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PARCS UPDATE #35 THE CAPACITY JUNE, 2013 EDITION

1. PROVINCE CLAMPING DOWN ON NEW COTTAGE COMMUNITIES The province is about to introduce changes to The Municipalities Act which will severely reduce, if not eliminate, the establishment of new Organized Hamlets or new Resort Villages in the . The rationale for raising the bar for the establishment of new cottage In this issue communities is the assertion that many of our current communities do not have the CAPACITY to operate 1. Province clamping down . . . p. 1 effectively. 2. PARCS meets Ministry . . . . . p. 1 CAPACITY is the buzz word of the day. It refers to 3. What’s being proposed . . . . p. 2 the ability of a community “to meet the 4. What’s your capacity? . . . . p. 3 accountability, fiduciary and legislative requirements 5. More about PARCS lobby . . P. 4 to operate independently and to generate sufficient More about PARCS survey . p. 4 revenue for services and administration”. 1 On page 3 of this issue, PARCS presents a summary of some of 6. Addendum - Villages the criteria the province uses to determine capacity. & resort villages today . . p. 5, 6

2. PARCS DIRECTORS MEETS WITH MINISTRY OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS On May 28, a delegation from the PARCS Board of Directors met with officials from the Ministry of Government Relations to provide input into the proposed changes to the rules for forming new resort villages and new organized hamlets. 2 PARCS delegates acknowledged that many of our smaller resort villages are struggling due to lack of capacity to meet their obligations (see page 3). However, PARCS directors pointed out that some of our new cottage communities are growing rapidly, arguing that there will still be some organized hamlets coming forward in the future with the sufficient capacity to self govern as resort villages. Officials from the Ministry of The main concern that PARCS directors expressed Government Affairs in consultation about the proposed establishment criteria is the with PARCS delegation (left to right) proposed requirement for 250 permanent residents. • John Edwards, Executive Director, Our delegation pointed out that that the requirement Policy Development Branch for 250 permanent residents in cottage communities • Randy McAffie, Director and was not only virtually unattainable, it was unnecessary • Sheldon Green, Executive Director, Strategy and Sector Relations because it was more than offset by the high Branch assessment per capita in cottage communities. Assessment generates revenue which in turn enhances capacity.

1 From page 3 of the Ministry of Government Relations’ 17-page Drafting Instructions for Proposed Changes to the Municipalities Act, 2013 – released in the spring of 2013. 2 President Shirley Gange, Director Garry Dixon and Coordinator Lynne Saas met with officials from Municipal Affairs.

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2. WHAT THE PROVINCE IS PROPOSING AND Criteria for forming a Resort Village WHAT PARCS SUGGESTED Now • 50 or more separate dwellings and 3.1 Establishing new resort villages • Population of 100 or more Under the current rules, for an Organized Hamlet to permanent residents and • A prescribed minimum taxable become a resort village, the community must first been assessment an organized hamlet of at least three years. Also, if that Proposed for the Future organized hamlet is adjacent to a village or resort • 100 separate dwellings or village, it must first have applied to be annexed by that businesses AND 3 village and have been denied. • A population of 250 permanent residents AND The province has proposed two possible sets of • A minimum taxable income of five additional rules for an OH wishing to become a resort million 4 village. PARCS chose to respond to the less stringent of PARCS counter-proposal the two options. • 100 separate dwellings or businesses AND The province is proposing to raise the bar for an OH • A population of 75 permanent wishing to become a resort village such that only residents OR cottage communities with 250 permanent • A minimum taxable income of five residents would be able to apply for resort village million PLUS status. PARCS directors pointed out that only 3 of our • A written plan showing the current resort villages meet this population requirement financial resources and plans (compared to 52 regular villages in out province). Note for the necessary capacity. the charts on pages 4-5. Yet 15 of our current resort villages meet the requirement for a taxable assessment

of 15 million (compared to only 4 regular villages in Criteria for forming an Organized Saskatchewan). Hamlet PARCS argued that these the province give equal weight Now to assessment as to permanent population in judging the • 5 or more occupied dwellings and capacity of an applicant for resort village status. • 10 or more lots and • Petition from at least 30 resident of Note PARCS proposals in red the community 3.2 Establishing new organized hamlets Proposed for the Future • 50 separate dwellings or businesses Over the past ten years, there have been about AND A population of 75 permanent 100 applications for OH status. Only 13 have been • residents AND established in that period, and only 1 since 2007. • A minimum taxable income of five million These petitions were denied because these communities failed to “demonstrate capacity for PARCS counter-proposal future governance and accountability”.5 The chart • 50 separate dwellings or businesses AND to the rights lists the proposed new criteria for the • A population of 75 permanent establishment of Organized Hamlets in the future. residents OR • A minimum taxable income of five None of these rules apply to existing Organized Hamlets million. or Resort Villages whose establishment is “grandfathered”.

