New Planning & Development Job Postings

Exciting Times, Exciting Change!

The newest City in Alberta is hiring.

Planning and Development

(Full-time permanent positions)

The Opportunity:

The City of Lacombe is currently looking for 2 positions in our Planning and Development Department.

 Manager, Planning and Development

The Manager provides leadership and direction, and holds overall responsibility for the quality and timely delivery of planning, subdivision, development permits and inspection services.

Suitable candidates will be effective in working in a team environment; have proven leadership and communication skills.  Facilitation and consensus building skills and the ability to negotiate terms of development agreements with developers are required.

Candidates will have a working knowledge of provincial legislation and law, development and planning best practices, architecture and urban design and the Alberta Building code and the Safety Codes Act.

In addition, candidates will have a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning or Design with sever years of related experience.  Equivalencies will be considered.

Planner

This position is responsible for maintaining City statutory plans and the land use bylaw, processing amendment application requests and processing subdivision applications and information requests.  In addition, this position will focus on the following special planning projects currently underway.

The suitable candidate will be a demonstrated leader in community planning and citizen engagement process.  You will have the ability to problem solve and develop creative solutions to improve the build environment and develop planning strategy.

Candidates will hold a university degree in Urban, Regional or Environmental Planning, a minimum of 3 years related experience and sound knowledge of the Alberta subdivision process. Equivalencies will be considered.

We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.  These positions will remain open until suitable candidates are found.  If either of these positions are of interest to you, please forward your resume to:

Human Resources

City of Lacombe

5432 – 56^th Avenue

Lacombe. AB  T4L 1E9

Email:  humanresources@lacombe.ca

Fax:  403 782 5655

Are you up for the Sobeys 21 Days to Healthy Eating Challenge?

Did you know that children and youth who eat meals with their familiestend to eat better, have improved communication with their family members, and improved school performance?

See for yourself with the Sobeys 21 Days to Healthy Eating Challenge, which encourages Alberta families to come back to the table together.

From September 6 to September 26 we are asking families to eat at least one nutritious meal together every day for 21 consecutive days. Why 21 days? According to experts, that is how long it takes to change behaviour.

Eating healthy meals together does a lot for a family to increase overall wellbeing. Family meals not only improve communication and school performance; studies have shown that eating together also helps decrease the prevalence of eating disorders, obesity and substance abuse.

So are you up for the Challenge? Come to Lacombe Sobeys on September 6th to get your log book and start on your healthy shopping with Sobeys 10% off Tuesday. Remember to register online at http://arpaonline.ca/choosewell for your chance to win some great prizes. Log books can be picked up any time after August 31st from either Sobeys or City Hall.

By registering in the Challenge, you will not only be helping your family move towards a healthier lifestyle, you will also be entered to win one of 12 family-focused prizes totaling $5500! Your participation will also enter Lacombe in for the chance to win a $2500 grant to increase ChooseWell opportunities within our community.

For more information visit www.arpaonline.ca/programs/choosewell or contact Sonya Beauclair at 403.782.1267 or email sbeauclair@lacombe.ca.

LPS to enforce new distracted driving law

The Lacombe Police Service (LPS) will begin enforcing the new provincial distracted driving law that comes into effect September 1, 2011. Under the new law, drivers will be prohibited from talking, texting or emailing on a hand-held cellphone, using hand-held radio communication devices, using other electronic devices, reading, writing or personal grooming while behind the wheel. 

LPS will not be giving any warnings as the motoring public has had over a year to prepare for the new legislation. This legislation applies to all city vehicles except police, fire and ambulance.

Extra traffic officers will be working for the first three days to enforce the new legislation. LPS will also be working with our local radio station to educate the general public on the new legislation and the actions that will be taken to make our roads safer.

Drivers who break the law will be fined $172. They can face additional charges if they commit other traffic violations such as running a red light or making an improper lane change. Drivers can also be charged under the existing driving without due care and attention law, a more serious offence with a fine of $402 and six demerit points.

Signs informing drivers of Alberta’s distracted driving law will be posted at major entrances to Alberta and along major provincial highways at exits from municipalities and at other high traffic volume locations.

2010 Central Alberta Disaster Recovery Program

The Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) is closing the 2010 Central Alberta Disaster Recovery Program (2010 CADRP) as of September 16, 2011.

Potential applicants are advised to send in their submissions prior to the deadline as no new applications by fax will be accepted for the 2010 CADRP after 11:59 p.m. on September 16, 2011 or in envelopes postmarked after September 16, 2011.

To date, over 590 applications were received from residents and small businesses as part of this program, and over $2.5 million will be allocated in assistance to the community.

For more information contact the City of Lacombe at (403)782-6666.

City of Lacombe applies for provincial flood relief, begins repairs

In light of the extensive flood damage to homes and municipal infrastructure caused by the heavy rainfall events on July 11 and on July 26, the City of Lacombe has made application to the Government of Alberta for assistance through the Flood Recovery Program.

