Coming Up: Feb 21
Council meets on Monday. The most significant items on our agenda:
Delegations
Downtown Business Budget
City Manager Appointment
Coordinated Care Campus Advisory Campus
Kensington & Sone Ridge Land Use
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.
Delegations
At every Council meeting, members of the public are welcome to address Council on any matter of interest. This week, two delegations have told us they will be coming to Council:
Grande Spirit Foundation: to discuss support for new senior self contained apartments in Spirit River
Grande Prairie Climbing Association: to introduce itself to Council and discuss development of climbing opportunities in Grande Prairie
Down Town Business Improvement Area Budget
The Down Town Business Association is a non-profit association operated by the Down Town business community. It exists to support and promote the City Centre. Its budget is funded by a special tax levied on commercial properties within the Down Town Business Improvement Area (BIA).
The Association’s budget is created by its Board of Directors, which is elected by members. This budget is then approved by membership at an AGM. However, since Council is responsible for the BIA tax, Council also has to approve the budget. It is being presented to Council on Monday.
The proposed budget for 2022 is $302,507.. This budget has remained the same for several years. That is despite inflation, the province deciding to no longer pay its property taxes towards the BIA, and increased needs. The Association has done a good job of managing its budget. I’m likely to vote in favour of approving it.
Every time we discuss the BIA, there are some in the community who suggest it is unfair or unreasonable to have a special tax on downtown businesses. However, in response, I’d highlight that if Council doesn’t pass the BIA Tax, it only has two other options:
Overrule the decisions made by downtown business by refusing to fund the Downtown Association. This would effectively mean Council is saying to businesses “sorry, we know what is best for your operations” while undermining their efforts to be viable and profitable.
Fund the Downtown Association through the City’s general revenue. This means that property tax owners throughout the City would be footing the bill for activities that they get no say in and no direct benefit from. Residents would be directly funding the Downtown Association. And businesses across the City would be paying for the marketing activities of their competitors in the City Centre.
Neither of these is a good alternative. The BIA Tax should be passed.
It’s also worth highlighting:
This tax isn’t new. It’s an annual tax that started in 1984 at the request of downtown businesses.
The tax amount is set by a Board elected by downtown businesses and is then approved at a meeting open to all downtown businesses. I usually attend this meeting, and never hear a single objection to the budget.
I haven’t had a single business reach out to me and request that this tax not be levied.
Because of our current economy and this year’s downtown construction, the promotional and advocacy activities of the Downtown Association are more important than ever.
Provincial properties traditionally pay ~$60,000 into the BIA tax. However, the province has recently decide to no longer pay property taxes, which is a big hit to downtown. The Association is making up for this by reducing its budget, not by increasing what member businesses pay.
City Manager Appointment
Council has a single employee who oversees all staff and implements Council’s budget, strategic plan, and policies. We are currently in need of a new City Manager (also known as a Chief Administrative Officer or CAO).
It is recommended that Council appoint Bob Nicolay in a contracted position until December 31, 2022 while it undertakes a search for a permanent City Manager.
I’ll be supporting this recommendation. Mr. Nicolay served as our City Manager from 2017-2018 and did a good job. He also brings a wide breadth of experience in not only municipal government, but also the private energy sector. I look forward to welcoming him back.
Grant Funding
It is recommended that Council approve a number of grants. The most significant ones:
Street Performers Festival: $14,000 from the Arts Development Festival Fund
East Coast Garden Party: $50,000 from the Large Scale Tourism Event fund
GrandeCon: $25,000 from the Large Scale Tourism Event fund
I intend to vote in favour of these grants. These events are an important part of developing our local economy and making Grande Prairie a great place to live.
Coordinated Care Campus Advisory Committee
Council has directed Administration to form an Advisory Committee for the Coordinated Care Campus (CCC). The point of this Committee is to allow the surrounding community to have input into the CCC. The Committee’s input will be used to makes sure that the CCC is delivering on its potential benefits while not having negative impact on surrounding properties.
Here is a link to a Terms of Reference that have been recommended to Council for approval.
I’ll be voting in favour of these Terms of Reference. However, I’m also likely to move an amendment to also appoint a Councilor to this Committee. I think it is important for Council to have a direct link to hear what is being said at the Committee’s meetings.
Kensington & Stone Ridge Land Use
There are potential land use changes being proposed to Council.
One is in Kensington, east of Flyingshot Lake. Changes would allow for the development of a residential neighbourhood on what is currently largely agricultural land.
The other is in Stone Ridge, south of the Eastlink Centre across 68th Ave. Changes would allow for land designated for multi-family housing to be converted into commercial zoning.
These concepts haven’t been proposed to Council before, and I have a number of questions about them. I don’t yet know where I will land on them. I look forward to learning more and to the debate.
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