MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - County council has given first and second reading to Bylaw No. 13/21 updating the municipality’s regulations around aggregate levies.
The move came during a recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The county’s governance review committee met on March 30 to consider possible changes to the Community Aggregate Payment Levy regulations. The bylaw defines aggregate as “sand or gravel as found naturally or processed and stockpiled.”
“Among other minor changes including the consistent use of definition of designated officer and removal of historic levy rates, the committee has recommended increased clarity be added relative to the Crown or municipalities accessing from a private pit,” said Christopher Atchison, director of legislative services.
“The regulation is silent on instances where shipments are coming from privately-owned or leased pits for projects on behalf of the Crown and municipalities. Following the review, the committee’s recommendation that the county’s bylaw be updated to provide clarity that level will be imposed in those instances to maintain consistency with the regulation.”
The proposed update to the bylaw includes that a designated officer means “a development officer, bylaw enforcement officer, peace officer or any other official appointed by council to enforce the provisions of this bylaw or as established by the approving authorities bylaw of Mountain View County.”
Regarding levy rate and payment and collection of levy, the proposed update to the bylaw reads, in part, that, “The uniform levy rate for all shipments of aggregate from a pit within the county shall be $0.40 per tonne of aggregate.” The previous rate was $0.25 per tonne.
The Exemptions from Levy section now reads, in part, that, “No exemption shall be issued for any shipments from a pit owned privately, regardless if the shipment is for a use or a project that is being undertaken by or on behalf of the Crown or a municipality.”
The penalties section now reads, in part, that, “Any person who fails to comply with any provision of this bylaws may be subject to further enforcement provisions contained within the county’s land use bylaw and/or their respective development permit approval.”
Administration recommended that prior to final reading of the updated bylaw notification of the changes be provided to municipal partners that previously accessed aggregate from a private pit for their information.
Bylaw No. 13/21 will be brought back before council for consideration of third reading at a future date.
Social media policy changes
In other news, council has approved a number of amendments to existing policies and related procedures, including regarding technology and social media use.
At its March 30 meeting, the governance review committee made a number of recommended amendments for council’s consideration.
Policy No. 1019 Technology and Social Media Use has been amended to reflect current practice with clear guidelines, and the related procedure was further clarified to remove redundant and duplicate information, council heard.
The updated policy statement reads: “Mountain View County provides various pieces of technology to employees and elected officials to use in the course of their official duties. Employees and elected officials are required to use county-owned and managed technology appropriately and in accordance with information technology regulations and best practices.”
Principles now include the following: “Employees and elected officials shall comply with the county’s information technology guidelines and regulations as outlined with this policy and procedure to maximize organization efficiencies and to minimize the risks to the county associated with the misuse and abuse of technology.”
Prohibited uses under the related procedure include posting submissions or links to any materials which contain vulgar or offensive language, contain personal attacks of any kinds, or offensive comments that target or disparage any ethnic, racial or religious group, contains content which advocates illegal activity, or promotes particular services, products or political organizations.
Council also also approved changes to the Additional Named Insured Non-Profit Organizations procedure. Regarding eligibility, the procedure now reads, in part, that, “Community halls that obtain approval to become additional named insures shall be responsible to require that third party rentals, through a signed rental agreement, obtain separate host liquor liability coverable for all special event activities and/or family rental functions where liquor will be served.”
