Lethbridge Minute: Education Investment, Organics Collection, and a Ward System Commission

Lethbridge Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Lethbridge politics

This Week In Lethbridge:

• There’s only one meeting scheduled for this week, a meeting of the Audit Committee on Wednesday at 1:30 pm. The majority of this meeting will be used to discuss several reports in a private session.
  
  
• The City will hire eight new firefighters after voting unanimously to bolster the staffing of Lethbridge Fire & Emergency Services. The new hires come at a cost of $884,600, funded through the unspent operating dollars of LFES, meaning there will be no tax implication (for this year).
  
  
• It’s now easier for Lethbridgians to bring their pooch to the patio. Health Minister Jason Copping's change to the Alberta Public Health Act means restaurants can allow dogs on outdoor patios without a permit if they choose to do so. Check with your favourite dining establishment to see if your dog is welcome!

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• Minister of Advanced Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, made a major funding announcement for post-secondary institutions in Southern Alberta. There has been $5.3 million earmarked for high-demand programs like agriculture and heavy-duty mechanics, nursing, computer science, and business administration. Lethbridge College, the University of Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat College will benefit from the funding.
  
  
• The Governance Standing Policy Committee voted 2-2 on a motion to create an exploratory commission to provide recommendations for the implementation of a Ward System. The split vote meant that the motion was defeated, but ultimately, Council will make the final decision about the creation of the commission at an upcoming meeting. In the last municipal election, the majority of Lethbridgians voted yes to a referendum question that asked whether they supported using a Ward System to elect City Councillors.
  
  
• The City of Lethbridge announced its intent to introduce its city-wide curbside organics collection program in phases. Phase one will run between fall 2023 and summer 2024 for multi-family properties with 45 or fewer units. Phase two will begin in 2024 and will include all multi-family properties. The collections program is part of the City’s current strategy to further reduce residential waste by 140 kilograms per capita by 2030.

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