Dale MacMillan Memorial Scholarship for Community Leadership
Council awarded the 2023 Dale MacMillan Memorial Scholarship for Community Leadership to Julianne Roe and Shelby Pierce. The scholarship recognizes and commemorates the contributions and dedication of Dale MacMillan, who was a valued member of the Calahoo-Villeneuve Sand and Gravel Advisory Committee. Read more about the 2023 Dale MacMillan Memorial Scholarship recipients.
Presentations to Council
Council heard a presentation from Trestle Ridge Inc./Meadowview Golf & Country Club regarding a request for reduction in taxes due to road construction and closures on Meadowview Drive in 2022 and the Cunningham Bridge in 2023. Council will consider the request at a future Council meeting.
Council heard a presentation from MAGA Energy regarding the request for a tax agreement for unpaid taxes with Sturgeon County. Under a recent ministerial order issued by Alberta Energy to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), oil and gas companies must confirm their outstanding municipal taxes do not exceed the maximum threshold or they must have a repayment agreement in place when applying for new well licences and well licence transfers. Companies seeking to sell their assets must pay their tax arrears first or have them paid as part of the sale. Council will consider the request from MAGA Energy at a future Council meeting.
Land Use Bylaw matters
Council directed Administration to schedule a second public hearing for Bylaw 1628/23, which proposes to redistrict a portion of NW-6-57-23-W4M (Lot 1, Block 1, Plan 1722474) from AG – Agriculture district to DC – Direct Control District for a disc golf course. The applicant initially applied to rezone the land to REC – Recreation District; however, in response on feedback shared at the June 13, 2023 public hearing, Administration recommended the land instead be rezoned to DC – Direct Control District to reduce allowed land uses. Details of the public hearing will be posted on the public notices page on the Sturgeon County website.
Council gave first reading of Bylaw 1623/23, which proposes to redistrict a portion of SE-2-55-23-W4M (55010 Range Road 231) from AG – Agriculture District to AG2 – Agriculture 2 District. The applicant intends to operate an event venue for weddings, family gatherings and other events. To operate an event venue, land mustbe rezoned to AG2 – Agriculture 2 Districtbefore the applicant can apply for an event venue development permit. The parcel is accessed off Range Road 231, approximately 425 metres north of Highway 37. A public hearing will be scheduled and will allow adjacent landowners to provide their feedback before Council considers the proposed bylaw further. Details of the public hearing will be posted on the public notices page on the Sturgeon County website.
Recreational Vehicle Storage Moratorium
Council will not accept applications to redistrict agricultural-zoned land to RVS – Recreational Vehicle Storage or Direct Control districts for the purpose of developing RV storage until the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) review is complete in late 2024.
Conservation of agricultural land is a strategic goal for the County and is required by local and regional planning documents, such as the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Growth Plan and the Regional Agriculture Master Plan. The County is reviewing its MDP to ensure it complies with these plans. This review will consider policy changes related to land use, including RV storage, on prime and non-prime agricultural land.
Funding for Enterprise Resource Planning project
Council approved funding for the Enterprise Resource Planning project in the amount of $1.132 million from the General Operating Reserve. The County’s financial information and reporting platforms are approaching end of life and the funding will ensure adequate resources – including contracted and temporary staff and funds for consulting services, licences, etc. – can support the replacement of these platforms.
Deputy Mayor Appointment Amendment Bylaw
Council passed Bylaw 1630/23, amends a number of bylaws to change how the Deputy Mayor is appointed and prescribe additional duties of this office. The Deputy Mayor position will be elected bi-annually and the Deputy Mayor will chair Committee of the Whole meetings.
Contract Awards
The following tenders are due for contract award during Council’s summer break, so Council authorized the chief administrative officer to execute the contract awards to ensure construction timelines are met:
- Estate Way road reconstruction and surfacing
- Bridge File 00889 (Township Road 564)
- Cardiff Echoes selective rehabilitation projects
- Council also authorized the transfer of $310,750 from the Road Network Reserve to fund this work
Victoria Trail Bridge Repairs
Council authorized the transfer of up to $250,000 from the Road Network Reserve to fund emergency repairs for the Victoria Trail Bridge. More information on the bridge repair can be found on the Victoria Trail Bridge project page.
Borrowing approved for Estates Way Construction
Council passed Bylaw 1629/23, which authorizes the use of long-term borrowing to fund the reconstruction and surfacing of Estates Way from Park Road to Range Road 225 in the Sturgeon Industrial Park. The County is looking to upgrade a 500-metre section from gravel to a paved surface to facilitate development in the industrial park. The County proposes to borrow 80 per cent of the $1.16 million project cost ($928,114) to cover the developer’s share of the infrastructure upgrade; this will be recovered through off-site levies.
Public Tax Recovery Property Auction
Council approved the conditions of sale and the reserve bid for properties to be sold at the Public Tax Recovery Property Auction on November 30, 2023. Properties that have been in tax arrears for more than two years without a payment agreement in place will be auctioned at the reserve bid price approved by Council; however, Administration continues to work with property owners to address tax arrears prior to the auction.
County Connections Newsletter
Council allocated $35,000 from the General Operating Reserve for a fall edition of the County Connections Newsletter. This was last published and distributed to the community in 2018. The newsletter will be an additional method of communicating County information; the County will continue to share information on the website, social media, local newspaper advertising, road signage, direct letters, etc.
Fast facts about land use bylaw amendments and public hearings
View our webpage about land use planning and community engagement.
- 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 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 780-939-8277.
- When considering public input, Council considers how and to what degree the person is impacted by the proposed amendment.
Next Council Meeting
The next Sturgeon County Council meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on August 22, 2023.
Future agendas and past meeting minutes can be found online.
