Bloggers in Spruce Grove

Go to our profile and then click on Spruce Grove to see all of us. The other community group using blogger is Horizon Stage see links at the right. We would like to see more community groups using blogger as it provides a common place for us to meet online. Contact us if you want help setting up a blogspot.

Voting, New Blogs, Posting, & Email List

You can vote on questions possed by the blog team or submitred by participants. The first question is "Will people use the site?". Please vote in right hand column.

We hope to have others post to this site and comment on our postings. If we get several people interested in a specific topic such as the Agrena Parking Taskforce, we will start a separate blog for them.

Also if you want to post something, ask question (questions can be made after each posting as well), or get on our email list send us an email facts@gaggle.net

City Budget Submission - Spruce Grove Heritage FACTS

DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL:

Further to last year’s budget submission and FACTS presentations to council, we are proposing that funding be allocated to heritage preservation, planning, programming, and website development.

OBJECTIVE:

To partner with the City of Spruce Grove, Young Lions Media and other community organizations to preserve, plan for and develop heritage resources.

DISCUSSION:

Heritage preservation and planning is a municipal responsibility that should not be delegated to non-profit organizations for the following reasons:

1. Municipalities can designate historical sites and buildings, which do not qualify as provincial sites (in Spruce Grove we do not have any that qualify).
2. Non-profit organizations come and go and change leadership, heritage planning and preservation are ongoing community responsibilities.
3. Community interest and consistent heritage programming also vacillates with non-profit involvement.
4. Previous generations volunteered for heritage planning and preservation. This is not the case with the Baby Boomer generation, which is more interested in their leisure etc., than passing on heritage to the next generation.


With the above factors clearly in mind, FACTS is proposing to develop partnerships and community websites so that we can work together with the City to plan for and preserve our heritage as follows:

1. That the City host Spruce Grove Heritage FACTS website. FACTS has a working prototype, which can be easily mounted on the City’s server.
2. That demolition of the Little Church on King Street be suspended until all options are explored. (See presentation to council on March 26th and ongoing discussions with the Kinsmen). The Centre could be renamed the Kinsmen Heritage Centre.
3. That the 1908 house on McLeod Avenue be preserved as a heritage resource. Either in its present location or the cost for moving it to another location be considered in the budget.
4. That we look into making architectural drawings of the McLachlan (Nelson) farm house for future reconstruction.
5. That we designate the central area of the City as a heritage area and plan for redevelopment accordingly.
6. That we designate the brick block on First Avenue as a heritage site.
7. That we look into preserving some of the Huber’s garage history as it is being renovated.
8. That we develop heritage signage and corresponding website.
9. That a comprehensive heritage plan be developed in conjunction with the Municipal Development Plan and through several public consultations.
10. That we investigate partnering with schools, and other community organizations to investigate joint agreements to preserve our educational heritage and develop generations together programming.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

If the City is to assume the overall responsibility for heritage planning and preservation, then City Staff need to be involved in the specific financial impact of this budget submission. The resulting financial impact will then be presented to council.
1. Hosting website
a. Initial software provided by FACTS through their agreement with Collaborative Information Networks. (Cost of updates will be presented for future budgets).
b. Installation – FACTS STEP employee and City Staff.
c. Maintenance – computer storage.
2. Investigating the options for the Little Church site – Public meeting space minimum.*
3. Maintenance of the Little Church site facility. *
4. Heritage planning and designating heritage sites (especially in the central area and 1st Avenue – major costs would be associated with moving the 1908 house). There would be costs for consultants, volunteers and City staff and facility use.
5. Architectural drawings of the McLachlan (Nelson) farm house – slightly more than drawings for the Little Church.
6. Heritage signage and corresponding website.
7. FCSS staff for generations together and youth programming need to be involved with community groups.

* These items need to be considered by FACTS and the City in consultation with the Kinsmen.

CORE STRATEGIES:
References to pages from the Strategic Plan show how this proposal relates to core strategies:

· Pg. 14 A Visionary (50 years in the future and as far back as we can go) Comprehensive Heritage Plan (developed through public consultation) should be included in the MDP. Pg. 27 specifically mentions, “Identifying community needs and desires”.
· Pg. 17 Our historical Central Area should be retained in its current state (where ever possible) and sustained for future generations. Public consultations (not just public hearings) should be required for any changes in this area of our City.
· Pg. 21 The Queen Street heritage park needs to be considered in relationship to this page.
· Pg. 39 Consider including heritage programming for youth and generations together projects.
· Pg 43 FACTS is in the process of seeking funding for a website and Digital Heritage Centre - this could be done in conjunction with seniors and youth resource centres.

Provide an opportunity for public discussion (the current system only provides for presentation).
· Pg. 17 On the historical street signage program.
· Pg. 19 As part of the community and facility needs review.
· Pg. 22 On including heritage in the review of the City’s involvement in special events.
· Pg. 32 Corporate Communications Strategy
· Pg. 33 Public consultation protocol & guidelines for community consultation events.
· Pg 42 Engaging property business owners and residents of Spruce Grove in heritage preservation and future planning for the Central Area.

ATTACHMENTS:

Please find our financial statement attached. This year’s statement is being audited and will be available by the first of May.

