Last week’s meeting was another long one, starting at 2pm and finishing just shy of 9pm - For staff and members of Council who attended the morning/afternoon workshop, it was a 11-14 hour day depending on when they started. This Monday with also be long for some, with committee meetings starting at 9:30 and a Special Council Meeting to review our strategic plan following the afternoon committee meeting.
CLSC agenda highlights
Recreation Needs Assessment Report
Much anticipated, this report about demands for different types of recreation in the city follows an extensive engagement project. As expected, “the top most participated in activities were outdoor running and walking, indoor and outdoor swimming, and outdoor cycling”. For the Community Amenities Site, the top identified priority is an aquatics facility, with “high demand for both a competitive (lane) pool and leisure pool”. This priority matches what I’ve seen & heard over the last many years. Medium/high-demand needs for this site are “bike skills parks, indoor arenas and an unboarded indoor artificial turf [for soccer]”, but the capital and operational costs for these amenities is a concern. This report is expect to inform our decisions about investments in new recreational facilities.
Indigenous Advisory Committee ($17,700/year)
Following extensive engagement, this is the recommended bylaw to inform a new advisory committee. It is estimated that $7,500 is sufficient to support this committee, similar to other advisory committees. And because of the unique nature of the committee, honoraria are being recommended for members, with an estimated annual cost of about $10,200.
CGISC agenda highlights
Land Use Bylaw updates
Later this year, Council will consider significant changes to our Land Use Bylaw to align regulations with our new Municipal Development Plan and current best practices. On Monday, we will hear preliminary updates on this project from our Planning & Development team. At a high level, updates include prioritizing the environment & our tree canopy, options for low-impact businesses and home-based work, diverse housing options, appropriate parking standards, accommodation of renewable energy in neighbourdoods, and food security. We expect to have public engagement opportunities to respond to proposed changes in August or September.
MDP Amendment
Administration is recommending that we rescind a motion from last term directing that a privately-owned parcel of land in the west part of the city be designated as Open Spaces. There are quite a few reasons for this recommendation, including provincial law regarding developable land, objections from landowners, and the need for a stormwater facility or other municipal uses (schools, etc.). Also:
A potential result of the proposed amendment is the need for the City to purchase these lands, which has not been contemplated in the latest Council budget. In 2022 figures, unserviced lands in this area are estimated at approximately $350,000 to $450,000 per acre. As the area contains approximately 24.4 ha (60 acres), the estimated purchase price is estimated between $21M and $27M. This cost does not include associated park development works and the loss in future non-residential tax assessment.
This is a brief and incomplete overview of my activities as a councillor and Council agendas, 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.
