June 14, 2021, Council Highlights
The following is a summary of decisions made by Town Council during its June 14, 2021, Regular Meeting. For an audio recording of this meeting please check the bottom of this page. The agenda and attachments are available here: Peace River – Document Center (civicweb.net)
Bylaws
Debenture Bylaws 2094, 2095, 2097, and 2098
Council gave second and third reading to four borrowing bylaws, which will allow the Town to complete capital project work for 2021.
As part of the 2021 budget process, the following projects were approved by Council. Under the Municipal Government Act, the Town requires that funding approvals utilizing debt be approved before commencing project work.
The bylaws below were initially presented for first reading at Town Council’s April 26, 2021 meeting. After that they were advertised via the local newspaper, the Town’s website, and the Town’s social media.
Following the approval of the bylaws work may now proceed on the projects outlined below.
Bylaw No. 2094 – Debenture Bylaw for a Sand & Salt Shed
Project: Sand and Salt Shed
Debenture Amount: $425,000
Term: 10 years
Estimated Annual Payment: $46,798
Bylaw No. 2095 – Debenture Bylaw for the 103 Street Playground
Project: 103rd Street Playground
Debenture Amount: $75,000
Term: 5 years
Estimated Annual Payment: $15,480
Bylaw No. 2097 – Debenture Bylaw for Saddleback Park
Project: Saddleback Park
Debenture Amount: $300,000
Term: 10 years
Estimated Annual Payment: $60,674
Bylaw No. 2098 – Debenture Bylaw for Athabasca Hall Archives Storage
Project: Athabasca Hall Archive Storage
Debenture Amount: $35,000
Term: 5 years
Estimated Annual Payment: $7,224
Debenture Bylaws 2100 and 2101
Two additional projects were approved by Council in 2021, like the ones listed above they require that borrowing be approved before the project starting. Both of these projects received first reading from Town Council, they will now be advertised via the local newspaper, the Town’s website, and the Town’s social media before returning to Council for a vote on second and third reading at a later date. For more info on the project tap or click the hyperlinked titles.
Bylaw No. 2100 – WWTP Secondary Clarifier Upgrade
Project: WWTP Clarifier Upgrade
Debenture Amount: $1,360,000
Term: 10 years
Estimated Annual Payment: $161,900
Bylaw No. 2101 – Debenture Bylaw for the Purchase of Quint Aerial Apparatus Fire Truck
Project: Quint Aerial Apparatus
Debenture Amount: $800,000
Term: 15 years
Estimated Annual Payment: $58,900
Repeal of Outdated Bylaws
Council provided first reading to a bylaw that will repeal many outdated and obsolete bylaws that remain active in the Town’s files. A public hearing will be scheduled for a future date before proceeding to second or third reading. The Public Hearing will be advertised via the Town’s website, social media, and in the local paper once the date has been set.
All of the bylaws under repeal are available to view on a temporary webpage set up for this purpose.
Repeal of Face Covering Bylaw
Following a recommendation from the Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on June 7, Council voted to repeal Bylaw 2076, the Face Covering Bylaw.
Bylaw 2076, the Face Covering Bylaw was repealed by Council at the June 14, 2021 meeting and is no longer in effect.
While the bylaw is no longer in place, as of June 16, 2021 masks are still currently mandatory in all indoor public places, places of worship, and indoor workplaces, per the Government of Alberta.
Why was the Bylaw repealed?
In short, the Town’s bylaw is no longer enforceable due to changes in how the Government of Alberta tracks and reports cases.
The Face Covering Bylaw set a certain threshold for when masks would be required in town. The criteria to require masks was that the number of active cases of COVID-19 infections in the Municipal District of Peace #135 (which was set out in the COVID Relaunch Status Map by the Government of Alberta and included the Town of Peace River) was at a “Watch” Status, with at least ten (10) active cases and a rate of active cases of more than fifty (50) per 100,000. When the Bylaw was written, this language reflected the Government of Alberta’s classification system for the spread of COVID-19. This terminology (‘Watch’) is no longer in use. It was replaced by the terms “High case count” or “Low case count”. These terms – Watch, Case Count – were used to set the level of restrictions: masks, gathering limits etc. by region.
