MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF BRAZEAU COUNTY, HELD IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, EOC ROOM IN BRAZEAU COUNTY ON TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2020 CALL TO ORDER Reeve B. Guyon called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. PRESENT B. Guyon, Reeve H. Swan, Councillor - by telephone D. Wiltse, Councillor - by telephone S. Wheale, Councillor M. Gressler, Councillor A. Helnrlch, Councillor K. Westerlund, Councillor J. Whaley, Chief Administrative Officer T. Kwlrant, Executive Assistant K. Maclnnis, Corporate Communications Coordinator - by telephone OTHERS G. Long, Drayton Valley Free Press - by telephone ADDITION TO AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA Addition to and Adoption of Agenda 200/20-04-07 Moved by M. Gressler to approve the agenda with the following additions and corrections: Corrections to H. Swan reports on page 8: MPC Meeting - not MCP 4-H judging - add "no charge" 10. Community Services e) Expansion of CPO Authority on Primary Highways CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTION OF MINUTES Adoption of Minutes 201/20-04-07 Moved by S. Wheale to approve the minutes of the March 23, 2020 Council meeting as presented. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Council Minutes 2020 04 07 - 2020 04 09 Page 1 of 20 BUSINESS Business Arising ARISING Follow Up Action List J. Whaley reviewed the status of the action Items. 202/20-04-07 Moved by K. Westerlund to receive the Follow Up Action List for Information. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY URGENT Urgent Items ITEMS Bvlaw 1053-20 Amendment to Procedural Bvlaw 992-18 J. Whaley presented amendments to the Procedural Bylaw. 203/20-04-07 Moved by K. Westerlund to give first reading to Bylaw 1053-20 and direct Administration to bring back the bylaw following the COVID-19 Pandemic. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 204/20-04-07 Moved by M. Gressler to give second reading to Bylaw 1053-20. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 205/20-04-07 Moved by D. Wlltse to go to third reading of Bylaw 1053-20. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 206/20-04-07 Moved by S. Wheale to give third reading to Bylaw 1053-20. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY CAO REPORT CAO Report Responses to Residents J. Whaley presented the responses provided to Lynn Oberle and Dixie Taylor's questions from the March 3, 2020 Public Input session. D. Wlltse disconnect from the call. Reeve B. Guyon called for a break at 9:36 a.m. and the meeting resumed at 9:42 a.m. with D. Wlltse In attendance by telephone. 207/20-04-07 Moved by K. Westerlund to receive the responses to Lynn Oberle and Dixie Taylor for Information. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Council Minutes 2020 04 07 - 2020 04 09 Page 2 of 20 Globe Conference 2020 Report J. Whaley presented the report from the Globe Conference. 208/20-04-07 Moved by K. Westerlund to receive the Globe Conference Report for information. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 209/20-04-07 Moved by M. Gressler that once the figures are final for 2019, Administration looks into further education and break down on information with cost sharing with the Village of Breton and the Town of Drayton Valley. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Administrative Pandemic Response J. Whaley presented the recent activities that Administration has taken in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 210/20-04-07 Moved by M. Gressler to receive the Administration Pandemic Response Report for information. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Community Support Options J. Whaley presented options for residents to defer payments of their utility bills and property taxes without penalty or administrative fees, due to the pandemic. 211/20-04-07 Moved by K. Westerlund to table item 5. e) Community Support Options. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY PUBLIC HEARING Bvlaw 1050-20; Rezone Pt. of SW13-50-6-W5M from Agricultural Holdings(AGH) to Recreational(R) J. Whaley presented Bylaw 1050-20 for second and third readings. 212/20-04-07 Moved by S. Wheale that the regular Council meeting of April 7, 2020 proceed into public hearing for Bylaw 1050-20 at 10:01 a.m. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Public Input: Allan Taylor asked: What are the costs? It appears like two different areas? Have the adjacent landowners been contacted? He does not agree with the flood comments, and is concerned with liabilities as it is near the gravel pits. Will it be fenced? Will it be managed by somebody? The Public Hearing should be so the public can attend not by phone. This should be put on hold until next year after pandemic and as funds are low. Who maintains the roads? Is there a grant? Modeste Campground is not being used. If Council Minutes 2020 04 07 - 2020 04 09 Page 3 of 20 you don't believe us then come and see yourself. You need to listen to the people. He has heard Council say that the bookings we have do not even cover the cost of mowing the grass. He encouraged Council to charge more for the campgrounds. 