Stonewall council news in brief
It was standing room only for Stonewall’s council meeting last week, with another large group of attendees tuning in virtually.
The majority turned up to listen to a delegation by Anthony Madden on Aug. 28 about Winnipeg Metro Region’s Plan20-50.
Winnipeg Metro Region (WMR) is a statutory corporation created by the provincial government under the provincial legislation of The Planning Act. Made up of 18 member municipalities, the WMR has a mandate “to enhance economic and social development across the region by improving and co-ordinating sustainable land use and development.”
The WMR board is made up of 18 elected officials — one from each member municipality — plus four provincially appointed directors.
Plan20-50, a regional growth plan, passed first reading on June 13 and it’s now in the public hearing stage in an adjournment period. During this adjournment, WMR board members can’t discuss Plan20-50 outside of the public hearing.
Stonewall Mayor Sandra Smith is a WMR board member, so she recused herself from the meeting while Madden spoke.
“As a member of the WMR, I’m not able to sit and listen to you as a delegation as we’re in the public hearing stage,” Smith explained to Madden.
“During the adjournment period, the findings of the process must be maintained and, as such, any board member isn’t allowed to discuss matters related to the plan outside of the public hearing forum, and that’s done for a reason. You’re supposed to be impartial, unbiased.”
Deputy Mayor Peter Bullivant took over to chair the meeting during the delegation, asking for respect at all times.
Madden then shared his thoughts with council, along with some written materials.
“As you can see, this is a very important issue, not just for myself but for all the residents,” he said.
“Plan20-50 on the surface actually looks like a decent plan. However, like a jigsaw puzzle, we have to look at more than one piece to be able to start to see the picture.”
He suggested taking a closer look at Plan20-50, along with Bill 37 and WMR’s bylaws.
“Another point that really bothers me in this plan is something called intensification sites,” he said.
“According to the plan, there are large underutilized lands located within an existing land use designation related to residential and/or employment uses that support redevelopment opportunities.”
He expressed concern about density targets and the interests of land developers in relation to intensification.
At the same time, Madden expressed concern that Winnipeg will have more sway in voting than smaller communities due to population size.
“For the good of our community, I would respectfully request that Stonewall follow the other municipalities that indicated their desire to withdraw from Plan2050 and withdraw us as well please,” Madden said.
Bullivant then explained that attendees could communicate with councillors by phone or by email about the issue but not at the meeting since that’s not part of the process during delegations.
Mayor Smith returned to the meeting after Madden’s presentation, noting that she doesn’t yet know when the second public hearing will be scheduled.
“We’re in limbo right now. And the fact that there are members in the public that think that the Town of Stonewall and particularly myself do not have the best interests of our town first and foremost is disappointing and it’s actually kind of insulting,” she said.
For now, WMR members are waiting to hear from the provincial government about next steps.
“All members of the WMR have been mandated by the province under legislation so we’re in the same boat. We’re waiting to hear from the province what the next steps are,” Smith said.
“Until we know what the next steps are, members of WMR are not allowed to engage with the public because we are in a public hearing process.”
In other council news:
– CAO Wally Melnyk provided information about the 2023 general operating fund deficit transfer in a public hearing on Aug. 28. For 2023, the Town of Stonewall incurred a $586,301 general operating deficit due to two issues: timing in recognition of $170,488 debenture proceeds and a land purchase for $415,813 in conjunction with the personal care home project.
Originally, the plan for the property purchase price was to have the amount become part of a debenture to cover costs for land, road access and water and sewer. However, when the provincial government paused the personal care home project, the additional servicing work was also put on hold, which delayed the need for the debenture.
In total, the land purchase price was $688,947.57, which includes subdivision costs and legal fees.
As a result, the town proposes a $415,813 fund transfer from the capital lot levy reserve to cover the 2023 general operating deficit. As of July 31, the capital lot levy reserve had a balance of $1,461,167.
– The Town of Stonewall has been installing “no parking” signs as part of its continual implementation of its updated traffic bylaw. Town administration noted that parking will be restricted in town to one side of the road — and in most cases, it’s the side of the road with a fire hydrant, although there are a few exceptions outlined in the traffic bylaw.
Since Stonewall’s streets don’t have parking lanes, when vehicles park on both sides of the road, it can difficult for vehicles — including emergency vehicles, school buses and handivans — to manoeuvre through parked vehicles. The town hopes to alleviate this issue by restricting parking to one side.
However, some residents have expressed concern about the new signs and their positioning on lawns in front of houses.
Town administration confirmed that no signs have been installed in residents’ yards. All signs have been installed on municipal rights of way.
The town’s traffic bylaw is available to view on the Town of Stonewall website at www.stonewall.ca.
– Council gave first reading to a bylaw to establish new water and wastewater rates and to regulate fees and licensing for septic haulers for the town’s water and wastewater utility.
The proposed rate per cubic metre, effective Jan. 1, 2025, would be $1.04 for water and $0.91 for wastewater.
It’s a slight increase from the current rate of $1.01 per cubic metre for water and $0.88 for wastewater.
– RCMP Staff Sgt. Jason Vrooman of the Stonewall-Headingley detachment attended the meeting as a delegation to provide council with a quarterly report.
– The CAO is authorized to execute a proposal with WSP Canada Inc. for professional engineering services for the extension of the 3rd Avenue North sidewalk.
– Council approved a $108,000 quote from Duron Equipment Inc. for equipment for the public works department.
– Council accepted a proposal from Jared Hickson to buy and remove a 24-foot by 48-foot shop on 5th Street West. The town had deemed a portion of the building as surplus and available for sale.
– The Town of Stonewall will further investigate the need for a before and after school program.
– The town will enter into a development agreement with Global Homes Ltd. for a project at 8th and 9th Avenue South.
