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Regular Council Meeting
Sikh Heritage Month: Councillor Randhawa acknowledged the federal government’s proclamation of April as Sikh Heritage Month, a recognition established in 2019 to honour the Sikh community’s history and contributions to Canada.
Council Letters:
- Council sent a letter to the Honourable Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs, expressing gratitude for the Fire Services Training Program (FSTP) Grant.
- Council also sent a letter to Minister McIver expressing gratitude for his recognition of the completion of all directives stemming from the associated Ministerial Order No. MSD 002/023.
- Council formally thanked the Honourable Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides and the Alberta government for their significant investment in new school infrastructure, including a much-needed high school and a new K-9 school.
Waterbury Road Closure:
A public hearing was held regarding Bylaw #005-25 for the closure of a 0.03-hectare portion of Waterbury Road. Following the hearing, where no public submissions were received, Council approved the Second and Third Readings of the bylaw, enabling the road closure and land transfer to Pollyco Land Corporation.
Off-Site Levies Bylaw:
Council gave First Reading to the updated bylaw and scheduled a Public Hearing for April 29th, 2025. Off-Site Levy (OSL) Bylaw, #013-25, impose charges on developers by municipalities to help fund the cost of infrastructure required to support new development, such as roads, stormwater, libraries, fire halls and recreation centres.
Action Items List:
Council accepted the 2024 & 2025 Action List for information and directed administration to make it public on the website. Chief Administrator Officer (CAO) Kent Edney highlighted that the action list will include both in progress and completed items.
Grant Adjudication Committee (GAC) Policy:
Council discussed updates to the Grant Adjudication Committee (GAC) Policy #856, including clarifying definitions, refining exclusionary criteria, and removing a funding cap. Following discussion about potential redundancies and clarity, Council directed administration to revise the policy and bring it back to the Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on May 6, 2025.
1538974 Alberta Ltd:
Council addressed an urgent matter regarding the city’s utility company. To ensure compliance with the Unanimous Shareholders Agreement, Council passed motions to: appoint all current members of Council as the new Board of Directors, effective immediately; and appoint Kent Edney as Chief Executive Officer and Sandy Johal Watt as Corporate Secretary. This action aims to properly constitute the board and appoint officers for the financial audit.
2024 Financial Audit Report of the 1538974 Alberta Ltd :
The Board of Directors of the 1538974 Alberta Ltd approved its 2024 Financial Statements. Key outcomes included a 14% revenue increase to $19.6 million, a shift to a $1.25 million profit, and a reduction in long-term debt. The utility also saw 21% customer growth and completed over $9.4 million in capital projects and asset contributions, while maintaining loan covenant compliance. Council accepted the report for information.
Multi-Year Budgeting Policy:
Council voted to rescind Policy #446, the Multi-Year Budgeting Policy, as its approach no longer aligns with the City’s current practices and timelines, which already operate on a three- and five-year scope as mandated by the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
Golf Tournament:
- Council unanimously approved allocating the funds raised from the 2025 Mayor & Council Charity Golf Tournament to the City-administered Gifts of Kindness fund. The inaugural golf tournament in September 2024 raised over $100,000. Gifts of Kindness provides temporary emergency financial aid to Chestermere residents facing hardship due to situations like unemployment or medical issues. The program offers support for essential needs such as housing, utilities, and health expenses, and connects recipients with additional long-term resources. In 2024, the fund disbursed $21,564.98, assisting 120 individuals.
- 2025 Mayor & Council Charity Golf Tournament will be held on June 26, 2025. “This is a program that can impact a lot of families And so I think it’s great to even hear them talking about other ways that they can help to impact and have a positive social impact on our community,” said Mayor Dean.
- To Learn More about the Gifts of Kindness, visit: https://thecityofchestermere.ca/community-services/gifts-of-kindness/
- Stay tuned to our website for registration information: https://thecityofchestermere.ca/
Letter to Rocky View Schools:
Council authorized Mayor Dean to send a letter to Rocky View Schools (RVS) in response to their April 2, 2025, letter. The exchange emphasizes the collaborative commitment to addressing the need for new schools in Chestermere. The Mayor’s letter thanked RVS for prioritizing Chestermere and reiterated the City’s dedication to ensuring school sites are “site ready.” Council also acknowledged recent tours of joint facilities, informing their approach to the new high school, and affirmed that site readiness will remain a priority in Council discussions and the Municipal Development Plan.
Closed Session Motions:
- Council accept the update on Agenda Item 12.1 – City Operations, for information.
- Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to proceed with Agenda Item 12.2 – Golf Course, as discussed in closed session