Last weeks highlights
The last weeks have been a whirlwind!
Strategic Planning: Council met for two days of Strategic Planning to go over the last year and discuss our plan for the coming years. Our plan and the responding Business Plan will be released this spring.
Youth Advisory Committee: The YAC met for their regular meeting, with the primary discussion being around the future of the committee. The initial recommendations are that the committee should continue to exist (separate from other committees), but the educational value component that is unique to youth should be acknowledged, and we should consider a name change to reflect this. They also commented that they would like more contact with some of the other committees, particularly the Seniors, Arts, Policing, and Environmental Advisory groups. It will be interesting to hear what the administrative recommendations for the future of YAC will be when this comes before Council in the spring.
Homeland Housing: This regular meeting in Morinville continues to be one of my favourites - this board continues to impress me with their values and drive. There were no big decisions made at the January meeting, but we were updated on the St. Thomas Street project in St. Albert, which is moving forward.
Art Gallery of St. Albert and the Musée Héritage Museum’s 2023 Exhibitions Launch: It was wonderful attending this event as Deputy Mayor to give greetings on behalf of Council. The 2023 season looks exceptional and I encourage everyone to check out the installations throughout the year.
Agenda highlights
Villeneuve Road Rebuild Borrowing Bylaw (1 st reading)
This is a continuation of the Villeneuve Road Rebuild project that was approved as part of the 2023 budget. This motion sets in motion a consideration of a borrowing bylaw that would allow borrowing of up to $21,500,000 million, which includes a 25% contingency, from the Alberta Treasury. Unless there is reason to delay 2nd/3rd readings of the bylaw, we expect to consider these on April 18, 2023.
Canadian Urban Transit Association - CnClr Brodhead
I volunteered to bring forward this motion to support Councillor Brodhead in his role on the Executive Committee of the Canadian Urban Transit Association, for up to $10,000 for costs associated with travel. He’s recognized as a national leader in public transit transit governance and St. Albert benefits from his service in this capacity.
City Funded Per Capita Based Programs
This motion is to update our policies to allow for annual funding increases to grant programs based on projected increases to population rather than postponing increases to years where a census is completed.
Fountain Park Pool - Children’s Play Area
This is a motion brought forward by an individual member of Council to direct Administration to “provide alternate and/or additional options for the Fountain Park Pool children's play area that will accommodate a larger age range”. From what I understand, this motion is in response to the changes at Fountain Park which include replacing the large waterslide with an accessible playscape. This new feature has already been ordered and will be installed prior to the scheduled re-opening in the summer, so I assume this motion would direct Admin to look at additional expansions of play features at Fountain Park.
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 register to speak if they have information to present to council. Full agenda packages can be found on the stalbert.ca website.