By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

City Council Highlights: September 5

Sep 6, 2023 | 11:06 AM

Grande Prairie City Council met Tuesday afternoon. Highlights included the following:

• Council gave third reading and final approval to zoning changes in the Land Use Bylaw that would allow GP Salvage to expand its location in the north end. The idea first came before council at its July 24 meeting. Final approval came on the condition that the company build a three metre high wooden fence along the east and south sides and plant and maintain trees on its own property along the east side. Both of these are partly meant to serve as noise buffers. Administration had originally recommended council approve planting those trees on city property, which meant city hall would be responsible for maintaining them after two years. Nearby residents in Scenic Ridge, some of which are located across the street, had objected to the expansion, citing concerns over noise, soil contamination and odours coming from the site.
• Council has approved some mowing for areas that were part of the Boulevard Naturalization Pilot Program. This came after a resident of the Cornerstone area came to council as a delegation to talk about worries from people who live near one of the three areas that are part of the project. He said there were concerns about a lack of consultation ahead of time and that there were fire concerns with some of the tall grass that had grown over the summer. Council approved some mowing adjacent to private properties in all three areas included in the program. The other two are on 84 Avenue by the Canfor Mill and along Resources Road near South Patterson; where residents had also voiced concerns earlier this summer. A report on the pilot project is due in October. Council had talked about having a public meeting with residents, but did not go ahead with that idea. It did approve a motion to have administration prepare a report on city hall’s public engagement strategies and bring it back to a standing committee.
• Council has approved funding for its Clean Energy Improvement Program. Council approved a borrowing bylaw for just under $1.38 million. Just under $690,000 is coming from a grant and the other $517,000 from a reserve fund. This idea is meant to encourage people to make energy improvements to their houses.
• Council also approved two grant applications to the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta. One of the ideas the city is looking at if it gets this funding is what it calls vegetation management in the Bear Creek Corridor. The other would be for public education on the FireSmart program, including doing assessments on homes. Grants under this initiative can be for up to $200,000 each. Applicants must match any grant with money or gift in kind.
• Council has approved having Councillor Dylan Bressey continue in his role on the Board of Directors for Alberta Municipalities. He has served on the board for two years. Bressey is a vice president for cities with fewer than 500,000 people.

Council’s next meeting is scheduled for September 18.