Council Meeting Update

The May 10^th public Council meeting was an interesting one with a diverse agenda. Detailed reports.

Council approved a hunting regulations recommendation (based partially on an Agriculture Services Report) to expand the length of days (from five to seven) that deer hunters can cull deer. The intent is to decrease economic and safety risks from the flourishing deer population and align our hunting guidelines with the rest of the province. A letter will be sent to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development with our request.

Public attending heard an update from Air Products – a company that has as its vision the enabling of development of the Alberta oilsands resources through its network of Hydrogen and industrial gas production facilities in Strathcona County.

Council approved its first Social Media Policy. With almost 4 million Twitter users in Canada and about 22,000 in our region – it is time for Strathcona County to go where the customer of today and tomorrow are. For more than two years I have been urging our municipality to use social media (including but not limited to facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and blogs). Strathcona County should be commended for pausing to create guidelines before diving into the internet – most non profits and municipality users are in a catch up mode – looking for policy.

Social media can be used to efficiently and effectively to support and enhance: communications; community building efforts; public engagement efforts; emergency response needs; customer service needs and promotional opportunities. We will have to step up to the challenges of resources to meet acceptable response times – but I predict the gains are well worth the pain. Residents are invited to a workshop May 17^th at Council Chambers, 7 pm to have a presentation on the roll out of these features.

The long awaited web casting update was delivered. Live streaming will begin early June with public meetings being archived for six months.

Recreation Parks and Culture presented CREST at the Council meeting. This new Community Recreational Events and Sports Tourism investment program will help to attract and support recreation and sports events that are regional and national in scope. Council approved the program. Guidelines for the program.   

A report on the Community Energy Strategy was introduced to Council. This topic will come back to Council on May 24^th as, I predict a hot topic. On that date administration will be asking for direction on community energy funding sources and voluntary versus regulatory approaches. The community should watch this dialogue carefully. Municipalities do have the right (Municipal Government Act section 33) to become exclusive providers of a utility – heat is considered a utility. Strathcona County Council will have to debate the long term benefits to both itself and its residents on compulsory connection to existing (eg Centre in the Park) and future community projects. Using grants and compulsory connection regulations decreases financial risk but what is the full impact on our residents? What keeps the rates in line and competitive?

Next blog: Strathcona County Council’s new Priorities list – impacting our future and budget deliberations.