Lacombe County Council and the Summer Village of Gull Lake Council recently signed an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF). The agreement specifies what and how services are funded and delivered, and also highlights the ways that the municipalities can work together efficiently.
“Lacombe County has long been a believer in the importance of having excellent working relationships with our neighbours, including the Summer Village of Gull Lake,” said Reeve Paula Law. “The signing of these ICF agreements paves a path forward for continued collaboration and communication between our communities.”
The Lacombe County / Summer Village of Gull Lake ICF includes the following key points:
- Access will be provided to municipal facilities, programs and services to each other’s residents in a manner that does not differentiate among them
- A joint approach will be taken to capital planning for capital assets that deliver mutual benefit
- A shared investment for shared benefit has been agreed to regarding capital planning and cost-sharing
- An opportunity for each municipality to have input into policy and service level development for operating cost-sharing
- Service Inventories outlining the types of service, funding mechanisms, and the party(ies) responsible for delivering each service, including Solid Waste Collection and Disposal, Fire Response Services, Emergency Management, Road Maintenance, Recreation Services (specifically the provincial of facilities for recreation services and programs through the arena and community hall) and Seniors Housing
“Lacombe County has and continues to be a very good partner, we look forward to working together in the best interest of our constituents,” said Linda D’Angelo, Mayor of the Summer Village of Gull Lake.
Background Information: Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs)
Municipalities that share a common boundary must create an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF), which is a new legislated requirement that was introduced in the Modernized Municipal Government Act in 2016. Municipalities have until March 31, 2020 to finalize all required ICFs for their municipality.
Frameworks are intended to:
- Provide for integrated and strategic planning, delivery and funding of intermunicipal services
- Allocate scarce resources efficiently in delivering local services
- Ensure municipalities contribute funding to services that benefit their residents
Each framework must identify which service they provide, which service is shared between municipalities, and which are provided by third parties. The ICF also details how the services listed below are funded/delivered:
- Transportation
- Water and wastewater
- Solid waste
- Emergency services
- Recreation
- Any other services that benefit residents in more than one of the municipalities that are parties to the framework
-Submitted by Lacombe County