High-Level Summary:

The city council meeting concentrated on enhancing rural community safety and addressing policy amendments, with key contributions from Heather Travis, Manager of Legislative Approvals, who updated attendees on the Farm 911 Emergency Access Point program. Significant input was provided by council members, revealing the council's focus on emergency response improvements, budget considerations, and policy efficiency.

Important Topics Discussed:

1. Farm 911 Emergency Access Point Program Update: Heather Travis presented updates on the program aiming to improve emergency response times. The council focused on expanding the program to assign numbers to secondary access points on rural properties. Travis explained, "We are proposing to revise the policy to allow a farm 911 member to be applied to a property," indicating potential policy shifts to broaden coverage.

2. Municipal Addressing Bylaw: Corresponding changes to the municipal addressing bylaw were discussed to integrate updates from the Farm 911 program. This initiative seeks to streamline address management, as noted by Travis, "It made sense to bring forward these edits to the f91 policy at the same time," underscoring the alignment of related policies for improved administrative efficiency.

3. Financial Impact of Expanding Farm 911: Financial considerations were a major topic, with Travis indicating, "We do think it's appropriate to monitor the program...and report back to Council in future," addressing potential financial implications of the program expansion while emphasizing continuous budget observation.

4. Emergency Services Collaboration: Collaborating with emergency services was highlighted, ensuring that policy revisions support operational effectiveness. Travis noted, "At their discretion, staff will assess whether the existing secondary access points justify the need for an EAP number," displaying a cooperative approach with emergency service partners.

5. Volunteer Opportunities and Community Engagement: The meeting also covered volunteer opportunities for the International Plow Match, indicating, "anybody wants to volunteer just let me know," encouraging community involvement in significant local events.

Opportunities for Public Input:

Although explicit public consultation opportunities were not highlighted, the upcoming planning committee review of the municipal addressing bylaw may provide a platform for public contributions. Residents are encouraged to watch for announcements on city channels for public input sessions.

Motions Passed, Rejected, or Deferred:

• Approval of the meeting agenda.
• Approval of the minutes from the November 21st meeting.
• Motion to receive staff report on policy amendments.

Follow-Up Actions and Next Steps:

• Present proposed revisions to the Farm 911 program to the planning committee in late February or March.
• Continuous monitoring of the program's financial impacts and effectiveness, with staff set to report back if further funding becomes necessary.
• Dissemination of information to local farmers and stakeholders following policy amendment approval.