St. Albert Minute: Issue 70

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

📅 This Week In St. Albert: 📅

• Council has delayed its decision on a $1.5-million grant request from the St. Albert Soccer Association (SASA) for a new indoor soccer facility and artificial turf field, pending a 90-day financial review. SASA is proposing to cover most of the project’s $6.9 million cost, but needs City support due to its non-profit status limiting access to traditional financing. Council is asking SASA to submit a detailed business case, capital plan, site confirmation, and letters of support from nearby park users. The proposed facility would help address a shortage of indoor sports space and allow SASA to lift its cap on youth registrations. Council members and SASA leadership view the project as a community benefit, with the potential to ease pressure on existing facilities. The review process mirrors a similar approach Council used for a proposed twin rink from another sports group. 
  
  
• Council has updated its financial policies, raising the threshold for when assessment growth revenue from the previous year can be used to offset tax increases. Now, leftover money from the previous year can only be used to offset a future tax increase if the tax increase is set to be more than 5%. Previously, this could be done if the tax increase was going to be more than 3.5%. In short, expect your taxes to rise more quickly in the future. This change followed significant debate, with some Councillors opposing the move out of concern it would normalize higher tax increases. City Administration had recommended a 6.5% threshold to preserve funds for major future projects, but this proposal was ultimately scaled back. Councillor Ken MacKay proposed a 5% compromise, which was initially defeated, but later adopted through an amendment by Councillor Natalie Joly. Joly argued the 5% threshold would encourage future Councils to make more fiscally responsible decisions. Opponents maintained that each year’s tax decision should remain independent. 
  
  
• St. Albert Fire Services has added a second aerial tower truck to its fleet, a $3.1-million unit capable of reaching up to 100 feet. Fire Chief Everett Cooke said the new truck is essential as the City grows and more multi-storey buildings are approved. The unit mirrors their existing tower truck, allowing firefighters to operate it more safely and efficiently due to familiarity. The additional truck helps address rising call volumes and reduces reliance on neighbouring communities for support. St. Albert was fortunate to receive the truck in just 14 months, avoiding long wait times and tariffs thanks to previous trade agreements. The department now plans to modernize its entire fleet, including three new engines by 2027 and an upgraded rescue unit. Recent wetter conditions have also allowed local fire restrictions to be lifted early, giving the department more time for training and internal operations.
  
  
• Residents in St. Albert, particularly in the Grandin neighbourhood, are facing a severe grasshopper infestation, with one man reporting that he killed over 2,000 in just two weeks. The bugs are damaging gardens and invading backyards, with many residents blaming nearby government-owned fields as the source. Despite multiple complaints, the City has said grasshopper issues are typically agricultural and not under municipal jurisdiction, though they are monitoring the situation. Experts say there’s no easy fix, as grasshopper outbreaks are influenced by weather patterns, and insecticides are less effective than in the past due to environmental concerns. Some natural predators exist, but they work slowly and don’t eliminate infestations. The provincial government offers guidelines but admits chemical controls are tricky, especially once grasshoppers are winged. While most grasshopper species aren’t harmful, for now, residents are left to battle them on their own.
  
  
• The historic Akins Residence in St. Albert has been sold, marking a new chapter for one of the City's most iconic homes. Built in 1937 for community leaders Lorne and Marguerite Akins, the bungalow was recently designated as St. Albert’s first privately owned Municipal Historic Resource. This designation ensures the preservation of its character-defining features and makes the new owner eligible for restoration grants. While some modern updates have been made, most of the home’s historic features remain intact.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!