Minutes of the Cypress County Council Meeting held April 21st, 2009

 

PRESENT:                           George Russill, Reeve

                                                Darcy Geigle, Deputy Reeve

                                                Floyd Haas

                                                LeRay Pahl

                                                Garry Lentz

                                                Herb Scott

                                                Jerry Clark

                                                Brad Betcker

                                                Peter Konosky

                                                Lutz Perschon, Manager

                                                Doug Henderson, Assistant Manager

                                                Rick Bleau, Public Works Supervisor

                                                Jeffrey Dowling, Planning Advisor

                                                Roxanne Risk, Treasurer/Recording Secretary

                                               

CALL TO ORDER:              10:54 A.M.

 

AGENDA:                              Resolution No. 2009/98

 

                                                Darcy Geigle moved to accept the agenda with the additions of 7(e) Desert Blume Site Coverage, 7(f) Fire Fighter Recognition, and 7(g) Seven Persons Raw Water Co-op.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

 

MINUTES:                            Resolution No. 2009/99

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to approve the minutes of the April 7th, 2009 Regular Council Meeting.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

  Accounts                         ACCOUNTS FOR                 

PAYMENT:                           Resolution No. 2009/100

 

Floyd Haas moved to approve the Accounts for Payment in the amount of $ 346,083.39.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

 

 

BUSINESS ARISING:

 

Bylaw 2009/09 – Land

Use Amendment

(Pt SE 34-11-6-W4)            A Public Hearing on the proposed bylaw was held prior to the meeting. 

 

                                                An application has been received from Laverne and Gertrude Stehr, to reclassify a portion of the SE 34-11-6-W4 from Agricultural District 1 “A-1 Urban Fringe” to Country Residential “CR.”

 

                                               Resolution No. 2009/101

 

                                               Brad Betcker moved 2nd reading of Bylaw 2009/09.

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                Defeated.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Private Dust Control

Tax Refund Request         In early summer of 2008, Mr. Joe Bachmier complained that not all residents in his subdivision were paying the private dust control tax of $300.  Upon investigation, staff discovered that a recent subdivision was not incorporated into the schedule for the dust control special tax.  The two new subdivided parcels were added to the bylaw when it was amended August 5th.  New amended tax notices were mailed out in late September to the two ratepayers affected. 

                                               

                                                Mr. Bachmier would like a refund, as he felt the original $300 tax should have been split equally between the two new parcels. 

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/102

 

                                                Brad Betcker moved to take no action.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Portable Sign

Regulations

Considerations                   Cypress County has recently received development applications for portable signs in high traffic areas advertising office or 3rd party businesses which are not related to the property they are situated on.  Up until now, the Municipal Planning Commission has been dealing with these applications on a case by case basis as a Class 2 Discretionary Use.  At the previous Council meeting, Council requested staff to provide some examples of regulations that other municipalities have and additional information to be considered. 

 

                                                Currently, the Land Use Bylaw does not allow for a portable, off-site sign which advertises a business, unless it is for a once per year special event such as a grand opening or anniversary, or is approved by the Municipal Planning Commission.

 

                                                Staff recommends that Council consider a bylaw amendment to include additional regulations pertaining to a minimum distance of separation between portable signs and permanent signs, to consider setback distances from a site access and/or intersection, and to limit the number of off-site and 3rd party signs per property.  Council directed staff to prepare a bylaw.        

 

 

Range Road 65 –

Redcliff Annexation           The recent Town of Redcliff annexation of certain County lands has excluded Range Road 65.  Staff questioned the Municipal Government Board (MGB) regarding this apparent error, as municipalities typically maintain the roads on their west boundaries.  The response from the MGB indicates that if the Town and the County agree it was inadvertently missed, the annexation order could be amended.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/103

 

                                                Jerry Clark moved to request the Town of Redcliff submit a joint letter with Cypress County to the MGB requesting Range Road 65 be included in the annexation.

                                                

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Desert Blume Site

Coverage                              Councillor Geigle asked for clarification regarding the interpretation of site coverage in the hamlet of Desert Blume.   Discussion resulted.  It was pointed out that the Development Officer and the MPC have up to 10% discretion of measureable standards.

 

RECESSS:                           12:04 P.M.

 

RECONVENE:                     12:45 P.M.

 

Policy ADM 6 –

Service Recognition          Fire fighters have been recognized at our annual awards banquet for achievements and distinguished services to the citizens and property owners of Cypress County.  Staff are recommending some revisions to Policy ADM 6 Service Recognition to reflect changes in continuous service awards and achievement awards.

 

                                                 Resolution No. 2009/104

 

                                                 LeRay Pahl moved adoption of revised Policy ADM6 – Service Recognition with changes to define active fire fighter, continuous service awards to be the same as the policy currently states for staff, and recognition of achievements will be effective as of January 1st, 2008.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Seven Persons Raw

Water Co-op                         The Seven Persons Raw Water Co-op will be proceeding.  Council indicated that they would consider financing 75% through a local improvement tax.

 

REPORTS:

 

Public Work’s Report        The Public Work’s Report was presented and accepted for information.

                                               

                                                Resolution No. 2009/105

 

Jerry Clark moved to remove trees within Cypress County’s developed rights-of way.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

Manager’s Report               The Manager’s Report was presented and accepted for information.

 

                                                 Resolution No. 2009/106

 

Jerry Clark moved to enforce the clean-up order for Mr. Dubeau.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

                                               

Assistant Manager’s

Report                                   The Assistant Manager’s Report was presented and accepted for information.

 

Reeve’s/Councillors’

Reports                                 Updates were provided on meetings/conferences attended and upcoming meetings.

 

 

Committee Session           Resolution No. 2009/107

 

                                                Herb Scott moved to go into committee of the whole.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

                                                Resolution No. 2009/108

 

                                                Floyd Haas moved to come out of committee of the whole.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

 

Deputy Fire Chief               Discussed in Committee Session regarding the request for continuance of the Deputy Fire Chief’s position.

                                               

                                                Resolution No. 2009/109

 

                                                Peter Konosky moved to accept the compensation for the Deputy Fire Chief as presented.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

2009 Operating and

Capital Budget                     Discussed in Committee Session.

 

                                                 Resolution No. 2009/110

 

Floyd Haas moved approval of the 2009 Operating Budget at $ 23,339,046 and the 2009 Capital Budget at

$ 22,688,133.

                                                

                                                                                                Carried.

 

ADJOURN:                           3:45P.M.