1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:07,600 on this lovely evening. Um, I'd like to call the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:13,360 Um, I would also like to mention that councelor Murray is not able to attend 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:17,359 this meeting. Um, so she will be absent. I will start things off with the land 4 00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:21,279 acknowledgement. So, as we gather here in Bulmont, we pause to acknowledge the 5 00:00:19,439 --> 00:00:25,439 land we're blessed to live and work on and to honor those who came before us. 6 00:00:23,519 --> 00:00:29,119 We value the enduring relationships with the French pioneers and indigenous 7 00:00:27,279 --> 00:00:33,440 peoples who continue to share their history, knowledge, and culture with our 8 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:37,440 community. [clears throat] We're also thankful for the generations 9 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:43,320 whose dedication and faith helped shape this community into the vibrant city 10 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,320 that it is today. 11 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:51,280 Moving on to the next item on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda. Uh do I 12 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:54,480 have a member of council willing to make the motion to 13 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:07,520 Councelor Van Newkerk. >> Thank you. 14 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:12,080 Yeah. Thank you. I'll move that the July 21st, 2026 committee of the whole 15 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:15,439 meeting agenda be adopted as presented. >> Thank you, counselor. 16 00:01:14,670 --> 00:01:20,439 [sighs] If everyone could put forward their 17 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,439 vote, please. 18 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:29,400 So that carries unanimously at 6 to nil. 19 00:01:29,735 --> 00:01:35,600 [snorts] The next portion of the agenda is the 20 00:01:33,759 --> 00:01:39,280 adoption of minutes. Uh do I have a member of council willing to make the 21 00:01:37,439 --> 00:01:42,280 motion to adopt the minutes as presented? 22 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:49,520 Councelor Penrod. >> Thank you, Chair. I move that the June 23 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:53,720 16, 2026 committee, the whole meeting minutes be adopted as presented. 24 00:01:54,479 --> 00:01:58,920 Thank you. I ask that everyone vote 25 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:09,840 and that also carries unanimously. Have any presenters for open forum? 26 00:02:08,479 --> 00:02:12,959 » Thank you, Deputy Mayor. We do have three open forum registrations this 27 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:19,400 evening. If Surrender could please take his seat. 28 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,400 » Perfect. Thank you. 29 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:23,840 » Surrender. >> Yes, please. 30 00:02:22,239 --> 00:02:27,000 » Please take your seat. >> Thank you. 31 00:02:38,879 --> 00:02:47,081 » Thank you. I just one second. I will just uh get your mic set up here. 32 00:02:45,061 --> 00:02:47,081 [panting] 33 00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:03,599 » Click it. >> Can you press Did you press the button? 34 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:08,239 » Just once more. Sorry. There are we >> Yeah, 35 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:11,840 » just once. Thank you. That That's perfect. 36 00:03:09,519 --> 00:03:15,280 » There you go. There we go. So, uh, just to start off, I will just, uh, have you 37 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,720 introduce yourself, please. And if you're a resident of Bowmont, uh, please 38 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:22,800 state your address. Uh, you'll be given 5 minutes to present your topic. 39 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:27,840 » Thank you. My name is, uh, Surender Sinclair. I'm the resident of Bowmont 40 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:34,000 living at 530461st Street. And um, good evening, Mayor 41 00:03:30,799 --> 00:03:38,640 Lisa, members of council, and the city administration. First of all, thank you 42 00:03:36,159 --> 00:03:43,519 for giving us the opportunity to speak in front of you all 43 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:46,319 to express our sincere appreciation for everything you do for the city of 44 00:03:44,799 --> 00:03:52,319 Bulmont. As residents, we recognize that managing 45 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:57,920 a growing community comes with many priorities and challenges. We appreciate 46 00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:04,239 the effort that goes into making Bulmont a safe, welcoming, and vibrant place to 47 00:04:00,799 --> 00:04:10,480 live. We also want to thank the city for supporting the support of cricket by 48 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:15,360 installing the practice nets and pitch at the four season park. We really 49 00:04:12,959 --> 00:04:20,320 appreciate that. Thank you. It shows that the city recognizes the 50 00:04:17,519 --> 00:04:25,280 growing interest in the support and we are truly grateful for the that 51 00:04:21,919 --> 00:04:31,040 investment. Today however we are here to share a challenge that has become 52 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:35,520 increasingly difficult for our specific community. 53 00:04:33,199 --> 00:04:42,160 We represent a group of approximately 100 Bmont residents who regularly play 54 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:46,960 cricket mainly in the summer. Most of us are young professionals, homeowners, 55 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:50,960 families and long-term residents of who have chosen Bulmont because we believe 56 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:56,240 in this community and want to build a future here. The biggest issue we face 57 00:04:53,600 --> 00:05:02,160 is the lack of a dedicated field where we can actually play matches. Every 58 00:04:59,759 --> 00:05:07,199 weekend and often on weekend e weekday evenings, we spend valuable time driving 59 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:12,400 from one park to the another hoping to find an available open field to play. 60 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:17,120 Many parks are already occupied by the other sports or reserved for the 61 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:21,520 organized events. On several occasions, we have even started playing only to 62 00:05:19,759 --> 00:05:26,320 discover the field had already been booked. Sometime it was only two people 63 00:05:24,479 --> 00:05:32,080 that came to play. But because they had it reserved, we had to leave and we were 64 00:05:29,039 --> 00:05:36,720 20 plus people playing already. Even when we do find an open space, there is 65 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:41,280 no cricket pitch. So we play directly on the grass. While we make the best of the 66 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:45,600 situation, it limits the quality of the game and makes it difficult for the 67 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:49,280 support to grow within our own city. Because of these challenges, we are 68 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:55,039 often forced to travel to Edmonton just to play. Unfortunately, Edmonton faces 69 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:58,960 the same problem. Cricket participation has grown tremendously there and 70 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:04,639 dedicated grounds are almost always fully booked. What should be a simple 71 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:09,039 evening or weekend game often turns into hours of driving, searching, waiting, or 72 00:06:07,039 --> 00:06:15,520 not being able to play at all. It has happened with us several times already 73 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:19,120 just this summer. We believe Bowmont has an opportunity to become a leader in 74 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:23,919 supporting one of Canada's fastest growing support. Our requesters, our 75 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:29,199 request is very straightforward forward and practical. We respectfully ask the 76 00:06:26,639 --> 00:06:36,000 city to designate one of existing fields as dedicated cricket field in the future 77 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:40,319 as resources allow. We hope that field could include a proper pitch as well. 78 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:44,800 This would provide a permanent home for a growing support in the city, encourage 79 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:49,680 healthy and active lifestyle, strengthen community connections, and allow Bowmont 80 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:55,199 residents to enjoy recreation within the city that they proudly call home. Our 81 00:06:53,120 --> 00:07:00,160 cricket community is committed to being a positive partner 82 00:06:57,759 --> 00:07:04,639 with the city. We are always ready to volunteer. As I mentioned, we are all 83 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:08,479 young professionals, help organize activities, promote respectful use of 84 00:07:06,639 --> 00:07:13,680 the facility, and support community events whenever possible. We don't 85 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:18,080 simply want to use a field. We want to contribute to Bowman's culture, 86 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:22,479 diversity, and sense of community. On behalf of everyone in our cricket 87 00:07:19,919 --> 00:07:28,400 community specifically, we respectfully urge council to consider our request and 88 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:32,479 work with us to find the best possible solution. 89 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:36,800 A dedicated cricket field would have a meaningful impact on the lives of many 90 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:41,120 current residents while also serving the growing number of families who 91 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:45,280 contribute to choose Bowmont as their home. Thank you again for your time, 92 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:49,440 your leadership, and for listening to our concern. We sincerely appreciate 93 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:53,680 your consideration and look forward to working together to make Bowmont an ever 94 00:07:51,599 --> 00:07:58,160 even stronger and more inclusive community. Thank you so much. 95 00:07:56,639 --> 00:08:02,319 » Perfect. Thank you very much for that presentation. Uh you're welcome to stay 96 00:08:00,319 --> 00:08:05,840 as we see if any counselors have any questions for sure. 97 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:09,599 » Um it does appear that councelor Penrod has [clears throat] a question. So uh 98 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:14,560 councelor Penrod go ahead. >> Thank you Deputy Mayor Natalus. Um thank 99 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:19,199 you for the presentation surrender. Uh just two quick questions for you. First, 100 00:08:16,879 --> 00:08:24,240 have you and your or your group had the opportunity to present this request to 101 00:08:21,599 --> 00:08:27,840 the recreation and culture advisory committee as of yet? 102 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:30,960 » This is the first time we're making any official request. 103 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:37,839 » Okay, great. So, that would be something that I would suggest to you as um a good 104 00:08:33,839 --> 00:08:42,240 next step uh to help you to understand some of what's involved in in your 105 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:46,800 request. uh this is something that other community organizations have have done 106 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:50,640 and we're having some good good success I think getting people channeled through 107 00:08:48,399 --> 00:08:55,680 there and then you have uh you're in touch with administration and you can 108 00:08:52,880 --> 00:09:02,000 kind of understand everything that is required in a request like this. So um 109 00:08:59,279 --> 00:09:05,279 maybe the clerk who helped you register for tonight could help steer you in the 110 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,800 direction to get registered with that committee. So that would be a 111 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,720 suggestion. >> It was Stacy. So we'll be in touch with 112 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:13,440 her. >> Perfect. Uh and then second question is 113 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:17,680 what types of fields are you currently using when you describe driving around 114 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:22,800 and looking for an open space? >> 100%. So we're mainly using uh one of 115 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:25,200 the soccer field that is close to the Anytime Fitness just across the city. 116 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:30,160 Yeah. >> And uh the other field that if if it is 117 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:33,279 available then in Four Season Park any of the baseball grounds. 118 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:37,839 » Okay. And are you ever I mean you mentioned having to yield because 119 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:43,440 somebody came that had the field booked. Um, have you tried to book fields for 120 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,160 the purpose of playing cricket? >> Not yet. 121 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:51,760 » Okay. So, that' be another thing that could be discussed at the um the culture 122 00:09:49,839 --> 00:09:54,320 wreck and culture advisory committee. >> Sure. 123 00:09:52,240 --> 00:10:00,000 » Thank you again. Great presentation. >> It's a pleasure. 124 00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:05,040 » Thank you, uh, councelor Penrod. Uh, it appears, uh, Mayor, uh, Vanderqu is up 125 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:09,120 next. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. I just want to 126 00:10:07,519 --> 00:10:13,040 have a question. So you mentioned there's a hundred residents in Bulmont 127 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:18,480 that play cricket right now. Do you have like an organized club? Have you 128 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:23,120 formulated a organized cricket club? >> Yes. So uh it's not official like we 129 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:27,200 haven't registered it anywhere but if needed then we can definitely get their 130 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:31,120 address names and uh their contact information that they are the residents 131 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:35,440 of Bulmont. However, we do have an Instagram page where our club is growing 132 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:38,240 and uh we're regularly posting our content there. 133 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:42,560 » That would be a recommendation I would have as well is to because when you have 134 00:10:40,399 --> 00:10:46,720 an organized club, there's a commitment. There's, you know, moving forward in 135 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:50,640 terms of organized games and everything like that. So, I would suggest that you 136 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:54,079 reach out to the people that you know of and formulate something like that that 137 00:10:52,560 --> 00:10:57,440 will give you a stronger position as well in terms of uh moving forward. 138 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:01,440 » For sure. >> Yeah. However, we do participate in all 139 00:10:59,680 --> 00:11:05,680 like different tournaments across Edmonton and closer cities and we do 140 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:09,519 represent Bulmont. Our club name is Bowmont Kings. 141 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:13,000 » Cool. Yeah. Thank you so much for coming tonight. 142 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,000 » Thanks. 143 00:11:13,279 --> 00:11:19,120 » Perfect. Thank you. Um it does not appear that there's any other counselors 144 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:22,760 with any questions. So, I thank you again for your presentation. 145 00:11:23,519 --> 00:11:29,839 That being said, uh, moving along the agenda here. Uh, Madame Clerk, I my 146 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:32,320 understanding that there are some other presenters. 147 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:36,920 » That's correct. If we could please have Sarah take her seat at the presentation 148 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:36,920 table. 149 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,880 » Perfect. Thank you. Uh, welcome Sarah. I actually don't need you to state your 150 00:11:41,839 --> 00:11:46,079 address. That's just for a public hearing. But I will, uh, have you state 151 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:49,760 your name. And again, you'll be given five minutes to present. And if you 152 00:11:48,079 --> 00:11:50,959 could just confirm if you're a Bumont resident. 153 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:54,320 » I am. >> Perfect. Thank you. 154 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:57,519 » Right. My name is Sarah and I hold a master of education. My research has 155 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:01,120 centered on public policy and its health and safety effects on young children, 156 00:11:58,959 --> 00:12:03,920 but most importantly, I am Robin's mom. Today, I'm going to take you through our 157 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:07,360 current strategic plan to prove that the city daycare is not a problem, but in 158 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:11,120 fact a solution to many issues faced in our community. First, let's talk clear, 159 00:12:09,839 --> 00:12:15,120 responsible, and reliable public services. In the first childare funding 160 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:18,639 model, over 80% of daycare costs are now covered by provincial and federal 161 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:21,600 grants. This is public money that is specifically earmarked for Bumont 162 00:12:20,079 --> 00:12:24,959 families. But once it hits a private cent's profit margins, we cannot control 163 00:12:23,279 --> 00:12:28,399 where that money goes and if it actually contributes to making Bowmont a better 164 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:31,440 place to live. Conversely, when considering the city daycare, we know 165 00:12:29,839 --> 00:12:35,360 that every penny that was meant for Bowmont families went to Bowmont 166 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:38,320 families. 