Council Meeting Highlights for June 23, 2025
These Council highlights are intended to provide a brief overview of the most significant decisions made during the Council meeting. To access more information about the items listed below and to view full Council meeting agendas, minutes and meeting schedules, please click here.
7.1 Notices of Motion
Community Safety in Downtown Ponoka – Council directed Administration to examine the issues of crime and social disorder in the downtown area by reviewing the root causes and evaluating options. Administration is to report back to Council with recommended actions and strategies to improve downtown safety and well-being by Quarter 3, 2025.
Speed Limit on Highway 2A North – Council directed Administration to explore the possibility of changing the speed limits on Highway 2A north to match the other three highway entrances in Ponoka.
Tourism Signage – Council directed Administration, in addition to the planned Highway 53 upgrades, to explore for the next budget the possibility of erecting large Ponoka letters along the trail across from the Ponoka Stampede grounds.
7.2 Emergency Management Bylaw 09-2025
Council approved first and second reading of the Emergency Management Bylaw 09-2025.
The Emergency Management Act and the associated Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation require municipalities in Alberta to enact bylaws that address certain requirements regarding emergency management. In general, a municipality’s Emergency Management Bylaw must:
- Establish an Emergency Advisory Committee (EAC);
- Establish an Emergency Management Agency (EMA);
- Prescribe procedures for declaring a state of local emergency; and
- Appoint a Director of Emergency Management.
Emergency Management Bylaw 09-2025 implements updates to the Town’s Emergency Management Bylaw, including:
- Changing the wording ‘Town Manager’ to ‘Chief Administrative Officer’;
- Removing the reference to AHS and replacing it with ‘relevant local health agency’; and
- Adding references to relevant legislation.
10.1 Correspondence Items – Audible Pedestrian Traffic Signals
The Town received a letter from the Ponoka White Cane Support Group requesting that the Town consider installing audible signals with the new traffic lights planned for the intersection of Highway 53 and 46 Street as part of the improvements being made to Highway 53 in Ponoka over the coming year. The audible signals would assist people with sight disabilities in crossing the street. The Town has responded to the letter and indicated that it will be installing audible signals at that location.
10.2 Correspondence Items – A Letter from the Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services
The Town received a letter from The Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services, Jason Nixon, who was responding to a letter from Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson regarding funding for the Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse and support for rural mental health services.
12 Notice of Motion
Councillor Sandra Lyon submitted a notice of motion requesting administration contact Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors to explore the possibility of installing turning lights at the intersection of Highway 53 and Highway 2A in Ponoka for traffic turning west and east off of Highway 2A onto Highway 53.
The notice of motion will be brought back to a future Council meeting for discussion and consideration.
- Next Regular Council Meeting: Tuesday, July 8 at 6 p.m.
- Next Priorities and Initiatives Meeting: Tuesday, August 19 at 6 p.m.
- The public is welcome to attend all Council meetings. Meetings are held in Town Council Chambers on the third floor of the Ponoka Civic Centre (5604 50 Street).