2019 BIGHORN NEWS

Aerial view of Exshaw In This Issue: Bylaw News...... 2 MD Planning Services...... 3 MD Finance...... 4 MD Information...... 5 Emergency Preparedness...... 6 MD Information...... 7 Community Services...... 8 Municipal Calendar...... 10

Photo Credit: Paul Ryan Page 2 of 10 Bighorn News Bylaw News 2019 DOG LICENSES Owners in the Hamlets of Dead Man’s PET LICENSE RENEWAL NOTICE Flats, Lac des Arcs and Harvie Heights As we are well into the new year, the M.D. of are also reminded to please keep their Bighorn is reminding pet owners to renew their 2019 pets on a leash! It’s not only a bylaw dog’s licenses. violation but its also safer to have A dog license and accompanying your dog on a leash. Being off leash is identification tag are required for only one offence, but it can lead to a every dog over six months of age in host of others under the Bylaw. Harvie Heights, Dead Man’s Flats, The current fine for this violation (first offence) is Lac Des Arc and Exshaw. Licenses $100.00 are sold for $20 (neutered) or $100 All dog owners are reminded to for intact male/female. clean up after their dogs! Every Key Points year complaints are received that not all dog owners are not cleaning • Dog owners are required to purchase The fine for their dog(s) a license every year. this offence up after their dog. There are health • A dog license acts as a critical piece under the concerns linked to pet waste not of ID. In the event a lost or missing Domestic being properly disposed of. Bags dog is found, the dog’s tag can be Animal and bins are provided by the M.D. Control Bylaw in all Hamlets. used to contact the owner. You can is $75.00 also provide a photo to be attached The current Domestic Animal Control Bylaw states: to the license. “No Owner, whose Domestic Animal defecates on • Dog licenses can be purchased at Municipal any Private or Public Property, other than the property District Building in Exshaw at #2 Heart of the owner, must ensure that defecation is removed Mountain Drive or by visiting our website http:// immediately, and placed into a waste receptacle.” mdbighorn.ca/FormCenter/Financial-Services-7/ Pet-License-Form-47 The fine for this offence is $250.00 Fire Season Alberta’s wildfire season begins March 1, 2019 and permits are required until October 31, 2019. Starting March 1, 2019, all burning activities in Alberta’s Forest Protection Area, excluding campfires, will require a fire permit. All of the MD of Bighorn is part of the Calgary Forest Area. Fire permits are free and can be obtained by contacting your local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry office. Phone toll-free 310-0000 to locate the office nearest you or alternatively you can contact our local Fire Permit Office in Calgary at 403-297-8800. While Burn Permits are not required from November 1 to March 1, burning is limited to woody debris from land clearing only, and cannot include Prohibited Debris, such as animal carcasses or manure, chemicals or chemical containers, combustible material in automobiles, household refuse, non-wooden material, paints or painted material, wood or wood products containing preservatives or laminates, rubber or plastic materials, tires, used oil, or any other material which would result in the release to the atmosphere of dense smoke, offensive odors or substances, which are prohibited, regulated or controlled by the Environmental Protection and enhancement Act, RSA 2000. If you’re ever unsure about the status of fire season, please call the number above or the MD of Bighorn office. If you do plan to burn outside of the required permit season, you should still call the MD of Bighorn so we can notify the nearest fire department; this could avoid a visit from them if someone reports the smoke! Wildfires are to be reported to 310-FIRE (310-3473) Page 3 of 10 Bighorn News

MD BUILDING & PLANNING SERVICES

CHANGES IN M.D. DEVELOPMENT/BUILDING PERMITS APPLICATION PROCESSES

Since 2017, the Planning Department has experienced a marked increase in development and building permit applications. In March 2018 a new process was introduced to streamline how applications are received and processed. This process on the whole has been working well, but we still require applicants to be fully aware and contribute to the success of our new system. When applying for building of development permits please ensure that the checklist for information and supporting documents is completed. Submitted applications that are not accompanied by the required information and/or support documents will be deemed incomplete by the Planning Department. Applicants will be required to re-submit all required information before the M.D. will accept the application. While general questions regarding the planning process may be answerable by reception or the planning staff, when dropping off a complete application, anyone needing answers on site specific questions or information pertaining to the Land Use Bylaw or the Safety (Building) Codes will need to contact the Planning Department and schedule an appointment with planning staff. Drop-ins are being discouraged given that the time taken by unscheduled meetings is reducing staff’s ability to process completed applications. The onus is on the applicant to submit a completed application. Please note that planning staff and the Safety Codes Officer are not consultants; their role is not to give technical assistance but rather to review applications to ensure that all statutory requirements are met and the M.D. is safeguarded from liability. Applicants who need technical assistance should engage their own professional services (architect, planner, contractor, etc.). When both a development and building permit are required, the two applications cannot be submitted at the same time. Planning staff will only accept the completed building permit application once the development permit application has been processed and a development permit issued. Applications that are complete when submitted to the M.D. will be placed in the queue for processing. Incomplete applications will not be accepted! As per the requirements of the Municipal Government Act, a decision to approve or refuse an application must occur within forty (40) days of the date the application is deemed complete. If Planning staff come across any concerns with an accepted application, the applicant will be contacted and a meeting arranged to address those concerns. The M.D. appreciates the new application process may impact plans and expectations of those looking to develop or build. However, by following our building and development process, applications can be processed more efficiently and decisions rendered sooner. To schedule a meeting with a Development Officer or the Safety Codes Officer, please contact the M.D. Office and ask for Planning Assistant Katy Stewart at 403-673-3611 ext: 249 Page 4 of 10 Bighorn News

