Contents
Role of Council
Council is the governing body of Rocky View County as a municipality and, along with the Chief Administrative Officer, is the custodian of its powers and duties under the Municipal Government Act and other legislation, bylaws, and policies. Rocky View County’s Council is comprised of seven councillors elected from each of the County’s seven electoral divisions.
Council’s role is to set the overall direction of the municipality through the policies and programs it develops, as well as making decisions in the best interest of the residents and businesses of Rocky View County. The policies and programs set by Council provide the guidelines for Administration to follow while conducting the day-to-day operations of the municipality.
The Municipal Government Act sets out the following six purposes for municipalities in Alberta:
- to provide good government
- to foster the well-being of the environment
- to foster the economic development of the municipality
- to provide services, facilities, or other things that, in the opinion of Council, are necessary or desirable for all of part of the municipality
- to develop and maintain safe and viable communities
- to work collaboratively with neighbouring municipalities to plan, deliver, and fund intermunicipal services
Rocky View County Council carries out the purposes of municipalities in Alberta through the policies, programs, and decisions it makes on behalf of the residents and businesses of the County.
Candidates interested in running for office may refer to Alberta Municipal Affairs’ What Every Councillor Needs to Know: A Council Member’s Handbook for more information on the roles and responsibilities of councillors in Alberta.
Role of the Chief Administrative Officer
The Chief Administrative Officer is the administrative head of Rocky View County as a municipality and is responsible for implementing the policies and programs established by Council, as well as providing advice to Council and keeping it informed of the operations of the municipality.
The powers and duties of the Chief Administrative Officer are outlined in the Municipal Government Act, Rocky View County’s Chief Administrative Officer Bylaw, and other legislation, bylaws, and policies that are applicable to the municipality.
The relationship between Council and the Chief Administrative Officer is essential to the administration of a municipality. It is important for Council to trust that the Chief Administrative Officer will carry out the decisions made by Council, and it is important for the Chief Administrative Officer to trust that Council will consider their advice when making decisions.
Role of a Councillor
Rocky View County’s Council is comprised of seven councillors elected from each of the County’s seven electoral divisions. A councillor’s role is to work with other councillors to set the overall direction of Rocky View County through their roles as decision-makers.
The Municipal Government Act sets out the following eight duties of councillors in Alberta:
- to consider the welfare and interests of Rocky View County as a whole and to bring to Council’s attention anything that would promote the welfare or interests of the municipality
- to promote an integrated and strategic approach to intermunicipal land use planning and service delivery with neighbouring municipalities
- to participate generally in developing and evaluating Rocky View County’s policies and programs
- to participate in Council meetings and committee meetings and meetings of other bodies to which they are appointed by Council
- to obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the Chief Administrative Officer
- to keep in confidence matters discussed in private at a Council or committee meeting until discussed at a meeting held in public
- to adhere to Rocky View County’s Council Code of Conduct Bylaw established by Council
- to perform any other duty or function imposed on them by the Municipal Government Act and other legislation, bylaws, and policies
When carrying out their duties as councillors, councillors must be careful not to place the interest of their electoral division above the interest of the municipality. Councillors are elected to look after the interests of the entire municipality. Council’s effectiveness depends on councillors providing input from the perspective of their electoral divisions while thinking and voting for Rocky View County as a whole.
Councillors must also make certain to avoid situations where they may have a conflict of interest in a matter to be decided by Council. Councillors must be familiar with the pecuniary interest and conflict of interest provisions of the Municipal Government Act and Rocky View County’s Council Code of Conduct Bylaw to ensure that the decisions a councillor makes do not benefit them, their family, or their employers.
Role of the Reeve
While other municipalities, particularly urban municipalities, have Mayors who are elected by the residents of their municipality, Rocky View County, along with other rural municipalities, has a Reeve who is chosen by the councillors of the municipality.
The primary role of the Reeve is to be the official spokesperson of Rocky View County and to preside over Council meetings, which are duties established in the Municipal Government Act, Rocky View County’s Council Code of Conduct Bylaw, and the County’s Procedure Bylaw.
As the official spokesperson of Rocky View County, the Reeve plays an important role in communicating the decisions of Council, representing Rocky View County on matters involving other municipalities, and representing the County at the provincial and federal levels.
When presiding over Council meetings, it is important for the Reeve to be impartial and fair towards other councillors and to ensure that Council meetings are conducted in an orderly manner. The Reeve is often a consensus-builder who can navigate competing priorities and personalities.
