Lethbridge Minute: Firefighter Testing, Transit Code, and Apartment Development Concerns

Lethbridge Minute: Firefighter Testing, Transit Code, and Apartment Development Concerns

 

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

 

This Week In Lethbridge:

  • The first City Council Meeting of 2025 will take place on Tuesday at 12:30 pm. Councillor Belinda Crowson will bring forward an Official Business Motion to task Administration with looking into whether or not Lethbridge should adopt the Canadian Urban Transit Association Transit Code. She will also bring forward a second Official Business Motion to assess an optimal balance range for the City’s Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve. Council will also review some amendments to its Code of Conduct and address several land use amendment proposals.

  • Lethbridge's population is now 111,400, marking a 4.1% increase from the previous year, according to Statistics Canada. This growth reflects a consistent upward trend, with the City averaging a 3% annual increase since 2021. While the growth is seen as positive, it also presents challenges in maintaining infrastructure and services to meet the rising demand. The Lethbridge Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which includes surrounding communities, now stands at 139,844 residents, surpassing Red Deer in size.

  • Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES) is partnering with Red Deer Polytechnic to offer third-party testing for the Firefighter Applicant Physical Test (FAPT), a key requirement for joining the team. This collaboration aims to make the testing process more accessible by eliminating the need for applicants to travel to Edmonton. The FAPT includes tests for cardiovascular fitness, equipment carrying, and other physically demanding tasks designed to simulate real-world fire and emergency situations. LFES is also exploring a third testing location at the University of Lethbridge. The department plans to hire at least 14 new members in 2025 as part of its recruitment efforts.

 


 

Last Week In Lethbridge:

  • Mayor Blaine Hyggen delivered his final State of the City address for this Council's term, highlighting key topics such as public safety, housing, and infrastructure. He emphasized the City's population growth and the ongoing efforts to attract physicians, noting Lethbridge has the highest rate of physician attraction per capita in Canada. Hyggen also addressed the City's financial situation, including measures to reduce costs at the Lethbridge and District Exhibition. He outlined the importance of supporting public safety with new hires for the Lethbridge Police Service and discussed plans to improve the water and wastewater treatment systems to meet future growth. Hyggen expressed confidence in the City's ability to navigate economic pressures while continuing to improve services and infrastructure.

  • The results of the 2024 Brighter Together Survey, conducted by Economic Development Lethbridge, the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone, showed increased optimism among local businesses. Of the 126 businesses surveyed, 63% expressed confidence in their business health over the next 6-12 months. The survey highlighted quality of life and a collaborative environment as major strengths for doing business in Lethbridge, while utilities costs and municipal taxes were identified as key challenges.

  • A proposed apartment development on 13th Street South in Lethbridge has sparked concerns from local business owners, particularly the family-run London Road Market. The owners worry that the project's parking provisions, with only 0.5 stalls per unit, will lead to congestion and force residents to use their parking lot. Developers, however, argue that the apartment complexes will enhance the neighbourhood, promote walkability, and reduce traffic compared to suburban developments. They have made adjustments, including reducing the height and limiting commercial space, to address community concerns. Despite these efforts, local business owners remain apprehensive about the impact on their operations and the neighbourhood's character.

 

-----

Donate:

Common Sense Lethbridge doesn't accept any government funding and never will. We think you should be free to choose, for yourself, which organizations to support. If you're in a position to contribute financially, you can make a donation here.

-----

Share:

If you're not in a position to donate, we understand, but if you appreciate our work, you can help by spreading our message. Please forward this email to your friends, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and help make sure every Lethbridgian knows what's really going on at City Hall.


Showing 1 comment

Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.
Secured Via NationBuilder
  • Common Sense Lethbridge
    published this page in News 2025-01-19 00:51:01 -0700