Last weeks + Regular Council Meeting June 6, 2023
May was a whirlwind! I took a week of holidays in the middle of May, which was a wonderful break full of hiking with my family. We came home a bit earlier than expected due to the smoke, but it was still a restful time. Highlights of the last few weeks include:
Business@Lunch With the 2023 St. Albert Provincial Election Candidates: Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce for hosting this luncheon - it’s always great to connect with community members at these events.
Pride Sidewalk Painting: Half of Council was in Toronto for the FCM conference, so I was the only member who was able to make it to this year’s sidewalk painting event. Congrats to Outloud and thank you to the crosswalk sponsors for making this a regular fixture in St. Albert’s downtown!
Rodeo Parade: Again with many away at a conference, it was a smaller crowd at this year’s parade - but still a great weekend.
Children's Festival Artist Reception: Councillor Brodhead and I attended this dinner in support of artists - from as far away as South Korea! - who were performing at this year’s Children’s Festival. It was great seeing this even come together this year - Thank you to the tireless city staff, volunteers, and performers who make it a reality!
VASA It’s a Tactile World - Opening Reception: I was impressed with the newest installation at VASA, featuring sculptors from across the region. I encourage anyone interested in sculpture to check it out until July 1.
Agenda highlights
Council Remuneration (+?)
As a follow-up to remuneration committee recommendation discussions earlier this year, this is a motion to consider providing per-diems to the Deputy Mayor and that up to $12,000 be available for per diems for members of Council who attend non-required but very beneficial conferences, training opportunities, meetings - like the FCM and ABMunis conferences, meetings with the schools boards or Chamber of Commerce, etc. It also brings forward the remuneration committee recommendation to consider councillors full-time and to set their salary at $70,000 per year starting in 2025. My best guess is this will fail because of logistical challenges related to tracking attendance at events.
We will also have the opportunity to pass recommendations from the Committee of the Whole vote relating to recommendations from the Remuneration Committee, including providing up the 16 weeks of parental leave for members of Council.
Trail Maintenance budget (+$225,000)
This is a motion to consider increasing our maintenance budget for trails, which was lowered “in recognition of higher planned 2024 costs of Sidewalk RMR work (ENGS-007) and an intent to reallocate trail funding towards sidewalk repair”. Increasing funds for this project means that we would address medium-priority trails, including replacing small sections in Erin Ridge, Oakmont, and along the river by Riverside, and start design work for the trail on Bellerose Drive.
Larry Olexiuk Field Artificial Turf Replacement (+$112,700)
This is to increase the budget for replacing the turf at the football field in Riel from $925,200 to $113,700 because quotes came back higher than expected. Because “the field is nearing an unsafe condition for athletes… [and the] field has surpassed normal expectations”, our options are limited.
2025 New Council Term
This is a motion I brought forward to create a business case for consideration in 2024 to increase the administrative support available to Council and provide offices for members of Council for the next term. Admin has suggested excellent alternative wording: That Administration develop a business case to provide members of Council with individual office space and a budget for comparable Administrative Assistant support to what exists in similar Alberta mid sized municipalities, for six full-time Councillors, for the Council term commencing October 2025. That this business case be prepared and presented to the Standing Committee of the Whole by October 2024.
New Police Facility
This motion is to direct Administration to prepare a business case for consideration during budget deliberations to construct a policing facility that will support the municipality for the next decades.
Customer Service Centre(+$39,300)
This is a motion to increase the number of hours the front desk is open at St. Albert Place from 10-3pm to 8:30-5pm “without incurring a tax increase” by June 19, 2023. Of note, prior to hours being reduced last year, “the average number of customers visiting outside 10 am and 3 pm was 5 customers per day”. This would cost about $40,000 per year.
“… Staff have noticed a continuous steady decline in the number of walk-in customers, and an increase in customers utilizing email, phone, or online services. Processes have also changed so there is no need for the part-time Revenue Processor position if customer service hours do not change. No formal complaints have been received from customers regarding the adjusted operating hours as other means of support are available 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, excluding STAT holidays and weekends. The front counter hours of 10am to 3pm have improved operational efficiency, which includes cross training, focused customer service, and team building for Utilities, Revenue Services, and Taxation.”
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.