During their regular meeting Oct. 22, Sylvan Lake councillors:
• heard from Chief Administrative Officer Betty Osmond that a mediator has been found to facilitate a meeting of council with Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Kerry Towle. The mediator is Bob Clark, formerly Alberta’s Ethics Commissioner and an Alberta Social Credit Party leader. The meeting is scheduled for mid-November.
• were advised by Osmond that Alberta Transportation is reducing the 100 km/hr zone on Highway 20 north of Highway 11 to 80 km/hr and the 70 km/hr zone to 60 km/hr.
• heard from Osmond that 100 plus businesses have been visited by the town’s economic development officer, Matt Cornall, to make them aware of the Heart of Commercial Community Revitalization survey and request participation. The town is undertaking the survey of downtown businesses and property owners in partnership with the chamber of commerce. The survey will go to a Nov. 20th workshop and Dean Clark of Canadian Ventures will use the data to create a Revitalization Program for the area.
• learned conceptual designs for the multiplex redevelopment have been completed and will be used during two public information sessions. The first, Nov. 15, will deal with the curling rink project; the second, Nov. 21, will deal with the multiplex redevelopment.
• were told there’s an opportunity for Sylvan Lakers to discuss roles, responsibilities and strategies for the provincial government’s Social Policy Framework Nov. 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the community centre. A session is being held from 1-4 p.m. at the library for service providers. The Speak. Share. Thrive. initiative has been launched by the provincial government to talk about how to respond to challenges like housing, employment, safety and childcare.
• set dates for Coffee with Council sessions to get out and meet with residents after their 2013 draft budget is complete. The dates are Dec. 6 from 7-10 a.m. at A & W; Dec. 8 from 9-12 noon at Waves and Dec. 11 from 6-8 p.m. at the arena.
• proclaimed November as Family Violence and Bullying Prevention Month.
“We call upon citizens in the Town of Sylvan Lake to speak out against family violence and bullying; we call upon you to make a difference by creating a culture of support for those impacted by family violence and bullying; and we call upon you to encourage all Albertans to help make our province violence free in 2012 and beyond,” read the proclamation in part.