NOTICE OF

COMMUNITY ISSUES COMMITTEE MEETING

DATE: MONDAY, March 15, 2004
TIME: 1:00 P.M.
PLACE: COUNCIL CHAMBERS
(Public is welcome to attend)

AGENDA
1:00 1. LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AFFECTING THE 2004 ELECTION
Dianne Nemeth, City Clerk

1:45 BREAK

2:00 2. INFORMATION PLAN ON VEHICULAR EMISSION REDUCTION

Dalton Stafford, Manager, Wastewater Utility

3:30 BREAK

4:00 3. PUBLIC HEARING (SEE SEPARATE AGENDA)

4:30 SUPPER BREAK

5:00 4. GARY BOWIE, Chair, Lethbridge Sports Bid Committee,

re Past & Current Activities/Future Initiatives

5:30 5. TONY SUCHE, Austral Imports Inc.,

re CAROMA Dual-Flush Toilets from Australia

6:00 6. MEETING WITH CITIZENS, Without Formal Notice

6:15 7. SUZANNE LINT, Committee Representative,

re Report on Bright Lights Festival 2003

1
Department: Office of the City Clerk

March 10, 2004

For Submission to
Community Issues Committee Meeting (CIC)
March15, 2004

His Worship the Mayor and

Members of City Council

Re: Legislative Changes Affecting the 2004 Election

I would like to appear before CIC in order to outline the proposed Legislative changes.
The following is my report.

Report Summary

• This report provides a summary of the amendments to the Local Authorities

Election Act that will affect the 2004 General Municipal Election.
• A suggested motion is provided in the event that the Committee wishes to direct
City Council to provide for the use of special ballots in the 2004 General
Municipal Election.

Changes in Legislation

• In the spring 2003 Legislative Session, amendments to the Local Authorities

Election Act (L.A.E.A.) were passed.
• The following five amendments are the most significant ones that will potentially
affect the 2004 Election:

1. Advance vote qualifications

In previous elections, including the 2001 General Municipal Election, a criteria for a
voter to vote at the Advance vote was if they had reason to believe that they would be
absent from the local jurisdiction and unable to attend a voting station during the whole
time fixed for the election.

Section 76(a) of the L.A.E.A. has been amended by striking out “absent from the local
jurisdiction” and substituting “unable to attend a voting station.”

Eligible voters are now authorized to vote at an advance vote if they have reason to
believe that they will be unable to attend a voting station during the time fixed for the
election.

This is a positive change because it provides the opportunity for more voters to attend the
Advance vote if for any reason it will be inconvenient for them to vote on Election Day.
 -2-

2. Blind Voter Template

Section 78 of the L.A.E.A. requires a blind voter template for an elector. If a request is
made at least three (3) months before Election Day, we will comply; however, we do not
anticipate any requests.

The City of Lethbridge has not used a blind voter template in municipal elections. The
Canadian National Institute for the Blind in Lethbridge has indicated there are only three
or four people who would actually need a template. We will be meeting with CNIB for
further discussions. Most visually impaired can read the large font on the ballot. These
voters can be served by the assistance of a friend or the Presiding Deputy Returning
Officer at the voting station.

3. Attendance at an institutional vote

Section 81 of the L.A.E.A. allows candidates and agents to be present at the institutional
vote. For the City of Lethbridge, the institutional vote includes nursing homes, senior’s
accommodation facilities and the Regional Hospital.

This provision would require the institutions to allow candidates and agents to follow
election workers, who in many circumstances are visiting individual beds of ill patients.
The potential exists that two election officials, plus a representative of the institution,
plus a candidate or agent equalling the number of candidates on a ballot card (up to 30
people in many situations) could be going from bed-to-bed in an institution. The practical
implications are that many institutions, out of concern for their residents or patients, will
deny entry to our election teams.

Administration strongly believe that this amendment should be repealed in the belief that
the presence of candidates or agents in these typically confined and personal spaces of an
incapacitated voter can lead to undue influence on the voter at the point of voting,
perhaps even some sense of intimidation. Administration is working towards a solution
with Alberta Municipal Affairs through the Alberta Clerk’s Association.

4. Identification for a candidate or a campaign worker

Section 52 of the L.A.E.A. requires the elected authority to provide identification to a

candidate or a campaign worker who is accessing a residence in a building containing
two or more residences or each residence in a mobile home park.

