018 before going over the second and third reading.
Councillor Tony Lacher researched and found that Drumheller was one of the cheapest places by only charging 80 per cent of water consumption for sewer. This bylaw comes into effect on January 1, 2018.
The motion was carried to increase the utility rates after third reading.

•••
Council appointed Brandon Strilisky to the Heritage, Arts and Culture Committee.

•••
IT services for the Town of Drumheller is provided through contracted work. Due for renewal, the terms of the existing contract were extended earlier this year to December 31, 2017 in order to allow time for a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be issued, responses to be evaluated and a new service contract awarded.
This term will stretch over five years and 12 proposals were received. Awarding an RFP is not solely based on price but rather other factors such as level of service, professional qualifications of staff and corporate experience was also given much consideration. Three IT businesses were asked to present their proposal and organizational fit with the requirements of the town.
Dave White from Trinus Technologies Inc. presented on behalf of that company. They proposed a bill of $92,100 per year. They also work with the Town of Olds and Starland County.
John Shoff of Reality Bytes presented. Reality Bytes is based out of Drumheller. They have proposed an amount of $78,000 a year, the second lowest price offered by the 12 companies.
The ITeam presentation was conducted by president James Wagner and Dan Salmzer. They offered a price of $85,949.
Council awarded the IT contract to Reality Bytes.
•••