Brandon Minute: Issue 95

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

📅 This Week In Brandon: 📅

• During a preliminary budget discussion, Council approved allowing digital payment for downtown street parking, moving away from the current coin-only system. The change will involve placing stickers with QR codes on existing meters, eventually aiming for a fully digital system while still accepting coins during the transition. Council says that digital payments would improve convenience for residents and visitors, noting that most people no longer carry change. The discussion also included potential two-hour free parking downtown and broader budget considerations, such as switching recycling pickup to biweekly and possibly adding a second blue bin for households needing extra capacity. Council debated the future of green bin diversion depots, ultimately agreeing to keep the Eastview Landfill as a staffed permanent site to reduce contamination. Additional pre-budget meetings will allow for further public feedback and discussion on property tax increases and service adjustments.
  
  
• The Brandon Police Service racked up over $100,000 in overtime last summer while supporting evacuees from one of Manitoba’s worst wildfire seasons. More than 1,400 evacuees stayed in Brandon at one point, requiring extra staff and shifts to ensure public safety and City operations ran smoothly. The Province covered the $101,311 bill, which helped the police manage staffing pressures without additional cost to the City. Chief Tyler Bates noted that First Nations safety officers played a key role, assisting police at hotels and reception sites and providing a familiar presence for evacuees. Mayor Jeff Fawcett praised the provincial support for enabling a seamless response, while Justice Minister Matt Wiebe emphasized the importance of removing financial barriers during a crisis. Both police and City officials plan to use the experience as a model for future emergency responses, aiming to make the process even more efficient.
  
  
• Speaking of the Brandon Police, the Service is requesting a 7% budget increase, or $1.3 million, for the 2026 fiscal year to cover rising salaries, fleet maintenance, and the creation of a digital evidence management section. The new section would store body camera footage and other recordings, reducing trips to Winnipeg and streamlining evidence submission to the judicial system. Chief Tyler Bates emphasized that modernization is essential for accountability, transparency, and public trust, noting that body cameras are expected to roll out by spring. The City currently contributes over $14.2 million to BPS, with the province providing $7.4 million, and the requested increase largely covers inflationary costs. Council also approved adding six new staff positions across City departments to address workload pressures and improve operational efficiency, costing an estimated $544,364 in 2027. The new hires include roles such as a booking clerk, procurement administrator, and diversion depot attendant. 
  
  
• The Brandon School Division experienced unusual student mobility this fall, with a net enrollment gain of 122 students in September, followed by a net loss in October and modest gains in November and December. Overall, enrolment grew by 77 students, or 0.8%, bringing total headcount to 10,080, slower than the projected increase of 209 students for the 2025-26 school year. Superintendent Mathew Gustafson noted that factors such as families moving over the summer, delayed starts, and broader trends like migration likely contributed to the shifts in timing. Despite these fluctuations, cumulative enrollment growth remains strong, and the division has seen steady increases over the past decade. The slower growth this year may ease staffing and building capacity pressures, allowing the division to manage resources more strategically. Board officials will continue monitoring monthly mobility trends to inform planning and future projections.
  
  
• A new development proposal for south Brandon’s South Village Neighbourhood could create about 544 homes and significant commercial space, including a strip mall and two major chain restaurants. The area, west of 18th Street and south of Patricia Avenue, is currently used for agriculture and contains a wetland that will be preserved through a large retention pond and surrounding green space. The project, planned in three phases, prioritizes commercial development first, followed by residential construction, with Phase 3 dependent on environmental considerations. Most homes would be moderate-density, including townhouses and low-rise apartments, with some low-density housing included. City officials note that commercial land is in high demand, making this development particularly valuable for regional retail and services. Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the plan is “fantastic” and could see visible progress this year once a lift station tender is issued. 

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