The city’s most distinguishing feature has no central plan to maintain or enhance it, something city council hopes to address by striking a new committee.
Council voted unanimously Monday night to form a committee dedicated to improving St. Albert Trail. Mayor Nolan Crouse brought the motion forward, explaining the trail, which he describes as the city’s main economic driver, needs more consistent planning along its length to improve people’s first impressions.
“There’s so many issues along the trail,” Crouse said. “The list is long. Over the years there have been a lot of issues, a lot of things that happen or that are happening without a plan, whether it’s signage or sidewalks and no sidewalks, and dead trees.”
The committee as proposed would include the mayor, one volunteer member of council and two members of administration to draft a terms of reference for council to review in the first quarter of 2012. Business owners located on the trail will also be included.
Coun. Cathy Heron immediately volunteered to serve as the volunteer councillor.
“The closer I look at St. Albert Trail, the more I think this will be great for our brand,” Heron said. “The trees are sparse and the sidewalks are crumbling.”
The list of issues the committee will consider in its work is voluminous, including an overall vision, bylaw updates, a maintenance plan, engineering and community standards, infrastructure, safety and transit, to name only a few.
“It’s people’s first impression when they come to the city. It’s what people talk about. It’s the centre of town. It has everything you want but no plan to keep it in shape,” Crouse said in a later interview.
Coun. Malcolm Parker offered his support for the plan suggesting the mayor run the completed terms of reference by the St. Albert economic development advisory committee (SAEDAC). Crouse said he would take that as a note, pointing out other groups such as NABI, will want to be involved.
Parker also expressed his concerns that focusing specifically on St. Albert Trail will leave the city with two sets of standards — one for the trail and one for the rest of the city.
Coun. Roger Lemieux dismissed those concerns.
“I don’t think we need to be too concerned about having a different set of standards for the trail compared to Campbell Road.”
Crouse said the committee could become advisory in nature but doesn’t know yet what the future holds for it or the trail itself.
“It’s hard for me to describe the outcome other than fixing all those things on the trail that need to be fixed.”