Administration is working on procedures to manage this process.

 -3-

5. Vote by special ballot

Sections 77.1 – 77.3 of the L.A.E.A. enable electors to apply to vote by “special ballot.”
These sections are optional. Council does not have to provide for “special ballots.”
Council may want to consider the following advantages and disadvantages before making
this choice.

Advantages to special ballots include:

• Ballots can be marked in the privacy of one’s own home

• Increases voter convenience
• Provides voters who are not able to vote during the advance vote or on election
day with an extended voting period
• Decreases barriers that confront non-voters

Disadvantages to special ballots include:

• With the use of special ballots, there are no safe guards that could be put in place
to prevent voter fraud. The biggest safe guard is to see people at the voting
station. The voting station has physical protections like secrecy booths and buffer
zones around voting stations that protect voters from coercion by another person
when they are completing their ballot.
• There is no evidence that voter turnout has been improved overall. Marginal and
short-term improvements have been observed in some jurisdictions that have
implemented this.
• Ballots will need to be re-copied onto a machine-readable ballot. This may delay
reporting of the final results.
• Voters may not understand the instructions for voting and unintentionally spoil
their ballot. The voter will never know if the ballot has actually been cast. For
example if a voter marks a ballot incorrectly in a voting station, election staff
could provide the voter with a new ballot and instructions on how to mark it
correctly. In the case of special ballots, voters will never know whether or not the
ballot has been marked correctly.
• Implementation of special ballots would involve a new approach to ballots that
may require additional staffing to handle the process.

The Office of the City Clerk has been unable to determine any real advantages to
implementing special ballots; however, we await direction in this regard.

We have been advised the cities of Red Deer and Edmonton have discussed this matter
with their Councils who have decided not to proceed with special ballots at this time.
 -4-

The following information was received from the City Clerk’s Office in Edmonton:

For the 2001 Provincial General Election there were 2,638 valid special ballots
cast. There were 161 rejected special ballots. Rejected ballots included those not
received by close of polls on Election Day and those not completed properly. In
provincial elections, the number of special ballots being requested has increased.
In the 1997 election there were approximately 9,000 special ballots that were
requested province-wide. In the 2001 election there were approximately 11,000
special ballots requested. However, voter turnout has not increased since the
implementation of special ballots. In fact the overall provincial turnout has
decreased. Voter turnout for the 2001 election was 52%, the 1997 turnout was
53% and the 1993 turnout was 60%.

Budget / Financial Implications

Cost of administering special ballots is unknown.

Legal Implications

Administration will, if directed, provide for special ballots in the Elections Bylaw.

Special Ballots

“Special ballots” can also be described as “absentee ballots” or “mail-in ballots.”

In the event that Council wishes to direct Administration to provide for special ballots in
the 2004 general municipal election, the following motion is suggested for consideration
by City Council:

“That Administration bring back an amendment to the Elections Bylaw to provide

for special ballots to City Council.”

Dianne Nemeth, CMC

CITY CLERK
DEPARTMENT:
INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES
MARCH 3, 2004

FOR SUBMISSION TO THE

MARCH 15, 2004
MEETING OF COMMUNITY ISSUES COMMITTEE (CIC)

HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR AND

MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

RE: INFORMATION PLAN ON VEHICULAR EMISSION REDUCTION

BACKGROUND:
The City Council, at its December 2002 sitting passed a resolution asking Administration to
develop an information plan on vehicular reduction emission for its approval. This was in
response to a letter from The Mayor Robert D. Tarleck, expressing his interest in seeing a
reduction in vehicular emissions.

PROBLEMS OF VEHICLE IDLING:

Most Canadians, on average, idle their vehicles from 5 to 10 minutes a day. Vehicle idling
produces negative impacts on the environment. It produces greenhouse gases, which contribute
to global warming. Vehicle Idling also wastes fuel and us money. It is also not good for our
vehicle engines. As at March 31, 2003, there were about 55,520 vehicles registered in
Lethbridge. If Lethbridge’s drivers avoided idling for just five minutes, a day, we would save 3.0
million litres of fuel, save $2.1 million (at $0.70/litre) and prevent more than 7300 tonnes of
carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, per year.

