Last week + Regular Council Meeting January 20, 2020
Last week
Outloud/St. Albert Pride Open House: It was great to see so many from the community out to celebrate the space in Campbell that was recently acquired by Outloud!
Realtors Association of Edmonton 2020 Housing Economic Forecast: I think this was my first time attending this event, and it was worthwhile. I was especially impressed with the presentations from economists from both the City of Edmonton and Government of Alberta - It’s been a tough road for the last couple years, and it’s valuable seeing where the economic trends and predictions are leading.
City Council Special Meeting: Council met for two full days to consider our strategic plan for the rest of our term. We’ll be releasing the plan in short order, along with the administrative plan to support our goals.
Agenda highlights
Most of what is proposed to go on our consent agenda (items that are approved without question/comment) are from last week’s committee meetings, so I’m not going to include these in my comments this week.
Community Amenities
Part of governing the city means that we have to make decisions about long-term planning, including planning for increased recreation demands as the city grows. This agenda item is to decide on which site of three shortlisted possibilities is the best site for continued planning for expanding on our municipal amenity needs (swimming pool facility, sports fields, parks, schools, etc.). We are not discussing what/when to build.
When we last considered these three sites last fall, it was decided that we needed more resident perspective on the options, and more information from one of the developers offering a proposal.
Resident feedback was received in a discussion facilitated by an external firm, where residents were provided information about all three options; I was very impressed with the thoughtful conversation and feedback of the residents who participated in this exercise. The full results can be found here, but the following is a very brief summary of the findings:
Erin Ridge North
Major pros noted (prior to land transfer details & development costs being presented): Easy access, great location.
Major pros noted (after land transfer details & development costs being presented): None.
Major cons noted (prior to land transfer details & development costs being presented): Potential for traffic congestion, environmental impact, overdevelopment concerns.
Major cons noted (after land transfer details & development costs being presented): May not use land to full potential, wetlands and environmental issues, cost of development, potential for traffic congestion, developer concerns.
Badger Lands (North)
Major pros noted (prior to development costs being presented): Potential for future development, easy access, benefits due to the size of the land.
Major pros noted (after land transfer details & development costs being presented): Location/city-owned land, easily accessible, no dump or wetlands onsite,
Major cons noted (prior to development costs being presented): Need improved access development, environmental impact, may increase road traffic.
Major cons noted (after land transfer details & development costs being presented): Service cost (reclamation) and development concerns, traffic concerns.
Range Road 260 (North/West)
Major pros noted (prior to development costs being presented): Land reclamation and future development, great location, easy access, will be a draw to unused spaces.
Major pros noted (after land transfer details & development costs being presented): Most cost-effective option, easiest access (on-foot/cycling included), will encourage future growth, additional land on offer from developer if chosen.
Major cons noted (prior to development costs being presented): Access concerns, landfill location/wildlife concerns.
Major cons noted (after land transfer details & development costs being presented): High construction costs, future of former landfill site up in the air.
Jensen Lake ASP - 2nd & 3rd readings
This is a new development looking for approval of their updated plan. I haven’t heard any resident feedback about this plan and it’s supported by Admin, so I suspect it will go through without much comment unless there are questions about the access onto Villeneuve Rd.
WildNorth Funding
This fall, the St. Albert Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) advised that "<the EAC> recognizes the importance of WILDNorth in providing wildlife rescue and rehabilitation services in St. Albert and recommends that City Council considers allocating sustainable funding to WILDNorth outside the Environmental Initiatives Grant Program... EAC acknowledges that WILDNorth contributes an important service to St. Albert by providing care to injured, contaminated, and orphaned wildlife with the goal of returning these wild animals to their natural habitat. In the last two years, EIGP funding has been allocated in recognition of the essential service provided by WILDNorth".
In response, I have given notice of motion of the following: "That, notwithstanding clauses requiring community groups to be registered in St. Albert to be eligible for Community Services grant programs, WILDNorth be eligible for all such grants for the proportion of their budget allocated to services within St. Albert". If this passes, it would mean that WILDNorth will be eligible to apply for grants, just like any other locally-registered group that operates in St. Albert.
Admin has responded that this won’t work, but that there may be other options to consider - it’s weird that this didn’t go to Committee last week to discuss the best options, so we can try to sort something out on the fly in Council.
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. I encourage everyone who is able to tune in the the live-stream of the meeting (2pm here) or attend in-person (3rd floor of St. Albert Place, hang a right getting out of the elevator). You can also register to speak if you have information to present to council. Full agenda packages can be found on the stalbert.ca website.
