SAMA Appointment

SUMA has invited me to sit on the Urban Advisory Committee of the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA).

SAMA is an independent agency with responsibility to:

·         the Province of Saskatchewan;

·         local governments (municipalities); and

·         property owners.

Provincial legislation mandates SAMA to:

·         develop and maintain the province’s assessment policies, standards and procedures;

·         audit assessments, and review and confirm municipal assessment rolls; and

·         provide property valuation services to local governments (municipalities).

SAMA is partly funded:

·         by the provincial government for our core service of developing assessment policy, auditing municipal assessments and confirming assessment rolls; and

·         through "requisitions" that municipalities pay for SAMA field services.

SAMA’s task, in a nutshell:

·         SAMA provides reliable, up-to-date property assessment valuations – the pillar upon which governments set tax policy and property tax rates.

For this reason, SAMA focuses on providing objective, accurate, understandable information to all stakeholders.

SAMA strives for a quality assessment system that is:

·         accurate and up-to-date

·         based on professional standards

·         defensible

·         understandable

·         universal

·         cost-effective and easily administered

·         equitable, and

·         fair for all property owners.

It’s important to note what SAMA doesn’t do, because there is often confusion:

·         SAMA doesn’t make tax policy, and

·         doesn’t set mill rates.

The mandate of the Advisory Committee:

Provide advice to the Board, with respect to urban and northern municipalities with less than 30,000 population, on the following:

·         Assessment policies and practices, as they apply to urban municipalities with less than 30,000 population including manuals, reassessments, schedules, modeling, etc.

·         The legislative amendments required to implement a successful revaluation.

·         Appropriate communications strategies for implementing reassessments in urban municipalities with less than 30,000 population.

·         Any other matters referred to the Committee by the SAMA Board.

There is no cost to the Town for my participation as a member of the Advisory Committee.

Mayoral Report: November - December

My Mayoral Report follows and is only for 16 days because December 8th is our last regular meeting for 2014. I have been ill and missed activities, events, and meetings.

Date	Activity	Purpose/Outcome	Follow Up	Policy Number	Expense
11/19	RM Newcombe Meeting	·      Fire Agreement	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.	97.70
11/19	Special Meeting of Council	·      WCEC Concession Booth		·      GP.0.; GP.1.	$000
11/19	WCEC Tour	·      See progress and challenges	·      Ongoing	·      GP.2.; GP.7.	$000
11/21	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents, admin tasks, stakeholders, etc	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.; GP.7.	$000
11/21	Media: Clarion	·      Communications	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.	$000
11/21	KHS NA Steering Committee	·      Review Draft Report	·      Ongoing	·      GP.4.
11/24	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents, admin tasks, stakeholders, etc	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.; GP.7.	$000
11/24	Culture Meeting	·      Review of Regina program	·	·      GP.2.; GP.7.	$000
11/24	Pre-Council Meeting	·      Prep for Council Meeting	·      Council	·      GP.2.; GP.7	$000
11/24	Council Meeting	·      Public Meeting	·      Refer to minutes	·      GP.0.; GP.1.	$000
11/27	KCS Student Letters	·      Respond to class letters		·      GP.2.; GP.4.; GP.7.	$000
11/28	Great Plains College	·      Guest Speaker in Class		·      GP.2.; GP.4.; GP.7.	$000
11/28	Budget Committee	·      Review 2015 Budget	·      Ongoing	·      GP.2.; GP.7	$000
11/29	Youth Council Meeting	·      Discuss 2015	·      Ongoing	·      GP.2.; GP.7	$000
12/2	Media: Globe & Mail	·      Mental Health and Housing		·      GP.4	$000
12/2	Kindersley Regional Park	·      Xmas Party		·      GP.4	$000
12/5	Mayor’s Hours	·      Met with residents, admin tasks, stakeholders, etc	·      Brought concerns to Admin/Council	·      GP.2.; GP.7.	$000
12/5	Youth Council	·      Interview Candidates	·      Recommend for new Council	·      GP.4.	$000
Total Expenses					$97.70

Draft Anti-Bullying Bylaw

During our next Council meeting we will be discussing and voting on an anti-bullying bylaw.

