From January 22, 2018

Planning & Development Services
Bylaw 400.09 (Rezone R1 to R1N)
Council held a public hearing for Bylaw 400.09 for the rezoning of Lot 7, Block 24, Plan RN1E from Residential Detached District (R1) to Residential Detached Narrow District (R1-N). Nate Rempel spoke in favour of the bylaw. Local residents Karen Pallister, Desmond Cooper, Trudy Cooper, Louise and Ross Pickett spoke against it. Council subsequently defeated Bylaw 400.09.

Cameron Close
Council passed a resolution to adopt the amended Northwest Outline Plan as presented to facilitate the redevelopment of 16 Cameron Close.

Council & Legislative
Bylaw 370 (Procedural Bylaw)
Council gave second reading to Bylaw 370.1, Council’s Procedural Bylaw, and directed Administration to make certain amendments to the bylaw prior to third reading.

Signing Authority
Council added R.E. (Bob) Cardwell, the City’s new Corporate Services Director, as a designated Signing Officer for banking instruments and forms, and legal documents.

Lacombe Strategic Plan
Council passed a resolution to host the 2018-2021 Strategic Planning Session in Lacombe on March 15 and 16.
2018.

Financial Services
Bylaw 448 (Line of Credit)
Council passed a resolution to approve Bylaw 448, the City’s annual bylaw authorizing the renewal of a $3,500,000 line of credit, after giving it second and third readings.

Bylaw 449 (2018 Supplemental Assessment)
Council approved Bylaw 449, the 2018 Supplementary Assessment Bylaw, for the levying of the annual supplementary property assessment tax, after giving it second and third readings.

Bylaw 393.1 (Utilities)
Council approved Bylaw 393.1, the Utility Rate Bylaw, for the supply of water, wastewater and solid waste services to the residents and customers of the City of Lacombe, after giving it second and third readings.

Water
The proposed monthly water rate for 2018 will remain at $26.77 per month. The per unit consumption rate will remain at $2.47 per cubic. The base fee is used to cover fixed costs such as administration and distribution costs. The per unit consumption rate is intended to cover the cost of water purchased from the regional water commission as well as to account for water loss in the system. In 2017, the City implemented a new bulk water dispensary system, which enables customers to use credit cards at the terminal as well as a prepaid account system. As a result, bulk water will increase to $4.50 per cubic meter.

Wastewater
The waste water rates reflect the change in rate structure first adopted in 2012. The current model includes a flat monthly fee and a per consumption fee similar to the water rate model. For 2018, both the monthly rate and the consumption will increase. The rates for 2018 will be $20.00 per month, which is an increase of $0.22 per customer per month, and covers fixed costs of the utility such as administration, debt payments and some operations. The per unit consumption rate for 2018 will increase to $2.15 per cubic meter of effluent. This covers the variable costs of treatment charged by the North Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission. In 2016, the city started put money aside to allow for the accumulation of funds for the future regional sewer line back to Red Deer. Beginning in 2018, the City will start to deploy these funds over the next three years to smooth out future increases as Lacombe moves onto the North Red Deer Regional Wastewater Service Commission Line. The estimated rates are listed below and will be reviewed each year with the operating
budget.

 2019      2020      2021
Fixed:                   $20.00 $20.00 $20.00
Consumption:  $2.90     $2.97       $3.18

Solid Waste
Residential solid waste rates will not see an increase in 2018. Rates for apartments with more than four separate dwelling units will increase $1.03 to $17.27 per unit per month. Commercial solid waste rates will increase $9.91 to $109.89 per month, per customer, per bin. Commercial cardboard pick up will now be $99.89 per month, per customer, per bin. Additional unscheduled pickups will be $54.94 per pickup.

Protective Services
Disposition of Fire Department Asset Council directed Administration to sell the existing Lacombe Fire Department boat to the Lacombe Firefighters Association for the sum of one dollar, with the understanding that funds from the disposition of the boat will go towards the association’s projects.