Regular Council Meeting Highlights: November 28, 2011

The City of Lacombe is now posting the highlights of Regular Council and Committee Meetings to our social media channels, in keeping with our mandate to serving the community with open communication and with accountability in mind.

Land Use Planning and Land Development

Land Use Bylaw Amendment 300.62

A public hearing was held for Bylaw Amendment 300.62 at City Hall at 6:30 p.m..

As well, Council gave Bylaw 300.62 – a bylaw of the City of Lacombe to amend the Land

Use Bylaw No. 300 to accommodate ‘Office’ as a discretionary use in the Light Industrial (I1) District – second and third reading as presented.

Environmental Health Services and Utilities

Water / Wastewater

Council approved a cost-share scenario between the City and affected residents to address sewer service lines in conjunction with Capital Underground Projects.

Lacombe Memorial Centre

LMC Rates

Council directed the Recreation Board to revisit the proposed rental rates for the Community Use Rooms and report back to Council with a revised fee proposal.

Culture Facilities & Parkland Place

Performing Arts Centre

Council agreed to partner with and provide funding for up to $10,000 for Phase 1 of the feasibility study for the Performing Arts Centre.

Community and Economic Development

EcoVision - Ecole Lacombe Composite High School

Council received a presentation regarding a Greenhouse project at the Ecole Lacombe Composite High School as information.

Identify Lacombe

Council directed Administration to make further revisions to the corporate business card design.

Engineering Services

Back Flow Prevention

Council has deferred the introduction of a municipal program to provide subsidies to assist individual homeowners with the cost of installing backflow prevention valves in the sanitary sewer service lines until it has received a full report on remedial recommendations to address flooding issues in the community.

Streets and Roads

Highway 2A

Council received as information an update from Administration regarding the Highway 2A project. There is a projected increase of 4.5% over the originally anticipated expenditures on the entire project. The majority of this increase reflects the costs for CP Rail Crossings.

Financial Services

2012 Financial Plan and Budget

Council received the following reports as information:

·         2012 Capital Budget – Reports

·         Staffing Report – Position Requests

·         Grant Report

·         Reserve Report

·         Debenture Report

·         Assessment and Taxation Report

·         2012 Budget Summary Report

Council directed the Administration not to exceed a three per cent increase in taxes.

The 2012 budget included a 2.5% tax rate increase. Council requested Administration report on the revenue impact of various tax increases and the impact on properties in Lacombe. For comparison, Administration has prepared an analysis using the following tax rate increases: 1%, 2%, 2.5% and 3%. These tax rate increases would have the following impact on an average residential home and commercial property as follows:

Budget presentations will continue until December 12, 2011, at which time Council will consider the adoption of the budget as a whole.

Common Services

Fleet Services - Equipment Purchases

As per the 2011 Budget, Council authorized the purchase of  three (3) pickup trucks from Weidner Motors and one (1) truck chassis from Lacombe Ford for the price of:

·         Weidner Motors $77,099.63 plus G.S.T. (5%)

·        Lacombe Ford $25,775.36 plus G.S.T. (5%)

Reports

Council and Administrative reports were received as information.

Council moved in-camera to discuss a land matter.

Council moved back into open meeting.

In Camera

Council approved a land credit for $7,500 towards the purchase of industrial land within the Wolf Creek Industrial Park.

*The next scheduled Council Committee Meeting will be on December 5, 2011 at 5 p.m.

*The next scheduled Regular Council meeting will be on December 12, 2011 at 5 p.m.