100% of the money stayed here and helped to strengthen the community 167 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:42,560 through a passionate and engaged team of educators. That is clear, responsible, 168 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:45,519 and reliable public service. On the topic of money, we have heard from 169 00:12:43,839 --> 00:12:48,880 council that cost is the main barrier to keeping the daycare open. Many 170 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:52,560 reasonable solutions to this exist, such as changing the fees at SAS, leveraging 171 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,519 economies of scale by expanding through the new building that has already been 172 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:59,200 budgeted for, or raising the cost recovery benchmark. Alternatively, you 173 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:02,240 could continue letting the daycare do its outstanding work and proudly state 174 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:06,639 that you think our kids are worth the $145 a month we are asking you for. 175 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:10,639 However, in discussing these issues with parents, you have heard from us that our 176 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:14,079 main concern is health and safety. This should be one of council's main concerns 177 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:17,760 also as keeping Bowmont a safe place to live and raise a family is a second 178 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:20,880 strategic goal. The money provided to the daycare has produced a standard of 179 00:13:19,279 --> 00:13:24,399 excellence that acts as a market anchor and exerts a positive competitive force 180 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:27,920 on the local childare market, thus working to raise the standard of care 181 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:31,360 for all kids in Bowmont. User fees are capped by the province. So, the only way 182 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:35,120 private centers can make profit is by reducing the quality of programming or 183 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:38,800 hiring less staff at lower wages. Because the only way to make profit is 184 00:13:36,639 --> 00:13:42,079 to cut costs, nonprofit and municipally operated centers are usually in higher 185 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:45,760 demand due to better staffing, quality programming, and superior health and 186 00:13:43,519 --> 00:13:48,639 safety metrics. The town daycare far exceeds the minimum licensing 187 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:52,560 requirements for things like first aid and educator qualifications. Private 188 00:13:50,959 --> 00:13:56,399 centers use surplus dollars for whatever they want, but nonprofit or municipally 189 00:13:54,639 --> 00:13:59,199 operated centers are mandated to use all dollars available to increase the 190 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:02,720 quality of their programming, thus driving the overall market towards a 191 00:14:00,639 --> 00:14:06,320 better product. However, outside of the city daycare, there's a shortage of 192 00:14:04,079 --> 00:14:10,480 nonprofit centers here. Therefore, the city daycare feels a dire social 193 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:13,760 infrastructure need. Bowmont hovers very close to being classified as a childare 194 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:16,720 desert. But even with new centers opening, the number of viable options 195 00:14:15,199 --> 00:14:21,600 from a health and safety perspective has remained critically low. Some of the vi 196 00:14:19,199 --> 00:14:25,199 uh in the past 18 months, 40% of our daycarees have recorded serious health 197 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:27,920 and safety violations. If you include centers that have also undergone 198 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:32,000 complaint investigations, that number rises to 53%. 199 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:35,760 Some of the violations in the last 18 months, staff not having criminal 200 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:39,760 records checks, harmful substances stored in reach of children, failure to 201 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:43,199 supervise children at all times, and threat for child guidance, which means 202 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:47,600 kids were physically punished, verbally degraded, isolated, or denied basic 203 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:51,360 necessities like food or water as a form of punishment. If the town doesn't 204 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:54,880 provide social infrastructure where it is needed, it means parents need to 205 00:14:52,639 --> 00:14:59,040 sacrifice their jobs, move, or take their money to different communities. 206 00:14:56,959 --> 00:15:03,040 Safe, quality childcare is as necessary for parents to be able to work as the 207 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:06,560 road they drive on to get there. The parents behind me and on the live stream 208 00:15:04,639 --> 00:15:10,160 agree it takes a village to raise a child. Our village up to this point has 209 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:14,079 been Bowmont, a place where kids have traditionally meant more than a budget 210 00:15:11,519 --> 00:15:17,279 line. Bowmont is growing rapidly, but still maintains the heart of a small 211 00:15:15,519 --> 00:15:21,440 town, the pulse of which are the unique, long-standing community services you 212 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:24,720 simply can't find elsewhere. The spirit of Bowmont is here in this room. a 213 00:15:23,279 --> 00:15:29,040 community coming together to say that thoughtful growth cannot come from cuts. 214 00:15:27,279 --> 00:15:32,480 This leads to the third section of the strategic plan supporting thoughtful 215 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:36,560 growth that makes sense for the community. So where is the common sense 216 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:40,560 in closing the highest quality most in demand care in our city? When we talk 217 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:45,120 thoughtful growth, we must also consider the equitable access and stability of 218 00:15:42,399 --> 00:15:48,240 that growth. Private daycarees are 97% more likely to close in their first four 219 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:51,600 years, leading to major disruption for families and major headaches for 220 00:15:49,519 --> 00:15:54,560 developers. Private centers are also statistically less likely to provide 221 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:57,440 specialized care for kids with diverse needs. They can claim that they can't 222 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:00,880 afford to accommodate these children and so the refusal isn't viewed as 223 00:15:58,639 --> 00:16:04,800 discrimination. My own child is nearly rejected at a center for having an 224 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:07,839 epipen. The city daycare is the only childcare in Bulma that is unable to 225 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:12,959 pick and choose from their applicant list. Yes, child care is critical to 226 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:17,920 families, but ELCC and SAS are critical to our sense of community. Our town mo 227 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:22,480 motto is life is better in Bowmont. Not BMont means minimum licensing 228 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:26,000 requirements. We are trying to help you. We want you to understand that if you 229 00:16:24,399 --> 00:16:29,839 close the daycare, you will be seen as going out of your way to champion 230 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:33,360 inferior conditions for our children. But to keep the daycare open would be to 231 00:16:31,519 --> 00:16:37,440 breathe life into every section of your strategic plan. A success for the 232 00:16:35,199 --> 00:16:41,519 council and a success for the community. It plainly comes down to this. A good 233 00:16:39,839 --> 00:16:46,120 deal for kids is a good deal for Bulmont. Thank you for your time. 234 00:16:47,519 --> 00:16:56,079 Perfect. Thank you. Uh thank you for that presentation. I am looking around 235 00:16:52,399 --> 00:16:59,440 to counselors and I do not see anyone with any questions. So appreciate you 236 00:16:58,079 --> 00:17:04,199 coming forward. Appreciate the presentation. Thank you very much. 237 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:04,199 » Thank you for 238 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:09,679 » moving along on the agenda. Madame clerk, I believe there's one last uh 239 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,919 correct open forum. >> If we could have Erica take her seat, 240 00:17:11,120 --> 00:17:15,079 please. >> Thank you. 241 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:25,039 Welcome, Erica. Um, I know we already said your name, but I'll have you uh 242 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:28,640 repeat it as well and just confirm if you're a resident of Bowmont and uh 243 00:17:27,039 --> 00:17:31,679 you'll have 5 minutes to present. >> Yes, I am a resident of Bumont. My name 244 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:35,840 is Erica Campbell. >> Thank you. 245 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:40,720 » Okay. Good evening, Madame Mayor and Council. Today, I will be speaking in 246 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:44,559 response to the 2026 review of the municipal run daycare. My name is 247 00:17:42,799 --> 00:17:48,320 Erikica Campbell, as I said, and I've been a resident of Bowmont for four 248 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:53,840 years. I currently have two children attending ELCC, one of which will be 249 00:17:51,120 --> 00:17:58,240 moving to SAS shortly. When I heard about the review, I had many questions. 250 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:03,360 I quickly realized that although I have experience with the financial side as an 251 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:08,160 accountant, I do not have expertise in child care, municipal run programs, and 252 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:13,360 understanding these specific benefits to communities. So, I reached out to those 253 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:18,240 who did. I've been in communication with researchers, daycare directors, 254 00:18:15,679 --> 00:18:22,799 childcare advocates, charity directors, and advisory council members. I began 255 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:27,360 asking questions and gathering relevant information so that I could ensure I had 256 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:31,360 a thorough understanding. I must add that I was met with such support and 257 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:35,360 kindness, and this daycare's excellent reputation was brought up again and 258 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:39,840 again throughout this process. I am very proud to be where I am. 259 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:44,000 The executive director of the Drayton Valley Municipal Run Daycare, Bernice 260 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:47,919 Taylor, was very helpful in highlighting key benefits to the community, such as 261 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:52,480 the fact that childcare is what draws workforce to our communities. It is what 262 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:57,120 stabilizes our service industry and is needed to attract professionals who wish 263 00:18:54,320 --> 00:19:01,440 to serve the community. In addition, she has provided the following quote to be 264 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:05,600 shared. The early childhood development center has provided a safe, nurturing 265 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:10,240 environment to Drayton Valley families so they could maintain their businesses. 266 00:19:07,919 --> 00:19:14,080 Childcare is a critical role in our econ economic development and has been 267 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:17,600 pivotal in retention of employees in our community. 268 00:19:15,679 --> 00:19:21,280 This is not special to Drayton Valley and in these economic challenging times, 269 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:25,360 we have been counted on for quality care. Families shouldn't need to worry 270 00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:30,520 about child care and we know municipal care are some of the longestrun programs 271 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:30,520 in the province. 272 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:36,640 Work that well-known policy researcher Martha Friendley has done has been very 273 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:41,760 helpful in understanding the municipal daycare model and the many benefits. For 274 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:45,600 example, publicly operated childcare programs have been effective in meeting 275 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:50,000 service gaps, piloting innovative practices, and addressing emerging 276 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:54,640 issues. There are also benefits to our staff such as opportunities for learning 277 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:59,039 and career growth. These factors feed into the high employee retention and low 278 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:03,679 turnover. In my personal experience with daycarees, low turnover and high quality 279 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:07,919 go hand in hand. I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. 280 00:20:05,679 --> 00:20:12,880 Susan Cake who serves as a chair for Childare Now Alberta. She has very 281 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:17,200 eloquently stated that during difficult economic times like these that families 282 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:22,240 really look to all levels of government to do what they can to make life more 283 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:26,640 affordable and just a little less hard. Particularly young families. I hope that 284 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:31,039 keep being a government that these families and more can turn to for things 285 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:36,440 they need to be supported and successful in our cities and towns. Excuse me. 286 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:45,280 One of my most memorable conversations was with a member of the National 287 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:48,960 Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care. They reminded me that 288 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:54,159 Bowmont is actually in a fantastic position right now as a wellestablished 289 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:57,760 successful municipal run daycare. The trending of the public funding from the 290 00:20:55,919 --> 00:21:02,559 federal government has been increasing since 2021. And even just on June 19th, 291 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:08,880 there was an announcement of an additional 5.4 billion over 2 years. As 292 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:14,400 80% publicly funded, childcare is now thought of as a public good. Public 293 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:18,240 funds deliver public value. Bulmont is in a fantastic position to celebrate 294 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:22,640 their successes and expand the reach where we can. In my opinion, having a 295 00:21:21,039 --> 00:21:27,520 municipal rent daycare says the following. We as a city understand the 296 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:32,159 needs of our citizens and want to ensure that we provide consistent highquality 297 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:36,400 standards where we can. When Urban Systems did their presentation, they 298 00:21:34,159 --> 00:21:41,039 stated that it really comes down to, do you want to run a municipal daycare? And 299 00:21:38,559 --> 00:21:45,880 my question to council is, why wouldn't you? 300 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,880 Thank you. 301 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:51,280 » Thank you uh Erica for your presentation. and I really appreciate 302 00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:56,799 it. Um, that being said, I'll open up the floor to council members to see if 303 00:21:53,200 --> 00:22:00,080 anyone has any questions and it does not appear that there are 304 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:03,880 any additional questions. So, thanks again. 305 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,880 » Thank you. 306 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:14,000 » So, thanks again for the open forum. Um, really appreciate the presence of all 307 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:19,360 participants. Would like to see the chambers full this time all the or this 308 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:24,240 much all the time. So, um, that being said, uh, we are slated to go into close 309 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:27,039 session. Um, but I would encourage everyone to stay because there's 310 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:36,440 additional presentations after the fact. But, uh, I am going to ask for a motion 311 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:36,440 to go into closed session and ask that. 312 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,640 Uh, Mayor Vanderquac, 313 00:22:43,919 --> 00:22:52,240 » the council move into close session at 523 pursuant to the Access to 314 00:22:48,559 --> 00:22:58,200 Information Act, sections 26 and 29. >> Thank you, mayor. I ask uh that we vote 315 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,200 on that, please. 316 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:06,880 And that carries unanimously. So, as mentioned, unfortunately, everyone will 317 00:23:05,679 --> 00:23:11,120 have to leave for the closed session, but I do encourage folks to stay for the 318 00:23:09,120 --> 00:23:14,520 uh presentations that come later. Thank you so much. 319 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:57,039 Welcome back to our regular session. We just finished up with close session. Uh 320 00:23:53,440 --> 00:24:01,919 on our agenda we have a 6.1 presentation from Alberta Capitable Airhed and I 321 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:06,360 believe this presenter is going to be presenting virtually for us. 322 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:13,360 » Hello. Are you able to hear me? >> We sure are. Yes. Thank you. 323 00:24:11,679 --> 00:24:18,840 » All right. Well, thank you so much for having me today. I'm just going to share 324 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:18,840 a presentation here. 325 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:25,159 There we are. If you're able, please confirm that you're able to see that. 326 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:30,720 » As we're just running through that to get it set up here, um, are you able to 327 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:33,600 just quickly introduce yourself uh before you present? 328 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:37,760 » Yes, certainly. My name is Colton Arabeski. I'm the engagement and 329 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:42,080 membership coordinator uh for Alberta Capital Shed. 330 00:24:40,159 --> 00:24:49,320 » Perfect. Thank you. And I do believe uh we have the visual here. 331 00:24:45,120 --> 00:24:49,320 » Okay. Excellent. Thank you so much. 332 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,080 Okay, let's see. 333 00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:56,840 Uh, sorry about that. 334 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:04,600 » My apologies. Give me one moment here. Everything went far too fast. 335 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:28,000 All right. Thank you. Sorry um about that. Thank you for your patience. So 336 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:31,360 why does air quality matter? We all breathe the same air. Air quality 337 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:34,720 affects everyone every day uh regardless of your age or background. There are 338 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:38,559 significant health impacts associated with poor air quality. uh this can 339 00:25:36,799 --> 00:25:42,400 include respiratory and cardiovascular effects, effects on neurological and 340 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:46,799 brain health and links to depression and anxiety disorders and more. We also see 341 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:50,720 vulnerable populations at higher risk. Not everyone is impacted equally. Uh 342 00:25:48,799 --> 00:25:54,960 children and infants, seniors, outdoor workers, people with pre-existing 343 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:59,679 conditions, pregnant people and unborn children, uh people exercising outdoors 344 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:04,159 are all impacted more by poor air quality. And air quality can impact our 345 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:07,919 daily life. uh yesterday and today for example during poor air quality events 346 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:12,000 uh people may have to limit outdoor activities and sports uh school and work 347 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:16,000 attendance can be impacted and it also increases healthcare visits and costs. 348 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:19,760 Uh we're seeing an increase of course of poor air quality days due to wildfires 349 00:26:17,919 --> 00:26:23,679 and climate change in recent years and so this is very top of mind for a lot of 350 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:28,559 uh residents of the Alberta Capital airship region. 