GPF Meeting April 9, 2018

Agenda highlights:

School site allocation

Last year, Council directed Administration to complete a review of the school site allocation process, where we work collaboratively with St. Albert's three school districts, and to provide feedback. The current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the school districts has been in place since 1997, and in effect since 2015. "When asked if stakeholders felt that the current MOU was effective... the majority indicated that it is very ineffective." This agenda item is an opportunity for Council to ask questions and provide feedback about proposed amendments to the MOU, and to provide direction about next steps. The report provided by Admin is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the school site process.

Cannabis update

I have learned more about cannabis in the last 8 months than I ever expected... This item is to update Council about public engagement and other preparations in anticipation of the legalization of recreational-use cannabis later this year and Admin has specific "Questions for Council" they'd like answered. We'll have more information about public feedback on April 23 at the Committee of the Whole meeting.

These are the questions being asked of Council:

Smoking bylaw (click for options being proposed): 

1. Where should individuals be allowed to consume (smoke/vape) cannabis in St. Albert?

2. Where shouldn’t individuals be allowed to consume (smoke/vape) cannabis in St. Albert?

Business licensing bylaw (click for options being proposed):

1. What should be St. Albert’s philosophy for licensing cannabis retail stores?

   1. Treat cannabis retail stores the same as retail liquor stores ?

   2. Treat cannabis retail stores the same as cannabis-related businesses have been treated in the past?

   3. Treat cannabis retail similarly to how stores selling tobacco are treated – or with even heavier regulations?

2. Does St. Albert want to ensure that no minors will be able to see inside cannabis retail stores? (Section 3.2.6 of the province's cannabis regulations already states that "It is prohibited to have visibility into the store from the outside.", and minors aren't allowed inside, so it's unclear what's being asked here.)

3. Does St. Albert want to ensure that all cannabis product must be in sealed packages at all times, so as to limit “odour” complaints from neighboring businesses?

4. What kind of licensing fee(s) should the City impose on cannabis retail stores?

   a. Same licensing fee as liquor stores (Option 1)?
   b. Higher licensing fee than liquor stores (Option 2/3)?
   c. Same licensing fee as tobacco retailers – or even higher (Option 3)?

Land use bylaw (click for options being proposed).

Next week:

Lacombe Park West Open House - Please join us on Thursday evening to provide feedback about the planning of our parks. 

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This is a brief high-level overview of highlights from our meeting agenda, 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. As always, I also encourage everyone who is able to tune in the the live-stream of the meeting (3pm 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.