QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY

PARKLAND SUMMER 2017 communicator QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND/OR COMMENTS? Contact Us

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Message from Agricultural Invasive Road Safety: #ExploreParkland Devonian Trail Long-Term Acheson Transit Election the Mayor Services Move Species Construction GeoTours Series Grand Opening Strategic Plan Pilot Project 2017

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Parkland County’s Municipal path to ensure long-term sustainability through balance The MDP aligns with our new Long Term Strategic Development Plan (MDP) is and a holistic approach to development Plan, the Capital Region Board Metropolitan fast approaching the final Growth Plan, as well as the Parkland County Community stages of being accepted by The MDP sets the future growth direction for the County Sustainability Plan. Other studies that fed into the MDP Council. The current MDP is by identifying where growth will occur over the next include the Community Scan and Analysis Report, 10 years old and is greatly in 30 years. It includes the County's overall development the Future of Agriculture Report, the need of updating. The new vision, goals, objectives, and corresponding land use Subwatershed Land Use Plan, the Employment and Municipal Development policies to guide future growth. It also outlines where Industrial Lands Study, and the Edmonton Metropolitan Plan will reflect the current future land uses will be located in the County. In short, Region Growth Plan. state of the County, current the MDP is the foundation that the future of the County legislation and future is built on. If approved by the Captial Region Board, the new Mayor Rod Shaigec direction for growth. Municipal Development Plan will be presented to The MDP Project started in 2013. Since then a great Council for third and final reading on October 10, 2017. The MDP is the main amount of work has gone into completing the necessary municipal land use policy document for Parkland reports and studies to assist in the MDP update. For more on this important document, visit County and provides a framework - "the blueprint" - for Residents have participated in a number of engagement www.parklandcounty.com/mdp. the future development in the County. By taking into events, including open houses, workshops, surveys, and consideration the economic, social and environmental more. We are grateful to everyone who assisted in its factors that exist in our community, the MDP will set a development.

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES MOVE BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY

Parkland County Agricultural Services is now located at: Another school year is upon us, and so we wanted • Give cyclists a wide berth. A good rule of thumb 4603 - 47 Ave., Stony Plain to remind parents and cyclists of the importance is to allow one metre of minimum clearance. New Parkland County Agricultural Services Building of wearing high visibility clothing while on the The Parkland County Agricultural Services building is open • Shoulder check before opening your vehicle road. As the days grow shorter we often see more Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:30 p.m. from the North door. ^ ^ ^ TO THE COUNTY CENTRE ^ ^ ^ and more cyclists on the road during dawn and • Let kids off away from traffic. Usually, that is the 16A dusk hours when visibility is often at its lowest for 16A drivers. passenger side of the vehicle. As our children return to school, we also wanted to 779 TIPS FOR DRIVERS encourage parents to dress their children in high • Reduce your speed. Be more careful in residential visibility clothing, especially with those who may walk areas where children are present. Respect speed to school or to the school bus. limits in school zones and playground zones. TIPS FOR PARENTS • Stop for school buses displaying the flashing red lights and the extended stop arm. In most cases, Encourage your kids to: traffic in both directions must stop for school • Avoid dressing in dark colours such as black, Tim buses. Do not continue until the flashing lights Hortons Provincial navy blue or all white. A&W Courts stop.

• Obey crossing guards. • Wear bright coloured clothing or more than one 44 ST 44 47 ST 47 44 AVE colour to stand out. Freson Bros. • Never overtake other vehicles within a school

Fresh Market 45 ST zone or within a half block of any crosswalk. • Wear reflective markings on jackets or biking 779 • Avoid U-turns and three-point turns in school gear. 45 AVE Parkland zones. Children can have a difficult time School Division predicting these types of vehicle manoeuvres. • Use head lamps or bike lights while traveling at night. 47 AVE NO LEFT TURN

ELECTION DAY IS OCTOBER 16, 2017! Check out the back page for everything you need to know about the upcoming election!

53109A HWY 779, PARKLAND COUNTY, AB T7Z 1R1 T. 780.968.8888 F. 780.968.8413 TF: 1.888.880.0858 2 SUMMER 2017 | PARKLAND COMMUNICATOR

AFTER HOURS INQUIRIES

If it is after hours and an issue requires immediate attention, please call our after hours line, 780-968-8400. This line is monitored 24/7 and the issue will be followed up on as soon as possible.

