MINUTES
SUMMER VILLAGE OF BURNSTICK LAKE
COUNCIL MEETING
Cochrane RancheHouse, Cochrane
May 7th, 2009 - 7:00 P.M.
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PRESENT:
Council:
Diane Auld
Harold Esche
Irene Dunsmuir
Administration:
Rick Butler, Administrator
Tara McFadden – Encroachment Policy Coordinator
Residents:
Jerry Knight
Patty Knight
Linda Butler
Morris Butler
Al Clark
Diane Lindblom
Doug Lindblom
Don Stuart
Barb Stuart
Jill Down
Russ Down
Bill Post
Betty Post
Tom Daniels
Harvey Rea
George Dunsmuir
Ken Gaida
Elizabeth Menzies
Guests:
John Armstrong, Foothills Natural Gas Co-op
Terry Luft, Foothills Natural Gas Co-op
Joe Bowhay, Foothills Natural Gas Co-op
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Diane Auld called the regular council meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion Moved by Councillor Dunsmuir that the Agenda be adopted as presented
Carried
DELEGATIONS
Sundre Forest Products - Tom Daniels
Tom Daniels, Sundre Forest Products (SFP) Inc made a presentation. Following is an outline:
SFP is responsible for Forest Management Unit R10
–Located SW of Edmonton
–NW of Calgary
–West of Red Deer
SFP’ Main Communities are
–Sundre
–Rocky Mountain House
–Caroline
–Nordegg
SFP FMU Area = 575,000 ha
Total Operable = 380,459 ha
Approved Forest Management Plan (FMP) in 1996
FMP amended in 2002 with updated timber supply analysis and AAC allocations
MPB Amendment approved in Jan/08. Increased AAC
Many research projects have shown that clear cutting causes water degradation is NOT true
•Only vegetation required to filter
•Need slope and water for erosion
•Equipment designed to minimize compaction
There are regulated buffers…
•Large streams – 60 m
–(no roads within 100m)
•Small streams – 30 m
•Intermittent – no buffer
•Ephemeral – no buffer
•Lakes – 100 m
•Springs – 20 m
SFP checks every crossing every year
–Improper drainage
–Cattle damage
–ATV damage
SFP manages large reforestation
•We plant about 5,000,000 seedlings per year, every year
•Legislated surveys required at age 8 and 14
•Moving towards a process of AAC loss if non performing
Herbicides:
•SFP has utilized two Herbicides within their FMA.
•Vantage Forestry (Glyphosate): this is the same active ingredient that is found in Round up. It is a non-selective herbicide that effectively controls most undesirable vegetation.
•Release Herbicide (Triclopyr): Is a selective herbicide that effectively controls woody species, while maintaining the grass and herb layer.
Herbicides use is highly regulated:
•All herbicide products used in forestry have achieved Federal registration. Registration require rigorous testing to assess potential impacts of herbicide. Most products are tested to 10+ years prior to registration
• Herbicide use in forestry must comply with label requirements. Strict record keeping on application specifics must be carried out and retained for Government inspection.
•The approval process for industry use has the forestry company complete risk management planning and a reporting program that involves checking for off target applications (OTA’s) following treatment. Any OTA’s must be reported to the province
Jamie was then asked various questions from residents. He made clear that SFP respects and works within the guidelines of the Burnstick Lake Management Plan.
Natural gas update from Foothills
John Armstrong, General, Manager, Foothills Natural Gas Co-op provide an update on the possible project to bring natural gas to the village. John will be discussing the proposal to bring natural gas to the Village.
- A minimumof 25 village residents isrequiredto provide a refundable deposit of $400 (Plus GST = $420)each by June 27th.
- Estimated cost of the complete hook-up to natural gas is up to $4,000 per residence.
- Residents to bring their form and deposit to the Meeting or mail to Foothills Natural Gas Co-op Limited, 6419 Imperial Way, Olds, Alberta, T4H 1M5, Attention: Sue Smyth
- Anyone with further questions,were asked to call John Armstrong at 403-556-3007 Ext: 205 or e-mail .
MINUTES
Minutes to the January 21, 2009 Council Meeting (Attachment #2.3)
Motion Moved by Councillor Esche that the Minutes to the January 21, 2009 Regular Council meeting be adopted
Carried
Minutes to the April 23 Council Meeting (Attachment #2.4)
Motion Moved by Councillor Esche that the Minutes to the April 23, 2009 Special Council meeting be adopted
Carried
COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE
Rick Butler noted the following correspondence other than that associated with agenda items.(Attachment #2.5)
Important Conference - Thursday, June 10, 2009 AUMA Mayor Caucus “Under 2,500”) Delta Bow River – Calgary.
- Agenda Items include:
- Future of Local Governance,
- Funding programs,
- Rural Communities Program,
- Sharing Services
Various letters from the Province regarding grants and contributions. All these have been covered under various reports, financial statements and the proposed budget.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Rick noted the following from his report per attachment #2.6
Free Shelter belt trees received
The following free saplings were provided to the Village. Irene Dunsmuir has coordinated the planting process for 2009
- 200 White Spruce
- 200 Colorado Spruce
Village Web site
The has set up a trial web site for access by residents. The site - still being finalized - will be available at a link that will be provided shortly. Residents are encouraged to check it out and let us know your thoughts and suggestions.