351 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:31,760 So who is Alberta Capital airship? Uh we're responsible for monitoring, 352 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:36,240 evaluating and reporting the outdoor air quality including the air quality health 353 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:40,240 index or AQHI. Our boundaries expand north to Aabaska and south to Camero's 354 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:44,240 Motasin area with a lot of our monitoring concentrated in and around 355 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:48,480 the capital region as shown in the map. As a nonprofit, ACA receives funding 356 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:51,840 from three primary streams uh including monitoring agreements, grants, and 357 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:56,000 membership fees which include emitters and others such as municipalities like 358 00:26:53,360 --> 00:26:59,120 Bowmont. At ACA, we actively engage with communities to raise air quality 359 00:26:57,360 --> 00:27:03,840 awareness, share data through knowledge translation, and provide education. AC 360 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:08,080 is one of 10 airsheds within Alberta, and the 10 airheds formed the Alberta 361 00:27:05,679 --> 00:27:12,320 Airheds Council. Together, aired operate over 85 continuous monitoring stations 362 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:17,120 and hundreds of other monitoring sites that measure a variety of air quality 363 00:27:13,919 --> 00:27:21,159 parameters. Over 85% of Alberta's population lives within an airhed. 364 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:27,200 ACA uses several different methods to monitor air quality, including 365 00:27:25,279 --> 00:27:31,200 continuous monitoring stations, uh, integrated sampling, sensor based, and 366 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:34,240 micro sensor technology. Together, this allows us to collect and provide broad, 367 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:37,919 accurate data to support public reporting and community health. 368 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:41,520 Continuous monitoring stations provide near instantaneous measurements of 369 00:27:39,679 --> 00:27:45,360 ambient concentrations of many pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, 370 00:27:43,279 --> 00:27:49,279 nitrogen monoxides, ground level ozone, fine particulate matter, carbon 371 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:52,080 monoxide, and more. All monitoring stations are also equipped with 372 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:56,640 meteorological equipment to assess the impact of local conditions on ambient 373 00:27:54,080 --> 00:28:01,440 air. The data collected at many of our continuous monitoring stations is used 374 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:05,919 to count air quality health index. ACA also has a growing network of fine 375 00:28:03,039 --> 00:28:09,679 particulate matter or PM2.5 micro sensors and they're affordable, easy to 376 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:13,760 use and they allow for community level air quality monitoring. uh by placing 377 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:18,000 those in different locations, we can see more detailed variations in air quality, 378 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:22,000 identify hotspots, and understand local sources. Involving the community in 379 00:28:20,159 --> 00:28:25,360 setting up sensors also builds awareness and ownership around air quality issues. 380 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:29,880 Uh and they're a great source of air quality data during wildfire smoke 381 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,880 events. 382 00:28:30,399 --> 00:28:37,440 Our monitoring network collects a lot of data. So most parameters are collecting 383 00:28:34,159 --> 00:28:41,440 data every minute of the day, 24/7, 365 days of the year. Uh what do we do with 384 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:44,480 all this data? Wide real-time data is available on our website and it's also 385 00:28:43,039 --> 00:28:48,720 used by the provincial and federal governments to provide communities with 386 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:51,919 the AQI. Uh beyond that, the data is collated for reporting to regulators and 387 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:55,200 stakeholders and it's analyzed for insights and trends in air quality. The 388 00:28:53,919 --> 00:28:58,559 data also goes through a rigorous quality assurance and validation program 389 00:28:57,279 --> 00:29:02,480 where all data and reports are scrutinized to ensure accuracy. Uh so we 390 00:29:00,799 --> 00:29:06,399 have two streams of data available on our website. the public facing live data 391 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:10,880 map on the left side of the red line uh which shows real time air quality data 392 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:14,159 from our stations and micro sensors and then we also have our members portal 393 00:29:12,399 --> 00:29:17,679 where members like the city of Bmont can access historical data, comparison 394 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:22,720 tools, calendar plots, exceedence reports and more. Uh so as members uh 395 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:26,320 city of Bowmont has access to monthly and annual reports that highlight and 396 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:30,320 analyze local air quality monitoring data. 397 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:34,080 What else do we do at ACA? Uh we have robust education and outreach program. 398 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:37,360 We engage with the community and our members in a variety of ways. We attend 399 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:40,960 uh many of our members events throughout the year and share information about ACA 400 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:44,960 and air quality. We have free air quality educational resources available 401 00:29:42,799 --> 00:29:48,399 for teachers. Uh we host clean air webinars throughout the year touching on 402 00:29:46,399 --> 00:29:51,840 various air quality talk topics of interest with recordings available 403 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:58,000 online. And we're active on social media. Um you can find us on Instagram, 404 00:29:54,880 --> 00:30:01,520 X, Facebook, and LinkedIn uh @ Yank Airshed. Uh we also have a monthly 405 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:05,360 newsletter that goes out and our community guide to wildfire smoke is a 406 00:30:03,679 --> 00:30:09,200 members only resource that we recently developed designed to support Alberta's 407 00:30:07,279 --> 00:30:12,880 municipalities and other organizations in planning for and responding to 408 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:16,480 wildfire smoke events. So at the beginning of November uh we held our 409 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:19,919 fourth clean air forum which is a conference that we host providing the 410 00:30:17,919 --> 00:30:23,360 opportunity for information exchange and dialogue amongst air quality 411 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:26,159 stakeholders. Uh we work with our partners in ways just like this 412 00:30:24,559 --> 00:30:31,600 providing air quality information to the public and interested organizations. 413 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:36,320 Uh we're also alongside the uh wildfire guide to or so the guide to wildfire 414 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:39,919 smoke uh launched our Aaware wildfire smoke and health workshop and the 415 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:43,919 workshop was developed based off the content in a guide to uh help 416 00:30:42,399 --> 00:30:49,600 individuals and organizations better understand the connection between 417 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:52,880 wildfire smoke and health. So at ACA we offer a full suite of air 418 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:57,520 quality services designed to support industry, government and community 419 00:30:54,320 --> 00:31:01,120 partners across our operations uh including assessment and public 420 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:04,640 engagement. And these cost recovery services are available at competitive 421 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:08,799 prices for both members and non-members. Uh we offer air quality operations and 422 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:12,159 monitoring service services. We're able to design, deploy and maintain air 423 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:15,919 monitoring systems for air quality measurement along with meteorological 424 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:19,919 monitoring and data transmission solutions. Our data team can provide air 425 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:24,399 quality assessment and modeling providing expert guidance and defensible 426 00:31:22,159 --> 00:31:28,320 sources. Sorry, dispensable signs for permitting, planning and emergency 427 00:31:25,919 --> 00:31:31,440 response. Uh and our communications and engagement team can help make air 428 00:31:29,679 --> 00:31:34,559 quality understandable, actionable, and meaningful to your stakeholders from 429 00:31:33,039 --> 00:31:38,240 outdoor event planning to public education and internal training. Uh we 430 00:31:36,799 --> 00:31:42,960 try to help bridge the gap between technical air data and real real world 431 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:46,799 decisions. Uh on the screen you'll see a photo of one of our AQHI cloud lights 432 00:31:44,799 --> 00:31:51,200 which is a tool we use to share uh information on air quality in public 433 00:31:48,399 --> 00:31:55,679 settings. The city of Bulmont has been a member of 434 00:31:52,799 --> 00:31:59,200 ACA since 2021 and we absolutely appreciate your continued support. Our 435 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:03,519 municipal members are valued partners and participate as ACA members 436 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:06,960 voluntarily. Uh by working closely with communities, ACA can play an integral 437 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:12,399 role in addressing local air quality concerns. As an ACA member, the city of 438 00:32:09,919 --> 00:32:16,799 Bmont has access to support for effective public engagement on air 439 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:20,399 quality and odor concerns and membership also provides a cost-effective way to 440 00:32:18,399 --> 00:32:24,960 meet environmental responsibilities. The city is also access is also has access 441 00:32:23,039 --> 00:32:28,640 rather to our data portal and local air quality monitoring data uh which can 442 00:32:27,039 --> 00:32:32,559 support informed evidence-based decision-m 443 00:32:30,559 --> 00:32:35,519 uh being part of AC ensures consistent regionwide messaging about air quality 444 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:39,440 so residents receive the same information across neighboring 445 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:42,399 communities through ACA Bulmont can collaborate with neighboring 446 00:32:40,399 --> 00:32:46,159 municipalities and other stakeholders on shared air quality issues and maintain 447 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:49,840 strong connections with regulatory and legislative bodies. Uh other municipal 448 00:32:48,399 --> 00:32:53,679 members include city of Edmonton, Sturgeon County, Leuk, Spruce Grove, 449 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:57,679 Camros, St. Albert, Westwalk County, Strath Kone County, and the town of 450 00:32:55,360 --> 00:33:01,120 Devon. Right now, Bulmont has one purple air 451 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:05,600 micro sensor located on city hall operated by ACA. And on our live air 452 00:33:03,519 --> 00:33:09,679 data map, you can see the AQHI plus or AQHI equivalent cover reported for this 453 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:13,360 micro sensor calculated using climate particulate matter only. Uh, 454 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:17,679 Environments and Climate Change Canada does uh report the an AQI for the 455 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:22,240 community in the weather app website. Uh, but it reports actually the city of 456 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:27,039 Edmonson AQHI. So, uh, more accurate data is available on our website for uh, 457 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:32,640 residents of the communities in Bulmont. The closest AQI station would be Lendum 458 00:33:29,679 --> 00:33:35,960 or uh, Sherwood Park. Um, and there's an aerrow qual. 459 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:43,279 This is a quick summary of the micro sensor data for the city hall site since 460 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:48,480 2025. Uh it is a daily or 24-hour average of fine particulate matter or 461 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:52,480 PM2.5 which is the the the very fine dust especially you'll find in uh 462 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:55,200 wildfire smoke. And we can see some peaks in June and September that 463 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:59,360 correlate with wildfire smoke in the region. 464 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:05,600 And that's it. I just wanted to take today's today as an opportunity to uh 465 00:34:02,159 --> 00:34:10,000 reintroduce ACA to council and mayor and uh fence any questions and and hopefully 466 00:34:08,079 --> 00:34:14,399 just establish a a dialogue and relationship going forward. 467 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:18,240 » Perfect. Uh thank you Colton. Appreciate that presentation. I will open up the 468 00:34:16,639 --> 00:34:23,280 floor to council members if they have any questions. I see uh councelor Van 469 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:27,040 Newkerk. I'll pass the floor to you. >> Yeah, thank you. Um, you mentioned the 470 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:32,480 Alberta Quality Health Index a lot in that presentation. Um, can you just 471 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:38,240 definitively speak to how the data from Bulmont feeds into the rating uh that is 472 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:41,919 put out there cuz a lot of sports fields, sports teams, you know, every 473 00:34:40,240 --> 00:34:47,200 that's I think that's still the go-to, is it Nathan? Even for soccer like the 474 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:52,560 AQHI, um, how does that how does that integrate in? 475 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:58,079 » Yes, thank you for the question. Um, the mayor to councelor, please. The um, 476 00:34:55,119 --> 00:35:01,520 AQI number that Bowmont has access to is of course generated by continuous 477 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:06,400 monitoring stations located within city of Edmonton boundaries. Uh, so it 478 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:10,560 frankly is an imperfect uh, system right now where the AQHI number is not 479 00:35:08,720 --> 00:35:13,839 generated from data directly connected within or collected within the community 480 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:18,880 of the city of Bmont. And that's that's why we have the purple air micro sensor 481 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:24,400 on city hall. Um the issue that we run into is the cost to a place a station uh 482 00:35:22,720 --> 00:35:28,800 continuous monitoring station within a geography but also the availability 483 00:35:26,079 --> 00:35:33,839 availability of land space to put that station on um can be really challenging 484 00:35:32,079 --> 00:35:38,240 to make that happen. And so the the micro sensors allow us to kind of fill 485 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:43,839 those gaps in monitoring and provide local data to local communities. Um, but 486 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:49,359 you're correct. The AQHI uh that the city of Bmont is receiving uh is not 487 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:53,839 calculated using any continuous monitoring data for the actual city 488 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:58,640 itself. It's the neighboring region. Thank you. And uh you touched on my 489 00:35:56,320 --> 00:36:02,640 second question. How much like in there the Edmonton Lendum station is there and 490 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:06,640 it's got a mural on it and it's got a razor wire fence around it to keep 491 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:10,880 everybody out which I'm sure you need. Um what is that worth? uh forget the 492 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:14,560 land to install it, but what does it cost and who pays for it when another 493 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:19,839 one of them comes online? >> Certainly. Um the station itself ranges 494 00:36:18,079 --> 00:36:24,400 in cost frankly depending on the sensors inside, but typically is going to be 495 00:36:21,359 --> 00:36:28,880 somewhere between say $350,000 to $500,000 uh just for the station and the 496 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:32,240 equipment. Uh and that's not counting the monthly calibrations and the 497 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:37,760 technician labor uh needed on a yearly basis to support set station. Um every 498 00:36:35,599 --> 00:36:41,680 station is slightly unique in terms of how it comes online and how it ends up 499 00:36:39,599 --> 00:36:46,240 being deployed. Uh in some cases their operating contracts uh based on 500 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:50,079 regulatory requirements for example with an industry member that may uh need a 501 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:55,440 continuous monitoring station next to their operating site uh in which case 502 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:59,280 the that member will pay the bulk of the cost for that type of station. In other 503 00:36:57,839 --> 00:37:02,720 cases, there are gap communities where the government of Alberta has mandated 504 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:07,040 placement of a station in which case I'll be funded through grants and other 505 00:37:04,720 --> 00:37:12,000 times um just through the natural evolution of private companies perhaps 506 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:16,240 abandoning uh stations that they once used uh we were able to come in and take 507 00:37:14,079 --> 00:37:20,000 those over and uh rehabilitate them and and make them into fully operational 508 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:26,119 stations once again and maybe find better placement for them. 509 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:26,119 » Thank you. 510 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:31,680 Thank you, counselor. Um, that being said, I do not see any other counselors 511 00:37:30,079 --> 00:37:38,359 with questions. So, again, I thank you for your presentation. 512 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:38,359 » Thank you very much. 513 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:48,320 » Uh, continuing on with our agenda here, we do have three other presentations. 514 00:37:46,240 --> 00:37:52,960 However, a member of council has requested a quick recess. Uh if there's 515 00:37:50,880 --> 00:38:01,079 no objection, I would uh like to put forward uh the proposal for a recess for 516 00:37:55,839 --> 00:38:01,079 5 minutes. Uh return here at 6:40. 517 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:44,200 online. 518 00:38:53,200 --> 00:39:00,480 » All right, it is uh 6:41. Uh we are finished our recess here. Returning back 519 00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:07,280 to our presentations, next item the on the agenda is 6.2 which is off-site levy 520 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:11,800 program. Um I believe Miss Raymond and team will present. 521 00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:15,560 » Perfect. 522 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:28,480 Oh, it's hiding on my screen. Just one sec here. 523 00:39:30,720 --> 00:39:37,599 Seven. Press it right there. Seven. 524 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:42,240 » There we go. >> Perfect. Uh, thank you. Uh, good 525 00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:46,240 evening, chair and members of committee. I'm Trevor Monica, manager of long range 526 00:39:44,240 --> 00:39:49,440 engineering. Uh the purpose of the report tonight is to provide committee 527 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:54,160 with an overview of the city's new off-site levy program guide which 528 00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:59,440 administration has prepared to support consistent implementation of the 529 00:39:55,599 --> 00:40:02,720 off-site levy bylaw 1086-25. The requested committee action from 530 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:07,760 tonight is a recommendation to council that the existing council policy C2 531 00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:11,760 off-site levy policy be repealed and with that recommendation intended to be 532 00:40:09,599 --> 00:40:17,200 considered at the upcoming September 8th, 2026 council meeting. 533 00:40:15,520 --> 00:40:21,599 Council adopted the current off-site levy bylaw in August of 2025. 