““We continue to encourage affected residents – who haven’t already done so – to contact their insurance providers,” said CAO Norma MacQuarrie. “Those who are denied coverage are advised to contact the City Hall with details of their situation.”

Affected residents are asked to call City Hall at 403-782-6666 to register.

In addition, City Council has approved a proposal for Stantec Consulting to create and calibrate a stormwater pipe model to identify areas of low capacity or improper operation within the City’s storm water system as part of a Stormwater Management Plan.

“This plan will identify some of the potential causes of flooding within Lacombe, and allow the City to analyse various solutions for capacity improvements and carry out remedial work in a system-wide approach,” said Norma.

As well, the City is contracting Pidherney’s Trucking Ltd to conduct repairs to Lacombe’s storm sewer outfall infrastructure damaged by the recent flooding.

The provincial government’s decision on the City’s flood recovery assistance application will be made public as soon as it becomes known.

Lacombe Fairview Cemetery Update

Lacombe Fairview Cemetery is undergoing changes to keep residents and grounds crews safe and the grounds well maintained.   

As of Sept. 1, 2011, Bylaw 356 will be enforced. What this means to our residents and visitors? The only items that may be left at a grave site are flowers that are placed in a vase that is part of the monument. Glass, plastic & porcelain vases break and can pose safety hazards. Stuffed animals create health hazards when they get rain soaked and become mouldy.  Fencing, silk flowers placed in the ground or hung from shepherd hooks, pictures, solar lights, mailboxes, etc. hinder the ability of the grounds crews to weed eat around each grave site.  Shrubs and flowers planted at grave sites create maintenance issues when family members no longer look after them.

The City of Lacombe would like to thank all residents and their family members who have taken the time to remove items from the cemetery this summer.  We understand that this process is difficult for some families, however, it is in the interest of everyone attending the cemetery that is is kept as safe, neat and serene as possible.

On September 1, city staff will begin removal of remaining items at the cemetery.  Salvageable items will be kept at city hall for six months for family members to claim. Perennial flowers or shrubs that families have planted need to be removed by October 15th, 2011, after which time they will be removed by city staff.

For more information, please contact  Maureen MacKenzie at (403) 782-1258.

2011 Alberta Arts Days

"Lacombe’s Got Talent” Showcase

Date:                      Sat, October 1^st , 2011 

                               

Time:                     9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Preliminary in LMC County Room)

                               7 p.m. – 9 p.m. (Finals at United Church )

Venue:                   1.  Lacombe Memorial Centre  - County Room 5214 50 Ave.

                               2.  United Church  -  5226 51 Ave

  
Lacombe's Got Talent is an all-day event aimed at showcasing up-and-coming performers in Lacombe.

A maximum of 50 contestants will be accepted as applicants. The deadline for entries is September 15, 2011 at 5 p.m. Entry forms are available at Sunny 94FM (4725-49B Avenue, Lacombe). Contestants must be 10 years of age and up. The entry fee is $25.

The contestants will be judged by a panel of celebrity judges in the morning to choose a set of 10 finalists. These 10 finalists will perform in the evening, and the audience will vote on the winners.

First, Second and Third prizes will be awarded based upon the audience’s choice. In addition, a “Judge’s Choice” prize will be awarded based upon the celebrity judges’ selection

The celebrity judges are:

Gord Bamford, CCMA Male Artist of the Year (2010)

AnnaMarie Lea, Owner of the Cow Patti Theatre Company

Rhonda Heald, Retired Dance Instructor

Steve Christie, Mayor of Lacombe

For more information please contact Shalee Healing  at 403-782-3049 or 780-585-3806.

Japanese Flower Arranging Workshop

 

Learn the meditative art of  Japanese flower arranging at this unique workshop! Registration is free, but participants will be required to pay a $25 fee to cover the cost of their materials for making their works of art.

Date:                      Sat, October 1, 2011                                                          

Time:                     1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Venue:                   Lacombe Memorial Centre  – Kinsmen Room

Organization:        Lacombe and District Rikubetsu Friendship Society

                               (Sister city to Lacombe in Japan)

Contact:                Maureen Bell

Phone:                   403-782-6258

Registration Deadline:  September 16, 2011

Celebration of the Arts: An Afternoon of Literary, Music and Visual Arts

Come and enjoy a pleasant afternoon put on by local writers, poets, artists, and music students from the Canadian University College. The afternoon's program will include the following:

· Readings of short stories and poems by local authors.
· Music performances by music students from the Canadian University College (pianists, guitarists, vocalists, string players, etc.)

Various displays and demonstrations are also being organized including:

· Art displays, demonstrations, and sales from local artists (Lacombe Art Guild).
· Book displays, autographs and sales from local authors.

Door prizes, consisting of art works from local artists, will be displayed and awarded.

