St. Albert city council will be re-debating the future of the local fire services dispatch system once again after the some $340,000 in annual savings thought to be had by outsourcing the system has dwindled down to just over $20,000 per year, according to a new report from administration.
Last summer council voted 4-3 to outsource the city's fire services dispatch system to the dismay of many, including Greg Harvey, St. Albert Fire Services' union president. At the time, those on council who supported outsourcing the system — Mayor Cathy Heron, Coun. Wes Brodhead, Coun. Natalie Joly, and Coun. Mike Killick — said they were in favour because they felt there would be little to no change in the dispatch system's quality.
Those opposed at the time — Coun. Shelley Biermanski, Coun. Sheena Hughes, and Coun. Ken MacKay —argued that the costs savings weren't enough to risk not having local dispatchers with local knowledge and experience with city landmarks and neighbourhoods.
With the estimated savings to be had by outsourcing the system dwindled down from $340,000 to just $20,000, Hughes has put forward a motion that, if passed, will have council reverse course and the fire dispatch system will remain locally operated.
The Gazette will have an article dedicated to council's decision and debate on the future of the dispatch system in the Thursday, June 22, edition of the newspaper.
Final vote on new naming policy
After going through multiple amendments and debates this year, the city's new municipal naming policy is set to be officially approved on June 20, and barring any unexpected council motions, will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
The new policy, a product of the Municipal Naming Project the city started last year, will implement processes for renaming and naming municipal assets like roads, neighbourhoods, and parks.
The policy was most recently in front of council last month, however the only changes made at the time were to add definitions for the words equity, diversity, and inclusion.
As of June 19 the policy is scheduled to pass on consent, meaning council will not be debating it again.
The Gazette will have an article dedicated to the naming policy and what it entails in the Thursday, June 22, edition of the newspaper.
City spent $875,000 on consultants last year
The city's first annual contract consulting reporting was published late last week, and shows that in 2022 St. Albert dished out $875,549 to consultants for a long list of projects.
According to the report, the largest contract issued by the city was to Eleven Eleven Consulting for almost $240,000.
Eleven Eleven Consulting was contracted for its work on the Municipal Naming Project.
On the other end of the scale, the report shows that there were four contracts issued for less than $1,000 in total payment, including just $90 to Shores Jardine LLP for legal services related to the Sturgeon County Annexation in January of last year.
The report comes after council passed a motion last September directing administration present annual lists of city spending on consultants, with Coun. Shelley Biermanski arguing at the time that having an annual report might mean city administration would more actively consider if consultants are necessary on a case-by-case basis.
The Gazette will have an article about the report in the Thursday, June 22, edition of the newspaper.