534 00:40:19,920 --> 00:40:25,920 That bylaw established the city's updated off-site levy framework, 535 00:40:24,160 --> 00:40:31,040 including infrastructure categories, projects, calculation methodologies, 536 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:34,720 benefit allocations, levy rates, and annual reporting. 537 00:40:32,880 --> 00:40:38,240 At the time the bylaw was adopted, administration advised that additional 538 00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:42,240 implementation and guidance was still being developed and that the existing 539 00:40:40,240 --> 00:40:46,800 council policy C2 would remain in effect in the interim. Administration has now 540 00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:51,040 completed that implementation work through the new external facing off-site 541 00:40:48,720 --> 00:40:55,200 levy program guide included as attachment one in the report. 542 00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:59,119 This report is intended to close that loop on the implementation of the 543 00:40:56,560 --> 00:41:04,079 updated OSL program for the bylaw adopted in 2025. 544 00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:07,920 Uh, the program guide helps developers, applicants, and administration 545 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:12,480 understand in greater detail how the city's off-site levy bylaw is applied 546 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:17,680 and administered. It explains what an off-site levy is, when it applies, how 547 00:41:15,119 --> 00:41:21,440 it is assessed and collected, and how frontending, credits, securities, 548 00:41:19,359 --> 00:41:24,400 grants, and repayments are administered. The guide is clear in that it must be 549 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:28,079 read together with the off-site levy bylaw, and that if there's any 550 00:41:26,319 --> 00:41:33,200 inconsistencies, the city's off-site levy bylaw and the MGA prevail. 551 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:37,760 An important point to note is the guide does not replace the bylaw, amend it in 552 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:43,000 any way, or create new levy obligations. It supports the implementation of the 553 00:41:39,440 --> 00:41:43,000 already approved bylaw. 554 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:52,319 The existing off-site levy uh council policy C2 was approved back in 2014 when 555 00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:57,119 Bulmont was operating under the previous offsite levy framework. Policy C2 556 00:41:55,280 --> 00:42:00,720 established administrative processes for levy assessment and collection 557 00:41:59,040 --> 00:42:05,200 deferrals, front-ending, offsets, reimbursement, annual reporting. The 558 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:10,720 city now has its updated uh bylaw supported framework through 1086-25 559 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:15,800 and the program guide is now uh written specifically to support implementation 560 00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:15,800 of the new framework. 561 00:42:15,839 --> 00:42:21,200 As I noted, the program guide is not intended to be the policy authority for 562 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:25,520 the OSL program. Rather, it's an administrative implementation document. 563 00:42:23,599 --> 00:42:29,119 It explains how again how admin will apply the bylaw on day-to-day 564 00:42:27,359 --> 00:42:35,359 subdivision development permit development agreement 565 00:42:31,040 --> 00:42:39,359 uh and the repayment processes. Council's role remains intact through 566 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:43,760 the bylaw, annual reporting, annual budgeting and capital planning approval 567 00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:47,760 and any future bylaw amendments. The guide reinforces council role by noting 568 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:51,680 that certain offset levy projects, including those that require city 569 00:42:49,280 --> 00:42:55,920 funding, debt financing, or inclusion in the capital line and annual budget, must 570 00:42:53,599 --> 00:42:59,359 first be approved by council before any approval is granted to execute these 571 00:42:57,520 --> 00:43:02,720 projects. Maintaining policy C2 in parallel with 572 00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:06,000 the new program guide would create some overlap and potential confusion about 573 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:10,319 which document would guide implementation. 574 00:43:07,839 --> 00:43:14,560 Repealing policy C2 reduces the risk of duplicate or outdated administrative 575 00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:14,560 direction. 576 00:43:15,119 --> 00:43:20,000 Uh, as mentioned, the program guide does not establish new levy rates and does 577 00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:24,640 not amend the methodology that was approved through the offsite levy bylaw. 578 00:43:22,720 --> 00:43:29,359 The levy rates themselves are are still governed through schedule B of the 579 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:35,160 bylaw. And the broader levy framework continues to be governed through the 580 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:35,160 bylaw and the uh background report. 581 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:41,920 Uh just on the transparency and engagement piece, the updated offset 582 00:43:39,920 --> 00:43:45,280 levy program was developed through substantial engagement uh with the 583 00:43:43,680 --> 00:43:50,160 development community uh throughout the course of that project including uh six 584 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:54,319 engagement sessions and the program guide is building on that work by 585 00:43:51,599 --> 00:43:57,760 translating the the OSL framework into a clearer guide for applicants and 586 00:43:55,760 --> 00:44:00,560 developers. This guide has been distributed to the development committee 587 00:43:58,960 --> 00:44:04,040 and been made available on Bulmont's website for reference. 588 00:44:04,640 --> 00:44:09,200 Again, administration is recommending that the committee of the whole 589 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:14,240 recommend to council that council policy C2 offsite levy policy be repealed and 590 00:44:12,240 --> 00:44:18,720 the program guide will then be kept up to date as future amendments to offsite 591 00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:23,040 levy bylaw are approved. Uh thank you for your time and with that 592 00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:28,880 I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Perfect. Uh thank you uh Mr. Manika for 593 00:44:26,079 --> 00:44:33,920 that presentation. Councelor Van Newkerk go ahead. Yeah, 594 00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:38,960 just a question on where you actually left off there around the uh 595 00:44:36,319 --> 00:44:42,960 recommendations. Is there any reason that we can't or 596 00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:48,160 shouldn't call a special council meeting to get it done before September? 597 00:44:46,640 --> 00:44:55,359 » Uh thank you for that question through to councelor Vanukk. Um there's there's 598 00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:58,800 no reason the the like I mentioned the uh the program guide is now published 599 00:44:57,520 --> 00:45:05,680 available to the community. It's in place and in effect. So um the policy 600 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:10,640 can be repealed at uh at any time. >> Okay. Maybe just looking for further 601 00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:18,319 comment from Ledge um around the timing of this. Um, and what I'm left wondering 602 00:45:14,319 --> 00:45:23,319 is what projects are being contemplated between now and September that might, 603 00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:34,480 I don't know, benefit Bulmont from being from this policy being repealed and, you 604 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:39,280 know, this process being gone through. Is that clear or not clear? 605 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:44,720 between now and September, what could happen in Bulmont for projects that that 606 00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:48,480 would be under the old levy system that aren't captured under the new levy 607 00:45:46,720 --> 00:45:52,800 system. Is that a thing? Just help me understand that, 608 00:45:51,119 --> 00:45:55,520 » Miss Winter. I >> thank you. Through the deputy mayor to 609 00:45:54,400 --> 00:46:00,640 councelor Vanukkirk, [laughter] I couldn't speak to any of those projects. 610 00:45:57,599 --> 00:46:04,960 And with the policy not being repealed until September, I wouldn't be able to 611 00:46:02,240 --> 00:46:08,240 speak with what that that would look like. I'd have to refer to planning and 612 00:46:07,119 --> 00:46:13,880 development on that. >> Okay. Is planning and development 613 00:46:09,520 --> 00:46:13,880 prepared to comment on that? 614 00:46:17,599 --> 00:46:24,480 » Policy. >> Yeah. Yes. Uh thank you for that. I I 615 00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:29,760 don't believe there are any projects that are currently occurring that would 616 00:46:25,920 --> 00:46:34,240 be impacted by this. um any projects that are happening right now would still 617 00:46:32,560 --> 00:46:39,839 fall under the all sale levy bylaw as it currently exists which is the guiding 618 00:46:36,160 --> 00:46:44,960 document or bylaw in this case. So um there's no concerns from that regard. 619 00:46:42,880 --> 00:46:49,359 » Okay. I still have concerns but I'm hearing no concerns from aden. So yeah 620 00:46:46,960 --> 00:46:56,240 thank you. >> Thank you counselor. Uh that being Oh, 621 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:58,640 uh Mayor Vanderquac, >> just 622 00:46:57,520 --> 00:47:03,440 » it's coming. >> Just to follow up with that. So, 623 00:47:01,839 --> 00:47:08,319 uh the question is whether or not there's 624 00:47:05,839 --> 00:47:11,800 any benefit to this passing sooner rather than later. 625 00:47:14,160 --> 00:47:21,520 And if this is just this is to implement the actual policy change, right, or the 626 00:47:19,280 --> 00:47:27,680 bylaw change, right? the terms of the off-site levies. 627 00:47:25,599 --> 00:47:31,040 » So, thank you for the question uh through the mayor or through to the 628 00:47:28,640 --> 00:47:34,880 mayor Vanderquac. U the the current so the current bylaw is not being amended 629 00:47:32,560 --> 00:47:40,720 through the the program guide. Um the guide is just a clarification on on 630 00:47:36,640 --> 00:47:47,200 administrative procedures and the policy um is largely the same in that uh 631 00:47:44,000 --> 00:47:52,480 respect. Um but it it has a few inconsistencies with the the new bylaw. 632 00:47:49,920 --> 00:47:58,000 So the the recommendation to repeal that is to eliminate that the confusion 633 00:47:54,480 --> 00:48:02,960 between uh the the 2014 policy and the 2025 bylaw. Uh the program guide takes 634 00:48:00,960 --> 00:48:08,720 that place but outside of a council policy 635 00:48:04,640 --> 00:48:12,480 » and so there's been uh sufficient time communicated to those who would be 636 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:17,280 affected by this to know that there is changes happening. 637 00:48:15,440 --> 00:48:23,119 Yes, there's that's correct and there there is largely no change that like 638 00:48:19,440 --> 00:48:28,960 materially is is occurring. Um the the current bylaw as adopted in 2025 is the 639 00:48:25,760 --> 00:48:33,599 governing bylaw. Um so any inconsistency would be referred back to that bylaw. So 640 00:48:31,839 --> 00:48:37,280 in effect there is no change. >> Okay. So there's no detriment to wait 641 00:48:35,760 --> 00:48:39,200 until September is what you're saying. >> Correct. 642 00:48:37,839 --> 00:48:43,040 » Okay. Thank you. >> And I guess I I'll just repeat that. I I 643 00:48:41,599 --> 00:48:47,359 think my understanding of it obviously bylaw is in effect that takes precedence 644 00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:51,760 along with MGA. Um so this is more an administrative change than it is a 645 00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:55,839 change that'll take effect to anyone developing or making any changes in that 646 00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:59,359 sense. >> Yes, that is correct. 647 00:48:56,960 --> 00:49:03,040 » Perfect. Thank you. Uh quick question uh for administration or the clerk just uh 648 00:49:01,440 --> 00:49:06,480 am I required to put a motion forward to take this uh report as information or am 649 00:49:05,200 --> 00:49:08,880 I able to proceed to the next presentation? 650 00:49:07,440 --> 00:49:12,559 » We have a motion ready to go if you just give me a moment. 651 00:49:09,599 --> 00:49:12,559 » Perfect. Thank you. 652 00:49:13,200 --> 00:49:18,160 And councelor Penrod, are you speaking to the motion? 653 00:49:16,079 --> 00:49:24,000 » Uh, just a question on this. >> Okay, perfect. All right. Uh, go ahead. 654 00:49:21,520 --> 00:49:28,640 » Thank you. Uh, before I get to my question, I just want to note in the 655 00:49:25,520 --> 00:49:34,960 bylaw uh, as published, there is a small typo under the WAT-30 656 00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:38,079 project, the Watt 30 project. Um, it looks like it's just a simple error. the 657 00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:41,599 start year and end year look like they're reversed there, but since it's 658 00:49:39,839 --> 00:49:47,520 in the bylaw that should probably address that. Uh, and I think because 659 00:49:43,920 --> 00:49:53,359 it's just um kind of a correction of a typo, it wouldn't require a a motion or 660 00:49:51,680 --> 00:50:01,760 a resolution or anything like that, but just wanted to raise that. um in the 661 00:49:56,480 --> 00:50:09,759 background report from urban systems page 56 through 152 of the package 662 00:50:05,599 --> 00:50:12,559 tonight. Um they talk about the modeling >> [snorts] 663 00:50:09,920 --> 00:50:17,839 » uh for how the osite levy rates were calculated and they specifically 664 00:50:14,960 --> 00:50:21,839 reference um some of the density targets uh for administration. If in future 665 00:50:19,839 --> 00:50:26,400 statutory plans, Bowman embraces lower density targets, what's the likelihood 666 00:50:24,480 --> 00:50:33,319 our off-site levy rates would need to be adjusted downward 667 00:50:29,839 --> 00:50:33,319 as a result. 668 00:50:34,160 --> 00:50:41,760 Uh through to councelor Penrod. Thank you for that question. Um it is 669 00:50:38,960 --> 00:50:46,079 difficult to to speak to exactly what would happen to 670 00:50:43,520 --> 00:50:52,079 the levy rates if uh the density targets were adjusted. Um likely though um you 671 00:50:50,559 --> 00:50:56,800 would find through the modeling is that because land consumption would increase 672 00:50:55,119 --> 00:51:02,319 uh corresponding to a reduced density target um 673 00:51:00,559 --> 00:51:07,839 there there would be a change to levy rates. Uh it again I would it would 674 00:51:05,760 --> 00:51:14,559 depend on all other factors staying exactly the same which they would not um 675 00:51:10,319 --> 00:51:20,280 in any sort of future scenario. Um, so beyond that, it's hard to speak to 676 00:51:16,160 --> 00:51:20,280 whether they would go up or down. 677 00:51:20,960 --> 00:51:28,960 » Okay. And I think that's all that I had on this item. Thank you, chair. 678 00:51:26,480 --> 00:51:32,800 » Thank you, councelor. Uh, is there a member of council willing 679 00:51:31,119 --> 00:51:38,000 to put forward this motion? 680 00:51:35,520 --> 00:51:40,880 » Thank you, chair. I'll make the mo Thank you, chair. 681 00:51:39,359 --> 00:51:45,040 I'll make the motion that committee of the whole recommend to council to be 682 00:51:42,880 --> 00:51:50,240 considered at the September 8th, 2026 council meeting that the coun that 683 00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:54,800 council policy C2 offsite levy policy be repealed. 684 00:51:52,880 --> 00:51:58,599 » Thank you. UN counselors if we could put our votes forward 685 00:52:01,680 --> 00:52:06,520 and that carries unanimously at 6 to0. 686 00:52:09,760 --> 00:52:20,319 Perfect. Uh next uh matter of Perfect. Uh next uh matter of business uh is uh 687 00:52:16,880 --> 00:52:25,599 presentation on facility rental policy. Uh correct me if I'm wrong here. My 688 00:52:22,640 --> 00:52:30,880 apologies. Mr. Pival and Mr. Sudter, I believe, are presenting. 689 00:52:28,079 --> 00:52:35,640 » Yeah, I will be. It's personal. Close. You got it. Yeah. My apologies. 690 00:52:32,240 --> 00:52:35,640 » Good enough. Yeah. 691 00:52:40,800 --> 00:52:45,520 » Yeah. Good evening, chair, committee members. Paul Scooter, director of 692 00:52:43,440 --> 00:52:49,440 community services. Administration is here this evening with committee to have 693 00:52:47,200 --> 00:52:53,599 a conversation on a draft facility rental policy. And this was something 694 00:52:51,599 --> 00:52:58,000 administration committed to council to bring back this year. Uh basically 695 00:52:56,319 --> 00:53:02,160 stemming from a couple more than a couple inquiries on some uh decisions 696 00:52:59,760 --> 00:53:05,920 made on some rentals in the past. So with that, I'm going to turn over for 697 00:53:03,760 --> 00:53:10,000 presentation to Sean Persal, the manager of rec facilities. Uh facility rentals 698 00:53:08,160 --> 00:53:14,960 falls within his portfolio. So I'll turn over to Sean. Thank you. 699 00:53:12,960 --> 00:53:17,520 » Thank you and good evening everyone. As Paul mentioned, my name is Sean Persal. 700 00:53:16,400 --> 00:53:21,119 I'm the manager of recreation facilities. I'd like to thank the 701 00:53:19,520 --> 00:53:25,280 committee for allowing me the opportunity to present a proposed 702 00:53:23,119 --> 00:53:29,680 facility rental policy for the city of Bumont. 703 00:53:28,240 --> 00:53:33,920 We'll start this evening off just by discussing some background of how we got 704 00:53:31,200 --> 00:53:36,960 here. We'll show a regional scan we completed and looking at what other 705 00:53:35,119 --> 00:53:40,160 municipalities are doing for rental policies, 706 00:53:38,480 --> 00:53:44,319 some rationale around why we believe this policy is needed, and finally we 707 00:53:42,720 --> 00:53:47,319 will address next steps beyond this meeting. 708 00:53:47,760 --> 00:53:54,640 So back in January 2026, in response to both community and administrative needs, 709 00:53:52,880 --> 00:53:58,880 administration began looking into establishing parameters and principles 710 00:53:56,559 --> 00:54:03,839 that would govern how we rent our spaces to the public. While many of our areas 711 00:54:01,520 --> 00:54:08,240 have operational procedures for how they rent space, these procedures do not have 712 00:54:06,319 --> 00:54:12,960 any strategic alignment with guiding principles from either a city directive 713 00:54:10,240 --> 00:54:16,880 or a city policy. Our goals in this proposed policy 714 00:54:14,880 --> 00:54:20,800 include consistency in how the city rents its spaces, alignment of all 715 00:54:19,280 --> 00:54:27,319 procedures with the set of guiding principles, and direction in how the 716 00:54:22,800 --> 00:54:27,319 city's bookable spaces are governed. 717 00:54:27,440 --> 00:54:33,040 So, a bit about why we feel we need this policy or believe we need this policy. 718 00:54:31,440 --> 00:54:37,040 The establishment of a facility rental policy would provide strategic direction 719 00:54:35,119 --> 00:54:41,520 in how we manage and govern the rentals of our spaces, support the development 720 00:54:39,920 --> 00:54:45,839 and review of all of our current procedures to ensure alignment with each 721 00:54:43,359 --> 00:54:50,559 other and those guiding principles, and ensure a fair and unbiased approach to 722 00:54:48,240 --> 00:54:55,040 the rental of bookable spaces across the city. Additionally, it would provide 723 00:54:53,280 --> 00:54:59,440 clarity and transparency in our decision-making processes for rentals, 724 00:54:57,200 --> 00:55:03,839 both approvals and denials, as well as acting as a risk mitigation tool as 725 00:55:02,000 --> 00:55:07,520 staff can refer back to the policy in the operational decisions that are made 726 00:55:05,839 --> 00:55:11,200 for rentals. In the absence of a policy, 727 00:55:09,200 --> 00:55:15,119 administration will continue to work on better overall alignment of the 728 00:55:12,800 --> 00:55:18,720 procedures we have in place, as well as continuing to work collaboratively 729 00:55:16,720 --> 00:55:23,280 between branches and departments in our decision-m around facility rentals. 730 00:55:21,280 --> 00:55:27,599 However, without that connection to a larger set of guiding principles, it may 731 00:55:25,359 --> 00:55:33,240 result in a more subjective approach and outcomes to how we close gaps and find 732 00:55:30,240 --> 00:55:33,240 alignments. 