ADDITIONS TO THE COUNCIL AGENDA September 9, 2020

ITEM REQUESTED PAGE *1. Letter from Residents Re: Spirit Hills Winery - SW 21-20-03 W5M - HRC 2 Development Permit 20D 100 *2. T & T Disposal – Letter of Request HRC 6 *3. Letter of Request – Designation of 13.5 Open Space Parcel in Heritage JP 7 Pointe – Postponed from September 2, 2020 4. Municipal Stimulus Program Projects RP 5. Local Improvement Bylaw Change – 416 St. West SO 6. Request for Caution Signage – Priddis Valley Road, N. of 22 SO 7. Request from Town of High River – Interim Applications in Hwy 2 JM Commercial ASP Area 8. Sirocco Annexation Discussion AA 9. Municipal Manager Vacation Days HRC 10. November 11, 2020 Council Meeting HRC 11. CONFIDENTIAL Closed Meeting of Council - Employee Review FOIP s. 17 RS

REMINDERS

City of / IMC Meeting Friday, September 11, 2020 2:00 to 3:30 pm – Virtual Meeting , AB

August 26, 2020

Harry Riva Cam brin Municipal Manager Foothills County harryriva.cambrin @foothillscountyab.ca

Tracy Allard, Honourable Minister of Municipal Affairs minister.municipalaffairs @gov.ab.ca

Dear Mr. Cambrin and Honourable Ms. Allard,

We are writing to you as a group of concerned and frustrated residents in the Millarville area of Foothills County. We have been in contact with the County for over three years and feel that biased decisions have been made with respect to the Spirit Hills Honey (Flower) Winery. These decisions include Direct Control land use designation, development expansion in 2017, amendments in 2078, and now an additional application to expand and relax the Development Permit restrictions.

To give you both some background, on June 14, 2017 we attended a hearing for a proposed Development Permit for a Major Home Base Business 17D 150. We were unaware at that time that a land use re-designation to Direct Control District #27 was already approved. There were 11 adjacent landowners and valley residents in attendance opposed to the development. The winery property and related activity is on a 12.75 acre parcel on a hill, next to a main transmission natural gas pipeline. An adjacent 80 acre parcel purchased just prior to the 2017 hearing was specified for planting grapevines and berry plants but is now marketed as Cathedral Trail, a nature walk part of the winery tour experience. The tangible reasons for development opposition were use of groundwater, increased vehicle traffic and noise, including busses and commercial vehicles, security and crime prevention. The approval of the development expansion was subject to 47 conditions, however on June 27, 2018 an additional application for Development Permit 18D 074 was approved for additions and amendments to those conditions. The adjacent landowners were not notified as Council deemed this a non-public meeting. Now, on July 8, 2020, another application was approved to further expand and amend the same conditions. Some of the original conditions have not been met, yet more amendments are approved and more restrictions are relaxed. As this is a Direct Control designation none of the surrounding neighbours are notified of new applications, we have been removed from the equation and hear about changes in the local newspaper. No one from the MD follows up the status of the conditions unless a complaint is submitted as this is a complaint driven system.

We understand that the County has several direct control land designations however, unlike many of the others, this one is in the middle of a Country Residential, small acreage area, approximately 5 kms from the main highway.

The Council is obligated to make decisions for the common good of the municipality and follow the Code of Conduct governing the conduct of the members, but through all of our individual contact with Council, there is a consistent perception of impropriety and favoritism.

Two Councilors, Suzanne Del and Jason Parker both have had personal and professional relationships with the winery owners that they did not disclose when asked directly at the 2017 development hearing and are the only members to have visited the site. All Councilors have been extended an invitation to visit neighbouring properties to see how their decisions affect us from our perspective.

Page 1 Page 2 We have no confidence that our elected officials are impartial in matters that come before Council for this development. With respect, there is a perceived conflict of interest and appearance of influence. We understand these decisions were not unanimous votes and we cannot see the rationale of how decisions are continually made in favour of one entitled business when such an overwhelming number of neighbouring land owners opposes these applications.

We would appreciate some guidance as to where we go from here, we ultimately would like to see a review of the decision process, rescind the direct control designation and follow up of all development permit conditions.

Thank you for taking the time to read about this matter and we trust it willbe reviewed and a resolution can be achieved.

