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By Justine Kelsie

Hens, buses set for city council meeting tonight

Mar 26, 2018 | 4:16 AM

City council will make a decision on the urban hen debate tonight. 

The third reading of the Animals and Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw amendment will take place in city chambers tonight. If it passes, the city would allow up to 10 homes in the city to have chickens in their backyard during a one-year pilot project. 

People opposed as well as people in favour of the project have been very vocal over the last few years. With fresh faces on council, there is a chance the bylaw amendment could go ahead. 

Transit Plans in the Works
Council will be voting on signing a letter of support for a two-year rural bus pilot project that would be funded by the province. The county and other areas involved would have to be in support as well. 

Another pilot project involving a bus could be a go for the 2018 Grande Prairie Stompede. If approved tonight, the city would provide bus service for the four-day event in the form of Gift in Kind to see if it would work for future events. Providing a safe ride home for those partaking in alcoholic beverages and parking issues were cited as reasons to try the pilot at this event. 

These two bus pilots are separate from a Grande Prairie Regional Handibus Feasibility Study that has open houses starting in April. 

French Representation
The Mayor will appoint a Councillor to the Alberta Bilingual Municipalities Association. This comes after the city said they would host the 2018 Francophone and Francophile Cities Network mid-term meeting. 

Downtown Tender
Phase three of the Downtown Rehabilitation Project could get awarded tonight. A city committee has recommended the tender go to Wapiti Gravel Suppliers in the amount of $12.015,380.98. According to a media release from the city, if awarded, the contractor would begin to plan for work as soon as construction season opened. 

The section of work is set for 100 Avenue between 100 Street and 102 Street with work tentatively beginning in May and ending in October 2018. 

Upcoming Presentations
Three delegations have let the city know they would be presenting. City Fire Chief Preben Bossen will appear before council and Maurissa Hietland has booked her spot in chambers to talk on a “single-use bag ban” for stores in the city, according to the agenda. 

Mieke de Groot is presenting on behalf of Spinal Cord Injury Alberta and the 2018 Chair Leaders Enabling Access. According to Councillor Dylan Bressey’s blog, she will be presenting an opportunity for council and members of the community to experience a day in a wheelchair to highlight accessibility in Grande Prairie. 

*A previous version of the story had 110 Street in the downtown tender instead of 100 Street

by Justine Kelsie