Highlights from Monday’s meeting of Grande Prairie City Council

The education portion of the tax bill will go up 6.7. per cent after the province brought in an increase in the new provincial budget. City Hall says that is below the average of 15 per cent that has been seen province -wide and will make up 40 per cent of the total tax increase from last year.

Council has also approved hiring a consultant to do a long-term financial plan. This would look at the next 20 to 30 years. The budget for this is $200,000.

Council has approved a new municipal loan guarantee bylaw for the Maskwa Medical Centre.

The $5.8 million loan guarantee would allow the backers of the new medical facility to borrow $23.5 million from ATB.

The three-storey facility that is going up near the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital would house a medical residency program on the first floor; a daycare, pharmacy and restaurant on the second floor, and offices for specialists on the third floor once complete. The residency program would also serve as a walk-in clinic.

Organizers say this will be public health care with no user fees.

Council asked Mayor Jackie Clayton to write a letter of support for an Indigenous-led northern corridor project.

This came about after a presentation from a company called Pisim Power. A company spokesman talked about having an idea called the Canadian Northern Corridor. It would see rail lines upgraded and also include things like pipelines and fibre optic cables. This would run from the Port of Prince Rupert in northern B.C. to the Port of Churchill in northern Manitoba. Indigenous communities would be the financial leads. The company says this could include anywhere from 60 to 100 communities.

The letter of support from the mayor would be more for the idea of a northern corridor, rather than for this specific proposal.

Proponents for a health promotion program in schools say it is having an impact locally.

A delegation from Apple Schools talked about its operations in four Grande Prairie schools: Alexander Forbes, Roy Bickell, Avondale, and Crystal Park. They say that a survey of 1100 students found that 64 per cent are moving more, 78 per cent want to try new, healthy foods and 74 per cent feel more connected to their school community.

Apple Schools has been here since 2024. The delegation says they hope to bring their program to more schools in Grande Prairie.

Council again approved the special tax levy for Pinnacle Ridge homeowners to keep the water feature at the entrance to the neighbourhood. The city says the levy will be $12.50 for each of the area’s 668 homes. The total budget is $8,350.

Council approved rezoning just under eight hectares of land in the Riverstone area. This would see most of this parcel go from urban reserve to small lot residential.

Some other urban reserve land would change to medium residential. A smaller, separate piece would go from combined residential to small lot residential. This land lies along the east side of 92 Street between some existing homes in Riverstone and the Countryside North area.

Council asked administration to work with the Grande Prairie Cricket Club on a new practice pitch. It would be located on the same field as the main pitch at Head and Salmond Park on the north side of the city.

A delegation from the club says the main pitch can be damaged if it is used for practice. The new practice pitch would be located at the south end of the park and have screening to protect walkways and houses.

The old practice pitch was abandoned because it was too close to some houses.

Council approved waiving half of the $4435.20 fee for the parade held for the Chariot Festival of Harmony. Organizers told council that the fee would be “a significant challenge” for a non-profit group with a small budget.

The fee was for closing intersections and paying city staff to work the barricades. Council asked administration to work with the organizers on a time frame for the event.

The last time it was held, the parade started late, and some streets were closed for four hours.

An organization called JustServe presented its City Award to council.

The award is meant to recognize the efforts of community leaders to promote volunteerism.

JustServe works with local efforts like a club at Ecole St. Gerard writing letters to kids in the hospital, cards for veterans and seniors, help for fire evacuees from a local church congregation and help for ANAVETS to get rid of graffiti.

Spruce Grove, Strathcona County, Blackfalds, and Calmar have also been given this award.

The next council meeting is set for May 25.

by Curtis Galbraith