The draft follows and if you have any comments regarding the bylaw please email me. I will be supporting this bylaw. The Anti-Bullying Bylaw can only succeed with the collective impact of the schools, arts and recreation programming, enforcement, and other organizations such as West Central Crisis and Family Support Centre, SPOKES, Heartland Health, and more; this bylaw is a community effort.

Further, the Province has approved the Community Safety Officer (CSO) program. This will also be coming before Council as a tool to enhance bylaw enforcement and increased public safety. The Community Safety Officer does not have the same scope for enforcement as the RCMP but should the CSO be adopted by Council they will have the full support of the RCMP. Given a variety of factors including increased growth, requests for greater enforcement of laws that our Bylaw Officers are unable to enforce currently, and our desire for a safe community I will be supporting this initiative.

DRAFT BYLAW #21-14

A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF KINDERSLEY, IN THE

PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN, TO CONTROL AND

REGULATE HARASSMENT AND BULLYING OF MINORS AND/OR PERSONS IN THE TOWN OF KINDERSLEY.

WHEREAS The purpose of this bylaw is to promote the safety, health and welfare of people by proscribing certain anti-social behaviour not otherwise covered by The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 or the Criminal Code of Canada.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4(1) of The Municipalities

Act as amended, a municipality’s purpose include developing and maintaining a safe and viable community, and to foster economic, social and environmental well-being; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8(1) of The Municipalities

Act as amended, a Council may pass Bylaws respecting the safety,

health and welfare of people and the protection of people and property

and respecting people, activities and things in or near public places; and

WHEREAS, the one of the three stated missions on the Town of Kindersley Strategic Plan 2014-2016, is to foster a community that is A

Family Friendly Multicultural Community That is Safe; and

WHEREAS, bullying in any community should not be tolerated and every effort should be made between all agencies, organizations, and levels of government to curb bullying; and

WHEREAS bullying in schools, the workplace, and in everyday life is a growing concern because of the short and long-term lasting effects on victims; and

WHEREAS bullying has evolved to having a presence on the world wide web known as cyberbullying; and

WHEREAS in 2006, the City of Regina became the first Canadian city to prohibit bullying in a public place and bullying through written or electronic communication, as well as fighting, encouraging a fight or recording a fight. The offences come with fines of up to $2,000, required attendance at an anti-bullying course, or up to 90 days in jail;

NOW THEREFORE under the authority of the The

Municipalities Act, The Council of the Town of Kindersley, in the Province

of Saskatchewan, ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:

PART I BYLAW TITLE

1. This bylaw shall be known as the "Anti-Bullying" bylaw.

PART II DEFINITIONS

1. "Bullied" means the repeated or habitual harassment of

others by the real or threatened infliction of physical

violence and attacks, racially, ethnic, gender or sexual

orientation based abuse, taunts, name calling and put-downs

that are verbal, written or electronically transmitted, or

emotional abuse, extortion or stealing of money and

possessions and social out-casting.

2. "Minor" means an individual less than 18 years of age.

3. "Peace Officer" means a member of the Royal Canadian

Mounted Police, or a Special Constable appointed by the

municipality.

4. "Public Place" means any place, including privately owned

or leased property, to which the public reasonably has or

is permitted to have access, whether on payment or

otherwise, within the corporate limits of the Town of Kindersley,

including schools, recreational facilities, public parks and

sports grounds.

PART III ENFORCEMENT

1. No person shall, in any public place:

a. Communicate either directly or indirectly, with any

person in a way that causes the person, reasonably in

all the circumstances, to feel bullied.

b. While not taking part in any action described in

Part 3, Section 1 (a) encourage or cheer on, any

person described in Part 3, Section 1 (a).

2. Any person who contravenes Part 3, Section 1 (a) of this

Bylaw is guilty of an offence punishable on summary

conviction and is liable

a. For a first offence, to a minimum specified penalty of

$250.00; and

b. For second, or subsequent offences, to a fine not

exceeding $1,000.00; and in default of payment of

the fine and costs, to imprisonment for six months.

