Councillor Kim Magnuson's Blog
Division 2 Newsletter, May, 2011
06/16/2011 01:29 PM
Budget and Adjustment Update, Audited Financial Statements, Tax Rate Bylaw
April 26 - Council voted to accept the Audited Statements by Price Waterhouse Coopers, and approved the Spring Adjustment as well as a 3% tax increase. You can expect your tax notice in the mail by mid-May; payment is due at the end of June.
Note: Rocky View County has one of the lowest tax rates in Alberta; housing assessments, though, are among the highest.
Our strategy for the next 3 years is to reduce our $73m debt by approving development along the water and wastewater lines installed (that created the debt in the first place).
Development levies are expected to pay $10m this year for the infrastructure installed by Rocky View.
Strategic Plan – Council will be presented with our new Strategic Plan on May 31, and will be our guide for the rest of this term.
Our 4 key points focus on: Land Use Planning, Financial Stability, Roads (maintenance and construction) and improved Communications with Rocky View residents.
SURVEY for Residents off Range Road 32 between TWP 250 & 251A
Rocky View County has had requests for a speed reduction from residents whose homes are accessed from Range Road 32. The present speed limit is 80kph, and the proposal is for 70kph. The survey is online from May 3 – 10, and is designed for those residents who access their homes from Range Rd 32. To complete the survey, click on the following link:
http://www.rockyview.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=1017
First Reading Update
Following several months of work by the Policy department, changes to the process of Automatic First Reading should be brought to Councillors for a workshop in May.
Reeve’s Task Force Report
Councillors will sit down for the first time this month to discuss and evaluate the Reeve’s Task Force Report that was presented in January 2011. Information from the RTF will be used to update our Municipal Development Plan and the Growth Management Strategy.
Highway 8 Policy Planning
Council voted unanimously to accept staff’s recommendation to stop further land planning on Hwy 8. Staff used a fiscal sustainability model process to determine that developing the corridor at this time would create more costs than benefits to Rocky View County, so planning is on hold indefinitely.
Approximately 4500 acres along the Hwy 8 corridor is owned by developers, who would like the planning process to continue. Most residents along the highway supported Council’s decision to halt the planning process.
Highway 8 Twinning
With the provincial government’s quest to secure a SW leg to the Calgary Ring Road, Highway 8 is coming under scrutiny. The plan is to twin Hwy 8 from 101st St to Hwy 22, with a second bridge to be added on the north side of the existing bridge. Numerous studies have been done, and the plan is ready for final approval and provincial financing. Alberta Transportation has already bought 60% of the land for right of way, and plan to build parallel “service roads” to accommodate the existing residents.
Once twinning is done, the speed limit will be raised to 110-120kph from Hwy 22 to Range Road 32, just west of Elbow Valley.
I encourage you to attend the Open House, which will be held at the Elbow Springs Golf Course on May 10 from 4-8pm.
Residents from Division 2 are now actively involved in the Highway 8 Action Committee. The Hwy 8 corridor is largely undeveloped and is in need of these residents to work with Rocky View County and Alberta Transportation – “Thank You” to Graham Bruce, Sharon Anderson, Herb Betschart and Norm Devitt for committing their time to participate in this.
Gravel
Rocky View County will be sweeping the roads very soon; if you would like some of the gravel they’re sweeping, you can get it at no charge. Please see this link if you’re interested:
http://www.rockyview.ca/Main_Left_Menu/Departments/Communications_/My_County_Matters/EntryId/240/Spring-Road-Sweeping-Left-Over-Gravel.aspx
Development Permits
There has been some concern recently with activity relating to off-site stormwater drainage and digging/moving of dirt and fill.
Don’t assume that you can move dirt anywhere, anytime. If you’re planning to do so, please call Rocky View County, as you may need a Development Permit or a Statutory Declaration and Road Use Agreement (with conditions for hauling on County roads, such as no more than 10 loads/day). Depending upon why you’re bringing fill in, you may also require a Storm-water Management Plan.
Call the Development and Compliance office at 403-520-7266 for more information.
Development Compliance
Following approval of a DP, there is a 12-month period during which work must be started, and a 2-year limit on completion. One can apply for a work extension beyond the 2 years.
