St. Albert Minute: Issue 78

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

📅 This Week In St. Albert: 📅

• Council held its final meeting of the term, marking a farewell for members not seeking re-election. Mayor Cathy Heron, Councillor Natalie Joly, and Coucillor Mike Killick reflected on their time in office, with Heron receiving tributes from family, former colleagues, and peers for her leadership and focus on solutions. Joly highlighted accomplishments such as banning conversion therapy and advancing an affordable housing project, while Killick emphasized the rewarding impact of community volunteer work as part of his decision to step away. Departing members expressed emotional farewells, noting both personal growth and contributions to the City. Remaining Councillors, including Sheena Hughes, Ken MacKay, and Shelley Biermanski, plan to run again, while Wes Brodhead seeks the Mayoral seat. Heron concluded by recalling her early Council initiatives, like planting trees along St. Albert Trail, as symbols of the lasting impact of their work. The next council will be determined in the municipal election on October 20th.
  
  
• Councillors voted against immediately adopting a multi-year budgeting approach. The motion failed 5-2 - only Councillor Natalie Joly and Mayor Cathy Heron supported it. The proposed plan, presented by the City’s Financial Controller, would have implemented a four-year capital budget starting in 2027 and a two-year operating budget beginning in 2029. Proponents argued that approving only one year of budgets at a time is resource-intensive and repetitive, and that multi-year budgeting would improve efficiency, provide certainty, and better align with long-term strategic priorities. Some Councillors, like Ken MacKay, expressed concern that the City’s current forecasting capacity may not yet support multi-year budgets. Instead, Council unanimously passed a motion requiring Administration to return with an implementation plan for review before any changes are made. Several Councillors welcomed this interim step, saying it allows them to better understand the process and their role before committing. 
  
  
• Council also voted to begin setting new standards for managing construction waste after residents raised concerns about debris entering the city’s wetlands. The motion, brought forward by Councillor Sheena Hughes, directs Administration to draft amendments to the Community Standards bylaw, with the updated rules to be presented by April 15th, 2026. Hughes emphasized the importance of ensuring developers meet high standards that protect the community and environment, rather than waiting for a new Council to address the issue. Residents expressed optimism that the new rules will safeguard water, wildlife, and public spaces while saving taxpayers money. Environmental groups, such as the Big Lake Environment Support Society, supported the move, noting that responsible clean-up is a reasonable expectation for contractors. The initiative aims to encourage proactive measures by builders to prevent construction waste from harming natural areas. 
  
  
• St. Albert has hired Andrew Blackburn as the new Investment Attraction Officer to help develop the Lakeview Business District, a priority project for boosting non-residential growth. Blackburn, a lifelong resident, aims to attract investment that will create jobs and diversify the City’s tax base. The Lakeview Development Accelerator program supports developers with rebates over eight years, encouraging construction in the district. City officials estimate the project could generate up to 5,000 jobs and provide a mix of businesses, including manufacturing, warehousing, health, and professional services. Economic Development Director Mike Erickson highlighted the goal of balancing the City’s residential-heavy tax assessment with more commercial properties. The Investment Attraction Team has already begun discussions with developers, builders, and real estate professionals to attract varied industries. Construction is expected to start within the next one to two years, with full build-out projected over 20 to 30 years. Blackburn emphasized his personal investment in the City’s success as both a resident and taxpayer.
  
  
• Billy Harquail, a St. Albert resident for the past four years, is running for Council as a political newcomer. A former electrician and current building operator, he wants to bring a blue-collar perspective and fresh ideas to Council. Harquail’s priorities include reducing traffic congestion along St. Albert Trail, improving waste collection and street cleaning, and enhancing general City services. He emphasizes the need for more commercial development to increase local revenue and reduce the tax burden on residents, noting that many locals currently shop outside the city. Drawing on his experience in trades and project coordination, Harquail believes he can offer practical solutions and listen closely to residents’ needs. Harquail’s campaign focuses on balancing residential and commercial growth while improving infrastructure and services. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Nominations close at noon today - and once that happens, the list of election candidates will be final.

We’ll be sending out our survey and starting our interviews very soon after.

This is a crucial step in making sure residents know where the candidates stand on the issues that matter most.

If you’d like to chip in a last-minute donation to help us get this work done, you can do so here:

🪙 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!