File photo.
Lacombe City Council discussed infrastructure funding options, the discontinuation of the train whistle on Wolf Creek Drive, and regional recreation facility grant applications during the Jan. 27 regular meeting.
Meeting highlights include:
Open Forum
Encroachment Bylaw 513 – Infraction
Melrose and Beverley Randell presented an Open Forum presentation to Council on an Encroachment Bylaw 513 infraction.
Council requested Administration return the matter to Council with a supporting Request for Decision on the Encroachment Bylaw 513 Infraction.
Presentations
Affordable Housing Committee – The Housing Continuum
Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee, Kim Willington, presented to Council on The Housing Continuum.
Broom Tree Foundation Update
The Broom Tree Foundation’s Tamara Noordhof, Co-Founder & Program Director, Donna Abma, Founder & Executive Director, and Chelsea Felt, Attainable Housing Coordinator, provided an update to City Council.
Requests for Decision
Letter of Support for Broom Tree Foundation
The Broom Tree Foundation is intending to apply for funding through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program with the Government of Alberta and the Affordable Housing Fund through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) as they work towards securing financing for future housing projects they wish to construct.
The Broom Tree Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving women and their families in Central Alberta. A letter of support will assist the Broom Tree in applying for funds from the provincial and federal governments.
Council will provide a letter of support for the Broom Tree Foundation's funding applications to the provincial and federal governments to secure financing for future housing projects.
Infill Development – Infrastructure Funding Options
The Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (DARP) area grew by 24 units (2%) in 2024, which is in line with historical population growth. A comprehensive study of the existing road, water, and sanitary sewer infrastructure in the DARP area confirmed it is capable of continuing to support moderate infill densification.
However, some segments of the downtown stormwater collection system are currently at capacity and risk being overwhelmed if unmanaged infill development occurs in those areas.
Although infill development does not trigger major road or municipal utility upgrades, nearby residents often express concerns and complaints, perceiving densification as a reduction in their quality of life and property values. Enhancing streetlights, sidewalks, and select lane improvements in areas where infill development occurs provides a tangible benefit, offering visible and meaningful improvements directly within neighborhoods where infill occurs.
Administration explored and analyzed funding options for improvements to streetlights, sidewalks, and select lane improvements triggered by infill development and presented two options:
1. An infill development levy of up to $2,735 for each additional infill unit in the DARP area.
2. A contribution to the General Capital Reserves of $65K/year.
Council moved that Administration include, for Council’s consideration during 2026 budget deliberations, a $65,000 increase to the General Capital Reserve.
Train Whistle Cessation – Wolf Creek Drive
As part of the 2024 Capital Works Program, the City completed the installation of a pedestrian crossing across Highway 2A and the CPKC rail line connecting the sidewalk along Woodland Drive to the trail to Len Thompson Fish Pond.
This was the final step required to apply to CPKC for whistle cessation. Administration included this crossing in the notifications sent to all relevant associations and organizations, as determined by Transport Canada on Oct. 26, 2023. Administration has also completed the required public notifications for this crossing through newspaper advertisements on Jan. 16 and Jan. 23, and notices on the City’s website. The final steps to achieve whistle cessation are:
1. Council to pass the resolution to discontinue the use of trail whistles on Wolf Creek Drive.
2. Administration to notify the rail company of the resolution once it has passed.
3. The rail company to confirm whistling has stopped at the crossings within 30 days.
Council declared the discontinuation of train whistle use at the Wolf Creek Drive rail crossing, located at Leduc Subdivision mile 19.36 in Lacombe unless an emergency situation arises.
Alberta Community Partnership Grant Application - Regional Recreation Facility
Through Council resolutions, the municipalities of the City of Lacombe, Lacombe County, and the Town of Blackfalds have expressed interest in exploring a shared Regional Recreation Complex. This has been further supported by a resolution from representatives from all three municipalities, who met late in 2024.
A tri-municipal facility strategically located in Lacombe County could provide shared high-quality recreation infrastructure and contribute to long-term financial viability for all three communities. The long-range plans of all three municipalities support the exploration of shared service provision. The municipal representatives of the tri-party IDP/ICF Committee unanimously passed a resolution to recommend the respective Council’s support an application to the ACP Program, for a Feasibility Assessment.
The report asked Council to pass a resolution authorizing an application to the Alberta Community Partnership Program, as the ‘managing partner.’
Council directed Administration to prepare and submit an Alberta Community Partnership Grant application to explore the feasibility of a Regional Recreation Facility, as the managing partner, in collaboration with Lacombe County and the Town of Blackfalds.
The next regular meeting of council is scheduled for Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Lacombe City Hall.
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