Moment with the Mayor: SUMA Highlights

Hi Neighbours:

Last week was the 2015 SUMA Convention in Saskatoon. It was a busy few days.

·         Councillor Henry and I attended a professional development workshop. I spent my time learning about Community and Land Use Planning while Councillor Henry learned more about municipal human resources.

     ·         During the planning session, we covered the roles of various players and what Council’s role is around decision making and planning.

·         A big topic of conversation has been the province’s public talk about reducing municipalities’ share of revenue sharing; I talked about in last week’s Bean.

    ·         The Premier received polite applause for his remarks. We are still waiting for the province’s decision regarding revenue sharing. It could have a significant impact on our budget affecting level of service and tax rates.

·         A workshop was also held on Procurement and the process for making good request for tenders and proposals. Our job on Council is to reduce the Town’s exposure to risk, get the best value for us, and ensure a fair process for the bidders

·         There was also a session on Community Safety Officers (CS0). Council is looking at going to this level of service to provide improved compliance and enforcement.

    ·         The purpose of the CSO is to provide a more responsive model of enforcement with locally set priorities focused on risk assessment and compliance.

·         Monday afternoon, I shared a lot of information regarding our Youth Council including how it works, budget, communication, training, and their work levels.

·         There were also business meetings around different sectors.

    ·         Again, revenue sharing was in issue and infrastructure.

·         Journalist Chantal Hebert was a guest speaker but due to weather and cancelled flights, she was unable to attend in person and attempted to deliver her message using Skype. Unfortunately, the connection wasn't as good as we needed for a good delivery.

     ·         What we could hear about Hebert’s message was that the balance of power has shifted to urban centres, specifically the suburbs.

·         Tuesday, over lunch, I met with the Ministers of Health regarding next steps to implement the Kindersley Health Services Needs Assessment. There will be nothing to report on this until the roll out of the report.

Please write or phone if you would like me to discuss a particular topic. If you have any questions or comments, drop me a line at the town office or email me at mayorenns-wind@kindersley.ca. You can also check out my blog at http://mayorjohn.blogspot.ca/. I appreciate your feedback.

SUMA Convention 2015: Ministers of Health

Today was a busy day. As I have indicated before I was meeting with the Ministers of Health regarding the Kindersley Health Services Needs Assessment. It was a good meeting and I am cautiously optimistic as we move forward.

I apologize but I am not able to comment on the report until the report is presented to the public in late February or early March. Sorry.

SUMA Convention 2015: President's Banquet

Tonight was the President's Banquet to celebrate the work accomplished and the coming year's aspirations. We also celebrated municipal employees who have been in the industry for at least 20 years.

President's Banquet. Feb 3/15

SUMAssure, with whom I am a Director, sponsored the meal and as a result I brought greetings to the crowd.

We also heard three poems by a performer, Bond, from Saskatoon.

Bond performing at the President's Banquet. Feb 3/2015.

SUMA Convention 2015: Chantal Hebert

A lot of us were looking forward to hearing the insights of Chantal Hebert. Ms Hebert has written a number of books about the Canadian political scene and a regular contributor to a variety of news sources.

Unfortunately the weather prevented her from travelling and then, according to Murphy's Law, we had significant problems with technology.

Here are snippets of her talk:

·         Things change quickly: the economy was strong, terror might be an issue

·         People make choices on what is being offered, as consumers, rather than loyalty to a party

·         Energy and terrorism will affect urban centres

·        The Federal government has little extra money for infrastructure

·         Infrastructure spending is a priority for municipalities, but there is no extra money due to drop in energy revenue

·         Federal spending on health will be slowing

·         Reform of pension fund is coming

·         Security and Terrorism

·         A new type of thinking is needed

·         Balance of power has shifted to urban, specifically suburban: BC, AB, ON

·         Who commands the suburbs commands power for the upcoming federal election

·         Mulcair is at a disadvantage due to reliance on urbans and not enough support in suburbs and rural

Chantal Hebert via Skype and then phone with video. Feb 3/15

 

SUMA Convention 2015: The Walk of Shame!

I wasn't even in the trade show area and I could hear the noise. As soon as I turned the corner the razzing picked up. The Walk of Shame, including the photos of shame you can see below, was because Humboldt beat us this past summer in our 'Tidy Week" contest. Thanks to Wayne Gibson for the photos.

Councillor Henry and I in Broncos sweaters. I am wearing Mayor Eaton's son's jersey from a RBC Cup appearance. Feb 3/15

All I recall is that our Youth Council did their best but there was way too much rain. I reminded Mayor Eaton of a saying of Conn Smythe: "If you can't beat them on the ice, beat them on the streets." Given the standings we thought that might help diminish the shame of wearing a Broncos' jersey.

