Summer + GPFC Meeting August 12, 2019
This summer “break” has flown by!
Summer highlights
EMRB meeting with Minister Madu: The Minister of Municipal Affairs met with representatives from members of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board over the summer. We discussed municipal funding for policing, FCSS program funding, and MSI grants; Minister Madu shared that we will know more about some of these ongoing issues when the provincial budget is released in the fall.
GPFC agenda highlights
Community Recognition Program
At the request of the GPFC, the Community Services Advisory Committee reviewed and submitted recommendations to update our Community Recognition Program. They have recommended that we remove the “Past Era Business of Distinction” award, to rename the “Arts and Culture” category to “Arts, Music, and Culture”, and to add a category for “Distinguished Achievement”.
Environmental Sustainability Policy
This policy is reviewed on a regular basis; Administration and the Environmental Advisory Committee have recommended a few ‘housekeeping’ changes to the policy. Also, “the most recent revision recommendations… include the addition of definitions for climate mitigation, climate resiliency and performance measures related to the City’s environmental management systems <and> acknowledging requirements for regional collaboration related to maintain habitat and wildlife corridors”.
Municipal Public Utilities Bylaw
We will be reviewing the draft bylaw that will, should it be passed, allow St. Albert to form our own Utility corporation. The bylaw “will, upon final passage and approval, prohibit any person or corporation from providing a utility service in St. Albert that is the same or similar to a utility service provided by the City or by a corporation controlled by the City, except under an agreement with the City”.
Transportation Infrastructure Asset Management Update
This is an update about the state of our roads, sidewalks, trails, bridges, and parking lots. The presentation isn’t online yet, but I will link to it when it becomes available - It does a great job of explaining what happens to roads when we don’t maintain them.
This is a brief 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. As always, I also encourage everyone who is able to tune in the the live-stream of the meeting (1pm 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.
