Council Highlights November 28, 2023

Video and minutes

• Lethbridge City Council voted to provide emergency capital funding and a one-year deferral of loan payments to the Lethbridge & District Exhibition, contingent on the Provincial Government providing matching capital support. Exhibition representatives were before City Council requesting $6.7 million which is required for the Lethbridge & District Exhibition to continue operating the new Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre. Council approved a one-year deferral of loan payments owed to the City at a cost of $1.16 million if the Province of Alberta agrees to fund the second half of the $2.08 million capital grant request before December 11, 2023. Council also approved up to $500,000 in interim operating funding to the Lethbridge & District Exhibition to maintain the old pavilions and to move forward with a third-party review of the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre’s operations. Read the full news release here
• Council voted to approve up to $30,000 in one-time funding from Council Contingencies for Administration to move forward with a fenced dog run at the Lethbridge Animal Shelter to provide new opportunities for exercising, training and socializing dogs available for adoption. Read the full news release here
• The following Bylaws all had second and third readings approved: Bylaw 6410 - Amending Bylaw 6233 - Regulated Rate Option Bylaw (RRO); Bylaw 6412 - Electric Distribution Tariff; Bylaw 6414- Amendment to Bylaw 6146 - Waste Bylaw; Bylaw 6415, 2024 Water Rates; and Bylaw 6416 - 2024 Wastewater Rates
• At a hearing, a resident had the opportunity to appeal to City Council on the determination by the Designated Officer that there is a contravention of Section 3, of the Keeping of Wild or Domestic Animals Bylaw 3383, whereas no person shall keep poultry within the City of Lethbridge. A decision with reasons will return to Council at a later date
• The following items were approved with Consent Agenda: Recommendation of S&S SPC - Updated Whoop-up Drive Emergency Traffic Protocol; Redevelopment of City Council's Travel Budget to Align with Advocacy Framework; Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan; and the Lethbridge Police Service - Technology Line of Credit
• The Lethbridge Housing Authority Tax Request - Administration Recommendation was removed from Consent Agenda for further discussion and also was approved