Mayor appeals for cuts

The mayor is the public face of city council. He chairs the meetings, works full-time and attends pretty much every event of significance in St. Albert.

But when it comes to trimming next year's near 8.97 per cent tax hike, Nolan Crouse is just one vote among seven. 

Sometimes the votes don't go your way.

That was the case Saturday, when council approved $1 million to top up road maintenance next year. The extra spending — which city engineers did not request — will be funded with a mix of grants and tax dollars.

In the lead up to Saturday, council had managed to trim $245,000 worth of tax-funded projects from the 2009-11 capital budget. In theory, that's money they could have cut from the capital fund to reduce next year's tax increase by 0.4 per cent.

Coun. Len Bracko had other ideas when he said council should increase infrastructure spending by $1 million. With some $3 billion in infrastructure assets, the city doesn't put near enough dollars into maintenance, he argued.

Crouse, however, strongly objected to putting dollars into a pot "without any level of specifics."

But aside from Carol Watamaniuk, the mayor was alone on this one, and clearly frustrated.

Just minutes later, while defending a motion to cut $200,000 for a backup disaster recovery site, Crouse delivered a pointed speech.

"We must, sooner or later, make some tough decisions," he said. "We were at 8.9 per cent and any of the pay as you go (tax dollars used for capital projects) we freed up, we continue to find ways to spend."

He later added this lecture: "I need to remind council of our priorities. I clearly think we need to make tough calls."

Council begins debating staffing requests on Monday. They'll resume committee of the whole budget deliberations after the regular council session.

Bypass needed

The City of Red Deer wants $107 million from the province to pay for a $133 million northern bypass.

While this isn't exactly related to St. Albert's 2009 operating or 2009-11 capital budget, it's an issue that relates to our local history. I suppose there's a slight budget tie in with the $45 million in the 2009 budget for stage three of our bypass, Ray Gibbon Drive.

Perhaps Red Deer will be able to swing a similar deal with the province.

Reserves aren't free

With $130 million at stake, it's a heady task to prioritize which capital projects deserve to be in the 2009-11 budget. Sometimes the funding source is the deciding factor in the debate.

During capital budget debates this week, council members scrutinized how each project could be funded. Capital projects and equipment are funded with a mix of government grants, reserves, property taxes, offsite levies and, in rare instances, debt.

Council took keen interest in whether projects could be funded with grants, reserves or pay as you go (a fancy term for tax dollars that are set aside annually for capital projects).

Coun. Lorie Garritty defended the construction of a $140,000 dog park, arguing it won't cost taxpayers because the money is coming from reserves. (And a $10 hike to dog licence fees will eventually replenish the account).

Alternatively, reserves sometimes come into play when council does not want to support a project.

Mayor Nolan Crouse used reserves as part of his rationale for not approving two projects this year — extra funding for the St. Albert Housing Society's $19-million apartment building project, and the AltaLink relocation. Of the later, he said council would have to raise taxes to replace the $450,000 needed.

(I do not mean to single the mayor out, but those are the two most recent examples. And by the way, council did give the housing society $150,000 for that project, about $90,000 less than requested).

The whole idea behind a reserve is to accumulate cash to avoid a large single-year tax hit. Depending on the type of project, reserves are funded through developer levies, utility fees or taxes. Some $2.7 million in property tax dollars will be transferred to reserves next year for future capital needs.

Crouse and Garritty both have a point. Reserves do not immediately cost the taxpayer, but in the long term there can be a cost impact.

Reserves are not free.

Spending cuts, additions

Council started debating the 2009-11 capital budget this week. The debate continues Saturday morning with the capital budget and staffing requests on the agenda.

Here's a list of changes council has made so far.

• Add $400,000 for the community tourism strategy (approved)

• Add $160,000 for a community recognition tribute in the downtown (approved)

• Add $75,000 for upgrades to the Mission tennis courts (approved)

• Delete $371,200 for affordable housing (approved - St. Albert Housing Society has already committed to raising this money)

• Delay $275,000 for St. Albert Place repairs by one year (approved)

• Delete a $200,000 study for a satellite public works shop (approved)

• Delay $44,000 for a municipal enforcement officer patrol car until 2011 (approved)

• Delay $25,000 for murals in Servus Place until 2010 (approved)

A few motions to cut funding were defeated:

• Delete $135,000 for civic building security upgrades 

• Delete a $27,000 truck purchase for Fountain park pool (defeated)

Fuel savings

Declining fuel prices could save the city $375,000 in 2009. That could lower next year's 8.97 tax increase by about 0.6 of a percentage point.

