Lethbridge Minute: Town Hall, Patio Program, and an Economic Development Partnership

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

This Week In Lethbridge:

• There will be a meeting of the Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force on Thursday at 7:30 am. A number of items will be discussed at this meeting, including a graffiti abatement proposal, ongoing funding for the Downtown Safety Education Program, and a proposal to install security cameras at Galt Gardens.
  
  
• Also on Thursday, at 1:30 pm, there will be a meeting of the Governance Standing Policy Committee. The Committee will receive a presentation from the General Manager of Recreation and Culture on the 2024 Civic Culture Plan, as well as a verbal update from the Issues Management Specialist regarding Government Relations and Advocacy. The Committee will discuss making some changes to the City Manager Bylaw and City Clerk Bylaw to designate the City Manager the Head of the Public Body, rather than the City Clerk.
  
  
• Registration is open for our Public Safety Town Hall event on May 31st at 6:00 pm at the German Canadian Club. Mayor Blaine Hyggen and Councillor John Middleton-Hope will be in attendance to address community concerns and outline the steps the City is taking to enhance safety in Lethbridge. You’ll have the opportunity to voice your concerns, ask questions, and engage directly with local leaders about the issues that matter most to you. Tickets are $10 and go directly to offsetting the costs of putting on events like this. You can purchase yours online here.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• Economic Development groups from Lethbridge and Great Falls, Montana, have united to enhance industries like food, agriculture, bioprocessing, and energy in both regions. This partnership was formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding that aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and strategies for investment, business retention, and innovation. Together, they plan to create a regional attraction strategy, offer options to international companies, and explore opportunities while fostering friendly competition. The agreement also includes cross-border visits, joint promotion at trade shows, and collaboration with other organizations to promote economic growth in the Lethbridge-Great Falls corridor.
  
  
• The City brought back its outdoor patio and parklet program, and there's a record number of businesses signing up. The program allows local businesses to expand their seating areas outside, offering various options like parklets on parking stalls, minor patios on sidewalks, and major patios built on City sidewalk space. The goal is to liven up downtown spaces, attract more customers, and create a vibrant atmosphere.
  
  
• The University of Lethbridge (U of L) and the University of Calgary (U of C) have teamed up to train more doctors in Lethbridge. They've signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a Rural Medical Education Program Training Centre, with the U of C creating a new medical school program at the U of L using their existing course. This collaboration aims to speed up the training process for physicians in the area, addressing long-standing doctor shortages in southern Alberta. The program is expected to admit around 30 students per year initially, with potential for growth.

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