Mayor Blaine Hyggen looking forward to 2023 in State of the City address

“It’s that relationship building, that networking, and knowing that Mayor Hyggen is very approachable, and that if there’s questions and concerns, a lot of that is educating,” explained Bester. “Let’s get the information out.”

She went on, “Even though our council’s a year old, we just went through a brand-new budget process which we needed that [is] out of the way, so now, we can move forward and see what directions we can take as business leaders to help partner with the city to advocate at the provincial and federal level.”

Hyggen spoke on a variety of topics during the event and condensed them into an outline of six themes: Gateway to Opportunity Action Plan, Top Priorities and Issues, Major Community and Regional Partners, City Finances, and Next Steps.

Hot subjects included the newly introduced Operating Budget that was adopted in November 2022, community safety, physician recruitment and supporting vulnerable individuals in Lethbridge.

“I know a lot of people say, ‘you focus always on the positive things maybe too much’, but I do,” said Hyggen. “I focus on positives because it’s so important that we do focus on the things that are great within our community. We have challenges just like so many other communities have challenges, but focusing on the positives things to me is of great importance.”

Last year, City Council unveiled its Gateway to Opportunity Action Plan, which identified priorities the city would use as a guide to improve Lethbridge residents’ quality of life.

As part of the action plan, seven initiatives have been completed in the past year and the fourth quarter update outlining those measures will be reviewed in City Council next week.

A full look at the 2022 Action Plan quarter three review can be found on the City of Lethbridge website.

Lethbridge @MayorHyggen speaking at the @LethChamber State of the City this morning at the Coast Hotel and Conference Centre. Full story later this afternoon at @lethnewsnow. #lnn #yql #lethbridge pic.twitter.com/wazR36obGx

— Sarah Jones (@sarahdoesnews) January 19, 2023

The City of Lethbridge also highlighted some of the problems and issues that are being mitigated in the upcoming year.

Hyggen noted that Lethbridge City Council has heard loud and clear that community safety remains a top priority amongst constituents, and by working beside provincial and federal partners, it will take precedence in 2023.

Advocation in response to homelessness will also be a key component in the new year, as the implementation of an intergovernmental health table will seek to support those most vulnerable in Lethbridge.

“Results from the Lethbridge 2022 PIT (Point in Time) Count will be used to improve our community’s response by identifying service needs and forming plans to prevent and reduce homelessness,” read Hyggen. “The City of Lethbridge continues to advocate and implement increased supports under the Community Wellbeing and Safety Strategy for those experiencing homelessness in our community.”

With public safety being of such high importance in the community, the new 2023-2026 Operating Budget reflected additional resources to be set aside for these initiatives.

It also included an average annual increase in the municipal tax rate of 5.1% for each of the next four years, which is equal to $129.93 per year for a single-family house, based on an average market value of $285,800.

“The 5.1% tax increase is a tough one, and I take it as well,” said Hyggen. “Businesses are paying 2.4 to 2.6 times that amount, so it is a struggle for sure, but we needed to do something as having a zero percent tax increase over the previous three years and 1.8 prior to that, to keep up with inflation, keep some of the services that the community is asking for and the residents want, we needed to have that.”

In the past year, the city also partnered with Alberta Health Services, the Chinook Primary Network and Economic Development Lethbridge to launch a marketing campaign designed to sell physicians on settling in Lethbridge.

While Lethbridge has delt with a shortage of family doctors in recent years, an additional four started their practice in 2022, with AHS reporting progress of its efforts to bring as many as 17 new international physicians to the city.

Wrapping up the event, Hyggen turned his attention to 2023 as they look to tackle some big items over the next 12 months.

Council looks to build a committee made up of Indigenous elders, Indigenous members and knowledgeable people that will help create an implementation strategy of the over 30 recommendations made by the Indigenous Placemaking and Public Realm Audit by the end of March 2023.

City crews are ready to roll out the ‘green carpet’ as they will be implementing the curbside organics program citywide in the spring of 2023, when residents will receive a new green bin that will collect organic waste.

New funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities will be used to help Lethbridge residents make tangible energy-efficient improvements throughout their homes. The grant will allow Lethbridge homeowners to apply for a loan through the city by early as February 2023, if they wish to be a part of the clean energy program.

An electrical planning study will be taking place in 2023, as the Alberta Electric Operators identified a need to construct a new substation in West Lethbridge by 2028. Last fall, council approved funding of $500,000 of the electric reserve to complete the Chinook Trail functional planning study.

Concluding the morning session, Hyggen noted he is looking forward to giving back to the community through additional mayoral community events, like the Whoop-Up Days Mayor’s Community Barbeque and Mayors Community Hockey Challenge in November that raised $3,000 for local foodbanks.

For a full look at Mayor Hyggen’s State of the City Address 2023, head to the City of Lethbridge Youtube Channel.

Read more: LethbridgeNewsNow

by Sarah Jones

Mayor Blaine Hyggen looking forward to 2023 in State of the City address

What's Happening