THE CITY OF SPRUCE GROVE

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council

Monday, April 08, 2024 at 6:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

3rd Floor - Council Chambers

315 Jespersen Ave

Spruce Grove, AB T7X 3E8

Members Present:

• Mayor Acker
• Councillor Carter
• Councillor Gillett
• Councillor Houston
• Councillor MacDonald
• Councillor Oldham
• Councillor Stevenson

Also in Attendance:

• Dean Screpnek, City Manager
• David Wolanski, General Manager of Community and Protective Services
• Mark Hussey, Acting General Manager of Sustainable Growth and Development Services and Director of Engineering
• Wendy Boje, General Manager of Strategic and Communication Services and Acting General Manager of Corporate Services
• Anthony Lemphers, Chief Financial Officer
• Marlin Degrand, Manager of Enforcement Services
• David Towle, Senior Municipal Planner
• Francine Pitcher, Controller - Accounting Treasury
• Gita Sud, Policy Analyst
• Lindsay O'Mara, City Clerk
• Karie Nothof, Recording Secretary

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Acker called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and acknowledged that City Council meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 territory.

Councillor Houston proclaimed April 14 - 20, 2024 as National Volunteer Week.

2.

AGENDA

• Resolution: RCM-082-24
  Moved by: Councillor Houston

  THAT the agenda be adopted as presented. 

  Unanimously Carried

3.

CONSENT AGENDA

3.1

Consent Agenda - April 8, 2024

• Resolution: RCM-083-24
  Moved by: Councillor MacDonald

  THAT the recommendations contained in the following reports be approved:

  Item 4.1Minutes - March 25, 2024 Regular Council Meeting

  Item 10.1C-1293-24 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting and DC.10 - Prescott Direct Control District Amendment - First Reading

  Item 10.2C-1295-24 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting - Fenwyck Stage 4 - First Reading

  Item 10.4C-1310-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Bylaw - First Reading

  Item 10.5C-1311-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Rate Bylaw - First Reading

  Unanimously Carried

4.

MINUTES

4.1

Minutes - March 25, 2024 Regular Council Meeting

The following motion was approved on the Consent Agenda:

• THAT the March 25, 2024 Regular Council Meeting minutes be approved as presented.

5.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

5.1

C-1296-24 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting - Fenwyck Stage 7 - Public Hearing and Second Reading

David Towle

Mayor Acker called the Public Hearing to order at 6:05 p.m. on C-1296-24 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting - Fenwyck Stage 7.

David Towle, Senior Municipal Planner, presented on C-1296-24 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting - Fenwyck Stage 7.

Eric Sehn, Select Engineering Consultants, and Dustin Berube, Avillia Developments, attended to speak to C-1296-24 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting - Fenwyck Stage 7.

There were no written or other verbal submissions received.

Council thanked everyone for attending and speaking to this Public Hearing.

Mayor Acker declared the Public Hearing closed at 6:20 p.m.

• Resolution: RCM-084-24
  Moved by: Councillor Gillett

  THAT second reading be given to C-1296-24 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting - Fenwyck Stage 7.

  Unanimously Carried

6.

PUBLIC INPUT SESSION

There were no statements made or questions asked of Council.

7.

COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS

There were no Council Presentations on the agenda.

8.

DELEGATIONS

There were no Delegations on the agenda.

9.

ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES

There were no Administrative Updates on the agenda.

10.

BYLAWS

10.1

C-1293-24 Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting and DC.10 Prescott Direct Control District Amendment - First Reading

Lee Ann Beaubien

The following motion was approved on the Consent Agenda:

• THAT first reading be given to C-1293-24- Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting and Text Amendment to DC.10 Prescott Direct Control District.

10.2

C-1295-24 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting - Fenwyck Stage 4 - First Reading

David Towle

The following motion was approved on the Consent Agenda:

• THAT first reading be given to C-1295-24 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Redistricting - Fenwyck Stage 4.

10.3

C-1309-24 - Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw - Third Reading

Marlin Degrand

Marlin Degrand, Manager of Enforcement Services, presented on C-1309-24 - Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw.

Council thanked Marlin Degrand for the presentation.

• Resolution: RCM-085-24
  Moved by: Councillor Stevenson

  THAT third reading be given to C-1309-24 - Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, as amended.

  Unanimously Carried

10.4

C-1310-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Bylaw - First and Second Reading

Anthony Lemphers

Anthony Lemphers, Chief Financial Officer, presented on C-1310-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Bylaw.

Council thanked Anthony Lemphers for the presentation.

The following motion was approved on the Consent Agenda:

• THAT first reading be given to C-1310-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Bylaw.
• Resolution: RCM-086-24
  Moved by: Councillor Carter

  THAT second reading be given to C-1310-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Bylaw.

