MuniMall News and Views

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Scroll down. The Newsletter can be lengthy, and if you're interested in a region east of Alberta, you'll have to scroll to get there. The sections in today's edition are:

• NACLAA News
• Municipal British Columbia
• Municipal Alberta
• Municipal Saskatchewan
• Municipal Manitoba
• Municipal North
• Municipal Ontario
• Municipal Atlantic
• Getting Wired

NACLAA News

Introduction
MuniMall is proud to bring you NACLAA News, a weekly feature on the distance learning program everyone is talking about, the National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration, or NACLAA for short. Offered on the Internet by two of Canada's leading universities in partnership, NACLAA is emerging as Canada's new national standard in local government administration certification. For more information on NACLAA, click on the graphic below.

Writing Across 6 Times Zones -- Part VII
NACLAA News wraps up its series on the course development process with a look at Student Evaluations, or Tell Me What You Really Really Think. Penned by the UofA's own Susanne Glenn.

To see all previous articles in this informative series, please drop by the NACLAA News Archive.

Municipal British Columbia

CivicInfo BC Newsletter
For BC's best roundup of municipal news, MuniMall recommends CivicInfo BC. Check out their website for the latest news, and subscribe to their weekly newsletter, published every Friday afternoon.

Municipal Alberta

New Digs Over Budget By $340G
CANMORE -- In two weeks, at a price tag that has increased by 7% to $5.18 million, Ninth Street will be dug up to make room for the new Canmore civic centre. (Canmore Leader)

Beautification Buzz
COALDALE -- A trio of projects are underway in Coaldale to improve the town's overall appearance. (Coaldale Sunny South News)

Cops Too Costly: Council
OKOTOKS -- It is unlikely Okotoks will go any further towards establishing its own police force after learning the costs involved. (Okotoks Western Wheel)

Dog Bylaw Gets More Bite
PINCHER CREEK -- Tougher fines and a requirement for owners of dangerous dogs to have liability insurance are the biggest changes in Pincher Creek's proposed new animal control bylaw. (Pincher Creek Echo)

Privacy Paramount
VULCAN -- Vulcan Town Council quickly discussed and rejected support of an idea that could see everything in their meetings taped and recorded. (Vulcan Advocate)

Corporate Review Costs Coming In
CALGARY -- It's not the final price tag, but Rocky View councillors have approved spending $365,300 to implement recommendations from last year's corporate review. (Rocky View Times)

Tax Hike Ceiling Eyed
CALGARY -- City council is aiming for "reasonable" property tax hikes over the next two years by setting its sights on a maximum five per cent increase next year and four per cent in 2005. (Calgary Herald)

Ratepayers Rant Over New Building
DIDSBURY -- The process of looking at constructing a new administration building met opposition from some ratepayers in attendance at an open house in Didsbury. (Didsbury Review)

Headcount Coming
LACOMBE -- Lacombe councillors voted in favour of conducting a census of the town this year. (Lacombe Globe)

Retired CAO Refused Bonus
PONOKA -- Members of Ponoka town council were united in their stance in refusing to approve payment of a cheque during their regular council meeting. Second story down. (Ponoka News)

911 Changes
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE -- Clearwater County councillors approved changes that will make its 911 emergency phone service a "local affair." (Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer)

High Cost Of High-Tech Trash
SYLVAN LAKE -- Times are changing in trash collection in Sylvan Lake -- and so is the cost to you. (Sylvan Lake News)

P-3 Rec Plan Rejected
LEDUC -- The City of Leduc won't be supporting Leduc County's P-3 recreation complex plan, but they don't want to close the door on county's involvement in the Black Gold expansion either. (Leduc Representative)

Sweeping Smoke Ban Kicks In
SHERWOOD PARK -- The ashtrays disappear Friday, March 21. (Sherwood Park News)

Oilsands Tax A Sticky Issue
FORT McMURRAY -- "Can't we just sock it to the oil companies?" asked Ward 2 Coun. John Rigney during a recent council meeting. (Fort McMurray Today)

EDO Job Gonzo
GRANDE CACHE -- Grande Cache is losing its economic development officer (EDO) position. (Grande Cache Mountaineer)

More Research On Raises
HIGH PRAIRIE -- The issue of honorarium and monthly allowance increases for M.D. of Big Lakes councillors went back to the drawing board again during the March 12 meeting. (South Peace News)

Private Proposals Invited
PEACE RIVER -- The Town of Peace River will weigh the cost of starting its own ground ambulance service before council makes a decision on whether to continue its membership in Peace Regional EMS. (Peace River Record Gazette)