Avion Business Park Development
This proposal is directly north of the SB Airport, adjacent to Harmony, on Range Road 33. The owner is planning a Community Meeting/Workshop on June 2 at the airport, from 4-8 pm. If you’d like to know what this proposal involves and have some input, please attend the meeting.
Recycling Hours at the Wild West Event Centre
From May through to September 30, the hours of operation will be 10am – 5pm, 7 days a week. If the hours change after September, I will let you know.
Please try to keep this area clean, and drop off only glass, metal, and paper products.
City of Calgary West Context Study – Melcor Developments owns the 3 quarter sections of land just west of Valley Ridge on the north side of Highway #1; the most westerly quarter is in Rocky View County. Their Conceptual Scheme shows housing for approximately 10,000 residents and a business component for over 6,000 employees; their stumbling block to begin construction is securing access on and off of Hwy #1.
If Alberta Transportation does not allow them access off Hwy #1 just west of Valley Ridge, they would like to access the property from Old Banff Coach Road. This would mean increased traffic for residents in Div 2 who exit OBC Rd to and from their homes. Traffic counts are estimated at 30,000 vehicles/day. Please contact me with your comments and concerns.
Tentative Date for 2nd Community Meeting is Thursday May 19, time and place TBA.
If you have any questions or would like me to post other news, please contact me: kmagnuson@rockyview.ca, 403-680-9711 (c), 403-240-1965 (h)
Division 2 Newsletter, April 5, 2011
04/06/2011 02:39 PM
Flooding
The past 10 days have been hectic for the road maintenance crews, as they unblock frozen culverts, and pump water from ditches and properties being threatened by the melting snow.
If you have a problem with flooding, please call the 24-hour Road Maintenance Call Centre: 403-520-6378 or Rocky View County Reception: 403-230-1401 so they can create a work order and log number.
Community Standards Bylaw
This is promising to be a very controversial topic!
1) Noise – The bylaw targets loud vehicles, particularly motorcycles.
Farm equipment is exempt if vehicles are in good running order.
2) Unsightly Premises – This could be a welcome addition to creating cleaner, healthier neighbourhoods.
3) Guns & Weapons – We aren’t sure at this point about what the housing density should be in a shoot zone area.
What do you think is a safe distance for firing a weapon when you’re in proximity to other homes?
See the proposed bylaw here:
http://www.rockyview.ca/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=rklBtGHzwcg%3d&tabid=195
If you can’t open this attachment, go to www.rockyview.ca where you’ll find the link on the opening page.
Ted McCauley (Emergency Services) is fielding questions and comments about the proposed bylaw. Contact him:
Council News
At our April 5 meeting, Council unanimously approved the redesignation of 2 quarters of land in east Rocky View to accommodate the development of CN Rail’s new Intermodal Rail Yards, moving out of the Sarcee Yards in Calgary.
CN will front the entire cost involved in bringing water to the Conrich area and will hook into the existing County wastewater line. Off-site levies for water, wastewater and road upgrades will all apply to this project.
RCMP Services
Springbank, Bragg Creek, Elbow Valley, Hwy 8 and Bearspaw all benefit from the “Enhanced RCMP” position, stationed out of the Springbank Park for All Seasons. The RCMP works in unison with the County’s Peace Officers to patrol our rural roads and are continuing to target “hot spots” with respect to speeding and DUI’s. If you have policing concerns, please let me know.
Interesting Tidbit:
The latest RCMP report to Council shows that the majority of violations around school zones are parents of the students.
Cell Phone Towers
Rocky View Staff is working with Council to create at new policy regarding placement, siting and appearance of communications towers.
Your comments are welcome: kmagnuson@rockyview.ca
Seniors on the Bow – Cochrane
A new Seniors’ facility held it’s grand opening in the Spray Lakes Complex in Cochrane on April 1. For anyone over the age of 50, the facility offers fitness programs, computer “how-to” classes, a variety of dance lessons, card games, Bingo, baking, and crafts. To find out how to register, contact: 403-932-6002.
Please feel free to forward this report to your friends and neighbours.
Kim Magnuson
Councillor, Div 2
403-240-1965 (h)
403-680-9711(c)