DIDSBURY - The Town of Didsbury's council has approved a new lease policy outlining the provision for leasing town-owned properties for periods of one year or longer.
Council referred the development of a lease policy to the Policy and Governance Committee for development. The proposed policy was brought before council last month.
The policy draws a distinction between a lease and a facility rental.
“The purpose of (the policy) was to enable the CAO or designate the ability to continue to rent facilities, such as the arena ice surface, train station, and Aquatic Centre, for regular use for a term of 30 days or less, but nay be subject to month-to-month renewal,” Riley said in a briefing note to council.
“Alternatively, any agreement for use of a town-owned property for a term in excess of one year would be considered a lease and is required to come to council for approval.
“The policy enables leases to be entered into with private, individual, and not-for-profit organizations with considerations for market and non-market value.”
Under the policy, town-owned property is defined property where the town is the registered property owner on the certificate of title.
Under the new policy, any entity leasing or utilizing town property for a period of one year or more is required to enter into a lease agreement.
All leases must be brought to council for approval, amendment, extension or renewal.
Leases for not-for-profits may be granted below market value where a not-for-profit’s services do not compete with a person or not-for-profit providing similar service (and) town property could not be utilized for any other purpose.
Deputy mayor Curt Engel, the chairman of the Policy and Governance Committee, said, “I think the policy is complete.”
