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Council has established committees of Council to represent various civic interests and mandates. The committees are an important part of good governance for our community, and contribute to the prosperity and sustainability of Okotoks. Committees examine issues and provide recommendations for approval by Council. You are encouraged to get involved in our community by serving on one of the boards or committees of Council.
Council has identified the need to increase the diversity and accessibility of housing as a strategic priority. To ensure greater provision of access to affordable housing, members of the Affordable Housing Task Force will examine all aspects of the affordable housing situation in Okotoks over a two-year period and provide strategic and action-oriented recommendations to Council.
In June, 2018 the Task Force developed a draft definition of affordable housing for Okotoks.
On November 13, 2018 representatives from the Task Force presented a report at Council’s regular meeting that highlighted the urgent need to take action on affordable housing.
They made recommendations for three immediate actions that will provide a framework for increasing the potential to diversify affordable housing options. These include:
Council approved the following motions:
"That Administration be directed to advance the affordable housing section of the Municipal Development Plan and have draft recommendations for Council’s consideration at the March 25, 2019 Council meeting."
"That Administration be directed to provide a report at the March 25, 2019 Council meeting outlining the draft proposed amendments to the regulatory framework that would achieve the objective of immediately providing the Okotoks rental market with additional affordable units, and that contains the following needs at a minimum:
"That administration be directed to explore comparable reporting methodologies and assess the impact on the organization of establishing permanent procedures for collecting and reporting data relative to citizen housing needs and report back to Council with plans and costing by June 30, 2019."
"That Administration be directed to include an affordable housing component for consideration in the 2019 budget presentations November 20, 21, and 22, 2018."
The Assessment Review Board conducts hearings regarding property assessment appeals filed by Okotoks residents and businesses against their property assessments. Hearings are held annually usually in late spring/early summer.
The Assessment Review Board is made up of five members. To ensure property owners have a voice in the property assessment system, the Municipal Government Act has set out a complaints and appeals system for property owners who have concerns about their assessment. The Assessment Review Board consists of citizens that review appeals registered by Okotoks' residents against their annual assessment.
Complaints may relate to any assessed property, but may not be made about any tax rate. Further, the Assessment Review Board has no jurisdiction to deal with a complaint about linear property.
for more information visit the Government of Alberta's property assessment complaints and appeals webpage by clicking the button below:
How Much are the Complaint Fees?
Complaint fees for the assessment complaint process are as follows:
Residential: 3 or fewer dwellings and farm land under one roll number - $50 per complaint
Residential: 4 or more dwellings - $325 per complaint
Non-residential: $650 per complaint
Following filing a complaint with the Assessment Review Board, property owners may withdraw for whatever reason in the period leading up to their hearing date. We request that we receive the withdrawal in writing, and submitted to the Board Clerk of the Assessment Review Board.
Postponement of Hearings
Postponements will only be granted for exceptional circumstances and must be requested in writing to the clerk of the Assessment Review Board well in advance of the scheduled hearing. A written response will be sent indicating whether the request was granted or denied. Requests for postponement when the disclosure is due or on the hearing day will not be granted.
By sharing information, both the complainant and the assessor will have a better understanding of how the case should be presented to the Board. It also provides another opportunity for the issue to be resolved before the hearing. No evidence is seen by the Board prior to the hearing.
Failure to comply with the legislative process may result in a complaint being deemed invalid.
Once the date of a hearing has been set, complainants need to be aware of the following critical dates:
January 3, 2020 | Assessment notices mailed |
January 3 – March 10, 2020 (60 days from date of mailing) | 60 day review period |
| March 10, 2020 | Final day to submit a complaint |
| March 11, 2020 | Scheduling of hearings begins |
For a complaint about an assessment to be heard by a Composite Assessment Review Board:
For a complaint about any matter other than an assessment, the parties must provide full disclosure at least 7 days before the scheduled hearing date. An example of a non-assessment matter would be the name or mailing address of an assessed person or taxpayer being incorrect.
All evidence should be submitted to:
Clerk of the Assessment Review Board
Town of Okotoks
5 Elizabeth Street, PO Box 20
Okotoks AB T1S 1K1
| Roll Number | Board's Decision | |
| 2019 | #0061280 - CARB | Decision |
| #1726051 - CARB | Decision | |
| #1726056 - CARB | Decision | |
| #0104270 - LARB | Decision | |
| #0000791 - LARB | Decision | |
| #0026670 - LARB | Decision | |
| #0000790 - LARB | Decision | |
| #0014870 - LARB | Decision | |
| #0106320 - LARB | Decision | |
| 2018 | #0015740 - CARB | Decision |
| #0051730 - CARB | Decision | |
| #0073180 - LARB | Decision | |
| #0069790 - LARB | Decision | |
| #0073450 - LARB | Decision |
The Emergency Advisory Committee advises Council on the development of emergency plans and programs; and complies with the Procedure Bylaw, the Emergency Management Bylaw, The Alberta Emergency Plan, The Emergency Management Act and the
Municipal Government Act. The Emergency Advisory Committee is comprised of three Council Members.
