WELCOME to the CITY of SPRUCE GROVE! We Are Glad You Are Here!
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WELCOME TO THE CITY OF SPRUCE GROVE! We Are Glad You Are Here! The provincial government approved the annexation of land from Parkland County to the City of Spruce Grove on December 9th, 2020. The annexation takes effect on January 1, 2021. The following is a link to the provincial government’s Order in Council: https://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Orders/Orders_in_Council/2020/2020_381.html The following is information about the City’s services, how to contact the City, and much more. Stay connected Council Information: There are a number of different ways to stay • There are seven members of Council: connected and informed on City happenings: o The Mayor is Stuart Houston • Website: sprucegrove.org o Councillor Jeff Acker • Social media o Councillor Michelle Gruhlke o facebook.com/sprucegrove o Councillor Chantal McKenzie o twitter.com/citysprucegrove o Councillor Dave Oldham o instagram.com/cityofsprucegrove o Councillor Wayne Rothe o Councillor Eric Stevenson • Email: [email protected] • The City of Spruce Grove does not use a ward or division • Phone: 780-962-2611 system like Parkland County. All council members If you have any questions that haven’t been represent the entire City. covered here or on the City’s website, please contact • City Council typically meets three times per month (with Sue Armstrong, Director of Planning and Development, the exception of July, August and December). Both City at [email protected] or Council meetings and Committee of the Whole meetings 780-962-7634, ext. 103. are open to the public. Meeting agendas are also made available online prior to each meeting. Individuals and groups are also able to make presentations during council meetings by prior appointment set through the City Clerk’s office. • The next municipal election will take place in October 2021. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (in alphabetical order) Accessible Transportation the owner may be contacted. The tag renovations, alterations, repairs, must be worn at all times by the dog relocations, demolitions, or the change Service (ATS): when the dog is off the property of of use in an existing building. • ATS offers door-to-door transportation the owner. Failure for a dog owner • The provincial Safety Codes Act for seniors (65+) and persons (16+) to have a tag with adequate contact requires that all contractors and with mobility or cognitive disabilities. information could result in prosecution homeowners in Alberta obtain permits Each ATS shuttle or passenger van for a bylaw violation. before starting any work on buildings. is equipped with a lift and ramp to • The City of Spruce Grove partners with accommodate mobility devices and • Please contact the Planning and the Parkland County Animal Shelter residents of Spruce Grove may access Development Department at for lost and found pets. the service for medical appointments, 780-962-7582 if you have any questions. shopping trips, etc. • The City limits dog ownership to a maximum of 3 dogs; the City does Business Licences: • For more information or to book the not regulate cat ownership. • Farm operations do not need a service, please call 780-963-5444. • If your property is within an agricultural business licence. All other businesses, Addresses: district in the Land Use Bylaw, you can including home occupations, are required to have a business licence. • There will be no changes to continue to have animals which would your mailing address, except you otherwise not be allowed in the City, • If you are currently operating an should change your municipality i.e., cows. approved business, you will require a to Spruce Grove. You may wish • Animal control is managed through the business licence from the City. There to update your identification as soon City’s Enforcement Services Department will be no cost for the business licence as possible to make certain processes, at 780-962-7586. in 2021 as long as you have an existing like voting in the October municipal approval to operate from the County. election, more convenient. • Dog owners can take their pets to one of two dog parks within Spruce Grove • The City of Spruce Grove requires • Canada Post will continue to deliver for some off-leash fun. annual business licence renewals free mail correctly based on postal codes. of charge as long as there are no changes Development, Land Use to the business location and name. Agricultural Services/ and Permitting: • To apply for a 2021 business licence, Weed Control: • For the interim, until the City of Spruce please contact the Planning and • The City has the authority to Grove updates its Municipal Development Development Department control nuisance, noxious or restricted Plan and Land Use Bylaw to include at 780-962-7582. weeds under the City’s Weed Bylaw. the annexed lands, the existing Parkland Compliance Certificates: The City does not have a designated County Municipal Development Plan weed inspector on staff. and Land Use Bylaw will be in