Last weeks highlights
St. Albert Poverty Talks - Housing Stories & Solutions
Last month, I attended the St. Albert Poverty Talks - Housing Stories & Solutions presentation hosted at the library. One of the frustrations that was highlighted was exclusionary land-use bylaws that prevent - or introduce barriers to - affordable housing solutions. One of the aspects of the draft bylaw being proposed later this year is the removal of parking requirements to remove barriers to development. This change would make an incredible impact for those wanting to develop secondary suites as well as projects like Homeland Housing’s downtown development. In Morinville, for example, Homeland still doesn’t need all the parking spots that were required for that below-market housing development, but every unused parking stall still drives up the costs for the project.
ASCHA Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting
This was an information-sharing meeting. We heard from the province about recent changes to resident eligibility requirements and some of the challenges posed by not having provincial support for social work-type services in communities for younger persons. We were also reminded about the opportunity to provide feedback about the province’s seniors’ lodge program.
Youth Advisory Committee Meetings
It continues to be refreshing to meet with this group every month. One of the most challenging discussions has been how they can action the request of Council to use up to $15,000 in support of increasing volunteerism in St. Albert. Ultimately, the group recommended that staff put together the strategy - and asked that initiatives be presented to the committee so they can support admin through their advisory role. This recommendation was made because committee members don’t have the time or expertise for this kind of administrative project, but remain very supportive of the initiative in general. As far as I can tell, this recommendation will be considered at the May 14 Committee of the Whole meeting, which is quite unusual - Normally, recommendations go straight to Council, so I’m unsure why this is being delayed.
Homeland Housing Meeting
Last week, I was back out in Morinville to chair our regular board meeting. This meeting included the presentation of our annual external audit, during which we were provided another a clean audit. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this board & administrative team over the last 6+ years and I was reminded at this meeting how much I’ll miss this crew after my term ends in 2025.
Agenda Highlights
FCM Director Nomination
This is a motion to to endorse Mayor Heron to stand for election on FCM’s Board of Directors for the period starting in June 2024 and ending June 2025, and to provide a budget of up to $10,000 for travel, etc. should she be elected. The last time we had an FCM board member from Council was the term before I started - it's always great when St. Albert has representation and a voice at these national tables, with access to many of the federal decision-makers and a greater ability to influence federal policy. Originally, this motion was on our consent agenda - so, we’d unanimously vote in favour without comment - but a member of Council has asked that it be removed for debate purposes, I assume to oppose the endorsement.
Snowflake Festival Funding
This is to reverse the decision of Council to provide the Downtown Business Association with $10,000/year to organize/host the Snowflake Festival. This is because we’ve been advised that they are not taking this festival on, but rather the Kinsmen Club will be organizing it. Related to this, we recently directed staff to update the regulations for the Community Events Grant for the Snowflake Festival so that the Kinsmen Club could apply for funding for this event in addition to the rodeo parade.
Originally, this motion was on our consent agenda - So, intending to pass the motion unanimously & without debate, but a member of Council has asked that it be pulled from consent so that it can be debated. I don’t know why we would debate this, so I look forward to the rationale of why we’d debate reversing a motion to provide funds that are no longer needed.
Safety Codes Permit Bylaw
This is an interesting new bylaw that will give the city more ability to communicate and enforce development requirements. Particularly of interest is a recommendation to prohibit sheet piling, a construction method that I’ve seen cause community concern.
“The purpose of the Safety Codes Permit Bylaw (SCPB) is to clearly communicate expectations related to building permit application, issuance, revisions, refusals, validity, permit holder obligations, enforcement, and to establish fines and penalties for non-compliance. This… allow[s] the City an easier enforcement mechanism… Another key aspect of the proposed bylaw is the exclusion of vibratory sheet piling from allowed construction methods. Administration believes that vibratory sheet piling may expose the community to risk due to potential impacts to surrounding properties due to soil conditions within the City.”
Wastewater Rates
This is a motion from an individual member of Council to change the “variable wastewater rate that is based on 80% of metered water consumption for residential customers [so that it is] eliminated in favour of variable wastewater rates that are based on 100% of metered consumption for all customers…”
I don’t understand the purpose of this proposal, especially considering Administration’s explanation that “rates are the same when adjusted to 100% of the metered potable water usage [and]… applying the same 100% wastewater rate to all customers would not impact the amount that any St. Albert customers are paying and would not change the revenue that the wastewater utility receives to offset costs…” To me, this feels like a make-work project to change our process - but Administration has advised that it could reduce misunderstandings about the rates.
Small Dog Area Overhead Shelter
This is a motion to fund a shelter with seating in the small dog area in Lacombe Park. Although the motion specifies the funding source as the dog licence reserve, there is no maximum budget proposed - Admin has provided a couple of options that would cost ~$36k or $81k, so I’ll ask for one of these figures to be included in the motion. I don’t generally like to see these kinds of projects proposed outside the budget process, but I’m not opposed to this kind of amenity - My only questions as of now will likely relate to lifecycle maintenance & replacement expectations.
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.