The site was developed at no charge by Corrie Butler (Rick’s daughter) as one of her college assignments. The site will be regularly updated by Rick and Corrie. The web site will not replace regular e-mails and important paper correspondence from the Village. The website will add value to Burnstick Lake by providing a virtual office for residents to check out 24 hours a day seven days a week. In the spirit of transparency and accountability, it is suggested that the web site be open to the public like all other municipal web sites.
This web site will also solve problems we have had of sending newsletters or any other document out to mass e-mailings. Certain servers are not accepting these attachments treating them as spam. Going forward, Rick will simply send the link to the newsletter posted on the web site and this rather frustrating problem will be no longer.
Proactive Regional Land Use
A reminder was given to everyone who wants to help the Village be pro-active regarding land use in the area….
Check the SPOG website regarding updates related to all the proposed drilling and servicing of wells that companies send to SPOG. Some companies, including forestry companies, are not part of SPOG but this is a helpful site for information. Don’t forget the ERCB site at ….
The ERCBalso has a public website tool, Integrated Application Registry orIAR to look up all proposed development. We would encourage interested residents to check this site out once in a while.
Annual Community Meeting - June 28th
The Annual Community Meeting is scheduled for June 28that 10:00 at the Burnstick Lake Community Centre. Possible Guest speakers include Alfred Schmitz, of Matterhorn Forest Enterprises. The agenda will include various updates including Emergency preparation Planning, Road & Drainage Planning, Fire Protection planning, Emergency Address signage, and Encroachment and Shoreline decks & Stairways Policy Update
Annual Pancake Breakfast
The Annual Pancake Breakfast is scheduled for August 1, 2009 at 9:30 A.M.
Motion
Councillor Harold Esche moved that the Administrator’s report be accepted.
Carried
Audited Financial Statements (Attachment #2.7 )
Rick Butler summarized the Audited Financial Statements as follows:
- Municipal financial position has increased from $130,703 in 2006 to $157,066 in 2007. This is due largely to additional capital assets of the walkway bridge and drainage at Poplar and Spruce paid for completely by provincial and other non-Village funds.
- Net operating costs faired slightly better than budgeted at $1,252 required from the accumulated surplus.
- Village Reserves remain consistent at $35,417.
Motion Moved by Councillor Esche that the audited financial statements as at December 31 be approved.
Carried
2009 Budget (Attachment #2.8 )
Rick Butler summarized the budget documents as follows: SVBL continues to enjoy one of the lowest Summer Village tax rates in the Province; and has been able to take advantage of significant grant dollars for capital projects using none of its tax dollars. However, the Village remains slightly below the average regarding its reserve balances.
There appears to be continued capital dollars in the future for the many projects that the Village is planning. However, these funds will not help offset all operating costs. In fact, new capital projects often “push” the operating budget beyond inflationary increases.
Although we may need to consider a tax rate increase greater than inflation, the attached budget holds to inflation of 4% for a total of $1,447 increase in property taxes gong to the municipality. It is expected that we will continue to leverage our limited local tax dollars against other sources of funding.
It is also important to note that the school tax requisition from the province has decreased by some $394 or a 1% tax decrease. Therefore the average tax increase across the Village and Provincial School Tax is roughly 3%.
BYLAWS
2008 Taxation Bylaw (Attachment #3.1)
Rick Butler then presented a draft Village Bylaw #57-09 showing the proposed 3% increase in property taxes per the proposed budget.
Motion Moved by Councillor Dunsmuir that Bylaw #57-09 Taxation Bylaw be read a first time by Council.
Carried
Motion Moved by Councillor Esche that Bylaw #57-09 Taxation Bylaw be read a second time by Council.
Carried
Motion Moved by Mayor Auld that Bylaw #57-09 Taxation Bylaw be read a third time and the bylaw be approved by Council.
Carried
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Cell Phone Tower
Councillor Esche reported continued effort regarding this matter. He noted that Rogers Communications may have better service/coverage than Telus; but progress will remain slow. If there is not a good business case, there will be no cell phone service.
Tree Planting Report (Councillor Dunsmuir)
Councillor Dunsmuir noted that leaders will be needed from each cul de sac to plant seedlings in their respective areas.
Reserve Encroachment & Policy Liaison Officer - Status Report and Implementation Plan (Attachment #4.3)
Rick reported that he had worked through a process and secured the services of a competent person to implement the Villages Encroachment policy.Tara McFadden provided the mastersummary of responses to the Village’s Encroachment Policy. She noted that the first Encroachment Policy deadline hadpassed(March 31) for residents to provide details of their encroachments in order to implement our policy both for private encroachments and shoreline decks and stairways. She notedthat she was very pleased to report thatwe have less a bylawenforcement role and more of an informedcoordinating, monitoring and administrative role; and that it would appear everyone is fully cooperative with deadlines as noted – with one possible exception of a resident. Tara presented the following:
How private encroachments will all be addressed/removedby our deadline ofthis Sept 30
How shorefront decks and stairwayagreements will be developed andexecuted by this August 30 (We still needsto determine ownership of several of these structures that have not yet been claimed)
How we willcompletethis summer’s fire pit inspections and certificationsas part of the above two efforts
How we will be monitoring building permits and all associated bylaw enforcement issues going forward.
Capital Planning Update
Rick Butler then explained the long term financial capital plan including all provincial grants (Attachment #4.4); updated the drainage and road Improvements project and ate First Response Fire protection and emergency preparation noting all this would be discussed at length at the June 28 Community Meeting.
Next Council Meetings
It was agreed that the next Council meeting would be set for September/October and publicized through the Newsletter as always.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Certified correct and adopted:
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MayorAdministrator
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