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

Highlights from Monday’s meeting of Grande Prairie City Council

Sep 1, 2026 | 6:01 AM

Grande Prairie City Council met on Monday. 

– A report compiled by city staff estimates that having the Public Safety Communications Centre will save the city $3 million each year. Administration says the savings come from having a combined dispatch for police, fire,  and 911, rather than two separate centres. The report adds that the savings come from things like shared staffing, what city administration calls “consolidated supervision”, no facility duplication and the use of the same technology. Staff also say revenues could be increased through things like more dispatch partnerships. The centre, located in the City on 99 building downtown, is expected to be fully operational on October 21 of this year.

– City staff are projecting a surplus for the city’s budget. The projected surplus as of the end of the second quarter on June 30 was estimated at $2.85 million. The city says there is a nearly $3.7 million surplus in the policing budget. Development Services has a $632,000 surplus. Revenue from things like rent and concession sales at recreational facilities is more than $500,000 higher than the original forecast. There is also a shortfall of $1,862,000 in transportation because of higher-than-expected costs for snow removal in the first three months of this year.

– Council has approved zoning and Land Use Bylaw changes for 11 hectares of land east of the Cobblestone neighbourhood, south of the Swan City Trailer Court and north of the future Fieldbrook development. It would include a mix of low-density and multi-family homes, with 100-150 units. Proponents say studies on wetlands near the proposed development are being done. A path on the west side of the area would be kept in place.

– Council approved Land Use Bylaw changes to allow secondary and backyard suites in the rural areas inside city limits. These suites would be limited to a maximum of three bedrooms. Secondary suites could not be bigger than 1400 square feet if it is not completely included in the basement of the existing home. 

– Council approved a motion to have administration report back to a standing committee on low-cost ways of fixing some problems with roads. This came after a homeowner in Westpointe went to council about an issue with a sunken road leading to water pooling on a walkway in the summer, and a huge icy patch to walk over in the winter. The sunken spot is as wide as a parked vehicle, and there is no way around it. The homeowner says this is the third year in a row she has gone to council about this problem. The city says this would have to be fixed as part of a future road rehabilitation project.

-Councillor Grant Berg says a new pediatrician originally from Libya is moving to Grande Prairie. Berg says the doctor was looking for a safe place to raise her family.

Council’s next meeting is set for September 14.

by Curtis Galbraith