Last weeks + Regular Council Meeting March 21, 2022
The last few weeks have been exceptionally busy. In addition to the activities listed below, I’ve attended all the sessions with our recruiter as we move through the process of finding a new CAO and have kept up with extensive reading relating to the provincial budget and changes to housing boards. These are challenging and exciting times.
Last weeks highlights
Alberta Consultations on Board Competency Approaches: I was invited to this meeting with the provincial government to hear about the new requirements for housing boards across the province. In St. Albert, our provincial housing board manages Chateau Mission, North Ridge Lodge, and North Ridge Place.
The new requirements require balanced competency-based board members (lawyers, accountants, other specialists), which is already done in large centres like Calgary and Edmonton, but hasn’t been possible in more rural areas without increasing costs or sacrificing regional representation. Unfortunately, no consultation was completed with boards, municipalities, or associations representing municipalities prior to this change. The board that St. Albert belongs to comprises of 13 mostly-rural municipality members, so the province’s suggestion to add board members to fill any gaps would create un unwieldily large board, for example. At this session, I asked what kind of funding would be available to: renegotiate agreements between municipalities to change board requirements, provide training to existing board members, or cover costs for larger boards. I hope that the province answers this question and many others asked during the session prior to the new requirements taking effect.
You Have To See It to Be It: Perceptions, Biases and Political Inequality webinar: This was a fascinating webinar discussing gendered political socialization, how to change gendered barriers, and how to improve accessibility within political structures. Thanks to Carlton University for hosting this event, and to J. Celeste Lay of Tulane University, Zoe Oxley of Union College, Anuradha Dugal from the Canadian Women’s Federation, and former-MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes for their expertise.
Chamber of Commerce/Council meeting: As always, it was great to meet with the St. Albert Chamber to discuss our shared goals of a vibrant business community.
Chamber of Commerce Business Lunch: Although the crowd was much smaller than pre-covid, this was the first Chamber luncheon I’ve attended since before the 2020 lockdowns. It was great to connect with Chamber members at this event.
Council Economic Development & Planning/Development bus tour: Thank you to St. Albert leadership for this bus tour to see how St. Albert is growing, and about opportunities to grow into the future.
Priority-based budgeting workshop: This session was to familiarize Council with the tools we use in our budgeting process.
Strategic Planning Workshop: Thank you to Ian McCormack of Strategic Steps for helping wrangle St. Albert Council for the first strategic planning session of the term. These sessions are always excellent for considering different perspectives, focusing on strategies that will help drive our mission, and for getting excited about our shared future. I look forward to our last day of planning in the next weeks and then releasing the plan to staff & the public. (Special thanks to Métis Crossing for the stunning venue!)
Agenda highlights
Land Use Bylaw Amendments (Public hearing & 2nd/3rd readings)
As mention a couple of weeks ago, this is for proposed changes to lot width distribution requirements and to streamline setback requirements for townhomes. There hasn’t been much (any?) public interest in this change, so it will be interesting to see if members of Council have any concerns with the proposal.
Standing Committees Evaluation Methodology
Delayed from last year, Council is now deciding how to evaluate our standing committee process now that it’s been active for a couple of years. We have two standing committees that meet about once per month to vet decisions before they come to Council - I chair the Community Growth and Infrastructure Committee and Councillor McKay chairs the Community Living Committee.
Provincial Budget Implications
This report is to present the impacts of the provincial budget on St. Albert. We’re expecting to absorb about $5M/year in expenses previously funded by the province due to reductions in infrastructure funding, the Government of Alberta taking a greater share of fine revenue, downloading of DNA/lab work for police investigations, removal of the Emergency Management Preparedness Program grant, and reduction of Disaster Recovery Program assistance. Interestingly, the only capital program grant approved in the Edmonton region is $3.5M toward the proposed (non-municipal) outdoor ice rink in Forest Lawn. Education property taxes are also increasing, which will impact St. Albert residents if not St. Albert operations. Alberta Municipalities has provided a comprehensive analysis on how municipalities across Alberta are impacted by this budget.
Feasibility of Hosting the 2025 55+ or Alberta Games
We’ve been asked whether we’re interested in hosting these events, so this motion is to direct administration to consider the costs and benefits of acting as a host. Potential events include the Alberta Winter Games, Alberta Summer Games, Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games, and Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games. Typically, applications are made two years in advance which means that the earliest we could host is in 2025. Previously, we hosted the 1979 Alberta Summer Games, 1994 Alberta Winter Games, 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, and 2011 Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games.
E-Scooter Pick-up & Drop-off Locations
Although this motion is to require e-scooter companies to have set pick-up & drop-off locations, if it passes, it means the e-scooter pilot would effectively end as companies do not operate under this kind of model. Right now, the pilot is scheduled to end in 2022, after which Administration will evaluate the program and make recommendations for 2023 and beyond.
Digital Signs
This motion seeks to allow digital signs on lands zoned for churches and schools. If it passes, Administration would have to undertake a project to prepare Land Use Bylaw changes, including public consultation, public hearings, etc. In other municipalities, this type of signage is generally allowed on properties where residential neighbourhoods would not be impacted. Administration has already added this option for the 2022 Land Use Bylaw review consultation “in order to gauge demand, and further consider best practices, opportunities, and potential conflicts”. Administration’s recommendation is to continue with the existing plan rather than fast-tracking a change outside the existing project.
This is a brief and incomplete overview of my activities as a councillor and Council 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. Residents can register to speak if they have information to present to council. Full agenda packages can be found on the stalbert.ca website.
