CITY OF FORT SASKATCHEWAN

MINUTES

REGULAR COUNCIL

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.

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:

Troy Fleming, Acting City Manager

John Dance, General Manager, Corporate Services

Brenda Rauckman, General Manager, Community & Protective Services

Brenda Molter, Director, Legislative Services

Jeremy Emann, Chief Financial Officer

Grant Schaffer, Director, Project Management

Katie Mahoney, Senior Long Range Planner

Anthony Dionigi, Transit Supervisor

Matthew Siddons, Current Planner

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 February 14, 2017 to order at 6:00 p.m.

2.   Approval of Minutes of January 24, 2017 Regular Council Meeting

R17-17

MOVED BY Councillor Hennig that the minutes of the January 24, 2017 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

Howard Hardy, representing Angie’s Cold Beer & Liquor was in attendance to speak against the proposed notice of motion regarding retail liquor store restrictions.

Howard Johnson, business owner was in attendance to support the review of the City of Fort Saskatchewan’s Local Purchasing Policy.

4.   Presentations

4.1  2016 Year End Audit Plan Report

Ms. Carlie Persson, Lead Engagement Partner and Ms. Amna Rana, Manager, Assurance with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were in attendance to present Council with the 2016 Audit Plan Report for the City of Fort Saskatchewan.

Mayor Katchur thanked Ms. Persson and Ms. Rana for their presentation.

5.   Public Hearing

5.1  Lot R1, Block 22, Plan 3610RS Reserve Designation Removal and Heartland Housing

Foundation Additional Land Grant Request

Presented by:  Matthew Siddons, Current Planner

Mayor Katchur opened the Public Hearing at 6:25 p.m.

A Public Hearing was held to hear any submissions for and against the removal of the reserve designation from Lot R1, Block 22, Plan 3601RS.

Mayor Katchur asked if anyone in attendance wished to speak in favour or against the reserve designation removal.

Lynn Olenek, Executive Director, Heartland Housing Foundation was in attendance to speak in favour of the reserve designation removal for Lot R1, Block 22, Plan 3610RS and updated Council and Administration on the plan for the parcel of land once it is granted to the Foundation.

Mayor Katchur closed the Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m.

6.1  Lot R1, Block 22, Plan 3610RS Reserve Designation Removal and Heartland Housing

Foundation Additional Land Grant Request

Presented by:  Matthew Siddons, Current Planner

R18-17

MOVED BY Councillor Hennig that Council remove the reserve designation from Lot R1, Block 22, Plan 3610RS and submit the parcel of land to Alberta Land Titles for approval.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R19-17

MOVED BY Councillor Hennig that upon approval from Alberta Land Titles, Council grants the parcel of land legally described as Lot R1, Block 22, Plan 3610RS to the Heartland Housing Foundation, on the condition that it be used for the development of a seniors/affordable housing apartment complex.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Mayor Katchur called a short recess at 6:45 p.m.

The regular Council meeting reconvened at 6:51 p.m.

7.   Unfinished Business

7.1  Urban Beekeeping Implementation Strategy

Presented by:  Katie Mahoney, Senior Long Range Planner

R20-17

MOVED BY Councillor Randhawa that Council direct Administration to proceed with implementation of the proposed urban beekeeping strategy, and that start-up costs for the urban beekeeping strategy, not to exceed $5,000, be funded from the Financial Stabilization Reserve. 

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

                        Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

Against:            Frank Garritsen

CARRIED

8.1  Retail Liquor Store Restrictions

Councillor Hennig advised that he would like to withdraw Council Resolution #13-17, which amends Council Resolution #12-17 to restrict new liquor stores to be no closer than 100 meters from a park, playground, or school and no closer than 250 meters to another liquor store.

Council unanimously supported the withdrawal of Councillor Hennig’s motion.

Councillor Randhawa advised that he would like to withdraw Council Resolution #12-17 to direct Administration to prepare a Land Use Bylaw amendment for Council’s consideration regarding liquor stores which would:

1)    Strike a balance between market choice and community safety;

2)    Create a distance requirement for all new liquor stores of 750m from previously established liquor store sites; and

3)    Grandfather existing liquor store locations.

Council unanimously supported the withdrawal of Councillor Randhawa’s motion.

8.   New Business

8.1  Amend 2017 Capital Budget to Include Additional Equipment Replacement Projects

Presented by:  Grant Schaffer, Director, Project Management

R21-17

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council amend the 2017 Capital Budget to include the replacement of Unit 75 Utility Vehicle in the amount of $32,000 and Unit 103 Turf Vacuum in the amount of $40,000, to be funded from the Equipment Replacement Reserve.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.   Bylaws

9.1  Bylaw C4-17 – 2017 Supplementary Assessment Bylaw – 3 readings

Presented by:  Jeremy Emann, Chief Financial Officer

R22-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give first reading to Bylaw C4-17, which authorizes the preparation of supplementary assessments for improvements within the municipality.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R23-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give second reading to Bylaw C4-17, which authorizes the preparation of supplementary assessments for improvements within the municipality.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R24-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council provide unanimous consent to proceed with third and final reading to Bylaw C4-17, which authorizes the preparation of supplementary assessments for improvements within the municipality.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R25-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give third reading to Bylaw C4-17, which authorizes the preparation of supplementary assessments for improvements within the municipality.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.2  Bylaw C5-17 - Amend Fees and Charges Bylaw C18-16 – Transit Fees – 3 readings

 Presented by:  Anthony Dionigi, Transit Supervisor

R26-17

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council give first reading to Bylaw C5-17, which amends Fees and Charges Bylaw C18-16, for transit fees.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R27-17

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council give second reading to Bylaw C5-17, which amends Fees and Charges Bylaw C18-16, for transit fees.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R28-17

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council provide unanimous consent to proceed with third and final reading to Bylaw C5-17, which amends Fees and Charges Bylaw C18-16, for transit fees.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

R29-17

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council give third reading to Bylaw C5-17, which amends Fees and Charges Bylaw C18-16, for transit fees.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.   Notice of Motion

10.1  Review Local Purchasing Policy

R30-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council direct Administration to bring forward recommendations prior to the end of the first quarter, for updating the City’s Local Purchasing Policy FIN-011-C to expand its content to include overall procurement activities for goods, services and construction activities, including the treatment of local suppliers.

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.2  Review Travel and Expense Claims Policy and Council Remuneration Policy

Councillor Garritsen gave notice that he will introduce the following motion at the February 28, 2017 regular Council meeting:

“That Council direct Administration to review Travel and Expense Claims Policy FIN-012-C and City Council Remuneration Policy and Procedure GOV-009-C, and bring forward recommendations to ensure relevant information is appropriately organized and the proper checks and balances exist for each type of reimbursement claim that may be made, prior to the end of the second quarter.”

11.   Points of Interest

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

12.   Councillor Inquiries

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

13.   Adjournment

The regular Council meeting of February 14, 2017 adjourned at 7:53 p.m.