MD FINANCE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT NOTICES The annual Property Assessment Notices have been mailed. If you have not received your notice, please contact the office and we would be happy to send you another copy. Please note: 1. The deadline to file an appeal of your assessment will be 60 days after notices are mailed. Forms for filing an appeal are available on our website or can be picked up at our office. 2. An advertisement that assessment notices have been sent is placed in three local newspapers, which constitutes as mailing, whether the owner actually received the notice or not. We make every effort to ensure that notices are sent to all property owners, but sometimes the addresses we have on file are incorrect. *Please remember to update our office and Land Titles Alberta (through your nearest registry office) when your mailing address changes.* 3. The fees for appealing 2019 assessments are $50.00 for each residential/farmland and $650.00 for each commercial/industrial appeal. If your appeal is successful, your fees will be returned to you. 4. The M.D. encourages you to contact Kelly Larson to discuss any concerns you have with your assessment before filing a formal appeal at: 1-844-354-8484 [email protected]

A list of all assessed values and complaint forms will be available on our website, www.mdbighorn.ca or at the M.D. offices PROPERTY TAX NOTICES The annual Property Tax Notices will be mailed in May 2019. Property taxes will be due Friday, June 28, 2019. Please note: 1. Be sure to put the correct date on your payment, to avoid the application of a 9% penalty on June 29, 2019. 2. Consider signing up for our monthly tax installment payment plan (TIPP). Contact our office for more information. Ways to Pay: • 24-Hour Drop-Off - After hours your payment and the accompanying top portion of the tax notice may be left in the secure drop box to the right of the front doors at the M.D. office • In Person - We are happy to accept payment by Cash, Cheque, or Debit Card at our office during normal business hours • Internet and Telephone Banking - We have made arrangements with the Royal Bank, BMO, CIBC, and the Bow Valley Credit Union for payment of taxes using Internet and Telephone banking. Please contact your bank for details on how to use these services • Monthly TIPPS Payment Plan - We can take a monthly payment directly from your account. Please fill out and submit a TIPPS Form (PDF) • One Time Automatic Payment - We can take a payment directly from your account on the due date or • Send a Cheque Via the Mail - Mailed cheques with post marks on or before June 28th will be considered to be on time. Don’t forget to send part of the tax notice so we can credit the correct account. Page 5 of 10 Bighorn News MD INFORMATION 2019 SPRING CLEAN-UPS AND LANDFILL HOURS

LOCATION CLEAN UP WEEKEND PICK-UP DATES

Dead Man’s Flats / May 11 & 12, 2019 May 13, 2019 Kananaskis Settlement

Harvie Heights June 15 & 16, 2019 June 17, 2019

Lac Des Arcs June 8 & 9, 2019 June 10, 2019

Exshaw June 1 & 2, 2019 June 3, 2019

Benchlands May 25 & 26, 2019 May 27, 2019

FRANCIS COOKE REGIONAL LANDFILL HOURS OF OPERATION Monday through Saturday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. For more information call 403-673-2708

