St. Albert Minute: Issue 66

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

📅 This Week In St. Albert: 📅

• On Wednesday, at 1:00 pm, there will be a City Council meeting. Councillor Brodhead will bring forward a motion to improve equitable access to the City's Handibus transit service by launching a two-year pilot project using a third-party contractor. The proposed initiative seeks to address limitations some residents face due to physical barriers at their origin or destination that prevent the City’s current fleet from safely providing door-to-door service. In 2024, three potential clients were denied access due to such constraints, despite 686 users being registered and over 30,000 trips completed. If approved, City Administration will prepare a financial analysis and implementation plan to present to Council by Q3 2025.
  
  
• Councillor Joly will bring forward a motion to consider amending the Cemetery Bylaw to allow for green burials at the municipal cemetery. The motion directs Administration to engage stakeholders and present bylaw amendments and a business case by the 2026 budget cycle. Green burials, which involve natural decomposition without embalming or vaults, must meet criteria set by the Green Burial Society of Canada (GBSC), including use of biodegradable materials, natural landscaping, and communal markers. Previous attempts to implement green burials in 2020 were delayed due to challenges like site preparation, equipment requirements, and bylaw restrictions. The proposed motion also includes consulting Indigenous communities due to the cemetery’s location near former residential school lands.
  
  
• The Alberta government is providing approximately $1 million to St. Albert Public Schools to establish the St. Albert Collegiate Pathways program, launching in Fall 2025. The funding will support the construction of three trades-based labs, including an upgraded garage classroom for the Building Futures program, where students will build and potentially sell items like sheds and benches. Another lab will focus on electrical training with industry-standard equipment, while a third will introduce complex learners to trades such as plumbing and construction. These initiatives aim to prepare students for skilled trades careers while allowing them to earn both high school and post-secondary credits.
  
  
• Council has taken a first step toward creating youth transitional housing by voting to remove the municipal reserve designation on a potential site at 16 Winston Churchill Avenue. This site, formerly Fire Hall No. 1, was chosen for its proximity to downtown, transit, and support services. A feasibility study focused on youth aged 14 to 24, identifying housing as a top issue for many local young people. The project aims to address the needs of youth caught in a transitional phase without stable housing. Estimates suggest between fewer than a dozen to over 30 youth currently needing housing. Council members expressed optimism that potential challenges related to such facilities can be effectively managed. Public communication about the project is expected to come later in the process.
  
  
• Council approved $4.49 million in 2026 funding for schematic design work on the $173-million Chérot community amenities site, a first step in the project. The site will feature indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, including a pool, an ice rink, a natural turf sports field, and space for a future high school. Additional funding commitments include $5.5 million in 2027 and $81.5 million in both 2028 and 2029, with $54.2 million allocated for construction and $27.1 million as contingency. The motion passed six to one, with Councillor Natalie Joly opposing due to concerns about incremental funding and project follow-through. Supporters emphasized the need to proceed step-by-step to avoid delays and move the project forward. Some Council members expressed hope that future updates would provide clearer cost estimates and phasing plans.
  
  
• St. Albert’s municipal election vote count is expected to take several days due to the Province’s ban on electronic vote tabulators, requiring all ballots to be counted manually. This change, introduced through Bill 20, means residents won’t see election results on election night as they have in previous years. To prepare, St. Albert staff conducted mock counts testing different manual counting methods to find the most efficient and accurate process. The City’s “at large” voting system, which involves longer ballots and multiple candidate selections, adds complexity and length to the count. Methods tested include sorting ballots, call-and-tally, and laying out ballots for verification. Officials noted challenges like ballot handling and counting distractions. The official election results must be posted by October 24th, but delays are expected as municipalities adjust to the new manual counting requirements.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