733 00:55:33,920 --> 00:55:40,880 So, part of the approach that was taken was to conduct a regional scan 734 00:55:39,200 --> 00:55:45,760 uh to see what other municipalities are doing or what they have in place to help 735 00:55:43,200 --> 00:55:49,200 guide facility rentals. As you can see, some of the communities on the slide in 736 00:55:47,280 --> 00:55:53,599 front of you have some form of guiding principles such as cost allocate or 737 00:55:51,599 --> 00:55:58,720 excuse me, allocation or cost recovery targets. However, many have no guiding 738 00:55:56,960 --> 00:56:02,640 principles that provide staff direction or support on operational procedure 739 00:56:01,200 --> 00:56:08,640 development and only two of the community's policy policies speak to any 740 00:56:05,599 --> 00:56:12,480 specific or unique subject matter. This policy being proposed would itself 741 00:56:10,640 --> 00:56:16,960 provide guiding principles for staff to use in their operational development and 742 00:56:15,119 --> 00:56:20,960 would reference applicable city policies and bylaws as well as provincial and 743 00:56:18,960 --> 00:56:26,040 federal legislation to support the types of rentals we allow in our facilities. 744 00:56:26,400 --> 00:56:31,359 So beyond this, if the committee recommends this proposed policy to 745 00:56:29,440 --> 00:56:34,640 council and council approves the policy, this will initiate work in bringing 746 00:56:32,960 --> 00:56:38,559 department stakeholders to the table to complete a full review of all existing 747 00:56:36,559 --> 00:56:45,559 procedures to ensure alignment with the policy, which we anticipate would begin 748 00:56:40,960 --> 00:56:45,559 in Q4 of 2026. 749 00:56:45,599 --> 00:56:51,799 Thank you for your time and we're happy to answer any questions the committee 750 00:56:48,559 --> 00:56:51,799 may have. 751 00:56:52,000 --> 00:57:02,559 » Perfect. Thank you for the presentation. Uh Councelor Penrod, you are up first. 752 00:57:00,160 --> 00:57:06,960 » Thank you, Chair. Appreciate you bringing this forward. I know uh we've 753 00:57:04,480 --> 00:57:11,359 had some conversation in the past year or so um just around that kind of 754 00:57:09,119 --> 00:57:15,359 scattershot approach on decisions and appreciate the effort here that's gone 755 00:57:13,200 --> 00:57:19,440 into creating a process that's a bit more robust and transparent for folks to 756 00:57:17,920 --> 00:57:23,440 know where they they stand in this regard. 757 00:57:21,119 --> 00:57:27,839 Um, I appreciated the I had some questions 758 00:57:25,760 --> 00:57:32,079 that were answered just by the the inclusion of the definition. So, I I 759 00:57:30,000 --> 00:57:37,040 just wanted to highlight that kind of continuous improvement element as we're 760 00:57:34,960 --> 00:57:42,640 developing these policies and and renewing them um into that kind of 761 00:57:40,000 --> 00:57:47,760 template for how Bulmont does all of this work. I think that's wellreceived 762 00:57:45,200 --> 00:57:52,000 and it it makes it easier to read these documents um for the public, too. So 763 00:57:49,760 --> 00:58:00,000 just wanted to highlight and give thanks for that. Uh questions in 3.2 under 764 00:57:57,920 --> 00:58:07,200 exclusions uh page 143 of the package 765 00:58:04,799 --> 00:58:12,400 excluded are any other groups activities or uses as deemed necessary to carry out 766 00:58:09,760 --> 00:58:15,839 the administrative duties of the city. That feels like a pretty broad exclusion 767 00:58:14,319 --> 00:58:20,960 point. I wonder if you could speak to the necessity to have it. So uh so 768 00:58:19,440 --> 00:58:24,160 broad. >> Sure. I'll get off I'll kick it off to 769 00:58:22,960 --> 00:58:31,920 the through the chair to councelor Penrod. Um that bullet is 770 00:58:28,799 --> 00:58:36,799 by its design intended to be somewhat overarching and subjective. um if the 771 00:58:34,559 --> 00:58:44,079 city or the CEO's office or council were to determine a certain activity to be of 772 00:58:40,319 --> 00:58:50,640 necessity to the city's operations that that could be excluded from the guiding 773 00:58:47,119 --> 00:58:54,160 principles within the policy. Um it's list it might be more applicable to 774 00:58:52,720 --> 00:58:59,680 emergency management use, but if the city had to activate a facility for an 775 00:58:57,280 --> 00:59:03,680 emergency evacuation center on a whim, that might be something that could fit 776 00:59:01,200 --> 00:59:07,359 into that bullet. Um but again it was sort of by design to allow that 777 00:59:05,280 --> 00:59:12,480 flexibility for the city manager or council to make those types of decisions 778 00:59:10,559 --> 00:59:15,760 if if they deem necessary. >> Yeah, I appreciate it. So the way it 779 00:59:14,400 --> 00:59:21,520 comes through is it's actually an exclusion that um helps the city slot in 780 00:59:20,160 --> 00:59:24,880 things that are in the city's best interest. It's not an exclusion that 781 00:59:23,280 --> 00:59:27,920 would be used against the group that's trying to secure space from the broader 782 00:59:27,119 --> 00:59:32,079 community. >> That's correct. Yeah. 783 00:59:28,960 --> 00:59:36,720 » Thank you. Uh and item 5.4 four under rental refusal. 784 00:59:34,079 --> 00:59:44,880 Uh it says administration may deny a request and it goes on um but it lists 785 00:59:41,440 --> 00:59:49,839 uh for grounds for potentially denying a request. Uh I activities that are 786 00:59:48,000 --> 00:59:55,520 prohibited under provincial or federal legislation. Uh, I wonder if if May is 787 00:59:54,079 --> 01:00:00,160 the right word there, if it's strong enough, would we would we as council 788 00:59:58,079 --> 01:00:03,839 want administration to grant or a request that's prohibited under 789 01:00:01,520 --> 01:00:11,200 provincial legislation? Um, I just wondered if stronger language might be 790 01:00:06,480 --> 01:00:15,680 used there. That would be my feedback. >> Okay. Appreciate that. Yeah, 791 01:00:13,920 --> 01:00:21,119 » perfect. Thank you, uh, Mayor Vanderquac. 792 01:00:18,000 --> 01:00:25,920 » Uh, thank you, Chair. All right. So, I have a few things. First of all, I think 793 01:00:22,720 --> 01:00:29,680 the policy is very concise what you've written here. Principalbased 794 01:00:27,680 --> 01:00:34,319 deliberately avoids uh listing controversial groups 795 01:00:32,480 --> 01:00:39,520 or viewpoints. But there are some things that I do have some questions about that 796 01:00:36,960 --> 01:00:45,760 I think uh from a governance perspective. And one of them is that 797 01:00:43,040 --> 01:00:52,319 there seems to be some broad allowance for subjectivity and 798 01:00:49,119 --> 01:00:58,000 discretion. Uh for example, in the word public interest, you know, the phrase 799 01:00:55,200 --> 01:01:02,240 that is in the statement says rentals must be fair, equitable, and safe, which 800 01:01:00,000 --> 01:01:07,839 is great. Then it adds in the public interest. And this kind of dubtales into 801 01:01:04,319 --> 01:01:12,319 my second point, but uh who who defines what public interest is? You know, um 802 01:01:10,880 --> 01:01:17,599 I'm wondering if there's something else we could use here that could be a little 803 01:01:14,799 --> 01:01:22,160 bit more objective because public interest means different things to 804 01:01:18,880 --> 01:01:26,880 different people. Um so can administration explain that to 805 01:01:25,280 --> 01:01:31,280 someone? Can that be objectively measured so that 806 01:01:29,680 --> 01:01:35,440 different staff members for example who are making that decision consistently 807 01:01:33,280 --> 01:01:40,400 reach the same decision? That's kind of where it comes down to a little bit more 808 01:01:38,000 --> 01:01:45,920 of a problem. And the other one is it goes into the 809 01:01:42,720 --> 01:01:49,440 second was um it contravenes the principles of this policy referring to 810 01:01:47,839 --> 01:01:54,240 same one councelor Penrod was talking about there whereas 811 01:01:52,160 --> 01:01:59,440 this being part of that principle of the policy uh whether it's within the public 812 01:01:56,480 --> 01:02:04,480 interest then it becomes a problematic becomes now like a circular test. So 813 01:02:02,880 --> 01:02:09,359 those things really jumped out at me there as far as there's a lot of 814 01:02:06,799 --> 01:02:14,079 discretion in that and I think we need to have a little bit more less sorry 815 01:02:11,839 --> 01:02:19,280 more less discretion and things that are a little bit more objectively defined so 816 01:02:16,240 --> 01:02:24,319 that anybody who's in that position can make the same decision and it's going to 817 01:02:22,640 --> 01:02:30,599 be consistent. So those are a few and I'll come back 818 01:02:26,640 --> 01:02:30,599 around when I have more time. 819 01:02:32,559 --> 01:02:40,720 Perfect. Thank you. Any response from administration or just noted? Okay. Um 820 01:02:38,799 --> 01:02:44,480 so through the chair to Mayor Vanderquac. Um appreciate the comments. 821 01:02:42,640 --> 01:02:49,359 Um certainly something that can be taken into consideration for frontline staff 822 01:02:47,440 --> 01:02:56,319 that take the rental requests that review them that contact the prospective 823 01:02:52,000 --> 01:03:01,760 renters. The idea is that the it would be an application of the 824 01:02:58,880 --> 01:03:06,319 guiding principles of this policy that would be used to measure whether to 825 01:03:03,599 --> 01:03:10,480 approve or deny a rental which would include 826 01:03:07,839 --> 01:03:15,920 all listed and applicable city policies, bylaws, federal and provincial 827 01:03:12,720 --> 01:03:19,920 legislation. So to circle back to the potential subjectivity around public 828 01:03:17,599 --> 01:03:24,240 interest, um I can appreciate that comment given the fact that frontline 829 01:03:21,760 --> 01:03:28,880 staff would should this policy be approved and operational documents were 830 01:03:26,000 --> 01:03:34,880 to be reviewed and created etc. It would be a pretty specific list of questions 831 01:03:31,839 --> 01:03:39,039 that staff would likely get um that would be applicable only to those 832 01:03:36,480 --> 01:03:44,960 guiding principles and the um relevant uh documents that I listed before. So it 833 01:03:41,920 --> 01:03:49,280 uh something to take back for for us is to potentially consider changing the 834 01:03:47,680 --> 01:03:54,160 word public interest and having it be more defined as the public interest is 835 01:03:52,000 --> 01:03:58,880 that we are ensuring that we are only using this policy and applicable 836 01:03:56,000 --> 01:04:03,520 legislation and other bylaws to approve or deny a rental request. That action 837 01:04:01,520 --> 01:04:06,520 itself would be in the best public interest. 838 01:04:07,280 --> 01:04:12,200 » Thank you for the response. Councelor Vanukkirk. 839 01:04:13,359 --> 01:04:19,839 » Yeah, thank you to Mayor for raising that cuz one of the questions I brought 840 01:04:16,880 --> 01:04:23,760 forward tonight to ask was does this policy lend itself to different staff 841 01:04:21,760 --> 01:04:31,280 members all coming to the same decision using the policy. So I think that's been 842 01:04:26,480 --> 01:04:35,359 covered now. Um I wanted to focus on 5.4 a second if you wouldn't mind scrolling 843 01:04:32,960 --> 01:04:42,079 to that. Um I'm going to propose adding a bullet 844 01:04:38,000 --> 01:04:49,200 point. Um, now one of the criteria that I wondered about is 845 01:04:44,559 --> 01:04:54,880 a review of previous rental stewardship to an applicant or an applicant group. 846 01:04:51,359 --> 01:05:00,000 As in last time, what happened? You know, last time your group or you rented 847 01:04:58,000 --> 01:05:05,920 bylaw came three times, we had to call the cops and there was all this stuff, 848 01:05:01,760 --> 01:05:10,400 right? Um I don't know that there it I'm confident there would be some you know 849 01:05:08,240 --> 01:05:14,480 knowledge of that within administration but documented relative to that group's 850 01:05:12,799 --> 01:05:18,960 rental of the facility. I don't know how that would work internally. So, one of 851 01:05:16,720 --> 01:05:23,039 the things I contemplated was adding a bullet point that would say something 852 01:05:20,400 --> 01:05:27,119 like um so it says administration may deny a 853 01:05:25,280 --> 01:05:32,319 request if administration determines that the intended rental use um 854 01:05:30,960 --> 01:05:37,520 documented prior [clears throat] non-compliance with rental terms or city 855 01:05:34,640 --> 01:05:42,559 policies as in property damage non-payline non-payment bylaw 856 01:05:40,000 --> 01:05:47,680 contraventions you know within the last 24 months like within some kind of 857 01:05:44,240 --> 01:05:53,119 period. So just trying to [snorts] add the contemplation of what happened last 858 01:05:50,160 --> 01:05:57,839 time you rented our facility. Does that sound reasonable? 859 01:05:56,319 --> 01:06:04,720 It does. Yeah. So through the chair, councelor venue Kirk, I would 860 01:06:02,720 --> 01:06:11,119 I would maybe recommend to your recommendation that this type of 861 01:06:08,880 --> 01:06:16,480 to to use your term non-compliance in previous rentals might find itself maybe 862 01:06:14,400 --> 01:06:20,960 better served in the operational processes that administration takes. So 863 01:06:18,559 --> 01:06:25,680 rather than council um identifying specifically 864 01:06:24,160 --> 01:06:30,400 um anecdotal examples of non-compliance in 865 01:06:28,799 --> 01:06:36,240 rentals that occur in our facilities that we instead look at ensuring that 866 01:06:33,680 --> 01:06:42,160 the way that we operate the administration of rentals includes 867 01:06:39,920 --> 01:06:48,240 um some penalty or some kind of acknowledgement 868 01:06:44,799 --> 01:06:53,119 that uh we may look at previous rentals as far as whether to deny them or not 869 01:06:50,319 --> 01:06:57,119 based on previous experiences. And I I I suppose to be to be blunt, there's a 870 01:06:55,039 --> 01:07:03,599 number of different reasons why a group may be denied rental opportunities, 871 01:07:01,599 --> 01:07:10,240 including things like previous damage to the facility or otherwise. So, I'm 872 01:07:07,680 --> 01:07:15,280 I I may have to defer over to Paul, but I would say my my initial response is 873 01:07:12,319 --> 01:07:20,079 it's it's the right idea. I just wonder if it may better fit into the the way we 874 01:07:18,400 --> 01:07:24,640 operationalize the policy as opposed to the policy itself, if that makes sense. 875 01:07:22,240 --> 01:07:29,760 » Yeah, I think my overall goal would be um in the process of reviewing a policy 876 01:07:27,520 --> 01:07:35,200 or going to rent a facility that it be clear to the user group that that 877 01:07:32,559 --> 01:07:38,960 consideration would pop up somewhere. That that that's my goal. Right. 878 01:07:36,799 --> 01:07:43,359 » Right. Yeah. Understood. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. 879 01:07:41,039 --> 01:07:48,000 Thank you, councelor. Uh, councelor Cole Smith. 880 01:07:45,520 --> 01:07:51,680 » Thank you. Um, yeah, I had similar concerns just about the um 881 01:07:50,216 --> 01:07:56,799 [clears throat] consistency of the application given the broad authority to 882 01:07:54,640 --> 01:08:01,520 determine appropriate use. So, some of the things discussed already to to 883 01:07:58,319 --> 01:08:07,839 tighten that up. Um, the other one was I think it was 5.3. 884 01:08:04,720 --> 01:08:12,960 Um the city may request risk mitigation measure me measures to be instituted by 885 01:08:09,680 --> 01:08:18,400 the user. Um I'm wondering if we could include something where um that those 886 01:08:16,080 --> 01:08:23,359 risk mitigation requirements be based on like a documented objective for evidence 887 01:08:21,440 --> 01:08:29,640 um base policy and maybe like a checklist of of things that were 888 01:08:25,920 --> 01:08:29,640 validated or evaluated. 889 01:08:33,040 --> 01:08:39,199 And if at all possible, I know it's that tall ask some definitions around like 890 01:08:37,120 --> 01:08:42,679 the safety risk, operational risk, and community risk. 891 01:08:44,000 --> 01:08:53,279 So through the chair to council colemith. Um so the intention behind uh 892 01:08:49,759 --> 01:08:56,719 behind this particular section is to provide 893 01:08:55,040 --> 01:09:01,920 prospective rental users with an understanding that if we believe that 894 01:08:59,920 --> 01:09:06,960 based on the unique nature of their rental request, there may be additional 895 01:09:04,319 --> 01:09:10,159 measures that CIC has to take to ensure that we can make their rental safe for 896 01:09:08,480 --> 01:09:17,679 themselves, other public in the facility and staff. Um that that cost may fall 897 01:09:13,199 --> 01:09:23,040 onto them. Um, certainly to take away a definition around safety, I would 898 01:09:20,719 --> 01:09:26,640 caution that because there are, especially at the community center, 899 01:09:24,640 --> 01:09:32,000 there are so many different types of unique rentals that come through here, 900 01:09:28,400 --> 01:09:38,159 it would be fairly daunting to include that level of specificity. However, um 901 01:09:35,600 --> 01:09:43,440 in to borrow a phrase to tighten up that definition of safety just to give a even 902 01:09:40,239 --> 01:09:46,960 a higher statement to say safety is what you know we determine based on the 903 01:09:45,359 --> 01:09:51,600 unique nature of the rental requests that we receive. There may be dot dot 904 01:09:49,440 --> 01:09:55,520 dot. So certainly that that that is one thing that I think we could probably 905 01:09:53,199 --> 01:09:58,760 look to do in in the definition section. >> Thank you. 906 01:10:00,239 --> 01:10:08,239 » Thank you. the councelor uh councelor Penrod go ahead. 907 01:10:05,840 --> 01:10:13,120 » Thank you chair. Um so just kind of continuing the the thread of 908 01:10:11,600 --> 01:10:17,840 uh possible additions rather than go 909 01:10:16,000 --> 01:10:23,040 forward with that. I just want to ask kind of following your response to some 910 01:10:19,520 --> 01:10:29,520 of the other questions. How how will this policy help um you to do the work 911 01:10:27,120 --> 01:10:36,560 to operationalize how you think about how an individual rental proposed rental 912 01:10:32,560 --> 01:10:40,960 group impacts the use of other user groups that are also in the building? 913 01:10:38,400 --> 01:10:45,040 Most of these buildings are multiuse, right? Um 914 01:10:43,360 --> 01:10:51,400 do you want to speak to that? Is that something that belongs more in the 915 01:10:46,640 --> 01:10:51,400 policy, more in the operational guide? 916 01:10:51,760 --> 01:10:58,960 through the chair to councelor Penrod. I would my initial response to that would 917 01:10:56,400 --> 01:11:05,360 be it it is more it likely fits better into the operationalization of the 918 01:11:00,400 --> 01:11:10,400 policy. So if for example um we would be able from this policy and 919 01:11:08,719 --> 01:11:16,560 the associated documents that I've referred to a few times um already we 920 01:11:13,360 --> 01:11:22,480 would be able to better equip our staff to understand where to place certain 921 01:11:19,040 --> 01:11:27,520 requests that come in. So a cultural event that wants to take place at the 922 01:11:25,040 --> 01:11:30,400 rec center but they are expecting 300 people. Well we know they can't go 923 01:11:29,040 --> 01:11:35,679 there. So, we would be able to fit them into a very specific space at a 924 01:11:32,000 --> 01:11:41,840 different facility. Um, in terms of groups that may conflict with one 925 01:11:37,440 --> 01:11:47,840 another within the same structure, um, I would see that as something that would 926 01:11:43,920 --> 01:11:51,679 be a part of a review of when staff take requests. They currently they already 927 01:11:50,239 --> 01:11:57,920 look at what else is occurring in the building and it's unlikely to to change 928 01:11:55,920 --> 01:12:01,440 through a review provided this policy were to be approved by council. Um but I 929 01:12:00,239 --> 01:12:05,600 would see that falling actually under the 5.3 bullet for safety is that would 930 01:12:03,760 --> 01:12:10,400 be a part of what our staff would do to determine the safety of the rental for 931 01:12:08,159 --> 01:12:14,719 the sake of the renters, the staff and other individuals that are in the 932 01:12:12,320 --> 01:12:19,120 facility. If that answers your question. >> Yeah, I think so. And just to follow on 933 01:12:16,800 --> 01:12:24,480 in that conversation, I guess part of how I interpret some of the questions 934 01:12:20,960 --> 01:12:28,480 that are coming your way is I think um we want the policy to do the policy 935 01:12:26,400 --> 01:12:33,360 things and the administrative operational guides to do what they do. 936 01:12:30,880 --> 01:12:38,560 The tension in the community though, the reason that we're here is because we've 937 01:12:34,800 --> 01:12:44,960 had some rental groups kind of question on what basis have we been denied or 938 01:12:41,199 --> 01:12:49,760 given certain um qualifications to follow or whatever. And so I just wonder 939 01:12:47,920 --> 01:12:56,320 how transparent those operational guides are 940 01:12:53,440 --> 01:13:01,040 to potential renters and are we doing you any favors by having them kind of on 941 01:12:58,800 --> 01:13:05,679 the administrative side of things? Would there be benefit in having some of that 942 01:13:03,440 --> 01:13:12,480 outlined in the policy so that as a person is preparing their uh documents 943 01:13:09,920 --> 01:13:18,080 to propose a rental, they're able to see the criteria that this is based on. 944 01:13:15,040 --> 01:13:23,440 Sure. Uh so through the chair to council penrod I would say I'll try to answer 945 01:13:20,239 --> 01:13:28,000 your second question first. I provided the policy is approved and we 946 01:13:26,239 --> 01:13:32,920 move forward with the full comprehensive review of our operational documentation 947 01:13:29,679 --> 01:13:32,920 and procedures. 