City council to hear four presentations today

Science, sports and recreation initiatives will be part of business as usual for today’s Lethbridge City Council meeting.

Four presentations are scheduled, beginning with the 2017 Lethbridge High School iGEM team. They’ll be sharing their experience on this year’s project — to synthesize coloured ink from biological pigments in a bid to rival contemporary ink, which uses more expensive, potentially harmful substances. The iGEM team will also share how the annual international competition enhances their high school education.

The Lethbridge Combative Sports Commission will request council’s continued support of its work and opposition to the introduction of a provincial commission. Advocacy for a provincial commission began about five years ago, and the local commission has received support from council against the initiative since 2014.

The City of Lethbridge has qualified as a potential tour stop for the Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada over the next three years (2018-2020). Local organizers will request council approve $250,000 per year to host the event, which would occur in the third week of June. The week-long Tour brings more than 150 professional golfers from around the world, and would utilize at least three local courses.

Council will also be asked to adopt the River Valley Parks Master Plan, which was created to provide a long-term strategy for the protection and sustainable management of natural resources balanced with recreation development.

Several submissions will also be brought forward including an orientation schedule for newly elected councillors, an update on the Downtown Parking Meter Replacement Program, a hosting agreement for the 2018 Canadian Championships in Trampoline Gymnastics, and the City’s mid-year 2017 Operating Forecast.

A public hearing is also scheduled for 4 p.m. to discuss two land-use amendments, one which would allow for the development of an elementary school site in the city’s southeast near the Fairmont neighbourhood.

The regular meeting of council, open to all, begins at 1:30 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.