MINUTES OF THE CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE

COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, November 18, 2024 at 3:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Council Chambers, City Hall

PRESENT

• M. O'Connor, Deputy Mayor
• J. Clayton (virtual), Mayor
• W. Pilat, Councillor
• G. Berg, Councillor
• W. Bosch, Councillor
• K. O’Toole (virtual), Councillor
• D. Bressey, Councillor
• C. Thiessen, Councillor
• G. Blackmore (virtual), Councillor

ALSO PRESENT

• S. Bourke, City Manager
• K. Pinnock, Chief Financial Officer, Acting
• B. Glavin, Chief Operating Officer
• D. Lemieux, Chief Public & Protective Services Officer
• R. Dodd, Chief Strategy Officer, Acting
• J. Freeman (virtual), City Solicitor
• L. Hanson, City Clerk
• J. Johnson, Director of Development Services

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

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The Deputy Mayor called the meeting to order at 3:11 p.m.

2.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

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3.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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4.

PROCLAMATIONS

4.1

National Addictions Awareness Week

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Deputy Mayor O'Connor declared November 24 - 30 as National Addictions Awareness Week in the City of Grande Prairie.

5.

ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

5.1

City Council Meeting

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• MOVED by D. Bressey

  Council adopt the minutes of the City Council meeting held November 4, as presented.

  For: (9)

  D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor

  CARRIED (9 to 0)

6.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

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• MOVED by W. Bosch

  Council adopt the Agenda as presented.

  For: (9)

  D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor

  CARRIED (9 to 0)

7.

DELEGATIONS

8.

REPORTS

9.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

9.1

Public & Protective Services Committee

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• MOVED by W. Bosch

  Council adopt the minutes of the Public & Protective Services Committee meeting held November 12, as presented.

  For: (9)

  D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor

  CARRIED (9 to 0)

9.1.1

Meeting Highlights

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Councillor Bosch provided highlights from the Public & Protective Services Committee meeting.

9.2

Financial & Administrative Services Committee

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• MOVED by G. Berg

  Council adopt the minutes of the Financial & Administrative Services Committee meeting held November 12, as presented.

  For: (8)	D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor
  Absent (1)	G. Blackmore

  CARRIED (8 to 0)

9.2.1

2023 Tax Recovery Sale

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• D. Bressey declared a conflict on this item. (Part owner in a company planning to bid on one of these properties.)

• MOVED by G. Berg

  Council approve the following:
  1. Those properties, subject to 2023 tax recovery notification, as per the attached list, be offered for sale by public auction;
  2. That the auction be held in the 1st Floor North Conference Room at City Hall on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.; and
  3. That the reserve bids for the 2023 tax recovery sale be set as per the attached Appendix D. 

  For: (7)	Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor
  Conflict (1)	D. Bressey
  Absent (1)	G. Blackmore

  CARRIED (7 to 0)

9.2.2

2024 Q3 Financial Report

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• MOVED by G. Berg

  Council receive the unaudited financial statements and supporting information for the period ending September 30, 2024 for information.

  For: (8)	D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor
  Absent (1)	G. Blackmore

  CARRIED (8 to 0)

9.2.3

Amendments to Policy 351 - Tangible Capital Assets

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• MOVED by G. Berg

  Council approve amendments to Policy 351 - Tangible Capital Assets, as presented.

  For: (8)	D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor
  Absent (1)	G. Blackmore

  CARRIED (8 to 0)

9.2.4

Policy 360 - Corporate Asset Management

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• MOVED by G. Berg

  Council:

  1. Approve Policy 360 - Corporate Asset Management; and

  2. Council rescind Policy 354 - Asset Management.

  For: (8)	D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor
  Absent (1)	G. Blackmore

  CARRIED (8 to 0)

9.2.5

Meeting Highlights

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Councillor Berg provided highlights from the Financial & Administrative Services Committee meeting.

• MOVED by W. Pilat

  Committee direct Administration to bring a report back to a future Council Committee of the Whole meeting showing all expenses related to managing our assets in 2025, including Enterprise Asset Management, engineering and other reports assessing assets, planning studies on assets, and staff time managing our assets.

  For: (9)

  D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor

  CARRIED (9 to 0)

9.3

Operational Services Committee

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• MOVED by W. Pilat

  Council adopt the minutes of the Operational Services Committee meeting held November 12, as presented.

