St. Albert Minute: Scooter Rides, Intake Process, and Happy New Year

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

This Week In St. Albert:

• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. Regularly scheduled meetings will resume on January 7th.
  
  
• Tuesday is New Year’s Eve! The City is putting on fireworks at 8:30 pm. The fireworks will be launched from the Meadowview Ball Diamonds, which will be closed to the public. Recommended viewing locations include Red Willow Trails, Lions Park, Millennium Park, and behind St. Albert Place, with parking available at various nearby locations. Street parking along Mission Ave will not be available.
  
  
• As we ring in the New Year, we’re reflecting on the work we’ve accomplished and the challenges ahead. To kick off 2025 strong, we’ve set a goal to raise $5,000 by midnight on December 31st. This crucial fundraiser will ensure we can continue our mission in the coming year. If you’ve valued our efforts and want to see us achieve even more, please consider making a donation today. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference, and we’re incredibly thankful for your support. Click here to donate and help us start the year on the right foot. Thank you and Happy New Year!

Last Week In St. Albert:

• E-scooters gained popularity in St. Albert, with ridership showing significant growth in the program's second year. Bird Canada and Neuron Mobility are the two main operators, with Bird Canada reporting over 3,000 unique riders and nearly 12,700 trips between April and October 2024. Neuron, which started operating in August, saw around 500 riders taking over 1,200 trips by November. The City plans to keep the program unchanged for another year before considering expanding it further.
  
  
• The City said it is considering shifting the intake process for Municipal Advisory Boards and Committees to align with the school year, a change that could benefit recruitment and retention. The Youth Advisory Committee proposed moving recruitment to late spring to reduce disruptions, such as missed meetings and lack of quorum, which often occur in the fall due to young people's busy schedules. City staff will study the potential impact of this change and report back to Council in early 2025.
  
  
• St. Albert has seen a significant rise in thefts, especially from vehicles and around commercial centers, a trend the RCMP attributes to economic pressures. The number of reported thefts, including those over $5,000, has sharply increased compared to previous years, with 53 thefts from vehicles reported over a two-week period in December 2024.

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