City Council Highlights for January 25, 2021

City Council Highlights for January 25, 2021

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Category: Mayor & Council, Media Releases

 

Below are the highlights for the City Council meeting held on January 25, 2021:

Delegation Business

Alberta Health Services

Alberta Health Services to share information about the COVID-19 pandemic in Grande Prairie and our region. Council directed Mayor Clayton to write letters to the appropriate local MLA's and Ministers of Alberta requesting additional information on the current health crisis such as:

  • local ICU numbers and local hospital isolation rates,
  • a reopen strategy including milestones for the hospitality, hotel and entertainment business industries, and summer events,
  • number of deaths in Q2, Q3 and Q4 in 2020 versus 2018 and 2019,
  • and a detailed report on how the deaths are being captured and to get a clear picture of the 2020 suicide and overdose statistics comparative to 2018 and 2019 on mental health and wellness.

Council also directed the administration to work with local AHS representatives to establish a process for the regular discussion and exchange of relevant information for the foreseeable future.

Inclusion Grande Prairie

Inclusion Grande Prairie presented to share information about a Northern Alberta Family Managed Supports Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities in the City. City Council directed Mayor Clayton to write a letter in support of the request.

Local Business Request

Derek Moe, a local businessperson to share the impact of provincial COVID-19 restrictions and request support from City Council, who accepted the presentation for information, as requested additional information earlier in the meeting.

Bike Skills Park

Residents from Crystal Lake spoke against the removal of trees and the location in the Crystal Lake area to build a Bike Skills Park with federal COVID-19 economic stimulus funding.

Temporary Mandatory Face Covering (Mask) Bylaw

There was not support to revisit the City's temporary mask bylaw which is set to expire at the end of the month. The Provincial mandatory mask order remains in effect.

Downtown Borrowing Bylaw

Council gave first reading to Bylaw C-1430, being a Borrowing Bylaw for the Downtown Rehabilitation and Streetscapes Project.

Gateway Direct Control District

City Council approved revisions to Bylaw C-1260-131, permitting administration to correct a map outlining the Direct Control District in the Gateway area.

Community Energy MOU

City Council approved an additional $4000 for the Community Energy Memorandum of Understanding.

Neighbourhood Rinks

City Council permitted public skating and stick and puck activities until May 30, 2021 on all low board City and neighbourhood rinks. The max size for hockey nets on these rinks is 12 inches high, 24 inches deep, and 72 inches wide. The City will provide a small pond hockey net upon request for each neighbourhood rink. Requests can be made by the neighbourhood rink volunteer. Neighbourhood volunteers may request their rink remain skating only.

Housekeeping Amendments to Policies

Several changes include housekeeping amendments related to department and service area titles. The administration intends to repeal policies that do not reflect current practices.

  • City Council repealed Policy 206, the Policy on Arts.
  • City Council repealed Policy 208, being the Revolution Place Box Office Advance of Ticket Proceeds Policy.
  • City Council approved amendments to Policy 119, being the Grande Prairie & District Museum Collections Policy.
  • Council approved amendments to Policy 203, being the Reduced Cost/Free Use of Facilities/Equipment Policy.
  • Council approved amendments to Policy 207, being the Alcohol Management (Community Living Service Areas) Policy.
  • Council approved amendments to Policy 214, being the Public Art Policy.
  • Council approved amendments to Policy 701, being the Fleet Management System Policy.
  • Council approved amendments to Policy 705, being the Advertising on City Buses and Transit Property Policy.
  • Council received for information the updates to Procedure 119-1, being the Grande Prairie & District Museum Collections Management Procedure.
  • Council received for information amendments to Procedure 207-1, being the Alcohol Management (Community Living Service Areas) Procedure.
  • Council approved amendments to Policy 203, being the Reduced Cost/Free Use of Facilities/Equipment Policy.

Kensington Area Structure Plan, Outline Plan, and Land Use Bylaw

City Council approved amendments to the Kensington Area Structure Plan (Bylaw C-1343B), Outline Plan (Bylaw 1344B), and Bylaw (Bylaw C-1260-132), switching the intended housing type from manufactured homes to single and semi-detached dwellings.

Land Purchase

Council approved an agreement to purchase 0.24 acres of land in the Smith Subdivision that was privately owned.

Land Swap

Council approved the completion of a 2017 land swap that facilitated the construction of the new Composite High School.

Correspondence

BILD Grande Prairie

City Council received a letter from BILD Grande Prairie and referred it to the appropriate standing committee for further discussion and directed the administration to bring forward recommendations on how to address the delegation’s request.

City of Cold Lake

City Council received a letter from the City of Cold Lake requesting support for an emergent resolution to AUMA advocating for the removal of special ballot eligibility and use criteria.