Last week highlights
Council & Arts and Heritage Foundation (AHF) Annual Meeting: Council met with the AHF board and Executive Director (ED) outdoors at the grounds near the grain elevators. This was a wonderful opportunity to hear the AHF plans for reopening and into the future. On a personal note, the ED reminded me that my partner’s artwork will be featured at an exhibition of Eldon and Anne Foote Visual Arts Prize recipients being hosted by the St. Albert Art Gallery later this year - This exhibition is a partnership with the Edmonton Community Foundation that I’m excited to attend and showcases the important place St. Albert’s gallery has in the region.
Committee meetings: The CLSC meeting was cancelled because there were no pressing agenda items. The CGISC meeting was brief, consisting of a presentation of capital projects that have been closed and a recommendation to return residual funds ($350,244 + $3,483) be “uncommitted within their respective funding sources”.
Agenda highlights
This meeting is starting at 11am in consideration of the length of the agenda. And although this meeting marks Council’s first in person-virtual hybrid meeting since April, many staff members will continue to attend virtually while it is recommended to work from home. As far as I know, members of the public are still asked to attend virtually. I received my second dose of the covid vaccine late last week, so I plan to return in-person on July 5.
Solar Farm ($26.1M)
This report is recommending that St. Albert proceed with a solar farm on lands on the north edge of the city along Villeneuve Rd.
“The Badger Lands site is a suitable candidate for a solar energy project... As a brownfield site (i.e., one previously used for commercial or industrial purposes), [it] presents a unique opportunity to repurpose land that is contaminated due to previous City operations. In addition, there are no large open-body wetlands in the site’s vicinity and no historical resource values. The proximity to a transmission point of delivery substation is also a major benefit that will reduce the overall cost of the project”.
In the first 20 years, the project is expected to net $655K/y, and $2.265M/y for years 21-35.
“Solar PV’s benefits go beyond financial payback as solar provides deep carbon reductions, avoids carbon tax, promotes a transition to renewable energy and smart technologies and reduces the risk associated with potentially volatile and escalating electricity prices”.
Encroachment Policy
This is a policy that sets a framework for managing encroachments. Often, encroachments happen when a fence or garage is inadvertently built past a property line, but they can also include private extensions into city-owned public parks or Utility Right of Ways. For public encroachments (like into public parks), Admin is proposing that we require private homeowners remove & restore the area, or ensure they are “safe and minimally affect the public’s active or passive use and enjoyment of Public Lands” [and]… are not in conflict with existing or planned utility infrastructure and/or the ability to maintain that infrastructure”.
“On average, [the City] reviews about 110 encroachments per year. Most encroachment matters (80-90%) have been resolved… by either providing a conditional letter of consent, entering into an Encroachment Agreement (EA), or through the removal of the encroachment. EAs are registered on the Land Title for as long as the encroachment exists and shift potential liability related to encroachments from the City to the private homeowner… [However], EAs are not used as a mechanism for resolving park encroachments as private structures do not fall within the acceptable uses for reserve land in the Municipal Government Act”.
Operational and Fiscal Review Implementation Plan
This is a continuation of the work being done based on Ernst & Young’s report on efficiencies and opportunities. Starting in 2021, Admin is starting work on many recommended projects, including an organizational Structure Review, a 9-11 dispatch Model Review, automation of Accounts Payables, and many others. Admin is also proposing to consider the recommendation to review Library Grant Funding and the Library Delivery Model as part of the 2022 Council Strategic Planning session.
EIA Funding
St. Albert has been asked to give $719,000 to the Edmonton International Airport, through the regional economic body called Edmonton Global, from 2021-2023. This is part of a $15M ask to the region, including municipalities that receive direct economic benefits from the airport. The request is “to assist the Edmonton Metropolitan Region in recovering from the effects of the pandemic-related economic downturn by reversing the decline over the past 18 months in national and international air connections and in other associated services at the Edmonton International Airport”.
Because the $719,000 ask was based on a regional funding formula that does not take into account St. Albert’s comparatively high residential tax base, Admin is proposing to support this initiative at a more equitable amount of $145,154 for the first year of the request. They are also recommending that we send a letter to ask that municipal contributions are “reduced if financial contributions to the Fund are made by other levels of government or by the private sector” in excess of the $15M request.
