The Monday, January 27, Regular City Council Meeting will start at 10:30 a.m. in a closed session. It is anticipated that Council will move to open after the lunch break at 1 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Citizen Representative Appointments to Housing and Homelessness Integration Committee: Council will appoint two replacement representatives to this committee. One Indigenous Community Representative and one Business Community Representative.
2025 Tax and Fleet Borrowing Bylaws (first reading):
City Council will consider first reading of the 2025 tax and fleet borrowing bylaws, per the Municipal Government Act (MGA). These bylaws enable borrowing to occur when required. The timing of the borrowing will be done as required to fund actual expenditures related to the projects. If first reading proceeds, second and third readings are expected to occur March 24, 2025.
Traffic Bylaw and General Penalty Bylaw (second and third reading):
Council will consider second and third reading of an updated Traffic Bylaw and subsequent amendments to the General Penalty Bylaw. The amendments are largely related to ticket pre-payment, use of street permits and penalties, as well as formatting of the overall bylaw. Two notable changes include:
- School and Playground Zone times: Administration is recommending a start time of 7 a.m. to accommodate start times for many schools in the city.
- Salt on Sidewalks: Administration is recommending the removal of the provision prohibiting the use of salt on sidewalks as this provision is difficult to enforce even with a considerable effort on City staff; therefore, the provision is not affecting the placement of de-icing chemicals on sidewalks which are widely used across the city including by The City itself.
NOTICE OF MOTION:
Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Dianne Wyntjes:
Re: Montfort Heights Concerns – Lighting and Trail Safety
BYLAWS:
Electric Utility Bylaw Amendment:
- On September 27, 2024, the Province of Alberta renamed the Regulated Rate Option (RRO) Regulation to the Rate of Last Resort (ROLR) Regulation, stating that this name change better reflects the nature of the rate and reflects their ongoing consumer awareness initiatives. To ensure The City’s Electric Utility bylaw aligns with the updated regulation, administration is requesting all three readings to the Electric Utility Bylaw at the January 27, 2025, Council meeting.
Short Term Operating – Borrowing Bylaw Amendment:
- City Council will consider an increase to The City’s Short Term Operating Borrowing limit from $30 million to $50 million.
- The increase in the borrowing bylaw is required for increases in credit facilities, which includes general line of credit and letters of credit. To increase the operating line of credit an amendment to the borrowing bylaw must be passed. This amended three year borrowing bylaw is for 2024 – 2027.
- Administration is recommending amending the short-term operating borrowing bylaw by increasing the borrowing limit from $30 million to $50 million. This will allow administration to increase the line of credit, specifically, from $22 million to $45 million.
- The City’s bank charges interest, but no fee to maintain or use a line of credit.
- The additional available credit is necessary to support larger than expected cash flow fluctuations.