City Council Highlights for March 22, 2021

City Council Highlights for March 22, 2021

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Category: Mayor & Council

 

Below are the highlights for the City Council meeting held March 22, 2021:

Delegations

  • A community member presented as a delegate to request a Council proclamation to recognize “Christmas in July” as part of a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grande Prairie. Council deferred this to the Mayor.
  • Marie Renee Charbonneau presented as a delegate on community safety in Hillside and its impact on the Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre. Council deferred this to the appropriate standing committee.
  • Maskwa Medical Centre Canada requested a letter of support and a $50,000 contribution to the cost to create the business plan for a Mayo Clinic model of patient-centred diagnostics in Grande Prairie. Council directed the Mayor to write a letter of support and deferred the funding request to the Economic Development Committee.
  • Derek Stokke requested Council declare every April 7 as “Green Shirt Day” in support of Organ Donor Awareness and in memory of Logan Boulet and the Humboldt Broncos. Council deferred this to the Mayor.

Economic Recovery Program - Training Grant

Council amended the Economic Recovery Program and approved $100,000 from the Economic Recovery capital budget for the Training Grant.

The grant provides funds for businesses to train employees across a variety of business functions, including HR, computer literacy or bookkeeping.

The grant is designed to support businesses seeking to train their existing staff to continue to provide meaningful employment while adapting to the pressures of COVID-19.

Businesses are eligible for a grant equal to:

  • 25% of registration costs for training initiatives over $300 per person to a maximum amount of $2,500 per business, or,
  • 50% of registration costs for training initiatives less than $300 to a maximum grant amount of $1,250.

More details about the grant and application details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Bear Creek Folk Festival

Council directed administration to amend the funding agreement between the City and Bear Creek Folk Festival to allow the Festival to use the previously allocated Large-Scale Tourism funding for the 2022 event. The festival was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community Services Bylaw, Policy & Procedures Review

Council made housekeeping revisions to the Revolution Place Operating Mandate, including the approval of the Revolution Place Alcohol Management Policy and repeal of the Crystal Centre Alcohol Management Policy.

2021-2022 Affordable Housing Action Plan

Council adopted the 2021-2022 Affordable Housing Action Plan.

The plan provides immediate support to struggling residents, leverages existing assets, seizes funding opportunities, and prepares for the future. Adopting a long-term multi-faceted strategy is still necessary and is a focus for administration.

Correspondence

Council received a letter of thanks for their support of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation’s 32 Annual Festival of Trees in 2020.

Bylaw C-1407 - Avondale High School Sites Area Redevelopment Plan

Council passed the Avondale High School Sites Area Redevelopment Plan Bylaw.