3 Unless there are natural physical barriers or access limitations between the adjacent communities. 4 The other choice that the Ministry proposed actually suggested 150 separate dwellings or businesses and a population of 300 permanent residents with the same minimum taxable income. 5 Actually the province has set out TWO POSSIBLE SETS OF CRITERIA. We have quoted the less stringent one.

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4. DOES YOUR COMMUNITY HAVE THE NECESSARY CAPACITY?

The Ministry of Government Relations has a self-assessment questionnaire that that can be used by Resort Villages and Rural Municipalities to determine their own capacity. 6 The following survey is a simplified version. What is the Capacity Score for your Council? Our Council:

1. Maintains a useful website. ______Yes (__) No (__)

2. Has an up-to-date Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw. __ Yes (__) No (__)

3. Has an up-to-date policy for conducting council meetings. _____ Yes (__) No (__)

4. Employs a qualified administrator. ______Yes (__) No (__)

5. Makes all of its decisions at the Council table. ______Yes (__) No (__)

6. Has an up-to-date Human Resources Policy. ______Yes (__) No (__) 7. Consistently meets the reporting requirements of the province, school division and federal Government . _____ Yes (__) No (__)

8. Documents all routine financial processes. ______Yes (__) No (__)

9. Has automated all of its financial processes. ______Yes (__) No (__)

10. Has monthly financial updates. ______Yes (__) No (__)

11. Has an up-to-date building bylaw. ______Yes (__) No (__)

12. Regularly utilizes the services of a building inspector. ______Yes (__) No (__)

13. Has a set of procedures for dealing with citizen complaints. _____ Yes (__) No (__)

14. Has an up-to-date Emergency Preparedness Plan. ______Yes (__) No (__)

15. Regularly conducts emergency response exercises. ______Yes (__) No (__)

16. Has made arrangements for fire services. ______Yes (__) No (__)

17. Has lifecycle plans in place for core infrastructure. ______Yes (__) No (__)

18. Makes provisions for sewage disposal that meet current codes.___ Yes (__) No (__)

19. Has plans for supporting volunteer groups. ______Yes (__) No (__)

20. Works in partnership with neighbouring municipalities.______Yes (__) No (__)

Did you know that? Did you know that • 55% of Villages and Resort Villages have not adopted an more than $3 million Official Community Plan? in Gas Tax revenue is not collected by • 57% of Rural Municipalities have not adopted a Building Bylaw? Saskatchewan • 49% of Resort Villages do not consistently submit their monthly Councils because Education Property Tax returns to Education. their staff did take the ½ hour required • Proposed changes to the Municipalities Act would allow for to complete the dissolution of municipalities that are non-compliant. required application form? 6 Visit their web site at: http://municipal.gov.sk.ca/Administration/MGSST WOW

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5. LEARN MORE ABOUT PARCS 2013 GOVERNMENT LOBBY As part of their visit with the Ministry of Government Relations, PARCS Directors addressed the other issues on behalf of cottage communities. PARCS directors presented their 2013 position statements about: Democratic principles for hamlet cottage communities including: • Improved financial reporting systems for Rural Municipalities with Organized Hamlets. • Periodic review of division boundaries in rural municipalities. • Provision for special bylaws in organized hamlet cottage communities specific to the unique needs cottage communities (similar to the condo bylaws in cities). • An update of the Ministry’s Guide to Organized Hamlets. Financial challenges for cottage communities • Grants for tourism related infrastructure. • Moving more of the costs of education away from the property tax base. • Including PARCS in future consultation regarding the funding for education. To learn more about PARCS lobby efforts on your behalf, register for the summer workshop in your neighbourhood.

6. LEARN MORE ABOUT COTTAGE COMMUNITIES AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL Many rural municipalities and resort villages have already participated in the PARCS survey about sewage disposal in cottage communities. The survey is intended for sharing with the Water Capacity Unit. If you haven’t been called yet, expect a phone call soon. The results of the survey will be shared with members at the summer workshops.

Summer Workshops 2013 Agenda for Summer Workshops • Saturday, July 13 1:00 - 1:30 pm PARCS Update Turtle Lake, Dexter Hall (west • Presentation by PARCS side of lake) Staff and Directors Travel information to follow 1:30 – 2:15 pm Member Feedback Saturday, July 27 • 2:30 – 3:30 pm Wastewater Update Lumsden, Lions Hall • Presentation by Sask Travel information to follow Water Security Agency • Saturday, August 10 • Update on the PARCS Christopher Lake, Curling Rink 2013 Survey Travel information to follow Wastewater Management in Sask Cottage Communities 3:30 – 4:15 pm Landfill Update Register now for a summer workshop • Presentation by Sask

near you. The registration form is Environment

enclosed with this newsletter.