ROAD SAFETY: CONSTRUCTION

You may have noticed while driving around Parkland •4 Drive safely to the road conditions. Uneven County that there is a lot of slower moving equipment pavement, loose gravel, sharp shoulders and on our roads. This is just a friendly reminder to slow temporarily removed guardrails or medians are down and be aware when you see slower moving "hidden" hazards. equipment, road maintenance, and construction. •5 Take safety precautions when approaching slower moving equipment or in construction •1 Slow down and obey the signs in construction zones. zones. Hazards may still exist so please slow down in areas where road repair work is •2 Stay a safe distance behind moving or working underway. equipment. • Be alert and watch out for workers and Parkland County is responsible for all Range Roads and 3 equipment. Township Roads, as well as some subdivision roads. The County undertakes road maintenance activities and several construction projects to care for these roads. ALBERTA OPEN FARM DAYS

In August, Parkland County had six farms participate in Alberta Open Farm Days. This is a day where local farmers open their gates to their urban and rural neighbours for a visit to learn more about the farmers who grow their food, an opportunity to share stories, and see demonstrations.

Alberta-wide, over 90 farms participated in the open farm experience and culinary events. Thank you to the Parkland County’s farms and families that took part in this year’s Open Farm Days:

• Bent River Ranch

• Happy Acres U-Pick

• Kiwi Nurseries

• Multicultural Heritage Centre

• Newman Country Farm Retreat

• Riverbend Cattle Co.

For more information on Alberta Open Farm Days, please visit www.albertafarmdays.com

THERE ARE TWO INVASIVE SPECIES CAUSING ISSUES IN PARKLAND COUNTY Now Both the Meadow and Orange Hawkweed have been found in the County and as such we need to ask residents to be on the lookout for these invasive species. Recruiting! Orange Hawkweed reproduces aggressively via above and below ground creeping roots and cannot be controlled by mowing. It can be identified by its bright orange-red flowers with Parkland County Fire Services has openings square edges and their leaves, stems, and buds are covered in bristly hairs. Chemicals are recommended to deal with this for paid-on-call firefighters at several prohibited noxious weed. stations. They will be recruiting throughout Meadow Hawkweed can be identified by its yellow flowers with square edges and their leaves, stems, and buds are September with plans to hire in October. covered in bristly hairs. It reproduces aggressively via above and below ground creeping roots and cannot be controlled by mowing. Chemicals are recommended to deal with this prohibited noxious weed.

Landowners must destroy prohibited noxious weeds because they are a serious threat. These weeds GO TO spread rapidly and are highly competitive. Weeds in this category are restricted to prevent establishment www.parklandcounty.com/firefighter in Alberta. TO APPLY ONLINE

For more information on noxious weeds in Parkland County,

go to www.parklandcounty.com/weeds

SUMMER 2017 | PARKLAND COMMUNICATOR 3

NEW LONG-TERM DEVONIAN TRAIL STRATEGIC PLAN GRAND OPENING Parkland County Council approved the new Parkland County Long-Term Strategic Plan this past summer. Saturday, September 23 This 25-year Strategic Plan will allow the County to 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. identify obligations for existing infrastructure and allocate funds for strategic investments necessary to meet future needs for both residents and industry. Prospectors' Point By identifying the priority areas that matter most to 51013 Rge. Rd. 263 residents and the business community, the plan will support administration and staff in developing tactical Parkland County invites you to come plans and business plans to achieve these priorities. out and explore the newest addition to Parkland County’s Long-Term Strategic Plan is based around four key pillars that come to define the County’s our park trail system. The Devonian Trail core vision of: connects from the University of Alberta One Parkland – Powerfully Connected Botanic Garden to Prospectors’ Point. Complete Communities

Strategic Economic Diversification

Respected Environment

Responsible Leadership

For more on this important document, visit For information on parks and trails in Parkland www.parklandcounty.com/strategicplan. County, visit www.parklandcounty.com/trails

ACHESON TRANSIT PILOT PROJECT

To determine the feasibility of offering a transit service in Acheson, Parkland County has undertaken a two year pilot project for transit that will run from April 2016 to April 2018. Two bus routes connect #EXPLOREPARKLAND: GEOTOURS SERIES Acheson to Edmonton with a shuttle service to transfer bus riders from the bus stops directly to the Looking forward to the second part of our popular these hidden treasures and share your experience using business. The service operates Monday to Friday GeoTours series? The second set of geocaches will be #ExploreParkland. (excluding statutory holidays) during peak travel lauching on September 29. periods. Upon completion of Series 2, geocachers will receive the Geocaches have been hidden throughout the County second part of the badge with a trackable code attached. How is the pilot project funded? to celebrate our pristine lakes and rivers, beautiful The code can be tracked at www.geocaching.com. Parkland County is recovering the cost of the transit wilderness, and quaint hamlets. Spanning from the service pilot project from the user fees through transit Edmonton border all the way to the Pembina River, Download your passport and get started! fares and the property owners in Acheson through a these geocaches will bring you to unspoiled natural www.parklandcounty.com/geotour2017 utility charge. areas and tell the story of Parkland County. Discover What is the utility charge? Parkland County invoices all property owners in the Acheson Industrial Area Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 the public