**For upcoming meeting dates and agenda packages please refer to this page.
The Family Community Support Services Committee guides Town Administration in the design and delivery of programs that promote well-being among individuals, families, and the community. Membership consists of Okotoks citizens and Council Members and a youth position.
**For upcoming meeting dates and agenda packages please refer to this page.
The Finance and Audit Committee assists Administration with the development and implementation of annual operating and capital budgets. The Committee reviews and makes recommendations to Council on current and long-range fiscal planning. Membership consists of Okotoks citizens and Council Members.
The purpose of the Governance and Priorities Committee is to enhance the organizational governance framework in order to ensure that roles and responsibilities of Council, the Chief Administrative Officer, and Administration can be differentiated, explained, and understood by all stakeholders. This Committee is not intended to replicate Council Meetings, but rather shall provide a more informal forum for the discussion of governance matters.
Members of the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) review and approve applications for development permits and subdivision of land. Membership on the MPC consists of Okotoks citizens and Council Members.
** For upcoming meeting dates and agenda packages (as well as past meetings from April 2019 onward) please refer to this page.
The Okotoks Public Library Board determines the purpose and operation of the library and encourages development of services and activities for the benefit of residents. Membership on the Library Board consists of citizens from both the Town of Okotoks and the Municipal District of Foothills and a Town of Okotoks Council Member.
The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) addresses appeals against certain land use and development application decisions of the Development Officer or Municipal Planning Commission. SDAB meets as required. Membership consists of Okotoks citizens.
The United Way/Okotoks Partnership Committee is supported by Town Council and sustains a partnership with the United Way of Calgary and area. The committee oversees a community fundraising campaign and distributes United Way funding to eligible organizations serving residents of Okotoks and surrounding area. The Committee appoints additional community volunteers to serve on sub committees to help achieve its purpose. Membership consists of citizens from the Town of Okotoks and Municipal District of Foothills, as well as a Member of Okotoks Council.
The Urban Deer Task Force was struck by Council to provide advice, information, ideas/models/tools, and other needed support to the Town of Okotoks in preparing an Urban Deer Strategy and Action Plan, and to support communication and engagement efforts to ensure the resulting Strategy and Action Plan is effectively implemented.
| UPCOMING MEETINGS | PAST MEETINGS |
Three Members of Council are appointed to the Alberta Foothills Industrial Corridor Association.
Councillor Tanya Thorn was elected to the AUMA Board of Directors in the position of Towns South for a two year term in October 2016.
The Town appoints one Member of Council to the Bow River Basin Water Council.
Officially established in January 2018, the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board consists of representatives from 10 municipalities mandated to develop a long term plan for managed, sustainable growth in the Calgary region. The Calgary Metropolitan Region Board is the first provincially-mandated growth management board for the Calgary region. One Council Member is appointed to this Board.
Community Futures Highwood Board is a non-profit community-owned organization that has been serving the Highwood Region since 1986 under the leadership and direction of local municipalities. Community Futures Highwood’s primary role within the region is to promote small business growth, generate jobs and build the capacity of regional communities to initiate and implement strategic development plans for a sustainable future. The Town appoints a citizen of Okotoks and one Member of Council to the Community Future Highwood Board.
One member of Council is appointed to the Crescent Point Community Foundation.
Two Members of Council are appointed to the Foothills Centennial Centre Foundation Board of Directors.
Two Members of Council are appointed to the Foothills-Okotoks Recreation Society.
In 1995, the Towns of Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Okotoks, High River, and the Villages of Blackie, Cayley and Longview, and the MD of Foothills joined forces for the purpose of providing a regional emergency single call answer and transfer/dispatch system (E 9-1-1) for the Fire and Police Services and Emergency Medical Services provided to each of the participating municipalities. The Town of Okotoks appoints one Member of Council to the Commission.
The Commission is a separate legal entity established in 1989 by the Province at the request of the Towns of Okotoks, High River, and the Municipal District of Foothills. The Commission's purpose is to own and operate the Frank Lake pipeline running from the Cargill plant to Frank Lake, as well as to administer the agreement between Cargill and member municipalities. In 1992 the Commission was expanded to include Turner Valley and Black Diamond and took over all operations of the Foothills Regional Waste Management Authority (landfill). The Town of Okotoks appoints one Member of Council to the Commission.
Two Members of Council are appointed to the Foothills Regional Water Collaborative.
Three Members of Council are appointed to the Friends of Champion Park Society.
The Intermunicipal Committee discusses matters of mutual interest to both the Town of Okotoks and the MD of Foothills. The Committee may make recommendations on inter-municipal matters to the respective Councils. Three Members of Council are appointed to this committee.
One Member of Council is appointed to Westwinds Communities.