St. Albert Minute: Borrowing Bylaw, Heritage Statement, and an Emergency Notification System

St. Albert Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of St. Albert politics

This Week In St. Albert:

• The Community Services Advisory Committee will meet at 6:30 pm on Tuesday. The agenda is pretty lean - it includes an orientation to grants and programs, as well as a round table.
  
  
• The Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Board (EMRB) will dissolve on March 31st, 2025. The dissolution follows a decision by the Alberta government in November to cut funding to the board and make participation voluntary, leading to several municipalities, including St. Albert, voting to leave. The 13 member municipalities plan to explore new ways to collaborate moving forward.
  
  
• St. Albert is set to implement the Everbridge emergency management notification system, similar to the one used in Los Angeles, to enhance internal communication during critical situations. The system, which has been in testing for several months, will go live in March and aims to fill a gap in the City’s ability to send targeted alerts to staff during emergencies like extreme weather or mass casualty events. Unlike the Alberta Emergency Alert system, Everbridge is specifically for City employees and can be customized to suit St. Albert's needs, including automatic integration of extreme weather warnings from Environment Canada. The system, expected to cost $100,000 over five years, is already used by several other Canadian municipalities and global organizations.

Last Week In St. Albert:

• Council approved its largest-ever borrowing bylaw, authorizing up to $78.375 million to service land in the Lakeview Business District. The funds will cover infrastructure work such as road expansions and the construction of a sanitary lift station, with the estimated cost around $62.7 million. The City expects significant tax revenues from the developed land over the next 30 years. Apparently, there will be minimal risk to taxpayers, as 76% of costs will be covered by off-site levies.
  
  
• Council unveiled a new Heritage Recognition statement, replacing the Founders' Proclamation. Mayor Cathy Heron emphasized the statement’s inclusivity, recognizing the contributions of Indigenous peoples, Métis communities, and settlers from around the world. The new statement acknowledges the area's history, from Indigenous Peoples in the Sturgeon River valley to the Métis Big Lake Settlement and the city’s growth after 1861.
  
  
• St. Albert community organizations have received a total of $264,143 in grants from the Province. Arts, Culture, and Status of Women Minister Tanya Fir announced $11.7 million in funding, and seven local non-profits, including the Arts and Heritage Foundation of St. Albert, received portions of the funds for various projects. The St. Albert Men’s Slow Pitch Association is using a grant of $73,488 to renovate Meadowview Ball Diamonds, while the St. Albert Tokai Judo Society is modernizing its dojo with a $43,932 grant. The St. Albert & District Community League also received funding to replace an outdated heating and cooling system at the St. Albert Community Hall.

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