Beaumont Communiqué Sept 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020

beaumont.ab.ca

MAYOR AND COUNCIL CONTACT INFORMATION Mayor John Stewart 780.293.5650 Councillor Kathy Barnhart 780.721.5504

High speed internet project opens world of possibilities for Beaumont Chattanooga is a long way from Beaumont, but the Tennessee city’s experience with ultra-high speed internet offers a glimpse of the possibilities for our community.

More than 10 years ago, Chattanooga built a one gigabit per second (Gbps) community-wide network. Five years ago, they upgraded to 10 Gbps, officially becoming the world’s first 10 gig city and launching themselves as one of the top five fastest networks around the globe.

Significant business development and jobs followed as companies located and expanded in Chattanooga, looking to tap into the advantages offered by the highest speed internet available.

“It changed our conceptions of who we are and what is possible,” Mayor Andrew Berke told the Tennessean newspaper. “Before, we had never thought of ourselves as a technology city.”

Beaumont is one-tenth the size of Chattanooga and the model being explored here isn’t exactly identical, but the potential exists for significant benefits. As announced during the summer, the city is in negotiations with an international consortium proposing to invest in and build a fibre optic broadband network that would connect every home and businesses to internet with a capacity of 10 Gbps, the fastest speed commercially available anywhere in the world.

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5600 49 Street, Beaumont AB T4X 1A1 | 780.929.8782 | admin@beaumont.ab.ca

Councillor Bill Daneluik 587.357.5206 Councillor Perry Hendriks 780.929.5102 Councillor Sam Munckhof-Swain 780.690.0031 Councillor Martin Stout 780.904.9623 Councillor Steven vanNieuwkerk 780.991.0871 Email links for Mayor and Council are online at beaumont.ab.ca/council

Internet project continued Mayor John Stewart says the benefits for Beaumont could extend to more than bringing business development and jobs to the community.

Chattanooga’s network brought in greater competition among internet service providers, improving choice and affordability for residents. In Illinois, where the City of Aurora is also in discussions with the consortium, schools, post-secondary institutions and health care providers are envisioning the potential of the high speed broadband network to enhance learning opportunities and the delivery of health services.

“There are many possible spin-off benefits, from clean industry and well-paying jobs to high-tech learning centres for students in Beaumont,” said Stewart.

The city continues to negotiate details of the proposed agreement

to ensure it is in the best interests of the community with a decision expected to be in front of council within the next few months. For more information about the proposal and to participate in a survey about the subject, visit the city’s website at beaumont.ab.ca/667/HighSpeed-Internet-Project.

If approved, construction on the network could begin before the end of the year with access available for parts of Beaumont beginning later in 2021. Even though the project hasn’t even started, the announcement is already generating buzz for Beaumont, with businesses inquiring about locating in the community.

“It’s exciting,” said Stewart. “This has the potential to position Beaumont as a hub for innovation and technology development for Alberta, if not Canada.”

Beaumont Sport and Recreation Centre reopening begins in September The newly upgraded and expanded Beaumont Sport and Recreation Centre (BSRC) will open in phases beginning with access for user groups on Sept. 14, then opening to the public on Sept. 28.

A phased reopening will help ensure the appropriate COVID-19 prevention measures are in place for the safety of the public and employees.

“This is the single largest project of its kind in Beaumont and will help address the recreation needs of a young, rapidly growing community,” said Mayor John Stewart. “The Beaumont Sport and Recreation Centre is an investment that supports the health and well-being of residents and makes sure Beaumont continues to be a great place to live and raise a family.”

The city is putting procedures in place following the guidance of Alberta Health Services to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Measures include limiting the capacity of sport areas and rooms, spreading out fitness equipment to support physical distancing, and placing sanitizing stations throughout the building. The pool schedule has been adjusted to include downtime for disinfecting.

Residents must book lane and public swim times online. Full guidelines can be found at beaumont.ab.ca/672 Registration for Fall 2020 programs at the BSRC and all City of Beaumont programming opens Sept. 2. Guests can register at clickit.beaumont.ab.ca, by calling 780-929-1221 or in-person at the Beaumont Community Centre.

