TAMRMS#: B06
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Regional Transit Services
Presented by: Trevor Duley, Manager, Government Relations
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RECOMMENDED MOTION
recommendation
Whereas:
• The City of Beaumont, the Town of Devon, the City of Edmonton, the City of Fort Saskatchewan, the City of Leduc, the City of Spruce Grove, the City of St. Albert, and the Town of Stony Plain (the “Members”) have jointly agreed to establish a regional services commission for the provision of transit services in the Edmonton metropolitan region (the “Commission”);
• The Members’ Councils passed resolutions in February and March, 2020 supporting the adoption of a regulation under Part 15.1 of the Municipal Government Act (the “MGA”) as it then read, to establish the Commission;
• On June 11, 2020 an application was made on behalf of the Members, under the process in effect at that time, to establish the Commission;
• The application was under consideration by the Government of Alberta when, effective September 1, 2020, amendments to Part 15.1 of the MGA came into effect thereby changing the process for the establishment of regional services commissions;
• The amendments to Part 15.1 of the MGA now require a specific form of council resolution, and an order of the Minister of Municipal Affairs updating the list maintained by the Minister of all commissions active in the Province to include the Commission on that list, in order for the Commission to be established as a legal entity;
• Each of the Members remains committed to the establishment of the Commission and wishes to adopt a resolution in compliance with sections 602.02 and 602.03 of Part 15.1 of the MGA for submission to the Minister of Municipal Affairs
NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED that:
The City of St. Albert agrees to establish a regional services commission jointly with the other Members and specifies that:
1. the name of the regional services commission is the “Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission”;
2. the names of the Members of the Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission are:
(a) the City of Beaumont,
(b) the Town of Devon,
(c) the City of Edmonton,
(d) the City of Fort Saskatchewan,
(e) the City of Leduc,
(f) the City of Spruce Grove,
(g) the City of St. Albert, and
(h) the Town of Stony Plain;
3. the names of the members of first board of directors of the Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission are:
(a) Sam Munckhof-Swain
(b) Ray Ralph
(c) Michael Walters
(d) Gordon Harris
(e) Glen Finstad
(f) Chantal McKenzie
(g) Wes Brodhead; and
(h) Justin Laurie;
4. The name of the first chair of the Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission is Wes Brodhead.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
Council has identified integrated transportation systems as a strategic priority within Council’s Strategic Plan. As a component of this, Council and Administration have been supporting the establishment of a Regional Transit Services Commission (RTSC) since 2017.
This item is before Council to ensure compliance with new requirements to establish a regional commission as result of amendments to the Municipal Government Act earlier this year.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Strategic Priority #3: Building a Transportation Network: Integrated transportation systems.
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On February 3, 2020 Council passed the following motion:
(AR-19-522)
That the Chief Administrative Officer be directed to provide notice in writing to the Deputy Ministers of Transportation and Municipal Affairs for the Province of Alberta that the City of St. Albert supports enactment of a regulation under the Municipal Government Act creating a Regional Transit Services Commission for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region including St. Albert as a Commission member, provided that the governance, financial and operating models for the Commission are consistent with the recommendations in the Ernst & Young report entitled, "Accelerating Transit in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region: Building a Regional Transit Services Commission."
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
On June 11, 2020, an application was made on behalf of the Members of the RTSC, under the process in effect at that time, to establish the Commission. That application was still under consideration by the Government of Alberta when on September 1, 2020 amendments to Part 15.1 of the MGA came into force, changing the process for the establishment of regional services commissions.
The amendment to Part 15.1 of the MGA now provides for specific Council resolutions from all members to legally establish the Commission. The recommended motion is in compliance with the new legislative requirements.
After the resolutions are adopted by all eight Member municipalities, in accordance with the new MGA they will be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs within 60 days.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
The councils of the other seven members of the RTSC -- the City of Beaumont, the Town of Devon, the City of Edmonton, the City of Fort Saskatchewan, the City of Leduc, the City of Spruce Grove, and the Town of Stony Plain -- have all passed this resolution at various dates in December.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDED MOTION
Financial: N/A
Legal / Risk: N/A
Program or Service: N/A
Organizational: N/A
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
N/A
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Report Date: December 21, 2020
Author: Trevor Duley
Department: Office of Chief Administrative Officer
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble