Municipal Sustainability Strategy Advisory Committee (MSSAC) Updates

Our Committee designee Mike Haugen attended an MSSAC meeting November 16, 2023

Input on LAEA and Code of Conduct can be extended for a short period for associations.
Delia process is still ongoing. Have looked over resident feedback on the report. Infrastructure assessment is on track.
Directives stemming from municipal reviews are, for the most part, proceeding and in order.
Municipal Training programs have started. A number of these are available virtually. Training for municipal officials | Alberta.ca
ICF Engagement Plan has been approved by the Minister. Final documents are being created and this process should start in January 2024 and run through March.
Grant programs presentation to LGAA and ARMAA went well (86 total attendees).
Conversation on the Peer Network continues.
Municipal affairs staff have valued feedback and are looking to have a greater presence at events such as RMA, AB Munis, Association Conferences, etc.

Thanks,

Various reviews and Viability Directives continue to happen. Delia (Starland County) viability review continues and a petition from Bittern Lake (Camrose County) is currently being assessed. Directive monitoring for Bawlf, Berwyn, Champion, Halkirk, Hill Spring, Hussar, Innisfree, Manning, Rycroft, and Warner continue.

Municipal Affairs grant people want to make sure you spend your MSI money. One year of allocation is allowed to be carried into LGFF, the rest needs to be spent. Currently there are about 30 municipalities that the Province is working with to ensure the utilize their funding.

ABMunis recently released a paper on CAO Roles and Tenure titled: Lonely at the Top. There is webinar with the report’s authors on October 13^th from 10:30-Noon.

Both the Province and municipal associations are concerned about the future of municipal staff and elected officials. This seems to be a topic that is starting to get more attention and being looked at on several fronts.

Mike Haugen, ARMAA President, [email protected]

Our Committee designee Mike Haugen attended an MSSAC meeting July 20, 2023

In addition to the MSSAC Info document, Mike has provided some further notes.

RMA is working on initiatives regarding the Province’s Quasi Judicial Boards and thanks members for their survey responses. RMA is also putting together a report regarding costs incurred by rural municipalities that receive a dissolved municipality.
AB Munis are working on initiatives related to political party involvement in local elections, specifically to keep party politics out of local elections.

If you have any questions or additional info, please reach out to the executive director Chelsie, or Mike directly.

Kind Regards,

ARMAA

Our Committee designee Mike Haugen attended an MSSAC meeting Oct 20, 2022

In addition to the Map Cycle 2 Powerpoint presentation, Mike has provided some further notes.

MSSAC Meeting Notes:

There are currently no ongoing viability reviews, although the Province knows of some discussions and expects requests in the near future.
Many Municpal Affairs programs are in limbo pending things at the political level being sorted out (cabinet, etc.)
The review for the lower Athabasca Regional Plan is moving forward and the Province hopes to release census regulation before year-end in order to allow municipalities wanting to conduct a census in 2023 the ability to plan.
The Municipal Accountability Program (MAP) is nearing the completion of its first five years and is looking to make alterations for its second cycle.

Some notes about the MAP:

- Mandatory for municipalities under 2500 population
- Municipalities over 2500 population may participate voluntarily
- The attached slideshow outlines the five areas they are focusing on for their next cycle
- The MAP is looking for feedback from associations regarding their operation/purpose and the 2500 population threshold.

If you have any questions or additional info, please reach out to the executive director Chelsie, or Mike directly.

Kind Regards,

ARMAA