Land use bylaw amended In order to complete the landscaping north of the Mountain View Seniors' Housing campus of care, which opened last summer, the Town of Sundre had to amend a land use bylaw to accommodate the work.
Land use bylaw amended
In order to complete the landscaping north of the Mountain View Seniors' Housing campus of care, which opened last summer, the Town of Sundre had to amend a land use bylaw to accommodate the work. Administration informed council a collaborative effort had been underway with Brookside Developments for a land dedication and transfer agreement to have a 0.22-acre parcel of land transferred to the municipality.
"As the lands are currently zoned General Residential District, a bylaw must be passed to have the linear strip of pathway zoned as Municipal Reserve," outlined administration's report.
"It is important that the Town addresses the ownership of the linear pathway in order to complete the landscape project, as we do not make improvements to private lands."
Council unanimously carried a motion to that effect.
The project is currently being re-tendered until June 16 as no bids were received for the initial tender that was issued in May, said Denica Crosbie, the municipality's planner, adding the landscaping work could be completed by August or perhaps even September because of the delay.
Additional funding approved to beautify Sundre
In anticipation of the upcoming Canada Day 150 community celebrations, administrative staff recommended taking additional measures to beautify Sundre's downtown corridor by doing the following: hanging 28, 18-inch flower baskets on light standards along Main Avenue similar to the flower basket summer program that was in place from 2001-2015; mount the municipality's Visit, Live, Explore banners as well as Canadian flags on the streetlight poles at no additional cost because the banners are already in the inventory; and to illuminate the municipality's east-side welcome sign at night by installing solar lights. The cost of the baskets was estimated to run up about $3,000 while the solar lights were budgeted at a cost not to exceed $6,000.
"As this is Canada's 150th birthday, we thought it would be appropriate to do a little bit extra this year," said administrator Linda Nelson.
Council carried a motion to approve the expenses, which will be covered through intra-operational budget transfers as well as unallocated infrastructure reserves.
"I like the idea that we're going to beautify the town for Canada 150," said Mayor Terry Leslie.
Coun. Chris Vardas agreed, and said he was disappointed the flower baskets had been removed from the budget to begin with.
"When you come into a tourist destination, beauty and eye appeal means a lot to these tourists, and I'm glad it's coming back," he said.
Sundre Pro Rodeo and Parade relaxations approved
Council unanimously approved the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association's annual request for relaxations for the annual pro rodeo and parade, which takes place June 23-25, as well as for Bulls 'n' Wagons, which is scheduled for Aug. 11-13. The approved request also included enhanced policing from the RCMP detachment, the cost of which will be covered by the association, as well as an allowance for fireworks.
Sundre receives 2017 MSI funding
The municipality received a letter from Shaye Anderson, minister of Municipal Affairs, who informed local officials that Sundre was among the province's communities that will get Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding this year.
"Municipalities will continue to receive Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding for the next two years while we talk about the future of the program and ways we can support priority infrastructure in Alberta's communities," reads a letter signed by the minister.
A little more than $720,000 has been allocated to Sundre for 2017 from a total provincewide funding pool of more than $1.2 billion, about half of which will be distributed between Calgary ($370 million) and Edmonton ($260 million).