3. Any person who contravenes Part 3, Section 1 (b) of this

Bylaw is guilty of an offence punishable on summary

conviction and is liable

a. For a first offence, to a minimum specified penalty of

$100.00; and

b. For second, or subsequent offences, to a fine not

exceeding $250.00; and in default of payment of the

fine and costs, to imprisonment for six months.

4. If an Offence Notification Ticket is issued in respect of an

offence, the Offence Notification Ticket may;

a. Specify the fine amount established by this Bylaw for

the offence; or

b. Require a person to appear in Court without the

alternative of making a voluntary payment.

5. A person who commits an offence, may:

a. If an Offence Notification Ticket is issued in respect of

the offence; and

b. If the Offence Notification Ticket specifies the fine

amount established by the Bylaw for the offence

Make a voluntary payment equal to the specified fine by

delivering the Offence Notification Ticket and the

specified fine to the Provincial Court Office specified

on the Offence Notification Ticket.

PART IV ENACTMENT

1. This bylaw shall come into effect on January 12, 2015.

WCEC Concession Booth

Thanks to everyone who was patient during our search for a new concession booth operator.

There has been some misunderstanding about the transition from KMS operating the booth to Bob.

There are three differences between the KMS contract and Bob's:

• During Town events there is no revenue sharing from the concession booth towards the Town; this is the same as the Lounge. 
• KMS could have negotiated no revenue sharing as well.
• Bob does not get the vending machine revenue. 
• KMS received the vending machine revenue.
• Bob does not get any advertising revenue at the concession booth. 
• KMS received the advertising revenue.

These are the only differences.

It has been suggested that the Town is purchasing Bob's supplies; this is not true.

If you are at the rink over lunch the concession booth is open and Bob is encouraging people in the area to drop in for lunch.

WCEC: Cold Rink and Other Challenges

The last few days have seen the temperature drop in the West Central Events Centre. Let's remember that the facility is about 25 years old and hitting its peak maintenance needs. Council has been budgeting accordingly.

One problem is that the old pump in one of the boilers has stopped working; the other boiler has a new pump. As a result one boiler has been servicing both sides of the facility, A new pump is scheduled to be installed tomorrow. New boilers for both the WCEC (Zamboni room) and Curling rink are budget for 2015 at a cost of around $180,000 (I don't recall the exact price.)

Contributing to the cold in the Co-Op rink is a gas distribution problem. Gas is not making to the heaters over the stands. I don't recall the solution at this time of this post.

The plumbing is being relocated in the Torrens and Galbraith rooms this week.

The  boiler in the Zamboni room in the Events Centre is not working properly. Again, the boiler is to be replaced but the date is unknown and repairs are being made.

The logos in the Events Centre have risen to the top of the ice and have been taken off. Air was trapped underneath and the cold air caused the bubbles to rise under the logos pushing them to the top. The ice is being repaired causing user groups to use the Co-Op ice for a couple of days. An ice expert is coming to town on the 10th to work the ice and coach our staff.

The staff at the WCEC are trying their best to get everything to work and to do a good job. We have a young staff who want to learn, are conscientious, and community minded. If you are at the rink and see them, please give them an encouraging word. They really want to see the facility provide the services you need without any fuss.

Thanks for your patience as we sort through these issues.

Moment with the Mayor: Anti-Bullying Bylaw

Hi Neighbours:

During our last Council meeting, we had a discussion regarding adopting an anti-bullying bylaw. The RCMP presented to Council a couple of meetings ago the need for an anti-bullying bylaw based on recent incidents in Town. Here are some highlights from the draft bylaw:

