TAMRMS#: B06
7.3
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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School Site Joint Use and Planning Agreement
Presented by: Craig Walker, Senior Planner, Planning & Development
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RECOMMENDED MOTION
recommendation
That the Joint Use and Planning Agreement contained in Attachment #1 of the June 2, 2026, agenda report entitled “School Site Joint Use and Planning Agreement” be approved and that both the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer be authorized to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City of St. Albert.
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SUMMARY
• This report discusses the proposed Joint Use and Planning Agreement (JUPA), an agreement required by section 670.1 of the Municipal Government Act to be in place between all municipalities and the school boards operating within their municipal boundaries by June 10, 2026.
• The objective of a JUPA is to facilitate fair, efficient, and transparent processes to approach future discussions on matters around long-term planning and use of school sites and reciprocal use of municipal and school facilities and outdoor amenities.
• The JUPA contained within Attachment #1 has been prepared collaboratively to the satisfaction of City Administration and all four school boards operating within St. Albert.
• The JUPA will be reviewed every five years. Any future amendments to the JUPA will require approval by City Council and all four school boards, except the terms of reciprocal use (Appendix A).
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
Section 670.1 of the Municipal Government Act requires municipalities to enter into JUPA’s with all school boards within the boundaries of the municipality:
670.1(1) Where on the coming into force of this section a school board is operating within the municipal boundaries of a municipality, the municipality must, within 3 years after this section comes into force, enter into an agreement under this section with the school board.
(2) Where after the coming into force of this section a school board commences operating within the municipal boundaries of a municipality, the municipality must, within 3 years after the school board commences operating in the municipality, enter into an agreement under this section with the school board.
(3) An agreement under this section must contain provisions
(a) establishing a process for discussing matters relating to
(i) the planning, development and use of school sites on municipal reserves, school reserves and municipal and school reserves in the municipality,
(ii) transfers under section 672 <https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/stat/rsa-2000-c-m-26/latest/rsa-2000-c-m-26.html?resultId=e6b6a7eba8984670af3cbcdfbfe2c43d&searchId=2026-05-15T14:38:16:579/133dff61b304416bbc60f20898b41dc2> or 673 <https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/stat/rsa-2000-c-m-26/latest/rsa-2000-c-m-26.html?resultId=e6b6a7eba8984670af3cbcdfbfe2c43d&searchId=2026-05-15T14:38:16:579/133dff61b304416bbc60f20898b41dc2> of municipal reserves, school reserves and municipal and school reserves in the municipality,
(iii) disposal of school sites,
(iv) the servicing of school sites on municipal reserves, school reserves and municipal and school reserves in the municipality, and
(v) the use of school facilities, municipal facilities and playing fields on municipal reserves, school reserves and municipal and school reserves in the municipality, including matters relating to the maintenance of the facilities and fields and the payment of fees and other liabilities associated with them,
(b) respecting how the municipality and the school board will work collaboratively,
(c) establishing a process for resolving disputes, and
(d) establishing a time frame for regular review of the agreement,
and may, subject to this Act, the regulations, the Education Act <https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/stat/sa-2012-c-e-0.3/latest/sa-2012-c-e-0.3.html> and the regulations under that Act, contain any other provisions the parties consider necessary or advisable.
(4) More than one municipality may be a party to a joint use and planning agreement.
(5) A joint use and planning agreement may be amended from time to time as the parties consider necessary or advisable.
(6) The Minister <https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/stat/rsa-2000-c-g-10/latest/rsa-2000-c-g-10.html> may make regulations respecting joint use and planning agreement criteria, requirements and exemptions and any other matters respecting joint use and planning agreements.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
A JUPA is a formal agreement between a municipality and the school boards operating within its municipal boundaries to enable integrated and long-term planning and use of school sites on reserve land, including the reciprocal use of municipal and school facilities and outdoor amenities.
The Government of Alberta requires all municipalities to enter into a JUPA by June 10, 2026. The objective is to facilitate fair, efficient, and transparent processes related to school site decision-making and is required by section 670.1 of the Municipal Government Act to include provisions:
• Establishing a process for discussing matters relating to
o the planning, servicing, development, and use of school sites on reserve land;
o the transferring of reserve land between a municipality and a school board;
o the disposal of school sites;
o the use of school facilities, municipal facilities and playing fields on reserve land, including the maintenance of facilities and fields and the payment of fees and other liabilities associated with them;
• Outlining how a municipality and school board will work collaboratively;
• Establishing a dispute resolution procedure; and
• Establishing a timeframe for regular review of the agreement.
The JUPA contained within Attachment #1 addresses the above, and has been prepared collaboratively to the satisfaction of City Administration and all four school boards operating within St. Albert. To demonstrate some of the key differences between the former and new versions of the JUPA, please see Attachment #2.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
The proposed JUPA has been negotiated in good faith with all four school boards operating within St. Albert, namely:
- Greater North Central Francophone Education Region;
- Greater St. Albert Roman Catholic Separate School Division;
- St. Albert Public School Division; and
- Sturgeon Public School Division.
All of the above have indicated that they will seek approval for the JUPA at their own respective board meetings in late May.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
Financial:
By entering into the JUPA, it will enable the Reciprocal Use portion of the JUPA to be adopted by all parties. That document specifies various terms, conditions, and fees associated with the reciprocal booking of City and School Board facilities such as sports fields, recreation centres, and gymnasiums.
Compliance & Legal:
Entering into the JUPA before June 10, 2026, would satisfy the deadline specified by the Government of Alberta and ensure the City is in compliance with section 670.1 of the Municipal Government Act.
Program or Service:
Entering into the JUPA would enable integrated and long-term planning for the transferring, servicing, use, and/or disposal of school sites on municipal reserve (MR), school reserve (SR), and municipal and school reserve (MSR) land.
Organizational:
Entering into the JUPA would facilitate a fair, efficient, and transparent process for the City and the four associated school boards to approach future discussions on matters relating to planning and use of school sites, dispute resolution, and more.
Risks:
None at this time.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Not Applicable
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
Service: Long-Range Land Use Planning.
• Description: Management of long-range land use plans including the MDP, Statutory and Regulatory plans, and future growth policies.
Service: Parks Planning and Development.
• Description: The process of using identified and demonstrated community need to plan and construct new and redeveloped park sites and amenities that reflect a wide variety of recreation, school, community services, and conservation priorities.
Service: Reciprocal Use Agreement.
• Description: Agreement management between the City of St. Albert and St. Albert school divisions for collaborative use of City recreation and cultural facilities and school facilities.
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendation, Administration could be directed by Council to re-negotiate any particular matter(s) with the four school boards, and return to Council prior to the Government of Alberta’s deadline of June 10, 2026.
ALTERNATIVE 1:
Financial:
As per the primary Recommendation, although could be altered depending on the scope of changes directed by Council.
Compliance & Legal:
As per the primary Recommendation.
Program or Service:
As per the primary Recommendation.
Organizational:
As per the primary Recommendation.
Risks
Beginning back in January 2023, the proposed JUPA has been negotiated in good faith at the Administrative level to the satisfaction of all parties. To potentially re-negotiate any particular matter(s) will have implications on staff resourcing, could affect timing of other priority projects, and will delay having an agreement in place to guide decisions around the transferring, servicing, use, and/or disposal of school sites.
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Report Date: June 2, 2026
Author: Craig Walker, Senior Planner
Department: Planning & Development
Department Director: Kristina Peter
Managing Director: Adryan Slaght
Chief Administrative Officer: Bill Fletcher