TAMRMS#: B06
10.1
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Downtown Business Improvement Area Board & Budget
Presented by: Jared Huston, Manager, Business Retention & Expansion; Mike Erickson, Director, Economic Development.
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
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1. That the appointments of the Directors to the St. Albert Downtown Business Association’s Board, as set out in the attachment entitled “St. Albert DBA - 2026 Board of Directors,” be approved, each for a term of one year, from March 17, 2026, until March 16, 2027.
2. That the St. Albert Downtown Business Association’s proposed 2026 budget, as set out in the attachment entitled “St. Albert BIA - 2026 Proposed Budget,” be approved.
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SUMMARY
The St. Albert Downtown Business Association (DBA) is an independent non-profit organization consisting of downtown business owners that governs and administers the Business Improvement Area (BIA) in downtown St. Albert.
In accordance with the Municipal Government Act Business Improvement Area Regulation and the Downtown Business Improvement Area Bylaw (Bylaw21/2023), the DBA must submit their proposed Board and budget annually for Council’s approval. The budget is used to establish the Business Improvement Area tax rate through the Business Improvement Area Tax and Tax Rate Bylaw, which will be presented to Council at a future Council meeting.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
The Municipal Government Act Business Improvement Area Regulation provides that:
11 (1) A board must submit a proposed budget for each calendar year to the council for the council’s approval.
(2) The proposed budget must be submitted at the time and in the form specified by council.
(3) The proposed budget must be a balanced budget and include:
(a) the estimated amount of the board’s revenue from every source, including the amount that the board will receive from the municipality in respect of the business improvement area tax, and
(b) the estimated amount of all operating and capital expenditures planned for the year.
On April 15, 2025, Council gave third reading to Bylaw 14/2025 2025 Business Improvement Area Tax and Tax Rate Bylaw and approved the following motion:
BL-25-020
That the proposed 2025 BIA Budget, as attached to the agenda report entitled “Business Improvement Area Budget & Tax Rate Bylaw” dated April 15, 2025, be approved.
On March 5, 2024, Council approved the following motion:
AR-24-009
That the appointments of the Directors to the St. Albert Downtown Business Association’s Board, as set out in the attachment entitled “St. Albert DBA - 2024-2025 Board of Directors,” be approved, each for a term from March 5, 2024, to December 31, 2025.
That the St. Albert Downtown Business Association’s proposed 2024 budget, as set out in the attachment entitled, “St. Albert BIA - 2024 Proposed Budget,” be approved.
On November 27, 2023, Council approved PM-24-06, which provided matching municipal dollars to the downtown Business Improvement Area operating budget, up to $50,000 at 100% for 2024, 75% in 2025, and 50% in 2026.
On September 19, 2023, Council gave third reading to Bylaw 21/2023, establishing the Downtown Business Improvement Area and approved the following Postponed Motion:
PM-24-004
That $24,000 and a 0.2 FTE is added to the 2024 operating budget for the development and management of a Business Improvement Area.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
On September 19, 2023, Council unanimously approved Bylaw 21/2023, establishing the Downtown Business Improvement Area.
On March 5, 2024, Council approved the inaugural Board and budget of the St. Albert Downtown Business Association, the independent non-profit organization consisting of downtown business owners that governs and administers the Business Improvement Area.
The DBA is required to hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to elect directors and prepare a budget for the calendar year. The proposed directors and budget must be submitted to City Council for approval as part of an annual process. The DBA held their most recent AGM on November 3, 2025, electing four (4) Board members.
The proposed BIA Board of Directors and 2026 budget are attached to this report.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Administration and the DBA Board have had regular communication regarding the organization’s budget and board composition. Notice of the proposed budget coming before Council was sent to all businesses within the BIA.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
Should the DBA Board of Directors and budget be approved by Council, a BIA Tax and Tax Rate Bylaw will need to be passed by Council in order for the City to collect tax on behalf of the BIA and subsequently transfer the collected taxes to the DBA.
Compliance & Legal:
A BIA is a statutory corporation created under the authority of Alberta’s Municipal Government Act (MGA), Business Improvement Area Regulation (BIA Regulations). To meet the legislative requirements, the following must be completed annually for BIA taxes to be collected by the municipality and transferred to the BIA:
• BIA Board of Directors and Budget approval by Council.
• BIA Tax and Tax Rate Bylaw passed by Council.
• BIA Combined Assessment Notices issued.
The BIA Tax and Tax Rate Bylaw must be passed in order to impose a tax on businesses operating within the BIA. Pending approval of the Board of Directors and budget, Administration intends to present Council with the appropriate BIA Tax and Tax Rate Bylaw which will authorize Administration to collect BIA taxes from the businesses within the BIA. In compliance with the MGA BIA Regulations, the BIA Tax and Tax Rate Bylaw will be scheduled to be presented to Council prior to May 1, 2026.
Program or Service:
None.
Organizational:
Since the BIA was established, passing of the DBA’s board members and budget is now an annual organizational process.
Risks
The taxes associated with the BIA do add a small annual expense to businesses operating withing the area.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Strategic Priority: Downtown Vibrancy, as outlined in the St. Albert Council Strategic Plan (2022-2025).
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
• Business Retention and Expansion
• Stakeholder Relations
• Economic Strategy, Planning and Policies
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the motion, the following alternatives could be considered:
ALTERNATIVE 1: Direct the St. Albert Downtown Business Association to make amendments to their proposed Board and/or budget.
Financial
Time required to make amendments to the budget or Board could delay the City’s ability to meet the legislated deadline to implement and collect the BIA Tax in 2026.
Compliance & Legal
Time required to make amendments to the budget or Board could delay the City’s ability to meet the legislated deadline to implement and collect the BIA Tax in 2026.
Program or Service
Work by Administration to prepare for the collection of the BIA Tax is underway. Delays resulting from amendments to the Board and budget may place additional strain on Administration to meet legislative requirements in the time required.
Organizational
May delay work planned by DBA.
Risks
May impact the ability to meet legislative requirements and add additional work for the BDA and City Administration.
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Report Date: March 17, 2026
Author(s): Jared Huston, Manager Business Retention & Expansion
Department: Economic Development
Department Director: Michael Erickson
Managing Director: Adryan Slaght
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher