Childcare space, unsightly premises on council agenda
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on October 31, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com Lethbridge city council will stage its annual organizational meeting today in council chambers.The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m.
On the agenda is a revision to the council and Standing Policy Committee calendar which will come into effect Nov. 1.
Several changes are being made to SPCs. They include Civic Works becoming Assets and Infrastructure while Cultural and Social will change to Community Safety and Social.
The Economic SPC, which includes all members of council, will become known as Economic and Finance SPC while Audit and Governance will remain unchanged.
The regular meeting of council on Tuesday will include an official business motion by councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel calling on council to direct administration to complete a childcare needs assessment for the City by the second quarter of 2024 which will include a thorough analysis of the current childcare landscape here and in-depth background search.
The OBM also calls on administration to come up with recommendations to address the challenges related to increasing the numbers of childcare spaces in Lethbridge and approve up to $25,000 to fund consulting resources to support development of the assessment.
Schmidt-Rempel’s motion says “council is committed to encouraging and attracting additional childcare spaces throughout the community to promote social and economic vibrancy” and increasing the availability of childcare spaces is critical to supporting working parents and economic growth by allowing more people to participate in the labour force.
It says quality childcare facilities “positively impact early childhood development, prepare children for future educational success” and contribute to the city’s overall wellbeing.
It says a report by City administration identified a gap of about 600 childcare spaces here this year and that other municipalities in the province and country have taken steps to incentivize development of new childcare spaces.
An official business motion by councillor Rajko Dodic will call on council to ask administration to compile a list of all properties in the city that might be unsafe and/or dangerous and could be subject to an order under sections of the Municipal Government Act and city Bylaw 5747 which regulates minimum property standards.
His motion states a number of properties in the city – both occupied and unoccupied – are potentially unsafe and dangerous to the public.
Sections 545 and 546 of the MGA address the required maintenance of buildings and other structures – including vacant land and land adjoining buildings and structures – to ensure the property is kept in good repair and don’t constitute a safety hazard. Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 4
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