  For: (9)

  D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor

  CARRIED (9 to 0)

9.3.1

FCM Grant Application

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• MOVED by W. Pilat

  Council support an application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation call for proposals to complete a Climate Adaptation Plan.

  For: (9)

  D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor

  CARRIED (9 to 0)

9.3.2

Meeting Highlights

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Councillor Pilat provided highlights from the Operational Services Committee meeting.

9.4

Investment & Strategy Committee

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• MOVED by D. Bressey

  Council adopt the minutes of the Investment & Strategy Committee meeting held November 12, as presented.

  For: (9)

  D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor

  CARRIED (9 to 0)

9.4.1

Fibre Optics: Fee Rebate & Broadband Analysis

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• MOVED by D. Bressey

  Council:
  1. Approve Fibre Optics Fee Rebate Program, allowing for up to a 100% rebate on municipal fees, for fibre alignment projects initiated between July 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025; and
  2. Direct Administration to proceed with the Broadband Analysis.

  For: (9)

  D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor

  CARRIED (9 to 0)

9.4.2

Elections Bylaw C-1480

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• MOVED by W. Bosch

  Council give first reading to Bylaw C-1480, being the Elections Bylaw.

  For: (9)

  D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor

  CARRIED (9 to 0)

  Bylaw C-1480 was read for the first time.

  
  

9.4.3

Grande Prairie Regional Competitiveness (Invest NW) Committee Terms of Reference

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Mayor Clayton and Councillor Blackmore were not present for this motion.

• MOVED by D. Bressey

  Council approve the Terms of Reference for the Grande Prairie Regional Competitiveness (Invest NW) Committee, as outlined in Attachment 1. 

  For: (7)	D. Bressey, W. Pilat, C. Thiessen, K. O’Toole, G. Berg, W. Bosch, and M. O'Connor
  Absent (2)	Mayor J. Clayton, and G. Blackmore

  CARRIED (7 to 0)

9.4.4

Meeting Highlights

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Councillor Bressey provided highlights from the Investment & Strategy Committee meeting.

10.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

10.1

Land Use Bylaw Amendment C-1260-187

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• MOVED by Mayor J. Clayton

  Council give third reading to Bylaw C-1260-187, being an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw.

  For: (6)	D. Bressey, Mayor J. Clayton, W. Pilat, G. Berg, G. Blackmore, and W. Bosch
  Opposed: (2)	C. Thiessen, and M. O'Connor
  Conflict (1)	K. O’Toole

  CARRIED (6 to 2)

  Bylaw C-1260-187 was read for the third time and finally passed.

  
  

11.

CORRESPONDENCE

12.

DELEGATION BUSINESS

13.

NOTICE OF MOTION

14.

RECESS

Council did not recess this meeting.

15.

DELEGATIONS

16.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

17.

DELEGATION BUSINESS

18.

COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS

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Councillor Bressey highlighted the Your Region Your Voice event, the Northern Spirit Light Show, and the Law of Policing Conference.

Councillor Bosch highlighted the Indigenous Veterans Day Ceremony, the Remembrance Day Ceremony at Bonnetts, the Ribbon Cutting at Latitude 55, the Your Region Your Voice event, the Customer Appreciation Dinner for ABC Recycling, the RMA Fall Conference, Vegas Night, and the Festival of Trees. 

Councillor Pilat highlighted the Breakfast with the Guys event, various Remembrance Day ceremonies, the Ryan Wagner Memorial Award Ceremony, budget deliberations, the Festival of Trees, the Ribbon Cutting at Latitude 55, the Metis Flag Raising, the Your Region Your Voice event, and the Maskwa update.

Councillor Berg highlighted the RMA Fall Conference, various Remembrance Day ceremonies, the Indigenous Veterans Day Ceremony, a Grande Prairie Public Library Board meeting, and a Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association Board meeting. 

Councillor Thiessen attended the Breakfast with the Guys event, the Ryan Wagner Memorial Award Ceremony, various Remembrance Day ceremonies, the Metis Flag Raising, and the open house for Rupertsland Institute.

Deputy Mayor O'Connor highlighted the NW Alberta launch, an Economic Development Minister's Dinner, various Remembrance Day ceremonies, the Ryan Wagner Memorial Award Ceremony, budget deliberations, and the Your Region Your Voice event.

19.

ADJOURNMENT

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The Deputy Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 4:42 p.m.