Lethbridge Minute: Issue 228

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

📅 This Week In Lethbridge: 📅

• On Thursday, at 1:30 pm, the Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee will meet. The Committee will review the City’s latest Encampment Strategy update, which shows early success after two years in place. The 2024 Point-in-Time Count reported a slower rise in homelessness, with the growth rate dropping from 19.5% annually (2018-2022) to 7.1% (2022-2024). More than 2,200 encampment-related sites have been triaged and 85,000 kg of debris removed, helping prevent entrenched camps. Public sentiment regarding the City’s response has significantly improved, with negative views falling from 70.4% in 2022 to 20.1% in 2024, and positive views rising to 45.3%. Emergency calls linked to encampments have declined despite a rise in overall reports, indicating improved public safety. The City’s internal outreach services have led to an increase in client intakes and referrals, and 19 people exited homelessness between August 2024 and April 2025. The City is now transitioning to annual updates on the strategy.
  
  
• The City of Lethbridge is updating its Public Art Master Plan for the first time since 2012 to better reflect changes in the city’s population, priorities, and the 2024 Civic Culture Plan. The Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee will engage in a workshop, led by consultants, to provide feedback that will shape the updated plan. Lethbridge currently funds public art through a 1% allocation from capital projects, but that model is apparently becoming unsustainable - annual allocations have ranged from $5,000 (in 2021, 2025, and 2026) to $601,000 in 2019, with a rolling average of $235,222 between 2009 and 2026. The City is considering new funding models, including a rolling average and a hybrid model that combines a base operating budget with project-based allocations. The updated plan will return to Council in Q2 2026 and is expected to include revised definitions, a new governance structure (including a Formal Interdepartmental Working Group and Intercultural Community Forum), and clearer public engagement strategies. Public input will also be gathered through community activations, surveys, and toolkits over the summer of 2025.
  
  
• Lethbridge City Council has endorsed two Official Business Motions: one establishing a Long-Term Financial Sustainability Framework, and another advancing Economic Development Research and Support. The financial framework aims to formalize existing fiscal principles while allowing flexibility for future councils to pursue their strategic goals. Administration is tasked with presenting this framework to the Economic & Finance Standing Policy Committee by the end of the first quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, the City is updating its Economic Development Strategy, incorporating insights from a recent closed workshop with committee members. Council has requested a detailed presentation on July 10th, 2025, to discuss resource needs for completing and implementing the strategy, including potential development incentives. Key local partners, Economic Development Lethbridge and Tourism Lethbridge, will be involved in this meeting.
  
  
• Council has voted to extend its snow and ice control pilot program for another winter season. The program includes plowing snow to the right and offering a subscription-based windrow assistance service for residents along snow routes who face mobility challenges. Mayor Blaine Hyggen stated that the extension will provide more data and feedback for the next council to make an informed decision about the program's future. Last winter saw only one snow event requiring a snow route declaration, so officials hope this coming season will offer a better test of the windrow service’s effectiveness. Transportation Operations Manager Juliane Ruck noted the need for more data to evaluate the program fully. After the 2025-26 season, residents will be invited to give feedback as part of the final evaluation of the four-year pilot.
  
  
• The Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee unanimously recommended budget increases and borrowing bylaws for two infrastructure projects at the City’s water treatment plant. The first project involves constructing a new high-rate clarifier to provide redundancy for aging clarifiers, while the second addresses medium voltage upgrades to prevent power supply failures. The combined project costs have risen from $21.5 million to $67.2 million, with approximately $29.5 million to be covered through external borrowing. Other funding sources include reserve funds, capital surpluses, and a potential $9.3 million grant. Now, Council is expected to give first reading to the related borrowing bylaws on June 24th, and construction is slated to begin this fall, with completion by December 2027.
  
  
• Tourism Lethbridge has launched a new free web app, Explore Lethbridge, designed to help visitors and residents navigate the city’s attractions without requiring a download. The app works on any internet-enabled device and offers curated experiences, starting with a “Sip, Taste, Explore” tour that highlights local restaurants, shops, and attractions. Users can earn points by checking in at locations using their device’s location services, which can then be redeemed for prizes at the Visitor Information Centre. The app was developed in partnership with Mitacs and the University of Lethbridge, involving local students and allowing for ongoing customization based on community feedback. Tourism Lethbridge aims to release additional themed tours throughout the year, such as history or coffee shop tours, to appeal to diverse interests. The platform also collects data on user engagement, helping track tourism’s economic impact more accurately than previous estimate-based methods. Organizers hope the app will make Lethbridge a more engaging and welcoming destination while supporting local businesses. Custom tours can also be created for events or conferences.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

The City is rewriting its Land Use Bylaw - and this is your chance to help shape the future of housing, local business, parking, downtown development, and more.

The third and final survey of Phase 2 is now open, and the City is asking for your feedback on proposed changes based on what they've already heard from residents and community groups. 

You can take the survey at the link below, until July 4th:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!