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(Image Credit: Curtis Galbraith)
By Curtis Galbraith
City Hall

Highlights from Monday’s meeting of Grande Prairie City Council

May 26, 2026 | 6:03 AM

City Council met on Monday. 

Council approved adding a section to the Noise, Nuisance and Public Disturbances Bylaw that prohibits the release of animals meant to be kept as pets on public property. This would not apply to things like off-leash areas or the catch-and-release of fish.

There have been instances in the past where goldfish have been released into the pond in front of the Ernie Radbourne Pavilion in Muskoseepi Park.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says this bylaw change is not being done to deal with feral rabbits. Council previously asked for more information on rabbits. A separate report is due at the committee level in the coming weeks.   

Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the City, the Grande Prairie Airport Commission, and Edmonton Airports.

A report prepared for council by city administration says this would establish a partnership “to advance shared initiatives.” The three would work together on the development of the land around the Grande Prairie Airport. 

The city would still own the airport.  

Council approved its list of advocacy priorities. The distribution cost for electricity remains the top priority. It is followed by health care supports, economic corridors, federal advocacy, and support for Northwestern Polytechnic.

The city will now push to other levels of government to make improvements in these areas. 

The city’s first quarter financial report is forecasting a budget shortfall of $270,000 by the end of the year. City staff say what they call “mitigating strategies” will be brought in. This amount equals 0.12 per cent of the city budget.

A municipal shortfall of $1.8 million, mostly due to more snowfall removal and lower franchise fee revenue, is being offset by a $1.5 million surplus in the policing budget. That is from some savings on salaries, savings from the end of photo radar and savings from the RCMP contract.  

Council asked administration to work with the Grande Prairie Beach Volleyball League on putting a business name on the newly expanded courts.

A delegation from the league told council that Green Acre Ventures did the work to set up the courts for $50,000 less than the actual cost, so the league wants to put the business’s courts.

The beach volleyball facility at South Bear has added four new courts, doubling in size. The courts opened on Sunday, May 23.

Council approved some updates to the Resident Satisfaction Survey. This includes what events people attended in the last 12 months, how residents perceive city advocacy with the province, and the value residents think they get from their tax dollars.

Council approved updates to the Dangerous Goods Route as required by provincial regulations. The most notable change is the addition of Highway 43X. 

Council will meet again on June 8

by Curtis Galbraith