What was expected to be a straightforward housekeeping issue raised a bevy of questions for some councillors, during Rocky View County’s regular board meeting, Sept. 20.
Council voted to table an update to the County’s municipal record retentions bylaw after concern was raised over the amount of time some records were being proposed to be stored.
“The lining up of things isn’t copacetic,” said Councillor Margaret Bahcheli.
Notable changes include retaining Worker’s Compensation Board reports permanently, from a previous three years, and keeping Geophysical/Oil and Gas records for 10 years, up from a previous one.
According to Kent Robinson, the County’s business services director who proposed the update, the municipality maintains large amounts of paper records in its basement and in off-site rental space.
According to the staff report, the updates to retention periods coincide with those held by Alberta Municipal Affairs where applicable.
Bahcheli wanted to see retention periods for some records, such as the minutes from Occupational Health and Safety Committee meetings, extended for longer than the proposed three years.
Councillor Lois Habberfield said the bylaw was something councillors could trust administration with, but agreed time should be allowed to research the time periods as well as the reasons behind them.
Councillor Paul McLean agreed.
“I would encourage those with questions to deal those questions before the next meeting so we can deal with this item,” he said.
The item will reappear before council on Oct. 11 when councillors will be presented with statistics on both paper and electronic retention periods.
Rocky View County council unanimously approved a $4,600 reimbursement to the Bragg Creek Senior’s Housing Society, Sept. 20.
That is the amount the not-for-profit group paid in redesignation and subdivision application fees for their proposed 16-unit senior housing facility, to be built in Bragg Creek.
The news was welcome by Society hair Sharon Bayer.
“We need every nickel we get,” she said. “We are delighted. It was very generous of council.”
The Society is completely volunteer-run and its sole income is based on fundraising and grant applications, making it a candidate for fee reimbursement.
Area councillor Rick Butler was pleased council approved the request.
“These guys are all very hard working volunteers and they are all doing this on their free time,” he said. “It is the least the County can do.”
According to Bayer, the housing project is progressing, with technical studies underway to satisfy the County’s conditions for subdivision approval. After the completion of the studies, the Society will apply for a development permit and look for financing.
“We are moving forward very nicely,” said Bayer. “My goal (for ground breaking) is still late spring.”
County council unanimously approved a 2.8-acre subdivision in Bearspaw, Sept. 20.
The parcel, located just off of Aspen Drive, already has a house on it, serviced by Rocky View Water Co-op and a private sewage disposal.
The remaining parent parcel is 15.4 acres in size and is accessed by an approach, which is in need of upgrading to meet County standards.
The land, which consists of rolling topography and natural vegetation, is home to a pond and slough.
Council raised some concern about possible drainage problems in the area, and the County received a letter in opposition based on stormwater concerns.
However, the applicant, Ben Eby, who spoke on behalf of owner Agnes Bulmer, agreed to Councillor Al’s Sacuta’s query about retaining stormwater easements on the property. The staff report stated the subdivision falls under the guidelines set out in the Bearspaw Area Structure Plan and that stormwater, access and servicing concerns could be dealt with at a later stage.
Sacuta made the motion for approval, saying he sees no detrimental impact on the area.
“My understanding is that the lot is on a main drainage area and it could provide significant benefit to neighbours if we could gain easements,” he said.
Rocky View County council unanimously approved amendments to a 23-acre direct control district, Sept. 20.
The district, located 1.2 kilometres east of Calgary in the Highway 560 joint planning area, was amended to include new uses, new development regulations and to reconfigure its proposed development cells.
According to the applicant, Norman Kent, the move was necessary because of an Alberta Transportation interchange project, a land swap to facilitate an internal road and a stormwater pond.
Council also voted to defer some of the cash-in-lieu fees allowable by the Municipal Government Act. However, the County will collect up to 3,000 per acre on the 79 acres in the industrial development.
