GRASP
The town may have missed its opportunity to appeal the Glenbow Ranch Area Structure Plan (GRASP) by filing after business hours on the appeals deadline day, but will still engage in mediation with Rocky View County on the future development.
Following some discussion, council provided its support that the Town of Cochrane, as well as the county, each send members of administration to mediation and that information would ideally be reported back to both councils jointly.
“I want joint downloading of information so both councils are in the same room, hearing the same thing at the same time,” said Mayor Jeff Genung.
Genung views the mediation as a “valuable tool to get our municipalities together,” while acknowledging some councillor remarks that the county does not share the same concerns as Cochrane regarding the proposed development that will bring approximately 16,000 people to the town’s eastern borders.
Coun. Tara McFadden said she is doubtful Cochrane and the county will logistically be able to find common ground, given their opposing interests regarding the development. However, she is hopeful for the opportunity to work together to best address the impacts the GRASP would have on Cochrane’s services, infrastructure and tax base.
“This is not good for Cochrane,” said McFadden of the GRASP, adding that the solution to regional growth is not to build a new city – which she views as environmentally irresponsible.
Mediation costs are to be split between the town and county and both parties have agreed to explore an Alberta Communities Partnership grant. If they are unsuccessful in their grant applications, it is estimated the town’s mediation expenses would be no more than $7,500 and would be covered through the 2017 operating budget.
The town is hopeful that mediation will take place sometime next month.
The town is awaiting response to a request to be recognized as an affected party at the City of Calgary’s appeal hearing.
Honouring Uffelmann
Mayor Jeff Genung is seeking to fulfil a pre-election promise at the next council meeting on Nov. 27.
Genung will be seeking council support to name the Riverview multi-user and off-leash park The Jim Uffelmann Memorial Off-Leash Area.
The renaming is in honour of the late Cochranite, who died suddenly on Sept. 29 after succumbing to injuries he sustained from a falling tree.
Uffelmann was a well-known advocate for the preservation of the existing off-leash space and for future, additional off-leash parks.
Many dog owners and park users credit Uffelmann as the driving grassroots force for preservation of the off-leash space, due to his engagement with local media, town officials, biannual park cleanups and general oversight of dog and user conflicts.
Live streaming
Coun. Marni Fedeyko received support from council to direct administration to report back in early 2018 with three costing options for live steaming.
Fedeyko presented her motion at the first council meeting on Oct. 26, advocating for improved transparency and public engagement as she begins her first term on town council.
“I believe it is extremely important for council to offer the highest level of transparency as possible, and with today’s technology, there really is no reason why we are not already offering this as a service.”
Fedeyko said according to her research of comparably-sized municipalities, including Airdrie, Canmore and St. Albert, live streaming of council sessions was common and implementation options could span from an stationary iPhone to a “Cadillac” system, with ample ability to record and store video and audio files.
Town CAO Dave Devana cautioned against the pared-down version, saying whichever future system is implemented should be efficient and professional.
Couns. Patrick Wilson and Morgan Nagel both clarified they are not interested in “Cadillac” versions and would be supportive of simple streaming systems that are cost-conscious.
Nagel offered up his expertise. He ran the social media campaign for the Jason Kenney leadership race – where live streaming was effectively executed on a shoestring budget to around one million viewers.
Development mapping
Coun. Morgan Nagel earned the support from council to direct administration to compile a comprehensive development map of all approved and future Area Structure Plans, Neighbourhood Plans, total buildout statuses of all communities, total numbers and densities of all current and future communities.
The report will be brought back to council at the Dec. 11 meeting.