948 01:13:33,199 --> 01:13:43,199 One consideration that we can take in during that review 949 01:13:38,400 --> 01:13:47,040 would be to include the policy in any rental request documentation that we put 950 01:13:45,280 --> 01:13:51,040 out. [sighs and gasps] So rather than having the operational documents 951 01:13:49,280 --> 01:13:55,120 referred to in the principal or or attached, we'd try to flip it and 952 01:13:53,199 --> 01:13:59,040 actually have the policy referenced in any rental applications that a 953 01:13:56,800 --> 01:14:04,080 prospective renter would fill out. and we can ensure to highlight that so it's 954 01:14:01,120 --> 01:14:08,320 not buried in some footnote or um secondary attachment and that way a 955 01:14:06,480 --> 01:14:12,400 person who is interested in renting a space in one of our facilities could be 956 01:14:10,320 --> 01:14:17,199 driven right to the policy to see exactly what the city is setting out as 957 01:14:15,199 --> 01:14:21,520 its guiding principles and its its sort of approval process in that regard. Um 958 01:14:20,320 --> 01:14:24,400 would you mind repeating your first question? I'm not sure if I remember it. 959 01:14:22,880 --> 01:14:27,840 » Sure. I guess what it comes back to is would it be helpful to have as part of 960 01:14:26,159 --> 01:14:31,920 the guiding principles just an acknowledgement that these are multi-use 961 01:14:29,600 --> 01:14:36,480 spaces and that part of the metric for deciding if your rental can go forward 962 01:14:33,679 --> 01:14:40,880 or not is who else is there and how compatible your uses are. I'm not sure 963 01:14:39,440 --> 01:14:45,679 what you call that exactly, but that's feedback I'm giving you today. Okay, I 964 01:14:43,199 --> 01:14:50,159 appreciate that and I think that's good feedback to take into consideration 965 01:14:48,239 --> 01:14:53,040 pro well actually quite frankly regardless of whether this policy is 966 01:14:51,760 --> 01:14:58,640 approved, it's still something we can take back and and put into 967 01:14:54,560 --> 01:15:01,280 consideration. Um, and remembering a piece of your first 968 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:04,960 question from the first time you asked it, yes, you are doing us a favor. In my 969 01:15:03,280 --> 01:15:09,600 opinion, and I I suppose I'm speaking on behalf of the city in this this rule, 970 01:15:07,199 --> 01:15:12,640 this is something that is favorable to administration. And this is, you know, 971 01:15:10,960 --> 01:15:18,880 the the short answer is that's why why we did it, right? The long answer is um 972 01:15:15,360 --> 01:15:24,480 this provides so much less subjectivity around approvals and denials. The 973 01:15:21,280 --> 01:15:29,199 challenges that have been faced in the previous few years and in particular 974 01:15:26,239 --> 01:15:35,360 this year as well is that certain decisions were made using subjective 975 01:15:32,239 --> 01:15:42,640 approaches to approvals or denials. This provides us a risk mitigation tool in 976 01:15:39,520 --> 01:15:47,120 approaching the uh the the rationale behind whether we reject a a rental or 977 01:15:44,800 --> 01:15:51,199 we approve it. If in its current form, if we reject it, we base it on this is 978 01:15:49,840 --> 01:15:55,679 what we've been doing the last few years. Whereas now, if we were to have 979 01:15:53,600 --> 01:15:58,880 to reject a renter, it would be something we would lean back on in this 980 01:15:57,440 --> 01:16:04,159 policy as well as applicable documentation. And again, just to be 981 01:16:01,280 --> 01:16:08,880 very very blunt as well, our goal is to rent to as many people as possible and 982 01:16:06,640 --> 01:16:14,560 at all costs to have every space we have available to be rented to be rented. Um 983 01:16:12,159 --> 01:16:17,840 we're not looking to put a lot of boundaries or barriers or red tape in 984 01:16:16,239 --> 01:16:23,760 place for prospective renters. We just want to ensure that we have um 985 01:16:20,800 --> 01:16:28,000 applicable guiding principles that will protect the city, protect the staff, 986 01:16:25,440 --> 01:16:32,679 etc. Um, and again it's it's to try to drive in as many renters as possible. 987 01:16:29,679 --> 01:16:32,679 So, 988 01:16:32,880 --> 01:16:37,679 » thank you. I I just have a quick question. You had mentioned that we've 989 01:16:35,600 --> 01:16:41,440 experienced quite a few challenges. We being obviously uh the city. Um, are you 990 01:16:40,400 --> 01:16:45,520 able to speak to some of those challenges because obviously we're not 991 01:16:43,280 --> 01:16:48,960 privy to to necessarily some of the details. It doesn't need to be super 992 01:16:47,360 --> 01:16:51,960 specific, but just so we have a general understanding. 993 01:16:52,320 --> 01:17:00,719 » Sure. Uh so to through the chair to the chair um I would say to be a little bit 994 01:16:57,840 --> 01:17:04,640 high level and not to excuse myself completely but I've I've been in the 995 01:17:02,159 --> 01:17:10,480 role for 6 months. So, the what I've seen so far is that 996 01:17:07,760 --> 01:17:15,520 there are in some cases there are decisions made 997 01:17:12,400 --> 01:17:20,800 to say refuse a rental based on a similar rental that may have been 998 01:17:16,800 --> 01:17:25,360 refused 18 months ago, but we don't have maybe any documentation to support the 999 01:17:23,760 --> 01:17:29,243 rationale from 18 months ago. It's just someone remembered that 18 months ago we 1000 01:17:27,199 --> 01:17:36,480 we refused a similar rental. >> [snorts] 1001 01:17:29,360 --> 01:17:41,600 » Um we also uh have again challenges with you know people that may feel like a 1002 01:17:39,679 --> 01:17:48,239 similar rental to the one that they were refused was allowed access and so that 1003 01:17:44,480 --> 01:17:54,880 seems unfair and that very very well may be. Um, however, at this point, the way 1004 01:17:51,120 --> 01:17:59,440 that we approach rentals is is a bit too administrative and without without 1005 01:17:57,600 --> 01:18:04,719 guiding principles to really kind of help guide us to that end result of 1006 01:18:02,480 --> 01:18:10,000 whether to approve or or deny rentals. So, if that answers your question, 1007 01:18:07,360 --> 01:18:16,600 » perfect. Thank you. Uh, Mayor Vanderwack, 1008 01:18:11,840 --> 01:18:16,600 » thank you. Just get my reset here. 1009 01:18:16,640 --> 01:18:24,239 Uh, thank you so much. So I am going to just circle back around to 1010 01:18:21,679 --> 01:18:27,600 the fact that the draft policy there seems to be a bit of a contradiction 1011 01:18:25,520 --> 01:18:32,400 between the report and the draft policy. The draft policy never mentions 1012 01:18:29,520 --> 01:18:36,960 petitions but the report spends considerable time discussing petitions 1013 01:18:34,400 --> 01:18:42,239 and previous practices. So my question is are are you asking council to approve 1014 01:18:39,920 --> 01:18:46,320 a policy that removes petition restriction or is administration 1015 01:18:44,239 --> 01:18:50,640 intending to continue that practice through this operating procedures? 1016 01:18:48,800 --> 01:18:55,760 » So through the chair to Mayor Vanderquac. So petitions are listed in 1017 01:18:53,440 --> 01:19:00,000 the report as an example of kind of what brought us here today. It wasn't to 1018 01:18:57,840 --> 01:19:05,600 explicitly um request support to reject or deny 1019 01:19:03,120 --> 01:19:10,719 petitions. The policy doesn't list any specific subject matter because well, 1020 01:19:08,719 --> 01:19:14,320 frankly, the policy might be 150 pages long if we listed every single potential 1021 01:19:12,719 --> 01:19:19,679 subject matter in a rental that was being requested. Um, we are not asking 1022 01:19:17,360 --> 01:19:24,719 for council specifically to allow or to deny petitions. If a person 1023 01:19:22,400 --> 01:19:29,199 hypothetically wanted to book a space in a facility to run a petition, provided 1024 01:19:27,360 --> 01:19:33,520 they meet all the guiding principle checkboxes in the policy as well as 1025 01:19:31,120 --> 01:19:36,080 applicable other city policies, bylaws, and federal provincial legislation, 1026 01:19:35,120 --> 01:19:41,040 they're in. [clears throat] As far as we're concerned, that would be fine with 1027 01:19:37,760 --> 01:19:43,199 us. Um, if that answers your question about that. 1028 01:19:41,840 --> 01:19:46,400 » Yeah, it does. So, I would want to know what those other regulations are that 1029 01:19:44,800 --> 01:19:50,560 might restrict them because my concern is, sorry, I got to get my timer going 1030 01:19:48,080 --> 01:19:54,880 here. My concern is this whole thing of fairness. How is fairness measured? And 1031 01:19:52,719 --> 01:19:58,800 I actually like some of the descriptions that are in the jurisdictional scan that 1032 01:19:56,880 --> 01:20:02,880 you provided. Bruce Grove and Edmonton for example had a really good 1033 01:20:00,159 --> 01:20:06,640 description which I think personally that it would be really great for our 1034 01:20:04,159 --> 01:20:10,880 princ our policy to have as a principal and specifically 1035 01:20:08,960 --> 01:20:14,480 supports democratic values freedom of choice fair treatment and I don't 1036 01:20:12,480 --> 01:20:22,159 believe you know as a municipality that we can uh dictate the content of which 1037 01:20:19,280 --> 01:20:28,080 someone is putting on an event as long as it doesn't violate certain things you 1038 01:20:25,440 --> 01:20:33,520 know but at the same time. Uh if we could have it more conduct related 1039 01:20:31,120 --> 01:20:38,719 in terms of they are abiding, they're peaceful, they're safe, all those 1040 01:20:35,360 --> 01:20:42,960 things, then I think that would create a more fair and equitable 1041 01:20:41,280 --> 01:20:49,040 because it comes down to why was one denied and why was one allowed. If it 1042 01:20:46,239 --> 01:20:53,520 was cont conductbased as opposed to contentbased 1043 01:20:50,800 --> 01:20:58,640 that to me would be more along the lines of pro promoting free and open access 1044 01:20:55,760 --> 01:21:01,679 and process. So maybe you can speak to that. 1045 01:21:00,159 --> 01:21:05,560 » Yeah. Through the chair to Mayor Vanderquac. Um, 1046 01:21:06,480 --> 01:21:15,199 there is nothing within this policy that would dictate to staff building 1047 01:21:12,880 --> 01:21:20,400 operational documents to scrutinize any of the subject matter that a renter is 1048 01:21:17,679 --> 01:21:26,080 bringing forward with the exception of any operational 1049 01:21:23,920 --> 01:21:29,840 processes that we bring in to ensure that they're not violating another city 1050 01:21:28,080 --> 01:21:36,400 policy, bylaw, federal, provincial legislation. So 1051 01:21:33,679 --> 01:21:39,920 I can't speak to the specific nature of a rental request until we receive it. 1052 01:21:38,159 --> 01:21:44,159 That that is just the honest answer. So if someone were to want to carry out a 1053 01:21:42,320 --> 01:21:48,880 rental and again they met the guiding principles as they're written in the 1054 01:21:46,239 --> 01:21:54,320 policy, they don't violate any bylaw or policy already in place and they don't 1055 01:21:52,000 --> 01:21:57,920 violate on paper at least through the request any provincial or federal 1056 01:21:55,840 --> 01:22:03,760 legislation. As I mentioned before, we would approve their rental. So, the goal 1057 01:22:00,880 --> 01:22:08,080 of this is by no means to have staff get into the business of scrutinizing the 1058 01:22:05,679 --> 01:22:12,480 subject matter. It would simply be, do they violate any of these documents? Yes 1059 01:22:10,320 --> 01:22:15,920 or no. If it's a no, then we carry forward with the request 100%. Um, 1060 01:22:14,826 --> 01:22:19,360 [snorts] we would, and again, I don't want to put 1061 01:22:18,000 --> 01:22:23,520 the cart before the horse because we haven't operationalized this, but we 1062 01:22:20,960 --> 01:22:26,560 would always, in my experience, we we would build in safeguards to ensure 1063 01:22:24,880 --> 01:22:30,719 there's an escalation process at any time that a staff member who's taking a 1064 01:22:28,719 --> 01:22:35,760 request may have questions or may not be certain. And it's possible that when we 1065 01:22:33,679 --> 01:22:39,920 get to the opera operationalization of this policy and its principles, etc., 1066 01:22:37,840 --> 01:22:44,560 that there may be opportunity for us to review denials before the denial is sent 1067 01:22:42,239 --> 01:22:50,239 back to the renter. uh the prospective renter, excuse me. So again, I guess to 1068 01:22:47,920 --> 01:22:54,639 summarize that, it would be we're we're simply looking to see if they violate 1069 01:22:52,400 --> 01:22:58,320 one of the principles or any of the applicable documents within the policy. 1070 01:22:56,400 --> 01:23:02,560 That's it. >> Uh thank you for that. So I would I 1071 01:23:01,040 --> 01:23:06,880 would like to propose that we have something in there like a principle like 1072 01:23:04,400 --> 01:23:10,000 as is in Spruce Grove or Edmonton where the city recognizes the public 1073 01:23:08,320 --> 01:23:14,080 facilities are uh exist to serve a diverse 1074 01:23:12,560 --> 01:23:19,600 community with different beliefs, values, viewpoints and that rental 1075 01:23:16,880 --> 01:23:24,000 decisions can be administered in a lawful viewpoint neutral politically 1076 01:23:22,320 --> 01:23:29,040 neutral manner and shall not be based on agreement or disagreement with ideas, 1077 01:23:25,920 --> 01:23:33,440 opinions or beliefs of a user. That's by recommendation. 1078 01:23:31,199 --> 01:23:35,280 » Appreciate that. And I see no reason why we can't include something like that. 1079 01:23:34,560 --> 01:23:38,960 For sure. >> Thank you. 1080 01:23:36,800 --> 01:23:43,040 » Perfect. Thank you. Uh looks like we have one last request here. Councelor 1081 01:23:40,960 --> 01:23:46,639 Van Newer, go ahead. >> Yeah, thanks. I thought I was done, but 1082 01:23:44,639 --> 01:23:52,080 then uh Mayor brought something up that made me think about 1083 01:23:49,520 --> 01:23:58,000 uh rentals underway. So the questions I asked to begin with is um like 1084 01:23:56,000 --> 01:24:03,760 looking for criteria to potentially refuse a rental upfront, right? With the 1085 01:24:00,000 --> 01:24:11,840 suggestion I made at a policy level, how can we in this policy also address the 1086 01:24:08,080 --> 01:24:18,639 fact that conditions can change after a rental has begun? As in you rent to do a 1087 01:24:15,679 --> 01:24:22,719 thing, everybody shows up to do that thing. It's way more people than you 1088 01:24:20,480 --> 01:24:26,960 expected. It's disrupting active users. It's disrupting the community. It's 1089 01:24:24,320 --> 01:24:32,960 disrupting everyone around. Does the city have how can this policy 1090 01:24:30,080 --> 01:24:36,560 protect the users around that facility? Uh, you know, is do we need to put a 1091 01:24:35,040 --> 01:24:39,600 statement in here? We can cancel a rental at any time. Like operationally, 1092 01:24:38,480 --> 01:24:43,360 I know you're going to have that, but does this policy need to have that as 1093 01:24:41,199 --> 01:24:49,840 well? So through the chair to councelor 1094 01:24:44,800 --> 01:24:54,400 vanukkirk I would say to address the examples that you brought forward I 1095 01:24:52,080 --> 01:24:59,920 would refer back to the 5.3 section around safety of the rental that would 1096 01:24:57,760 --> 01:25:03,440 be applicable on a preventative measure and it would also be something to be 1097 01:25:02,159 --> 01:25:09,120 incorporated into the oper operationalization of the the rental 1098 01:25:06,639 --> 01:25:16,719 itself. So, for example, in the current form, we have staff that work at the 1099 01:25:11,679 --> 01:25:22,480 facilities that monitor the rentals. And in doing so, if staff believe or feel as 1100 01:25:20,880 --> 01:25:27,360 though a rental has, I'll just say, gotten out of hand, for a lack of a 1101 01:25:24,320 --> 01:25:32,320 better term, there are processes in place right now that staff take to to 1102 01:25:29,360 --> 01:25:36,800 address that. Whether it's calling um our CMP, whether it's contacting the 1103 01:25:34,080 --> 01:25:41,840 supervisor, whatever the case may be. Um, so I would say that this policy and 1104 01:25:40,480 --> 01:25:46,719 specifically the guiding principle around safety would help 1105 01:25:44,560 --> 01:25:51,360 I'll say beef up the operationalization of how staff can address rentals that 1106 01:25:49,120 --> 01:25:54,639 have already started as opposed to it just being before they start. If that 1107 01:25:53,440 --> 01:25:58,000 makes sense. >> Makes sense for sure. It's just it's 1108 01:25:56,400 --> 01:26:01,600 easier to add this language now than when something's in once than then than 1109 01:26:00,000 --> 01:26:05,760 when something or someone is in front of us. and fire code definitely is, you 1110 01:26:04,159 --> 01:26:08,480 know, the safety piece that governs the people inside the building. But I'm 1111 01:26:07,120 --> 01:26:12,560 thinking more about who shows up outside, how many vehicles, huge lineups 1112 01:26:10,880 --> 01:26:15,840 of people, and we've seen a lot of examples in that lately. And I don't 1113 01:26:13,920 --> 01:26:19,199 know when it'll pop up next, but it will. And at some point, we're going to 1114 01:26:17,760 --> 01:26:23,520 be dealing with that. And then it'll be disrupting members of the community, you 1115 01:26:21,520 --> 01:26:27,840 know, other facility users as you've said before, right? So anyways, if 1116 01:26:25,600 --> 01:26:33,679 there's an opportunity to at a policy level um strengthen anything, you know, 1117 01:26:31,120 --> 01:26:38,520 I think you should take that opportunity. So thank you. Thank you. 1118 01:26:38,719 --> 01:26:45,600 » Thank you for that, counselor. Uh I echo my uh fellow counselor's comments there, 1119 01:26:42,960 --> 01:26:49,040 especially on uh things such as uh previous behavior and and some of the 1120 01:26:47,440 --> 01:26:54,560 things that we've seen as councelor Van Newkerk had mentioned uh too many folks 1121 01:26:52,159 --> 01:26:58,800 potentially too loud uh not controlling the original agreement. So something 1122 01:26:56,560 --> 01:27:01,840 along those lines and just you never want to go to the enforcement side, but 1123 01:27:00,159 --> 01:27:09,320 just knowing that there's an out uh should you need it if it's disruptive to 1124 01:27:04,239 --> 01:27:09,320 uh general users within uh the facility. 1125 01:27:09,520 --> 01:27:16,880 Perfect. I will go to administration just to see if we are needing a motion 1126 01:27:14,000 --> 01:27:21,760 for this one. No. Perfect. Um, that being said, we will proceed on to 1127 01:27:18,960 --> 01:27:24,639 business item 6.4, level of service, roads and parks policy. And I believe 1128 01:27:23,520 --> 01:27:28,520 Bryce, you're going to be presenting that. Thank you. 1129 01:27:39,360 --> 01:27:47,280 Okay. [snorts and clears throat] Good evening, members of council. This policy 1130 01:27:43,600 --> 01:27:52,560 update translates your 2026 2030 strategic plan into everyday action on 1131 01:27:49,760 --> 01:27:56,800 our roads and in our parks. It gives residents full transparency into what we 1132 01:27:54,639 --> 01:28:02,080 do, how we do it, and how we manage growth together. To set context, this 1133 01:27:59,840 --> 01:28:06,480 update directly supports council's 26 to30 strategic plan, specifically our 1134 01:28:04,480 --> 01:28:10,560 commitment to delivering resident centered services. 1135 01:28:09,040 --> 01:28:14,159 It's important to emphasize that this policy update doesn't reinvent the 1136 01:28:12,159 --> 01:28:18,480 wheel. It is a new and improved method of communicating our existing service 1137 01:28:16,000 --> 01:28:23,520 levels clearly to both council and the public. By expanding from a narrow 1138 01:28:21,679 --> 01:28:27,360 winter focus to a comprehensive year-round model in both parks and 1139 01:28:25,199 --> 01:28:32,520 roads, we're establishing realistic operational targets while setting clear 1140 01:28:29,520 --> 01:28:32,520 expectations. 1141 01:28:36,239 --> 01:28:41,336 One moment. Okay. [snorts] 1142 01:28:50,800 --> 01:29:00,000 Technical difficulties. Can you go to two? 1143 01:28:56,719 --> 01:29:04,560 Um, scope definitions and foundation principles. So, structural improvements 1144 01:29:01,520 --> 01:29:08,400 have been made to improve clarity and accountability. A new scope and 1145 01:29:06,560 --> 01:29:14,000 application section confirms that the policy applies to both city staff and 1146 01:29:10,719 --> 01:29:18,719 external contractors. Definitions have been moved to schedule 1147 01:29:15,760 --> 01:29:24,566 one with new terms added for parks and outdoor amenities such as sports fields, 1148 01:29:20,719 --> 01:29:24,566 playgrounds, and outdoor rinks. [snorts] 1149 01:29:25,120 --> 01:29:31,760 Under the strategic plan pillar of growth that makes sense for Bowmont, our 1150 01:29:29,760 --> 01:29:36,159 foundational principles now explicitly address how operational demands scale as 1151 01:29:34,159 --> 01:29:40,159 our community grows. We are grounding our standard operations in a 40-hour 1152 01:29:38,080 --> 01:29:44,719 service week with emergency response triggers, ensuring that we remain 1153 01:29:42,400 --> 01:29:49,760 fiscally responsible and tied to annual budget approvals. 1154 01:29:47,280 --> 01:29:53,679 Winter maintenance remains a core focus with road priorities streamlined from 1155 01:29:51,440 --> 01:29:57,679 five categories down to four. Local roads are now more clearly distinguished 1156 01:29:55,600 --> 01:30:02,639 between connecting residential roads and lower volume local streets, culde-sacs, 1157 01:29:59,840 --> 01:30:06,480 alleys, and gravel roads. Quadrant-based service delivery has been clarified. 