effect. • A compliance certificate is a letter • Parkland County will no longer provide from the City confirming that identified • Residents who farm may continue to buildings and structures on a parcel you with agricultural services such as do so. Current land uses are allowed spraying for weed control. have met the regulations under the to continue and the City will incorporate Land Use Bylaw and have the • The City of Spruce Grove does provide the specific Parkland County land use appropriate development permits. for the control of noxious weeds in districts that currently govern the accordance to Provincial legislation and annexed land into its Land Use Bylaw. • The County will be providing all of the for other nuisance weeds as required. historical file information about your • Applicants may apply to change the property in order to have the background use of their property, but if they choose and existing permits on file. Animals/Pets: to redistrict their land to accommodate • The City of Spruce Grove does not a new use or intensify uses beyond • To apply for a compliance certificate, require pet owners to get a municipal what is currently allows, they will have please contact the Planning and licence for their pets. to redistrict to a district currently in the Development Department at 780-962-7582. • However all dogs over the age of six City’s Land Use Bylaw. (6) months are required to have a tag • Both a development permit and a building containing legible and operational permit are required for construction phone number of the owner, or where projects, like new buildings, additions, Fire Services and Fire Permits: Off-Highway Vehicles • Spruce Grove Enforcement Services complaints: 780-962-7586 • Spruce Grove has an integrated fire (i.e., snow vehicles, ATVs): • Spruce Grove RCMP Complaints: service that provides emergency • All off-highway vehicles like ATVs and 825-220-7267 or 911 for Emergencies medical services (EMS) to supply patient snow machines are not permitted to transport and ambulance services, in be operated within the limits of Spruce Property Assessment: addition to traditional fire department Grove except on private property services such as fire suppression, where permission has been granted • Property assessment is the estimated dangerous goods response and other by the owner. Off-highway vehicles are market value of property, which is used types of response needed to protect prohibited on City roads and public to calculate the amount of taxes property, people and the environment. land. payable to The City. • The fire hall, located at 36 Fifth Avenue • Residential assessment values are in Spruce Grove, is staffed and Online Services: based on market values as of July 1 operational 24 hours a day. • A City of Spruce Grove Online Services of the previous year and reflect the account allows customers to see all of physical condition and characteristics • Fire Administration hours are 8:30 a.m. the City accounts that are registered of the property as of December 31 of to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. in their name. These include tax and the previous year. All properties within Enquiries can be made anytime utility accounts, business licence the City of Spruce Grove are reassessed at 780-962-4496. If you have an information, etc. annually, using mass appraisal techniques. emergency, always call 9-1-1. These assessed values are audited • Residents can use their Online Services • Permits are required year round for by the provincial government in order account to create a service request fireworks and all open burning including to ensure proper valuation practices to report a problem that needs to be fire pits (not including burn barrels). have been followed. Annual assessment resolved like animal control issues, notices are generally mailed in February • The City of Spruce Grove does not potholes and damaged signs and then of each year. allow burn barrels, but will allow them monitor the progress of the request on agriculturally-zoned land until through to completion. • The City holds an annual Assessment December 31, 2021. After that time, Open House in March. Details for the • To register for an Online Services landowners will be expected process for 2021 will be shared on the account, call 780-962-7597 or email to transition to other waste City’s website [email protected]. management methods. • Linear property assessments are not Geographic Information Open Books: protected under the 30-year agreement. System (GIS): • Open books is an online tool designed They will be assessed at the City of to make the City’s financial reporting Spruce Grove tax rates. • The City has an online Geographic more accessible to the public. You • Please direct any questions to Information System that provides can use Open Books to explore the 780-962-7634, ext. 119. digital mapping and geo-spatial City’s financial information in a variety support to residents and visitors, of ways, access quarterly and annual Property Taxes: potential home buyers, developers, financial data and view information contactors and City staff.