New Community Services Director
VERMILION -- There's a new sheriff in town. (Vermilion Standard)

Municipal Saskatchewan

Arena Spending Skates Home
MAPLE CREEK -- A study concluded that approximately $510,000 in "new" outside money was spent last year during recreational events at the Maple Creek arena, and over $150,00 stayed in the community. (Maple Creek News)

Corridor Conundrum
LLOYDMINSTER -- After more than a half-hour of debate, city council agreed to disagree on whether to approve a study on the proposed north-south corridor upgrade to 50th Avenue. (Meridian Booster)

RMs Get Fire Relief
LLOYDMINSTER -- Two area municipalities left with staggering firefighting bills from forest fires this past summer played "Let's Make a Deal" with Premier Lorne Calvert, and he apparently was in the mood to negotiate. (Meridian Booster)

Green Light For Traffic Study
MEADOW LAKE -- The Town of Meadow Lake is partnering with the Department of Highways to hire a consultant to do a traffic study on Highway 4 and Highway 55. (Meadow Lake Progress)

Chamber Pitches 54% Grant Hike
MELFORT -- The Melfort and District Chamber of Commerce says it may be able to do more for the City of Melfort in order to back a request for a 54 per cent increase to its annual grant. (Melfort Journal)

Fending Off Flooding
WHITEWOOD -- Whitewood Town Administrator Pat Ward says the town is doing everything it can to prevent massive run-off. (Whitewood Herald)

Evaporation Pond A Go
SWIFT CURRENT -- The city of Swift Current has been given permission to construct an evaporation pond near the city lagoons. (SwiftCurrentOnline.com)

Reduction Yes, Ban No
REGINA -- The City of Regina wants to see less pesticide use but it's not prepared to ban the use of the products. (Regina Leader-Post)

Multi-Use Park Approved
SASKATOON -- The city's executive committee has finally given the nod to a 36-acre multi-use park in University Heights -- one year after the idea was announced and five months after council was first asked to approve it. (Saskatoon Star Phoenix)

Municipal Manitoba

Strategic Plan In Works
BEAUSEJOUR -- The Beausejour Town Council has been holding meetings regarding a strategic planning initiative. (The Clipper Weekly Newspaper)

Town Jumping On Conservation Bandwagon
MORDEN -- The Town of Morden may be joining the RM of Stanley in jumping on the conservation bandwagon. (Morden Times)

Council Rejects Tax Decrease
WINNIPEG -- Two Winnipeg city councillors tried but failed today to get a property tax cut. (Canadian Press on canada.com Winnipeg)

Smoke Eaters Wanted
WOODLANDS -- The RM of Woodlands needs firefighters. (Stonewall Argus/Teulon Times)

Municipal North

City Springs For Trail Improvements
IQALUIT, NU -- The 400 kilometre trail from Iqaluit to Pangnirtung will soon to be outfitted with several cabins for stranded snowmobilers, thanks to a city grant. (Nunatsiaq News)

Spin Decision Put Off
WHITEHORSE, YK -- City council has deferred its decision on whether to award a $5,243-contract that would help it explain its heritage bylaw to the public. (Whitehorse Star)

Municipal Ontario

Raises Mulled
BRACEBRIDGE -- District of Muskoka council will soon have to decide whether its 2003 budget can handle a projected $75,000 increase in salaries for 20 of its management and non-union support staff employees. (Bracebridge Examiner)

$11.5M Strategic Plan
HUNTSVILLE -- The Town of Huntsville is to spend $4.5 million on strategic planning initiatives in 2003, primarily for the construction of the new Civic Centre and improvements to the downtown core and waterfront. (Huntsville Forester)

Shared Services Tough Sell
PARRY SOUND -- While the Town of Parry Sound seems eager to sell by-law enforcement services to Seguin Township, council here doesn't share as much enthusiasm to buy the services. (Parry Sound North Star)

Unpleasant Deficit Surprise
TIMMINS -- "We admit the red flag system which was supposed to warn us . . . wasn't effective," said chief administrative officer Joe Torlone to council on the unexpected $2.2M deficit. (Timmins Daily Press)

Infrastructure Dollars Flow
SERPENT RIVER -- The provincial government has handed over nearly $2 million to three municipalities along the North Shore. (Elliot Lake Standard)

Overspending Reined In
THUNDER BAY -- City councilors will no longer be able to spend more than their annual $3,900 expense allocation without getting prior approval from their colleagues. (tbsource.com)

Staff Urge Garbage Fee
OTTAWA -- City residents should pay for the garbage they create, says a city staff report that is already getting mixed reviews from members of council. (Ottawa Citizen)

