Lethbridge Minute: Fencing Rejected, Chamber Upgrades, and Safer Communities Funding

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

This Week In Lethbridge:

• There are no City Council meetings this week, and several more weeks after that! Committee meetings are set to begin again the week of September 10th, but the next Council meeting doesn’t take place until September 19th.
  
  
• The Wide Skies Music and Arts Festival is on from August 1st to 3rd, taking place on the top floor of the City of Lethbridge Park 'n' Ride at #705 5th Avenue South. The festival will showcase notable talent, including performances from double Juno nominee Tanika Charles, Calgary icons Peter & the Wolves, and Witch Prophet, among others. Tickets are available online.
  
  
• This is the final week to visit the Beyond Van Gogh Experience at the ENMAX Centre. Taking around an hour, this experience offers Lethbridge locals a unique chance to step into Vincent Van Gogh's iconic masterpieces. After a successful run in Calgary, this immersive journey has received rave reviews. We'd love to hear your thoughts if you've attended.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• City Council quashed an idea to investigate putting a wrought iron fence around Galt Gardens. A new play space is being built at Galt Gardens, and concerns have been raised about social disorder in the area. A proposal made by Mayor Blaine Hyggen and co-sponsored by Deputy Mayor John Middleton-Hope, urged Administration to explore the cost, availability, and practicality of the fence as a permanent park boundary. It was rejected by a vote of 5 to 4.
  
  
• Council voted to accept a grant of $665,618 from the federal Building Safer Communities Fund. This funding will support a one-year work plan that involves preventative measures and interventions for handling gun and gang violence. The first year will see the hiring of a consultant to study gang activity, types and trends of violence, service gaps, and issues impacting Lethbridge. Hiring a project lead and support staff, as well as executing a public awareness campaign are also part of the plan. Sounds like a lot of money for more plans and reports. Hopefully there's some left over for some action too?
  
  
• Council announced technological upgrades to Council Chambers in order to improve meetings when they resume in September. The upgrades include new wiring, better audio equipment for livestreams, additional cameras, electronic nameplates, accessible entry doors, and improved networking capacity. The City says the upgrades will ensure more reliable and accessible meetings, as well as bolster the public’s ability to tune in and participate in to the democratic process.

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