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VILLAGES & RESORT VILLAGES MEETING PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT CRITERIA TODAY (Population of 250+ and Taxable Assessment of $15 million+)

PER P ER VILLAGES POP TAX ASSMT CAP RESORT VILLAGES POP TAX ASSMT CAP Avonlea 398 9,071,755 22,793 RV of 45 10,096,500 224,367 Bethune 400 8,551,518 21,379 RV of Aquadeo 84 13,068,200 155,574 Canwood 348 6,597,095 18,957 RV of 40 6,233,650 155,841 1068 23,069,672 21,601 1 RV of Big Shell 45 9,584,050 212,979 Clavet 386 10,640,205 27,565 RV of Bird's Point 103 8,829,430 85,723 Coleville 311 5,492,370 17,660 RV of B-Say-Tah 187 29,169,700 155,988 Debden 358 5,626,265 15,716 RV of Candle Lake 765 329,919,400 431,267 1 Dinsmore 318 3,910,335 12,297 RV of Chitek Lake 167 18,719,525 112,093 Edam 444 14,243,704 32,080 RV of 15 4,139,510 275,967 Elbow 314 12,053,330 38,386 RV of Cochin 122 18,712,722 153,383 Fillmore 255 26,727,040 104,812 1 RV of 40 5,851,860 146,297 Fox Valley 260 3,569,345 13,728 RV of District of 403 74,749,770 185,483 1 Frontier 351 4,121,955 11,743 RV of Echo Bay 38 15,942,540 419,541 Gainsborough 291 2,897,635 9,958 RV of Etter's Beach 30 3,097,530 103,251 Glaslyn 397 6,514,425 16,409 RV of Fort San 187 22,672,270 121,242 Goodsoil 281 5,840,625 20,785 RV of 65 6,973,890 107,291 Grand Coulee 571 20,381,970 35,695 1 RV of Grandview Beach 25 6,582,100 263,284 Kenaston 285 5,224,155 18,330 RV of Greig Lake 23 10,336,270 449,403 Laird 287 4,020,410 14,008 RV of Island View 65 8,202,470 126,192 Lake Lenore 297 3,839,745 12,928 RV of 101 15,334,410 151,826 eask 413 5,886,970 14,254 RV of Kiv.-Moonlight Bay 84 21,946,520 261,268 Leoville 366 4,529,825 12,377 RV OF Leslie Beach 23 3,471,930 150,953 Lipton 372 4,226,275 11,361 RV of 10 3,234,420 323,442 Loon Lake 314 5,147,530 16,393 RV of Manitou Beach 257 25,538,530 99,372 1 Lucky Lake 287 3,546,505 12,357 RV of 10 3,389,890 338,989 Manor 322 4,068,600 12,635 RV of 89 8,913,885 100,156 Marsdon 284 4,726,825 16,644 RV of 66 10,502,238 159,125 Maryfield 365 4,471,995 12,252 RV of North Grove 49 10,622,570 216,787 McLean 304 7,147,005 23,510 RV of 33 6,966,680 211,112 Montmartre 476 8,598,005 18,063 RV of Pelican Pointe 15 3,418,310 227,887 Mortlach 289 4,146,675 14,348 RV of Sask Beach 213 17,084,825 80,210 Muenster 422 6,058,525 14,357 RV of Shields 220 17,866,550 81,212 Neilberg 448 10,573,650 23,602 RV of South Lake 48 9,447,830 196,830 Paradise Hill 515 14,451,180 28,061 RV of Sun Valley 80 15,788,040 197,351 Pelly 283 2,288,730 8,087 RV of Sunset Cove 25 4,468,520 178,741 Perdue 362 5,666,480 15,653 RV of Thode 157 16,193,310 103,142 Pierceland 551 11,894,670 21,587 RV of Tobin Lake 90 13,337,870 148,199 409 4,513,465 11,035 RV of Wakaw Lake 30 12,534,450 417,815 Sedley 337 7,062,705 20,958 RV of Wee-Too Beach 35 6,875,800 196,451 St. Louis 449 6,129,860 13,652 RV of West End 17 1,461,760 85,986

Continued on page 6

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CHART – continued Stockholm 341 3,510,315 10,294 Theodore 345 3,543,415 10,271 Vanscoy 377 11,393,480 30,221 374 9,340,005 24,973 Viscount 252 2,543,340 10,093 Waldeck 297 5,092,710 17,147 White Fox 364 5,858,675 16,095 Wilcox 339 6,607,215 19,490 Buena Vista 524 41,442,950 79,090 1 Christoph. L. 266 9,394,540 35,318 Kenosee Lake 258 11,031,500 42,758 Meota 307 13,098,115 42,665 TOTAL 19,232 430,385,289 4 4,101 831,279,725 3

AV ASSMT PER CAP $22,379 AV ASSMT PER CAP $202,702