St. Albert has signed on to the Metro Mayors Alliance, a group of the nine largest municipalities in the capital region.
Council approved three motions relating to the organization’s initial report and proposed memorandum of understanding after lengthy discussion about the group’s relative benefits and shortcomings.
Councillors agreed the alliance in many ways duplicates efforts already being made by the 24-member Capital Region Board, but the majority felt membership was nonetheless valuable to pursue.
“The main concern and the main question we’re all raising is how does this exist in the context of the CRB,” Coun. Tim Osborne said. “I think it’s better to have a seat at the table as we try to figure those questions out.”
“If we want to work together as a team, we should sign up that we’re part of the team,” Coun. Wes Brodhead said.
Those critical of the group argued against adding another layer of regional government citing the duplication of efforts as the main reason for opposing membership.
“It seems to me the CRB would say, ‘Thank you very much for the work you’ve done. We’ll take it and move on,’” Coun. Bob Russell said. “It should go to CRB to be accepted and used in conjunction with what’s already going on at CRB.”
He said he was also concerned about references to “new borrowing powers” in the report.
Coun. Sheena Hughes said she was concerned about adding “another layer of government” that wasn’t necessarily accountable to the public, suggesting joining may end up taking away rights from St. Albertans in determining city policy.
“I don’t like having to give up my quality of life, my freedom and my money in the name of some other goals nine mayors happen to have met and agreed with,” she said.
The CRB, established by the province in 2008, is mandated to establish a growth plan for the capital region, considering factors like transit, density and regional collaboration.
The Metro Mayors Alliance is a relative newcomer, with the initial report to the mayors of the nine largest municipalities in the capital region coming June 12. The report, entitled “Be Ready, or be Left Behind,” suggests the entire region must “hunt as a pack” to attract growth.
It cites three specific priorities for collaboration: economic development, public transit and land-use planning and infrastructure development. Those are areas the CRB already focuses on, but in some cases with limited success.
“It’s fair to say the CRB has struggled, and to some extent has struggled to advance some of these,” interim city manager Chris Jardine observed. “That’s why we’re in the bilateral transit discussion with the City of Edmonton.”
Mayor Nolan Crouse, who also chairs the CRB board said there has been varied reaction from the board on this new report.
“I would call it mixed, diverse, tense, all of those,” he said. “Criticism of the board in some ways, support for the board in other ways.”
Council unanimously approved a motion to accept the report for information. Hughes and Russell opposed a second motion to authorize the mayor and city manager to continue representing the city to the alliance. Coun. Cam MacKay joined them in opposing a third motion to sign on to a memorandum of understanding with the group.
“If you go hunting in packs, sometimes you get shot. The Dick Cheney phenomenon,” he said. “I’m not writing this off at this stage, but I’d like to hear what they have to say. Come back with specifics.”
