WHEREAS the AAMDC and its member municipalities recognize that unresolved or poorly resolved conflict within municipal councils can result in poor decisions, reduced efficiency of municipal operations, and decreased council, staff and ratepayer morale;AND WHEREAS the AAMDC established a member Advisory Committee on Council Conflict Resolution in the spring of 2000, to provide recommendations on minimizing unnecessary conflict within councils and dealing productively with that conflict which does arise;AND WHEREAS this Advisory Committee has now completed its review and produced a Draft Report outlining its recommendations;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties and its member municipalities formally adopt the Draft Report of the AAMDC Advisory Committee on Council Conflict Resolution;AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that AAMDC member municipalities be encouraged to implement the committee’s recommendations within their operations, including the following: All councillors be encouraged to sign the draft Protocol for Councillor Collaboration and Communication; All member councils be encouraged to incorporate the Dispute Settlement Clause for Contracts into all contracts; All member councils be encouraged to sign the Municipal Dispute Resolution Pledge.AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the AAMDC urge Alberta Municipal Affairs to build a peer support network through its Municipal Dispute Resolution Initiative, to provide advice and support to municipal councillors and administrators in resolving conflict.