  Unanimously Carried

10.5

C-1311-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Rate Bylaw - First and Second Reading

Anthony Lemphers

Anthony Lemphers, Chief Financial Officer, presented on C-1311-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Rate Bylaw.

Council thanked Anthony Lemphers for the presentation.

The following motion was approved on the Consent Agenda:

• THAT first reading be given to C-1311-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Rate Bylaw.
• Resolution: RCM-087-24
  Moved by: Councillor MacDonald

  THAT second reading be given to C-1311-24 - 2024 Business Improvement Area Tax Rate Bylaw.

  Unanimously Carried

11.

BUSINESS ITEMS

11.1

Clean Energy Improvement Program for Residential Properties - Rebate and Innovations

Gita Sud, Francine Pitcher

Francine Pitcher, Controller - Accounting and Treasury, and Gita Sud, Policy Analyst, presented on the Clean Energy Improvement Program for Residential Properties - Rebate and Innovations.

Council thanked Francine Pitcher and Gita Sud for the presentation. 

• Resolution: RCM-088-24
  Moved by: Councillor Carter

  THAT the inclusion of a rebate of 10 per cent of total project financing for the residential stream in the Community Efficiency Financing full application be approved.

  Unanimously Carried
• Resolution: RCM-089-24
  Moved by: Councillor Oldham

  THAT the inclusion of a capacity building innovation for an energy coach for the residential stream in the Community Efficiency Financing full application be approved.

  Unanimously Carried
• Resolution: RCM-090-24
  Moved by: Councillor Gillett

  THAT the inclusion of a deeper retrofit innovation by reserving 20 per cent of the total project financing for the residential stream for homes built in 2000 and earlier in the Community Efficiency Financing full application be approved.

  Unanimously Carried
• Mayor Acker called a recess at 7:34 p.m.

  Mayor Acker reconvened the meeting at 7:41 p.m.

11.2

Alberta Municipalities Submission - Funding for Accessible School Playgrounds

Dean Screpnek

Wendy Boje, General Manager of Strategic and Communications Services, presented on Alberta Municipalities Submission - Funding for Accessible School Playgrounds.

Council thanked Wendy Boje for the presentation.

• Resolution: RCM-091-24
  Moved by: Councillor Carter

  THAT the City of Spruce Grove put forward the resolution attached to this Request for Decision to be considered by Alberta Municipalities at the 2024 annual convention advocating to the Government of Alberta to increase capital funding for all new, replacement, or renovated public schools with K - 9 programming to enable the construction of accessible playgrounds to ensure that students with disabilities have equal development opportunities.  

  Unanimously Carried

11.3

2024 Spring Budget Adjustment and 2023 Surplus Reserve Transfers

Dean Screpnek

Anthony Lemphers, Chief Financial Officer, presented on the 2024 Spring Budget Adjustment and 2023 Surplus Reserve Transfers.

Council thanked Anthony Lemphers for the presentation.

• Resolution: RCM-092-24
  Moved by: Councillor Stevenson

  THAT the 2024 ongoing spring budget adjustments of $883,000 in the Municipal budget and $200,000 one-time adjustment in the Utility budget, as presented in Attachment 1, be approved.

  Unanimously Carried
• Resolution: RCM-093-24
  Moved by: Councillor MacDonald

  THAT the transfer of $4,280,700 from the 2023 Year End surplus to restricted reserves, as presented in Attachment 1, be approved.

  Unanimously Carried
• Resolution: RCM-094-24
  Moved by: Councillor Gillett

  THAT the remaining 2023 surplus be allocated to the one-time spring budget adjustments, as presented in Attachment 1, in the amount of $814,300.

  Unanimously Carried
• Resolution: RCM-095-24
  Moved by: Councillor Oldham

  THAT the 2024 final operating budget be amended to include additional operating revenues of $1,107,270, additional operating expenses of $2,121,570, and additional net transfer from reserves of $1,014,300, as presented in Attachment 1, resulting in a final 2024 operating budget with operating revenues of $114,788,270, operating expenses of $108,794,178 and net transfer to reserves of $10,696,908.

  Unanimously Carried

12.

COUNCILLOR REPORTS

12.1

Councillor Reports - April 8, 2024

Councillors provided written updates on internal and external boards and committees they are a part of.

13.

INFORMATION ITEMS

13.1

Various Boards and Committee Meeting Minutes and Reports - April 8, 2024

The minutes from ARROW Utilities were provided to Council for review.

14.

NOTICES OF MOTION

There were no Notices of Motion provided.

15.

CLOSED SESSION

There was no Closed Session on the agenda. 

16.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM CLOSED SESSION

There was no Business Arising from Closed Session.

17.

ADJOURNMENT

• Resolution: RCM-096-24
  Moved by: Councillor Gillett

  THAT the Regular Council meeting adjourn at 8:04 p.m.

  Unanimously Carried