Presentations

The Council recognized Mr. Ron Smith for his work on the Spruce Grove Public Library Board.

Council also recognized the Barracuda Swim club for receiving first place for small swim clubs at the Alberta Summer Swim Association Provincials this past summer. Morgan Jamieson broke the provincial record for the 400 meter free style at the Humma swim meet. Connor Jamieson also set provincial records for the 400 meter free style, 200 meter I.M. and the 1500 free style at the Humma swim meet and Stony Plain Sharks swim meet.

The City also patted it self on the back for receiving the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation award. This looks great on the surface but when you dig a bit deeper you find that the award is not from any Government as the title suggests but from a professional association from the USA. If you join the organization and submit a budget it seems you get the award. At least that is my first impression when going to the Government Finance Officers Association’s website. It seemed a fortunate coincidence that this coincided with council passing a budget that will increase taxes almost 4%.

Bylaws

Council passed first reading of Bylaw C-726-09 – Municipal Utility Services Bylaw Amendment – 2010 Rates, which will increase of 15 per cent in 2010. Diane Goodwind justified the rate increase by referring to an Edmonton survey that ranks Spruce Grove seventh out of 10 of municipal utility rates in the capital region. It seems that if we are in line with the rest of the area it’s ok to increase. For some reason, maybe it’s just for sake of ease, but I see a trend from council that they go out and compare what other districts have done, copy it because it’s easy to justify by stating they do it in Devon and Fort Saskatchewan so it must be ok to do it here.

Council gave third reading to C-723-09 – Schedule of Fees Bylaw Amendment. It carried with one dissenting Alderman, Jeff Acker. Mr. Acker questioned administration having concern that this amendment would more than double the cost of acquiring a permit to put a new electrical or pluming fixture into your home for do it your selfers. A permit to put in a single light socket could be as much as $150.00. Maybe this increase will help pay for the interest on the 8.9 million the city may borrow to acquire the land for the proposed Gateway Town Centre?

Slated for second and third readings Bylaw C-724-09 Council Procedure Bylaw was delayed as Alderman Palivoda had many concerns that this bylaw would conflict with Robert’s Rules of Order. I am glad to see that we have Aldermen on Council that are willing to take the time to know the Robert’s Rules of Order and the MGA well enough to be able to question the administration on them. Keep up the good work Mr. Palivoda.

Corporate Plan

That the 2010 Corporate Plan be approved as amended; and That the 2010 budget be approved, as amended, with a tax rate increase of 3.9 per cent, revenues of $56,068,000, expenditures of $55,297,000, and debt principal payments of $943,000.

This was carried. Oh Boy, Another increase. Must be all the streamlining the city is doing.