213/20-04-07 Moved by K. Westerlund that the regular Council meeting of April 7, 2020 come out of public hearing at 10:25 a.m. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Public Hearing; Bvlaw 1049-20 Brazeau County and Town of Dravton Vallev Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) J. Whaley presented Bylaw 1049-20 for second and third readings. 214/20-04-07 Moved by A. Helnrlch that the regular Council meeting of April 1, 2020 proceed Into public hearing for Bylaw 1049-20 at 10:26 a.m. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Public Input - None 5. Wheale left the meeting at 10:28 a.m. and returned at 10:31 am. 215/20-04-07 Moved by K. Westerlund that the regular Council meeting of April 1, 2020 come out of public hearing at 10:31 a.m. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 216/20-04-07 Moved by S. Wheale to table Item 7. b) Bylaw 1049-20 Brazeau County and Town ofDrayton Valley IDP, until after closed session. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Communltv Support Options 217/20-04-07 Moved by A. Helnrlch to be consistent with the Town of Drayton Valley, we offer Brazeau County residents a 90-day deferral on utility payments with no penalties until June 30, 2020. Following the 90 days, outstanding amounts can be divided up so that It can be paid off on the last six bills of 2020 Interest free, and direct Administration to bring back an update status report by the second meeting In May 2020. Council Minutes 2020 04 07 - 2020 04 09 Page 4 of 20 IN FAVOUR M. Gressler B. Guyon K. Westerly nd A. Heinrich H. Swan D. Wlltse OPPOSED S. Wheale CARRIED Reeve B. Guyon called for a break at 10:56 a.m. and the meeting resumed at 11:07 a.m. PUBLIC INPUT SESSION Public Input Session Reeve B. Guyon opened the Public Input Session at 11:07 a.m. Sherl MacPherson spoke to her personal situation that over the last four years she Is running on 10% of her receivables, she Is reducing salaries, and rent for tenants. She has no savings, and Is using line of credit to pay taxes. She cannot pay her property taxes without going Into debt. She asked for a substantial tax rebate. Brent Hodgson stated that this financial situation Is just starting and will get worse as we are dependent on revenues from oil and gas. He suggested the County consider doing a cost structure reduction and consider getting together with the Town for cost savings and sharing Infrastructure and that these should be permanent reductions. Perry May reported on the challenges for business and a new challenge has been consultants doing unpleasant things to companies, like cutting ticket costs by $1,800.00. Everyone Is trying to protect jobs It has turned Into unethical events. His receivables have not been In since November. He has to pay wages, GST, Insurance, WCB premiums, utilities, and benefits. He Is cutting all benefits to employees, he has cancelled all Insurance on his trucks, and has an agreement with his Insurance company to add Insurance when the truck goes to work. He has no work In the foreseeable future. He Is going to take the plates off all his equipment and Is cutting back on all Telus accounts. He now owns a trucking company with no revenue. He commented that the County won't be getting taxes from residents and this Is going to be compounding and horrible. Is there something the County can do and forgive all companies 100% of taxes as they are not going to pay their taxes anyway? This Is a desperate, desperate situation, and he Is just trying to survive and keep his equipment so when things get better he will go back to work. He Is hoping the County will declare a state of emergency and get some relief from the provincial and federal governments to save some of our companies. He wanted to paint the picture of how terrible It Is and that It Is more serious than the people are letting on. He believes the provincial and federal government put us In this situation, thanks to Ms. Motley. Council Minutes 2020 04 07 - 2020 04 09 Page 5 of 20 He thanked the County for the past rebates but mentioned that things are worse now and if we don't save the businesses then there is no one to employ the people. Ave Peck compared her loss of revenue from March 2019 to March 2020, indicated she has laid off her employment force by 1/3 and has had requests from tenants for rent release of 100%. The governments have indicated that landlords need to work with tenants, but a 100% release is not doable and is unreasonable.