The savings is due to the administration revising its fuel forecast, lowering it by 25 cents to $1.25 per litre. The original estimate was calculated several months ago, before the price of crude went into the tank.

The $375,000 in savings are based on 1.5 million litres of consumption.

Mayor Nolan Crouse introduced a motion at tonight's budget meeting to make the fuel forecast official. It still needs to be debated, likely next week, but really is  just a formality.

Debate begins

Officially, city council was not supposed to begin debating the 2009 budget until Wednesday.

However, council informally kicked off debate on Saturday after members traded words with two separate organizations.

The first came when St. Albert Taxpayers' Association president Lynda Flannery presented her organization's views about civic spending and the proposed 8.97 per cent tax increases.

Flannery recommended council to cut spending by reducing staffing positions and growth-related capital projects. She criticized both the city's use of the municipal price index and municipal comparators as justifications for increased spending.

With the economy slowing, Flannery said the city should hold off on completing stage three of Ray Gibbon Drive until development begins in the annexed lands. She also recommended slowing down recruitment for fire hall No. 3 until growth picks up.

The Riel Park reclamation work also fell under the association's scrutiny. Flannery said the city should proceed with landfill capping and grading in the area, but not the $6.8 million needed to return areas like the soccer and rugby club back to their original state.

Coun. Lorie Garritty applauded the association for providing feedback about the civic budget. However, he took the opportunity to rebut several of the association's suggestions, particularly for Riel Park.

Normally, that kind of rebuttal is not tolerated by the chair. Council debates council, not public appointments.

Later the same meeting, Mayor Nolan Crouse participated in a debate of sorts about the need for a $20-million branch library. The mayor said the proposal — which is not contemplated for at least three years — does not add up when looking at a 10-year decline in library membership and visitors.

While it would be an overstatement to call the subsequent exchange with library board chair Kelly Aisenstat "heated," it was more tense than most placid dialogue at council meetings.

It concluded with the mayor asking the library board to "invite me to the library when it's full."

At least council is warmed up for what could be several more hours of debate.

Mirror, mirror

Residents are facing an 8.9 per cent tax increase and a hike to utility rates that is near double digits.

We're talking about St. Albert, right? 

Nope, Strathcona County.

According to the Sherwood Park News, Strathcona County is looking at an 8.9 per cent property tax increase, and 9.9 per cent utility rate hike.

That's rather close to St. Albert's 8.97 per cent tax hike and 9.0 per cent utility rate increase.

One wonders if the parallel is due to similar budget assumptions, such as sharing the same municipal price index.

Given the 13 per cent Edmonton is facing, it appears times are tough in the region.

Cash flow, round three

City council has raised a scalpel toward next year's 8.97 per cent property tax increase.

By Tuesday, more than 60 motions were raised to cut or add funding. The cuts amount to $2.7 million for 2009 alone, with other capital changes proposed in 2010 and 2011.

Spend thrift

Here's a sampling of recent cuts proposed for 2009. (For past motions click here).  

• Cut $371,2000 for affordable housing from the capital budget. (Lorie Garritty). Note: the city previously asked the St. Albert Housing Society to raise the funds, as a condition of $740,000 in grant. 
• Cut $200,000 from Servus Place's material, goods and supplies budget (Nolan Crouse)
• Cut $105,800 for Riel Recreation Park operations (Nolan Crouse)
• Cut $100,000 from the snow and ice removal budget (Nolan Crouse)
• Cut $100,000 from Servus Place's contracted and general goods budget (Nolan Crouse)
• Cut $30,300 for a landscape technologist (Nolan Crouse)
• Cut $32,100 from the environmental management system program by reducing proposed staff to a half-time position (Nolan Crouse)
• Cut $25,000 from the 150th anniversary budget (Len Bracko)
• Cut $25,000 for murals at Servus Place (Roger Lemieux)

• Cut $20,000 for SmartDriver program (James Burrows)

More cuts

A few motions targeted significant capital spending beyond 2009:
• Cut $2.4 million from the 2010 capital budget for Riel Park landfill reclamation (Nolan Crouse)

