Highlights of March 29 Council Meeting

Council covered the gamut of subjects from power lines, Transit and River Valley funding.  Motions and background presentations

Transmission Lines

Councillor Bidzinski got a ‘go’ from Council on his motion to direct Administration to investigate the possibility of creating a buffer zone between any proposed 240 voltage or higher transmission lines and any densely populated or environmentally sensitive areas in Strathcona County similar to the Heavy Industrial Transition Overlay. The information and recommendation will be brought back to Council April 26^th. I stated in Council that I believe that limiting power lines from running through dense populations should be regulated by the provincial government. I have approached the province to request that they set up standards to protect their citizens from potential high voltage health hazards. I supported the motion on principle but have requested that we clarify legal opinion to ensure we have the right to pass such legislation, and indeed that it would be adhered to. I also would like to ensure that this does not create an obligation to open our Municipal Development Plan. 

Economic Sustainability Framework

Council approved the Economic Sustainability Framework, presented by Nichols Applied Management consultants and it is worth a read. Together with the Social Sustainability Framework, approved in 2007 and the Environmental Sustainable Framework, approved in 2009 these three complementary structural tools  are designed to guide decision making and subsequently the growth of our entire County as urban and rural communities evolve over the next 30 years or so. Full news release

River Valley Alliance Request for Funding

The River Valley Alliance Request for Funding came back to Council in the form of three motions. I was the only Councillor not to support the first motion: ‘That Council approve in principle the opportunity to match the Government of Canada’s $30 million in funding support for the RVA....’ This motion means that we approve in principle up to $7 million to funding projects identified in our Open Space Recreation Facility Strategy. The difficulty is that this funding was offered on projects that must be completed by 2014. The concept is good but the timing not the best – given the very long list of projects already on the priority list for our residents in the immediate future.

Integrated Transportation Master Plan Progress

The Integrated Transportation Master Plan Progress report was approved with the assurance that the final report would come forward by November. The guiding principles of this report are to integrate Transportation with the Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability Frameworks; promote health and safety aspects; integrate County and regional initiatives; integrate with land use planning ; improve public transit; and increase transit alternatives. One of the significant pieces of this report for me will be the SCAT transit review – which I hope will offer a massive change to the current program.

Priority Fund Requests

Councillor Reports saw ten Priority Fund Requests approved. Historically, these requests get a rubber stamp ‘yes’ because there is no real policy to guide elected officials. In 2007 I objected to the idea of elected officials having a 30,000 annual fund to allocate as they personally choose. I felt so strongly about this that I asked residents to develop guidelines for a public committee of tax payers to provide some recommendations to me on the approving of projects. This Committee developed the Building Strong Communities Funding Program and meets several times a year to provide me with their input. Throughout the past several years the issue has surfaced regularly, in fact late summer 2010 the last Council requested that the new Council look into a policy that offers more structure and guidance to the Priority Funds expenditure process.

My priority fund expenditures

During my report I emphasized the need to look at early maintenance of the water storage facilities, like Clover Bar Ranch so that weeds would not choke out that small water body. Preventative maintenance like installing fountains and solar bees is successful only when undertaken as soon as the ice breaks up.

Webcasting

I also again requested an update on webcasting, piloted in February with installation delayed since November, because I believe that you our residents need to have every possible access to review the actions of your elected officials so that you can hold them accountable.

Organization Wide Efficiency Review 

Finally- I have introduced a Notice of Motion to initiate an organization wide efficiency review by an external firm. Since 2008 I have been asking for a comprehensive review of municipal efficiencies and customer service – because we are dealing with taxpayers money and owe it to you to set the highest standard possible in efficient service delivery within the culture of the very best customer service. You need to be assured that your municipality is accountable to you and doing everything it possibly can to use your tax dollars wisely. In the 2010 Council retreat, customer service and organizational efficiency were rated highly by Council in our Top Priorities for this term.

I appreciate your comments and look forward to hearing from you.