St. Albert Minute: Northeast ASP, School Sites, and a Transit Delivery Review

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

This Week In St. Albert:

• The Standing Committee of the Whole will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will receive the Final Report on the Transit Service Delivery Model Review. St. Albert Transit has used a contracted operator since 1986, but the City is now looking at running transit services itself. The review examines the costs, risks, and benefits of keeping the current outsourcing model versus switching to an in-house system.
  
  
• Immediately following the Standing Committee of the Whole Meeting, there will be a Special City Council Meeting. The agenda includes the Operating and Capital Carry Forwards and Completed Projects.
  
  
• The Policing Committee will meet on Tuesday at 6:30 pm. The Committee will discuss the Q3 2024 Community Policing Report.

Last Week In St. Albert:

• St. Albert City Council approved the Northeast Area Structure Plan (ASP) in a 5-2 vote, with Councillors Natalie Joly and Mike Killick opposing it due to concerns over misalignment with the City's existing municipal development plan. The northeast region requires major infrastructure investments, including sewer capacity upgrades similar to the $70 million allocated for the Lakeview Business District. Supporters argue the plan encourages future growth and attracts developers, while opponents worry about misaligned priorities. Mayor Cathy Heron supported having the ASP in place for long-term flexibility, even if immediate servicing is not planned.
  
  
• The St. Albert Public School Board urged the City to fund servicing in the northeast to create a shovel-ready high school site, warning that a lack of such sites could cost the City provincial funding. The board hopes to secure funding from Alberta’s $8.6 billion School Construction Accelerator Program but cannot apply without a serviced site. While the City has three shovel-ready school sites, only one meets the Board’s needs. Mayor Cathy Heron argued that an existing site in Chérot should be used instead of servicing new land. Meanwhile, Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools says it has no issues with school site availability.
  
  
• The Chamber of Commerce has urged residents to buy local, as Canada and the US face a potential trade war with steep tariffs on goods. Local businesses like North Central Co-Op and Amaranth Whole Foods have been highlighting Canadian alternatives in their stores. To help consumers, the Chamber has a webpage with tariff information.

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