Alas, the pain doesn't stop there: tonight, of all nights, the Klipper lost to the Broncos 4-3. I hate to say this but I am not looking forward to my breakfast meeting with Mayor Eaton.

The shame was rubbed in when we had our photos taken with the Humboldt Council.

The Humboldt Council, Sherye,Mayor Easton is beside Councillor Henry. Roger, next to me, nominated me to continue to be Director of SUMAssure, and Leon. Councillor Linda didn't pose with us.  Feb 3/15.

SUMA Convention 2015: Minister of Government Relations

Jim Reiter, Minister of Government Relations spoke this afternoon. I wish that I could write what he said but he didn't say a whole lot.

• no decision has been made regarding cuts to revenue sharing;
• he spoke about Disaster Relief and based on our first hand experience he has a great service
• a columnist from the Globe and Mail was quoted and I am going to do a paraphrase:
• in the past Sask is tomorrow's country
• today, the future isn't guaranteed,
• tomorrow is now here

Jim Reiter. Feb 3/15

SUMA Convention 2015: Preventing Council Misconduct

One of the sessions Council Henry and I took in was Preventing Council Misconduct. The speaker, Saskatoon's former lawyer had six points summarizing his presentation.

1. Put public interest First‎
2. Know the rules
3. Follow the rules
4. Create a positive ethical environment
5. Provide access to professional advice
6. Pay yourself properly

Preventing Council Misconduct. Feb 3/15

SUMA Convention 2015: Resolutions

Here are the resolutions discussed today and voted on.

1. Asset Management: carried
2. Animal Control Officer Training: carried
3. Publishing Rejected Membership Resolutions: carried
4. Public Works Certificate Program: carried
5. Bicycle Helmet Safety: carried
6. Tax Incentives for Municipal Bonds: carried
7. Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: carried
8. Fuel Tax for Municipal Police and Fire: carried
9. Expanded Golf-Cart Use: carried
10. Motor Vehicle Collision Rates for Fire Departments: carried
11. Northern Road Maintenance and Repair: carried
12. Revenue Sharing: (preserve 1 point)carried
13. MMRP: (immediately implement) carried

Photos I Forgot to Add in SUMA Convention 2015

Community Safety Officer Session. Feb 2/15

FCM President Brad Woodside. Feb 2/15

Premier's Address. Feb 2/15

Tax Abatement Workshop. Feb 2/15

View from the Youth Panel. Feb 2/15

Another View from the Youth Panel. Feb 2/15

SUMA Convention 2015: Premier's Address

The following are some of my notes of the Premier's address.

• Revenue loss estimated $600m-$800m which is about 5%-6%
• No money for more, some same, some less
• Revenue sharing has worked well and has been consistent and stable
• Sask Party keeps commitments
• People expect politicians to respond to extraordinary conditions
• Last downturn saw main stream growth
• This time is not as bad with strong potash and agriculture
• Economic growth in 2015 expected to be 2%
• Only 2% of new jobs are in resource sector
• Provincial role is to set tone and good environment
• Budget Goal: keep strong
• Priorities:

·         low taxes,

·         income and education tax reduction,

·         new incentives,

·         controlled operational spending,

·         build infrastructure and reduce infrastructure deficit,

·         HR training, international engagement including municipalities,

·         competitiveness,

·         no deficit

• Working towards a tax revenue virtuous circle.

·         This is my understanding of the what the Premier means: where the growth in tax revenue is due to economic growth and is enough for government business and capital

SUMA Convention 2015: Community Safety Officer

• Purpose is a better more responsive model for local enforcement
• Priorities set locally
• CSO is about risk assessment and compliance
• Process for Approval

·         Request

·         Business case including enforcement priorities

·         Approval under CSO authority

·         MOU with local police jurisdiction including clear roles and responsibilities

·         Hiring process

·         Appointment

·         Evaluation of both local and provincial metrics

• CSO has limited powers of arrest
• Governance

·         Values?

·         What does success look like?

·         Map success strategy

·         Oversight through clear reporting

• Success?

·         Feels safe

·         Trust

·         Engaged

·         Explain

·         Training for mediation and de-escalation

• Strategic: define objectives and operating philosophy

·         5 Areas

·         Bylaw enforcement

·         Agency collaboration

·         Community Education

·         Provincial Statues: traffic weights

·         Ongoing development and accountability

• Communication Goals:

·         Why,

·         How (Inform, Educate, Enforce)

• Opportunity: Community priorities, define and set service levels, grow and develop community, control costs

SUMA Convention 2015: The Pulse of Procurement

Hi, here are some notes from the session on procurement. The process is designed to be open and transparent enabling communities, and their tax payers to receive the best value while also being fair to bidders.

