Sherwood Park Minute: Issue 61

Sherwood Park Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Sherwood Park politics

📅 This Week In Sherwood Park: 📅

• There will be a Council meeting on Tuesday at 9:00 am. The meeting begins with a closed session, wherein Council will discuss an Integrity Commissioner Report and the Social Framework Community Grants Policy Review and Recommendations, away from the public eye. When the meeting opens up to the public, Council will discuss a prioritized list of major capital projects, following discussions at an April capital planning session. The updated plan addresses infrastructure needs while maintaining flexibility in the face of external challenges like inflation, supply chain disruptions, and uncertain trade conditions. Projects such as the Indoor Fieldhouse, Fire Hall Station #7, and a new Seniors’ Centre remain in the plan, alongside forecasted builds like the Sherwood Park Arena and Festival Place Expansion. A new Capital Community Funding Framework is in development to guide decisions on community capital donation requests, with a final version expected by June 30th. The County also plans to modernize how it presents capital budgets, aligning with provincial standards and aiming for more transparent, outcome-focused reporting.
  
  
• Also on the agenda is the Strathcona County First Quarter 2025 Management Report. It shows a $1.1-million surplus for both Municipal Operations and Consolidated Operations. Municipal revenues were $17.8 million, just below the $17.9-million budget, with gains in recreation and transit fees offset by lower investment income and lower fines. Expenses came in at $75.9 million, below the $80.4-million budget, saving $4.5 million, mainly in purchased services, supplies and materials, and salaries. Utility expenses were $14.0 million, under the $14.4-million budget, with savings from reduced water and wastewater treatment costs. Overall, the report suggests that the County remains on solid financial footing, with lower expenses helping offset minor revenue shortfalls. A year-end forecast will be included in the next quarterly report.
  
  
• An updated Public Engagement Policy will be discussed by Council. The updated policy introduces clearer role definitions for both Council and Administration, specifying their responsibilities in the engagement process. It emphasizes inclusivity and accessibility to ensure underrepresented groups are reached and adds a principle to honour the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, strengthening engagement with Indigenous communities. The policy also includes a new focus on conducting respectful and safe engagement activities. Notably, the word “empower” was removed from the engagement continuum to clarify that public input informs decisions but does not grant decision-making authority. The language was adjusted to use “may” when describing when engagement is required, providing flexibility and avoiding overcommitment, and references to “when not to engage” were removed due to the difficulty in listing exceptions comprehensively.
  
  
• Finally, Council will consider several community funding requests for various local initiatives. The Fultonvale Grade Six Retreat Parent Group is requesting support for their year-end farewell event. The Josephburg Agricultural Society is seeking funds for their annual Fall Community Chicken Dinner. The Music Society of Strathcona County wants assistance for the RavenWood Music Festival, and the PROBUS Club of Sherwood Park is asking for funding to help achieve financial self-sufficiency in its first year. Lastly, the Uncas School Community Council Association is hoping for funds to purchase reusable utensils for its hot lunch program.
  
  
• At a recent meeting, Strathcona County Council received its first annual update on the Housing Affordability Strategy, which aims to improve access to housing by 2030. So far, 25 new garden suites have been added, with rising interest in secondary suites, particularly in Cambrian. The plan targets 140 non-market rental units and 18 non-market ownership units, alongside 35 new market rental suites annually. Changes to the Land Use Bylaw have eased rules around multi-unit housing, parking, and amenity space, while financial reserve reforms support land acquisition for housing. A recent survey showed worsening affordability: 85 people were experiencing houselessness in 2024, up from 58 the year prior. Councillors acknowledged that updated federal housing data is lagging behind local realities, but the County plans to keep adapting. Mayor Rod Frank stressed that while housing is a provincial responsibility, the County will continue pushing ahead.
  
  
• Sherwood Park may remain home to CASA House as part of a major provincial mental health expansion. The Alberta government has announced $47 million for new CASA facilities in Medicine Hat, Calgary, Fort McMurray, and the Edmonton area - including an expansion or relocation of the current Sherwood Park site. CASA House supports youth aged 12 to 18 facing complex mental health challenges, offering both live-in and day programs. The expansion will more than quadruple service capacity, from 57 to more than 300 youth annually. No final site has been chosen, but CASA’s CEO confirmed Sherwood Park is still in the running. The organization will need to raise $75 million to complete the four planned facilities. A final decision on the Sherwood Park site is expected in spring 2026, with the new Edmonton-area facility opening in 2029. Each location will share a common floor plan tailored to its surroundings.
  
  
• Strathcona County’s Open Space Master Plan is nearing completion, and it aims to guide future decisions on the design, planning, and management of public land. The high-level plan focuses on long-term community needs, with input from over 1,500 residents across two surveys. Key public requests include enhancing access to natural areas, expanding winter amenities like fire pits and lighting, and balancing new recreation features with environmental preservation. Council heard residents want more all-season use, including improved trail maintenance and washrooms. The final plan, which won’t set design standards but will shape policy, is expected to be completed in October and presented to Council in November. Public engagement is expected to continue through June.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Join the Common Sense Sherwood Park Facebook group to stay informed about what’s really happening in the County and connect with others who want to bring transparency, accountability, and common sense back to local government. 

Be part of the conversation, share your ideas, and help shape the future of Sherwood Park.

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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