Rocky View County’s Reeve is chosen on annual basis at Council’s annual organizational meeting, which are held annually in October. The Reeve serves one-year terms. Because of the significant additional duties placed on the Reeve, the Reeve is compensated at a higher rate than councillors.
Role of the Deputy Reeve
The Role of the Deputy Reeve is to act in place of the Reeve when they are unable to perform their duties, which generally occurs when the Reeve is away or otherwise occupied from time to time. Rocky View County’s Deputy Reeve is chosen on annual basis at Council’s annual organizational meeting, which are held annually in October. The Deputy Reeve serves one-year terms.
Because there are additional duties placed on the Deputy Reeve, but not as many additional duties as are placed on the Reeve, the Deputy Reeve is compensated at a higher rate than councillors but at a lower rate than the Reeve.
Training and Orientation
Newly elected Rocky View County councillors are required to attend a series of orientation sessions to prepare for their term of office on Council. Attendance at the orientation sessions is required by the Municipal Government Act and Rocky View County’s Council Code of Conduct Bylaw.
The following are some of the topics that are required to be covered in the orientation sessions, which will be held after the 2025 municipal election:
- the role of municipalities in Alberta
- the organization and function of municipalities
- budgeting and financial administration
- the roles and responsibilities of councillors
- the roles and responsibilities of the Chief Administration Officer and Rocky View County employees
Councillors may attend additional training throughout their term of office as provided for in Rocky View County’s Council Compensation and Expense Reimbursement Policy. Rocky View County provides councillors with a budget of at least $4,500 for attendance at conferences, workshops, courses, and seminars that are relevant to their duties as elected officials.
The following training options are popular with newly elected councillors in Alberta:
Time Commitment
Being a Rocky View County councillor involves a significant amount of time to be dedicated towards performing the duties of the office. Councillors are expected to do the following:
- prepare for and attend Council meetings and meetings of the boards and committees to which they are appointed by Council
- attend and represent Rocky View County at public events, such as grand openings, parades, open houses, and public meetings
- prepare for and attend workshops and other training opportunities provided or facilitated by Rocky View County
- answer emails, letters, and phone calls from residents
Rocky View County conducted a survey prior to the 2021 municipal election which indicated that councillors could expect to spend, on average, around 35 hours per week on their official duties. The Reeve and Deputy Reeve positions have higher time commitments.
Meetings
One of the core duties of a Rocky View County councillor is to attend Council meetings and meetings of the various other boards and committees that a councillor may be appointed to by Council. Council meetings are generally held on Tuesdays beginning at 9:00 a.m., twice a month.
Preparing for these meetings, particularly Council meetings, requires a significant time commitment from councillors. Agenda packages for Council meetings, for example, can range from between 100 to 400 pages of materials that should be reviewed prior to each meeting.
In addition to two Council meetings each month, Rocky View County councillors can expect to attend the following board and committee meetings on a regular basis:
- Governance Committee meetings, which are generally held once a month
- Public Presentation Committee meetings, which are generally held on a quarterly basis
- Recreation Governance Committee meetings, which are generally held on a quarterly basis
- Emergency Management Committee meetings, which are generally held on an annual basis
- Intermunicipal Committee meetings, which are generally held on a quarterly basis
- Agricultural Service Board meetings, which are generally held on a quarterly basis
- Family and Community Support Services Board meetings, which are generally held on a quarterly basis
Key Documents, Policies, Bylaws, and Legislation
Municipal Government Act (MGA)
Municipalities in Alberta are governed by the Municipal Government Act, which sets out the purposes and powers of municipalities – from villages with a few hundred residents to cities with over a million. Almost everything that Rocky View County does originates in the Municipal Government Act in some way, including municipal governance, planning and development, taxation and assessment, and the enforcement of municipal bylaws.
While councillors are not expected to be familiar with the entirety of the Municipal Government Act, being familiar with the key portions of the legislation is encouraged, as there are limits to what Rocky View County can and cannot do. Following the 2025 municipal election, Rocky View County councillors will be provided with an orientation session outlining the important portions of the Municipal Government Act.
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act
Another key piece of legislation that councillors should be familiar with is the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which outlines how information may be collected, used, and released by Rocky View County and how records may be accessed by the public.
Rocky View County councillors are subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which means that the records of a councillor (such as emails) may be released to the public as part of an access to information request. Following the 2025 municipal election, Rocky View County councillors will be provided with an orientation session outlining the important portions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act also outlines what matters may be handled confidentially by Council, including matters that involve private personal information or confidential business information, that may prejudice Rocky View County’s negotiating position, or that may interfere with a legal or enforcement matter if disclosed to the public.