REASONS AND BENEFITS FOR US TO TAKE ACTION:

a. Idling is a perfect issue for municipalities to demonstrate leadership.
b. Turning off the engine is a simple easy act for us to do. It does not only encourage others
toward more environmentally sustainable behaviour, but it helps people understand how
little things we do can have an impact on the environment and human health.
c. Demonstrating progress on issues like idling can also open doors for more fundamental
changes needed to address climate change and air quality issues in the future.
d. Not idling will save us money, let us breathe more easily, help spare our climate and air
and also reduce engine wear and tear.

We will provide further information in a presentation format to allow council to provide input as
to a suitable process to use to move this initiative ahead.

Dalton Stafford, P.Eng. Kingsford Amoah, M.Sc., EIT

Process Administrator Infrastructure Engineer
 Toward an
Idle-Free City
Dalton Stafford, P.Eng.
Process Administrator
&
Kingsford Amoah, M.Sc., E.I.T
Infrastructure Engineer

Taking Action to Reduce Vehicle Idling

Acknowledgements
Ž Idle-Free Zone:
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/autosmart/idling/
Ž Climate Change Central

Outline

ŽReasons for Taking Action

ŽPossible Action Plan
ŽCreating Awareness
ŽWhat Others Have Done
ŽStrategy To Move Forward

1
 Reasons for Taking
Action

ŽIt’s a perfect issue for us, a

municipality, to demonstrate
leadership in the Community.
ŽTurning off the engine is a
simple easy act for us to do.

Model for Urban

Environmental Management

Selective Sustainable Ecosystem

Compliance Development Management
(with regulations, (basis is city as
(balance environment ecosystem)
policy) – social – economic)

Present Desired

Why Idling Is a Problem

(Should We Care?)

Idling our vehicles:

ŽProduces negative impacts on
the environment

Žwastes fuel and costs us

money; and
Žis not good for vehicle engines

2
 Possible Action Plan
Lead by Example

ŽCreate awareness internally;

ŽDemonstrate benefits;
ŽExpand to community.

It Off
Turn
t
Jus

Canadian’s Idling Habits

(Is it Me?)

ŽMost idle 5–10 minutes a day.

3
 It can be done…
with the turn of a key
Ž If Lethbridge’s drivers avoided
idling for just five minutes, we
would:
Ž save 3.0 million litres of fuel;
Ž save $2.1 million (at $0.70/litre); and
Ž prevent more than 7300 tonnes of
CO2 from entering the atmosphere,
per year.

Idling Myth No. 1

Ž The engine should be

warmed up before driving

Idling Myth No. 2

ŽIdling is good for your

engine

4
 Idling Myth No. 3

Ž Shutting off and restarting

your vehicle is hard on the
engine and uses more gas.

Experience of Others
Idling Control Policies
and By-laws
Anti-Idling Control Policies
Edmonton, Calgary, The Region of
Waterloo, Kelowna
Idling Control By-laws
Toronto, London, Mississauga

Strategy to Move
Forward

ŽStep One
Ž Work -Based Initiatives
ŽStep Two
Ž Community Awareness
and Outreach

5
 It’s Up to Us!

Ž We need to create the

awareness

Ž Together we can make a

difference!

Thanks

Strategy to Move
Forward

ŽStep One
Ž Work -Based Initiatives
ŽStep Two
Ž Community Awareness
and Outreach

6
 Work-based Initiatives
Objectives:
Ž Generate awareness of the idling
issue;
Ž Reduce the duration and frequency
of idling among City employees; and
Ž Enhance the City’s climate
protection initiatives.

Baseline Statistics

Ž Pre -Campaign Survey

Ž Idling Vehicle Count
Ž Historical Fuel Consumption
Data

Education and
Awareness
Ž Presentations and Meetings
Ž Personal Contacts and
Communications
Ž Information Dissemination Tools
Ž Distribution of Information Cards
and Vehicle Stickers
Ž Corporate-wide Anti-idling
Contest

7
 Anti-Idling Tool kit
Ready-to-Use Graphics

Anti-Idling Tool kit

Campaign Materials

Campaign Evaluation

Ž Post-Campaign Survey
Ž Follow-Up Idling Vehicle Count
Ž Trends in Fuel Consumption

8
 LETHBRIDGE
SPORTS BID
COMMITTEE
2003 Report

The Year
„ Updated Terms of Reference
– shared with other communities
„ Research on Sport Councils
„ Representation on new Cultural Wellness Centre
Steering Committee
„ Representation on Regional Training Centre proposal
„ Canadian Sport Tourism affiliate
„ Council re-appointments

