COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

Citizens Advisory Group Terms of Reference

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DRAFT COPY

Purpose:
A Citizens Advisory Group is a group of citizens who (collectively) will act as champions to engage the
public to participate throughout the development of the Community Sustainability Plan. The leadership
of the committee will ensure that the process is transparent, collaborative and inclusive so that the plan
provides representation of Hinton and area.

Sustainability:
Council has adopted from the Brundtland Commission the definition of sustainable development, which
reads “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Objectives:
1. Develop a vision statement for Hinton and area.
2. Evaluate existing framework principles and/or create principles to build a common understanding of
what sustainability means to Hinton and area.
3. Improve the community’s ability to meet current and future needs of its citizens through the
development of an overarching plan that encompasses and acknowledges past and present, internal
and external planning documents and citizen engagement activities.
4. Identify priority actions and short, medium and long term strategies to be undertaken by the Town of
Hinton.
5. Recruit individuals with the interest, desire and expertise to participate in the focus group’s sessions
to identify what success looks like in the 14 strategy areas (see Scope); the current reality as it
relates to the 14 plus strategy areas; and identify further actions that can be undertaken to bridge the
gap between the desired success and current reality.
6. Work with the community to identify the current assets of the community, identify what they want for
their community and proactively take steps to move the community to the desired state.
7. Identify and build partnerships with individuals, organizations, and businesses that will contribute to
the planning and implementation of the Community Sustainability Plan.
8. Conduct focus group sessions to identify and create an action plan for the key strategy areas as
recommended by the Citizens Advisory Group.
9. Develop a Community Sustainability Plan that encompasses the 5 pillars (social, cultural, economic,
environment and governance); the vision and principles of a sustainable community.
10. Support Municipal Sustainability Plan Coordinator in developing a communication plan to educate the
community on key elements of sustainable living.
11. Provide regular updates to the community and Town Council on the progress of the Community
Sustainability Plan developments.

Scope:
1. The Community Sustainability Plan will include short, medium and long term strategies for
sustainable living in potentially 14 plus strategy areas (as identified by Alberta Urban Municipalities
Association) including:
Affordability & Housing
Arts/Culture/Heritage
Built Environments
Economic Development
Energy
Food

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 COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
Citizens Advisory Group Terms of Reference
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Governance & Partnerships

Health & Social
Learning
Materials & Solid Waste
Natural Areas
Recreation & Leisure
Transportation
Water
Others (as may be identified through the Citizens Advisory Committee)

2. The Community Sustainability Plan will identify and prioritize actions to be undertaken in the
proposed strategy areas.

3. Once completed the Community Sustainability Plan will be implemented and further evaluated on a
yearly basis.

Membership:
1. There shall be 11 and no more than 13 members on the Citizens Advisory Group with representation
from the 5 pillars of a sustainable community:
• Economic
• Governance
• Environment
• Social
• Culture
2. Town Council will appoint 2 Council members and an alternate to be a member of the Citizens
Advisory Group. The Council members and/or Committee Chair and/or the Municipal Sustainability
Coordinator will keep council abreast of committee developments on a regular basis.
3. Members will submit an application to the Municipal Sustainability Coordinator to be considered for
the appointment to the Citizens Advisory Group.
4. Members will be appointed for the term of the project with Members committed to working through the
entire planning process (12 to 18 months).

Meetings:
1. All members will actively participate in the Natural Step Training Program.
2. Members will attend Citizens Advisory Group meetings and participate in sessions related to their
area of expertise and/or interests.
3. Meetings shall be held as needed and be set by resolution of the Citizens Advisory Group.
4. Meeting procedures shall be conducted in accordance with good meeting practices and decisions
will be made by consensus.
5. Governance model of Bourinot Rules of Order.

Chairperson’s Roles & Responsibilities:

1. The Chairperson will be appointed by Town Council.
2. The Chairperson will review agenda packages and consult with Municipal Sustainability Plan
Coordinator prior to the Citizens Advisory Group meetings.

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 COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
Citizens Advisory Group Terms of Reference
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3. The Chairperson will meet with the Municipal Sustainability Plan Coordinator to review project work
plan, timelines, and project developments on an as-needed basis.
4. The Chairperson will be responsible for chairing the Citizens Advisory Group meetings.
5. The Chairperson shall be the spokesperson for the Citizens Advisory Group at all public functions,
press engagements, and attend meetings to further the developments of the sustainability plan as
needed.

Administrative Support:
1. The Municipal Sustainability Plan Coordinator and the Town will provide administrative support to
record, translate, and disseminate all meeting minutes and agendas.
2. Agendas will be developed by the Municipal Sustainability Plan Coordinator in consultation with the
Committee Chair and input from any committee member one week prior to the meeting, or agenda
items can be added at the meeting.
3. Citizens Advisory Group members are responsible for providing the Town of Hinton Municipal
Sustainability Plan Coordinator with their current contact information, including email addresses, if
applicable.
4. Agenda packages will be emailed one week prior to the meeting date.
5. Meeting notices/reminders will be sent two weeks prior to the meeting date.

Financial Resources:
1. As defined in the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and Grande Economic Region (Includes
Drayton Valley, Fox Creek, Grande Cache, Hinton, Mayerthorpe, Onoway, Whitecourt and
Municipality of Jasper) Phase 4 Partnership Agreement.
2. There shall be no remuneration for Citizens Advisory Group members.
3. It is not anticipated that there will be any expenditures required by a member of the Citizens Advisory
Group. Any costs to be incurred by a member will be approved by the Municipal Sustainability Plan
Coordinator.

Forecasted Schedule and Time Commitments of Citizen Advisory Group Members:

Phase Timeline
I May 1, 2009 to Aug. 31, 2009 Structuring the Process (Internal Process)
II Sept. 1, 2009 to Oct. 31, 2009 Creating a Share Understanding of Sustainable Community
Success with the Citizens Advisory Group
III Nov. 1,2009 to Mar. 31, 2010 Community Based Issue Analysis
IV Apr. 1, 2010 to May 1, 2010 Action Planning
V May 1, 2010 to Ongoing Ongoing Implementation subject to final Community
Sustainability Plan

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 TOWN OF HINTON
APPLICATION FOR CITIZEN APPOINTMENTS
H INTON
qa€waq i’o ie CáCd
TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

Name:

Address:

Postal Code

Telephone Number: (Home) (Business) (Fax)

(Email Address)

Board/Committee that you are interested in serving on:

Why are you interested in serving on this Board/Committee?

What Special Contribution are you prepared to make to the Board/Committee for which you are submitting
your name?

Background Information (Education, Work Experience, Volunteer Positions, Previous Board Experience,
etc)

Date of Application: Signature of Applicant:

Applications may be submitted to the Corporate Services Administrative Assistant: rwest@hinton.ca

Personal information is being collected under the authority of the Municipal Government Act M 26 and will be used for
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administering the affairs of the Town of Hinton. The privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of
Privacy Act protect it. If you have any questions about the collection, contact Rhonda West, FOIP Coordinator, at 780-
865-6002.