First Meeting for New Peace River Council on Monday

Monday, October 25, 2010 will be memorable for five newcomers to Town Council (North Darling, Colin Needham, Cole George, Tom Tarpey and Rob Lafontaine), returning councillor Geoff Milligan, and returning mayor, Lorne Mann. At 5:00 PM, the Organizational Meeting will be convened and they will be sworn in, elect their Deputy Mayor, and decide on items such as councillor appointments to committees and  boards, members-at-large appointments to committees, and the 2011 meeting schedule. An organizational meeting is held every year, and in an election year, must be held within two weeks of the election. Residents are encouraged to attend.

Although Mayor-elect Mann has been on Council and previously served as Mayor for many years, he has not worked under the Council Procedural Bylaw that was adopted by the 2007-10 Council, so this will be a new experience.

Following adjournment of the Organizational Meeting, the first regular Council meeting will be called to order. On this agenda are the routine items of Adoption of the Agenda and Adoption of Minutes for the regular Council meeting on September 27 and the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on October 4.

There are no Public Hearings, Presentations, Bylaw items, or Unfinished Business items.

Under New Business there are five items:

1.  Peace River Watershed Planning and Advisory Council Formation Workshop. This 2-day workshop is being held in Peace River (Oct. 28-29) and will include a wide variety of stakeholders. The agenda package includes an invitation letter with information about the workshop from Alberta Environment's Environmental Management, Northern Region Director's Office, the Peace Watershed Planning and Advisory Council Formation Information Paper and a Request for Decision (RFD) to appoint a councillor to participate in the workshop and that council advises whether it is interested in participating in the Initiator's Group, which will meet over the next few months.
   
2. Oil Sands Sustainable Development Secretariat appointment. This RFD includes a letter of introduction from Robert A. Fernandez, who has been appointed Acting Assistant Deputy Minister of the Oil Sands Sustainable Development Secretariat and a request to set a date for a meeting with Mr. Fernandez. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the "Comprehensive Regional Infrastructure Sustainability Plan." The RFD further indicates that Mr. Fernandez is meeting with stakeholders to continue working on the Responsible Actions strategic plan and the Comprehensive Regional Infrastructure Sustainability Plans (CRISP) for the oil sands area.
   
   
3.  Delia Gray Memorial Gala request for contribution. This RFD requests council's approval for an annual request from the Metis Nation of Alberta. There are a number of options presented, and a recommendation that a gift basket be donated (the RFD indicates it is for a silent auction, but I note that the letter says the items will be used for door prize giveaways). This event (the 11th annual) will be held in Edmonton on November 16 and it honors Metis youth recipients of the Delia Gray Memorial Scholarship as well as the Pearl Calahasen Scholarship Award. The RFD also includes a screen capture of the MNA's website Education tab that outlines the various kinds of recognition and scholarship opportunities are available for Metis youth.
   
   
4.  Royal Canadian Legion Remembrance Day service. This RFD asks council to enable the mayor or designate to attend this annual service and to provide a donation to the Legion for a wreath. An enabling motion is required before mayor or councillor can claim reimbursement for attendance at a meeting or event. Some motions will enable all of Council or a certain number. The donation has been included in the 2010 budget. The service is on November 11 at the Al Adair Rec Centre, starting at 10:30. The gym has been overflowing the past few years so if you wish to have a seat, you'll want to be there early.
   
   
5.  Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron Annual Promotion and Banquet. This RFD is for an enabling motion for the mayor or designate to attend this event, being held at the Misery Mountain Ski Chalet on November 7.

Under Reports is the routine Cheque Register (to October 20, 2010). This is a listing of cheques produced in the previous period (this does not include paycheques) and enables Council to review transactions and ask questions. This list shows who the Town is doing business with to purchase supplies and have services provided, includes donations made by Council, expense claims, etc. For example, on this report is the cheque for $7,500 to the Weberville Community Forest, which is a contribution towards the community forest's application to become a member of the Canadian Model Forest Network, approved by the previous Council.

