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Exploring Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Rating – Council directed Administration to explore the potential benefits of a Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone Rating for the County of Grande Prairie, including a potential partnership with the MD of Greenview. The designation would enable the region to leverage its existing supply of agricultural residues and woody biomass (i.e., wheat straw and forest residuals) and promote other infrastructure-related supply chain advantages to help attract new biobased economic development.

Administration will work with Ecostrat Inc. on an initial viability report on the potential benefit of the rating for this specific region. The report will be brought back to a future Council Meeting for consideration and direction on proceeding with the designation. 

Borrowing Bylaw for Resources Road Improvements – Council gave first reading to Borrowing Bylaw 3194, as amended, for the improvement of Resources Road. The bylaw will return to a future Council meeting for second and third reading and if approved, will authorize Administration to use long-term debt as the funding source to widen the road and complete intersection improvements.

Contract Award for Design Standards Framework – Council directed Administration to award the Request for Proposal for Engineering Services for Standards Review and Development Manual Creation to CIMA+ for phases one and two of the project for a total value of $239,520. This project will work to develop a minimum design standards review framework.

Policies Presented for Approval – Council is undertaking a review of all County policies in 2022. The following policies were reviewed:

  • Council approved Policy F3 – Council Recognition as presented.
  • Council approved Policy L14 – Compensation During Extraordinary Circumstances as presented.
  • Council approved Policy M5 – Model Process for Subdivision and Development Approval and Private Sewage as presented.
  • Council approved Policy J1 – Regional Enforcement Services Department Standard Operating Procedure Manual as presented.
  • Council approved Policy C19 – Unbudgeted Expenditures as amended.
  • Council approved Policy C34 – Payment, Refund and Cancellation of Taxes as presented.

Public Hearings –

Council held a public hearing for Bylaw 2680-22-017 to re-designate 17.98 acres of land located approximately four miles east of Sexsmith and half a mile north of Township Road 732, adjacent to Range Road 51, from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Country Residential (CR-5) District to allow for the development of two lots for residential use. Council gave the bylaw third reading.

  • Council recessed the public hearing for Bylaw 2680-22-018 to the August 22, 2022 Council Meeting to allow more time to receive comments. This bylaw proposes to re-designate 18.06 acres of land located approximately four miles north of the Town of Sexsmith, adjacent to Township Road 744 and Range Road 54 from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Country Residential (CR-4) District.
  • Council recessed the public hearing for Bylaw 2680-22-019 to the August 22, 2022 Council Meeting to allow additional time for further review. This bylaw proposed to re-designate 20.02 acres of land located approximately four miles northeast of Sexsmith, adjacent to Township Road 744 and Range Road 54, from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Country Residential (CR-5) District to allow for the development of two lots for residential use.

Municipal Government Act Review Request – Council upheld the Municipal Government Act Section 546 Order issued related to the contravention of Section 4 of the County’s Community Standards Bylaw but varied the requirements for compliance.

Correspondence – Council directed Administration to write a letter to the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General requesting that the Minister accept the Hamlet of Clairmont’s population as 5,135, and that the Minister write a letter to the federal government advising that the County requests the Hamlet of Clairmont be policed under a Municipal Policing Service Agreement. This is yet another step towards a stronger, more dedicated policing presence in rural areas that supports Council’s strategic vision to increase community safety and wellbeing.

Council directed Administration to send a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs regarding development of the Local Government Fiscal Framework.

Council Events –

  • Council authorized all Councillors to attend the RhPAP Rural Community Health Provider Attraction and Retention Conference to be held on October 4-6, 2022 at the Clean Energy Technology Centre in Drayton Valley, Alberta.
  • Council authorized all Councillors to attend the 2022 Recycling Council of Alberta Conference to be held on October 19-21, 2022 at the Fairmont Jasper Park Hotel.
  • Council took no action on a request to attend the 22nd Annual Alberta CARE Conference to be held on September 7–9, 2022 at the Royal Executive Hotel in Leduc, Alberta due to various conflicting events.

Meetings Rescheduled – Council approved the rescheduling of the October 20-21, 2022 Council Budget Meetings to November 21-22, 2022.

Council rescheduled the September 22, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting to September 15, 2022.

Council rescheduled the October 27, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting to November 1, 2022.

The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on August 8, 2022. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on July 28, 2022.

Council and Committee meetings are available to the public via live stream. Find connection instructions and meeting agendas through the events calendar on the County website.