• Cut $1.4 million from the 2010 utility capital budget for Riel Park remediation (Nolan Crouse)

Hold off

Council also made a few motions to delay spending:
• Defer for one year $216,200 from snow and ice control budget (Len Bracko)
• Defer for one year $225,000 for a tandem truck/snow plow (Len Bracko)
• Defer for one year $400,000 for St. Albert Place upgrades over 2010-11 (Nolan Crouse)

Spend more

Council members also introduced motions to increase or fast track spending:

• Fund $88,500 for RCMP youth asset development officers starting in 2009, not 2010; Fund $205,000 for asset development in 2010, not 2011 (Lorie Garritty)

• Fund $25,000 for a train whistle bylaw (Nolan Crouse)

All motions will be debated starting Nov. 26.

Debt solutions?

What to do when faced with a double-digit tax hike? If you're Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel, the answer is simple: take on debt.

Mandel this week unveiled a unique plan cut Edmonton's proposed tax hike to 2.6 per cent, down from the 13.1 per cent proposed.

Using debt in more creative ways has also been discussed in St. Albert, where city council was briefed at a committee meeting a few weeks ago.

Corporate services GM Dean Screpnek said at the time the city could inject $50 million into the 10-year capital plan without adding a dime to tax bills. The plan identifies $730 million worth of projects, but the city has funding to complete less than half.

By borrowing the city could shift dollars that it normally would put into the capital fund each year and use that money for debt financing. The $50-million sum was based on debt payments (principle and interest) of $3 million a year over 20 years.

Granted, the borrowed $50 million is less than the $60 million the city would have put into the capital fund over 20 years. But as Screpnek pointed out, with construction inflation factored in over 20 years there's a good chance the city would come out ahead by borrowing and building the projects today.

The added benefit is the city would immediately benefit from the new infrastructure, rather than waiting several years for funds to accumulate.

Of course, every plan has a down side. Coun. Len Bracko can't stomach the idea of handing down more debt to the next generation. The city's debt is already at $1,218 per capita. Bracko has introduced motions not to take on debt as proposed in 2009 for fire station No. 1 ($8.5 million) and stage three of Ray Gibbon Drive ($1.9 million).

This all shapes up for a good debate when council starts reviewing the 2009-11 capital budget next Tuesday.

Power line plot thickens

Mayor Nolan Crouse threw another curve ball into future budget debates about the relocation of the AltaLink power line.

Crouse today introduced two motions. The first would see the power line relocation moved to the "unfunded" list in the 2009 budget. That means the city would not put dollars toward the move next year.

The second motion was to return the $300,000 the province gave the city for the estimated $1-million relocation. Crouse also wants to decline the $450,000 that AltaLink pledged for the move.

Council won't debate either motion until Nov. 26 at the earliest.

Power line, again

It was a squeaker, but city council has agreed to look at the AltaLink power line relocation in the 2009 budget. (For the recent history, visit this archived post).

The narrow 4-3 majority came after council's earlier proposal to have the province and AltaLink spend millions each to bury the line fell flat.

Monday's decision does not guarantee anything, as the relocation could be defeated at budget time. Coun. Carol Watamaniuk pleaded with her peers just to get it that far.

"Please don’t shoot it down yet. Please let it go to the budget process and let’s at least take a look at it properly there.”

Watamaniuk's plea came after council shot down Coun. Lorie Garritty's attempt to make option three — running the line along the east side of Ray Gibbon Drive — a specific business case in the budget.

Coun. Len Bracko argued strongly against the idea, calling the $1-million relocation a "waste of taxpayers' dollars." (The city would pay one third, or $450,000 with a contingency built in).

Bracko then dismissed the findings of the environmental report — written by an AltaLink staffer — that identified the AltaLink line as being in a "high risk" location for bird strikes. He claimed option three would make the problem worse, and mar the view of Lois Hole park east of Ray Gibbon Drive.

Watamaniuk was puzzled with Bracko's statements. She noted option three was supported by the city's office of environment, the province, AltaLink and council's environmental advisory committee. 

"[AltaLink is] so convinced they’re willing to put good dollars into this, as is Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation."

