CITY OF FORT SASKATCHEWAN

MINUTES

REGULAR COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 24, 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

James Clark, Acting General Manager, Community & Protective Services

Brenda Molter, Director, Legislative Services

Jeremy Emann, Chief Financial Officer

Richard Gagnon, Director, Infrastructure Management

Renee Fitzsimmons, Director, People Services

Tammy Lautner, Director, Family & Community Support Services

Mark Morrissey, Director Economic Development

Wendy Kinsella, Director, Corporate Communications

Marshall Wight, Finance Intern

Reade Beaudoin, Digital Media Coordinator

Sheryl Exley, Recording Secretary

 

 

 

1.   Call to Order

 

 

Mayor Katchur called the regular Council meeting of January 24, 2017 to order at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

2.   Approval of Minutes of December 13, 2016 Regular Council Meeting

 

R1-17

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that the minutes of the December 13, 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

 

 

None.

 


 

 

4.   Presentations

 

 

4.1  North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance Update

 

 

Mr. David Trew, Executive Director, North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA) was in attendance to provide an update to members of Council and Administration on the NSWA.

 

Mayor Katchur thanked Mr. Trew for his presentation.

 

 

5.   Unfinished Business

 

 

5.1  Bylaw C19-16 - Debenture Sewer Service Reline Construction – 2nd & 3rd reading

       Presented by:  Marshall Wight, Finance Intern

 

R2-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give second reading to Bylaw C19-16 to incur indebtedness by the issuance of Debentures to the Alberta Capital Finance Authority for the purpose of sewer service reline construction, in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000.

 

 

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

R3-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give third reading to Bylaw C19-16 to incur indebtedness by the issuance of Debentures to the Alberta Capital Finance Authority for the purpose of sewer service reline construction, in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000.

 

 

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

5.2  Quarterly Variance Reports Process

Presented by:  Jeremy Emann, Chief Financial Officer

 

R4-17

MOVED BY Councillor Sperling that Council approve transitioning from the current variance reporting process to an analysis of actuals to budget of monthly income and expenses by department, to be reviewed with Council on a quarterly basis, with a planned June 30, 2017 (Second Quarter) implementation, and approve one-time funding from the Financial Stabilization reserve up to $19,500 to assist with the implementation of the transition.

 

 

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

6.   New Business

 

 

6.1  Public Transit Infrastructure Fund

Presented by:  Richard Gagnon, Director, Infrastructure Management

 

R5-17

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council approve the allocation of $109,000 from the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) and $54,500 in grant funding from the Provincial Government, to offset project costs associated with the construction of the Northern Transfer Station and key bus stop infrastructure improvements.

 

 

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

6.2  Recruitment of Vacant City Manager / Chief Administrative Officer Position

Presented by:  Renee Fitzsimmons, Director, People Services

 

R6-17

MOVED BY Councillor Hennig that Council authorize Administration to commence the recruitment of a City Manager / Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) position for the City of Fort Saskatchewan.

 

 

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Birgit Blizzard,

                        Ed Sperling

 

Against:            Arjun Randhawa, Sheldon Bossert

 

CARRIED

 

 

7.   Bylaws

 

 

7.1  Bylaw C3-17 – Repeal Bylaw 1903 - Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) Advisory Board Transition – 3 readings    

       Presented by:  Tammy Lautner, Director, Family & Community Support Services

 

R7-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give first reading to Bylaw C3-17, which repeals Bylaw 1903 to establish a Family & Community Support Services Advisory Board.

 

 

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 


 

R8-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give second reading to Bylaw C3-17, which repeals Bylaw 1903 to establish a Family & Community Support Services Advisory Board.

 

 

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

R9-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council provide unanimous consent to proceed with third and final reading to Bylaw C3-17, which repeals Bylaw 1903 to establish a Family & Community Support Services Advisory Board.

 

 

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

                        Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

R10-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council give third reading to Bylaw C3-17, which repeals Bylaw 1903 to establish a Family & Community Support Services Advisory Board.

 

 

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 7:14 p.m.

 

The regular Council meeting reconvened at 7:23 p.m.

 

 

8.   Notice of Motions

 

 

8.1  Council Meeting Times

 

R11-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that whereas regularly scheduled meetings of Council currently commence at 6:00 p.m., and whereas the benefit of changing the start time of Council meetings include:

 

1.  a better work-life balance for Council members and staff;

2.  major decisions are deliberated at a time in which minds may be more alert;

3.  financial savings to the City;

4.  an increase in members of the public who may attend as it does not interfere with evening commitments; and

5.  allows additional time for the local media to meet production deadlines.

 

Therefore, that effective the first Council meeting following the 2017 municipal election, regular Council meetings commence at 2:00 p.m.

 


 

 

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen

 

Against:            Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa, Birgit Blizzard, Sheldon Bossert,

                        Ed Sperling

 

DEFEATED

 

 

8.2   Retail Liquor Store Restrictions

 

R12-17

MOVED BY Councillor  Randhawa that Council 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.

 

R13-17

MOVED BY Councillor Hennig that Council Resolution #12-17 be amended 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.

 

R14-17

MOVED BY Councillor Garritsen that Council refer this item to Administration for additional information and presentation at the February 14, 2017 regular Council meeting.

 

 

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Birgit Blizzard

 

Against:            Arjun Randhawa, Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

 

CARRIED

 

 

Notice of Motion – Local Purchasing Policy

 

 

Councillor Garritsen gave notice that he will introduce the following motion at the February 14, 2017 regular Council meeting:

 

“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.”

 

 

9.   Points of Interest

 

 

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

 

 

10.   Councillor Inquiries

 

 

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

 


 

R15-17

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council move in-camera at 8:23 p.m. to discuss a matter that falls within one of the exceptions to disclosure in Division 2 of Part 1 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP).

 

 

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa, Birgit Blizzard,                         Sheldon Bossert, Ed Sperling

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

Councillor Bossert excused himself from the regular Council meeting and vacated the Council Chambers at 8:23 p.m.

 

R16-17

MOVED BY Councillor Blizzard that Council return to open session at 8:50 p.m.

 

 

In Favour:        Gale Katchur, Frank Garritsen, Stew Hennig, Arjun Randhawa, Birgit Blizzard,                         Ed Sperling

 

Absent:                        Sheldon Bossert

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

11.   Adjournment

 

 

The regular Council meeting of January 24, 2017 adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________

                                                                                                            Mayor

 

 

 

 

_______________________________

                                                                                                            Director, Legislative Services