St. Albert Minute: Issue 97

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

📅 This Week In St. Albert: 📅

• Council has approved $150,000 for a feasibility study to explore developing a local live fire training facility for the City’s fire services. The move follows the expiration of St. Albert’s contract with Edmonton’s Poundmaker Training Facility at the end of December, though the City can still use it on a non-priority basis. Councillor Sheena Hughes emphasized the need to explore alternatives and noted potential demand for a facility that other municipalities could also access. The study, funded through the City’s stabilization reserve, will assess locations, costs, revenue opportunities, and regional partnerships. Councillor Neil Korotash stressed the importance of regional collaboration to make the project viable, while Councillor Sandy Clark highlighted the need to support emergency services as St. Albert’s population grows. Currently, the City spends $110,800 annually on live fire training, and each platoon is required to complete training once per year. 
  
  
• Council discussed options for improving snow and ice control, including potentially reintroducing calcium chloride for de-icing next winter and considering a parking ban during snow events. The City stopped using calcium chloride in 2019 due to public concerns about road and vehicle corrosion, similar to Edmonton’s experience, though Edmonton still uses it to improve sand and salt adhesion. Transportation operations manager John Potter noted that public opposition was a key reason for its removal. Council also discussed parking bans, but Potter cited enforcement challenges and limited towing capacity in the region as obstacles.
  
  
• St. Albert’s land use bylaw was updated this week, but proposed reductions to minimum parking requirements were removed after a close vote. The parking changes were connected to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, which is intended to boost housing supply and has allocated up to $11.8 million to the City, with future funding now uncertain. Concerns were raised that lowering parking minimums could negatively affect quality of life for residents and would not necessarily lead to meaningful housing cost savings. City Administration cautioned that rejecting the amendments could jeopardize future grant instalments, though the exact consequences are still unclear. 
  
  
• As of February 1st, St. Albert Transit fares have increased for the first time in three years. Adult cash fares are now $3.75, up 50 cents, while commuter fares to or from Edmonton rise to $6.25. Monthly passes are $84 for adults and $44.50 for seniors. The City says the increase helps offset rising transit service costs, including parts and materials, and aligns fares with regional transit agencies like Edmonton. The City says that fares are reviewed annually but there is no plan for another increase next year. 
  
  
• Councillor Sheena Hughes moved to bring forward the borrowing bylaw for the City’s $74-million northeast servicing project, aiming for Council debate on or before March 3rd, 2026, though the date could shift to April. Hughes emphasized that a decision is needed to provide clarity for residents and developers, noting that development in the northeast has been stalled since 2022 due to limited servicing capacity. The project would be primarily funded through off-site levies, minimizing tax impacts, though there are concerns it could strain the city’s debt limits or delay other capital projects. Council and developers support moving the project forward, highlighting that designs are complete and public debate is necessary. Federal grants are being pursued to help fund the work. Hughes stressed that addressing northeast servicing is a long-standing priority and requires a definitive yes-or-no decision this Council term.

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