Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Monday, November 14, 2022

Drumheller Mayor Heather Colberg opened the meeting and made some opening remarks.
Mayor Colberg welcomed Councillor Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk back to council after a medical leave of absence.
She also reminded the public of two upcoming community engagements at the Badlands Community Facility (BCF) on Thursday, November 17 regarding Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Office (DRFMO) projects, and Tuesday, November 22 for a multi-project open house.
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Rails to Trails task force chair Jason Blanke and secretary Lana Philips presented the committee with an update on the taskforce. The task force was established earlier this year by council and community members, focused on fundraising to ensure funds are available to build a useable path as quickly as possible.
To keep in line with the coal and rail history of the Drumheller Valley, the task force is looking to establish stations, with the Main Station positioned on the edge of downtown Drumheller along with a donor wall, and stops between stations.
Currently, the task force has two main fundraising pieces-the Rails to Trails Community Christmas Party and silent auction on Friday, December 2, and sponsorships and donations from community members and organizations; more information regarding sponsorship opportunities will be available beginning on Friday, November 18.
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Director of Corporate and Community Services Mauricio Reyes presented the quarterly financial report, ending September 30.
The Town has collected about 87 per cent of 2022 taxes, totalling $21,798,903; this is consistent with previous years, and it is anticipated the remainder will be collected by the end of 2022. Municipal expenses are approximately 72 per cent of the approved budget of $21,341,884 and there is an anticipated positive variance of approximately $150,000 due to staffing vacancies in the first half of the year.
The Town has applied for some $1.3 million in capital and operating grants and have been successful in about 30 per cent of these, totalling $375,351, with some still pending approval.
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Recreation, Arts and Culture manager Darren Goldthorpe and RC Strategies project manager Steven Siawuta presented a cost recovery update on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which was previously requested by council. RC Strategies were contracted by the Town to undertake development of the Master Plan.
Mr. Siawuta explained the cost recovery was compiled based on comparable communities with similar recreation facilities.
While expenditures are consistent with comparable municipalities, revenues are generally lower per capita at the three primary facilities reviewed-BCF, Drumheller Aquaplex, and Drumheller Memorial Arena. Some preliminary recommendations have come out of this report, including setting cost recovery targets based on benefits the municipality is trying to achieve and exploring further revenue generation factors through the Master Plan.
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Mr. Goldthorpe and Community Events coordinator Alicia Smith presented a review of the role and events held in 2022.
The Town held several events over 2022 including Oktoberfest, Summer @ the Plaza, and an inaugural Alberta Culture Day celebration in September; Festival of Trees and Festival of Lights are upcoming in November.
There are several events tentatively scheduled in 2023, including another tree carving event similar to the one held in September as part of the Alberta Culture Day celebrations.
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Community Development and Social Planning manager April Harrison presented an overview of the Community Social Needs Assessment, which will also be shared during the multi-project open house on November 22.
The assessment is conducted every five years and ensures Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) can target funding and resources appropriately. The first phase of the assessment will begin in November with community and agency surveys, three community workshops, and a workshop for older adults and youth held at the Sunshine Lodge and Greentree School respectively.

Complete minutes from council meetings can be found on
www.drumheller.ca once they have been adopted.

Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town Council Regular Council Meeting
Monday, October 24, 2022

Mayor Heather Colberg opened the organizational and regular meeting.
Councillor Crystal Sereda announced Travel Drumheller is holding a Destination Development Plan at the Badlands Ampitheatre on Wednesday, November 2 at 6 p.m. to help guide the development and management of tourism for the next two decades.
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CAO Drohomerski presented council with two requests for decision to amend the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) bylaw and Land Use Bylaw (LUB). There are sections in both documents where design figures for the flood mitigation project no longer apply due to design changes the program underwent in June 2022. This amendment will update these figures.
Amendments to the LUB will also add or amend regulations for various uses. This includes adding a new Neighbourhood District for Manufactured Home Parks; CAO Drohomerski noted, while there are three mobile home parks already, there was no specific Neighbourhood District.
Council gave first reading and set a public hearing date for December 5; an Open House will be held at the BCF on November 17 in alignment with the Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Office (DRFMO) berm open house.
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CAO Drohomerski presented council with a request to add a portion of two parcels of land in Nacmine, previously purchased for the flood mitigation project, to the existing Environmental Reserves. The two properties were acquired by the Town in 2020 for berm construction. There are two small portions which are considered too close to the berm footprint, and it was recommended these be added to existing Environmental Reserves.
Council passed all three readings with consent.
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DRFMO project director Deighen Blakely gave an update on the Downtown Dike, which will run from the Gordon Taylor Bridge to Schumacher’s Corner at 5 Street East and Riverside Drive. The tender was cancelled earlier this year due to high bid costs and, since then, potential cost saving measures have been examined. Engineering teams are now starting work on the berm’s redesign and will take further cost savings and public feedback into consideration during this process.
Two alignment options have been identified for further consideration-the first option would see the full closure of Riverside Drive and 5 Street East, from 3 Street to 4 Avenue, while the second option would see no changes to Riverside Drive and use of a large retaining wall to fit the berm into restricted space beside the roadway.
The updated design will be presented at the November 17 public information session; design options will be brought forward at the December 5 council meeting for final decision to allow DRFMO to move forward in preparation for tender, and construction.
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Director of Infrastructure Services Dave Brett presented council with a request to replace one of its four wheel drive backhoe loaders.
Council awarded the supply and delivery to Brandt Tractor Ltd. for a total of $285,363 less the trade in value of $20,000 for a total cost of $265,363 excluding GST.
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Economic Development manager Reg Johnston and Director of Corporate and Community Services Mauricio Reyes presented council with quarterly updates on their respective departments.
Mr. Johnston shared an update on the Triangle Plaza-significant construction has been completed over the last quarter; a soft opening is anticipated for the Festival of Lights; washroom and stage canopy are in development. He also provided an update on the Housing Strategy, which was presented at the October 17 Committee of the Whole meeting (see story Page 2).
Mr. Reyes shared updates on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and Poverty Reduction Strategy. The master plan is currently in the engagement phase and is anticipated to be completed by spring 2023; a Request for Proposal for the Poverty Reduction Strategy received two submissions which were both above the approved budget-these are currently being evaluated and next steps will be undertaken prior to being brought back to council for approval consideration.
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Council adjourned the meeting to a closed session.

Complete minutes from council meetings can be found on www.drumheller.ca once they have been adopted.