1158 01:30:04,400 --> 01:30:11,280 Once priority one and two areas are addressed, clues will be deployed by 1159 01:30:08,719 --> 01:30:15,520 Quadrant. The policy now explains how service timelines reset during 1160 01:30:13,360 --> 01:30:20,187 back-to-back snow events, making expectations clearer during extended 1161 01:30:17,679 --> 01:30:22,320 weather events. [sighs] 1162 01:30:20,880 --> 01:30:25,760 Sidewalk and trail maintenance is scheduled Monday to Friday with after 1163 01:30:24,080 --> 01:30:29,600 hours or weekend snowfall addressed on the next business day. City building 1164 01:30:28,080 --> 01:30:33,679 entrances, the language has been cleared up. The city city building entrances 1165 01:30:32,320 --> 01:30:37,199 must be cleared within 2 hours of openings. Parking lot clearing 1166 01:30:35,840 --> 01:30:43,120 thresholds have been tightened from the previous 5 to 10 cm range down to a flat 1167 01:30:39,920 --> 01:30:47,440 and hard 5cm target. Snow storage lang language will allow temporary storage 1168 01:30:45,280 --> 01:30:52,560 during extreme weather and parking ban enforcements now refer to the traffic 1169 01:30:49,280 --> 01:30:55,280 safety bylaw. Clear service levels have been 1170 01:30:53,760 --> 01:31:00,080 established for year- round maintenance tasks in both parks and roads. This 1171 01:30:57,600 --> 01:31:04,960 includes sweeping of streets, sidewalks and trails, grass cutting, trimming, 1172 01:31:03,040 --> 01:31:09,920 storm water facility mowing and upkeep of sports fields, sports fields and ball 1173 01:31:07,199 --> 01:31:13,679 diamonds. The policy formalizes service frequencies for garbage collection, 1174 01:31:11,520 --> 01:31:16,960 porter potties, border potties and bathroom maintenance, playground 1175 01:31:15,040 --> 01:31:20,920 inspections, hard surface maintenance, and outdoor rink inspections. 1176 01:31:21,280 --> 01:31:27,840 A new section formalizes the use of contractors for specialized seasonal or 1177 01:31:25,520 --> 01:31:31,760 surge capacity work, including support during winters with above average 1178 01:31:29,280 --> 01:31:35,840 snowfall. Annual policy reviews will occur during budget delimmerations to 1179 01:31:34,000 --> 01:31:40,960 ensure service levels remain aligned with available funding. 1180 01:31:39,040 --> 01:31:44,639 This slide represents the biggest win for our residents and aligns directly 1181 01:31:42,960 --> 01:31:50,400 with council's strategic commitment about modern communication. Uh again, 1182 01:31:47,600 --> 01:31:54,320 this policy is not about improving. This policy is ultimately about how we 1183 01:31:52,800 --> 01:31:58,320 communicate. Um instead of residents guessing when a 1184 01:31:56,239 --> 01:32:03,280 trail is swept or a road is cleared, everything will be hosted in one clear 1185 01:32:00,239 --> 01:32:06,639 central location on the city's website. Residents will have access to current 1186 01:32:04,800 --> 01:32:10,159 service levels, interactive maps, property owner responsibilities, and 1187 01:32:08,320 --> 01:32:14,960 real-time seasonal updates for outdoor spaces. 1188 01:32:12,560 --> 01:32:19,120 Finally, as Bowmont continues to expand, this policy ensures that our growth is 1189 01:32:17,040 --> 01:32:22,560 deliberate and transparent. Every year during budget deliberations, council 1190 01:32:20,800 --> 01:32:26,960 will receive supporting documents and clear cost service implications for any 1191 01:32:24,960 --> 01:32:31,360 proposed service level increases or new developments coming online. This will 1192 01:32:28,880 --> 01:32:36,880 ensure full strategic oversight before new operational commitments are made. 1193 01:32:34,400 --> 01:32:40,400 Uh to wrap up, me members of council, when you introduced the new strategic 1194 01:32:38,639 --> 01:32:44,320 plan, you set a clear mandate for resident centered services and growth 1195 01:32:42,400 --> 01:32:47,679 that makes sense for Bmont makes sense for Bowmont. What we've brought you 1196 01:32:46,080 --> 01:32:52,480 today isn't just an administrative update. It's an operational translation 1197 01:32:49,920 --> 01:32:56,480 of your vision vision by replacing outdated single season 1198 01:32:54,560 --> 01:33:00,560 policies with comprehensive year round framework. administration is carrying 1199 01:32:58,159 --> 01:33:05,600 out the direction that you sent you set for PL public transparent communication, 1200 01:33:03,520 --> 01:33:09,440 clear accountability and prudent financial oversight. We are excited to 1201 01:33:07,840 --> 01:33:13,120 get this modernized communication live on our website so our residents can see 1202 01:33:11,360 --> 01:33:17,760 the full value of the services that council fund every day. Uh thank you for 1203 01:33:15,679 --> 01:33:22,360 your time and I would be happy to answer any of your questions and listen to your 1204 01:33:19,360 --> 01:33:22,360 feedback. 1205 01:33:22,480 --> 01:33:27,920 » Perfect. Uh thank you Bryce for that presentation. uh if this policy is a 1206 01:33:26,480 --> 01:33:33,360 representation of some of the efforts we've seen put forward uh so far. I I'm 1207 01:33:31,440 --> 01:33:37,600 impressed with this policy. I I don't know if we uh hit the lotto in terms of 1208 01:33:35,440 --> 01:33:42,639 some good employees uh because we've definitely seen a lot of hard work and 1209 01:33:39,280 --> 01:33:46,400 and effort put into a department that uh always has to show what they can do and 1210 01:33:44,320 --> 01:33:50,480 and make the citizens happy. So great work to you and the team. I I just want 1211 01:33:48,000 --> 01:33:54,639 to note that. Um, in terms of questions, I do see uh, councelor Klemith, so we 1212 01:33:53,520 --> 01:33:58,719 will start with you. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, yeah, no, I 1213 01:33:57,360 --> 01:34:04,000 really like the policy. Just had a couple of questions. Um, in C grass 1214 01:34:01,760 --> 01:34:08,639 cutting, it talks about um, the naturalization below the one in year one 1215 01:34:06,560 --> 01:34:11,920 and 5year flood line. Can you just explain what that means? I just want to 1216 01:34:10,639 --> 01:34:16,880 make sure I got it right. >> Yep. Through the chair to councelor Cole 1217 01:34:14,080 --> 01:34:20,080 Smith. uh natural naturalization below the one in fiveyear flood line relates 1218 01:34:18,719 --> 01:34:24,960 specifically to the storm water management facilities. Uh the one in 1219 01:34:22,239 --> 01:34:28,560 5year flood line says that uh in any given year there's 20% chance that 1220 01:34:26,719 --> 01:34:32,320 through the recent rains that's where the water level will get to. So I'm sure 1221 01:34:30,560 --> 01:34:37,040 we've seen recently that the storm water facilities they the water level can rise 1222 01:34:35,120 --> 01:34:42,880 and the naturalization within that boundary helps with soil retention soil 1223 01:34:40,000 --> 01:34:47,360 erosion. uh we plant some wet tolerant species within that area and with 1224 01:34:45,120 --> 01:34:52,960 naturalization uh it's a clear message to the residents 1225 01:34:50,639 --> 01:34:58,480 of where the water level can get to uh 20% of the time when it rains. 1226 01:34:55,520 --> 01:35:05,920 » So after this most recent rain that line is now higher. Okay. Um 1227 01:35:02,719 --> 01:35:10,639 I noticed the outdoor uh outdoor facilities would be their status would 1228 01:35:08,320 --> 01:35:15,120 be updated on the website. Does that include the time stamp like each day? 1229 01:35:13,199 --> 01:35:18,080 That that's excellent. >> Through the chair to councelor Cole 1230 01:35:16,480 --> 01:35:22,000 Smith. Yes. Uh we heard that from the residents and council loud and clear 1231 01:35:19,440 --> 01:35:26,000 this year that our messaging behind when sports fields are open and uh the 1232 01:35:23,920 --> 01:35:30,480 posting on the website could be improved and that is a part of it. timestamps, 1233 01:35:28,239 --> 01:35:33,840 daystamps, uh as well as providing that information to the guest services 1234 01:35:31,840 --> 01:35:38,000 representatives at the BSRC. So any user groups can call and get confirmation 1235 01:35:35,840 --> 01:35:41,280 after hours when uh say we're not in the office, they can get confirmation of 1236 01:35:39,679 --> 01:35:46,560 what fields are open, what are user discretion, and what are closed. 1237 01:35:43,360 --> 01:35:50,480 » That's really good. Thank you. >> Perfect. Thank you, counselor. Counselor 1238 01:35:48,239 --> 01:35:53,679 Vanu Kirk. >> Yeah, thank you. [clears throat] Um two 1239 01:35:52,320 --> 01:35:59,520 things. I guess I'll I'll stay on the naturalization piece. I caught that as 1240 01:35:55,520 --> 01:36:02,960 well. Um I'll say before that in our documentation naturalization has 1241 01:36:01,199 --> 01:36:06,960 actually never been defined before. So that is something that you know will 1242 01:36:04,480 --> 01:36:11,360 need to be contemplated as we move back. Um I would also say that naturalization 1243 01:36:09,679 --> 01:36:15,920 has become the enemy because naturalization was all the way up to the 1244 01:36:13,199 --> 01:36:20,080 edge of the sidewalk. Right? So this is right here saying naturalization is to 1245 01:36:18,320 --> 01:36:24,239 the one and 5year flood line. It isn't to the edge of the sidewalk. Right? So 1246 01:36:21,920 --> 01:36:29,440 there's some definition on that. So I think that's important and good and we 1247 01:36:26,639 --> 01:36:35,600 can watch to see how that is working. Um I would challenge that naturalization of 1248 01:36:32,080 --> 01:36:42,159 vegetation um does benefit from periodic mowing as well uh to elongate widen root 1249 01:36:39,679 --> 01:36:46,000 structures. So blindly seeding and growing and then not managing that 1250 01:36:43,840 --> 01:36:50,560 naturalized vegetation from time to time actually isn't the way to go. So there's 1251 01:36:48,080 --> 01:36:56,880 an operational piece there that should be considered. Um, secondarily, 1252 01:36:54,960 --> 01:37:04,080 this will be my annual plug. Uh, can you go to page 183 of 216? It was the 1253 01:37:00,960 --> 01:37:08,159 presentation on the map there, uh, around communication. 1254 01:37:06,080 --> 01:37:12,639 And while you're going there, being mindful of my time, I'll just say that 1255 01:37:10,000 --> 01:37:16,719 annually concerns come into the city where in areas where servicing is yet to 1256 01:37:15,199 --> 01:37:22,159 be turned over to the city or the city isn't responsible. Um this is my annual 1257 01:37:19,920 --> 01:37:27,440 plug for some mapping to show that um that that top bullet point there. Um I 1258 01:37:24,719 --> 01:37:31,520 think there's an opportunity to have a map layer that says the city is 1259 01:37:29,600 --> 01:37:36,480 responsible for all this and it's in a color and the city isn't responsible for 1260 01:37:34,320 --> 01:37:42,239 this and it's in a color as in commercial nodes, condominium complexes, 1261 01:37:40,000 --> 01:37:46,239 um areas that the developer is responsible for still and hasn't been 1262 01:37:44,239 --> 01:37:51,600 turned over the city. I think there should be a visual representation of 1263 01:37:48,080 --> 01:37:57,040 that um that folks can be directed to as part of the SEO responses to people. 1264 01:37:55,199 --> 01:38:00,520 That visual aid is going to help a lot. So, thank you. 1265 01:38:01,040 --> 01:38:08,320 » Thank you, counselor. Appreciate it. Uh Mayor Vanderclack, 1266 01:38:05,920 --> 01:38:14,320 » thank you. Thank you, Bryce, for this. And yes, u really happy with um what's 1267 01:38:12,000 --> 01:38:17,199 going on in our parks right now. So, one thing that stuck out to me is 1268 01:38:16,000 --> 01:38:21,600 I'm going to talk about it from again a governance document that um what you 1269 01:38:20,080 --> 01:38:27,119 said earlier I think would be a great piece to put in here as far as the 1270 01:38:23,760 --> 01:38:33,360 purpose of this policy is to establish clear, measurable, transparent 1271 01:38:29,760 --> 01:38:38,080 service level expectations for residents uh guide administration delivery of 1272 01:38:35,520 --> 01:38:41,440 roads park services and provide council with a framework for oversight, resource 1273 01:38:39,840 --> 01:38:46,080 allocation and continuous improvement. I think they're having a Y statement is 1274 01:38:43,119 --> 01:38:50,000 really important in that document as a governance. Um the other thing I wanted 1275 01:38:47,840 --> 01:38:54,320 to mention is the word and I understand it from a 1276 01:38:51,760 --> 01:38:58,719 legal perspective but I'm wondering how we how we measure it when in the 1277 01:38:56,480 --> 01:39:04,639 document talks about the city will make reasonable efforts. 1278 01:39:01,040 --> 01:39:09,119 So how will council know whether administration is consistently achieving 1279 01:39:06,480 --> 01:39:14,800 their targets if they described as reasonable efforts? 1280 01:39:12,320 --> 01:39:19,280 through the chair to Mayor Vanderquac. Um, reasonable efforts is something 1281 01:39:17,280 --> 01:39:21,360 that's pulled directly out of the MGA uh with a lot of infrastructure 1282 01:39:20,480 --> 01:39:25,840 maintenance. >> So that that's a very set standard that 1283 01:39:24,000 --> 01:39:31,760 the the city will make reasonable efforts to keep infrastructure in in 1284 01:39:28,639 --> 01:39:37,920 appropriate m maintainable condition. So um reasonable efforts 1285 01:39:34,719 --> 01:39:42,400 is a vague statement that is allows the city to be 1286 01:39:40,719 --> 01:39:48,000 in alignment with what's operationally possible cuz you know we can repair 1287 01:39:45,119 --> 01:39:52,719 anything given uh appropriate amount of money. But when budget is set and we're 1288 01:39:50,239 --> 01:39:57,679 working with uh a set uh funding timeline that it may not be reasonable 1289 01:39:55,199 --> 01:40:01,199 to repair a sports field that someone drove a tractor through and and ripped 1290 01:39:59,280 --> 01:40:05,920 up a big trench in it. So we will make reasonable efforts to maintain and 1291 01:40:03,520 --> 01:40:10,320 repair everything within our operational boundaries. 1292 01:40:08,000 --> 01:40:12,560 » Maybe uh maybe a kind of an explainer like that might be helpful. 1293 01:40:11,679 --> 01:40:16,719 » Yeah, >> that just I'm just thinking of someone 1294 01:40:14,320 --> 01:40:21,440 reading this policy the question will be well what does that look like? But what 1295 01:40:19,119 --> 01:40:27,679 you just said there brings it into scope right within context of that. So that's 1296 01:40:23,840 --> 01:40:31,360 something um just go back over here. Got to go back. 1297 01:40:29,600 --> 01:40:34,639 The other thing I love the quadrant. I love the fact that you're doing a 1298 01:40:32,320 --> 01:40:38,320 rotational in terms of the services. I think that's really great. Will that be 1299 01:40:36,159 --> 01:40:42,800 communicated as to year by year which quadrant is beginning and which 1300 01:40:40,960 --> 01:40:46,400 » which you're starting at >> through week whatever timing is. Yeah. 1301 01:40:44,800 --> 01:40:50,000 » Yep. Through the chair to Mayor Vander. Yes. So that um that's something we've 1302 01:40:48,480 --> 01:40:53,360 already done and we already do it. We've been doing it for nearly a decade. It's 1303 01:40:52,000 --> 01:40:57,199 just we haven't been good at communicating that to the public. 1304 01:40:54,639 --> 01:41:02,560 » Okay. So for example, street sweeping uh we sweep by quadrants and we change 1305 01:40:59,520 --> 01:41:06,480 which quadrant starts uh the process every year. So the northwest quadrant 1306 01:41:04,560 --> 01:41:11,600 one year, then northeast and south southeast and southwest. So uh the 1307 01:41:09,360 --> 01:41:17,679 intent is to give each and every resident equal service. So uh street 1308 01:41:14,400 --> 01:41:21,840 sweeping, uh pothole patching, snow removal. We work on a quadrantbased 1309 01:41:19,920 --> 01:41:25,199 system with alternating quadrants every year. So it's a at the moment it's a 1310 01:41:23,199 --> 01:41:29,679 four-ear cycle. as we continue to build out that will change. Uh but yes, we 1311 01:41:28,159 --> 01:41:34,080 will communicate that and that is one of the things that will be on this 1312 01:41:30,560 --> 01:41:37,440 centralized location on the website. >> Awesome. Yeah. Well, I I think yeah, 1313 01:41:35,760 --> 01:41:42,000 communication is really key for that. So, uh people understand kind of the 1314 01:41:40,080 --> 01:41:45,119 rotation of that. The other thing is I don't have it in my notes here, but 1315 01:41:43,360 --> 01:41:49,920 about the reporting back, I think there was an annual report. Will will that 1316 01:41:47,280 --> 01:41:54,880 also report include maybe stats? I know I just v visited the 1317 01:41:52,480 --> 01:41:59,920 SEO center today. Was quite impressed with all that's going on there. But will 1318 01:41:57,119 --> 01:42:05,840 that include data collection in terms of maybe improvements in certain area or 1319 01:42:02,800 --> 01:42:10,480 less complaints in a certain area >> through the chair? Mayor Vanderqu uh we 1320 01:42:08,320 --> 01:42:15,040 provide a quarterly report corporately to council and we're looking to fill 1321 01:42:12,800 --> 01:42:19,199 that out with as much stats as possible. So recently uh GPS has been installed in 1322 01:42:17,760 --> 01:42:23,760 most of our vehicles which gives us increased data and reporting. Uh our 1323 01:42:22,000 --> 01:42:26,880 goal is that quarterly reporting that you receive to build out as much as 1324 01:42:25,360 --> 01:42:29,360 humanly possible. >> Awesome. Yeah, just for continuous 1325 01:42:28,320 --> 01:42:34,560 improvement. I think that's really important. Thank you so much. I'm done. 1326 01:42:32,639 --> 01:42:39,199 » Perfect. Thank you, Mayor Councelor Penrod. 1327 01:42:36,239 --> 01:42:43,600 » Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um appreciate this policy coming forward. Um, one of 1328 01:42:41,840 --> 01:42:48,239 the things I zeroed in on right away was the proposed annual review. Uh, and then 1329 01:42:46,480 --> 01:42:54,080 meshing that in with the budgeting process. I think that's excellent and 1330 01:42:50,320 --> 01:42:58,480 and gives us a chance to really have those conversations about 1331 01:42:56,480 --> 01:43:03,360 service tweaks very intentionally as opposed to sometimes it can feel like 1332 01:43:00,719 --> 01:43:09,600 it's a throwin at the end of a a budget um, session. 1333 01:43:06,239 --> 01:43:14,080 I just wonder if you could speak more to when that would come up. So that because 1334 01:43:12,080 --> 01:43:17,520 the way I would imagine this happening is there'll be some questions about 1335 01:43:15,600 --> 01:43:22,000 current service levels that will require some reporting or a bit of preparation 1336 01:43:19,840 --> 01:43:25,520 to come back to the budget workshop in the fall. So, have you done some 1337 01:43:23,840 --> 01:43:30,560 thinking around when this would be calendarized so that we can have those 1338 01:43:28,000 --> 01:43:35,199 preliminary conversations or or does it tie into your earlier 1339 01:43:32,480 --> 01:43:38,159 point to those quarterly reporting through the chair to councelor Penrod? 1340 01:43:37,040 --> 01:43:43,440 It would tie into the quarterly reporting. Um there is nothing stopping 1341 01:43:40,560 --> 01:43:47,520 council at any point from letting us know what you would like to see in 1342 01:43:44,639 --> 01:43:50,719 service levels. Uh especially when it comes to this policy. Before this 1343 01:43:48,800 --> 01:43:54,320 policy, uh it's been service maps at the end of a budget. So service level has 1344 01:43:52,880 --> 01:43:58,000 been tied to the budgetary approval. Budgetary approval has been tied to 1345 01:43:55,760 --> 01:44:02,000 service. This gives you a chance throughout the year to look at what 1346 01:44:00,480 --> 01:44:06,719 we're doing, see how we're performing, and make recommendations on what you 1347 01:44:03,840 --> 01:44:11,600 would like to see the following year. Okay. Uh just a couple quick hit pieces. 1348 01:44:09,760 --> 01:44:16,639 Um we talked about the quadrants already. Um and that's been a piece 1349 01:44:14,719 --> 01:44:20,480 that's in practice. Something that's been unclear to me is there's a couple 1350 01:44:18,639 --> 01:44:25,920 different services that run on the quadrant system. Are they staggered or 1351 01:44:22,800 --> 01:44:32,719 does all the services start in quadrant 1 in year one or are we saying like snow 1352 01:44:29,840 --> 01:44:38,639 removal starts quadrant 1 and street sweeping starts in quadrant 3 so that 1353 01:44:35,520 --> 01:44:42,400 over the so that one community isn't last on everything in a given year. Does 1354 01:44:40,960 --> 01:44:45,600 that make sense? >> Through the chair to councelor Penrod. 