Council Highlights: October 7, 2025

Council Highlights: October 7, 2025

City/County Ratify Expanded Facilities Framework, Multisport Dome Capital Contribution Agreement – The City and County of Grande Prairie ratified the Expanded Facilities Agreement at their respective Council meetings on October 6, 2025, solidifying a collaborative approach to guide the region’s capital needs and future recreation and culture facility developments.

Business Incentives Bylaw Approved – Council approved Bylaw #3262 – Business Incentives Bylaw which provides tax incentives to companies that build or expand in the County. Details of the new Business Incentives Program are outlined in a media release.

Wildfire Mitigation Strategy Approved – Council approved the 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Strategy as presented, recognizing it as the framework for future wildfire mitigation projects within the County of Grande Prairie. Read the full media release.

Invest Northwest – Council supported formalizing Invest Northwest as a corporation with Part 9 legal structure as an economic development entity for the Grande Prairie/Greenview region, in equal partnership with the City of Grande Prairie and the Municipal District of Greenview. Council directed Administration to include the County’s 1/3 share, funded at $150,000, to come from Council Budget Initiatives.

Divisional Equitable Fiscal Allocation Policy Approved – Council approved Policy C40 as presented with an amendment to include County-owned recreation infrastructure and rescinded Policy N36 – Divisional Projects, effective December 31, 2025. Policy C40 broadens the scope of eligible projects to capital projects for infrastructure, including water and wastewater, bridges and roads, and allocates $1,600,000 per division, per Council term for eligible capital projects that receive Council approval.

County Road Surfacing Policy – Council approved Policy N47 – County Road Surfacing as presented, with the eight subdivisions removed. Administration will proceed with a consistent local improvement criterion that will apply to all rural residential subdivisions seeking to upgrade from an existing gravel surface to a paved surface.

Increase Approved for Water and Wastewater Rates – Council approved increasing water and wastewater rates effective March 1, 2026, as presented, and directed Administration to draft a rate-setting policy for operational cost recovery, to bring to a future Council meeting.

Transportation Levy Waived – Council waived the Transportation Levy for a subdivision application for 20.53 acres intended for the development of an RCMP detachment building.

Draft Transportation Master Plan – Council received a presentation on the draft Transportation Master Plan, a document that will establish the framework for County’s transportation system long-term.

ATCO Gas and Electric Franchise Fees – Council directed Administration to keep the ATCO Gas and Electric franchise fees for the Hamlet of Hythe at the current rates of 12 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively.

Reserve Bids for 2025 Tax Sale – Council directed Administration to remove one property from the 2025 Tax Sale list. Council approved the estimated market value as the reserve bids for the remaining five potential tax sale properties, and the terms and conditions for successful bidders at the time of sale. The 2025 Tax Sale is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. on October 15, 2025.

Evergreen Park Wastewater System – Council directed Administration to assume full responsibility for the existing wastewater system at Evergreen Park and conduct an infrastructure assessment of the existing wastewater system and provide long-term feasibility options, including the possibility of it becoming a County wastewater system or an Aquatera system.

Amended Bylaw Approved for Dunes and Tamarack Estates Local Improvements – Council approved Bylaw #3260 – Amendment to Bylaw #2796 – Local Improvement - Dunes and Tamarack Estates to update the rates and charges of the local improvement. The update was necessary after one lot was subdivided into two which decreased the local improvement tax by $13.52 per unit, per year.

Development Permit Approved – Council approved a development permit for a temporary work camp, subject to conditions being met, consisting of three manufactured homes to house Hythe & District Pioneer Homes employees at 10410-100 Street in the Hamlet of Hythe.

Road Closure of a Portion of Government Road Allowance – Council deemed a portion of Government Road Allowance located approximately adjacent to the Wapiti River bridge next to Highway 40 south as surplus and directed Administration to proceed with the sale for a price of $6,300, not including GST. The purchaser will be responsible for all survey and transfer costs.

Councillor Information Request Policy – Council tabled Policy F17 – Councillor Information Request and will bring it back to a future Council meeting. 

Honoraria and Expense Reimbursement Approved – Council approved Policy F10 – Council and Board Member Honoraria and Expense Reimbursement as presented.

Travel Expense Reimbursement – Council approved Policy L4 – Travel Expense Reimbursement as presented.

Council Decision-Making Framework Approved – Council approved Policy F11 – Council Decision-Making Framework as presented, with the new Request for Decision (RFD) template to come into effect January 1, 2026.

Procedural Bylaw Update Approved – Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #3261 – Procedural Bylaw with one amendment.

Bylaw #2680-25-031 – Council gave third and final reading to redesignate 34.70 acres of land located west of Range Road 50, a half mile south of Township Road 730, and six miles east of the hamlet of Clairmont from the Agricultural (AG) District to the Country Residential (CR-5) District.

Public Hearings:

• Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #2680-25-034 to redesignate 20.53 acres of land within the Hamlet of Clairmont, west of Range Road 62 and south of Township Road 724, from the Agricultural (AG) District to Country Industrial (CM).
• Council refused an application to redesignate 42 acres of land located east of Range Road 101 and north of Highway 43, approximately one mile north of Beaverlodge, from the Agricultural (AG) District to Country Residential (CR-5) District.
• Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #2680-25-036 to redesignate 32.4 acres of land located west of Range Road 63 and north of Township Road 734, approximately 1.5 miles west of the Town of Sexsmith, from the Agricultural (AG) District to Country Residential (CR-5) District to consolidate with the neighbouring County Residential property.

County Library Board Funding Request – Council deferred the operational funding request to the 2026 Interim Budget deliberations.

Event and Funding Requests – Council approved the $5,000 funding request for the Bezanson Agricultural Society Roots & Boots event. Council approved providing a gift basket for auction at the Peace Area Riding for the Disabled Society (PARDS) Dine & Dance event on November 8, 2025.

The Council Organizational Meeting will take place on October 27, 2025. The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on November 10, 2025. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on December 1, 2025.

Council and Committee meetings are available to the public via live stream. Find connection instructions and meeting agendas under Council Meetings on the County website.