Friday, October 19, 2012

Council Highlights Oct. 9, 2012



Webcast
To get the ‘skinny’ on why your Councillor voted the way she did, tune into the webcast. The webcast is timed and titled so that you can refer immediately to the specific agenda items.

Councillor Business Expense Policy
It is time for all elected officials to show that they are walking the talk when they spend tax payers dollars. A long overdue review of staff and elected officials expense records is intended to provide increased detail in accommodation, meal and hospitality expenses. This will include online posting of expenses in support of greater accountability and transparency. Councillor Riddell has introduced a program request that will see Administration will bring forward a review of policies GOV 001 026 and HUM 026 to bring municipal elected officials’  and staff business expenses in alignment with the new provincial  disclosure guidelines first quarter of 2013.
At this time I expect a robust discussion on the merits (and not) of using taxpayer dollars to pay for liquor bills. I look also to see an immediate posting of expenses back to the start of this political term.

Strathcona County Boards and Committees Bylaw 51-2012
Council approved this bylaw with few changes. My amendment to appoint an alternate Councillor to every committee that has one or more Councillors was accepted.
Two other amendments that would have increased the effectiveness and public accountability of Public Advisory Committees were not accepted by council.
Members of public advisory committees have expressed concern in the past about the influence that both staff and elected officials have on those committees. Both staff and Councillors support the public body. While they bring context, background and the function of reporting back to Administration and Council, having either staff or elected officials in the chair or vice chair position causes imbalance. Authority can now outweigh and influence public members.

The same can be said for the privilege of voting on those committees. Do we want the public’s perspective and wisdom to be presented in its pure form as recommendations to Council or do we accept direction that is influenced by administration and Council to be regurgitated and funneled back to Council? Imagine the proposed Finance committee with three elected officials and three members of the public – how is that not a perfect opportunity for three elected officials to bring forward their own agenda, snow or out vote public members and so present their own views to Council in the guise of it being a ‘public’ advisory board recommendation? We actually have provision in the bylaw that states that administrative representatives shall not be a member of a Committee or have voting privileges. We just have not taken it far enough.

I want the opinions and insight from the public to come forward to Council, to balance the information from administration and our own elected officials’ comments. That can only improve current decision making.

Brand Launch
Council allocated 600,000 last budget year to phase in the brand change for Strathcona County. Municipalities generally take from 3 to 5 years to complete a change over in a fiscally responsible manner. To date the brand identity has been unveiled on the intra and internet, rebranding of 20 buses, 20 zambonis, 90 vehicles are nearing completion. As new projects come on line they will take on the new identity as a matter of course.

E News Bulletin
I send out an E News Bulletin three times monthly to residents. It is an opportunity for me to inform you of community events and matters of interest to your family and neighbours and keep in touch you. You are welcome to sign up at roxanne.carr@strathcona.ca

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Council Meeting Highlights, Sept. 25, 2012

Information on all of the background reports and minutes 

Webcast
To get the full flavour of how decisions are made tune into the webcast. The webcast is timed and titled so that you can refer immediately to the specific agenda items.


Council Priorities
Council continues to debate the pros and cons of creating (a) Finance Committee(s). Terms of reference brought to this meeting for approval would see a Committee of six: the Mayor, an urban Councillor, a rural Councillor, and three public members with financial training and expertise (including auditing, financial statements, budgeting and policies).
Committees of this type have operated with varying types of success throughout the province. Of the 13 identified in the best practices search, all but three have separate committees to focus on finance (financial policies, internal controls, annual performance of investments); audit and financial reporting; budget and business planning.

Each of these areas are broad and will greatly tax the ability of a combined committee to ‘get the job done’ for our public and Council. It is an effort to create an ‘all things to all people solution’. Separate, focused committees could provide valuable insight and background reports to Council as they deliberate budget and financial matters.

A motion of postponement was passed that will to allow for the results of the nearly finalized 4 E Review of the finance department to come forward in December. The timing is appropriate, as this committee will not be able to impact the already formulated 2013 budget.
A survey as to whether the public should sit on this committee is on www.CouncillorCarr.com     

Sign Bylaws
Council has set the date for a Public Hearing regarding Sign Regulations for Oct.9, 2012. This will deal specifically with show home signage. The Planning Department has been working with the Canadian Home Builders Association, the Urban Development Institute, the Transportation Department and Communications to come up with a balanced solution that will minimize the show home sign proliferation while still making way finding easy for new home buyers. The issue has been one that has been before Council under the Sign Bylaws many times in the past five years, I look to some resolution for our businesses at this meeting.

Mature Neighbourhood Strategy
The Planning Department are leading public engagement sessions to look at infill and development of older neighbourhoods. This process will involve lengthy public engagement and I will keep you posted.

Strathcona County Emergency Services (SCES) Semi Annual Report
The transition of most of the EMS dispatch contracts to Alberta Health Services has resulted in significant decreased dispatch volume, and as a result, SCES had eliminated 2 jobs and decreased part time hours. The centre now handles 911 for 43 municipalities, dispatches fire for 30 municipalities and dispatches EMS for 2 municipalities. 

SCES has had a significant decrease in fire alarms to last year. Our ambulance call volume continues to increase with a 9.6% increase over the first half of last year. Our ambulances are still getting to 94% of the calls in our County but the rapid growth of inter-facility transfers is concerning. More stats are on the link above.

Councillor Inquiries
Under this agenda area, I submitted a Program Request regarding the Art Gallery. Administration will bring back it’s comments on the details of a model that would result in the public picking the exhibits that go in their gallery.

E News Bulletin
I send out an E News Bulletin three times monthly to residents. It is an opportunity for me to inform you of community events and matters of interest to your family and neighbours and keep in touch you. You are welcome to sign up at roxanne.carr@strathcona.ca