Council Notes - June 3, 2025
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Council Notes - June 3, 2025
Youth Council Presentation. Youth Council gave a presentation highlighting the accomplishments the group has achieved over the past year, including their extensive volunteer work and funds raised for the Edson Food Bank. As this was the final meeting of the term for this Youth Council, Town Council expressed their gratitude for the work, feedback, and enthusiasm this group has shown over the past year.
Land Redistricting. Council has given first reading to Bylaw No. 2327, to amend Schedule ‘B’ of Land Use Bylaw No. 2296. This amendment would redistrict a portion of land north of Highway 16 and west of 75th Street from Urban Reserve to Business Industrial Minor. This request is intended to accommodate a potential development of a storage facility on that site. A public hearing will be scheduled for a future meeting.
Land Use Bylaw Amendments. First reading was given to Bylaw No. 2326, to amend Schedule ‘A” of the Land Use Bylaw. The changes are mostly administrative in nature, correcting errors and omissions, clarify definitions, and improve consistency across the document. Amendments have also been made to fence provisions, expanding the land use districts where barbed wire is permitted, as well as adding “government services” as a discretionary use within the Public Service District. A public hearing has been set for June 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM.
Bylaw Repeal. Bylaw No. 1663 and any amendments thereto have been repealed by Council. This was a housekeeping matter as the contents are now covered under the new Utility Bylaw passed earlier this year.
Financial Reporting Policy. Council has approved Financial Reporting Policy F-FR-3 as presented and have repealed Policy F-FR-1 and F-F-1. This updated policy establishes guidelines for consistent financial reporting, promoting accuracy, transparency, and accountability.
Council Remuneration. Council has approved a new annual remuneration of $32,500 for each Councillor and the Mayor’s salary to be double the Councillor’s salary. The annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) applied to Council remuneration shall be consistent with the COLA applied to out-of-scope municipal staff.
This decision was made after much discussion. Council felt that moving to the 50th percentile among surveyed communities was too much of an increase and agreed this new remuneration rate is fair at this time.
The new rates will come into effect in 2026, following the next municipal election.
Council also directed Administration to bring forward Council board and committee meeting attendance accountability measures to a future Committee of the Whole meeting.
Next meetings— The next Committee of the Whole Meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The next Town Council Meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers.
Agenda/Information package here.
App users can watch the video here.