Sincerely yours,

Troy & Cynthia Rothel On behalf of the valley landowners group cc: R.J. Sigurdson, MLA highwood @assembly.ab.ca

Foothills County Councilors: Reeve Suzanne Oel [email protected] Deputy Reeve Rob Siewert [email protected] Councilor Delilah Miller [email protected] Councilor Jason Parker [email protected] Councilor Alan Alger [email protected] Councilor Larry Spilak larry.spilak @foothillscountyab.ca Councilor R.D. McHugh rd.mchugh @foothillscountyab.ca

Attachment: Landowners group list

Reference: Bylaw No. 30/2017 MD of Foothills No. 31 Code of Conduct

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Adjacent and

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Valley

Landowners

Page 3 From: Dan Leiding Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2020 10:50 AM To: Harry Riva Cambrin Cc: Joe Angevine; Harry Riva Cambrin Subject: T&T Disposal

Good morning Harry and or the Foothills County,

As T&T Disposal continues to grow we are looking at ways to work with the county as well increase efficiency as well as perhaps help you to lower your operating cost or even be able to concentrate on things more suited for the operations of the landfill and some of the transfer site you service now with that being said we haul a lot of customers in the region and we would like to rent or partner with the county to use 1 of the docks at the transfer site in Black Diamond in turn we could help with possible Gate upgrades or help do clean up and or even haul the bins as part of a compensation for the use of the site . Now I’m sure your wondering what we would need it for well I’d like to use it to dump the 4 yard bin we do in the area which would save multiple trips in and out of the landfill and then just haul it in a 40 YD now I would also put a 40 YD in place with a full metal lid to prevent bird and other animals from getting into the bin. I would ask in advance that we look at the positives this could bring to all parties and not just the reasons why we shouldn’t even consider this venture. I will promise you we will never have an issue and or disrespect the property or processes we or you put in place again even a piolet to see the effects on this would be greatly appreciated. I’m available and would like to meet with any or all of the council or group that who would be involved or whom may have questions for this request to work together on this waste and recycling venture.

Thanks and I look forward to your response

Dan Leiding

Owner/General Manager

P: (403) 938-7930

64194 393 Loop East

Okotoks AB T1S 0L1

Page 6 July 8, 2020

Ms. Debbie Greenwood Council Secretary Foothills County High River,

Re: 13.5 Acre Open Space Parcel in Heritage Pointe

Council Members: My name is Brian McConaghy and I live at 11 Summit Pointe Drive in Heritage Pointe.

I am writing to request the Council to consider managing the recently acquired 13.5 acre parcel in Heritage Pointe as a wildlife conservation area. I understand that the County has designated the parcel as Open Space defined as : “to preserve lands that have a natural capability for conservation, passive recreation or education”. Perhaps this parcel fits within the definition of conservation.

The 13.5 acre parcel is bordered on the South by the "natural grasses of the golf course”, on the North by the “natural grasses and trees of the golf course”, on the West by an access road for Corix Utilities to maintain water/sewage facilities, and on the East by the yards of Ranche Community residents. My understanding is that the parcel serves as a storm water collection area. There is typically standing water (great wildlife habitat) at the north end of the parcel.

The vast majority of all the homes in Heritage Pointe (the golf course communities of the Ravine, the Meadows, the Summit, the Ridge and the Ranche) back onto the golf course or the natural habitat of trees and grasses. I believe all homes have their own backyards of grass, shrubs, trees and flowers before reaching the golf course or the natural areas including this 13.5 acre parcel.

Designating the 13.5 acre parcel as a conservation area would create a habitat for numerous bird, mammal, reptile and invertebrate species. In addition, allowing the parcel to grow in naturally would fit into the ‘natural’ look of the community.

A walk around the community on any non-winter day and you will see a dozen or more bird species, various butterflies and maybe a mammal or two. What you won’t see are all the other species hiding, nesting, eating in the long grasses but they are there. Ground nesting birds of Heritage Pointe include mallard ducks, meadowlarks, juncos, many of the 30 plus sparrow species, horned larks, nighthawks, snipes, and partridges and others.

Butterflies are pollinators and the natural habitat of Heritage Pointe attracts various species including the Monarch if milkweed exists. The large Tiger Swallowtail is a common site. Bees, also pollinators are attracted to this natural habitat.

Page 7 Small mammals frequent Heritage Pointe. Some are considered a nuisance like mice and voles but these attract weasels and raptors to help keep the population in check.

In closing I appreciate the Council’s consideration in allowing the 13.5 acre parcel to grow in naturally, creating just a bit more wildlife habitat.

I suspect that my request is over simplified and more information is required. Please let me know if I can assist.

Thank you and stay well,

Brian McConaghy Email: Telephone:

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