Here are the highlights from Sturgeon County Council’s regular meeting on April 28, 2026.
PROCLAMATIONS
Mayor Hnatiw proclaimed May 1 to 7, 2026, as Youth Week in Sturgeon County.
Mayor Hnatiw proclaimed May 3 to 9, 2026, as Emergency Preparedness Week in Sturgeon County.
Mayor Hnatiw proclaimed May 4 to 8, 2026, as International Economic Development Week in Sturgeon County.
Mayor Hnatiw proclaimed May 4 to10, 2026, as Mental Health Week in Sturgeon County.
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Continuation of Public Hearing – Bylaw 1700/25 – Amendment to Land Use Bylaw 1385/17 – Resource Extraction Regulations
Council held a continuation of the public hearing to receive additional submissions regarding Bylaw 1700/25, a developer-led proposed amendment to the Resource Extraction Regulations in the Land Use Bylaw, specifically regarding setback requirements, landowner agreements, and future circumstances where there would be a requirement to redistrict to Resource Extraction Direct Control (RE-DC).
Council will consider the public submissions received and make a decision at a future Council meeting.
Consolidated Contract Award Report – March 15, 2026 to April 15, 2026
Council received the Consolidated Contract Award Report of March 15, 2026 to April 15, 2026 as information.
Town of Gibbons Viability Review – Sturgeon County’s Workbooks Submission to the Government of Alberta
Council approved the submission of the County’s completed Town of Gibbons Viability Review Workbooks to Alberta Municipal Affairs. The County’s workbooks will inform the province’s final viability report, which will be presented to Gibbons town residents in late May.
Appointment of Deputy Mayor – May 1 to October 31, 2026
Council appointed Councillor McLennan as Deputy Mayor for the period of May 1 to October 31, 2026.
Alexander First Nation Addition to Reserve Proposal
Council authorized the Mayor to send a letter to Indigenous Services Canada in response to its request for County feedback regarding Alexander First Nation’s Addition to Reserve proposal.
This request by Alexander First Nation proposes to add approximately 214 hectares (528 acres) of land to its existing reserve through the federal Addition to Reserve (ATR) process. These lands are in Sturgeon County, directly south of Alexander First Nation’s existing reserve boundary. The land borders the current reserve and are owned by Alexander First Nation but are not currently designated as reserve lands.
Bylaw 1694/25 – Closure and Disposal of a Portion of Range Road 222 – Second and Third Readings
Council approved Bylaw 1694/25, allowing the legal closure and disposal of a portion of Range Road 222. This closure and disposal would begin 800 metres south of Highway 643 and north of Township Road 560, within the Industrial Heartland, to facilitate a proposed large industrial development.
Options to Amend Density Requirements for New Development in Sturgeon Valley South Area Structure Plan
Council directed Administration to bring forward a policy for Council consideration outlining development criteria to be met prior to consideration of Neighbourhood Area Structure Plans in Planning Areas 3, 4, and 5 in the Sturgeon Valley South Area Structure Plan.
Sandy Lake Wilderness Area Management Plan Adoption
Council approved the Sandy Lake Wilderness Area Concept Plan and Natural Area Management Plan for planning purposes, which will establish a long-term management framework that provides ecological protection, safety improvements, and outlines low-impact public access and future capital investment at Sandy Lake Wilderness Area.
Aerospace and Defence Memorandum of Understanding
Council authorized the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Cold Lake, Leduc County, and Edmonton Regional Airports Authority to support and encourage collaboration in the Aerospace and Defence sector. The agreement will see the County working alongside the other municipalities and the airport authority to attract aerospace, aviation and defence projects to the region in a spirit of cooperation, rather than competition.
2026 Subsidized Dust Suppression Program
Council approved the 2026 fully subsidized dust suppression treatments in front of residences, to reduce the negative effects of dust, as identified in Attachment 1.
Council also approved an additional subsidy of $205 per residence for dust suppression treatments as identified in Attachment 2.
Council also approved the locations identified in Attachment 3 for fully subsidized dust suppression treatments in 2026, at an additional cost of $35,848.80, funded from the Transportation and Engineering base budget.
2025 T3 Financial Report and 2025 Audited Financial Statements
Council received the 2025 T3 Financial Report for the period ended December 31, 2025 as information. The annual report is a summary of what the County did over the past year, how it spent public money, and how its services and finances are doing.
Council also approved the 2025 Audited Financial Statement, as audited by the accounting firm of MNP.
Council approved the transfer of the 2025 operating surplus of $9,732,818 to the Municipal Tax Stabilization Reserve.
Council approved that $267,182 from the Municipal Tax Stabilization Reserve be designated for the 2025 Assessment Appeal, bringing the total allocation of that fund to $10,000,000.
Council approved the Transportation and Engineering Services budget be reduced by $1.0 million for 2026, with savings allocated to the Municipal Tax Stabilization Reserve and funds designated to address major assessment appeal risks.
2025 Capital Funding Summary and Reallocations
Council approved the 2025 Capital Housekeeping Amendments, with funding adjustments as shown in the Net Funding and Financing Adjustment Summary, for the capital projects identified in the Capital Housekeeping Amendment document.
CLOSED SESSION
Intergovernmental Matter
Council voted to confirm Sturgeon County’s membership in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA), subject to the implementation of an acceptable cap on membership fees, and that the Mayor provide written notice to AIHA of Council’s decision.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
2025 Protective Services Summary
The Committee received the 2025 Protective Services Summary as information. The report includes information on staffing levels, collaborations, successes, challenges, statistics, and innovations of 2025.
Fire Apparatus Rollover Review
The Committee received the Fire Apparatus Rollover Review dated February 19, 2026 as information. The comprehensive review of the two fire engine rollover incidents outlines an understanding of contributing factors such as icy winter road conditions, aligns its finding with national fire service safety research, assessed operational and financial impacts, and identifies strategies to reduce future incidents.
Letter from Town of Gibbons re: Regional Collaboration and Strategic Direction
The Committee received a letter from the Town of Gibbons regarding Regional Collaboration and Strategic Direction.
CLOSED SESSION
The Committee received the draft Sturgeon County Joint Use and Planning Agreement as information. Once negotiations are concluded, the Agreement will come to a Regular Council Meeting in open session for Council approval.
Fast facts about land use bylaw amendments and public hearings
View our webpage about land use planning and community engagement.
View our interactive regulations map.
At Sturgeon County, before Council gets public feedback on a proposed land use bylaw amendment, it gives the proposed bylaw first reading. This does not mean Council supports the bylaw; this allows the proposed bylaw to go to the next stage of the bylaw process, which is gathering public input.
Public hearings, along with other public notices, are promoted on the public notices page on the Sturgeon County website as well as in local newspapers, on social media, and on road signs in accordance with the new Sturgeon County Public Notification Bylaw.
Public hearings are open to any members of the public to view or provide input.
Viewing the public hearing: You can view the hearing in-person or via livestream at www.sturgeoncounty.ca/CouncilMeetings
Making a written submission: you can provide a written submission by email up to the close of the public hearing.
Speaking at the public hearing: you can provide a statement at the public hearing in person or via videoconference. You are encouraged to pre-register to speak in-person at the public hearing. If you wish to speak via videoconference, you must register at least 24 hours prior to the opening of the public hearing. Register by contacting Legislative Services at 780-939-8029.
When considering public input, Council considers how and to what degree the person is impacted by the proposed amendment.