Coun. Gareth Jones — who in the past has been far from convinced about any of the proposed options — provided the swing vote needed to revisit the issue at budget. Jones conceded he has doubts about the price tag, given the new alignment would cross the former Riel Park landfill. He called the area a "money pit."

In addition to looking at the issue at budget, staff were instructed to look into possible federal or provincial grants as a way to pay for the city's share.

Read more in Wednesday's Gazette.

Taxes and pitch forks

If it's action you crave, you likely won't find it at city hall.

Don't get me wrong, council makes hundreds of important decisions a year from inside chambers. The work at St. Albert Place keeps our roads in good order, and city programs operating.

But when it comes to thrills and spills, the polite parliamentary proceedings at city hall will not exactly jolt spectators from their seats.

Of course, St. Albert has had its share of hot-button issues. Emotions flared last spring during rezoning hearings for Amacon's proposed redevelopment of Grandin Park Plaza.

The spring also saw the plaza in front of St. Albert Place turn into a stomping ground for fed up taxpayers who petitioned steep increases driven by haywire changes in property values.

There was plenty of backlash about Servus Place's $2.2-million deficit last year. The Gazette received angry letters blasting council and administration for poor oversight. But when the public had an opportunity to sound off at a town hall meeting, all but a few choice criticisms were levelled. Measured emotions and well-meaning suggestions ruled the day.

Word has it a few f-bombs were thrown council's way at a recent budget open house at St. Albert Centre. But that incident aside, no one at the Gazette remembers a time when accusations of a "dictatorial rule" were hurled the mayor's way.

Through all the ups and downs, cheering and hissing from the public has, for the most part, stayed in check during St. Albert council business.  Credit for the decorum goes to the mayor, both present and past, along with residents who usually stop themselves at "mild" finger pointing.

As the Calgary Herald reported in the above link, that was not the case in southern Alberta over the weekend. Tempers were in overdrive over a proposed 25 per cent property tax hike over three years.

The griping was not limited to the public, with Calgary Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart leading a petition to return to single-year budgeting.

The petition and extreme insults aside, it sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Just one month ago St. Albert residents were looking at a 28 per cent tax hike compounded over three years. After much debate, council opted only to look at 2009 an a proposed 8.97 per cent tax hike.

The decision was partly driven by the shifting economic landscape. However, as Coun. Roger Lemieux astutely observed, it doesn't look good to go to the public with three years of tax increases exceeding 25 per cent.

Who knows the kind of public reaction that might have ensued had council gone ahead with its three-year budget.

St. Albert and Calgary are two completely different cities, but they, like all places have something in common. When taxpayers are pushed far enough, long enough, some are bound to push back.

Mayor wants more

Mayor Nolan Crouse is not afraid of asking for more from city administration. While reviewing next year's budget for Servus Credit Union Place, the mayor issued two straight forward motions: raise revenues by another two per cent and cut spending by two per cent.

"I just want to make sure we're pushing ourselves to the maximum," Crouse later told the Gazette.

The motions, to be debated later this month, came after council spent 90 minutes Thursday reviewing the Servus Place budget. The facility is budgeted to lose $1.7 million in 2009, slightly more than the year-end forecast for 2008.

The 2009 budget continues positive momentum made since the $2.2-million loss that caused a firestorm in late 2007.  Since the Servus Place task force, costs have been cut and revenues increased. This year the facility is on pace to lose $550,000 less than the $2.1 million deficit built into the amended 2008 budget.

Next year's budget forecasts $9 million in revenue and $10.7 million in spending.

Membership dollars, which account for about 60 per cent of revenue, is expected to increase 11 per cent in 2009. Part of that is due to fee hikes that came into effect in September, but there is also a goal of selling 5,981 membership units, up from 5,500 units in budget 2008. (A family of four equals four members, but one paid membership unit.)

Don't pass out the gold stars yet. The mayor continues to assert administration is too conservative with the numbers.

The mayor's motions highlight the delicate balancing act that is the Servus Place budget.

On one hand, the public demands improved fiscal performance and accountability, rightfully so.

But on the other hand, if the budget aims higher than Servus Place can deliver, the city risks the possibility of having to go back to taxpayers (again) to make up the difference. That likely would re-ignite the public backlash that erupted last spring (which some have argued was a carryover from the 2004 plebiscite results).

Another poor showing would be disastrous, indeed.

