Council Meeting Highlights - December 3, 2025

Regular Council Meeting

Meeting Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 

In attendance: Mayor Fule, Councillor Brown, Councillor Chisholm, Councillor Hyde, Councillor Langmaid, Councillor Wegener and Councillor Wiley

Council adopted the minutes from the November 17, 29, 20 and 25, 2025 Regular Council Meetings.

Business

Council Meeting Schedule Amendment - December 2025

• The last meeting before the Christmas break is usually reserved for budget approval. Since Council approved the budget on November 25, it was recommended to cancel the December 17, 2025 meeting and instead hold a Regular Council Meeting on December 10 to allow decisions to be made earlier in the month.
• Council changed the December 10, 2025 meeting at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers from a Committee of the Whole to a Regular Council Meeting.
• Council directed Administration to cancel the Regular Council Meeting scheduled for December 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.
• The updated Council Meeting Calendar is available here.

Corporate Quarterly Report - Q3 2025

Quarterly updates on the Council’s Strategic Plan and the Town’s financial position ensure transparency and provide clarity on the progress of the Town’s Corporate Strategic Plan initiatives. These reports allow Council to monitor achievements, assess ongoing priorities, and maintain accountability in both strategic and financial decision-making.

• The annual operating surplus of the organization is forecasted to be $3.47 M at the end of the third quarter.
• Revenues are forecasted to be $2.37 M higher than budgeted due to:
• higher than anticipated Development Application and Subdivision Fee Revenue ($436 k) and Streetlight Revenue ($54 k).
• $372 k in Wildfire Response revenue has been received via deployment of Strathmore Fire Department through September.
• Government Grants are higher than budgeted, due to receipt of an unbudgeted Local Government Fiscal Framework operating grant of $205 k.
• Offsite levy revenue of $1.19 M has been received year to date, which has been directly transferred to Capital reserves.
• Overall, expenses are forecasted $1.09 M lower than budgeted, due to salary and wages below budgeted, and forecasted delays in contributions on the WHMB Lodge contribution, and RCMP contract costs forecasted to be $402 k below budget (unfulfilled staffing vacancies). The actual Capital expense at the end of the third quarter is $4.3 M, with a forecasted annual spend of $7.0 M and a forecasted carry-forward to 2026 of $6.9 M. At the end of the third quarter the reserve balances are as follows:
• $2.86 M – Uncommitted Operating Reserves
• $355 k – Committed Operating Reserves
• $4.46 M – Committed Capital Reserves based upon the 10-year capital plan.
• $5.81 M – Committed Offsite Levy Reserves for future projects – based upon the offsite levy bylaw 24-17 the estimated costs of capital projects is $299.83 M.

(Balances do not include the projected Operating Surplus at September 30, 2025. Commitments are amounts approved by Council as budgeted capital and operating expenditures funded from reserves that have not yet occurred/been applied.)

Community Improvement Program (CIP) Funding Recommendations

• The Community Improvement Program (CIP) provides grant funding to Strathmore and area-based not-for-profit community organizations to support recreation, culture, and social based programs and activities that enhance Strathmore's overall identity, sense of place, and quality of life for residents. Recommendations for funding are brought forward to Council after the CIP Evaluation.
• On November 4, 2025, the CIP Evaluation Committee met to review one (1) application. This application was submitted by Sacred Heart Parish requesting funds to cover facility rental costs associated with their Parish Dinner and Auction Fundraiser.
• Council approved funding in the amount of $3,387.34 to Sacred Heart Parish through the Community Improvement Program.
• Council also directed Administration to bring to a future Committee of the Whole Meeting discussion, options for amendments to the Community Improvement Program Policy when it comes to fundraisers.

Bylaws

Land Use Bylaw Amending Bylaw No. 25-21 (209 Sixth Avenue, Strathmore)

• The proposed redesignation would permit a Secondary Suite to be located within the basement of the existing single-detached dwelling situated on those lands known municipally as 209 Sixth Avenue in Strathmore.
• Council gave First Reading to Bylaw No. 25-21, being a bylaw to amend Land Use Bylaw No. 14-11
• Council directed Administration to schedule a Public Hearing for Bylaw No. 25-21 on February 4, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Questions and Answer Period

• Councillor Wiley thanked Wheatland County for hosting Strathmore, and surrounding communities, on December 2^nd, for a discussion on future synergies.
• Councillor Brown recognized the wonderful work of those who organized and participated in the Christmas tree lighting and parade on November 29^th and gave a special shout out to the Brentwood Senior Choir.
• Councillor Wiley recognized Holy Cross Collegiate’s Drum Line for their participation in the Christmas event.
• Mayor Fule inquired as to when the community funding requests would be issued. Administration replied that most would be in the first quarter of 2026 and likely by the end of January.
•  Mayor Fule asked about crosswalk light button repair on the 817, across from Westmount School. Administration will take this away and provide a response.
• Councillor Langmaid inquired about the flashing lights on Parklane Drive. Administration indicated that they are aware of this issue.
• Councillor Chisholm brought up a question he received on the stocking of fish in town, Administration indicated that the Alberta Conservation Association is who stocks the lake at this time.

*Council Highlights provide a brief review of the information given and discussions had at Strathmore Town Council Meetings. Council Highlights are not presented as official minutes of the meeting and do not include items discussed in a closed meeting. Official meeting minutes can be accessed at the relevant date on the Council Calendar. 

Watch the full meeting here:

December 3, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting - Part 1

December 3, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting - Part 2

Watch all past streams here:  https://www.youtube.com/@TOStrathmore/streams