Sundre's council heard earlier this month an update on the municipality's community services department.
"I ask that you bear with me in that this is an opportunity for me to brag about my department in regards to what we do," said Ian James, addressing council during the Dec. 4 meeting.
"As a general overview, the community services department supports active, healthy living through the effective provision of services and facilities."
The department serves as a primary point of engagement with the community in all matters pertaining to parks, open spaces and trails, as well as the municipality's numerous indoor and outdoor facilities. The department is also responsible for ensuring that all facilities are used to their fullest potential and generating appropriate revenues to offset the cost to taxpayers, he said, adding staff are charged with maintaining town-owned facilities to a high standard.
The department's mission is to strive to ensure that "the quality of our equipment, facilities ó both indoor and outdoor ó and our workmanship reflects the quality of life and safety we provide to our staff, residents and visitors."
Sundre has about 2,700 residents, but is forecast to grow to roughly 5,500 before 2040. The percentage of residents over the age of 65 represents almost 22 per cent of the overall population, roughly double Alberta's average of 11.1 per cent. During the summer months, the municipality's recreation population surges to about 10,000, with visitors checking out local camping grounds as well as events and attractions, he said.
"As an example, last year our facilities hosted more than 25 public and private events where community services staff was involved in terms of helping and supporting."
Breaking down the department's staff, he said there are 7.25 full-time employees (FTE), made up of the following: director of finance and administration, 0.25 FTE; one manager; one community services assistant; one team leader of facilities, parks and green spaces; four facility, parks and green space technicians; two contracted summer students and one contracted host for the Greenwood campground, he said.
The department's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, actively maintaining the municipal shop and office, the fire hall, the community services storage facility, spaces leased in the Sundre Community Centre, the arena and now the outdoor rink, as well as the skatepark, Greenwood Campground, trails and town-owned parks and playgrounds, he said.
"We also plan and design the new landscaped areas as required," he said, adding staff maintain all flower baskets and planters through town, provide general cleanup at the recycling centre, as well as mount and maintain municipal decorations such as Christmas lights and summer banners. The department's staff also plays a lead role in organizing community celebrations such as Canada Day.
"We collaborate ó and this is what we're very proud of as well ó with the planning and operations departments to ensure all indoor and outdoor facilities are planned, designed, located and constructed correctly for the growing needs of the community."
Projects in the 2017 capital budget included the following: the purchase of a 2013 Zamboni at a cost of about $60,000; installation of an exhaust fan at the arena for $13,000; the outdoor ice rink and lights at $13,000; and the solar-powered lights for the Town of Sundre's east welcome sign for $6,000, he said.
Looking to the coming years, the department's priorities will include completing the master facilities management plan and begin its implementation, review and update the open space and trails plan to align with the municipal development plan, as well as reviewing the condition of all parks and trail signage and create plans and designs for new and updated wayfinding, he said.
The community services manager's full report is available through the Town of Sundre's website, www.sundre.com, by hovering the cursor over the "Government" tab and clicking on "Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes." Then, just select the Dec. 4 meeting's agenda under the "2017 Agendas" tab.
Coun. Paul Isaac said he found the report informative, and encouraged the department's manager to convey those kinds of details to the public.
"The community does not see the positives that you do. They just deal with the negatives that they experience. There's a lot of positives you do," Isaac told James.
"I would really somehow try to have you work with administration to figure out how to bring that across."
Council proceeded to accept James' report as information.
