Lethbridge Minute: Rezoning Rejected, Mandatory Testing, and a Mask Mandate Debate

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

This Week In Lethbridge:

• Council has only two meetings scheduled for this week after Thursday's Cultural and Social Standing Policy Committee was cancelled.
  
  
• On Wednesday there will be a meeting of the Economic Standing Policy Committee at 1:30 pm. At this meeting, Council will receive presentations from the Executive Director from SouthGro regarding an economic development initiative, a quarterly report from the Urban Vitalizations Manager, and an operational forecast from the City Treasurer.
  
  
• Finally, on Friday there will be a meeting of the Governance Standing Policy Committee at 1:30 pm.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• Mayor Chris Spearman used his time during his last Council meeting on Tuesday putting forth an official business resolution that would have made masks mandatory in all City-owned facilities. The resolution was ultimately defeated 5-3, supported only by outgoing Councillors Rob Miyashiro and Jeffrey Coffman. Masks are still required in all indoor places, however, as per the provincial mask mandate currently in effect.
  
  
• In other COVID news, City Manager Craig Dalton talked about introducing a mandatory COVID-19 testing program for all employees who work in City facilities and haven't received a second vaccine dose. The logistics of how such a program would work, including the cost and/or implementation date, have yet to be finalized.
  
  
• A rezoning application that would have allowed the construction of a drive-in theatre and new concert venue along 24th Ave South was rejected by Council, with councillors citing several details of the proposal that had yet to be worked out. The applicant can re-apply, but unless Council holds an urgent meeting to deal with the issue again before the election, the City's rules mean the application will have to start all over from the beginning with the new Council.

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