WaterWolf FAQ’s
What
are the benefits of a planning commission?
What
is a "Corporate Advisory" Planning District mean?
What
is the role of a planning commision?
What
would the Planning Commission meet to discuss?
How will
each individual municipality be represented?
What is
the role of the Executive?
What would
the subcommitees do?
What is the initial fee structure and the cost
of membership?
Which services will be available for no cost
and which will be fee for service?
What about the future?
1. What
are the benefits of a Planning Commission?
A Planning Commission will provide regional standards for growth; common approaches
to development; it will ensure the protection of sensitive environmental areas;
and will enable the area the power of an 18,000 person voice towards more successful
lobbying efforts. It will provide regional planning to the area and the delivery
of services to support the participating municipalities, using the South Saskatchewan
River and Lake Diefenbaker as the tie that binds them, not the boundary that
separates.
2. What
is a “Corporate Advisory” Planning District mean?
The advisory planning district does not replace any of the powers of the participating
municipalities. The elected council members are still responsible for all of
the decision making regarding land use and service delivery within their municipality.
3. What
is the role of a Planning Commission?
It will be to make recommendations to the affected council(s). It provides
professional expertise and advise for councils to ensure information to enable
evidence based decisions.
4. What
would the Planning Commission meet to discuss?
Over the initial year, it will be developing its governance structure. In addition
it will be ensuring that all of the players at the table are meeting common
development standards and bylaws. In the future they would meet to discuss
development issues that challenge the status quo, and make recommendations
to the host municipality.
5. How
will each individual municipality be represented?
Each municipality will be entitled to a seat at the regional level, meeting
once or twice per year. Each municipality will have the opportunity to elect
representatives from their area to serve on subcommittees.
6. What
is the role of the Executive?
The executive will be comprised of approximately 10 representatives from around
the Planning Commission area. They would act on behalf of the Planning Commission
between the annual/semi-annual meetings. This executive would prioritize the
regional planning priorities and services and give direction to the regional
support staff.
7. What
would the subcommittees do?
The subcommittees would provide technical and community review to any changes
proposed in the area. (Technical Committee, Water Protection Committee, etc.)
8. What
is the initial fee structure and the cost of membership?
The Rural Municipalities would be charged a flat fee of $1,500. The Urban Municipalities
would be charged $3/per capita (according to the 2006 Census), with a base
fee of $500 and a ceiling of $2,500.
9. Which
services will be available for no cost and which will be fee for
service?
The initial membership fee will cover basic administration of the Planning
Commission, retainer fee for a planner, a common table for regional issues,
investigation of other regional issues such as building inspectors, water technicians,
etc. in the future.
10. What
about the future?
The common regional table with municipal representation from around the area
offers opportunity to discuss a variety of shared services as we go forward.
