St. Albert Minute: Issue 68

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

📅 This Week In St. Albert: 📅

• On Tuesday, at 1:00 pm, there will be a meeting of City Council. The agenda includes the possible extension of the recreation cost-sharing agreement between the City of St. Albert and Sturgeon County. Established in 2023, this agreement supports the joint funding of recreational services accessed by Sturgeon County residents in St. Albert and is currently effective through the end of 2026. City Administration is requesting Council’s approval to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to extend the agreement through 2029, keeping existing terms with annual inflationary adjustments. This extension aims to ensure service continuity and financial stability while both municipalities develop Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks.
  
  
• The agenda also includes the potential approval for the purchase of land needed for the Fowler Way road project. The land, owned by a local developer, will be acquired for $727,650, funded through the project’s existing capital budget. Since the acquisition cost exceeds the Chief Administrative Officer’s authority limit of $499,999, Council approval is required. The Fowler Way project involves acquiring multiple parcels of land for road right of way, with negotiations and agreements underway with various landowners, including developers. Costs for the project, including land acquisition, will be covered by Off-Site Levy charges and partially offset by the developer. 
  
  
• Council will address a recommendation from the Internal Audit Steering Committee (IASC) to allocate $132,000 from its budget to implement cybersecurity audit recommendations. These recommendations stem from a final report presented in August 2024 and an implementation workplan approved in April 2025. The funding will support the IT department in addressing identified cybersecurity risks by the end of 2025. The IASC currently has sufficient funds remaining, and after this allocation, approximately $37,500 will remain for future audits or initiatives. Starting in 2026, the Committee will have a base annual budget of $100,000. 
  
  
• A local real estate agent and community volunteer is the latest to enter St. Albert’s Council race. Crystal Gossmann, who moved to the city 15 years ago, says she wants to bring fresh ideas and practical leadership to the table. With experience at the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce and the St. Albert Food Bank, Gossmann says she understands local business needs. Her campaign is focused on attracting more diverse businesses, supporting local spending, and keeping St. Albert vibrant and safe. She believes her background in real estate gives her insight into housing and planning, and she wants any new development to respect green spaces and the community’s character. Gossmann says she loves St. Albert’s trails and charm and aims to protect them while encouraging responsible growth. She hopes to help shape the City’s future with a balanced approach to progress.
  
  
• The provincial and federal governments have announced $203 million in joint funding to expand affordable housing across the province, with some of that money set to benefit St. Albert. Through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program, 25 projects will add around 2,300 housing units provincewide. While most of the funding is focused on larger cities like Edmonton and Calgary, a share of $44.6 million will go to seven other communities, including St. Albert, to help build new affordable homes. Specific details about how much St. Albert will receive or where new units will be built have not yet been shared.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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