Here are some highlights from the October 15, 2024, Town Council meeting. This is not an official record of the meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – you can read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
Modern 1930s community aesthetic and public space design
During the Regular Meeting of September 17, 2024, Council began a discussion about establishing a core identity and aesthetic for public spaces in Coalhurst. The goal was to establish ‘who Coalhurst is,’ honouring our rich and storied history while also providing a clear direction for future economic growth opportunities and community development.
On October 15, Council endorsed a proposed concept – a modern approach to popular design from the 1930s – which stems from the period when Coalhurst was first a thriving town with a core business district, busy agricultural operations, and a consistently growing population that was primarily drawn to the coal mining industry.
In 1935, the Imperial Mine explosion occurred, which then led to many residents dispersing to other parts of the province and country to find new forms of work. However, over the decades, the community began to grow again and since the 1980s has nearly doubled in size. In 2025, Coalhurst will celebrate 30 years since being redesignated as a ‘Town’ in Alberta, and 112 years since it was first incorporated as a municipality.
With these milestones in mind, Council has endorsed a plan to pay tribute to the pioneers of our community and introduce touches of 1930s architecture and design into public spaces such as town signage, wayfinding materials, park amenities such as lights and benches, public art projects, and community garden designs. This approach will be introduced slowly and with careful consideration as projects arise (such as adding amenities to the new Wetlands park or developing other park spaces), and as project budgets allow.
Over time, the intention is to develop a well-grounded, consistent approach to public space design and create areas of attraction for residents, visitors, and residential or business investors to drive economic growth and development opportunities throughout the community.
Council has now directed Administration to prepare a policy to guide this work, and has also endorsed a project to have a new Town brand and website developed for Coalhurst.
This brand will include the development of a new logo, tagline, potential new colours, fonts, and brand voice for the community, outlining how the Town approaches all its communications and how we ‘present’ ourselves on the Alberta, Canada, and global stage. Once complete, the new brand will guide the development of a redesigned Town website that will be created to be more robust, user-friendly, and accessible.
When the branding project begins, the Town will be conducting public engagement to ensure the finalized brand appropriately represents our community’s values and vision for Coalhurst’s future, while still honouring our past and who we’ve become together.
Funding options for the branding project and website will be discussed during Council’s budget deliberations, which will take place later this fall. Updates on the budget and these projects will be provided to the community once more information is available.
Community Grant Program update
Council approved a Community Support Grant application from the Coalhurst Parks and Recreation Society in the amount of $2,000. The funds will be used to host free public movie nights at the Community Centre, featuring Halloween and Christmas films.
Approximately $4,000 remains in the 2024 Community Grant Program fund and is available for applications. Residents, businesses and organizations are encouraged to apply.
Administration report
- Leaf and compostable yard waste collection for residents is scheduled for Monday, November 4, starting at 7:30 a.m. Coalhurst residents are reminded that leaf and other yard waste material must be placed in compostable paper bags in order to be picked up. Any other materials (i.e., plastic bags, etc) will not be collected through this program.
- Six apple trees that were approved in the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada grant will be planted within the next week. Due to space restrictions in Miners Park, some of the trees will also be planted at Imperial Meadows Park and by the Town office, allowing for greater access to food for residents of the Town.
- The 2024 Halloween House Decorating Contest is taking place Wednesday, October 30, with judging starting at 7:00 p.m. Members of Council will travel throughout town, judging registered entries. Winners of the contest will be eligible for cash prizes including: $75 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place. To participate in the contest, residents must register their property address online. The registration form is available on the Town’s website and Facebook page.
- The FCSS Snow Angels program will return to Coalhurst this winter. Coalhurst residents who are unable to clear snow from their own driveway and/or sidewalk may apply to the Snow Angels program, to request help from community members. If approved, a sign will be displayed outside the home, asking for a Snow Angel to help clear walkways of snow.
If a community member sees the sign, they’re encouraged to grab a shovel and clear the walkways after a new snowfall. Volunteers do not have to register for the program and can assist anyone who has a sign posted outside their home. For those who volunteer in the program, monthly prize draws are available. More information about the program can be found on the Town’s website at ca or by calling Cindy at FCSS at 403-915-7063.
- The 2024 Community Garden season has ended. Despite the late start to the growing season, almost half of the plots were used by garden participants, who had good success with their vegetable plantings. Administration anticipates next year’s garden to be completely full. Registration for the 2025 Community Garden program opens on March 1, 2025. Complete program details and a list of important dates are available on the Town’s website.
- The Town and Park Enterprises have agreed that Park Enterprises will process all Safety Code Permits for the Town. This will emulate what other municipalities have done and will ensure all applications are processed and tracked following Park Enterprises’ policies and procedures. This will also reduce administrative tasks for Town administration regarding forwarding permit applications and invoicing redundancies.
- The Organizational Meeting of Council is scheduled for October 29 at 6:00 p.m. This yearly meeting is required by the Municipal Government Act for Council to review its member appointments, signing authorities, and to approve the following year’s meeting and event attendance calendar.
Council Committees Bylaw No. 458-24
Council adopted a revised Council Committees Bylaw, which has been updated to mitigate some of the administrative challenges and governance issues that have existed with the current committee processes. As of January 1, 2025, there will be three types of Council Committees:
- Standing Committees – functioning in an advisory capacity to Council and are comprised of Council members.
- Policy Committees – providing high-level bylaw and policy advice and guidance to Council on specified topics and are comprised of Council members.
- Specialized Committees – functioning an in advisory capacity to Council on a specific subject matter (either permanently or for a defined period of time) and are comprised of both Council members and members-at-large.
Currently, there are nine member-at-large positions on eight Council Committees. Under the new bylaw, this has been reduced to six positions. Presently, only six member-at-large positions are filled.
During the Organizational Meeting of Council on October 29, Council members will be appointed to each of the new committees. Current public members of the committees are invited to continue their work through the Specialized Committees, and if necessary, recruitment will commence later this fall, should vacancies exist for any of the Specialized Committees.
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