Bylaw readings on city council’s agenda
By Lethbridge Herald on July 15, 2025.
Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge city council today will be asked to give second and third readings to three bylaws when it meets in chambers at 12:30 p.m.
It will also address multiple items in the consent agenda, any of which can be removed for further discussion.
Two of the items for second and third reading involve planned projects at the water treatment plant.
A third is an amendment to the Water Services Bylaw 3999 which includes a new definition for regional water customers and the addition of tiered rates for those customers.
The water treatment plant projects include one that will mitigate the risk of a clarifier failure while the second will mitigate risks of power supply failures.
The first includes the construction of a new high-rate clarifier, intended to provide redundancy of the solid contact clarifiers which have been operational for more than 40 years.
The medium voltage upgrades will include installation of new transformers, two new main electrical feeds to the plant, switchgear, motors and decommissioning of aging electrical equipment.
The equipment to be replaced is nearing the end of its service life and the City is finding challenges to repair or replace components because of compatibility issues and long lead times.
The electrical upgrades will include full redundancy of the electrical utility service to bolster reliability of the plant’s electrical system.
The two projects have been tendered and costs for both exceed approved budgets due to inflationary pressures and other matters including increased demand in Alberta for such work
City manager Lloyd Brierley told Economic and Finance SPC on June 12 that the projects “are the first steps to increase our water treatment capacity to accommodate economic and population growth in Lethbridge and our surrounding regional communities.”
Items in the consent agenda include the encampment strategy council update and a proposed implementation plan for the Municipal Housing Strategy.
Council will also be asked to give first readings to two bylaws, one a land use bylaw amendment regarding a property at 2910 5 Ave. N.
The other is for Bylaw 6476 amending bylaw 5969 – the Police Commission bylaw.
Council will also hear three administration submissions. No official business matters or presentations are scheduled.
17-16
Hopefully the city will have hands on management of these multi million dollar projects so there are no surprises as in the Exhibition build.