Riverside Stage 33 Redistricting (2nd & 3rd Readings)
This is the public hearing and possible final readings to change the land use of a section of Riverside from Urban Reserve, a holding district before planned development, to ones that allows specific residential and park developments. The Land Use Bylaw defines the purpose of Urban Reserve as “to control land areas which are undeveloped or developed to low intensity… to ensure their orderly transformation to future urban expansion or intensification development”. An “Urban Reserve” district is not parkland or an environmental/nature reserve, which we do have in the city to reflect the environmental sensitivity of land and its use; The province defines Environmental Reserve designations through the Municipal Government Act. I suspect much of the discussion on Monday will centre on the meaning of Urban Reserve land use and any environmental considerations/protections as the land is developed.
Erin Ridge North - Redistributing Density (2nd & 3rd reading)
This is the public hearing and possible final readings to bylaws that will redistribute residential density in a section of Erin Ridge North. The developer is proposing to replace 405 apartment suites with 250 mixed-use suites, reduce single-family homes by 16, and add 171 townhomes. This change would increase the estimated built-out population from 4,381 to 4,443.
Birthing Centre in Akinsdale (2nd & 3rd readings)
This is the public hearing and possible final readings of bylaws that would allow a midwifery clinic & birthing centre in Akinsdale across from 7-11. Currently, businesses are not permitted in residential area unless they are home-based businesses with no employees. The proposed clinic has two exam rooms and one birthing room. The only amendments that I’m considering are to the permitted operating hours - Admin is proposing Monday to Friday 9-5pm to match their current business hours, but I would like to give the midwives the option of operating between 8am and 8:30pm every day. These hours match the hours of the car wash directly across the street. As a mother who was working full-time through both of her pregnancies, I don’t see value in restricting low-impact businesses to “bankers” hours and making the business jump through hoops to get this changed on their own.
Downtown District (2nd & 3rd readings)
This is the public hearing and possible final readings of bylaws that propose to update the regulations for the downtown area to include considerations of a parking study when determining parking requirements, to specify maximum heights in meters, and to specify floor area relative to lot size rather than a fixed number.
Electronic Voting for 2025 Alberta Municipal Elections
The City of Lethbridge sent a request for us to second their Alberta Urban Municipalities Association motion to request the Government of Alberta to make appropriate legislative changes to enable electronic voting for the 2025 Alberta municipal elections. If this motion passes, it would allow AUMA members to debate whether to advocate for this change.
Municipal Naming Policy
I am proposing that the City undertake a rewrite of our naming policy in consideration of “St. Albert's commitments to the Payhonin Reconciliation Report, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and the St. Albert Diversity and Inclusion Declaration”. I’ve also proposed that we review names on our Significant Names list (which includes at least one of my family members), but this might not be required if we cease to name future municipal assets after people. There has also been talk of amending my motion to specifically direct Admin to consult with stakeholders to determine how to deal with assets named after Bishop Vital Grandin in light of his stomach-turning involvement in the residential school system - Providing information about his role in the devastating generational impacts of residential schools, renaming, or both have been suggested.
Podiums Downtown
Councillor Watkins is proposing to reduce podiums in the downtown district from three stores to two stories. “The building podium, or base, is that area [that is currently] three storeys and below. The intent of the regulation is to frame the street view for pedestrians, and keep taller buildings from possibly overwhelming the pedestrian by allowing the additional height to be visible”. If this motion passes, Admin would prepare a Land Use Bylaw amendment to be brought forward at a later date.
Redistricting Mixed Commercial District Lands to Downtown District
Councillor Watkins is proposing that we change all “Mixed Commercial (MC) District parcels to Downtown (DT) District, and remove the MC District from the Land Use Bylaw”. If the motion passes, Admin will bring forward an amendment to the LUB.
Redistricting Downtown Residential District Lands to Downtown District
Councillor Watkins is proposing that we change “all Downtown Residential (DR) District Parcels to Downtown (DT) District, remove the DR District from the Land Use Bylaw”. If the motion passes, Admin will bring forward an amendment to the LUB.
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. Members of the public can also register to speak if they have information to present to council. Full agenda packages can be found on the stalbert.ca website.