However, on June 1, the newer terms were also discontinued and a single set of restrictions came into effect province-wide. With these changes, the condition of “Watch” status cannot be met. Therefore, The Bylaw is not presently enforceable.
The Face Covering Bylaw was enacted for several reasons, chief of these being public safety. At the time the Bylaw was drafted, case counts were rising significantly and the Government of Alberta’s regional approach to restrictions left municipalities responsible for this measure. The use of face masks was neither widespread nor customary and the benefits of masking were not well documented. Most importantly, vaccines were not available and restrictive measures were the sole option for reducing the spread of the virus.
For up-to-date information regarding the Government of Alberta’s rules around masks or face coverings please visit their website: alberta.ca/masks
Vaccines are now available to all Albertans over the age of 12. Vaccines are safe and effective and the best way to end the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines including how to get your shot visit: alberta.ca/vaccine
New Business
Hazard Identification Policy
Town Council approved the repeal of the Hazard Identification Policy as it is no longer applicable.
Staff have been reviewing municipal policies to gauge whether they require updates or repeal. The Hazard Identification Policy was identified as requiring repeal during this process.
Approved in 1996, the Hazard Identification Policy was meant to “implement a hazard identification system whereby potential hazards are identified and responded to as quickly as possible” and instituted a mechanism on the reporting of hazards for citizens, visitors and employees.
Since then, there have been significant legislative or process changes that effectively invalidate the policy.
Peace River Airport Land Development Policy
Town Council approved the repeal of the Airport Land Development Policy as it is no longer applicable.
Staff have been reviewing municipal policies to gauge whether they require updates or repeal. The Airport Land Development Policy was identified as requiring repeal during this process.
The Peace River Airport Land Development Policy guided the development – generally leases – at the airport, especially during the transition period from the Federal government to the Town and identified the Federal responsibilities and/or authority on some potential leases.
As the airport is no longer the Town’s responsibility, this policy is not required anymore.
Peace River Airport Emergency Procedures Manual Policy
Town Council approved the repeal of the Airport Land Development Policy as it is no longer applicable.
Staff have been reviewing municipal policies to gauge whether they require updates or repeal. The Airport Land Development Policy was identified as requiring repeal during this process.
The Peace River Airport Emergency Procedures Manual Policy is short and identifies the approval of the Emergency Manual on June 3, 1992, plus the distribution list for the manual. This policy was technically made redundant within the existing Airport Operations Manual which contained an updated Emergency Response Plan (Appendix D) along with a distribution list.
As the Airport is no longer the Town’s responsibility, the policy is not needed and should be rescinded.
Grants to Organization Application: Peace River Airshow
Council approved a request to the Town to provide fire suppression during the three-day-long Peace Regional Airshow, which runs from July 16 – 18 at the Peace River Regional Airport.
During the June 7, Governance and Priorities Meeting, members of the Peace Regional Airshow presented to Council about the upcoming event. The contribution value totals $12,413.04.
For more info on the Peace Regional Airshow, including ticket info, check out their website.
For more info on the Council Grants to Organizations Policy visit the page linked below:
Appointment of Returning Officer
Ahead of the upcoming Municipal Election in October, Town Council officially appointed Greg Towne as the returning officer for the vote.
For more info on the election including information for prospective candidates please visit the link below.
Mayor Attendance at Canada Day
The Mayor, or a designate, was enabled to attend the Canada Day Flag raising at the Peace River Museum Archives, and Mackenzie Centre, and to speak on behalf of Council.
Details on the Town’s Canada Day Celebrations will be available shortly. Please check our website for future updates.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
The Mayor, or a designate, was enabled to attend the upcoming National Indigenous Peoples Day Festival on June 19 at Riverfront Park and to speak on behalf of the Town and Council.
For more info on the event please check out the Region VI Métis Nation Facebook Page.
Meeting Audio
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