Coming Up: February 21
Council meets on Tuesday. In addition to a regular Council meeting, there is a Committee of the Whole meeting. On the agendas:
Possible Municipal Police Service
EMS Update
Boulevard Mowing & Naturalization
Following is more information and my take on agenda items.
As always, any mistakes or opinions belong to me and me alone, not to Council or City staff.
While I express my current views below, I work hard to go into meetings ready to listen and with an open mind. I learn new information and participate in debate. This always informs, and sometimes changes, how I vote on issues.
If you would like to watch the meeting or read any of its supporting material for yourself, you can do so by clicking here. The City will post the highlights of Council’s decisions here.
possible Municipal Police service (MPS)
Last year, Council received a report which compared different models for delivering policing services. This was commissioned for several reasons, including:
Policing is the City’s most expensive service. It is also one of the most important services. With something this big and important, it is good governance to do periodic reviews to see if it is being delivered in the best way possible.
Many residents report that their perception of high crime is negatively impacting their lives. And this perception has some merit: compared to other benchmark municipalities, Grande Prairie has a relatively high Crime Severity Index.
The province is exploring the formation of an Alberta Provincial Police. There are also growing concerns about the RCMP’s ability to continue delivering policing to midsized cities. There is a strong possibility of change being forced on our community.
Based on this study, Council saw merit in continued conversation about the possibility of forming a Municipal Police Service (MPS). To further this work, it commissioned a Police Transition Plan. This Plan lays out what an MPS could look like and what resources would be required to begin and operate it. It was led by a very reputable accounting and consulting company, MNP. Work in creating the plan included:
Visits to municipalities across the country to get in-depth looks at other municipal police services.
Extensive local public engagement. This included individual interviews with various stakeholders, resident focus groups, open houses, and an online survey. The focus of this engagement was asking the community to articulate what it wants to see in local policing.
In depth financial analysis of the transitional, operational, and capital budgets needed to form an MPS.
On Tuesday, Council will be reviewing this Transition Plan. That meeting will be purely about receiving information. In early March, Council will decide whether or not it wishes to take further action in regards to a Municipal Police Service.
You can read the Transition Plan here.
You can read the staff report and recommendations accompanying the Plan here.
You can read more background information and my take on policing here.
ems update
A delegation from Alberta Health Services will be coming to give Council an update on local Emergency Medical Services (EMS). There have been province wide challenges with EMS services which have been very much on the province’s radar. I look forward to hearing more about what work is underway and being able to advocate for better service in our community.
Boulevard Mowing
There has been conversation at Council about the mowing of boulevards alongside the City’s most prominent roads. Some are concerned about how many weeds we see pop up in the spring.
Two solutions are proposed.
First, there is a proposal to mow boulevards alongside arterial roads on a weekly basis. This will be accomplished without spending more money by doing less mowing across the City in the fall. In most years, there won’t be very noticeable impacts. However, there is a risk of seeing some shaggy grass in years where we get unusually warm and wet Septembers/Octobers. I’ll likely support this proposal. Many years, I get bothered by the resources I see expended on mowing relatively short, brown fields in the fall. I would love to see these resources reallocated.
Second, there is a proposal to proceed with a Naturalization Pilot Program. For three growing seasons, selected boulevards will not receive mowing. However, they will receive spot spraying to control weeds that are prohibited under the Weed Act. The intent is to allow native vegetation to grow and replace the turf. After three years, Council may decide to reclaim mowed turf on these areas or extend naturalization areas.
To get a good idea of that this area might look like eventually, you can drive eastbound down the old Bypass. Look behind the mowed grass closer to the walking path. There are also many examples of naturalized boulevards in Edmonton, including alongside the Yellowhead.
The boulevards being considered for this pilot program are:
116 Ave east of 92 St (ie: east of CFA Church)
Resources Road south of 76 Ave (ie: south of Circle K and the Bottle Depot)
84 Ave east of Mission Heights Drive (ie: between the gas station and the creek)
I’ll be supporting this pilot program. I strongly believe that we should be naturalizing areas of the City that aren’t being used for recreation. There are many benefits to naturalization including:
Eliminating dandelions by allowing them to get outcompeted by natural vegetation
Saving taxpayers money
Lowering the vehicle sound that carries into residential neighborhoods by allowing trees to grow alongside busy roads
Increasing staff safety: mowing on a slope next to a busy road carries significant risk
Decreasing fire risk in the summer (although naturalized areas can carry more risk in shoulder seasons)
Retaining rain to allow the City’s storm systems to function more effectively and efficiently
Increasing biodiversity
I also personally think that naturalized areas usually look prettier than mowed areas. Although I know this is a very subjective opinion that some people will disagree with.
That’s what is on our agenda this week. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
You can comment below. Or, you can contact me at dbressey@cityofgp.com or 780-402-4166. I'm happy to talk online or over the phone. I'm also always willing to setup a time to meet for coffee.
We also always have great conversation in the GP Round Table group on Facebook.
After Council meeting, you will be able to find highlights posted by the City here.
Thanks for reading!
-Dylan