Council Clips – June 1, 2021

Decision on Heliport Lease Renewal Postponed

Instead of approving the lease as currently presented, Council postponed their decision and directed administration to meet with Alpine Helicopters to renegotiate the terms of the proposed lease with the intent of increasing the minimum duration of sightseeing flights (to longer than 20 minutes) and reducing the maximum number of sightseeing flights per day from 45. As well, Council directed administration to report at the Sept. 7, 2021 meeting with a project description and budget to work with Alpine Helicopters to review possible locations in or near the municipality to locate a staging helipad for operating sightseeing flights or relocate the heliport. For information visit Heliport Monitoring Committee

Stan Rogers Memorial Stage Structural Repairs Needed

As part of the planned replacement of the flooring, it was discovered that there are structural repairs required before any regular programming activity returns to the stage. Council approved the recommendation to focus on the immediate structural concerns and extend the life of the stage. In the future, a longer-term plan for the facility could be developed. The Stan Rogers Memorial Stage was built in 1983 and has been the venue for the Canmore Folk Music Festival, the host location for the annual Canada Day Celebration, Pine Tree Players theater productions, Highland Games, and many other events. Updates can be found at Stan Rogers Memorial Stage

Canmore Recreation Centre Solar Installation

Council approved an increase to the number of solar panels currently being installed on the Canmore Recreation Centre (CRC) to a total of 818 solar panels. The additional 218 panels will contribute to offsetting ~19 % of the building energy cost and reduce GHG emissions. No additional financial contribution from the Town of Canmore is required, as the expected rebate from Alberta Municipal Solar Program  through the Alberta Municipal Climate Change Action Centre will cover the cost. The CRC has the largest flat roof area in the Bow Valley and has one of the highest electricity demands among all buildings owned by the Town of Canmore. As such, it is an ideal candidate for rooftop solar. The project is expected to be energized later this summer and details can be found here Municipal Climate Change Actions

E-Bike Pilot Project Approved

Council approved a one-year pilot project to allow White Mountain Adventures to operate guided e-bike tours. Some program parameters include limiting maximum group size to six participants, having a Canmore business license, conducting the tour on a designated route running from Banff to Canmore along the Legacy Trail to the town centre pathway network with pick up of participants in downtown Canmore. The Town of Canmore already has an approved bylaw that permits the use of pedal electric bicycles on trails and tour operators could use these trails for tours within Canmore without formal Town of Canmore approval. As we are witnessing a greater uptake of different modes of transportation within the community, this is a mechanism that supports this low impact activity, while providing data and tracking feedback on the pilot project. Read more about the existing traffic and road use bylaw here Road Use, Bicycles, and Parking Regulations

Quarry Lake Park Enhancements

Thanks to a generous donation of $100,000 from a local family, a formalized jumping platform and stairs will be installed along the western side of the lake, providing a safe platform to enter and exit the lake and mitigate on-going erosion concerns due to the existing unofficial jumping area. The donation allows other enhancements, including new washrooms adjacent to the existing parking area and in the south beach area, a formal access road to access and service the newly installed vault washrooms, parking lot improvements to formalize efficient traffic flow and parking patterns, and additional waste containers to move forward at no additional cost to the taxpayer. For details visit Quarry Lake Park Enhancements

Canmore Community Monitoring Review and Recommendation Report

The Town of Canmore’s Community Monitoring program began in 1995 based on recommendations from the Growth Management Strategy and provides a summary of key indicators providing local information about past and current emerging trends. Council asked administration to report back with options for a web-based monitoring program to make the information easier to consume, and approved recommendations from the consultant for planning purposes. The Community Monitoring Reports can be found at Community Monitoring Report

Also on today’s agenda:

• Council appointed Ian O’Donnell to the Business Recovery Task Force.  For more information visit Business Recovery Task Force
• Council accepted the 2022-2027 Canmore RCMP Municipal Detachment multi-year financial plan for planning purposes.
• Council authorized the new Utility Services Agreement with EPCOR to continue delivering water services in Canmore.
• Council supported the Town of Okotoks by seconding a motion for the 2021 Alberta Urban Municipalities Association resolution “Expansion to Authority to Support Affordable Housing.”
• Read more about these items in today’s agenda package https://canmore.ca/documents/4588-2021-06-01-council-agenda-regular