St. Albert could have a clear policy on acquiring and managing land by the end of this council's term.
Under the proposed policy, council would be responsible for considering and approving long-term plans and other initiatives related to land, and to find the money to pay for them.
At the Jan. 23 meeting, council unanimously passed motions to provide feedback to the draft corporate land management policy by Feb. 14 and to have the final draft of the policy come before council in June of this year.
The policy outlines five reasons the city can buy land: to address city needs, for future school sites in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, in conjunction with partnerships with non-profit groups if it meets the city's strategic objectives, to facilitate development of affordable housing and other strategic reasons like community improvements and anticipated community growth.
The city manager would be responsible for establishing a five-year work plan addressing current land holdings, projected needs and projected market values of land holdings.
Ultimately, all major pieces of land bought and sold by the city would come to council for approval, with the exception of minor transactions relating to things like rights-of-way, which the city manager would be able to do without council direction.
"We're not talking large parcels, we're talking about little items, and those are identified within the city manager bylaw," development services manager Gilles Prefontaine said.
The city will buy land for market value or less, and at least five years before its anticipated need, where possible. If the city sells land, it will be at "the highest possible negotiated price" and at a time the city manager determines to be optimal market conditions.
It will not buy and improve land for the sole purpose of selling it, unless specifically directed by council.
Councillors supported the policy, but did raise some concerns. Coun. Sheena Hughes said she wanted to ensure the city has a good handle on what the land it owns is actually worth.
"We need to have in here something about how frequently we're assessing our current market values," she said.
Coun. Cam MacKay said he wanted to ensure the policy is clear that the city maximizes its existing reserve land before buying new land.
If there's reserve land slated for something low-cost like a snow dump, for example, and it could be used for something with higher cost like a swimming pool instead, he said the city ought to use the reserve land for the pool and purchase cheaper land for the snow dump.
Gymnastics facility
Prior to the discussion about the land strategy, Dynamyx Gymnastics Club president Cathy Schwer again made a pitch to council for support in building a new facility, suggesting the city-owned parcel at 65 Carleton Drive would be appropriate.
She noted the city supports numerous other sports in the city, including hockey, soccer, baseball, tennis, etc., but currently there's no support for gymnastics.
"We need you to see gymnastics should be supported, just as … many other sports that are already supported," she said. "Our members are no different."
Further to being provided with the land, she said the club would hope the city would help build the facility which could be a multi-use facility housing the club itself, other not-for-profit groups and even city recreation staff.
Mayor Nolan Crouse said he intended to bring forward a motion to have the city enter into a memorandum of understanding with the club, and asked if the land policy would impede that effort.
Prefontaine said the policy would not hamper those efforts, as the city has worked with different service providers in similar situations in the past.
"We need to have the flexibility of always being willing to receive this kind of direction from council," he said.
