St. Albert city council has a jam-packed agenda for the March 14 standing committee of the whole meeting, including two off leash dog park improvement projects, a recommendation from administration to make E-scooters permanent, and more.
City staff are seeking approval to use up to $200,000 in reserve funds to install permanent fencing, seating, and garbage cans at the Dodger Dog Park near Servus Place, and to improve signage for all off leash areas in the city, including Willoughby Park, according to a backgrounder included in the March 14 agenda package.
Funds can be covered through a withdrawal from the city's dog license reserve, which has a current balance of about $800,000.
The Gazette will have an article dedicated to the committee of the whole's discussion about the dog park improvements, and if the committee recommends council approve the project, in the Thursday, March 16 edition of the newspaper
As the city's e-scooter pilot program came to an official end this past December, administration has now finalized a summary of the program results, and is recommending making the program permanent, although with fewer regulations than were implemented in the pilot stage.
In the 2022 season alone St. Albertans travelled 50,000 kilometres on e-scooters and spent a combined 425,936 minutes, or close to 296 full days, in motion, according to the city's statistics.
City statistics also show that every available scooter was used almost once a day.
Administration is recommending the city make e-scooters permanently available in St. Albert but with less regulations imposed by staff in order to save time, resources, and money, a backgrounder in the agenda package states.
The Gazette will have an article dedicated to the committee's discussion of e-scooters in the Thursday, March 16 edition of the newspaper.
Another item on the March 14 agenda for the committee of the whole is the annual review of service levels, which will give council an opportunity to consider any changes as administration begins preparing for next year's city budget.
“Approximately 82 percent of the city’s budget is allocated for the delivery of programs and services to the community,” reads a backgrounder included in the agenda package.
“Unless otherwise directed by council, administration will prepare the 2024 proposed budget to maintain existing services and service levels.”
The March 14 meeting will not be council's only opportunity to draft or consider changes to service levels, however it will be the first time council has discussed the topic since 2023 budget deliberations in December.
The Gazette will have an article dedicated to the committee's service level discussion in the Thursday, March 16 edition of the newspaper.
Lastly, the committee of the whole will also discuss changes to the city's Civic Granting Policy that were initially approved last May, although not finalized at the time.
The main change involves granting the city's Chief Administrative Officer, Bill Fletcher, as well as multiple citizen-based civic committees the authority to approve certain city grant allocations, rather than council needing to give final approval for all grant programs.
According to a backgrounder included in the agenda package, and unless otherwise changed by the committee, moving forward Fletcher will have the authority to approve grant allocations for the Council Sponsorship Grant and the Commercial Area Beautification Grant.
As well, the policy change will see the Community Services Advisory Committee have the authority to approve allocations for the annual Community Events Grant; the Environmental Advisory Committee will have the authority to approve annual allocations for Environmental Initiatives Grant; and the Arts Development Advisory Committee will have the authority to approve annual allocations for the Young Artists Legacy Grant.
Currently, each civic committee is responsible for making funding recommendations for their respective grant program, although council is responsible for giving final approval.
The Gazette will have an article dedicated to the policy change discussion in the Thursday, March 16 edition of the newspaper.