Power line pass

City council's pitch to have the province and AltaLink pay millions to bury the Big Lake power line has hit a brick wall.

The Gazette's environment reporter Kevin Ma has full details in today's paper. I'll just provide a brief recap. 

The gist: council is back at square one. They can either pony up or stick with the status quo.

The issue: a 138-kilovolt line is blamed for bird deaths and viewed by some as a blight near the future entrance to Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park. The relocation is not in St. Albert's 2009-11 capital budget.

The history: council last month balked at paying $450,000 to join a partnership and move the power line from its current path near the Big Lake Environment Support Society viewing platform. The new alignment would see the power line run along Ray Gibbon Drive. Power line owner AltaLink had pledged $450,000 for the move, while Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation gave the city $300,000.

The decision: council instead asked the province and AltaLink to foot the bill to bury the line, a $6.3 million cost, or build it into a walkway, an $8.5 million never-been-tried endeavour.

The update: council met with St. Albert MLA Ken Allred on Monday, who advised the province won't contribute any more dollars. Allred even sounded somewhat critical of council's decision.

"It seems the city is sort of reneging here a bit," he said.

AltaLink officials also said the more expensive deal will not fly.

The future: city manager Bill Holtby will follow up with Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation to confirm Allred's feedback. Then he'll report back to council.

Ray Gibbon Drive - update

Christmas could come a day early for St. Albert.

Mayor Nolan Crouse said today the city and province could settle the tab for Ray Gibbon Drive by Dec. 24. However, it might be a while longer before the city has cash in hand.

If you recall from earlier posts, the city requested $45 million from the province as payback for ensuring Ray Gibbon Drive can one day be converted to an eight-lane freeway. That sum represents dollars the city otherwise would not have spent for a standard two-lane road — extra land for a wider right of way, interchanges, design costs, etc.

The mayor came away from a meeting last week with Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette convinced there are no remaining political hurdles.

"Politically, we're in agreement," Crouse told the Gazette today.

Provincial bureaucrats will crunch the numbers one last time. If there are no problems, both administrations have been instructed to sign off on the funding deal by Dec. 24.

Cash in hand

Once that happens, the only remaining question is when will the city have cash in hand. The city wants to use the $45 million to pay for the lion's share of stage three costs, estimated at $47 million. Administration proposes borrowing the remaining $1.9 million.

The city wants either the cash or a commitment by Jan. 31, 2009 so construction on stage three can start next spring. The city needs to complete two lanes to Villeneuve Road to hold up its end of the agreement.

Crouse said it's possible the city will have to wait until the province has a clearer picture of its year-end surplus. Any serious delay could push construction to 2010.

Read more in Wednesday's Gazette.

All quiet on the budget front

City council is taking a small break from budget meetings.

Due to the Remembrance Day holiday, the next budget meeting takes place this Thursday, Nov. 13.

Thursday's line up should be interesting as it includes several noteworthy presentations, including one for Servus Credit Union Place. It will be Servus Place's first budget since the 2007 and 2008 deficit and subsequent citizens' task force report.

Administration forecasts a $1.67 million deficit next year, according to the 2009 operating budget. The city predicts a 77 per cent cost recovery rate, similar to this year.

While council won't be approving spending beyond next year, it's worth noting the Servus Place deficit is projected to increase the following two years. That means budgeted losses of $1.83 million in 2010 and $1.85 million in 2011.

Council has not shied away from raising tough questions during their monthly Servus Place fiscal updates. Expect a similar performance on Thursday.

Also on the Nov. 13 budget schedule is the planning and engineering divisional overview, plus presentations from the engineering department, office of the environment and public transit.

The office of environment presentation could prove interesting if it focuses on landfill remediation in Riel Park.

There are several public transit items in the budget, including a park 'n' ride station south of the Superstore. 

With parking at the current Village Landing station a tight squeeze (to put it mildly), it will be interesting to see how council greets such initiatives.

The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in council chambers. It will not be televised.

Cash flow, round 2

City council members aren't shy about trimming away at the 2009 operating and 2009-11 capital budget. Several new initiatives are under early scrutiny, from the 40 new full-time staffing positions proposed to the two dog parks that led to many questions Thursday.

At the same time, there's no apprehension about adding spending as needed. Here's a run-down of deletion/addition motions that were introduced Nov. 6. All motions will be debated starting Nov. 27.

