St. Albert Minute: Renaming Frustrations, New Agreements, and a Mock Election Count

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

This Week In St. Albert:

• There will be a meeting of City Council at 1:00 pm on Tuesday. The main item on the agenda is the renaming of Grandin municipal assets. Council will hear from several speakers before receiving a presentation on the issue and discussing the feedback. (More on this below!).
  
  
• The Seniors' Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. The agenda includes the Seniors and Elders Service Awards, an update from the St. Albert Housing Coalition, and an update from an Older Adult Working Group.
  
  
• On Thursday, at 6:00 pm, the Environmental Advisory Committee will meet. The Committee will discuss the Community Recognition Program and the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability.

Last Week In St. Albert:

• Some St. Albert and Grandin residents expressed frustration at the City’s handling of the renaming process for Grandin-related municipal assets. Many feel the consultation through the "Cultivate the Conversation" portal was disorganized and didn't address their concerns about keeping the name Grandin. While some residents see the renaming as an opportunity for education on Indigenous history, others argue that the process has caused confusion and tension within the community. Petitions and online campaigns have emerged in opposition, with residents concerned about the impact on their addresses and identities.
  
  
• The City said it is preparing for a mock election count ahead of the October municipal election, as the Province's ban on electronic tabulators requires adjustments to traditional voting procedures. The mock count will help ensure the ballot counting process is accurate and efficient without the use of automated systems, as mandated by the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 20). Volunteers from the city and council committees will participate in the rehearsal, with two methods of counting under consideration: sort and count and call and tally. Additionally, St. Albert plans to hire 200 election workers in June, with some positions potentially available to students as greeters.
  
  
• Mayor Cathy Heron said that the dissolution of the Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Board (EMRB) could cost St. Albert millions. The City needs to create new agreements with neighbouring municipalities, such as Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs) and Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs). Heron expressed concerns about potential tensions between urban and rural areas without the EMRB, describing the situation as "the wild, wild west of planning." St. Albert is expected to spend over $1 million on these new agreements, a significant increase from its previous contribution to the EMRB. How does an agreement cost that much money?

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