CITY OF FORT SASKATCHEWAN

MINUTES

REGULAR COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 11, 2016 - 6:00 PM

Council Chambers – City Hall

Present:

Members of Council:

Mayor Gale Katchur

Councillor Birgit Blizzard

Councillor Sheldon Bossert

Councillor Frank Garritsen

Councillor Stew Hennig

Councillor Arjun Randhawa

Councillor Ed Sperling

Administration:

Kelly Kloss, City Manager

Troy Fleming, General Manager, Infrastructure & Community Services

Brenda Rauckman, General Manager, Corporate & Protective Services

Brenda Molter, Director, Legislative Services

Jeremy Emann, Chief Financial Officer

Richard Gagnon, Director, Infrastructure Management

Bradley McDonald, Utility Services Manager

Chad Paddick, Transportation Services Manager

Wendy Kinsella, Director, Corporate Communications

Reade Beaudoin, Digital Media Coordinator

Sheryl Exley, Recording Secretary

1.   Call to Order

Mayor Katchur called the regular Council Meeting of October 11, 2016 to order at 6:00 p.m.

2.   Approval of Minutes of September 27, 2016 Regular Council Meeting

R147-16

MOVED BY Councillor Hennig that the minutes of the September 27, 2016 regular Council Meeting be adopted as presented.

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa,

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3.   Delegations

The following individuals were in attendance to speak in favour of Councillor Bossert's Notice of Motion regarding an Urban Hens Pilot Project for Fort Saskatchewan:

- Jocelyn Manning-Fox, representative from River City Chickens

- Margaret Fisher, representative from River City Chickens

- Stephen Lagaree, Alberta Urban Garden

- Susan Gronau, resident

- Sarah Burgess, resident and member of River City Chickens

Councillor Bossert vacated the Council Chambers at 6:44 p.m.

Councillor Bossert re-entered the Council Chambers at 6:45 p.m.

The following individuals were in attendance to speak in favour of Councillor Sperling’s Notice of Motion regarding the 2017 Budget:

- Lisa Makin, President, Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce

- Howard Johnson, business owner

- Brian Kelly, business owner and member of the Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of

  Commerce

4.   Unfinished Business

4.1   Fort Saskatchewan Historical Society Canada 150 Project - Interest Free Loan

Councillor Garritsen withdrew his motion, which was made at the September 27, 2016 regular Council Meeting, that Council approve an interest free loan to the Fort Saskatchewan Historical Society to a maximum of $60,000 from the Financial Stabilization Reserve to be paid back within 12 months.

5.   New Business

5.1   Water Meter Reading System - Infrastructure Enhancement for Monthly Billing

Presented by:  Richard Gagnon, Director, Infrastructure Management

R148-16

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council direct Administration to look at the feasibility of monthly water billing starting in early 2017, and bring back to Council a report on how it would proceed and the cost implications.

In Favour:        Birgit Blizzard

Against:            Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa,                                   Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

DEFEATED

R149-16

MOVED BY Councillor Sperling that Council approve $385,000 from the Utility Reserve for the installation of approximately 3,000 water meter transmitters.

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa,

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R150-16

MOVED BY Councillor Bossert that Council approve ongoing funding of $80,000 from the utility rate to cover the Finance Department operating costs for achieving monthly billing by the end of 2018.     

R151-16

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council refer Resolution #150-16 for discussion during the 2017 Budget Deliberations.

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa, Birgit Blizzard,

                        Ed Sperling

Against:            Frank Garritsen, Sheldon Bossert

CARRIED

Mayor Katchur called a short recess at 7:58 p.m.

The regular Council Meeting reconvened at 8:06 p.m.

6.   Bylaws

6.1   Bylaw C15-16 - Amend Fees & Charges Bylaw C23-15 - Transit Fees - 3 readings

Presented by:  Chad Paddick, Transportation Services Manager

R152-16

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council authorize Administration to enter into an agreement with the City of Edmonton, City of St. Albert and Strathcona County for inclusion into the U-Pass Program.

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa,

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R153-16

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give first reading to Bylaw C15-16, which amends Fees and Charges Bylaw C23-15, for transit fees.

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa,

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R154-16

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give second reading to Bylaw C15-16, which amends Fees and Charges Bylaw C23-15, for transit fees.

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa,

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R155-16

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council provide unanimous consent to proceed with third and final reading to Bylaw C15-16, which amends Fees and Charges Bylaw C23-15, for transit fees.

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa,

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R156-16

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give third reading to Bylaw C15-16, which amends Fees and Charges Bylaw C23-15, for transit fees.

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa,

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.   Notice of Motion

7.1   Urban Hens Pilot Project

R157-16

MOVED BY Councillor Bossert that Administration develop, for Council’s consideration in the first quarter of 2017, a 2017-2018 Urban Hens Pilot Project including appropriate policy changes, bylaw amendments, and budget/resource requirements.

In Favour:        Arjun Randhawa, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

Against:            Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Birgit Blizzard

DEFEATED

7.2   2017 Budget

R158-16

MOVED BY Councillor Sperling that given the current challenges facing Albertans, and residents and businesses of Fort Saskatchewan that the City Manager direct Administration to work towards a 0% operating budget increase for 2017.

In Favour:        Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

Against:            Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Birgit Blizzard

CARRIED

Councillor Randhawa gave notice that he would like to introduce the following motion:

"That Council direct Administration to:

a)    immediately temporarily suspend all water disconnections on residential properties in the City of Fort Saskatchewan, whose past due amounts do not exceed $1,000;

b)    to bring forward a plan of action report at the October 25th Council meeting on revamping all past due, late notice, and water disconnection procedures. This report shall also include best practices of surrounding municipalities, a possible payment terms program, and an expedited implementation schedule."

R159-16

MOVED BY Councillor Randhawa that Council waive the notification requirement for his Notice of Motion for the City’s water disconnections and related procedures, and vote on the motion at tonight’s meeting.

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa,

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R160-16

MOVED BY Councillor Randhawa that Council direct Administration to:

a)    immediately temporarily suspend all water disconnections on residential properties in the City of Fort Saskatchewan, whose past due amounts do not exceed $1,000;

b)    to bring forward a plan of action report at the October 25th Council meeting on revamping all past due, late notice, and water disconnection procedures. This report shall also include best practices of surrounding municipalities, a possible payment terms program, and an expedited implementation schedule.

In Favour:        Arjun Randhawa, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

Against:            Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Birgit Blizzard

DEFEATED

8.   Points of Interest

Members of Council were given the opportunity to bring forward information that would be of interest to the public.

9.   Councillor Inquiries

Members of Council were given the opportunity to ask questions and provide concerns and comments.

10.   Adjournment

The regular Council Meeting of October 11, 2016 adjourned at 9:52 p.m.