Spend thrift

Proposed cuts:

- Fundraising manager, $90,000 in 2009 (Roger Lemieux).
- $25,000 to develop a new tourism website (Roger Lemieux).
- Remove $400,000 from community capital program - money set aside for grassroots projects (Carol Watamaniuk).
- Remove purchase of an $27,000 maintenance truck for Fountain Park Recreation Centre (Roger Lemieux).
- Cut $35,000 from 2011 Alberta 55-Plus Winter Games, to match bid package (Nolan Crouse).

Spend more

Proposed additions, funding changes, approval motions:

- That $60,000 in budget for youth asset development program be approved (Gareth Jones).
- That $160,000 for the community capital program be funded with unallocated provincial grants (Nolan Crouse).
- Add $10,000 for mock disaster exercise to emergency management budget (Lorie Garritty).

Also, Carol Watamaniuk introduced a motion to not charge higher rent to St. Albert Place Visual Arts Council until staff complete a fiscal analysis.

Council resumes budget deliberations on Thursday.

Cash flow

Council on Tuesday kicked off the 2009 operating and 2009-11 capital budget review. 

The first five-hour session focused on department budgets for city council, the city manager's office, corporate communications, business and tourism development and common & fiscal.

Tuesday featured several motions to cut or add spending. Motions will not be debated until Nov. 27. Here's the breakdown, with the council member responsible for the motion in parenthesis:

Spend thrift

Proposed cuts:

- Corporate planning co-ordinator, $50,600 in 2009 (James Burrows).

- Geographic information system capital equipment worth $195,000 over 2009-11 (James Burrows).

- Alberta Health Care premiums — $304,000 remains in the budget, a leftover from when the city paid for premiums for staff. The province starts paying next year (Lorie Garritty).

- Seniors’ property tax rebate, $55,000 (Nolan Crouse: delete funding until policy is in place).

- Reduce business and tourism development’s contracted services budget by $25,000 in 2009 (Nolan Crouse).

- Reduce council’s training budget by $1,000 per member (Nolan Crouse).

Spend more

Proposed additions:

- $400,000 in capital budget for the community tourism strategy in 2009 and 2011. This item was previously unfunded (Nolan Crouse wants to fund it using unallocated provincial grants).

- $10,000 for an idle-free public awareness campaign (Lorie Garritty).

Budget meetings continue tonight with presentations from culture, recreation, Family and Community Support Services, emergency management and fire services.

Recreation and culture fees, Part 2 of 2

It's going to get more expensive to rent city-owned sports facilities and arts studios.

Culture and recreation groups are being asked to pay an extra $188,592 in fees next year, the first of a three-year plan to up revenues. The first across-the-board hike to fees in more than 20 years is expected to generate $253,206 by 2011.

If approved when it goes to council in two weeks, arts groups can expect to pay more to rent the arts studios that have been a mainstay at St. Albert Place since it opened nearly 25 years ago. Hikes are also proposed for Arden Theatre rentals.

The city wants to recoup 65 per cent of the cost to run the arts studios through fees (which in turn are raised by the user groups through membership dues and other fundraising). The remaining 35 per cent would be subsidized by taxpayers.

Here's a look at proposed increases. The cost to each group is based on their estimated usage of arts studio space.

Potters' guild
$13,081 (current)
$15,000 in 2009
$20,000 in 2010
$23,565 in 2011

Painters' guild
$1,817 (current)
$2,200 in 2009
$2,700 in 2010
$3,366 in 2011

Floral arts society
$346 (current)
$1,000 in 2009
$1,500 in 2010
$2,072 in 2011

Quilters' guild
$908 (current)
$1,800 in 2009
$1,900 in 2010
$2,072 in 2011

Paper arts
$318 (current)
$1,000 in 2009
$1,700 in 2010
$2,330 in 2011

The Arts and Heritage Foundation would, for the first time, be required to pay for studio space to run Profiles Public Art Gallery's arts eduction program.
$5,400 in 2009
$10,800 in 2010
$13,812 in 2011

Arden Theatre
It's going to get more expensive for local not-for-profit groups to rent the Arden. Annual fee hikes of 15 per cent are proposed for 2009-11. The local and non-local rates will only increase five per cent since they're already within the market range.