1% Solution
BRIGHTON -- Alnwick/Haldimand ratepayers will see a very small increase in their municipal tax rates, said Treasurer Joe Whyte. (The Independent)

. . . But Others Less Fortunate
UXBRIDGE -- Residents could be facing a third straight year of tax hikes to pay for the 2003 municipal budget. (infodurhamregion.com)

Concern Over Court Costs
COBOURG -- The City of Sarnia will be meeting with the Attorney General's Office next week to discuss a subject of great concern to Cobourg -- footing the bill for the growing costs of court security. (Northumberland Today)

Talk Isn't Cheap
KINGSTON -- City staff have been warned not to use cellphones to order coffee after councillors stumbled across a $21,000 mobile phone bill for one city department. (The Kingston Whig-Standard)

Revamp Gets Rave Reviews
ORILLIA -- Locals involved in the city's arts and culture scene are applauding the city's ongoing review of its policy on arts and culture. (Orillia Packet and Times)

. . . While Others Pitch A Plan
STRATHROY -- Strathroy-Caradoc is an "untapped resource" that could benefit greatly from a cultural master plan, says a municipal staff member. (The Age Dispatch)

The Chop That Costs
PICKERING -- You'll now have to pay $100 to fell a healthy tree within 30 metres of shoreline, a stream corridor, wetlands and environmentally sensitive lands in Pickering. (infodurhamregion.com)

Stink Over Sewage Costs
PAIN COURT -- A $4.62-million sewer project is causing a stink in this small rural community on the outskirts of Chatham. (Chatham Daily News)

Indecision On Heavy Garbage
EXETER -- South Huron Council made no decision on the future of heavy garbage pickup. (Exeter Times Advocate)

Municipal Atlantic

Bylaw Violators Get A Break
CAVENDISH, PE -- Business owners in the Cavendish Resort Municipality will have another summer to comply with new signage bylaws. The community has voted to give the 50 businesses which are breaking the law another tourist season to fall into line. (CBC - Prince Edward Island)

Arena Launches Survey
MONCTON, NB -- Ice and price are the themes city officials expect to hear most when the final 'report card' of the inaugural year is ready for the city's new four-surface ice arena. (Times & Transcript Staff)

Boil Order Steams Past Year Mark
DORCHESTER, NB -- It's been over a year now since Dorchester residents were first instructed to start boiling any water they use for consumption due to coliform bacteria. (Sackville Tribune-Post)

Fire Hall Sited?
TRURO, NS -- A town-owned park at the corner of Victoria and Young streets is the preferred site for a new fire hall in Truro. (Truro Daily News)

Butt Bylaw On Hold
SHERBROOKE, NS -- Businesses and organizations within the Municipality of the District of St. Mary's are taking the matter of smoking in public places into their own hands. (Guysborough Journal)

$1.1M Debt Forgiven
CUPIDS -- The provincial government has written off $1,140,000 in debt owed to the province by the Town of Cupids. (The Compass)

City Eyes Cost-Shared Snow Clearing
ST. JOHN'S, NF -- The City of St. John's is trying a new tack in its efforts to keep downtown sidewalks cleared of snow. (CBC - Newfoundland & Labrador)

Getting Wired

Muni Addresses Up For Grabs
OTTAWA, ON -- The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is releasing a large batch of domain names (website addresses) previously reserved for municipal government use only. Some names have a generic value, while others are simply names that people/organizations might be interested in for town/village/city oriented web sites because the municipal area is still generally known by the old name. Click the link above to see a complete list of the .ca domain names coming available. (CIRA News Release)

Internet Ahoy
BROCKVILLE -- Boaters visiting Brockville harbour this summer will be able to go online from the comfort of their cabins if council approves a recommendation of the community services and economic development committee. (The Brockville Recorder and Times)

Town Website Gets Makeover
AMHERSTBURG -- The Town of Amherstburg has a newly relaunched website with a new look and easier naviagation. Check it out at www.amherstburg.ca (Amherstburg Echo)

Electronic Ward Meeting Low-Key
BRANDON -- Assiniboine ward councillor Doug Paterson hosted the city's first "digital" ward meeting on Westman Communications Group Channel 12. (Brandon Sun)

The MuniMall Newsletter is published via email most Thursdays by Government Studies at the University of Alberta. All subscriptions are free. Please follow this link to subscribe or unsubscribe. Comments, concerns, suggestions, submissions? Email MuniMall Editor John Sinclair at john.sinclair@ualberta.ca or call John at 780-492-2783.
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