MINUTES

SPC ON UTILITIES AND CORPORATE SERVICES

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 1:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

PRESENT:

• Councillor W. Sutherland, Chair
• Councillor P. Demong. Vice-Chair (Remote Participation)
• Councillor G. Chahal (Remote Participation)
• Councillor D. Colley-Urquhart (Remote Participation)
• Councillor J. Davison (Remote Participation)
• Councillor D. Farrell (Remote Participation)
• Councillor S. Keating (Remote Participation)
• Councillor G-C. Carra (Remote Participation)

ALSO PRESENT:

• General Manager M. Thompson (Remote Participation)
• A/General Manager C. Arthurs (Remote Participation)
• Legislative Advisor J. Palaschuk
• Legislative Advisor L. Gibb

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Councillor Sutherland called the Meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

2.

OPENING REMARKS

Councillor Sutherland provided opening remarks.

ROLL CALL:
Councillor Demong, Councillor Chahal, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, Councillor Davison, Councillor Farrell, Councillor Keating, Councillor Carra, and Councillor Sutherland.

3.

CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA

Councillor Farrell introduced a group of students from Queen Elizabeth School in Ward 7 along with their teacher.

• MOTION
  Moved by Councillor Demong

  That the Agenda for the 2021 January 27 Regular Meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Utilities and Corporate Services be confirmed.

  MOTION CARRIED

4.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

4.1

Regular Minutes of the Standing Policy Committee on Utilities and Corporate Services, 2020 December 16

A Clerical Correction was noted on the title of the Item 4.1 by deleting the words 'Regular Minutes of the' and substituting with the words 'Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the'.

• MOTION
  Moved by Councillor Demong

  That the Minutes of the 2020 December 16 Regular Meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Utilities and Corporate Services be confirmed.

  MOTION CARRIED

5.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1

DEFERRALS AND PROCEDURAL REQUESTS

None

5.2

BRIEFINGS

None

6.

POSTPONED REPORTS

None

7.

ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

7.1

Open-Pit Coal Mining in the Rocky Mountains Eastern Slopes Update (Verbal), UCS2021-0174

The following documents were distributed with respect to Report UCS2021-0174:

• A presentation entitled "Response to Notice of Motion: Open-Pit Mining in the Rocky Mountain Eastern Slopes"; 
• A letter to the Honourable Jason Kenny from Troy Sorensen, Town of Edson Councillor, dated 2021 January 19; 
• A Resolution for High River Town Council;
• Speaking notes from Troy Sorensen, Town of Edson Councillor; and 
• Speaking notes from Sandy Davis.

The following speakers addressed Committee with respect to Report UCS2021-0174:

1. Craig Snodgrass, Mayor, Town of High River
2. Sandy Davis
3. Troy Sorensen, Town Councillor, Town of Edson

Councillor Sutherland left the Chair at 2:02 p.m. and Vice Chair Demong assumed the Chair.

Councillor Sutherland resumed the Chair at 2:03 p.m. and Councillor Demong returned to his regular seat in Committee.

• MOTION
  Moved by Councillor Demong

  That the Administration Recommendation contained in Report UCS2021-0174 be
  amended by adding the following:

  And further that the letters and presentations received today be forwarded on to Council.

  MOTION CARRIED
• MOTION
  Moved by Councillor Colley-Urquhart

  That with respect to Verbal Report UCS2021-0174, the following be approved, as amended:

  That the Standing Policy Committee on Utilities and Corporate Services recommend that Council direct Administration and other experts to make a presentation at the Standing Policy Committee on Utilities and Corporate Services no later than May 2021 on the Government of Alberta’s decision to rescind the 1976 coal-mining policy that had protected the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains – and the headwaters that flow from them.

  And further that the letters and presentations received today be forwarded on to Council

  For: (8)

  Councillor Chahal, Councillor Davison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Carra, Councillor Colley-Urquhart, Councillor Farrell, Councillor Sutherland, and Councillor Demong

  MOTION CARRIED

8.

ITEMS DIRECTLY TO COMMITTEE

8.1

REFERRED REPORTS

None

8.2

NOTICE(S) OF MOTION

None

9.

URGENT BUSINESS

None

10.

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

10.1

ITEMS FROM OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMITTEES

10.1.1

Proposed Lease – (Downtown East Village) – Ward 07 (1 Dermot Baldwin WY SE), UCS2021-0137

A confidential Revised Attachment 2 was distributed with respect to Confidential Report UCS2021-0137.

• MOTION
  Moved by Councillor Farrell

  That with respect to Confidential Report UCS2021-0137, the following be approved:

  That the Standing Policy Committee on Utilities and Corporate Services recommends that Council:

  1. Authorize the Recommendations as outlined in Revised Attachment 2; and
  2. Direct the Recommendations, Report and Attachments remain confidential pursuant to Sections 23 (Local public body confidences), 24 (Advice from officials), and 25 (Disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act until the lease is executed.
  MOTION CARRIED

10.2

URGENT BUSINESS

None

11.

ADJOURNMENT

• MOTION
  Moved by Councillor Demong

  That this meeting adjourn at 2:29 p.m.

  MOTION CARRIED

  The following items have been forwarded to the 2021 February 8 Combined Meeting of Council:

  CONSENT:

  • Open-Pit Coal Mining in the Rocky Mountains Eastern Slopes Update (Verbal), UCS2021-0174
  • Proposed Lease – (Downtown East Village) – Ward 07 (1 Dermot Baldwin WY SE), UCS2021-0137

  The next Regular Meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Utilities and Corporate Services is scheduled to be held 2021 February 24 at 9:30 a.m.

   

  CONFIRMED BY COMMITTEE ON