(Photo by Cory Knutt)
Lacombe City Council held a regular meeting on Oct. 28.
The recreation and culture master plan refresh, social needs assessment and priorities, upgrades to city hall, and the new fire station location were all topics at the meeting.
Here are the meeting highlights:
Recreation and Culture Master Plan refresh
Council's Strategic Plan identifies completing an update to the Recreation and Culture Master Plan (Inventory and Gap Analysis – Recreation Opportunities) by Q4 2024. This update utilizes the original master plan structure to forecast the community's recreation and culture priority needs.
Feedback was collected via three surveys—community-wide, user group, and youth—to provide additional insight into their preferences. A final summary synthesizes those surveys into one comprehensive list.
The Recreation and Culture Master Plan will help inform City of Lacombe and community partner investments in prospective facilities. These investments may include capital construction, Community Builder Partnership Fund funding, or direct municipal programming.
Council directed administration to return the Recreation and Culture Master Plan for approval at their Nov.12, meeting.
Social Needs Assessment and Priorities
Council's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan identifies completing the Social Needs Assessment and Prioritization Report (Inventory and Gap Analysis - Social Services) by Q4 2024. In the Phase One report, bassa Social Innovations (bassa) identified four priority areas following a community engagement process and statistical analysis of the City of Lacombe. With the endorsement of the initial phase, administration worked with bassa to complete Phase Two – a summary list of initiatives to meet the earlier identified priorities.
In 2022, council identified the need for the City's Social Needs Assessment and Prioritization Report to be performed over 2023-2024. This project aimed to identify and prioritize key focus areas for addressing social needs in the community.
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The Phase One report acknowledged Lacombe's many assets and strengths, such as Strong Support Networks and Volunteerism, Inclusive and Accessible Services, Physical and Social Gathering Spaces, Active Community Programs, and Community Inclusivity and Support. The report identified four priorities for Lacombe:
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Community action on mental health and addictions
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Community support for families
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Getting around and community access
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Healthy homes and neighbourhoods
Phase Two involved more engagement over the summer, a community survey, a Community Conference, participation at the Fall Active Living Fair (Coffee with council), and a presentation of the Draft Phase Two report to the Lacombe & District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Board on Oct. 16.
Phase two articulates the community's short-, medium--, and long-term goals regarding the four priority areas, develops municipal and other agency actions intended to affect those goals, and identifies benchmarks or measures of success.
The Lacombe FCSS board endorsed the Social Needs Assessment and Priorities final report.
Council approved the Social Needs Assessment and Priorities final report.
City Hall Renovation Project
In 2021, Council Chambers, the downstairs bathroom, and the staff lunch area were modernized, and plumbing issues in the basement were addressed.
Plans to refresh the front office and foyer were initiated in 2023. Three designs were presented, one of which was chosen for its functionality, security, and modernization. However, the bids received were over budget, leading to a deferral of the project.
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The current design focuses on upgrading the areas occupied by the Finance and Planning & Development departments, adding security access, and improving public access. Two previously qualified construction companies submitted updated bids, with IMC Construction Ltd. being recommended due to its lower cost.
Council directed administration to award the City Hall Renovation project to IMC Construction Ltd. council supported using alternate City-owned locations to accommodate staff and provide service to the public during renovations.
Process to Develop Selected Fire Station Property
On Sept. 9, council approved and supported the Communication and Community Engagement Strategy announcing the development of a new fire station at 4410 Woodland Drive, impacting the south ball diamond. However, a Habendum Clause on the land title restricts the land's use for cemetery purposes, and removing it requires several steps.
The City must complete a preliminary survey plan identifying the portions of land to be subdivided and considered for a fire station development before applying to the Director of Cemeteries for consent to remove the clause from that portion of the site. The Habendum Clause, registered under Section 74 of the Cemeteries Act, protects burial land from changes without approval. Once the subdivision is completed, the City must update the Cemetery Master Plan and amend the North Area Structure Plan.
A Functional Elements Design will also be created for the new fire station, focusing on practical building needs such as space efficiency and operational workflow. Administration is requesting that up to two members of council participate on the Functional Elements Design Committee.
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Administration will continue to proceed with the project's next steps and bring requests for decisions to council as required.
Council supported removing the Habendum clause from a portion of 4410 Woodland Drive (Plan 1025661, Block 1, Lot 9) to accommodate a future fire station.
Council directed administration to commence all other required steps to apply for subdivision and preparation of the site at 4410 Woodland Drive for future development.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m.
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