The Year
„ Met with organizers of Rocky Mountain Challenge
„ Bid for 2007 Western Canada Summer Games
„ Bid for 2005 Special Olympics Alberta Provincial Games
„ Assisted with bid for 2005 U17 World Hockey Challenge
„ Assisted with bid for Baseball Canada Cup
„ Consultation with Athletics Alberta

1
The Successes
„ U-17 World Hockey Challenge

The Successes
„ Special O Bid

Looking Ahead
„ CSTA – split membership with LCVB
„ CSTA Congress – Ottawa
„ Track and Field Facility Research
„ Newsletter
„ Marketing Plan
„ Practicum Student
„ Update and Computerize PDF
„ Sport Policy Development
„ Website Development
„ Bid Hosting Support

2
Looking Ahead
„ A Stadium for Community Stadium Complex
Lethbridge

3
The document was completed as a pdf and distributed to Sports Groups.
It has bee a valuable source of information for subsequent bids, but has
not functioned as we had hoped for direct preparation of Bids. Needs to
be updated- re: new facilities, more information on some venues ie: court
sizes, field sizes etc, and new hotels need to be added.

Terms of Reference were amended- changed “in accordance with

parliamentary procedure” under MEETINGS to Meetings will be
continued in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

These Terms of Reference were asked for by the people in County of

Strathcona to use as a model for creating their own Bid Committee in
October/03

1
Lori did extensive research on forming a Sport Council. She was
informed that other communities are moving in the same direction of
forming Bid Committees, and that it was advisable to continue to
develop in the direction we are already moving.

Deb Marek assisted the Bid Committee in developing the Lethbridge

sports Bid Committee Marketing Plan 2001-2002:
1. Re-establish the Purpose and Make up of the Bid Committee
2. Improve the Image of the Committee and crate relevant packages of information
3. Increase the Awareness of the Committee and establish communication with Sport
Groups of Lethbridge
4. Pursue the Hosting of events and Tournaments in Lethbridge

5. Seek Partnerships in Development of Hosting Opportunities

6. Develop Evaluation Strategies for Bids and Hosting Events

2
October 2000 Bid Committees went to Council with proposal to bid for
2003 World Junior Hockey. Cost was considered too high to pursue bid.

Two members of the Bid Committee LCVB attended 2002 Congress in

Ottawa. LCVB attended 2003 Congress.

Bid Committee (arranged by LCVB) met with organizers of Rocky

Mountain Challenge- multi day mountain bike race. Determined not to
be practical or even do-able from Lethbridge- needed a mountain/cross
country course.

3
2002 Bid Committee/LCVB worked with organizers re: hotels, grants,
and volunteers

2002 Worked with organizers re: hotels.

Met with Mayor to Discuss the city’s economic development, regarding

hosting events.

4
May 27, 2002 Address by mayor. Facilitated by Jim Day. Presented
Lethbridge Highlights.

Started September 2002- Bid Tour May 2003. Went to council four
times, developed the Bid and hosted the Bid Tour. Awarded to
Strathcona County.

Gary is sitting on the steering committee for the development of the

University’s new 25 million dollar wellness centre.

5
Lori and Carol sitting on proposed regional training centre.

Gary wrote a letter to Ed Fetting early in the fall. Had a metting just last
week re: funding, etc.

Conference call in June to John Jacobson with Athletic Alberta.

Determined that we need a track in Southern Alberta. Would open up
many major competitions- Bid Committee to plan strategy to pursue
track.

6
September 11, 2003: Ald. Shaun Ward and Joe Mauro were appointed as
the City of Lethbridge representatives, after a short hiatus without
representation.

Worked with Deb Brigley and her committee. Successful bid for Dec/Jan
04-05

Worked with Kevin Kvame and his committee on bid for event. Event
was awarded to Medicine Hat for 2005-06. Lethbridge’s bid was strong
and we are working with the committee to secure the event in the future,
possibly as soon as 2007.

7
Developed and delivered bid October 31/03 Bid Tour December2.
Decision will be made end of January 2004 for summer 2005 Special
Olympics Games.

