At Tuesday night’s council meeting staff will be presenting the first steps for a joint action plan on Bill 21, the Modernized Municipal Government Act (MGA, which presents updates to the municipal government act that would change the tax ratio for municipalities across Alberta.
Here in the RMWB, the tax ratio for commercial to residential would change from 18.3/1 to 5:1, seriously reducing the revenues for our municipality and dramatically limiting its ability to fund infrastructure, programs and services.
The joint plan will be drafted between municipal staff and representatives from oil sands industry and will present a guideline for how the two groups can work together with the province to limit the negative impacts of the changes being made to the act.
Back on September 27, council approved an official position for the RMWB to take on the taxation and assessment portions of Bill 21 and that endorsement authorized Mayor Melissa Blake to reach our to stakeholders to work together on a joint approach to the critical issues facing our region should the bill be approved as it’s currently written.
Since then, Mayor, council, and staff have met with stakeholder groups including representatives from rural and aboriginal communities, oil sands industry, and business groups.
The conversations had with members of industry have led to the creation of the document being presented Tuesday evening, which will, if approved, lead to the creation of a ‘Joint Plan for Bill 21 Transition’ which would serve as a, “roadmap for how the Regional Municipality and industry will work together in an effort to reach agreement on what to recommend to the Government of Alberta concerning the manner and time frame for implementation of Bill 21.”
The preamble for the proposal to develop a joint plan reads, “In these turbulent times, we are challenged with preparing a plan to adhere to the revised MGA. Such a plan must account for the need to maintain municipal services, and to develop a long term fiscal and budgetary strategy to ensure a sustainable community.”
This plan would aim to help the RMWB continue to provide services comparable to those enjoyed by other Albertans without paying more for them outside what’s expected when you adjust for the remoteness, size, diversity, rapid growth, and short construction season of our community.
The goal will be to have a full transition plan complete by January 10 so it can be implemented in next year’s budget.
Bill 21 is currently at third reading at the legislature.
Recovery Plan
Council will finally get a look at the draft recovery plan for our community Tuesday night and, if they approve it, the 48-page document will serve as a guideline for all recovery-related decisions in the future, including setting budgets.
You can read the 48-page document online here: Wildfire Recovery Plan
The plan takes into account it could be years before the community is fully recovered and that there will only ever be a new normal rather than a return to normal. It also allows for there to be changes in the coming years as the community adapts and recovers; some things will happen more quickly than others and some things will move more slowly.
The Recovery Plan builds on the five pillars of recovery: people, environment, economy, recovery, and mitigation which means ensuring the community is better prepared in the event of future emergencies including wildfires.
By-law amendment
Also tonight council will hear the first reading of a by-law amendment for the Timberlea area structure plan that would change the zoning of one lot in Stone Creek – no decisions will be made until after a public hearing is held on December 13.
Toys for Tickets
Council will also consider a Toys for Tickets program, which would allow you to pay your parking tickets between December 1 and 15 with donations of toys.
In order for the ticket to be considered paid the toys have to be worth an equal or greater value to that of the ticket for the parking infraction.
The toys collected by the RMWB would then be given to the Fort McMurray Salvation Army for distribution in the community.
Citizen Recognition Program
The Community Services Committee recommendation for the 2016 Citizen Recognition Program will also be considered for approval. The committee is asking that the names in the recommendation be kept confidential until they are revealed at the Toast of Champions Ceremony on January 26, 2017.
Recognitions
Mayor and council will also recognize that World AIDS Day takes place on December 1, 2016 and International Day of Persons with Disabilities takes place December 3, 2016.
