Cypress County Council meeting briefs from April 24

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Ryan Dahlman

By Heather Cameron
Commentator/Courier

The following are selected briefs from the Cypress County Council Meeting that took place on April 24, 2024. 

Bylaw 2024/07 Tax Rate – 2nd and 3rd Reading

Cypress County Administration recommended that Council give second and third reading to Tax Rate Bylaw 2024/07, which is a bylaw to authorize the rates of taxation to be levied against assessable property within Cypress County for the 2024 taxation year. Administration explained that Cypress County has three requisitioning bodies: Alberta School Requisition Fund, Cypress View Seniors Foundation, and the Provincial Designated Industrial Property Requisition. Administration also showed the three primary tax rates that make up the tax bill that people will get at their homes and businesses. Those rates, Administration said, were as follows: the farmland property class are facing a decrease of -0.29% from 7.6389 to 7.6164; the residential property class facing a decrease of -0.42% from 5.4059 to 5.3834; the non-residential property class facing an increase of 5.43% from 11.8393 to 12.4826; and the small business property class facing an increase of 4.89% from 9.8301 to 10.3106. At that point, Councillor Robin Kurpjuweit made a motion for second reading to Tax Rate Bylaw 2024/07 and that motion was carried. Councillor Michelle McKenzie then made a motion for third reading of to Tax Rate Bylaw 2024/07 and the motion was carried.

Bylaw 2024/10 Land Use Amendment – 1st Reading

Administration explained to Council how the context behind Bylaw 2024/10 Land Use Amendment that Adam Thompson was, on behalf of JBP Enterprises Inc, submitted application 24/A03 on behalf of JBP Enterprises Inc. to reclassify a parcel 5.66 hectares (13.98 acres) in size from Agricultural District 2 to Country Residential District 2. Administration explained that the existing title is 63.2 hectares in size and is located in the NE 4-12-4-W-4 along Range Road 43, approximately 900 m south of Highway 1 and 4.5 kilometers east of the Hamlet of Dunmore boundary. If the amendment is approved, Administration said, Thompson intends to apply to the Municipal Planning Commission for subdivision approval to create two separate titles. Administration also explained that if first reading were approved for Bylaw 2024/10, the tentative date for the public hearing would be May 21, 2024. Councilor Blane Brost made a motion to give Bylaw 2024/10 Land Use Amendment first reading and the motion was carried.

Bylaw 2024/11 Land Use Amendment – 1st Reading

Administration explained to Council how the context behind Bylaw 2024/11 Land Use Amendment that Adam Thompson was, on behalf of JBP Enterprises Inc, submitted application 24/A03 on behalf of JBP Enterprises Inc. to reclassify a parcel of 2.84 hectares in size from Agriculture District 2 to County Residential District 2. Administration further explained that the existing title is 56.9 hectares in size (140.7 acres) and the property itself located in the SE 4-12-4-W4 and along Range Road 43, approximately 900 meters south of Highway 1 and 4.5 kilometers east of the Halmet of Dunmore. If the amendment is approved, Administration said, Thompson intends to apply to the Municipal Planning Commission for subdivision approval to create two separate titles. Administration also explained that if first reading were approved for Bylaw 2024/10, the tentative date for the public hearing would be May 21, 2024. Councilor Lloyd Want ultimately made a motion to give Bylaw 2024/11 Land Use Amendment first reading and the motion was carried.

Chief Administrative Officer Report Highlight

While delivering the CAO report to Council, Tarolyn Aaserud, Chief Administrative Officer for Cypress County, brought to Council’s attention that the GOA introduced Bill 18: Provincial Priorities Act for first reading earlier this week, and explained that Bill 18 has the potential to impact the ability of municipalities to enter into agreements with and access funding support from the federal government, so the RMA wants to ensure members understand the Bill’s intent and are prepared to speak to it with local media, as well as question local MLAs and government representatives. Aaserud further explained that the bill would look for Provincial funding before seeking it Federally before being issued to municipalities so could be something positive about that; the province could then strategically place money just as Council can strategically place money.  Aaserud also stated that one negative thing that could happen, however, is that that money could shrink because it’s got to go through a whole another department. Aaserud also mentioned that the RMA has a piece on their website that explains the bill in greater detail. Councillor Michelle McKenzie ultimately moved to accept the entire CAO’s report for information and the motion was carried. 

Letter of Concern

Councillor Robin Kurpjuweit made a motion to Council that Cypress County Council send a letter to the Province of Alberta by way of the local MLA’s and cc’d to the Real Municipalities of Alberta in regard to the County’s concerns on the municipal impacts of Bill 18: Provincial Priorities Act, and how the County’s concern is related to the differences between federal and provincial policy impacting municipal budgets for funding budgets. The motion was passed unanimously.