There are no Councillor Reports. This is where mayor and councillors can provide minutes of committees they are involved with, reports on conferences attended, etc.

There are five Information items:

• a September 13 letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Hector Goudreau, regarding changes to the Local Authorities Election Act. It outlines changes that were made earlier this year to "enhance the integrity of, and public confidence in, local elections, by clarifying the rules for both voters and those who run for elected office." The letter briefly outlines the key changes in the election rules regarding campaign contributions. (Candidates in the October 18 election received this information in their nomination packages.)
  
  
• an October 13 letter from the County of Northern Lights confirming the adoption of the Weberville Joint Development Area Concept Plan. This was a joint project with the Town of Peace River and involved extensive public consultation.
  
  
• a September 30 letter from the MD of Peace indicating that the Council supports the Peace Region Centre of Medical Excellence in principle but is not prepared to make a financial commitment at this time.
  
  
• an invitation to attend the first annual Metis Nation of Alberta Zone VI Business Mixer and trade show on October 29, 6:00-9:00 at the Sawridge Inn.
  
  
• a congratulatory message to mayor and council from the Peace River African Descendants Society (PRADS).

There are no Notices of Motion.

The In Camera portion of the meeting, which follows the regular public portion, includes two legal matters. There is generally a brief recess between the regular and in camera portions of the meeting. Once Council comes out of the in camera portion, the meeting is adjourned.

Blog Action Day 2010: Water

For yesterday's Blog Action Day on water, although international water issues are pressing, the topic that is on my mind is the soon-to-be formed Peace River Watershed Planning and Advisory Council.

On October 28-29, a wide range of government, industry, NGO and First Nations and Metis representatives will come together in Peace River to begin the process of forming a council. This is exciting and important--the Peace River is the last watershed (and one of the largest) to establish a watershed advisory council.

I hope to be at the 2-day workshop, but whether it's me or someone else, there will be Town of Peace River Council and staff representation. Stay tuned for further news.

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Town of Peace River on Level 1 Water Advisory

On Friday the Town of Peace River declared a Level 1 Water Advisory because reservoir levels are at or below 75%. The full bylaw is available, but I've pasted the Level I below:

Town of Peace River
Watering Restriction Schedule
Schedule “C”

ODD AND EVEN WATERING DAYS: Using the last number of your address (odd or even) determines which days you may water your lawn.
LEVEL 1: When Reservoirs level is at or below 75%
ODD numbered addresses may water lawns: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
WATERING: may occur only during the following hours:
6:00 a.m. — 08:00 a.m.
4:30 p.m. — 09:30 p.m.
Odd numbered addresses consumers who use sprinkler systems on timers, can water their own lawn from 10.00 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

EVEN numbered addresses may water lawns: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
WATERING may occur only during the following hours:
6:00 a.m. — 08:00 a.m.
4:30 p.m. — 09:30 p.m.
Even numbered addresses consumers who use sprinkling system on timers, can water their own lawn from 10.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday*. (*Consumers can set up their system to start as early as 10 p.m.)

Flowerbeds and vegetable gardens may be watered by hand, at anytime, using a watering can or a hose with a nozzle with a trigger shut off to restrict water flow. Sprinklers and like water toys may be used for  recreational purposes by children as long as children are present during use; includes children’s pools (capacity not more than 1000 liters).

Requests for site and condition specific irrigation scheduling for commercial or industrial operations using metered irrigation systems may be approved by the CAO or Water Treatment Plant Manager.

Peace River on Level 1 Water Restriction

The Town has declared a Level 1 restriction (Bylaw 1810). Please help out by minimizing all water usage until further notice, but the following restrictions are required by the bylaw:

LEVEL I

Residents at ODD numbered addresses may water lawns: Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and again between 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Residents of EVEN numbered addresses may water lawns: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and again between 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Flowerbeds and vegetable gardens may be watered by hand, at anytime, using a watering can or a hose with a nozzle with a trigger shut off to restrict water flow.

The Water Park opening on June 19 will have to be postponed until further notice.

Updates will be posted on the Town's website and information about saving water is available there as well.