MINUTES Friday, November 1, 2019 Culver City Room, City Hall

910 – Fourth Avenue South, Lethbridge PRESENT: Reeve Lorne Hickey, Chair Mayor Don McDowell of Mayor Ed Weistra Village of Barons Mayor Stacey Hovde Village of Mayor Gordon Reynolds Town of Mayor Maggie Kronen Town of Mayor Jim Willett Village of Coutts Mayor Dennis Cassie Town of Mayor Albert Elias Village of Glenwood Mayor Brent Feyter Town of Mayor Dwight Davis Village of Hill Spring Deputy Mayor Brian Oliver Town of Mayor Kathie Wight Village of Longview Mayor Peggy Losey Town of Milk River Mayor Trevor Lewington Village of Stirling

Mayor Cathy Moore Town of Deputy Mayor Colette Glynn Village of Warner Mayor Don Anderberg Town of Mayor Jim Depew Town of Raymond Mayor Margaret Plumtree Town of Vauxhall Reeve Jason Schneider County of Vulcan Mayor Thomas Grant Town of Vulcan Reeve Randy Taylor County of Warner

Mayor Chris Spearman City of Lethbridge

Barney Reeves I.D 04 Waterton Guests: International Park Tanya Thorn AUMA Brian Hammond MD of Pincher Creek Reeve Maryanne Sandberg MD of Willow Creek Brian Brewin RMA Bill Chapman, Chairman Highway #3 Association , MLA Taber-Warner

Maria Fitzpatrick, Rep for Shannon Lethbridge West Phillips, MLA Nathan Neudorf, MLA Lethbridge East

1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Reeve Lorne Hickey called the meeting to order at 1:05pm.

2.0 ADDITIONS TO / APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Moved by Mayor Ed Weistra- Carried

2.1 Election for Chair and Vice Chair Reeve Lorne Hickey was nominated to be the Chair – Accepted Mayor Don McDowell was nominated to be the Vice Chair – Accepted

6.7 HALO Update – Mayor Gordon Reynolds

Joint meeting between the Mayors and Reeves of Southwest and Southeast will be moved from June to May 1, 2020 in Taber, Alberta.

3.0 ADDITIONS TO / APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Moved by Deputy Mayor Brian Oliver - Carried

4.0 BUSINESS ITEMS ARISING FROM MINUTES

5.0 REPORTS

5.1 MP Reports – No reports

5.2 MLA Reports

MLA Grant Hunter - • Have had discussions with the Minister of Health in regards to HALO. He understands the importance of HALO. • HALO model can still work with a fee for service model.

Mayors and Reeves of Southwest Alberta Page 2 November 1, 2019 Minutes 6.0 REPORTS

6.1 Alberta Southwest Regional Alliance Report – Barney Reeves • CRTC commissioner is travelling throughout Alberta collecting input on broadband services. • Peaks to Prairies EV charging stations are doing well.

6.2 SouthGrow – Mayor Jim Willett • Funding for REDA’s is uncertain at this time. • SouthGrow was prominently featured in the Western Producer for the broadband initiative.

6.3 RMA – Brian Brewin • Local Government Fiscal Framework Act will be replacing MSI. • No mention of the Police Act in the budget. • Shallow Gas deadline has come and gone.

6.4 AUMA – Tanya Thorn • Discussed concerns regarding the budget. • MSI is stable for this year but the budget did not address long- term framework. • Revenue for municipalities has been decreased in regards to violations in the Traffic Safety Act. • Municipality 101 training course will be offered again in Peace River on November 5- 6, and on December 2-3. • Police funding model – AUMA agrees with municipalities having to pay, however if communities are funding policing they should have say and more resources.

6.5 Oldman Watershed Council – Shannon Frank • Thanked all donors who have sent in their annual donations. • Planted 195 Willows along a dugout. • Discussed their tour with MLA Nathan Neudorf. • Will need a new representative from this group for the MD’s and Counties.

6.6 Highway #3 Association- Bill Chapman • Requests that Highway #3 be included in your budget. • Membership is increasing. • Will be focusing on building relationships with First Nations communities. • Have met with the Pikani Nations CEO and will be making a presentation for their Chief and Council.

Mayors and Reeves of Southwest Alberta Page 3 November 1, 2019 Minutes 6.7 HALO – Mayor Gordon Reynolds • HALO will begin a fee for service model. • HALO met with STARS at their request. It was a good meeting with STARS recognizing the need for HALO. • Need to keep working together for a long -term sustainable framework. • Thanked all municipalities and MLA’s for their support.

7.0 Minister • The budget is one that will bring the province back to balance in 4 years. • Recognizes that the budget restraint is affecting municipalities and that it is proposing challenges. • The provincial government is committed to partnering with municipalities. • MSI’s will be reduced by 9% in 3 years. • Discussed a formula adjustment in regards for per capita grants. • Capital spending priorities will be put towards public health, projects that improve competition and attract business. • The provincial government is looking to improve the economy while creating economic growth. • Agrees that long-term, predictable funding is important. • Intend to produce a 20-year infrastructure plan – will be a work in progress.

8.0 NEXT MEETING DATE Friday, December 6, 2019 – Culver City Room, Lethbridge City Hall – 1:00pm

10.0 ADJOURNMENT:

Moved Deputy Mayor Brian Oliver to adjourn meeting at 3:30 pm. Carried

Mayors and Reeves of Southwest Alberta Page 4 November 1, 2019 Minutes