St. Albert Minute: Issue 72

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

📅 This Week In St. Albert: 📅

• The City may move to expropriate nearly five hectares of municipal reserve land in the Pineview II/Kingswood area, potentially ending a dispute with developer Canterra that has stretched over a decade. Councillor Natalie Joly introduced the motion, saying it is time to make the land available for public use, such as a school or park. The City has previously tried to acquire the land, securing only 2.3 hectares in 2020 compared to the 7.25 hectares it originally sought. Past Councils hesitated over the high cost, with a 2012 estimate pegging acquisition at $27 million, though current figures are undisclosed for negotiation purposes. Mayor Cathy Heron hopes the motion will prompt the developer to transfer the land voluntarily, as happened with Kingsmeade Park. Both Joly and Heron stress the importance of securing school sites well before they are needed to serve future residents. The motion will likely be debated in September, but the expropriation process could take years, leaving final decisions to the next Council.
  
  
• The City has commissioned Red Knot Studio to create a sculptural mosaic for Element Park in Erin Ridge North. The park, set to open in 2026, will feature amenities like an outdoor rink, seating, natural play areas, and a picnic space, with the mosaic installation placed on the reverse side of a curved bouldering wall. Chosen from over 30 submissions, Red Knot Studio is known for playful, vibrant, and durable public art that invites interaction. Their work will be sturdy enough for climbing, merging functionality with artistic design. Two public engagement sessions will be held in September for residents to meet the artists and contribute ideas for the project.
  
  
• As of July 30th, 94% of St. Albert residents have paid their 2025 property taxes. The City expects that number to rise to between 97% and 98% by the end of the year. The City introduced online credit card payments for taxes this year, though only about 180 residents used the option. Those who missed the June 30th deadline face penalties of 4% in July, 6% in August, and another 6% in October. This year’s payment rate remains consistent with trends over the past two decades.
  
  
• St. Albert’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) dropped by 7.83% in 2024, falling from 64.40 to 59.36, with non-violent crime seeing the largest decline. City Councillor Ken MacKay said the numbers align with St. Albert’s historically low crime levels and may also partly reflect improved RCMP staffing. He emphasized that public safety is supported not just by policing but also by broader community programs and prevention efforts. Provincewide, the CSI for RCMP jurisdictions fell by 6.9% to its second-lowest level since 2015, with break and enters remaining the top crime type. Alberta RCMP credited the decline to technology, targeted enforcement, and partnerships with community agencies. Officials say ongoing collaboration among public services, communities, and all levels of government is key to sustaining the downward trend.
  
  
• The Alberta government has announced $50 million in funding to add 62 new modular classrooms across the province, including four for St. Albert Public Schools. These new units will replace aging portable classrooms at Wild Rose Elementary School, some of which date back to 1977. The mid-year funding announcement was made to address urgent enrollment pressures and outdated infrastructure. Modulars are designed for long-term use, while older portables are nearing or past the end of their lifespan. The replacement process will see students move into the new units before the old ones are decommissioned to minimize disruption.  Due to Alberta’s short construction season, it’s uncertain if installation will happen before winter or early next spring. School officials expressed appreciation for the Province’s timely recognition of the need.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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