Coming Up: Dec 13
Council meets on Monday. The most significant items on our agenda:
Old Fire Hall
Budget 2023
Public Security Project
Following is more information and my take on agenda items.
As always, any mistakes or opinions belong to me and me alone, not to Council or City staff.
While I express my current views below, I work hard to go into meetings ready to listen and with an open mind. I learn new information and participate in debate. This always informs, and sometimes changes, how I vote on issues.
If you would like to watch the meeting or read any of its supporting material for yourself, you can do so by clicking here. The City will post the highlights of Council’s decisions here.
SALE OF OLD FIRE HALL
It is recommended that Council sell the old firehall which is located downtown across from the Farmers’ Market. This building currently houses Community Social Development (CSD) and equipment for Parks and Technical Search and Rescue.
CSD (along with Enforcement Services) is moving to the Coordinated Care Campus. This move will allow City operations to function more efficiently by putting several departments under one roof. It will also allow the Campus residents to receive more support and supervision.
The City has also received federal funding to build a new storage building in South Bear Creek Park. This will allow for the equipment in the old firehall to be moved.
Since there is no longer a need for this building, it is recommended that Council sell it for a market value (it is has been appraised at $1,200,000).
A few years ago, Council started the process of selling this building but backed out. However, there are a few key difference this time around. The two big ones:
Previously, there was nowhere to relocate CSD and the equipment: the City would’ve had to lease new space. Re-locating into leased space had an estimated net cost of $50,000 - $100,000 per year.
Previously, a Request For Proposal (RFP) process was used. Under this process, Council proposed selling the building for below market value as long as there was “significant economic impact” for the City. However, the RFP was written in such a way that this “economic impact” was poorly described and not enforceable.
Now we have a plan to re-locate the workers and equipment currently in the firehall to other City-owned space. There is also no RFP process or discount proposed. Instead, the proposal is to use a realtor to get the best possible market rate for the building.
I’m likely to support this sale. I don’t see a need for the City to hold onto this building. Selling it is a responsible use of City resources, and releasing it to the market seems like our best chance of getting something desirable into this building.
BUDGET
Last week, Council Committee of the Whole deliberated Budget 2023. It landed on a proposed budget that would allow for sustainable City operations while keeping a tax increase that is well below inflation (1.15%). It is recommended that Council give final approval to the budget on Monday. I intend to vote in favour- while there are votes I lost in budget deliberations, overall this is a reasonable budget that I can support.
To see more about the budget, I’d encourage you to checkout my Budget Preview Post. I’ll also be posting a Budget Infographic later this week.
Public Security Pilot project
It is recommended that Council fund a Public Security Pilot Project. This would see 4 Bylaw Enforcement officers re-deployed and 6 Security Officers hired. They would provide 24/7 security and enforcement to key areas of our City. Their duties would include regular patrols and taking on first-call responsibilities for low risk incidents, such as alarms and encampments.
I appreciate this initiative. There is a need for more of this type of presence in our community. However, RCMP Members are expensive, and Grande Prairie never receives the full complement it requests. Saving RCMP time for higher priority or higher risk tasks makes sense. I appreciate City Administration looking for way to increase security in our community without straining RCMP resources. I’m likely to support this pilot project.
That’s what is on our agenda for Monday. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
You can comment below. Or, you can contact me at dbressey@cityofgp.com or 780-402-4166. I'm happy to talk online or over the phone. I'm also always willing to setup a time to meet for coffee.
We also always have great conversation in the GP Round Table group on Facebook.
After Council meeting, you will be able to find highlights posted by the City here.
Thanks for reading!
-Dylan