Council Highlights May 2, 2023

Video and minutes

• Lethbridge City Council voted unanimously to amend the 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) D-30 Legacy Park Pickleball Courts scope to build the six new courts within the previously-approved budget, but also to revise several features with the project to keep costs down. Read the full news release here
• Council voted unanimously to prepare a letter of support and conditionally approve a request for $210,000 of cash and in-kind contributions, with $70,000 ($50,000 in cash and $20,000 in-kind) funded annually in 2024, 2025, and 2026 from the Major Community Event Grant Budget for the Lethbridge PlayOn! Canada event, which would be hosted by the Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone (DBRZ). Read the full news release here
• Council unanimously approved both second and third reading of Bylaw 6397. This bylaw sets the property tax rates to be imposed upon property within the City of Lethbridge to raise required municipal revenues from property, as outlined in the operating budget and in accordance to Section 243 of the Municipal Government Act. Each year, property tax rates must be approved by Council. Bylaw 6398, the 2023 Pre-Authorized Tax Installment Pre-Payment Plan (TIPP), was also approved by Council on Tuesday. More information is available here. Read the full PSA here
• Council voted in favour of several funding allocations, based on recommendations from the April 20 Cultural and Social Standing Policy Committee meeting. No City of Lethbridge tax funding is being solicited to meet these allocation requests. Read the full news release here. City Council will adopt the following recommendations of the CWSS Advisory Committee regarding funding from the federal Reaching Home (RH) funding portfolio:

1. Approve up to $40,000 annually to be allocated. as an amended addition to the previously approved annual operational budget to the Blood Tribe/Kainai Nation, to support the continued operation of the Blackfoot Resource Hub program, set to end on December 31, 2024
2. Approve up to $120,000 annually over a four-year term to be allocated to the Blood Tribe Department of Health to deliver the By-Names-List project
3. Approve up to $70,000 annually as an amended addition to the previously approved annual operational budget to the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization, to fund a Senior Support Navigator
4. Approve up to $50,000 annually over a four-year term, to be allocated for the implementation of Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS)

• From an Official Business Motion from Councillor Carlson, Council voted 7-2 to direct Administration to apply to become a Bee City through Bee City Canada and, should Lethbridge be declared a Bee City, that City Council also direct Administration to celebrate through public awareness activities by taking part in International Pollinator Week on June 19-25 and other promotional and educational activities. Council will also challenge other Alberta municipalities to become bee cities. Any potential renewal fees are to be funded through Parks operating budget
• As part of the Consent Agenda’s unanimous approval, Council will allocate $225,000 (from the funding held reserve as matching funds for future projects from the 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Program adopted at the June 1, 2021, Meeting of Council) to the Green Acres Foundation for construction of the Abbey Road Terrace Project. City funding to be provided subject to the execution of a third-party contribution agreement in a form satisfactory to the City Manager
• Council voted unanimously on both second and third readings to approve Bylaw 6396, the 2023 Downtown Business Improvement Area Tax Rate Bylaw