 

• Governments, when tendering, have to abide by trade agreements, internal agreements, and statutes and regulations.
• Only compliant bids are accepted including being on time.
• There is a duty to treat bidders fairly and equally with openness and transparency
• An ambiguous waiver clause has been ruled not fair
• Contract A process:

·         Only compliant tenders accepted

·         Lowest should be accepted all things being accepted

·         Duty of fairness when evaluating

·         Multiple compliant bids create multiple Contract A

• Contract A Indicators

·         Bids are irrevocable and non negotiable

·         Obligatory

·         To cancel a tender

·         No technically acceptable bids

·         Prices are higher than budgeted or estimated

·         Major change to scope of work

• Non binding procurement: Request for Proposals creates flexibility but still a duty of fairness

·         No Contract A

·         Best value procurement

·         Multiple evaluation criteria

·         Ability to negotiate terms, conditions and proposed alterations

• New West Partnership includes BC, AB, SK

·         Largest barrier free trade area in Canada

·         There are no restrictions on trade, investment, and labour mobility

·         Threshold for NWP: $75,000 for goods and services, $200,000 for construction

·         Duty of fairness is required with no local preferential treatment

·         Limited exclusions include: unforseeable incidents, demonstrate only one supplier, procurement from a public body, non profits, and organizations serving disabilities

SUMA 2015: Property Assessment and Taxation Workshop

Sunday morning at 9:30 Councillor Henry and I attended the property assessment and taxation workshop. Here are some highlights.

• legally municipal governments are a natural person (recognized in court like a corporation) and has government powers (tax).
• all properties are to be assessed.
• there is distance between the assessment and municipalities.
• SAMA assesses reports assessed property values to municipalities 'Ad Valorem' (to value) otherwise known as mill rate
• considered a reasonable expectation of a person's ability to pay
• taxes = taxable assessed value x tax rate
• three property classes: agriculture, residential, commercial & industrial
• municipal tax policy is:
• what taxes to levy,
• what amounts, and
• who pays.
• mill rate factors transfer tax burden from one property class to another
• minimum tax reduces tax rate by increasing taxes lower valued properties
• base tax reduces the tax rate by increasing taxes on lower valued properties
• City
• create a tax phase in program to mitigate tax increases or decreases
• create sub classes

SAMA

• is looking to simplify their valuation data and their systems to improve service
• the importance of assessments is to provide the financial foundation for local governments
• Assessment Principles:
• mass appraisal,
• base date
• four year updates
• based on legislation
• market valuation standard
• regulated property assessment standard
• equity
• SAMA Board Orders
• relevant assessment legislation:
• The Assessment Management Agency Act
• prepare assessment manuals, guidelines, handbooks, and other materials
• perform valuations and revaluations
• maintain a central database
• ensure the public, municipal cuncils a government aware of assessment methods and policies
• confirm assessments of municipalities
• The Cities Act
• The Municipalities Act
• The Northern Municipalities Act
• corporations prefer longer term (3-5 years) between valuations for the sake of stability
• non regulated property assessment is an assessment for property other than a regulated property assessment
• mass appraisal means the process of preparing assessments for a group of properties as of the base date using standard appraisal methods, employing common data and allowing for statistical testing
• market value means the amount that a property should be expected to realize if the real estate in fee simple in the property is sold in a competitive and open market by a willing seller to a willing buyer, each acting prudently and knowledgeably, and assuming that the amount is not affected by undue stimuli
• market variation standard is the standard achieved when the assess value of the property
• is prepared using mass appraisal
• is an estimate of the market value of estate in fee simple in the property
• reflects typical market conditions for similar properties
• meets quality assurance standards established by order of SAMA
• Market Valuation Standard Publications
• Market Value Assessment in SK
• SAMA's 2011 Cost Guide
• Marshall and Swift/Boechk LLC.
• Market Valuation Standard has three accepted  approaches to value
• cost approach
• sales comparison approach
• property income (Rental) approach
• Role of Assessor
• municipal employee
• prepare assessment role
• determine tax class of property
• determine tax status (assessable or exempt)
• Role of Assessment Appraiser
• independent of municipalities
• establish, maintain, and undertake valuations
• Assessment Appraiser has right of entry:
• produce identification
• reasonable times
• reasonable request
• Land valuation is the average selling price as of the applicable base date
• the new base date is January 1, 2015
• improvement valuation uses replacement cost with adjustments for depreciation and average selling price
• Cost Approach
• Property Value = land value + building value
• recent property valuation trends have been rising steeply
• residential last time was about 33% across the province
• agri arable rose about 100.2%
• oil and gas rose 15%

SUMA Convention 2015 Schedule

This week is SUMA (Saskatchewan Urban Municipality Association) Convention in Saskatoon. Here is my tentative schedule at SUMA.

