Lethbridge Minute: Tree Collection, College Funding, and a New Webmap Tool

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

This Week In Lethbridge:

• There are no meetings showing on the City’s scheduling website, however the Council Calendar lists a closed meeting of the Priorities & Agenda Review Committee at 10:30 am on Tuesday.
  
  
• If you were planning to have the City pick up your Christmas tree, you’ll need to wait a little longer. Christmas Tree Collection, originally scheduled for January 13th, was postponed to January 20th due to extremely cold weather. Residents are asked to place their trees at the usual waste bin location by 7:00 am on the rescheduled collection day.
  
  
• The City is taking steps to address declining water reservoir levels, with the Oldman Reservoir dropping from 58% to 26% between August and November 2023. The dry fall and summer contributed to the decrease, and while recent snowfall has been beneficial, officials are hoping for more in the coming weeks and months, along with significant spring rainfall. The City has formed collaborative working groups, involving internal experts and external stakeholders, to explore additional water conservation measures for the immediate and long-term future. Council will discuss this further at the January 23rd Council meeting and at the Assets And Infrastructure Standing Policy Committee meeting on February 1st.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• The newly formed Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force in Lethbridge, chaired by businessman Hunter Heggie, convened at City Hall to address concerns about public safety and disturbances in the downtown area. The Task Force, a subcommittee of the Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee, is exploring solutions to issues such as homelessness, addictions, and social disorder. During the meeting, HelpSeeker Technologies presented a proposal to analyze City data and prioritize the Task Force's work. The technology company specializes in complex social problems and aims to provide data-backed strategies for addressing downtown lawlessness. The cost of HelpSeeker's services would be $9,999. A decision to retain their services has not yet been made.
  
  
• The Government of Alberta announced an injection of $3.6 million into the Research Capacity Program, aiming to propel the province forward in technology and innovation. This funding, coupled with an additional $7 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, will cover up to 40% of equipment and facility costs for research projects at Lethbridge College and other post-secondary institutions, non-profit organizations, and industries. The funding for Lethbridge College will go toward its Smart Irrigation Farm Project, developing precision irrigation strategies to enhance crop productivity and reduce water usage in southern Alberta's agriculture.
  
  
• The City of Lethbridge has introduced a new web feature called the City Project Webmap. Developed through collaboration between Lethbridge 311 and the City Communications and Engagement department, the webmap offers residents real-time updates on road closures, facility status, and City-led projects. Over recent months, the 311 team collaborated with various City departments to produce the new tool. You can try it out online, at the City’s website.

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