Council Meeting Highlights - March 4, 2026

Regular Council Meeting

Meeting Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

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

Council adopted the minutes from the February 18, 2026 Regular Council Meeting and the February 25, 2026 Special Council Meeting.

DELEGATIONS

• The Delegation scheduled for the meeting was not present for additional comments.

BUSINESS

2025 Reserve Funding Transfers

• The Town of Strathmore is forecasted to have a 2025 year-end Operating Surplus of approximately $2,756,645.
• Best practice is to allocate annual surpluses to financial reserve accounts. This provides Council with the flexibility and discretion to use the reserve funds for infrastructure projects, programs and services.
• Council approved the transfer of $2,725,700 of the 2025 operating surplus to the following Reserve accounts (with remaining unallocated surplus released to Unrestricted surplus):
  • Financial Stabilization Reserve (RCMP Contract Surplus): $440,000
  • Capital Fire Reserve (Wildfire Surplus): $370,000 Development Application Reserve (Planning Surplus): $415,000
  • Capital - Water Reserve (Utility - Water Surplus): $70,000
  • Capital - Solid Waste Reserve (Utility - Solid Waste Surplus): $180,000
  • Snow Reserve (Snow Removal Surplus): $160,700 
  • Non-Annual Recurring Expenditures (Election Surplus): $107,000
  • GP Cloud Migration (Financial Stabilization Reserve): $43,000
  • Financial Stabilization Reserve (Remaining Operating Surplus): $983,000

2025 Capital and Operating Budget Carry Forwards and Closed Projects

• Each year, Council approves an annual operating and capital budget that runs from January 1 to December 31. This timeframe is not always ideal for capital and operating projects that will not be completed by the end of the fiscal year. Many projects span multiple years (i.e. construction projects) or are completed over the winter season (i.e. development plans or studies). Various delays (i.e. contractor availability, supplier delays, pricing) can also impact a project and carry it over to the next fiscal year.
• To account for uncompleted operating and capital projects at year-end, Council passed Capital and Operating Carry Forward and Closed Project Policy No. 1816 in 2023. This policy ensures the Council reviews all capital projects approved and ensures that budget funding designated for these projects is earmarked for their completion.
• Administration shared with Council all current capital projects and identified all projects that have been completed and all projects that are uncomplete and will need to be carried forward to 2026.
• Council approved the carry forward of the eleven operating projects in the amount of $1,169,800 and Council approved the carry forward of the seventeen 2025 capital projects in the amount of $5,559,030.

Medical Services Update

• Healthcare falls under provincial authority. Alberta's medical system is experiencing physician shortages and the Town of Strathmore has been impacted by this reality. To minimize the impact on residents, the Town has been very active in its effort to attract new medical services to the Town. This includes lobbying the province for increased medical services and supports, as well as establishing new programs to attract primary care physicians to the community.
• The Physician Incentive Program and Physician Sponsorship Program have been successful in attracting five (5) new primary care physicians to the community. These were novel programs that were established with the understanding that the Town would need to revisit them and amend accordingly.
• Council directed Administration to bring a report on the potential of a Medical Services Committee and amendments to the existing Physician Incentive policies to the March 11, 2026 Committee of the Whole for Council consideration.

Residential Recycling – Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Update

• Recycling is one of the key pillars of sustainable waste management by diverting waste from landfills. Since April 1, 2025 the Town has participated in the provincial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, which is a program that puts the cost of recycling on the product producers and not the end users.
• The EPR program will see the user experience in Strathmore change significantly over the next 6-9 months. The Town is part of the first phase of transition for the EPR program which will see operations transfer from a depot service to a curbside service.
• The program aims to have recycling services match those of other solid waste services (garbage and compost). Details on the new curbside service will be made available in the coming months, before being rolled out to single family homes.
• It should be noted that this program is for single-family residential only, multi-family sites (such as apartments) can register under a separate program here: https://www.circularmaterials.ca/alberta-multi-family-dwelling-recycling/ 
• Due to this upcoming change the current depot is being operated to balance service with known future changes. Recycling services and product disposal options are being provided, however enhancements in the program are carefully considered on whether the investment is beneficial with the short timeline remaining at the facility. For example, the HHW program saw an asphalt pad provided as it provides a direct environmental containment benefit, and was partially grant funded, however paving the entire lot would be a significant investment that would potentially go unused in 12 months time.

BYLAWS

Two concurrent bylaws were presented to Council:

Municipal Development Plan Amending Bylaw No. 25-25 (Amendment No. 2, 60-80 Wheatland Trail)

• The Town of Strathmore received a Municipal Development Plan Amendment application on the lands described as 40 and 60 Wheatland Trail, also referred to as 60 and 80 Wheatland Trail. The legal addresses for the proposed applications are Block 2, Plan 9012129 for the parcel currently containing a residential home, and Lot 1, Block 1, Plan 1910233 for the parcel adjacent to the golf course.
• The applications propose a mix of residential and commercial land uses. The application would allow for future subdivision and development permit applications to be accepted by administration for a variety of housing and non-residential options including apartments, townhomes, duplexes, multi-unit, retail stores, restaurants, professional services, health services, and more. 
• Council gave First Reading to Bylaw No. 25-25, being a bylaw to amend the Town of Strathmore Municipal Development Plan and directed Town Administration to schedule a public hearing for Bylaw No. 25-25 on April 1, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Land Use Bylaw Amending Bylaw No. 25-26 (60-80 Wheatland Trail)

• The Town of Strathmore received a Land Use Bylaw Amendment application on those lands described as 40 and 60 Wheatland Trail, also referred to as 60 and 80 Wheatland Trail. The legal addresses for the proposed applications are Block 2, Plan 9012129 for the parcel currently containing a residential home, and Lot 1, Block 1, Plan 1910233 for the parcel adjacent to the golf course.
• The applications propose a mix of residential and commercial land uses. The application would allow for future subdivision and development permit applications to be accepted by administration for a variety of housing and non-residential options including apartments, townhomes, duplexes, multi-unit, retail stores, restaurants, professional services, health services, and more.
• Council gave First Reading to Bylaw No. 25-26, being a bylaw to amend the Town of Strathmore Land Use Bylaw No. 14- 11 and directed Town Administration to schedule a public hearing for Bylaw No. 25-26 on April 1, 2026, at 7:05 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Notice of Motion – Fire Dispatch Services – Councillor Langmaid

• Councillor Langmaid brought her motion regarding Fire Dispatch Services to Council for consideration.
• Following the discussion, Council directed Administration to review fire dispatch services and bring a report to Council for consideration, including alternative options and/or opportunities for fire dispatch services for the Town of Strathmore and other regional partners.

*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 and agendas can be accessed here.

Watch the full meeting here:

March 4, 2026 – Regular Council Meeting – Part 1

March 4, 2026 – Regular Council Meeting – Part 2

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