Lloydminster council is continuing to update policies as the Safe and Healthy Communities Grant policy received a number of changes.
Changes were recommended by council at the Sept. 9 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting. Feedback from the meeting that helped inform changes.
Read more: Lloydminster grant policy to be updated by council
“Based on the feedback from that meeting (Sept. 9 GPC), Section 7.3.6: addition to city-led initiatives, supports mental health through building resiliency, social connection, self-esteem or problem-solving skills,” said Patrick Lancaster, manager of social programs and services.
“This was that new eligibility criteria we built into the grant. When we presented before, we just didn’t have it under the city-led initiatives.”
Updates to Section 8.3 will see the Community Services Advisory Committee take on the role of recommending how unused grant funds should be reallocated.
“Council mentioned it was important to make sure we were still getting that feedback from the advisory committee around those reallocations,” said Lancaster.
City-led initiatives were a big part of the policy update and Lancaster gave an example of a previous initiative they used funding for.
“We partnered with the school divisions to bring in a community speaker,” he said. “This was actually part of a reallocation process. There were funds that were left over, they weren’t spent. So rather than another call for applications, they went towards a city initiative.”
The money the city gives to the community comes from local surcharges.
“That money comes from the licensing of Tobacco, vape shops and cannabis,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers. “That money is geared specifically at the direction of that policy that’s been approved by city council to ensure a safe and healthier community.”
The definition for a member of council was added through an amendment to the motion. Council passed the motion to update the policy.
Applications for the Safe and Healthy Communities Grant are open. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 12 at noon.
Read more: Policy changes look to keep money in Lloydminster