8
 The objective of the Bright Lights Festival committee is to
establish, organize and hold an annual community social event
that symbolizes the start of the Christmas season in Lethbridge.
The entire community is invited to the Galt Gardens and the
downtown to participate in a Christmas themed event, filled with
family-oriented activities and performances. The main focus of the
event is to create a unique, attractive and festive atmosphere that
utilizes the Galt Gardens as its focal point. The lighting and
decorating of trees, buildings and storefronts is one of the main
objectives of the Bright Lights Festival committee.

2002 – TRIMMING THE TREE

In 2002, over 600 Grade 3 students built ornaments
that were hung on the official Bright Lights
Christmas Tree. One lucky student was picked to light
the tree at the kick off of the Bright Lights Festival.

1
 2003 – TRIMMING THE TREE
In 2003, over 150 beautifully decorated
ornaments were hung by City of Lethbridge
Parks Department employees. Grade 2 and 3
students decorated the ornaments that were
hung on the official Bright Lights Christmas
Tree.

2002 GALT GARDENS ACTIVITIES

Approximately 2,500 people attended the successful inaugural Bright Lights Festival. Families were
treated to free hayrides, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, popcorn, cotton candy, helium balloons, live
music and a visit from Santa. The majority of trees in the park and on downtown streets were lit up
with help from private donations, corporate sponsorship and the City of Lethbridge.

2003 GALT GARDENS ACTIVITIES

McCallum’s
Saddlery was on
hand again to
That Balloon provide hayrides
Guy donated his and as the
services to the official
event by creating transportation
balloon for Santa’s
sculptures for arrival.
children for the
entire evening.

2
 A TRUE COMMUNITY EFFORT!
The community contributed to the
success of the inaugural Bright
Lights Festival in a variety of ways.
Donations in the form of cash, lights
and volunteer time were important
elements of the event’s success!
Contributors were recognized on the
Bright Lights Festival Display Tree.
The Lethbridge Food Bank, Toys
For Tots and the Warm Hearts
Campaign were also on hand to
receive donations from people
attending the event.

Mr. Harvie Davies

was recognized for
his donation of a 25
ft. Blue Spruce that
was the centerpiece
for the tree light up.
His tree also used to
display the 600+
hand-made beaded
angel ornaments

A TRUE COMMUNITY EFFORT!

Businesses and rganizations
such as the Penny Coffee
House, Movie Mill, Wal-
Mart, M&M Meats, London
Road Neighborhood
Association and the Tuba
Christmas musicians and
singers contributed to the
success of the 2003 Bright
Lights Festival.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

CANADIAN EXPRESS CLOGGERS

TUBA CHRISTMAS
MUSICIANS &
SINGERS
JUGGLER - NIALL McKENNA

3
 SANTA KICKS OFF THE EVENT
The arrival of Santa
signaled the start of the
Bright Lights Festival.
Santa was welcomed by
Master of Ceremonies
Doug Anderson (95.5
FM), Mayor Tarleck and
Senator Joyce Fairburn.

WINDOW DISPLAY CONTEST

- The Candy Station
24 businesses participated in the contest. Displays were
- LA Gallery Design Studio
judged by a committee made up of media and City Council.
- Zephyr Impressions
- Great Garb Boutique
- Mum’s Chocolates
- GG Petite
- Merle Norman Downtown
- Green’s Shoe Store
- Fraches Flowers
- In-Scents Expressions
- Once Upon A Bride
- King of Trade
- McGuire’s Men’s Wear
- Round Street Gallery
- Adams Book Corner
- Dove Christian Supplies
- Glass Slipper Bridal Shop
- Calman Dress
- The Shoe Tree
- Treasures ‘n Treats
- Balloonabrations
- Professional Optical

ECONOMIC SPIN-OFFS
The Midnight Madness event,
held in conjunction with the
2003 Bright Lights Festival,
was a huge success with
downtown merchants.

4
 DOWNTOWN AREA
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN
Adopted by By-law #4183 on April 5, 1988
4.2.2. OBJECTIVE: TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF
AN ATMOSPHERE OF DYNAMISM AND VITALITY IN THE
DOWNTOWN.
“If downtown is to be viewed as the heart of the City and is to help
create an identity for Lethbridge, it would be appropriate to
develop an annual social event which centers in the downtown.
Such an event should have a unique theme, and perhaps should
be held during a period of the year when more unusual or unique
activities can occur i.e. winter or early spring.”