Below are some highlights from the August 20, 2024, Town Council meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – you can read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
Updates from Town Administration
- A Finance Clerk position is available within the Town Office and applications continue to be received. For those interested in this role, the job description and application information can be found on the Town’s website.
- The 2024 Street Improvement Project has been awarded to McNally Contractors. Once construction dates have been confirmed, residents will be notified. During the Street Improvement Project a number of roadways and sections of sidewalk will be repaired, including:
- asphalt overlay paving on 51st Avenue between the railway tracks and Spruce Drive;
- asphalt overlay paving on 51st Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets;
- sidewalk replacement on the east side of 4th Street from 51st Avenue heading south to the dead end; and
- patching, grinding, surface repairs and crack sealing on various sections of sidewalk throughout town.
- The GreenTree Area Structure Plan bylaw received first reading on July 16, 2024. The public hearing for this bylaw will be on September 17, 2024. Notifications for the public hearing will be provided to the community via a mail drop, information in the Town newsletter, and updates on the Town’s website and Facebook page. For more information on the GreenTree Area Structure Plan, visit this page.
- This year, the Development Department has received 26 development permit applications and 46 safety code permit applications. All but one of the applications have been considered permitted.
Council approves new dog park for Coalhurst
Following a recommendation by the Wetlands Enhancement Advisory Committee, Council has approved the development of a new fenced off-leash dog park in the northeast portion of Coalhurst, near 55th Avenue and Range Road 223. As part of the recommendation, it was noted an off-leash dog park was one of the most requested amenities by residents when they were asked what should be included in the Wetlands area development.
Up to $160,000 has been approved from the Wetlands Enhancement budget for the building of the dog park, which will include double-gated entrances, an area specified for smaller dogs, a six-foot chain link fence, benches, dog waste bag stations and garbage cans, and a gravel pathway within the park.
Additionally, a parking lot will be added near the dog park, providing easy access to the area. Opportunities for financial sponsorship of the dog park and its amenities will also be made available.
Once a construction timeline has been confirmed, more information will be provided to the community.
Weeds on vacant properties
Council received a report outlining the bylaw enforcement process for properties that are deemed “unsightly” and require maintenance. Specifically, the report addressed vacant lots that may have tall grass and weeds on the properties.
Currently, there are 67 vacant lots in residential neighbourhoods throughout Coalhurst. These lots are normally maintained by the owners, usually twice a month. However, when a property is found to be unsightly, either by observation or complaint, the property owner is sent a Notice of Unsightly Property letter. This letter outlines the issues with the property and requests the property owner to take action and maintain the property within a specified time period. If the maintenance period passes and no action is taken, the Town hires a contractor to complete the work on behalf of the property owner and all expenses for such work is billed to the property owner. If those expenses are not paid, the amount is put onto the associated property taxes.
Throughout July 2024, municipal enforcement sent 18 notices to property owners, of which only three required further enforcement action.
Responsible Animal Control and Ownership Bylaw
A new bylaw for Responsible Animal Control and Ownership was given first reading and then was moved to the Committee of the Whole meeting of September 10, 2024, for further discussion.
The draft bylaw is intended to consolidate and simplify multiple other prescriptive and outdated animal-related bylaws and policies into a single bylaw, for ease of understanding and application.
Proposed changes within the bylaw include putting animal fees in a bylaw rather than in policies; rescinding redundant or outdated policies; minimizing rules around the keeping of cats; and preserving basic rules around the keeping of dogs. The Urban Hen bylaw adopted in 2022 is not impacted.
During the discussion, Council members noted they’re interested in having community feedback on animal control and ownership in Coalhurst to help better inform their decisions moving forward. To read more about the proposed bylaw and the other current documents related to the keeping of animals in Coalhurst, you can read the complete August 20, 2024, Council meeting agenda.
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