Council Code of Conduct Bylaw
Under the Municipal Government Act, all municipalities in Alberta are required to have a Council code of conduct. All Rocky View County councillors must adhere to the County’s Council Code of Conduct Bylaw – the most recent of which was adopted by Council in 2023.
Rocky View County’s Council Code of Conduct Bylaw sets out the standards of ethical conduct for councillors, which includes how councillors represent and communicate on behalf of the County and how they may interact with other councillors, employees, and the public.
The Code of Conduct Bylaw also provides a process for filing complaints against councillors who have potentially contravened the code of conduct, as well as a process for investigating those complaints and for sanctioning councillors if they are found to have breached the code of conduct.
Council is tasked with appointing an independent third-party Complaints Adjudicator who is responsible for investigating and reporting to Council on complaints filed under the Code of Conduct Bylaw. The most recent Complaints Adjudicator appointment occurred in 2024.
Procedure Bylaw
Rocky View County’s Procedure Bylaw sets out how decisions are made at Council meetings and how individual councillors may bring forward their own proposals for consideration by Council. The most recent Procedure Bylaw was adopted by Council in 2024.
Councillors, particular the Reeve who must preside over Council meetings, are expected to be familiar with the requirements of the Procedure Bylaw. It is the responsibility of all councillors to be aware of and adhere to the requirements of the Procedure Bylaw.
County Plan and Land Use Bylaw
Planning and development in Rocky View County are guided in large party by the County’s Municipal Development Plan (the “County Plan”) and Land Use Bylaw.
The County Plan is one of Rocky View County’s most important statutory plans, as it envisions and guides the future planning and development of the County. The Land Use Bylaw is one of Rocky View County’s most important bylaws, as it regulates land use and development in the County.
Many of Council’s decisions involve the Land Use Bylaw and the way it regulates planning and development matters, as well as the County Plan and the way it envisions growth.
Councillors are expected to be well-versed in the County Plan and the Land Use Bylaw, as Council often decides on planning and development matters that involve complex or conflicting provisions and different interpretations and applications of its regulations.
Council Compensation and Expense Reimbursement Policy
Recognizing that councillors may incur incidental expenses while performing their official duties, Rocky View County’s Council Compensation and Expense Reimbursement Policy outlines what expenses may be reimbursed by the County, such as travel and lodging. It also outlines the technology options and training budget offered to councillors.
Rocky View County councillors can expect to receive the following benefits:
- basic group life and accidental illness insurance coverage of three times the annual salary of the councillor, with Rocky View County paying 100% of the insurance premiums
- the same extended medical and dental coverage that is provided to Rocky View County employees, with the County paying 100% of the medical premiums and 50% of the dental premiums
- $2,200 annual contribution from Rocky View County towards a registered retirement pension plan
- a health spending account in the amount of 1% of the councillor’s annual salary per calendar year
- access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program
- a smartphone and either a laptop or tablet (or reimbursement for use of personal devices)
The Council Compensation and Expense Reimbursement Policy also sets out the benefits offered by Rocky View County to councillors, as well as how the salaries of the Reeve, the Deputy Reeve, and councillors are reviewed and adjusted.
It is the goal of the Council Compensation and Expense Reimbursement Policy to provide Rocky View County councillors with salaries and benefits that meet the demands of the role and reflect the value provided by councillors to the County.
Council’s Strategic Plan
One of Rocky View County’s key documents is Council’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, which was created in consultation with Administration, stakeholders and the community to guide Rocky View County into the future. The foundation of Council’s Strategic plan rests on four strategic themes:
- Effective Service Delivery
- Financial Prosperity
- Thoughtful Growth
- The Rocky View Lifestyle
Rocky View County updates the public on the effectiveness of the municipality’s service and project delivery, as well as the progress made on meeting the objectives of Council’s Strategic Plan, through quarterly Accountability Reports provided to the Governance Committee.
Budget and Audited Financial Statements
Another one of Rocky View County’s key documents is Council’s annual budget. Perhaps the most important decision that Council makes each year is the approval of a budget. Council’s priorities are established through its budget, as budgets determine which services and projects are funded.
Rocky View County is also required to produce financial statements on an annual basis, which are independently audited. Council is required to review and approve the annual financial statements produced by Rocky View County’s auditors.
While the financial management of Rocky View County is a core function of Council as a whole, individual councillors are not expected to be experts in financial management and accounting. There is training available for councillors on the financial management of municipalities offered through the Elected Officials Education Program.