·         The purpose of this bylaw is to promote the safety, health, and wealth of the residents of Kindersley by proscribing certain anti-social behaviour not otherwise covered by the OH&S Act 1996 or the Criminal Code of Canada.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4(1) of The Municipalities Act as amended, a municipality’s purpose include developing and maintaining a safe and viable community, and to foster economic, social and environmental well-being; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8(1) of The Municipalities Act as amended, a Council may pass Bylaws respecting the safety, health and welfare of people and the protection of people and property and respecting people, activities and things in or near public places; and WHEREAS, the one of the three stated missions on the Town of Kindersley Strategic Plan 2014-2016, is to foster a community that is A Family Friendly Multicultural Community That is Safe; and WHEREAS, bullying in any community should not be tolerated and every effort should be made between all agencies, organizations, and levels of government to curb bullying;

"Bullied" means the repeated or habitual harassment of others by the real or threatened infliction of physical violence and attacks, racially, ethnic, gender or sexual orientation-based abuse, taunts, name-calling and put-downs that are verbal, written or electronically transmitted, or emotional abuse, extortion or stealing of money and possessions and social out-casting and exclusion.

I can’t help but think that bullying is a cultural problem and a bylaw, in and of itself, is insufficient. What the bylaw does, perhaps, is raise our awareness that there is a level of unhealthiness present in our community that is causing some people to violate traditional ethics of behaviour toward one another. The bylaw identifies behaviour that will be deemed unacceptable within our community, but it is up to all citizens to change the culture by embracing these standards.

Healthy communities with healthy relationships need opportunities for individuals to find fulfillment through a variety of means. The Town is working on this through the development of a socio-economic development plan that includes an economic development plan, a recreation plan, and a culture plan. We are making an effort to strengthen and enhance programming offered, such as boxing classes and Jump, Hop, Move for young children. And the health of Kindersley is also dependent on the leadership of our volunteers who initiate and lead programs and workshops such as belly dancing, curling, and much more. Health and fulfillment is truly a community effort.

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.

Kindersley in The Financial Post

Earlier this week Kindersley was mentioned in the Financial Post. It is by the same author as the Calgary Herald writer and pretty much the same content.

However, if you search Twitter for "Kindersley" you will find that we are being talked about across Canada in a mostly favourable light.

Calgary Herald Interview

Last week I was interviewed by Stephen Ewart, a columnist with the Calgary Herald, regarding the economic activity in and around Kindersley. We spoke for 25 minutes. You can find his column here.

Moment with the Mayor: A Grab Bag of Stuff

Hi Neighbours:

It is hard to believe that 2014 is winding down; it has been an eventful year. Today’s column is a grab bag of stuff marking the year end and looking ahead a little.

Per the Council Policy Manual, Council is conducting a review of itself. The annual review is for three purposes:

1.       To ensure our neighbours in Kindersley have a Council that is providing effective leadership and oversight;

2.       Understanding how we are effective and what we are doing well; and

3.       Developing an awareness of the opportunities we have for improvement.

The tool has six tables that ask an assortment of questions addressing: Structure and Processes, Council Performance, Council Meetings, Council and Staff Relations, Council Member Competencies, and Feedback on the Mayor. Continuous improvement is key for any organization and we have to demonstrate it. There are three potential responses: OFI (opportunity for improvement), adequate, and good.

I highlighted the budget last week and I did an overview of the Action Plan for 2015 the week previous to that. Both the Action Plan for 2015 and the Budget will be on the agenda for the December 8^th Council Meeting.

Housing is still a concern and I have arranged for representative(s) from the Saskatchewan Co-Op Association to attend the December 8^th Council Meeting and deliver a presentation about co-operative housing. The purpose of the presentation is to build awareness for this housing concept so people can determine if this is a model they want to participate in. There are a variety of co-operative housing types and perhaps one works for both residents and businesses of Kindersley. This presentation is an exploration of the co-operative housing concept.

Another item coming up for discussion is an anti-bullying by-law. Defining any behaviour as criminal is the responsibility of the federal government, but the RCMP are asking for us to engage in this discussion. According to Article 4 of the Municipalities Act we are to develop and maintain a safe and viable community fostering economic, social and environmental well-being. How do we define this Article? A law-based response similar to the criminal code or a social investment response creating opportunities for fulfillment and healthy relationships? I am leaning toward social investment response such as Phase 2 and diversified youth programming.

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.