The new fees will add $1,400 to the Arden Theatre in 2009, $2,400 in 2010 and $200 in 2011.

The complete finance and audit committee report can be found here (Nov. 3 meeting). Council will review this again in two weeks.

Recreation and culture fee hikes, Part 1 of 2

It's going to get more expensive to rent city-owned sports facilities and arts studios.

Recreation and culture groups are being asked to pay an extra $188,592 in fees next year, the first of a three-year plan to up revenues. The first across-the-board hike to fees in more than 20 years is expected to generate $253,206 by 2011.

If approved when it goes to council in two weeks, sports groups can expect hikes to hourly rates for aquatics facilities, Fowler athletic track, sports fields, the new multi-purpose facility in Riel Park, indoor and outdoor arenas, clubhouses and meeting rooms.

A new policy would make St. Albert fees among the most expensive in the region.

The complete report and attached new rates can be found here (see the Nov. 3 meeting). Or, browse through these notable 2009 sports highlights. Additional increases are planned in 2010 and 2011.

Note: These are hourly rates unless otherwise stated.

Multi-sports field
$52.50 (youth/senior)
$105 (adult)
$37.18 night lights

Sports fields
$8 (youth/senior), up 62% over 2008
$13 (adult), up 58%

Fowler track
$12 (minor sports practice), up 142%
$24 (minor sports event), up 384%
$25 (adult practice), up 203%
$50 (adult event), up 506%
Event day rate: $192 (new)

Fountain Park Recreation Centre
$32.50 (small pool), up 15%
$97.65 (large pool), up 15%
$88.95 (competitive pool), up 15%

Grosvenor Park Outdoor Pool
$35 (main pool), up 53%
$35 (dive tank), up 53%

Single admission rates (both pools)
$3 child - unchanged
$3.50 youth - up 50 cents
$4.50 adult - up 50 cents
$3.50 seniors - up 25 cents
$12 family - up $2

Outdoor rink (with ice)
$18.80 (minor sports with change room), up 5%
$25 (adult with change room), up 8%

Arenas - Mark Messier, Troy Murray, Akinsdale and Kinnex
These rates changed in September, 2008 as per recommendations of the Servus Place task force.

City budget page launches

The city has launched a new section on its website, www.stalbert.ca, for the 2009 operating and 2009-11 capital budget.

The page includes handy budget highlights for citizens who want to stay informed about civic spending as council deliberations continue over the next month.

The posted details obviously pale in comparison to the three-inch binders given to council, but there is some useful information available at the click of a mouse (for those who don't want to go to the library and pour through the budget documents). 

Useful links to check out include "Projections for 2009-11," which gives a breakdown of tax increases and how that money will be spent.

There's also a "Three-year budget highlights" section that gives a listing of notable spending for some positions and operations.

Educational sections that aren't to be missed include, "Why do taxes increase faster than the inflation rate?" and the ever enjoyable, "How are tax rates set and collected?" 

Some wonder about the logic in a heading like "Ongoing plan for no new debt."

This section informs how council in 2005 adopted debt-adverse practices. But then it goes on to say increased need for capital projects and lack of funding means the city has to consider new debt in the future (this section fails to mention the $8.5 million in borrowing proposed for the fire hall No. 1 rebuild, plus $1.9 million for stage three of Ray Gibbon Drive). 

That doesn't sound like an ongoing plan for no new debt. 

Anyway, the city's website will continue to expand with information as departments make their presentations to council. Last night (Tuesday), council heard presentations about their own council budget, the city manager's office, corporate communications, business and tourism development and common and fiscal.

I'll have more to say about budget day one later in the day Wednesday.

Gritty feedback

Local resident Dave Burkhart responds to the funded allotted for grit interceptors in the 2009-11 budget:

The smaller amounts of money ($50,000 in both 2009 and 2010) are for cleaning out the catch basins more often, the theory being that will keep some of the grit out of the river. 

It's not working. The river was almost completely closed off in a couple of places earlier this fall.

It's rather abysmal that the city gets away with this. After all, Transport Canada still classifies the Sturgeon as a navigable river and those sand bars the city has installed definitely impede fish movement. They are no doubt the reason we no longer have Sturgeon (the fish) upstream of St. Albert. I suspect Environment Canada and DFO could make a good case for a prosecution under the Fisheries Act -- were they motivated to do so.

