City Council Highlights for the meeting held November 29, 2021:

Delegations

The Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta presented to Council to share the findings of the Northwestern Alberta's Vital Signs 2021 publication.

Community members presented to Council regarding accessibility in the community.

Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership (GPREP) Revised Agreement

Council approved the revised Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership (GPREP) Agreement to reflect current practices and consolidate and streamline the agreement.

Economic Recovery Program Summary

Council referred a funding request from the Economic Recovery Program for $200,000 to the 2022 Budget Deliberations.

From the initial $1 million Economic Recovery Capital Budget, Council has approved to date:

• $500,000 for the Beautification & Patio Grant and the Local Marketing Grant
• $100,000 for the Training Grant
• $50,000 grant to the Chamber of Commerce for the purchase of the Get in the Loop franchise
• $5,000 for the Dining with Dignity Program
• $300,000 transferred to the Development Incentives and Grants (DIG) Program.

The Economic Recovery Capital Budget currently has $45,000 in unallocated funding and $352,187 in grant funding remaining to be awarded. In 2020/ 2021, 106 grants worth $552,813 were awarded. The budget request of $200,000 would allow the Economic Recovery Program to plan for a similar level of uptake and leverage unallocated funding to develop new grants and programming in response to evolving community needs.

Volunteer Awards

Council awarded the Bill Bowes Volunteer Organization of the Year Award to the Salvation Army, and the George Repka Outstanding Achievement Award to Joseph Redhead and the late John Boyle.

Public Member Appointment

Council approved the following public member appointees to the Youth Advisory Committee for 1-year terms ending December 31, 2022:

• Avalon Heemskerk
• Bradley Williams
• Chloe Watson
• Coleman Parlee
• Daisy Nellis
• Devyn Mumert
• Ella Cameron
• Emma Gaultier
• Grace Larson
• Julia Izuogu
• Nidhin Sunhil
• Sharandeep Namsot

Grande Prairie Public Library

Council directed Administration to work with the Grande Prairie Public Library to review their strategic plan and priorities and bring back a needs assessment to the appropriate standing committee.

Richmond Industrial Area – Revitalization

Council moved to bring forward a funding request of $75,000.00 to the 2022 Budget Deliberations to support the Richmond Revitalization Strategy development.

2020 Tax Recovery Sale

Council approved the properties subject to the 2020 Tax Recovery Sale and set reserve bids. The auction will be held in the 1st Floor North Conference Room at City Hall on Friday, March 18, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.

Provincial Curling Championships Impact Assessment

Council approved funding in the amount of $10,000.00 to the Grande Prairie Curling Centre for the Best of Alberta 2022 Alberta Boston Pizza Cup Men's and the Sentinel Storage Women's Tournament of Hearts Provincial Curling Championships.

Grant Recommendations

Council approved funding allocation in the following amounts:

• Pursuit of Excellence Come Fly With Me Funding and Perky McCullough Scholarship to Ethan Fernandes in the amounts of $1,192.50 and $2,500.00;

• Pursuit of Excellence Come Fly With Me Funding and Perky McCullough Scholarship to Sydney Kinderwater in the amounts of $1,192.50 and $2,500.00;

• Pursuit of Excellence Bob Neufeld Scholarship to Grace Yakel in the amount of $1,200.00;

• Arts Development Individual Project Funding to Kelsi McInnis in the amount of $1,400.00;

• Arts Development Scholarship Funding to Paige Bartsch in the amount of $1,400.00;

• Transfer from the Public Art Reserve in the amount of $1,361.43 for the Windswept Sculpture plaque;

• Community Improvement Grant Funding to the Highland Park Neighbourhood Association in the amount of $4,960.00;

• Community Improvement Grant Funding to the O'Brien Lake Neighbourhood Association in the amount of $2,500.00; and

• Community Improvement Grant Funding to the Highland Park Neighbourhood Association in the amount of $4,123.00.

Coca-Cola Centre Crawlspace/ Geotech Liner

Council approved $250,547 in additional funding for the Coca-Cola Centre Crawlspace/Geotech Liner project from the Future Expenditures Reserve.

2022 Business Improvement Area Budget Review

Council set a date to review the 2022 Business Improvement Area (BIA) budget in Council Chambers on Monday, March 7, 2022. Administration has been directed to notify the businesses within the BIA, of this date and the proposed 2022 budget.

Riverstone Outline Plan Amendment

Council passed amendments to the Riverstone Outline Plan to facilitate the development of a five-unit street oriented rowhouse on the site.

Correspondence

The Minister of Municipal Affairs wrote a letter to Council granting a requested time extension to complete the City of Grande Prairie’s Priority Storm Infrastructure Repairs and Improvements and South Bear Creek Building Replacement Municipal Stimulus Program (MSP) projects.

The Minister of Justice and Solicitor General wrote a letter to Council detailing updates on the process to have two new Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta justices appointed to Grande Prairie. Council voted to continue advocating for these positions at the federal level.