Post by Admin on Sept 2, 2015 19:43:21 GMT
RMWB council voted on a number of fiscal policy motions Tuesday evening, and also heard of the importance of urban chicken keeping.
Council began with wishing Coun. Jane Stroud happy birthday, and then moved on to a presentation by Fort McMurray resident and electrician Phil Osborne arguing in favour of allowing backyard chicken coops in Fort McMurray.
Osborne, 27, argued the move would support the local economy through new spending, help bridge the gap between consumers and their food, and would follow the example of cities like Vancouver which already allow urban chicken keeping.
Coun. Phil Meagher and Mayor Melissa Blake, who both grew up on farms, brought up a number of concerns. Meagher worried how the chickens would survive a Fort McMurray winter, and Osborne replied that proper insulation and a heater would do the trick.
Blake brought up the issue of slaughtering chickens, as well as the odours associated with chicken keeping, and said it was something she was not anxious to pursue.
"You're chickening out!" Meagher accused. "I'm chickening out," Blake confirmed.
Capital projects
Council heard an update on the RMWB's capital projects. RMWB currently has 264 active capital projects, and as of June 30 the total budget for the open capital projects was $2.154 billion, of which $1.571 billion has already been spent.
Councillors inquired about the status of several specific projects. Meagher commented the RMWB construction crews have not taken advantage of the summer's good weather by having long working days.
"I know a lot of residents would prefer three to four months of long construction days rather short construction days for two years," he said. The motion was passed unanimously by council.
Council also voted through the second quarter fiscal update. The RMWB is projected to have a deficit of $439,000, which is within the 1% to 3% margin of error the municipality allows. Coun. Allan Vinni said it was a "balanced budget," and the 0.5% difference from the projection reflected a great job by the municipality.
However, the municipality may also have liability for contaminated sites of land, which could have a "significant" impact on the deficit.
Procurement policy
An amendment was also made to the RMWB's procurement policy to be in line with the New West Trade Partnership, an "economic partnership" between the B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan governments.
Coun. Colleen Tatum moved an amendment that tenders who would be given to local business wherever possible. Tatum's amendment was referred back to the administration for further expert opinion and details, and the original amendment motion was passed unanimously.
That left two motions by councillors Vinni and Lance Bussieres.
No hiring freeze
Bussieres introduced a motion to effect a hiring freeze at RMWB, citing the downturn and high staffing levels at the RMWB.
This brought on a 45-minute debate by council on what the municipality should do about the downturn, staffing levels at other Albertan communities, and the impact it would have on the RMWB's operations.
When asked, Chief Administrative Officer Marcel Ulliac said there are currently 153 vacant positions the municipality is looking at filling.
Councillors Keith McGrath and Sheldon Germain said the freeze would be a reflection of the recession. Vinni, Meagher and Blake said they felt it interfered with Ulliac's role as CAO, as well as a vote of non-confidence. McGrath, Germain and Bussieres said the motion was not meant as a slight against Ulliac.
In the end, council voted six to four against the motion.
Land use districts
The last item on the agenda was Vinni's motion for a comprehensive review and analysis of the RMWB's land use districts.
The motion called for the creation of buffer zones between industrial and residential sites, as well as protocols and conditions for shared use of roadways by residential and industrial developments.
Vinni said this could eventually serve as a template for proper planning of residential, industrial and commercial development.
Council voted unanimously to pass Vinni's motion, ending the meeting.