TAMRMS#: B06
9.1
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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City of St. Albert Recreation Cost Share Agreement
Presented by: Daniele Podlubny, Director, Recreation & Parks
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
That the Chief Administrative Officer be authorized to approve and enter into an extension/amending recreation cost-sharing agreement with Sturgeon County on terms and conditions acceptable to the CAO.
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SUMMARY
• In 2023, the City of St. Albert and Sturgeon County entered into a recreation cost-sharing agreement to ensure a collaborative approach to funding intermunicipal recreational services accessed in St. Albert by residents of Sturgeon County.
• The current recreation cost share agreement is effective through 2026 and has fostered a strong collaborative relationship between both administrations.
• Administration is seeking Council's authorization for the CAO to enter into an extension of the current agreement, maintaining existing terms with annual inflationary adjustments, through 2029.
• The proposed extension will support continued recreation cost-sharing during the development of Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs), ensuring service continuity and fiscal stability.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On April 4, 2023, Council passed the following motion:
INC-23-25
That the CAO be authorized to approve and enter into a recreation cost sharing agreement with Sturgeon County on terms and conditions acceptable to the CAO.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
In 2023, the City of St. Albert and Sturgeon County entered into a formal recreation cost-sharing agreement to support the provision and equitable funding of intermunicipal recreational services. This agreement was established to support a collaborative approach to funding intermunicipal recreational services accessed in St. Albert by residents of Sturgeon County.
The current agreement, which is set to remain in effect until the end of 2026, has proven to be constructive and effective. Over the course of the agreement, both the City and County administrations have worked collaboratively to uphold its terms, strengthening the intermunicipal relationship and ensuring the delivery of consistent, accessible, and high-quality recreation services.
This report seeks Council’s authorization for the CAO to negotiate and enter into an extension of the existing recreation cost-sharing agreement. Discussions between municipal administrations have indicated a mutual interest in maintaining the current terms and conditions of the agreement with the addition of a modest annual inflationary adjustment to account for rising service delivery costs.
This extension is particularly timely, as both municipalities are preparing for the development of ICFs in the coming months and years. Continuing the current cost-sharing arrangement will help preserve service continuity and support fiscal stability throughout this transitional planning period.
By affirming the CAO’s authority to proceed with the proposed extension, Council will reinforce the City’s commitment to cooperative intermunicipal partnerships and the ongoing provision of shared community services.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
N/A
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
Approval of the extended recreation cost-sharing agreement will ensure continued cost recovery is incorporated into the City’s budget.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks:
None at this time.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan:
Not Applicable
ALIGNMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
Recreation and Sport Amenities - Ensure the provision of scheduled and spontaneous use of recreation amenities for community users in a safe and comfortable environment.
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendation, the following alternative could be considered:
ALTERNATIVE 1: Take no action at this time.
Financial:
As the current cost-sharing agreement is incorporated into the existing budget, failure to approve an extension would result in a loss of revenue and increased budget requirements for 2027 and subsequent years.
Compliance & Legal:
N/A
Program or Service:
N/A
Organizational:
N/A
Risks:
N/A
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Report Date: July 15, 2025
Author(s): Daniele Podlubny
Department: Recreation & Parks
Department Director: Daniele Podlubny
Managing Director: Dinu Alex
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher