CLSC Agenda Highlights
The Community Living Standing Committee meets for the second time, and the last for this year on Monday morning at 9:30am. Agenda highlights include:
CSAC Grant Recommendations
The Community Services Advisory Committee has recommended recipients for the following:
Community Events Grant Program: Alberta Francophone Games ($5,000), Remembrance Day Service ($3,205), Metis Sweet Grass project ($5,000), and Community Carol Sing ($2,000).
Athlete and Artist* Fall Grant Program: 11 individual athletes (between $360 and $900/recipient) and $5,000 awards to each of the 13 & 18U Cardinals for the national championships.
*No artists were included in the list of recommended recipients; It appears that none applied.
EAC Grant Recommendations
The Environmental Advisory Committee has recommended the following organizations be funded through the Environmental Initiatives Grant Program:
Bertha Kennedy Elementary School, $4,000
Joe Demko School, $2,000
Lacombe Park Garden and Connection Place, $5,190
Sister Alphonse Academy, $2,000
St. Albert Tool Library Society, $3,850
Empower Me, $5,000
Keenoshayo Elementary School, $865
Outreach High School, $1,650
Paul Kane High School Environmental Leadership, $1,645
Ronald Harvey Elementary School, $2,000
WILDNorth, $5,000
I can’t tell from the backgrounder how much is in the fund for this grant or if recommendations are equal to, less than, or exceeding the amount set aside. Also, unless councillors are reading the EAC minutes carefully, they’ll likely miss the recommendation that WILDNorth be funded on an ongoing basis outside this grant, which I’ll point out during our meeting.
Affordable Housing Governance Models
This time last year, we directed Administration to come back to us with information about how different affordable housing models are structured in Alberta, and how we might be able to use these models in St. Albert.
Based on thee models identified, Admin explored three options for St. Albert:
Homeland Housing becomes the planning lead. (HH already own and operate affordable housing for seniors in St. Albert, and through a provincial mandate are expanding to affordable housing with no age restrictions. Their Morinville affordable housing project should be open in 2020. As far as I know - and I sit on their board - the role proposed by Admin is not in their mandate or within their budget.)
St. Albert forms a municipal housing corporation. (The City of St. Albert would be a landlord, like Homeland Housing.)
We continue with the current model, using relationships with Homeland Housing to access provincial funds and expanding specialized services (“emergency and transitional housing”, “permanent supportive housing”, and deeply subsidized housing) outside Homeland’s mandate. Administration recommends this model, including housing targets.
I don’t think it’s possible to have a fullsome discussion without seeing recommendations from the Mayor’s Homelessness Task Force, which is expected in Q2(?) 2020. We are also looking for interest in a land donation to any parties willing to develop affordable housing on that land - We won’t see the results of that offer until next year. St. Albert Housing Society (which the city is currently supporting through operating grants) is also barely mentioned, only alongside all “nine organizations in St. Albert operating non-market housing under individual mandates”.
In my opinion, this is not a topic that can be considered without the involvement of the entirety of Council - I’m going to recommend this go to Committee of The Whole or in a workshop with all of Council present once the Homelessness report is released and the responses to the land donation opportunity are available.
Conversion Therapy Prohibition Bylaw
Last July, St. Albert was the first municipality in Alberta to direct its Administration to prepare a bylaw that prohibits conversion therapy. Since that time, several other municipalities have taken similar actions (Spruce Grove, Rocky Mountain House, Edmonton, Wood Buffalo, etc.). The bylaw that is being considered at committee is very similar to the one being proposed in Edmonton.
CGISC Meeting Agenda Highlights
The Community Growth & Infrastructure Standing Committee meets for the second time, and the last for this year on Monday afternoon at 1:30pm. Agenda highlights include:
Records and Information Management Policy
In 2011, an external consultant reviewed our records management processes and provided recommendations.
“The consultant’s findings… indicated that the City’s RIM practices were not at the standard of most organizations of comparable size…. the City has not kept pace with developments in records management and must now move with a greater sense of urgency to avoid greater risks in the areas of accessibility and accountability…. The current state of RIM in the City too often does not adequately respond to the need for business information that is essential to sound decision making and effective execution of Council priorities. Recognizing this, Administration has been working diligently over the past 12-18 months to establish a foundation for implementation of a RIM Program. The time has now come to seek the support and direction of Council at the governance level, hence the RIM Policy attached to this report is being recommended for adoption.”
This updated policy is to bring us up to current standards, reduce our risk, and prepare us for the future.
Tax Rate Bylaw (Penalties)
We are reviewing our tax rate bylaw in terms of the penalties for late payments and arrears. Administration is recommending that we “reduce current year… rates slightly <and> leav<ing> taxes-in -arrears rates as-is, but dispers<ing> the penalties across three penalty dates as opposed to the current two dates”. This brings us more in line with provincial averages and will reduce 2020 revenue by approximately $30,000.
This is a brief and incomplete overview of our meetings, with my personal comments sprinkled in - In no way are my opinions representative of the official direction of council or the City of St. Albert. Please let me know of any typos or errors. As always, I also encourage everyone who is able to tune in the the live-stream of the meeting (9:30 and 1:30pm respectively here) or attend in-person (3rd floor of St. Albert Place, hang a right getting out of the elevator). Full agenda packages can be found on the stalbert.ca website.