·         January 31, 2015

·         MLDP: Community and Land Use Planning Workshop

·         February 1, 2015

·         Property Assessment and Taxation Workshop

·         The Pulse of Procurement Session

 

·         The Beat of the Street: Community Safety Officer

·         SUMAssure AGM (I am making a Director Presentation)

·         Energy East Prairies Reception

·         Supper with Town of Nipawin Council and Staff

·         February 2, 2015

·         Associated Engineering Breakfast

·         SUMA Business

·         Premier’s Address

·         Lunch with City of Warman Council and Staff

·         Sector Meetings

·         Pumping Up Youth Session(I am a Panelist)

·         Council/Staff Supper

·         February 3, 2015

·         Chantal Hebert

·         SUMA AGM

·         Sector Reports

·         Lunch with Legal/Procurement

·         Minister of Government Relations

·         President’s Banquet (I am extending sponsorship greetings on behalf of SUMAssure)

·         February 4, 2015

·         Dialogue with Ministers

·         Bear Pit with Cabinet

·         Home for Supper

MLDP: Community and Land Use Planning Workshop

Today Councillor Henry and I attended Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDP). This is a program to help elected officials and administrators better understand best practices and legislation for municipalities. The program is sponsored by:

·         Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities,

·         Saskatchewan Association of Urban Municipalities,

·         Rural Municipal Administrators’ Association of Saskatchewan,

·         Urban Municipal Administrators’ Association of Saskatchewan,

·         Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations, and

·         New North – SANC Services,

While Councillor Henry was sitting in on Human Resources I was attending Community and Land Use Planning.  The workshop outline included:

·         Planning Structure Overview,

·         Official Community Plan,

·         Zoning Bylaw,

·         Amendments,

·         Public Consultation,

·         Subdivision,

·         Dedicated Lands,

·         Servicing Agreements,

·         Development Permits,

·         Appeals,

·         Enforcement,

·         Fees,

·         Regional Planning, and

·         Building Permits.

Here are some highlights of the workshop:

·         Canadian Institute of Planners Definition of Planning:

·         “the scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities”.

·         Planning is governed by Provincial Legislation:

·         The Planning and Development Act, 2007,

·         Statement of Provincial Interest,

·         The Subdivision Regulations,

·         The Dedicated Lands Regulations

·         Municipal Plans

·         Official Community Plan (OCP),

·         Zoning Bylaw

·         The role of the Provincial Government through Government Relations, the Community Planning Branch:

·         Review and Approve Plans,

·         Planning Inquiries,

·         Subdivisions,

·         Protect Provincial interests.

·         The role of the municipality:

·         Create plans,

·         Subdivision review and servicing agreements,

·         Development Officer,

·         Development Permit,

·         Enforcement,

·         Appeals, and

·         General Inquiries.

·         Role of the Planner

·         Research, analyze, and recommend,

·         Balance a variety of interests,

·         Develop clear plans for action for Council and community.

·         Why a planner?

·         Legislative Requirement: Planning and Development Act, 2007 Section 29(3) “The official community plan shall be prepared in consultation with a professional community planner”.

·         Community Need: many municipal issues revolve around planning considerations, such as housing, infrastructure, environmental, social services, location of development, conflict.

·         The OCP is a Statement from Council to residents about what the municipality wants to do in terms of growth management and as a growth guide for the community.

·         Included in the OCP are:

·         Goals, objectives, and policies for land use, subdivisions, services, green space, and public utilities, etc

·         Specifies what types of development are appropriate and under what circumstance to ensure healthy community growth.

·         The plans are important so the community is ready for development so services are planned, regulations are set, community is aware of Council’s attention.

·         The plans provide regulatory and cost certainty for developers.

·         The benefits of the Zoning Bylaw include:

·         Districts/Zones,

·         Development Permits,

·         Minor Variances,

·         General Conditions and Regulations,

·         Clarity,

·         Alignment between current and future users.

·         The difference between the Zoning Bylaw (ZB) and OCP include:

·         ZB s specific and OCP is broad,

·         ZB is regulatory and OCP is policy,

·         ZB is used daily while OCP is a guide for future direction and guidance

·         Recently Council has been amending the ZB and here is the process:

·         Application,

·         Fee,

·         Administrative Review,

·         Referral,

·         Council Approval,

·         Ministerial Approval.

I had a lot more notes but my computer has not been cooperating.