Council Meeting Highlights - September 17, 2025

Regular Council Meeting
Meeting Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 
In attendance: Mayor Fule, Councillor Langmaid, Deputy Mayor Mitzner, Councillor Montgomery, Councillor Peterson, and Councillor Wegener
Absent: Councillor Wiley
 
Council adopted the minutes from the September 3, 2025 Regular Council Meeting.
 
Physician Incentive Program - Advice from officials - ATIA S. 29(1)(a)

• After a Closed Meeting, Council made several motions including approval of the awarding of two Physician Incentive Program grants for up to $45,000 each for reimbursable costs in establishing new primary care medical centres in Strathmore.
  • The names of the grant recipients will remain confidential until the primary care medical offices are announced publicly by the applicant.
  • Council also directed Administration to bring Physician Incentive Program Policy No. 1113 and Physician Sponsorship Grant Policy No. 1111 to the March 4, 2026 Regular Council Meeting for discussion.

 
Business
Government of Canada Cyber Security Cooperation Program (CSCP) for Town of Strathmore Cybersecurity Resilience Program 2026

• The Town’s Cybersecurity Resilience Program proposal enhances the ability to prevent, detect, and contain cyber incidents across municipal environments, including Payment systems, Information technology (IT), and Operational technology (OT). The initiative prioritizes protecting resident data and payment information while ensuring the continuity of municipal services.
• Council authorized Administration to apply for funding under the time-limited Government of Canada Cyber Security Cooperation Program (CSCP) for the Town of Strathmore Cybersecurity Resilience Program, and pre-approved funding in the amount of $75,000 from 2026 Capital Budget to go towards the program.

(Funds for capital projects are approved through annual budgets, the projects are not presented to council with the grant funding included unless previous grant agreements are in place. As such, unsuccessful grant applications do not impact the approved budget.)
 
Municipal Election Voting

• Council adopted the recommended institutional voting facilities, allowing residents of Wheatland Lodge, AgeCare Sagewood, and Strathmore Hospital to vote during the 2025 Municipal Election at those facilities.

Bylaws

2026 Fees Bylaw No. 25-23

• This rate bylaw gives Council a framework to ensure fair and equitable charges to residents. By reviewing it on an annual basis, it also ensures financial sustainability of the Town. It is recommended that Council review and set the rates for 2026 fees in advance of budget deliberations.

• While many fees remain the same, Administration presented updates to some fees for 2026:
  • Business License
    • No changes recommended from the prior year
  • Planning & Development:
    • Inflationary increases to Development Permits
    • Changes to other fees based on staff resource requirements to provide services
  • Utilities
    • Changes to the application of utility billing components, including:
      • $0.08 per cubic meter increase to water consumption charges $0.16 monthly increase to water infrastructure charge
      • $0.06 per cubic meter increase to wastewater consumption charges $1.59 monthly increase to wastewater infrastructure charge
      • $0.47 monthly decrease to storm infrastructure charge
      • $5.50 monthly decrease to monthly solid waste fees
  • Family Centre 
    • Most access charges and passes are recommended to stay as is, with a 2% increase to ice and room rentals
  • Aquatic
    • Most access charges and passes are recommended to stay as is, with a 2% increase to pool and room rentals.
  • All-Access Pass
    • The All-Access Pass is recommended to stay as is.
  • Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre
    • Most access charges and passes are recommended to stay as is, with a 2% increase to rentals.
  • Strathmore Civic Centre
    • Most changes recommend a 2% increase.

• Council gave First and Second Reading to 2026 Fees Bylaw No. 25-23 and then opted to leave Third Reading for the incoming Council to review after the Municipal Election.

 
Notice of Motion

• Councillor Peterson’s motion regarding the creation of a Boardwalk through the Wetlands was carried. Administration will investigate the following:

1. Feasibility Study: assess the feasibility of constructing a sustainable pathway in the ToS owned wetland south of Gray’s Park, including an assessment of the scope of ecological assessment required and environmental regulatory compliance requirements to be met, and ensuring compliance with Parks and Pathways Bylaw No. 14-07.

2. Cost Estimation: Provide a preliminary cost estimate for, the preliminary assessments and any 3rd party studies required, construction, maintenance, and potential funding sources (partnerships) for the pathway project.

3. Community Engagement: Outline a plan for engaging with the local community and stakeholders to gather input and feedback regarding the sustainable pathway.

4. Implementation Timeline: Develop a projected timeline for the investigative process, from initial study through to potential construction phases, if approved.

• The findings and recommendations resulting from this investigation be reported back to Council by in January of 2026.

 
*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:
September 17, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting - Part 1
September 17, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting - Part 2

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