RULES FOR 2019 SPRING CLEAN-UPS AND LANDFILL HOURS

1. Only branches and brush will be picked up. 2. MATERIAL IN BAGS WILL NOT BE PICKED UP. PLEASE USE COMPOST FACILITIES FOR LEAVES AND GRASS. 3. Materials other than branches and brush will not be picked up and remain the responsibility of the resident to take to the appropriate recycling, or landfill site. Household garbage goes in the normal waste stream to Calgary. 4. No materials may be place on road sides after midnight on Sunday. 5. There is a limit of one load per household. A truck load is considered to be 8’×7’×4’. 6. Material for pick-up should be no longer that 8 feet in length and neatly stacked alongside the roadway in a manner, which does not impair traffic or become a safety concern. Branches and bushes stacked with all the trunks parallel will be easier to pick-up with our Skid Steer. ANY BRANCHES LONGER THAN 8 FEET WILL NOT BE PICKED UP. 7. There is no charge for this service. Page 6 of 10 Bighorn News EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK MAY 5TH - 11TH 2019 The M.D. is taking this opportunity to advise residents of things that the M.D. is doing to ensure the effectiveness of our Emergency Preparedness plan. Our Municipal Emergency Plan is reviewed and updated yearly with any changes and updates approved by Council. As the M.D. is part of the newly updated South Central Mutual Aid Agreement and will in accordance with that plan be developing a formal M.D. of Bighorn Emergency Social Services plan this year. The South Central Emergency Social Services Network of Alberta worked together to produce more training that is now available online for staff and volunteers to complete. Each year in May, operations staff and all M.D. Firefighters conduct training and practice sessions with the various emergency equipment like generators, light plants, pumps, sandbagging machine and Tiger Dams. A Tiger Dam consists of large (32” diameter X 50’ long) tubes joined together and filled with water; they can be set in place and anchored in locations where overland flooding could occur. The M.D.’s mass notification system Civic Ready had its first official test conducted last year and will be tested annually during Emergency Preparedness Week. This system allows the M.D. to quickly and effectively communicate with residents throughout the M.D. during an emergency. We strongly encourage every resident and businesses to take advantage of this notification system. Sign up today visit mdbighorn.ca

Take the time to prepare yourself for an emergency with a 72 hour kit of essential items. No one ever thinks a disaster will happen to them. Your best strategy in dealing with a disaster is to be as prepared as possible. You should be able to take care of yourself and your family for 72 hours. You may have to stay in your home without electricity or water, or you may have to evacuate your home for some time. Last fall some M.D. staff participated in a day long training program to be able to teach Alberta Health Services E-Prep course to other staff, community volunteers and our residents. Watch for opportunities to attend workshops to help you prepare or update your own 72 hour kit during Emergency Preparedness Week 2019. Workshop participants will be entered in draws for some commercial 72 hour kits to help you get started. Use this checklist to start to stock a basic 72 hour kit and add items depending on your family’s needs. Ideally, your kit should be stored in a waterproof and wheeled container. If you are pressed for time, here are some basic items to consider for your emergency kit: • Three-day supply of water (4 L. per person per day) • Non-perishable food for all family members and pets (three-day supply) • First-aid kit • Flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries • An extra set of car keys, credit cards, and cash (small bills) • Sanitation supplies • Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses • Important family documents and contact numbers • Prescriptions or special medications • Chargers for electronic communication devices • Insurance documents • Emergency phone numbers list • A change of clothes for each family member You can find a complete emergency kit contents list for home, mobile, pets and vehicles at: www.aema.alberta.ca/build-a-kit. You can also access the Alberta Emergency Alert website at www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca where you can subscribe to updates via Twitter or Facebook. Page 7 of 10 Bighorn News MD INFORMATION HISTORIC CALENDAR PROJECT The M.D.’s Heritage Resource Committee (HRC) had to postpone the calendar printing schedule for 2019 due to fewer than expected photos being submitted. However, the committee wishes to proceed with creating a heritage calendar for 2020. The intent of the Historic Calendar Project is to promote the history of the municipality. The committee feels that the calendar should be a community celebration of our past, and to this end the committee wants to engage M.D. residents to participate in this project. The committee is asking residents to submit old photographs that could be used in the calendar. A description of the image and approximate date of the photograph is also required. Original photos can be mailed or dropped off at the M.D. office in Exshaw (these original pictures will be returned to you after making a copy) . A copy of the photos can be sent via e-mail to the M.D. If you submit a photograph electronically please ensure that it is in one of the following image formats (JPEG, TIFF, PNG) and the image resolution is 300 DPI. Please ensure to provide your name and contact information with the submission. The HRC will review the photographs and select twelve images for the calendar. The person or family who submits the photograph will be credited in the calendar. This is the inaugural calendar and based on the results, the HRC would like to make this a yearly event. For more information and details about the Historic Calendar Project, please contact Katy Bravo Stewart at 403-673-3611 or [email protected] MD NEWS STREET SWEEPING 2019 street sweeping operations are anticipated to fall around the end of April, weather pending. Please assist us by ensuring your vehicles are parked off the streets during the dates and times that will be posted prior to street sweeping taking place.

ROAD BANS 60% Road bans are scheduled to come into effect at 8:00 a.m. Friday, March 15, 2019 however, with the mild winter we have endured there is a chance that road bans could come sooner. Please check our M.D. website often for current updates and roads associated with the bans. Page 8 of 10 Bighorn News COMMUNITY SERVICES

Communities in Bloom - Best Garden Selection The M.D. will again participate in the Communities in Bloom – Best Garden Selection Program this year. This is a way to recognize the care and attention residents put into having a beautiful yard and garden in harmony with our surroundings and wildlife. Residents can nominate themselves or their neighbors for recognition between June 10 - 30, 2019 using our online nomination form at mdbighorn.ca/536/Best-Garden-Selection, including up to 6 photos. Residents may vote online between July 15 – 28, 2019 for “Residents Choice Awards”. Winning gardeners will provide a photo in early August with the sign in their garden for use by Scotts and the M.D. Award signs must be returned to the M.D. in the fall for reuse the following year. This is a fun, casual program that will is run informally and loosely judged by these evaluation criteria: Tidiness, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscape, Floral Displays, Use of Native Plants and Water Conservation.