transportation utility fee, which provides funding for The preferred background/expertise of the transit service to the Acheson Industrial Area. candidate is strong business and governance acumen. Experience in the areas of commercialized The utility charge for 2017 is calculated by $0.29372 for IT/cyber security (applying technology to business each $1,000 of assessed value of the property and is operations), finance OR human resources would invoiced by Parkland County annually. be considered an asset. Preference will be given to How will the success of the pilot Board Member Edmonton individuals who also meet the following criteria: project be measured? Airports • Prominent CEO experience in a large Parkland County Council will consider two measurables, ($100M+ revenue), high performing ridership and business satisfaction. Ridership on the is seeking qualified and organization. transit system should meet or exceed the goal and the interested applicants to fill a Director position on majority of businesses should be satisfied with the transit • Current or recent experience as a Director of the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority Board of service. a public company. Directors. Fare Increase • An individual that enhances the diversity of This Director appointment will be made by Parkland the Board. The fares for transit in Acheson will be increasing in County Council and the candidate will ideally be a September. Shuttle transfer is included in the transit fare. • Strong local business community Parkland County resident, however candidates from relationships. The new fares are: communities whose boundaries are within Parkland County will also be considered. While Board experience is desired, consideration will Cash $6.25 also be given to high potential candidates who hold 10 tickets $54 Edmonton Airports is a financially independent, not- an Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) designation. for-profit corporation governed by a 13-member Monthly Pass $135 board and charged with managing airports in Interested parties are requested to submit a the Edmonton Region, including Edmonton personal resume to Anurag Shourie or Aleksandra More information on transit service in the Acheson Industrial International Airport (EIA) and Villeneuve Airport, Nowacka, Davies Park, Executive Search Consultants. Area is available at www.parklandcounty.com/transit. in a commercially focused manner. The Corporation Electronic resumes to [email protected] are For more information about the public transportation utility has annual revenues in excess of $206 million, preferred; however, faxes may be forwarded to (780) charge or to request an on-site transit orientation session, with Edmonton International Airport serving over 426-2936. All responses will be acknowledged. please contact [email protected] 7 million passengers annually. EIA offers non-stop or call 780-968-8888 ext. 8107.

service to 60 destinations across Canada, the United For more information please call Davies Park at 780-

States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. 420-9900 or visit www.daviespark.com.

4 SUMMER 2017 | PARKLAND COMMUNICATOR

GET OUT AND VOTE ON OCTOBER 16, 2017!

Or cast your ballot at an advance vote day! ADVANCE VOTING

All advance vote dates will be held at the Parkland County Centre, located at 53109A Hwy 779.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 10 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

THURSDAY OCTOBER OCTOBER 12 VOTER ELIGIBILITY 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 12 34567 To vote in the Parkland County 2017 municipal election you need to be: 89 SATURDAY 10 11 12  At least 18 years old 15 13 OCTOBER 14 16 14 17  A Canadian citizen 18 19 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 22 20 23 21 24  A resident of Parkland County on October 16, 2017 25 26 29 27  A resident of Alberta on or before April 16, 2017 30 28 31 ADVANCE VOTE DAYS  Able to present acceptable identification ELECTION DAY For a complete list of acceptable types of identification and more information on the election please visit www.parklandcounty.com/elections

WHERE DO I VOTE? CANDIDATE INFORMATION GUIDE

Voting stations will be open in every division in which there Are you interested in being an elected official for Parkland County? is an election. On Monday, October 16, 2017, voters from municipalities across Alberta will be Beginning on September 19 voters will be able to enter their address to find out voting for their respective council representatives and school trustees! which voting station they should visit, and get printable directions to the station! If you're interested in running, please visit the 'Info for Candidates' section of our website at www.parklandcounty.com/elections and download your copy of the Visit the 'Where do I vote?' page on Parkland County Candidate Information Guide. Nomination day is September 18. or after September 19 www.parklandcounty.com/elections The Candidate Information Guide contains important information about: • governing legislation • nomination procedures • campaigning • agents • scrutineers Calling all • election signs • election day and municipal advance voting candidates!

Visit the 'Info for Candidates' page to download your Candidate Information Guide www.parklandcounty.com/elections

For more information on Elections, visit www.parklandcounty.com/elections or call the Election Office at 780-968-3234.