Date:                      Sun, October 2^nd, 2011                                                      

Time:                     1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Venue:                   Lacombe Memorial Centre  – North Centennial 

       Rental from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Organization:         Lacombe Writers’ Club

                               Canadian University College

                               Lacombe Art Guild

Interested Artists:  Local artists who are interested in displaying / selling their art work should contact either of the following contacts:

Contact:                Margrit de Graff                                                                 

Phone:                   403-782-6696
Email:                   margritdegraff@yahoo.ca

Contact:                Jeanette Van Hyfte

Phone:                   403-782-9414

Email:                  jmvanhyfte@gmail.com

New Power Centre coming to Lacombe

Click on video title to watch a larger video on our YouTube channel.

On August 4, 2011, Richview Developments held a sod-turning ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on their much anticipated Wolf Creek Crossing development in Lacombe.

This project  is a quarter section multi-use development that will be broken into phases. Phase 1A, to be completed by 2013, consists of approximately 20 acres of commercial-use land that will include a power centre with AAA national tenants.

The tenants will include a hardware store, grocery store, sportswear, restaurants, retail and a national hotel chain, as well as a two-acre residential duplex development.

"This is music to my ears," said Mayor Steve Christie."A development such as this will create numerous employment opportunities in Lacombe, and will save our residents time and the inconvenience of driving out of town for products and services currently not offered in the city."

"This project has been well received by Lacombe residents since the beginning," said Richview Developments CEO Biri Nikhanj. "We appreciate their support, as well as all the assistance provided by the City, and we're looking forward to working with everyone involved in making Wolf Creek Crossing a reality."


For more information, go to www.richviewdevelopments.ca.

Recycle your cell phones and rechargeable batteries

In a continuing effort to be an environmentally responsible organization, the City of Lacombe has joined Call2Recycle – the only free rechargeable battery and cell phone collection program in North America – in offering residents the convenience of recycling their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones through Call2Recycle.

“Residents can drop off their used rechargeable batteries in collection boxes set up at the various City facilities,” said Utilities and Fleet Manager Chris Huston. “By participating in this program residents will prevent hazardous waste from entering the solid waste stream and contribute to a cleaner environment and a healthier, safer community.”

Collection boxes have been placed at City Hall (5432-56 Avenue), the Infrastructure Services Office (5444-56 Avenue), the Sports and Leisure Recreation Services Office (5429-53 Street), the Mary C. Moore Public Library (#101 5214-50 Avenue) and the Lacombe Police Station (5211-50 Avenue).

All cell phones and rechargeable batteries up to 11 pounds are accepted, including Alkaline, Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn), Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA/Pb) and rechargeable Alkaline batteries. 

Battery Recycling Chart: Click for larger image

Once collected, the batteries are sorted by chemistry and melted down to make new products such as new batteries or stainless steel items. Metals that are reclaimed from batteries during the recycling process include:

• Cadmium – Found in Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries; Cadmium is used to make new Ni-Cd batteries or as a stiffener in materials such as cement.
• Cobalt – Found in Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries; Cobalt is used to create new Lithium-based batteries.
• Lead – Found in Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA/Pb) batteries; Lead is used to make new batteries.
• Nickel – Found in Ni-Cd, Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) and Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn) batteries; Nickel is used in steel alloy products.
• Cell phones are refurbished and resold when possible. A portion of the proceeds received from the resale of phones benefits select charities. Those that cannot be refurbished are recycled.

This is a free and convenient way to recycle old cell phones and used batteries found in cordless electronic products, such as laptop computers, digital cameras, cordless power tools, PDAs, mp3 players, camcorders and two-way radios.  

For more information, visit www.Call2Recycle.ca .

Have Your Say at the Brand Open House

What will Lacombe look like moving forward into the next 10 years? What does it stand for, what icon represents it? 

Over the last year and a half  the City of Lacombe, through the its Growth Strategy and Council’s Strategic Planning process, has worked to uncover a path moving forward. 

Over the last 6 months the City, along with a consultant and a community steering committee has been working to build a revitalized identity for Lacombe stemming from those initiatives. The process began with research conducted including interviews with residents, Council members and staff members alike. From this research, the basis for Lacombe’s brand has been developed and from that two logo options have been created. Now it is the community’s turn to share their opinion!

Join the us at a Brand Open House on Thursday, August 11 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Lacombe County Room at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. As always snacks and refreshments will be provided. 

“This branding activity not only affects our logo and how we visually represent ourselves on paper, but it affects our policies and bylaws, our strategic focus moving forward, priorities in funding allocations and our community vision," says Marketing Coordinator Kelsey Van Grinsven. "It would be great to see a substantial turnout from the community at this open house because it is an important step towards our future, one that the community should have an opinion on.”

For more information contact Kelsey at 403-782-1272. 

Remember, be sure to join the City of Lacombe at the open house this Thursday and give them your opinion on Lacombe’s brand position and visual identity.