REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 25
EPR LAUNCH: The Town will be entering into agreements with Product Care and Circular Materials. These agreements are due to Alberta moving towards an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for recycling most single use paper, plastics, and household hazardous waste beginning on April 1, 2025. EPR shifts the physical and financial burden of collecting, sorting, processing, and recycling residential waste away from municipal governments and taxpayers to the producer. To facilitate operations, the Town’s household hazardous waste depot will be moved to the landfill at the beginning of April.
BORROWING BYLAW: Loan Bylaw No. 1591-25 for the Clayton Bellamy Foundation for the Arts – Strathcona Performing Arts Centre Project received second and third reading. The Bylaw states the amount of money being loaned is up to $800,000 and is for the purpose of completing the construction of the Strathcona Performing Arts Centre. The term is for four years, and the interest rate is five per cent. Since the first reading of the bylaw, the Clayton Bellamy Foundation was informed their CFEP grant was successful and they will be receiving $500,000 towards the project, which will reduce the amount of funding needed to complete the theatre.
DEMOLITION GRANT POLICY: The Demolition Grant Policy received approval from Council. The new grant policy is for the demolition of derelict buildings in Town. The total allocated amount to the program is $60,000. Residential properties will be eligible for a grant in the amount of $10,000 and non-residential properties will be eligible for a grant in the amount of $12,000. Grants will be approved on a first-come, first-serve basis.
FUNDING REQUEST: The Lakeland District Soccer Association’s $3,000 funding request for their Lakeland Cup 2025 outdoor tournament was approved. The tournament is being held from June 20 to 22 at the Wetlands Soccer Fields. The funds will go towards the anticipated event expenses, which include referee fees, player gifts, meals, accommodations, and medals.
DELEGATION: Lakeland Society for Truth and Reconciliation President Corita Vachon made a delegation to Council requesting the Town partner with the Society to build a Community Healing Garden. Vachon said the ideal location for the Garden is along Lakeshore Drive and would measure approximately 100×100 ft. Features they would like to see included are culturally significant plants, an underground irrigation system, concrete/paved circular area with a medicine wheel and turtle painted in the centre, walkway around the centre with access to the plants, monument with the Seven Grandfather Teachings, among others. Costs of the project are currently unknown. Council accepted the presentation as information and instructed administration to work with the Lakeland Society for Truth and Reconciliation on the Community Healing Garden.
REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM: Council approved a request from the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre to use funds from the C2 Capital Reserve in the amount of $106,000 for the purchase of a Reserve Osmosis System. The total cost of the system is $212,000 and a similar request was made to the MD of Bonnyville.
MEMBERSHIPS: Council passed a motion to inform the Alberta Municipal Bilingual Association that they are in agreement with the introduction of membership fees to their current and future members. The Town’s fee would be $700.
The Town will be a member of the Alberta Mid-Sized Towns Mayors’ Caucus, which has a cost of $250 a year.
PROCLOMATION: Mayor Elisa Brosseau proclaimed April 2, 2025, as World Autism Awareness Day in the Town of Bonnyville. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects approximately two per cent of Albertans and is recognized as the most common neurological disorder affecting one in every 66 children in Canada. Mayor Brosseau urges all citizens in the Town to ‘Light it up Blue’ to create a more inclusive world for people with ASD.
BRIEFLY: A Public Hearing was held for the Partial Lane Closure Bylaw No. 1588-25. No one was present to speak for or against the bylaw. The Public Hearing was regarding a request the Town has received to close a portion of the lane at the back of 4802 47 Ave.
Land Use Amending Bylaw 1596-25 was provided first reading. The bylaw includes updates to permit fees, offences and fines and removes a section regarding animals that is already included in the Animal Control Bylaw.
Community Standards Bylaw No. 1597-25 received first reading. The bylaw includes a more focused approach to nuisance factors of vacant or derelict properties.
Planning and Development Fees Bylaw No. 1595-25 was given first reading. This update would include a fine that would increase the development permit fee for a lapsed development permit.