High River

The Committee of the Whole meeting involved adjustments to the agenda, specifically adding discussion regarding the Northeast ASP 112 Street alignment. Key discussions focused on landowner participation and the Town's financial contributions to the Area Structure Plan (ASP), including staff time as a contribution, separate from direct land-owner financial shares. Concerns were raised about previous communication with landowners regarding the funding agreements and the Town's commitment of $5,000 for miscellaneous expenses. Furthermore, the committee discussed the feasibility of alternate road alignments versus the consultant's proposal, considering future urban development, access management on 112 Street, and the potential issues arising from excessive lot subdivision and resulting private road maintenance.

The meeting commenced with administrative announcements regarding the livestreaming of council meetings and associated privacy considerations under the Access to Information Act and Protection of Privacy Act. Key agenda items involved the adoption of the agenda for February 23rd. The council adopted the February 9th regular council meeting minutes as amended, clarifying directives for traffic control removals and installations at High Country Drive and High View Gate. The council also adopted the February 13th special meeting minutes as presented. A significant discussion focused on the update to the Council Procedure Bylaw 4655, which included refining references to provincial acts, adjusting section ordering, and updating procedures for public comments, question periods, and delegation submissions. The bylaw was subsequently passed on third and final reading, repealing the 2021 bylaw. Furthermore, the council accepted the Chief Administrative Officer's 2025 Council Disclosure Summary Report as presented, reported on the successful Dine Out High River event and upcoming Business Passport event by the Chamber of Commerce, and approved the Town's $2500 annual rodeo shoot branding sponsorship. The council also voted to join the High River and District Chamber of Commerce for a fee of $317. Finally, updates were provided regarding wastewater reuse discussions concerning Frank Lake for irrigation purposes.

The meeting addressed several agenda items, including the adoption of the agenda and approval of previous meeting minutes from November 10th. Key discussions involved a resident's request for the removal of a town-owned, fruit-bearing crab apple tree due to its proximity to driveways, with the decision to allow the resident to remove it at their own cost. Additionally, the committee reviewed variance applications for a new commercial development on 113 Montine Link. Five variances were discussed concerning the front yard setback (requesting 8.5 m instead of the bylaw's 0-3 m maximum to accommodate a drive-thru mirroring an adjacent Wendy's), building height (requesting one story instead of 2-5), frontage buildout (achieving 19.48% vs. the required 70%), transparency standards (proposing under 15% vs. 50%), and primary entrance location (customer entrance located off the side/rear, not facing the primary facade). Observations were also made regarding proposed signage height and the treatment of the building's southern elevation.

The meeting commenced with the adoption of the agenda and the minutes from the previous Committee of the Whole meeting on January 26, 2026. A delegation from the High River Chamber of Commerce presented their case for the town to become a member, detailing the benefits such as partnership in the local economy, support for local businesses, and providing the town a voice in policy navigation. Following the delegation, an Economic Impact Report for film production in 2025 was presented, detailing that total permit fees surpassed $50,000 in 2025 and total economic impact was $1,144,586, with significant employment for local residents. Discussion followed regarding the wording of donations in the impact report and managing disruptions caused by filming. The final agenda item discussed was an update on improvements and maintenance costs related to town and school-owned sports fields, in response to user group concerns about field conditions.

The key discussion centered on residential curbside garbage collection services for approximately 5,200 homes. Administration presented an analysis comparing the current in-house provision, noting upcoming retirements for dedicated operators and the need to replace aging trucks (costing an estimated $966,159). The analysis supported moving towards a third-party contracted service, which would defer capital expenditures for new trucks and operator recruitment, resulting in a potential 22% reduction in annual household costs. It was clarified that customer service for issues like bin replacement would remain with town employees, although bin management (repairs/replacement) responsibilities under a contract would need to be defined, especially regarding damage caused by collection equipment. The Council ultimately directed administration to prepare and issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a contractor, aiming for a contract award in spring 2026. A significant portion of the meeting involved a public comment session concerning a prior discussion about capital budget matters related to the High Country Drive intersection costs, including disputes over reported financial figures.