Sturgeon County Council Recap | August 23, 2022

Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous Relations  

The August 23, 2022, Council Meeting started with a blessing from Elder Ron Arcand of Alexander First Nation. Mayor Hnatiw also read into the record a new land acknowledgement statement before proclaiming August 23, 2022, as Treaty No. 6 Recognition Day in Sturgeon County. 

During the meeting, Council directed Administration to continue to advance Sturgeon County’s efforts toward Truth and Reconciliation and other related actions identified within the August 23, 2022, Request for Decision. Council will also continue to actively collaborate with Alexander First Nation, Michel First Nation, and other Indigenous communities on progressing further meaningful actions for consideration. 

New Chair for Assessment Review Board 

Council appointed D. (Lee) Danchuk as Chair of the Assessment Review Board. The appointment comes into effect immediately.  Learn more about the Assessment Review Board. 

Proposed Recreational Vehicle Storage Facility to go to public hearing 

Council gave first reading of Bylaw 1598/22, which proposes to redistrict Lot A Plan 7821276 from AG – Agriculture to RVS for a proposed Recreational Vehicle Storage facility. This bylaw had been brought forward to Council previously but was defeated at first reading. It was brought back to Council to ensure procedural fairness. A Public Hearing will be held at a future date. 

Request to waive subdivision fees 

Council heard a presentation from Philip Gibson regarding a request to waive subdivision, endorsement, and survey-related fees, and shared historical issues with the property. Following the presentation, Council requested Administration investigate and provide a recommendation at a future Council Meeting. 

Sturgeon County dissolves Municipal Planning Commission 

Council gave second and third readings of bylaws 1589/22, 1590/22, and 1591/22, which formally dissolves the County’s Municipal Planning Commission (MPC). Administration initially brought forward this recommendation in February, noting it would reduce red tape and allow the County to process development permit applications faster without compromising the level of service.  

Wanting to ensure the dissolution does not adversely affect the public, Council also directed Administration to report back biannually regarding all development applications, including processing times, appeal volumes, client satisfaction, and other information as deemed appropriate. 

Future takes Flight takes another step forward 

Council gave second reading to the Future Takes Flight documents including Bylaw 1592/22, Bylaw 1593/22, and Bylaw 1594/22, which relate to proposed future development in the lands surrounding the Villeneuve Airport. The documents will now go to the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board for review in accordance with the Regional Evaluation Framework process. Once the review is done, the bylaws will come back before Council for consideration of third reading. 

Public Hearing for Proposed Lease of a Portion of Lot R7 Block 4 Plan 7621623 

Council held a Public Hearing to hear submissions regarding a request to lease a parcel of land from the County at Lot R7 Block 4 Plan 7621623. The hearing started with a presentation from Darrell Hyska, the applicant, who is requesting exclusive use of adjacent lands for landscaping improvements.  Council will consider the presentation and public feedback on the lease request at a future meeting.