Brandon Minute: Bylaw Deferral, Landfill Reminder, and a Transport Funding Application

Brandon Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Brandon politics

This Week In Brandon:

• There are no Council meetings at City Hall this week. The next meeting will take place on February 18th.
  
  
• The Westman YWCA is actively planning a capital campaign to replace Meredith Place, the women's shelter that stood in Brandon for over a century before being deconstructed in 2023 due to structural damage. The new facility, envisioned as a women's campus, will include a shelter, transitional housing, and wrap-around support services. The project is currently in its pre-development stage, with plans to finalize conceptual designs and cost estimates by June.
  
  
• The City is reminding residents that the Eastview Landfill offers a large item pick-up service for residential waste disposal. Residents must purchase Large Item Tags at City Hall and arrange pick-up by calling or emailing the City. Items must not exceed 25 kg in weight or one meter in any direction per tag, and hazardous waste is not accepted. Household appliances, bundled wood, and trees under two meters in length are permitted, while mattresses and box springs must be wrapped in plastic. More information is available online.

Last Week In Brandon:

• Council has deferred the third reading of amendments to its development cost charges (DCC) bylaw until March 3rd. The delay was requested by members of the local construction industry, who wanted more time to review recent wording changes and discuss potential financial impacts. The proposed bylaw would significantly increase DCC rates for residential and non-residential developments, with concerns raised about how these costs could affect growth. Some Council members supported allowing further discussions, while others cautioned against repeated delays.
  
  
• Councillors approved a motion to apply for federal funding to enhance the City’s active transportation network. The grant, which covers up to 60% of project costs, could help improve cycling and pedestrian connections, including links between the former Eighth Street Bridge and the new 18th Street Bridge. City officials acknowledged gaps in the existing infrastructure and emphasized the need for a more cohesive plan. Discussions also touched on potential bike lanes along 26th Street and a new connection from Stickney to Dinsdale Park. While no single project has been chosen yet, Council members agreed that securing funding is a key step in expanding transportation alternatives.
  
  
• The Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) announced that it would be relocating its headquarters from Portage la Prairie to a new facility near Brandon on Waywayseecappo First Nation-owned land. The headquarters will be housed within the under-construction Waywayseecappo Commercial Centre, a multimillion-dollar project at the intersection of Highway 10 and the Trans-Canada Highway. This new space will provide the MFNPS with modern facilities, including holding cells, an armoury, a training centre, and boardrooms. The move allows the police service to work more closely with other law enforcement agencies in the region while maintaining detachments in 10 First Nations communities. The new headquarters is expected to be completed by October.