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Construction on the $29.5-million project began October 1, 2018. Additions and enhancements include: • An NHL-sized ice surface with seating and viewing areas • Indoor fieldhouse that can accommodate a range of activities, including soccer and lacrosse • Climbing wall • High-school sized gymnasium • Expanded workout and fitness area • Upgrades also include the integration of mechanical and HVAC systems, as well as the pool filtration system.

FALL REGISTRATION

Looking for new activities to take up this fall? Check out the Fall 2020 Activity Guide at beaumont.ab.ca/457 or pick up a hard copy brochure at the Ken Nichol Centre or the Beaumont Community Centre.

The City of Beaumont has a variety of programs to choose from this Fall.

• Fall for Fitness Programs include drop-in and registered fitness classes at the newly upgraded Beaumont Sport and Recreation Centre. A full drop-in class schedule along with a variety of other registered programs can be found at beaumont.ab.ca/281 .

• Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) offers PD Day Programs such as Home Alone and Beautiful from the Inside Out.

Get ready for registration NOW! First time users must set up their account by calling 780.929.1221.

• Youth Community Programs for the creative teens in your house include On the Spot Improv, Young Artists of Beaumont, Beaumont Broadway and Fused Glass Lantern making. The Beaumont Society School of Dance is also working with the City of Beaumont to offer exciting introductory classes!

• There are programs for creative adults as well. The City of Beaumont, in collaboration with the Artists Association of Beaumont, is excited to offer Stained Glass Christmas Ornaments, Fall Photography, Mountain Weaving, How to Write a Book in 40 Days, Make your own Chakra Essential Oil Bracelet and more.

• The Beaumont Sport and Recreation Centre also has a wide variety of aquatic programs including Aquatic Leadership Programs, Red Cross Swimming Programs, as well as Aquatic Fitness classes.

IN PERSON Beaumont Community Centre -5204 50 Ave, Beaumont AB

BY PHONE: 780.929.1221

ONLINE

Visit clickit.beaumont.ab.ca

Fall 2020 Activity Guide is online at clickit.beaumont.ab.ca

For more information visit: beaumont.ab.ca | Guest Services: 780.929.1221

Council Approved Our Connectivity, Beaumont’s first Transportation Master Plan Our Connectivity was approved by Council at the Aug 25 City Council meeting. This means that Our Connectivity will now guide the development and redevelopment of the transportation system in the City of Beaumont. Simply put, this plan will guide how we build and operate the roadways, bus routes, sidewalks, trails, and intersections going forward as the City continues growing.

The process to develop Our Connectivity started in 2016, together with the Municipal Development Plan (Our Complete Community). Both of these plans are high level planning documents that set forth the future land uses and transportation system within Beaumont.

Public input was important in creating these plans and there were many opportunities for public input over the past four years. This included workshops, open houses, engagement booths at community events, and online surveys. In 2018-2019 the Municipal Development Plan was finalized and approved by Council. Over 2019-2020, the Transportation Master Plan was completed, with the most recent opportunities for public engagement occurring in January 2020 and May-June 2020. A full review of this process is available on the City of Beaumont website (beaumont.ab.ca/650).

Our Connectivity sets a vision for a transportation system that provides users with safe and inclusive transportation options, both locally and regionally. This is based on three key themes the City heard through the public engagement process: • Safe streets for all users • Provide transportation choices • Regional connections for all modes Our Connectivity includes an implementation plan that provides timeframes to create new bylaws and policies as well as design new parts of the transportation system to achieve this vision. The plan will be implemented by the City, developers, and community stakeholders as Beaumont continues to grow. The City will also continue to engage the public as projects to develop and redevelop the transportation system arise.

As the City continues to grow, stay tuned for more public engagement opportunities for the City’s next major planning projects, including the Environmental Master Plan, Age-Friendly Strategy, Affordable Housing Strategy and Urban Agriculture Strategy.

FACE COVERING REQUIRED

City of Beaumont Bylaw 984-20 Exceptions include children under two or a child under five (in age or developmentally) who refuses to wear a face covering, persons with a medical condition or disability which inhibits their ability to wear a face covering, persons seated in premises that serves food or drinks, or persons engaged in physical activity.

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