Kevin Hanson – Division 1
Quick Bits
Governance Committee reviewed Administration’s long overdue update to the 2003 Animal Care and Control Bylaw. One of Rocky View’s most successful resident surveys helped shape the policy brought forward for Council’s first review. As expected, cat licensing in “rurban” and hamlet areas was controversial, and proposed leash requirements for dogs in public spaces split survey responses almost evenly.
Work is also advancing on the new Fire Policy Framework, with Administration moving into Stage 2. This phase includes final drafting of the Fire Master Plan, Fire Off Site Levy Bylaw, and related Municipal Development Plan amendments. Public engagement is scheduled for June, with details to be posted on the RVC website. Current background material is available in the Governance Committee agenda package.
Bragg Creek ASP
After discussions with our Director of Planning and our Acting Chief Administrative Officer, planning staff will be re-engaging in-person with the community on the latest draft of the Bragg Creek ASP. This new draft includes policy language changes which considers feedback from the community during the open house and surveys late last year and also feedback from the landowners in the expansion lands. Originally planned to be a virtual online engagement, I suggested that an in-person option would be more effective.
Highway 8 Elbow River Bridge & Pathway
I met with regional planning staff on May 19 to review progress on the Highway 8 active transportation connection between the City of Calgary and Rocky View County, including a safe crossing of the Elbow River for pedestrians and cyclists. As previously reported, regional pathways were expected to be discussed at a future Greater Calgary Regional Table meeting. However, following sustained advocacy by a joint citizen group from Discovery Ridge, Elbow Valley, and Springbank Trails and Pathways — directed at both the local MLAs and the ministerial level — Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors convened a meeting with City and Rocky View administrations focused on the Elbow River / Highway 8 area.
I’m told the meeting was, shall we say, fairly stiff, but it did produce one positive outcome: both municipal administrations agreed to bring the issue forward to the next Intermunicipal Committee meeting in late June. I have been invited to attend as a guest to represent Division 1. From my perspective, continued pressure from both municipal partners and engaged citizens may yet persuade ATEC to reconsider its longstanding position.
Bragg Creek Second / Emergency Egress
Because this issue has regional implications — including potential involvement from the Province and Tsuut’ina — regional planning staff wanted to discuss the strategy I intend to use to bring the matter back to Council for reconsideration. One point of discussion was whether future work should be advanced through the operating or capital budget, given that the project remains at a feasibility stage. That distinction contributed to some confusion at Capital Committee last December.
Given recent staffing changes and an evolving political context — including a new Rocky View Council and early signs of improved relations with Tsuut’ina — we agreed that a reset is timely. My intent is to strengthen the evidence of need, potentially through emergency response modelling, and to develop a clearer cost-benefit case. I plan to advance this work through a future notice of motion to formally direct Administration to undertake it.
Economic Development Grants Approved
May 12’s Council saw a business item to approve transfer of the 100K budgeted granting pool to Rocky View’s active Chambers of Commerce. Bragg Creek, Airdrie and Region, and Langdon each received their 25,000 allocations.
Bearspaw Chamber’s application was incomplete, and if they do not submit a complete application by June 15, Council direction was that their 25,000 allocation would be split equally between the Bragg Creek and Langdon Chambers. My debate point on the matter was that Council allocated 100K towards economic development, so the money should be spent in this fiscal year and not held over until 2027.
Contact: KRHanson@RockyView.ca or call 403.463.1166.
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