Did you catch our Governance and Priorities meeting on Monday?
Here's some of what was discussed:
- Council reviewed the Tangible Capital Assets Policy, directing Administration to bring the policy back to a regular Council meeting for further consideration and approval.
- Council reviewed the Purchasing Policy. Part of the feedback from Council included helping ensure local businesses see bid opportunities at the Town. Council decided to continue the discussion at the next G&P meeting.
- Council reviewed the draft Meeting Procedures Bylaw. This update represents a complete overhaul of the bylaw. Changes include adjustments to definitions, meeting types, clarifying how Councillors are appointed to boards and committees, how long the public can speak for at Council meetings, updating Council participation by electronic means, and much more. Council provided a range of feedback in the discussion, and the bylaw will be brought back to a future Council meeting.
- Council discussed the 2026 Budget timeline. Administration noted a small deviation from the policy, setting 2026 utility rates before the end of this year, ensuring that all changes are fully captured in the 2026 budget discussions – which will be an opportunity for the new Council, after the fall municipal election, to set their direction.
- Dan Cress, Director of Protective Services, provided a service-level overview of Protective Services. The overview involved explaining the differences between RCMP, Peace Officers, security guards, bylaw, and Citizens on Patrol. You can read the full descriptions of each role in the agenda.
- Tanya Bell, Director of Community Services, presented Council with a preliminary review of a Handi Bus service proposal. Northern Sunrise County has offered to transfer ownership of their used Handi Bus to the Town of Peace River, prompting a review of the feasibility of the Town taking on a similar service. As the 2025 Operating Budget does not include funding for an initiative like this, Administration recommended that Council make it known if this is something they would like the Town to pursue, so it can be included in 2026 budget deliberations. Council directed Administration to accept the briefing note and write a letter to NSC thanking them for the offer.
- Council directed Administration to draft a formal submission to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada with respect to the Peace River Nuclear project, including specific topics Council wishes to see addressed, and to bring it back to the May 12 Council meeting for formal approval, in advance of the May 14 submission deadline.
- Council received legal advice regarding a potential Curfew Bylaw, which is one of the ways the Town has explored improving community safety. The legal advice recommended that it would be very difficult to enforce such a bylaw, as it may infringe on an individual's Charter rights. Ultimately, Council accepted the report for information, as we continue to research avenues to deal with vagrancy and crime in our community.
Then there were a bunch of reports, which you can dive into in the agenda.
Read the agenda here: https://peaceriver.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/?preview=146314
Watch it again here: https://www.youtube.com/@townofpeaceriver8959
Our next Council meeting is 5pm Monday, May 12.
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