Title
Council Remuneration Review
Proposed Motions
1. That administration be directed to present a revised Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, based the feedback provided by Council, to the May 20, 2025, Governance & Priorities Committee meeting.
2. That administration be directed to present a revised Elected Official Expenses Policy C-AD24, based on the feedback provided by Council, to the May 20, 2025, Governance & Priorities Committee meeting.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration supports the proposed motions, as presented.
Purpose
To present draft versions of the Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22 and Elected Official Expenses Policy C-AD24 showing the recommendations provided by the Council Compensation Review Public Member Advisory Panel within each policy, and receive additional recommendations from administration to add clarity to the policies.
The draft policies are being presented at the April 15, 2025 Governance and Priories Committee meeting to allow opportunity for members of Council to ask questions and provide input prior to the second draft of the policies being presented at an upcoming Governance and Priorities Committee.
Summary
On April 8, 2025 the Public Member Advisory Panel presented the following recommendations to Council.
That effective for the 2025-2029 Elected Officials term of office:
Council Honorarium:
Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors Honorarium
1. Recommendation that the current practice for Mayor and Councillors salaries be maintained.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 3, section 1.a.
-No change to policy
2. Recommendation that the Deputy Mayor salary be exempt from COLA increase(s) until such time as it aligns with other comparators.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 3, section 1.b.
-Added section 1.b. to policy
-The consultant provided that the Deputy Mayor's current salary exceeds the acceptable range of 10%. To clarify "...align with other comparators." the following wording should be considered:
The Deputy Mayor Salary be exempt from COLA increase(s) until such time as it falls below 10% of the Municipal Benchmark Group.
Council Expense Practices:
Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councillor Per Diems
3. Recommendation to maintain current per diem rate structure.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 4, section 2
-No change to policy
4. Recommendation that the next Council Compensation Review further consider transitioning to a base pay structure without per diems similar to Yellowhead County and Strathcona County should this structure become more widely utilized.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 4, section 2
-No change to policy
Travel Expenses for Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors
5. Recommendation that a mileage rate for travel outside of the region (over 80+ kms) be at the same CRA rate of $0.72/km for the first 5000 kms and $0.66 for each additional km over 5000 kms.
-Elected Official Expenses Policy C-AD24, page 2, section 9.a.
-Added wording of recommendation to section 9.a.
6. Recommendation that mileage for travel inside the region (under 80 kms) be compensated through a monthly allowance. This allowance can be calculated based on the average travel within the region over the last term of Council.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD 22, page 5, section 4.c.i
-Deleted existing wording in section 4.c.i.
-Added recommendation wording in section 4.c.i.
-Revised Schedule "A"
Internet and Communication Device Allowance
7. Recommendation to maintain internet allowance at $113 for Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 5, section 4.b.
-No change to policy
8. Recommendation that Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors be required to use County cell phones for County business.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 5, section 4.a.
-Added recommendation to existing text and deleted text as required
Meal Rates for Mayor and Councillors
9. Recommendation to maintain meal rates for Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councillors to coincide with the Treasury Board of Canada Meal Rates.
-Elected Official Expenses Policy C-AD24, page 2, section 9.k.
-No change to policy
Mandatory and Non-Mandatory Conferences and Conventions
10. Recommendation to maintain existing budgets for mandatory and non-mandatory conferences and conventions.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 6, section 4.e. and Schedule B
-No change to policy
Council Community Relations
11. Recommendation that the Community Services Sponsorship and Donation Policy be used to guide donation or sponsorship requests.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 6, section 4.f.
-Added recommendations to existing text
-The Advisory Committee's references to the Community Services Sponsorship and Donation Policy is a reference to Parkland County's Charitable Donations Policy C-AD10
12. Recommendation to reallocate a portion of individual Mayor and Council Community Relations budgets to a pooled Community Relations budget; leaving the Mayor with $2,800 and Councillors each with $1,800.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 10, Schedule "B"
-Revised Community Relations Annual Budget Allocations
13. Recommendation that the pooled Council Community Relations Budget be funded in the amount of $33,000, to be used for any sponsorships and donations outside of the Community Services Sponsorship and Donation Policy as agreed to by Council as a Whole.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 6, section 4.f. and page 10, Schedule "B".
-On page 6, 4.f. was revised to add recommendation to exisiting text
-On page 10, revisions to Community Relations Annual Budget Allocations
14. Recommendation that these budgets cannot be carried over year to year and any overages would require Council approval by resolution.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 7, section 4.f.vi.
-Deleted text to align policy with recommendation that budgets can not be carried over year to year
-Deleted the word "individual" in existing text to align section with recommendation
Training
15. Recommendation to maintain current budgets and process for mandatory and non-mandatory training.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 5, section 4.d.
-No change to policy
16. Recommendation that an assessment of mandatory training be conducted during council remuneration reviews to ensure Council objectives are in alignment with the Municipal Government Act and other municipalities, and that adequate funds are budgeted accordingly.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 7, section 7
-No change to policy
Use of Municipal Property
17. Recommendation that Council be required to use County electronic devices.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 5, section 4.a. and page 9, Schedule "A".
-Revised existing text to align with recommendation
18. Recommendation to use fleet vehicles for County business, when possible, for out-of-town travel.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, page 7, section 4.g.i.
-Added section 4.g.i.
Benefits
19. Maintain current benefits structure.
-Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD 22
-No change to policy
____________________________________________________________________
On April 8, 2025 Council received the recommendations for information and directed administration to prepare a draft version for each policy showing the recommendations redlined within for discussion.
Historical Information:
Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22, Section 7, a: "Elected Officials remuneration is to be reviewed mid-term of each four-year council term."
December 13, 2022 - Council approved revisions to Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22.
April 14, 2020 - previous Council approved revisions to Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22.
September 22, 2020 - previous Council approved revision to Elected Official Expenses Policy C-AD24.
On June 13, 2023, Council approved that a third party be secured to review the Elected Official Remuneration and Expense Policy. Council further directed administration to set up a Council Compensation Review Advisory Panel comprised of public members to collaborate with a third-party consultant to present information and recommendations for Council's consideration.
At the June 27, 2023, Council meeting, Council approved the Terms of Reference to recruit public members for the Advisory Panel.
On September 12, 2023, Council appointed three public committee members to the Council Compensation Review Advisory Panel: Tyler Marlatt, Colin Tooth, and Barb Shackel-Hardman.
In the summer of 2024, administration received the Transitional Solutions Inc. Council Compensation and Engagement Survey Results, Comparative Analysis Report. Administration worked with the consultant to clarify and gather additional report information in the fall of 2024.
In February 2025, the Public Member Advisory Panel met to review the consultant report and established recommendations based on these insights and current Council policies.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications:
Responsible Leadership: Review of the Council remuneration and expense policies fosters the public's trust through transparent and fair decision-making.
Relevant Policies:
1.Elected Official Remuneration Policy C-AD22
2.Elected Official Expenses Policy C-AD24
3.Charitable Donations Policy C-AD10
Financial Impact:
Impacts of policy changes will be reflected in the annual operating budget.