1355 01:44:44,159 --> 01:44:50,000 Yes, we alternate every single service. So snow removal, uh, pothole patching, 1356 01:44:48,080 --> 01:44:54,480 crack sealing, and street sweeping, they alternate. So not one community or not 1357 01:44:52,480 --> 01:44:58,239 one section of the city is last every single year, as well as every four 1358 01:44:56,400 --> 01:45:01,920 years, you're not first every year. So for equitable treatment, we alternate 1359 01:45:00,080 --> 01:45:05,840 every single service. Yeah, sorry, I might not have been clear. What I'm 1360 01:45:03,520 --> 01:45:11,119 trying to ask is, are they staggered? So does does every is everything on one 1361 01:45:08,320 --> 01:45:15,040 beginning in one this year and then 2 3 4 1362 01:45:11,840 --> 01:45:18,480 » or are some services in starting in one while others are starting in three 1363 01:45:16,800 --> 01:45:24,080 » through the chair to councelor Penrod maybe I wasn't clear 1364 01:45:21,199 --> 01:45:27,840 » for example this year 2026 um snow removal will be northwest 1365 01:45:26,159 --> 01:45:31,760 quadrant but then street sweeping will be northeast quadrant then it'll be 1366 01:45:29,520 --> 01:45:35,440 pothole patching southeast quadrant yep we make every effort to make sure 1367 01:45:33,679 --> 01:45:40,560 there's equitable treatment across Ross every single community uh every single 1368 01:45:37,520 --> 01:45:45,440 residential area within our community. Thank you. 1369 01:45:43,040 --> 01:45:49,760 » Thank you, councelor. Uh next on the list is councelor Hyde. 1370 01:45:47,920 --> 01:45:55,199 » Yeah, thank you. Uh Bryce, just uh looking at the naturalization areas and 1371 01:45:52,719 --> 01:45:59,520 such like that. Um I'm wondering there's nothing in here that talks about noxious 1372 01:45:57,280 --> 01:46:05,360 weeds within that as well. I'm talking about like cat thistle, foxtail, 1373 01:46:02,400 --> 01:46:08,800 um leafy spurs, uh blue weed, hounds tongue, all that kind of stuff that it 1374 01:46:06,800 --> 01:46:13,520 must be controlled within Alberta. It's not in here at all. Is is there some 1375 01:46:11,520 --> 01:46:18,320 other place where this would be for noxious weeds 1376 01:46:15,920 --> 01:46:22,560 » through the chair to councelor Hyde? Uh yes, that's in the Alberta Weed Act. So 1377 01:46:20,159 --> 01:46:27,840 that's a provincial legislation. Um we have to abide by that. uh Canada thistle 1378 01:46:25,360 --> 01:46:32,239 tanzy if it's noticed on our property we have 48 hours to control so in an effort 1379 01:46:30,639 --> 01:46:36,560 not to double up what the province is already doing it's very explicitly 1380 01:46:34,159 --> 01:46:42,880 covered under the ability to weed act >> okay so is there anywhere that can refer 1381 01:46:39,920 --> 01:46:48,239 to that within this documentation >> uh through the chair to councelor hyde I 1382 01:46:45,280 --> 01:46:53,280 can take that away and see if we can add it in um again we didn't see I didn't 1383 01:46:51,520 --> 01:46:58,480 see the need to double up when the province specifically states what the 1384 01:46:55,840 --> 01:47:02,159 requirements are. Yeah, we we uh as a city are held to the exact same standard 1385 01:47:00,159 --> 01:47:04,639 as res residents are held for their own properties. 1386 01:47:03,040 --> 01:47:08,960 » Yeah, understandable and and I appreciate that. Um but we do get a lot 1387 01:47:07,199 --> 01:47:13,040 of people that send in complaints saying about some noxious weeds that are around 1388 01:47:10,960 --> 01:47:16,960 some of the naturalization areas and in the ditches and those type of places as 1389 01:47:14,800 --> 01:47:20,880 well which are in our jurisdiction. So, if it was somehow there that they can 1390 01:47:19,119 --> 01:47:24,719 take a look at it, that just makes it easier for us to say, "Well, don't go to 1391 01:47:22,719 --> 01:47:29,159 a different spot. It's right there." That's all I'm referring to. Thank you. 1392 01:47:30,000 --> 01:47:35,280 » Thank you, councelor. Hi, uh, Councelor Vanu Kirk. 1393 01:47:33,840 --> 01:47:42,080 » Yeah, thank you. I just wanted to go back to um [clears throat] 1394 01:47:37,199 --> 01:47:47,040 5A if you wouldn't mind scrolling down. Just wondering if you could speak to 5A. 1395 01:47:44,560 --> 01:47:52,880 So basic um some of the feedback that council get gets is um you know very 1396 01:47:51,440 --> 01:47:57,360 black and white. You know everybody goes home on the weekend and doesn't care 1397 01:47:54,320 --> 01:48:01,600 about the trails, right? Not true. Um so can you speak to how a 40-hour week 1398 01:48:00,159 --> 01:48:05,280 might look at different times of the year? You know is everyone Monday to 1399 01:48:03,280 --> 01:48:09,840 Friday or is there people that are you know Thursday to whatever you know that 1400 01:48:08,080 --> 01:48:14,239 different 5day periods? Are there shifts in schedules? How is some of that 1401 01:48:11,679 --> 01:48:18,880 managed? Uh, I know with bylaw for instance, you know, shifts are managed 1402 01:48:16,080 --> 01:48:22,800 and worked around events and times of year and all those kinds of things. Can 1403 01:48:20,560 --> 01:48:27,840 you speak to some of the parks and recck staff and what that scheduling looks 1404 01:48:24,800 --> 01:48:32,560 like? I think the public should hear some of that 1405 01:48:29,520 --> 01:48:37,760 » through the chair to council venue. The parks and roads teams are grounded in a 1406 01:48:35,360 --> 01:48:45,760 40-hour work week. So, from 8 to 4:30 Monday to Friday. The reason that is um 1407 01:48:42,000 --> 01:48:49,440 the roads team they have six staff uh we need six staff for snow removal. We need 1408 01:48:47,440 --> 01:48:54,800 six staff for adequate pothole patching and and traffic control. So there is a 1409 01:48:51,760 --> 01:48:58,560 need of the whole team to be together. Um historically we have considered what 1410 01:48:57,119 --> 01:49:03,679 it would look like for 7-day coverage and what that looks like is suboptimal 1411 01:49:00,960 --> 01:49:08,000 crew numbers and resourcing to get the job done during the week and we weren't 1412 01:49:05,360 --> 01:49:11,840 able to achieve the same amount of work. This does allow us to get the most 1413 01:49:09,760 --> 01:49:15,679 amount of work done during the 40-hour work week. However, we do have an on 1414 01:49:13,600 --> 01:49:20,960 call system. Uh there is an individual on call from both parks and roads and 1415 01:49:17,440 --> 01:49:24,960 they are available 24/7 and that nothing will be allowed to go outside of that 1416 01:49:22,719 --> 01:49:29,119 service level. Uh for example, in the winter, if we have a big snow on the 1417 01:49:26,719 --> 01:49:32,400 Saturday morning, does this 40-hour work week does not mean that the plows and 1418 01:49:30,800 --> 01:49:36,400 the sanders are not out Saturday morning at 5:00 a.m.? We have on call staff 1419 01:49:34,880 --> 01:49:40,080 appropriate for the season. say at Christmas there's more than one and that 1420 01:49:38,560 --> 01:49:46,639 if we see conditions where we need to respond we will respond 24/7 uh but the 1421 01:49:45,280 --> 01:49:52,080 grounding of the team is within the 40-hour work week with our current 1422 01:49:48,960 --> 01:49:57,920 complement of staff that is our limitation however we have set out the 1423 01:49:55,119 --> 01:50:02,080 pathway to get to say 7-day coverage but that does involve a increased level of 1424 01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:05,360 service which involves uh personnel and resourcing 1425 01:50:03,600 --> 01:50:11,040 » yeah that's good um [clears throat] I think clarity there is that the on call 1426 01:50:08,080 --> 01:50:16,800 system is what um the tool is right now to make sure that if there are large 1427 01:50:14,800 --> 01:50:20,880 concerns mostly on trail snow clearing that's a lot of the feedback we get back 1428 01:50:18,560 --> 01:50:24,880 on on weekends some of the key areas are are looked after so I know that I've 1429 01:50:23,360 --> 01:50:29,199 definitely saw some of the trail machines clearing trails on weekends and 1430 01:50:27,679 --> 01:50:32,800 um you know it's not that they're pulling in full shifts on that but you 1431 01:50:31,280 --> 01:50:35,760 know some of the key areas are looked after so thank 1432 01:50:36,320 --> 01:50:47,760 Thank you, councelor Councelor Penrod. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, 1433 01:50:44,239 --> 01:50:51,600 so on page 159, the document says the snow and ice 1434 01:50:49,840 --> 01:50:56,320 control program will reset when continuous snow events are experienced. 1435 01:50:54,560 --> 01:51:00,560 This is the single biggest pinch in the current system. I wonder if you could 1436 01:50:57,760 --> 01:51:06,080 take the opportunity given your response to the last question. And I think this 1437 01:51:01,840 --> 01:51:12,480 is a great opportunity to just hear um why this is the best of the worst 1438 01:51:09,119 --> 01:51:19,280 options if that makes sense. Um if you could speak to how this helps us to 1439 01:51:16,320 --> 01:51:24,719 achieve that community safety and well-being in the 1440 01:51:20,800 --> 01:51:27,840 resident centered services through the chair to councelor Penrod. 1441 01:51:26,400 --> 01:51:32,560 Thank you for that question. Uh that's probably the most misunderstood part of 1442 01:51:30,000 --> 01:51:36,639 our service levels is the roads operational in winter. Uh the quadrant 1443 01:51:35,040 --> 01:51:41,920 policy is specifically around the sentence of if snow uh comes again that 1444 01:51:40,239 --> 01:51:46,080 we reset the service levels until they can be brought back into align. So 1445 01:51:44,159 --> 01:51:51,040 realistically what does that mean? So we do priority ones and two roads five 1446 01:51:48,239 --> 01:51:55,360 times a month. Um we do residential once a year guaranteed maybe twice and that's 1447 01:51:53,360 --> 01:51:59,920 just by the time we get to that trigger. That's the accumulation that we would 1448 01:51:57,280 --> 01:52:03,360 see. We would do priority ones and twos as much as we need to and then we would 1449 01:52:01,199 --> 01:52:07,360 move into residential clearing. We would start for example at the colonial uh 1450 01:52:05,920 --> 01:52:10,719 neighborhood and we will work all the way through to the southeast. If it 1451 01:52:09,199 --> 01:52:16,000 snows again to the point where we need to re-trigger priority ones and twos, we 1452 01:52:13,520 --> 01:52:19,679 will finish let's say 30% of the city. we would go back, clear the priority 1453 01:52:17,760 --> 01:52:23,760 ones, the priority two roads, and go right back to where we started. Uh the 1454 01:52:21,920 --> 01:52:28,400 misconception that we've seen with resident responses is that when we see 1455 01:52:26,719 --> 01:52:31,520 enough snow to go back to priority ones and twos, we're doing all the ones and 1456 01:52:29,840 --> 01:52:35,199 twos, then we starting Colonial again. So some streets are getting two services 1457 01:52:33,199 --> 01:52:40,159 while others are only getting one. That's not the case. Uh reality is that 1458 01:52:38,000 --> 01:52:44,960 we would do the priority ones and twos, the arterial roads, the range roads, uh 1459 01:52:42,639 --> 01:52:48,800 the arterial roads, range roads are priority one. Then priority two is the 1460 01:52:46,480 --> 01:52:52,800 ring roads. We'll go right back to where we left off in the residential clearing 1461 01:52:51,040 --> 01:52:58,080 program and continue to clear those priority in four and five roads until we 1462 01:52:56,159 --> 01:53:03,040 until every single street in Bowmont has had one service and then that would be 1463 01:52:59,520 --> 01:53:08,159 the totality of our first clear. So the misconception often lies that we will 1464 01:53:05,199 --> 01:53:13,040 clear the pro the quadrant one of that year's roads three or four times before 1465 01:53:10,480 --> 01:53:17,679 we get to the pro the last quadrant. Uh that's not the case. We do everything 1466 01:53:14,400 --> 01:53:23,880 once before we start everything twice. >> Just uh before you continue, uh Miss 1467 01:53:20,080 --> 01:53:23,880 Winter has a comment. 1468 01:53:26,560 --> 01:53:32,719 » Um I just wanted to respond um back to Councelor Hyde's question with regards 1469 01:53:30,960 --> 01:53:37,599 to the noxious weeds. That's actually under our um community standards bylaw 1470 01:53:35,199 --> 01:53:42,360 where we have that and it's enforced through municipal enforcement as our 1471 01:53:39,040 --> 01:53:42,360 weed inspectors. 1472 01:53:47,040 --> 01:53:53,360 Yeah, >> thank thank you. So, it's through the 1473 01:53:50,880 --> 01:54:01,040 bylaw through that that portion of it. Um, of course, it has to do with 1474 01:53:55,599 --> 01:54:04,639 residential um uh yards as well then as well as public. 1475 01:54:03,199 --> 01:54:07,840 » Community standards by law. >> Okay. Thank you. 1476 01:54:05,520 --> 01:54:11,599 » Thank you. >> Perfect. Thank you for that. We'll 1477 01:54:09,360 --> 01:54:17,679 return back to councelor Ben Ryan. Thank you. Um, appreciate the explanation. If 1478 01:54:15,199 --> 01:54:22,320 you could just um, maybe explain for us and for our 1479 01:54:20,080 --> 01:54:26,960 residents why it's essential that we double back 1480 01:54:24,320 --> 01:54:30,639 on that snow reset to the ones and twos. What what is the 1481 01:54:29,280 --> 01:54:36,159 what are the data points or the considerations that bring us back to 1482 01:54:32,560 --> 01:54:41,440 those service level or the priority ones and twos? And what benefit does the city 1483 01:54:39,199 --> 01:54:47,040 receive by making sure that those priority ones and twos are are cleared 1484 01:54:45,040 --> 01:54:51,760 » through the chair to councelor Penrod? Uh priority ones and twos as I uh 1485 01:54:49,440 --> 01:54:55,520 alluded to earlier we can maintain between three and five times a month. 1486 01:54:53,599 --> 01:55:00,080 The data suggests that at that service level level trigger that's how often we 1487 01:54:58,159 --> 01:55:06,080 would need to be there to complete one full residential clear will take 6 1488 01:55:01,840 --> 01:55:10,000 weeks. So if we were to not revert back to the priority ones and twos, 6 weeks, 1489 01:55:08,639 --> 01:55:15,119 month and a half, we're potentially missing seven services on priority ones 1490 01:55:12,639 --> 01:55:20,480 and twos. The ones and two roads are 50th Street, 50th A, uh, and all the 1491 01:55:17,920 --> 01:55:25,199 range roads. So the streets that likely every resident uses every day to leave 1492 01:55:22,719 --> 01:55:29,679 the city, uh, enter commercial space. All the all the schools are on priority 1493 01:55:26,960 --> 01:55:35,199 ones and twos. Um, this is just an effort to keep our highest traffic 1494 01:55:32,159 --> 01:55:39,760 areas, um, the ones where there's no room for error in top maintainable 1495 01:55:37,040 --> 01:55:44,800 condition all winter long. Thank you. Uh, and just one more point 1496 01:55:42,480 --> 01:55:50,800 on the ice control, sanding, and rock chip rock chips. Um, maybe it's maybe I 1497 01:55:48,719 --> 01:55:58,960 misunderstood, but is there a service level change here? Um 1498 01:55:55,360 --> 01:56:05,520 it I remember a map that showed where rock chips were being applied, but this 1499 01:56:01,920 --> 01:56:09,920 makes it sound like it will be done um kind of 1500 01:56:07,440 --> 01:56:14,560 under the judgment of the operators and that I remember that being a 1501 01:56:11,440 --> 01:56:18,880 recommendation that came from the uh consultants report. So I just wanted to 1502 01:56:16,159 --> 01:56:22,719 check that and also the may on the rock chips being available at designated 1503 01:56:20,639 --> 01:56:28,159 areas through the city. previously that has been for sure available. Are we 1504 01:56:25,199 --> 01:56:31,520 looking at pulling that back >> through the chair to councelor Penrod? 1505 01:56:29,920 --> 01:56:34,800 Uh you've actually identified one of the improvements that we've made to our 1506 01:56:32,960 --> 01:56:39,280 service level. So the original service level was a map which clearly clearly 1507 01:56:37,199 --> 01:56:44,400 identified which intersections would have rock chip and and ice control. What 1508 01:56:42,080 --> 01:56:48,719 this policy says is that we will manage every single intersection on an as 1509 01:56:46,719 --> 01:56:51,520 needed basis. So just because the intersection is not marked on the map 1510 01:56:50,159 --> 01:56:56,159 does not mean the operators won't maintain it. Uh we heard that from that 1511 01:56:53,920 --> 01:57:00,320 conversation in budget two two years ago and we went about fixing that. So uh 1512 01:56:59,040 --> 01:57:04,719 what you've identified is actually an improvement. We will rock chip ice 1513 01:57:02,800 --> 01:57:09,440 control every single intersection on an as neededs basis through the inspection 1514 01:57:06,800 --> 01:57:15,119 program within our team. Uh secondly the may in rock chip gives us the ability to 1515 01:57:12,800 --> 01:57:21,280 increase the rockchip locations. It's not something that we've planned just 1516 01:57:16,320 --> 01:57:25,840 yet. Uh but under Bowmont growing we know that there might be an opportunity 1517 01:57:23,280 --> 01:57:29,920 in the future to offer rock chip at additional locations and that's why we 1518 01:57:28,320 --> 01:57:36,239 included that there. So it gives us the ability to scale up. 1519 01:57:32,719 --> 01:57:42,000 Appreciate the continuous improvement. >> Thank you councelor uh Mayor Vanderwak. 1520 01:57:39,119 --> 01:57:48,159 Go ahead. >> Um okay got to get my thing here. Thank 1521 01:57:45,920 --> 01:57:51,599 you. Uh Bryce, just a quick question. Actually, one question myself, then I 1522 01:57:49,840 --> 01:57:56,000 have a question from a resident that sent us an email. Are the trails also on 1523 01:57:54,320 --> 01:58:00,320 a priority system in terms of snow clarity in the winter 1524 01:57:58,239 --> 01:58:03,920 » through the chair to Mayor Vanderquac? Yeah, the trails are on a priority 1525 01:58:02,080 --> 01:58:07,920 system. Uh there's only two priorities. Priority one, priority two. Uh the 1526 01:58:05,760 --> 01:58:12,320 priority one is the main thoroughare for all the trails to allow uh hight traffic 1527 01:58:10,400 --> 01:58:15,599 areas. So such as around schools or commercial plazas and then priority two 1528 01:58:14,320 --> 01:58:20,080 would be the the connections from residential areas. So priority one will 1529 01:58:17,599 --> 01:58:22,960 allow us to clear that first uh lot of trails immediately after snow clearing 1530 01:58:21,679 --> 01:58:29,360 and then when there's time we'll go back and and hit those priority twos. Yep. 1531 01:58:25,280 --> 01:58:34,560 » Okay. Good. And then uh um there's a question regarding attachment one item 6 1532 01:58:32,080 --> 01:58:41,199 C page three talking about the removal and disposal of snow. And there was some 1533 01:58:37,920 --> 01:58:45,920 indication that um it had changed to instead of being 1534 01:58:44,159 --> 01:58:51,400 plowed to the middle and hauled away, it was plowed to the side and then come 1535 01:58:47,360 --> 01:58:51,400 back later. Is that correct? 1536 01:58:53,119 --> 01:58:57,040 » What What is the current practice right now? 1537 01:58:54,960 --> 01:59:01,360 » Okay. Through the chair to Mayor Vanderqu. Our current practice is plow 1538 01:58:59,280 --> 01:59:05,360 to the middle and remove. However, in extreme situations where we have a 1539 01:59:03,280 --> 01:59:10,320 inundation of snow or a large accumulation, we will plow to the side 1540 01:59:07,679 --> 01:59:13,679 to allow traffic to freely flow. We will come back as soon as we can to plow to 1541 01:59:12,400 --> 01:59:17,520 the middle and remove. >> Um, as I said to councelor Penrod 1542 01:59:16,080 --> 01:59:21,280 earlier, it takes us 6 weeks to get around residential neighborhoods. Uh, 1543 01:59:19,440 --> 01:59:25,040 this January was a perfect example. We were forced to plow to the side in 1544 01:59:23,040 --> 01:59:28,960 residential neighborhoods to allow residents to leave and come and go as 1545 01:59:27,199 --> 01:59:33,199 they need to as well as for emergency standards, emergency vehicle standards. 1546 01:59:31,360 --> 01:59:38,080 And it just gives us that operational flexibility to handle a large storm 1547 01:59:35,599 --> 01:59:41,920 event. Uh however, the practice that we will do every day is plow to the middle 1548 01:59:39,840 --> 01:59:47,280 and remove. That's that's option one and preferable. 1549 01:59:42,800 --> 01:59:51,119 » Okay, good. Thanks for clarifying that. >> Thank you. Uh just one quick question uh 1550 01:59:49,360 --> 01:59:54,719 that sparked a a question after you had mentioned the priorities for the 1551 01:59:52,159 --> 01:59:59,119 pathways. Um does that follow similar suit to the roads where if we get 1552 01:59:56,800 --> 02:00:05,679 another snowfall we're starting back on one and then eventually getting to two? 1553 02:00:03,119 --> 02:00:09,520 » Uh to the chair. Uh yes, that would be the case. So priority one is our 1554 02:00:07,199 --> 02:00:13,360 priority one. So if we have consecutive rain event uh snow events uh back to 1555 02:00:11,760 --> 02:00:16,560 back to back and we're not able to stay on top of it, we'll be continuously 1556 02:00:15,040 --> 02:00:21,280 doing the ones before we can get to twos. uh the ones are identified as 1557 02:00:19,280 --> 02:00:26,800 around the schools around the commercial uh high use pathways um and that's why 1558 02:00:24,000 --> 02:00:32,000 they're prioritized one over two. >> Perfect. Thank you. Um I think no need 1559 02:00:29,280 --> 02:00:34,880 to beat a dead horse, but you uh you hit the nail on the head when you said 1560 02:00:33,040 --> 02:00:38,480 communication was maybe a gap that previously exists. So appreciate that 1561 02:00:36,880 --> 02:00:42,159 there's a system going forward where we better communicate and let uh residents 1562 02:00:40,400 --> 02:00:45,440 know what's going on because uh I think there's a lot of value that and I know 1563 02:00:43,679 --> 02:00:48,159 residents appreciate it. So thank you so much. 1564 02:00:50,400 --> 02:00:58,320 All right. Well, that being said, that is the end of our presentations. 1565 02:00:55,440 --> 02:01:01,520 Um, Madame Clerk, do we have any new counselor inquiries? 1566 02:00:59,840 --> 02:01:04,520 » No, we do not have any new counselor inquiries. 1567 02:01:04,639 --> 02:01:12,080 » Perfect. Well, unless I am missing something, I believe that brings us to 1568 02:01:10,159 --> 02:01:21,480 adjournment. Um, so that being said, I would like to 1569 02:01:15,119 --> 02:01:21,480 adjourn this meeting at 8:03 p.m.