TAMRMS#: B06
10.3
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Enhancing St. Albert’s “Botanical Arts”
Notice given by: Councillor Korotash
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PROPOSED MOTION(S):
recommendation
That administration brings forward a report to Council outlining options, operational implications, and associated budget considerations to enhance St. Albert's “Botanical Arts” identity through high-impact horticultural and beautification initiatives downtown and at other high traffic vehicle or pedestrian areas of the city.
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ADMINISTRATION’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTENT OF THE MOTION
Administration understands that if approved, this motion directs Administration to prepare a report for Council that contains options, including operational implications and applicable budget and resourcing required to supplement existing horticultural and beatification amenities in the downtown area as well as other high vehicle and pedestrian traffic areas in the City.
PURPOSE OF REPORT
The purpose of this report is to present a motion for which Councillor Korotash gave notice on September 30, 2026.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
N/A
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The existing horticultural and beautification elements that exist within the City are defined within the City’s Municipal Engineering Standards or through projects or initiatives that have been directed by Council to occur, leading to amenities that may exceed the amenity definitions that are contained within the standards.
Similarly, the City’s external service levels provide the direction to Administration of what services are to be provided for the City. The service levels and Municipal Engineering Standards seldom differentiate between specific locations such as downtown or high traffic areas in the areas of horticultural or beautification amenities.
Administration’s understanding is that this Motion intends to provide options to Council that would supplement what is contained within the existing Municipal Engineering Standards and Service Levels for areas that would have a higher visibility due to the volumes of activities and traffic that occur in the Downtown and high traffic locations.
There have been previous inquiries and requests that touched on the contents of the Motion but have been largely on specific initiatives or individual locations. For reference, some of the recent examples include:
CI-24-083 - Large pots of flowers at various intersections in St Albert
BIR-24-005 - Flower and Plant Maintenance Budget
IR-26-12 - Downtown Beautification Update.
If this Motion is passed, Administration suggests that a report back to Council could contain three levels of supplementary improvements in the areas of horticultural and beautification amenities in the Downtown and high traffic areas in the City. The report would present conceptual design options for each of the three proposed levels of horticultural and beautification improvements, supported by input from subject matter experts in the relevant fields. Each option would identify potential initiatives, illustrative concepts, and indicators of the operational implications, including anticipated maintenance requirements and ongoing resource needs. Capital and operating cost estimates would be developed at a conceptual, order-of-magnitude level to support comparison of the options and inform Council’s decision-making.
Further detailed scoping, design, and analysis would be required to refine the proposed improvements and establish more accurate estimates of the initial capital investment and total lifecycle costs associated with operating, maintaining, and renewing the assets.
The report would also refer to the existing standards or service levels for awareness, that could inform Council should there be a desire to augment any of the existing standards or service levels accordingly.
Administration proposes that a report responding to this Motion if passed could be delivered to Council by the end of Q2, 2027.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
While any subsequent motion that results from this report would have financial impacts of varying magnitudes based on the initiative, this motion itself is limited to the creation of a report that includes options. Administration would be looking to complete conceptual level alternatives and estimates that would require approximately $30,000 in resource funding to engage subject matter experts.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
This Motion itself does not affect service levels but future decisions that result from this report may, with Program and Service impacts included in future Administrative reports responding to Motions.
Organizational:
This Motion itself does not have organizational impacts but future decisions that result from this report may, with potential organizational impacts included in future Administrative reports responding to Motions.
Risks
This Motion itself has limited risks but future decisions that result from this report may, with a thorough evaluation of risks included in future Administrative reports responding to Motions.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan:
Downtown Action Plan
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
A.1.2 Cultural Amenities
C.1.2 Urban Forest Maintenance
G.1.8 Transportation Network Asset Management and Maintenance
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Report Date: November 3, 2026
Author(s): Tim Saunders
Department: Public Operations
Department Director: Tim Saunders
Managing Director: Dinu Alex
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher