Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

Highlights from the December 2 meeting of city council

Dec 4, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie City Council held its second -last meeting of 2024 on Monday. The items council discussed included the following:

2025 Operating and Capital Budget

Council approved its new 2025 operating and capital budgets. The new spending plan calls for a 2.28 per cent tax increase.

The operating budget includes over $34 million for policing, including RCMP, the Grande Prairie Police Service and Enforcement Services. There is also over $16.6 million for the fire department.

The total capital budget is just under $38 million with over $26 million for roads. There is also $1.6 million for armouring on the spillway dam in Muskoseepi Park.

There is over $13.5 million set aside for road rehabilitation.

Doctor attraction and retention efforts

Council approved a new Family Physician Attraction and Retention Incentives Policy, with $30,000 being allocated to this idea.

Council also approved starting an Ambassador Program and terms of reference for a Health Care Attraction and Retention Task Force. The strategy would launch on January 1.

It includes a cash incentive of $7500, to be paid out in thirds after 30 days of service, one year of service and two years of staying in this community. A report by city staff says this has “the added value of experiencing what the community has to offer.”

In exchange, the city would ask any physician getting this incentive to stay here at least three years.

The task force would meet to discuss issues and would update council. The ambassadors would be community volunteers who show new health care people around the city when they come for a visit.

New rules in Elections Bylaw

Council gave final approval to its new Elections Bylaw. Council had agreed to postpone this to look at adding bans on the taking of pictures of ballots unless it was to help someone with vision problems.

Legal advice to the city says that this is already prohibited under the province’s Local Authorities Election Act.

The city’s new bylaw includes new rules for elections include banning electronic vote counting and a requirement to have a permanent register of electors.

Secondary Suites in Kensington

Council approved bylaw changes to allow secondary suites on just over 11 hectares of land along 84 Avenue in the Kensington area.

These suites would be allowed in any single-detached and semi-detached homes built in that area.

Two volunteer awards

Council approved the recipients of two volunteer awards.

The George Repka Outstanding Achievement Award will go to Marianne Hartman.

The Grande Prairie Army Cadets were named the recipients of the Bill Bowes Volunteer Organization Award.

Council’s last meeting of 2024 is set for December 16.