Title
Participation in an Alberta Community Partnership Grant - Sturgeon River Watershed
Proposed Motions:
1) That Council authorizes Administration to participate in an Alberta Community Partnership Grant application to assist in the completion of background reports for the Sturgeon River Watershed Management Plan.
2) That Council supports the designation of the Summer Village of Silver Sands as the project lead for the Alberta Community Partnership Grant.
3) That Council supports the Summer Village of Silver Sands to enter into a conditional grant agreement with the Government of Alberta governing the purpose and use of the grant funds.
Body
Purpose
Council is being requested to authorize Administration to participate in the submission of an Alberta Community Partnership Grant to complete background work on the Sturgeon River Watershed Plan (See attachment 1). As part of this grant application, the Summer Village of Silver Sands will act as the project lead.
Summary
On February 11, 2014, Council confirmed Parkland County's participation in the Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance (formerly Sturgeon River Watershed Partnership). The ultimate purpose of the group is to develop a Watershed Management Plan for the Sturgeon River Watershed, and to provide advice to participating member municipalities on how to implement findings of the Management Plan.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications
The Summer Village of Silver Sands is seeking the Alberta Community Partnership Grant under the "Intermunicipal Cooperation" category to further the development of the Sturgeon River Watershed Plan. This grant application is similar to a previous Alberta Community Partnership Grant application in which the County participated in November 2014. Under this category, all participating municipalities must pass Council resolutions supporting the project for which grant funding is being sought. If Council does not pass the proposed motions, the success of receiving the Alberta Community Partnership Grant may be compromised and hinder the completion of the Sturgeon River Watershed Management Plan.
Municipal Development Plan
This aligns with the Environmental Management goal of protecting environmentally significant areas and, in particular, it supports maintaining the environmental integrity of the County's rivers, streams and lakes.
Council Strategic Plan
This supports the Environment priority to embrace environmental social governance to create a legacy for future generations.
Financial Impact:
Municipal cash contributions of $50,000.00 identified as part of this grant application are existing (in-kind) contributions for staff attendance at the Sturgeon River Watershed Plan meetings, as well as contributions already received in 2016 by the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA) from participating municipalities.
There are no financial impacts or incurred costs associated with the participation in this Alberta Community Grant application at this time.