As for the province kicking in money, I hope our mayor isn't holding his breath. The province paid to build the prototype in front of city hall, with the understanding that if it worked the city would continue with the program. Well that grit catcher works, but the health of our river is obviously very low on the priority list with this council because we haven't seen another since it was installed.

I think what fries me the most is the millions of tax dollars going into artificial turf in South Riel. Our mayor can afford to put that in to pay off his campaign promise to the football club but he can't ante up even a token for necessary environmental stewardship. I wonder what it will take to make this council do the right thing, another order from Environment Canada perhaps?

Budget Q & A

Here's a quick response to a few budget questions I received yesterday.

Grit interceptors

Several people asked if there is money in the 2009-11 utility capital budget for hydrocarbon grit interceptors. Yes, there is: $50,000 in 2009, $50,000 in 2010 and $200,000 in 2011. 

If you're wondering, hydrocarbon grit interceptors filter oil and sand from the city's storm water outfalls, preventing them from adding sediment to the Sturgeon River. There's one interceptor, an artificial filter, built underneath St. Albert Place.

A second, much different interceptor was built last year near the Boudreau Bridge. That's where a series of settling ponds were constructed near outfall No. 17 in Braeside. 

It's also worth mentioning dollars are allotted for storm water repairs: $600,000 in 2009, $690,000 in 2010 and $760,000 in 2011. That work includes catch basin repairs and storm pond cleaning.

The grit interceptor cash in the utility budget doesn't come close to the cash needed to prevent further sediment build up in the mucky Sturgeon River. The 2004 storm water management master plan recommended grit interceptors and settling ponds in 23 locations along the river.

The cost? Some $10 million over 10 years (in 2004 dollars) — too expensive for the current utility rate model, city officials said in 2006, when funded was cut back for the 2007-08 budget. 

Mayor Nolan Crouse recently suggested it's possible the city will look for provincial help to pay for additional grit interceptors. At least that was his comment when he said moving the Big Lake power line was not the city's top environmental priority.

And while I'm on the subject of the Sturgeon River's health, there are other projects identified to address sedimentation. The 10-year utility capital plan shows sediment removal as a $2-million expense in 2013. Can you say dredging?

Dog park: $240,000 over two years

The other question/comment I received was about proposed dog parks, with one resident arguing it shouldn't be a priority.

Two dog parks are proposed, starting with Lacombe Lake Park in 2009. It will cost $100,000 to install a chain link fence, signage and waste bins to make the "unofficial" doggie park an official off-leash area. 

The city has identified a second possible dog park along Levasseur Road in Heritage Lakes (underneath the AltaLink power line). This would cost $140,000 in 2010. The city would need to build a 20-stall parking lot at Hudson Road.

Keep your questions coming. You can comment at the link below or email me at balary@stalbert.greatwest.ca.

Municipal price index

There's two schools of thought about using a six per cent municipal price index (MPI) to explain the city's budgetary pressures.

The city's position is it's an education tool to help citizens understand why property tax increases do not follow the lower consumer price index (CPI). The city buys a certain basket of goods that are unique to municipalities — construction materials, equipment, etc. — and different from some of the household items included in CPI.

Spending hawks argue it's pure public relations, a means to justify spending that's well beyond the rate of inflation most applicable to average citizens (I prefer Mr. and Mrs. St. Albert over Joe the Plumber, to be honest).

The truth probably is somewhere in the middle — public education expressed in a slick graphic that's deliberately front and centre during budget presentations.

There's no quesion St. Albert, like the rest of the region and Alberta, has been hit hard by inflation. But does the MPI vs. CPI debate really matter?

Every year a segment of the population advocates capping property taxes at CPI. It seems unlikely that city council would be able to whittle the 8.97 per cent proposed for 2009 down to something in the 3.5 to 4.0 per cent range, which is where CPI has been hovering lately.

No one on council is calling for service-level cuts. If anything, it's the opposite. 

Mayor Nolan Crouse probably said it best this week, that MPI won't be a factor in his mind during the budget review. He'll be considering whether spending is justified at this particular time for this city.

The final spending tally this budget season will come down to priorities, not an inflation index. That begs the question whether council's priorities jive with Mr. and Mrs. St. Albert's. 

What do you think?