SUNDRE – The municipal council has supported by way of motion the mayor’s participation in a new lobby group that will advocate on behalf of mid-size communities.
Providing background information during the regular Jan. 22 meeting, Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, reminded council it had already expressed support for Richard Warnock to join the initiative to explore creating a mid-sized towns mayor’s caucus during the Dec. 4 meeting.
The follow-up request presented to council at the latest meeting was to seek approval for a $250 membership as per the terms of reference, said Nelson.
The mayor, who sat on the group that drew up the terms of reference, said there were 11 municipalities involved in that process, and added there are 84 municipalities in Alberta with populations in ranging between 1,000 to 14,999 that qualify to join the fledgling organization.
“This will be a lobby group put forward with the cooperation of Alberta Municipalities, not in opposition to,” Warnock said, adding once approved, the caucus will be able to proceed with an executive committee and subsequently open invitations to qualifying municipalities that might be interested in getting involved.
Seeking clarification, Coun. Jaime Marr asked, “Will this affect the Alberta Municipalities definition; are we adding to them?”
Warnock said that would not be the case.
“It’s separate altogether; don’t confuse it as part of because it’s not,” he said.
The effort to start a mid-sized municipality’s mayors caucus in Alberta to advocate specifically on behalf of those communities started about a year ago with support from the existing president of the Alberta Municipalities, he added.
“Alberta Municipalities lobbies for what’s good for all towns, cities, summer villages and so on, where the mayor’s caucus will lobby for a certain group,” he said, adding the annual $250 membership fee will help cover the costs of hosting meetings.
Council unanimously carried a motion approving the request.
