Grants policy approved
Chief administrative officer Linda Nelson informed council that a new policy outlining a consistent procedure for grant applications submitted by various local organizations had been reviewed and following a few minor changes was ready for council’s approval.
“We also invited those members of council that expressed an interest in sitting on this committee to provide comments, and those have been incorporated as well,” said Nelson.
“The policy just sets up a process for the town to provide grants to community organizations,” she said, adding any group can apply for funding.
“The committee will review the applications based on the merits of the applications, not based on the organization.”
Coun. Charlene Preston moved the policy as presented.
Mayor Terry Leslie said he appreciated the addition of a definition that the intent behind the policy is to enhance a project or program, rather than to sustain an organization.
The mayor also expressed support for the new approach that will involve staff receiving and evaluating applications and then scoring and presenting them to members of council on the committee for a final decision without an appeal process.
Preston’s motion carried unanimously.
Council also carried a motion appointing councillors Richard Warnock, Todd Dalke and Cheri Funke to the committee.
Land use bylaw amended
Following a previously advertised public hearing regarding a land use bylaw amendment that did not garner any concerns submitted verbally or by correspondence from adjacent landowners or residents, council carried two motions to give the bylaw second and third readings.
Mike Marko, Sundre’s manager of planning and development, told council the amendment was drafted to “facilitate a boundary adjustment between two parcels of land that are owned by the proponents of the Sundre Golf Course.”
The boundary realignment affects about 24 acres of the treed and escarpment area to be consolidated with the golf course lands to the east through a concurrent subdivision application, said Marko, adding the bylaw will “redesignate this 24-acre portion from urban reserve district to public service district, which is the same land use district as the golf course.”
The remaining and subsequently shrunken portion of the adjusted parcel to the west — a flat area of vacant, undeveloped land — will remain zoned as urban reserve until future development is contemplated there, he said.
“There is no development proposal for either parcel at this time,” he added.