AUDIO-VISUAL REQUIREMENTS: Overhead projector

Representative of organization: David Ibsen Date: April 2007

Presentation to Spruce Grove City Council on September 24th, 2007

Questions will be submitted last in the presentation but are presented first so bloggers can get an overview.

Questions:

1. Could the city designate the 1908 house as a heritage resource in recognition of Spruce Grove being 100 years in its present location?

2. Could the city postpone demolition of the little church until a strategic plan for the site (rebuilding) is in place?

3. Could the city have sold the south end of the Queen Street property, and returned to their strategic plan for the North end of the property?

4. Would the city consider involving FACTS, other groups and individuals in developing a new communications and strategic planning process that includes long term planning, identifying community values, and ongoing community involvement (Will this be part of the budget – see FACTS submission)?

5. What involvement did the Community Health Council or the Capital Health Board have in developments on the Queen Street School site?

We would like written answers to these questions.

Introduction:

Although Spruce Grove has an excellent Strategic Plan, administrative and development pressure seems to be eroding that plan. Developments at 511 Queen Street are only one instance (see attached page from the Strategic Plan). The public concern for relocation of our tobogganing hill (Town Hall Meeting on September 12th) and demolition of our little Church are other instances.

Currently public involvement in Strategic Planning Process is a three year cycle (see page 6 – Strategic Plan 2005-2007). The plan outlines strategies and basic values of council but comes short with respect to long term planning, community values and ongoing community involvement in the planning and decision making process (see page 4).

· Add to the vision “for people who want ‘City in the Country’ living”.

· Expand on Provincial and Woodhaven Middle School values.

This presentation will illustrate the need for coordination and opportunities for public discussion with respect to Strategic Planning. We will look at the past, present concerns and future possibilities for improvement in the process.

Past:

With respect to the past, we will use central area planning and redevelopment as an illustration.

1. Residents had several concerns with respect to King Street Mall developments. Some of them were addressed, others such as Agrena Parking and population density were not.

2. Developments in Queen and Mohr Avenue (Granny Mohr’s house & the Queen Street School site) have been a concern for several years. The loss of playground and park space is still a major concern.

3. FACTS tried to alert City council of our concerns but we have had limited success, as the City abandoned their strategic plan (see page 21).

a. Medical complex (private deal – option to purchase balance of property).

b. FACTS asked for public involvement in site planning for the North end of property.

c. Doctors purchased and resold the land (Public not aware of resale).

d. Seniors condos being developed instead of supportive living facilities. (Basic decision made before public redistricting hearing - see response to FACTS questions).

Present Concerns:

1. Playground and small sliding hill for Queen Street area.

2. Little Church site (rebuilding – see FACTS presentation to council).

3. Agrena parking and loss of park space (a task force on the parking issue will be struck).

4. Other heritage planning concerns (need a 50 year plan - see FACTS budget presentation)

Future:

1. FACTS, as indicated in their budget presentation, would like to facilitate public involvement in strategic planning not only at the caucus but also through a website and specific groups looking into specific areas of planning, such as heritage and supportive living.

2. Will we see more medium to high density re-development in the central area (duplexes and fourplexes on single home lots and lots being combined for condos and apartments)?

3. Will we move toward a “City in the Country” with distinct values and community or just another city like Edmonton or become part of Edmonton (the mayor said we still want to be a “City in the Country, what does that mean)?

Conclusion:

If we had an opportunity to discuss a 50 year Strategic Plan, we may have playground in “Mohr Heritage House Park”, instead of more condos on Mohr Avenue. We may be building a supportive care centre at 511 Queen Street instead of more condos. On King Street we may have a mall that serves the community, instead of a mall that will serve more condos. FACTS would like the opportunity to facilitate public involvement to preserve our heritage resources (see our budget submission) and to clarify what kind of city we would like to become in the next 50 years, a “City in the Country” or something else.

“Little Church” Site Presentation

Options for keeping our landmark:
· Close the Church, except for storage, until funding for rebuilding is found.
· Investigate options for insurance?
· Investigate the possibilities for summer use of the attached facility until funding is found.
o School heritage visits
o Summer Heritage Projects
§ Digital Heritage
§ Heritage books
o Generations together and other FCSS programming
· Develop a plan to rebuild on site with the possible addition of:
o One room country school
o Building between the school & church
Public Consultation and Research on Long Term Use of the Site
· Access needs for school programming (Church site in walking distance of several schools).
· Access needs for generations together programming.
· Access needs for provincial heritage books reading rooms.
· Access uses of the facilities by others: FCSS, meetings etc.
· Access long term heritage needs in relationship to the elevator and other heritage resources.
· Find out general community support for heritage and the “Little Church” landmark.
Presentations and/or Public Discussions
Is the current system of Community Caucus – Strategic Plan, - Municipal Plan, Budget Submissions and ten minute presentations to council the best way to handle heritage planning, like the preservation and use of the “Little Church” site. If so, here are some concerns for future presentations.
· Designating Central Area and specific buildings as heritage resources
· Preserving the 1908 house
· Playground and Open Space in Central Area
· Heritage Signage
· Digital Archives
· Community Caucus
o Heritage Planning (50 years ahead and as far back as we can go).