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Service Highlights

 

 

PUBLIC WORKS

 

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Development Services provides municipal services that facilitate development within the City of Grande Prairie. This includes:

  • Planning: Management of the Municipal Development Plan, Area Structure Plans, and Outline Plans; approval of subdivisions and amendments to the Land Use Bylaw

  • Engineering: Maintenance of Master Plans, design reports, design guidelines, review and acceptance of servicing designs, and as-built drawings

  • Development: Ensure all developments are in accordance with the Land Use Bylaw, issuance of Compliance certificates and development permits

  • Inspection: Ensure buildings constructed to meet Alberta Building Code, Canadian Plumbing and Gas Code and Canadian Electrical Code; issuance of building permits

  • 44 subdivision applications were processed, resulting in approximately 532 new legal parcels, an increase of 28% over 2000

  • 25 Servicing Agreements were entered into accounting for approximately $12 million of municipal improvements and new infrastructure

  • 2,059 development related permits processed and 969 building permits issued

Our operating philosophy is to provide exemplary customer service while operating within a consistent, yet flexible set of guidelines. We strive to build new, and enhance existing, partnerships in our community and region with various stakeholders. Significant development growth is an ongoing challenge and through continued improvement we strive to meet our mission of Facilitating Quality Growth.

FLEET SYSTEMS

 

Fleet Systems is responsible for the City Fleet, valued at $13.5M. Fleet cares for approximately 250 pieces of equipment including all City vehicles, mobile equipment, Transit buses, RCMP vehicles and Fire Department units.   Approximately $900,000 is spent annually to purchase new equipment and $3.4 million expended on the preventive maintenance and general upkeep of the Fleet.

 

  • Completed 3,200 work orders

  • Installed a Portable Hoist System to enhance general shop usage

  • Moved entirely to a Bulk Oil System to improve cost effectiveness

 

PARKS

Parks Operations is responsible for the beautification of the City's green spaces. Areas maintained and enhanced include parks, utility lots, the City cemetery, and other open spaces. Services include mowing and turf management, tree maintenance, pest and weed control, and creation of outdoor ice rinks. Beautification initiatives include flower beds and baskets, planters, shrubs, and festive lighting/banners in the Downtown and around City facilities. The Department is also involved in planning for future green space development and ensuring that new developments are
consistent with guidelines

  • Key role in the City's entry in Communities in Bloom at the National level

  • Pruning and tree removal services for residents, increased customer service, and assisted in controlling safety hazards

  • Acquisition of a bucket truck to facilitate pruning trees up to 60 feet in height

  • Landscaping of Centre 2000 with a central garden to be constructed in the spring of 2002

  • Costs (watering, weeding and labour) were reduced by using mulch on shrub and annual flower beds, which reduced chemical use for weed control

  • A specific section to reflect cultural diversity was established in the Cemetery

  • A test project using GPS equipment for tree location inventory was done and the data was successfully integrated into the existing GIS mapping system

  • New playgrounds were built in the Hillside and Mountview neighbourhoods to replace aging equipment

  • A weed inspection and control program was established

Parks Operations will continue to enhance the City's green spaces in 2002, ensuring the master plans for both the Parks system and the Cemetery are implemented.


TRANSIT                                                                                          

GP Transit celebrated 20 years of service to the City of Grande Prairie in March 2001. Annual ridership increased to 484,116. This is a 16% increase over 2000 and a 39% increase over 1999. Sale of monthly passes in 2001 increased 38% over 2000 and 88% over 1999.

  • Awarded 2001 Exceptional Performance in Transit by the Canadian Urban Transit Association

  • Recognized by Metro Magazine (US publication) as one of the ten fastest growing transit systems in North America


TRANSPORTATION SERVICES                  

The Transportation Services (Maintenance group) handles maintenance and repairs to roads, lanes, sidewalks, traffic signals and signs, snow removal, street cleaning, dust control, potholes, and storm drainage. The Transportation Services (Technical group) is responsible for traffic safety, roadway, bridge, storm sewer and sidewalk infrastructure and implementation of the capital programs. Technical group is also responsible for development inspections, drawing reviews, development permit reviews, approval of utility alignments and excavations, access to property, traffic signal coordination and installation.
 

  • Non-stop railway crossing 98 Street and 108 Avenue

  • Built asphalt trails and landscaped around Centre 2000, a tourism and trade centre

  • Landscaped area north of Salmond Fire Station

  • Rebuilt training area at Airport and built access to Fire Training Pond

  • Replaced over 5 km of concrete sidewalk

  • Reconstructed over 3,270 km of roadway

  • Completed 68 Avenue access to Community Knowledge Campus

  • Updated the City's Transportation Master Plan and Storm Drainage Master Plan

  • Completed paving of 89 Avenue in the West (Richmond) Industrial Park