INCOME TAX PREPARATION Simple tax return preparation is a free service offered by Canmore and Cochrane FCSS for lower income M.D. and area residents. Keeping your tax returns current is important to ensure you are accessing all the support programs available to you and you get any refunds! Please book your appointment early for this popular service. If your tax returns are not filed by April 30 various Seniors (Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Alberta Seniors Benefits), Disability, Child Care benefits, GST and Carbon Tax Credits may stop or any increases you are entitled to will not occur. If your income is suddenly less than usual some senior’s programs allow for a current year income estimate to be submitted – this needs to be done early in the year so that your new benefit year will be adjusted correctly (the Seniors Benefits year runs July 1 to June 30). Please contact Community Services for further information on submitting an Income Estimate. Page 9 of 10 Bighorn News COMMUNITY SERVICES ATTN Bow Valley Residents! Rain Barrel Workshop (Banff, Canmore, Deadman’s Flats, Exshaw, Harvie Heights, Kananaskis, Lac des Arcs, Lake Louise) Do you want to get in on cheaper, fresher, veggies and fruit In Exshaw Assemble your own rain barrel delivered straight to your community 1x/month? Take our mini-survey to show your interest level & to learn more. Refills are free!

Conserve water! Reduce your water bill! Collect water for gardening! $25 $30 Reduce storm water erosion! 20-25 lbs 30-35 lbs of veggies of veggies & fruit Sat. March 9th, & fruit 2019 at 1 pm

Exshaw Community Hall We want to know if there is enough interest in organizing the Quantities are limited “Good Food Box” delivery to various Bow Valley communities on a monthly basis. To learn more about this option, the benefits, Call 403-678-3445 x 0 to register and reserve costs and options, take our 2 minute survey. If interest is high your rain barrel! enough, then we will work towards implementing this option to more Bow Valley communities (currently only available in Banff). Donations welcome Survey deadline: March 29, 2019. www.surveymonkey.com/r/GoodFoodBox2019

HONORING SENIORS WEEK June 2 – 8, 2019 In addition to our proclamation the M.D. partners with Exshaw School students and staff and would like to invite all M.D. of Bighorn and Stoney Nakoda Seniors to join us for tea, treats and entertainment. Celebration of Seniors and Volunteers Tea. Where: Exshaw School When: Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Time: 1:30 – 2:30 P.M. Please RSVP to [email protected] by May 24, 2019 Page 10 of 10 Bighorn News MUNICIPAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS ASEAB Agriculture Services And Environmental Advisory March 1 9:00 am - Council Chambers Board March 6 Bighorn Community Environment Committee 4:00 pm - Council Chambers March 12 Council Meeting 9:00 am - Council Chambers March 20 Municipal Planning Commission 9:00 am - Council Chambers March 25 Streets and Roads Meeting 9:00 am - Council Chambers March 25 Municipal Excellence Committee Meeting 11:00 am - Council Chambers March 26 Finance and Economic Development Committee 9:00 am - Council Chambers April 1 Heritage Resource Committee 9:00 am - Council Chambers April 9 Council Meeting 9:00 am - Council Chambers April 17 Municipal Planning Commission 9:00 am - Council Chambers April 19 GOOD FRIDAY OFFICE CLOSED April 22 EASTER MONDAY OFFICE CLOSED April 23 Finance and Economic Development Committee 9:00 am - Council Chambers May 14 Council Meeting 9:00 am - Council Chambers May 15 Municipal Planning Commission 9:00 am - Council Chambers May 20 VICTORIA DAY OFFICE CLOSED May 27 Streets and Roads Meeting 9:00 am - Council Chambers May 27 Municipal Excellence Committee Meeting 11:00 am - Council Chambers May 28 Finance and Economic Development Committee 9:00 am - Council Chambers

Municipal Website: www.mdbighorn.ca MD of Bighorn @MDBighorn @ExshawFire Council Contact us Reeve Phone: (403)-673-3611 Dene Cooper, [email protected] Calgary Direct: (403)-233-7678 Fax: (403)-673-3895 Deputy Reeve Email: [email protected] Paul Clark, [email protected] Website: www.mdbighorn.ca Councillors Mailing/Civic Address: Lisa Rosvold , [email protected] Box 310 #2 Heart Mountain Drive Paul Ryan, [email protected] Exshaw, AB T0L 2C0 Erik Butters, [email protected]