Frequently Asked Questions

1.  Does the City fix potholes year round?


City crews can repair potholes at any time of the year.

The compound used to repair potholes in the winter months is different than the material used in the warmer seasons. This is because the hot asphalt mix that is used for permanent repairs during the summer becomes unworkable in colder temperatures, so crews apply a temporary patch material that is more effective in the cold. Repairs completed in the winter may need follow-up sooner as the temporary patch is less durable overall than the summer compound.

To report a pothole please visit www.stalbert.ca/pothole or our call our hotline number at 780-418-6066.

2. My street is slippery, what are the sanding priorities?


When the streets become slippery due to snowfall or simple cold, moist weather, the City's streets are sanded by the following priority ranking:
  • Highway 2
  • Hill sections and arterial roads, such as Boudreau Road, Hebert Road, Giroux Road
  • Bus Routes and other collector routes, and City owned parking lots
  • Hill sections in residential 
This ranking reflects the speed and traffic levels, and therefore the degree of risk involved in each roadway category.

For a complete guide to the City's snow clearing and ice conrtol policies and priorities please visit www.stalbert.ca/snowclearing.

3. What is the Poplar Removal Program?


In recent years, concerns have been raised with the poplar trees that were planted by developers on City properties adjacent to private lands some years ago. Several poplar attributes and growth habits have made the poplar species less desirable.
 
Poplars shed sticky buds in the spring, have root systems that wander across the turf areas and  provide the ideal home for Satin Moth caterpillars. Poplar trees are also relatively poor in structure, with heavy branches, multiple weakly joined stems, a relatively low strength to weight ratio and a fairly short life cycle. As some of the most massive of the locally grown species, poplars require a high level of maintenance and often removal.
 
Many Alberta and BC municipalities are encountering this problem. St. Albert has decided to initiate a proactive, annually incremented replacement of all poplars on City lands adjacent to private property. At present, St. Albert's program has been established as follows:
  • In the spring, poplars that are in close proximity to private lands are re-enumerated and assessed on the basis of current liability potential. A list of 35-50 trees is made, based mainly on liability potential, and that list becomes the current year's takedown list.
  • In the fall, after some of the summer's programs are completed, the takedown of the listed trees is executed.
  • The stumps are then killed to prevent the root system from sprouting and regrowing.

  • In the summer, after the stump killing treatment is complete, the stumps are removed and new trees are planted before summer's end.

 For more information on the City's tree maintenance practices and procedures please visit www.stalbert.ca/treemaintenance.

4. What is Dutch Elm Disease?


In recent decades, Dutch Elm disease has made its way across Europe, and was eventually introduced into the Elm populations in Eastern North America.

Despite the efforts of many pest control personnel and arborists, a large percentage of the American Elm population has been destroyed by this disease. In the last few years, the progress of the disease across North America has been slow, but unchecked. The disease is now found in all parts of this continent except in Alberta and BC. 

5.  How can Dutch Elm Disease be prevented? When can residents prune their elms?

The disease is now found in all parts of this continent except in Alberta and BC, though British Columbia does have a population of the beetles that could spread the disease, when it arrives.

The Alberta 'Stop Dutch Elm Disease' Society (StopDED) has been formed on the premise that Alberta should promote practices and legislation that would prevent the entry of the disease into the province, as well as develop preventative measures in case it should ever arrive.
 
Practices
St. Albert's Pest Control crew has established a collection point for Elm wood at the St. Albert Compost Depot. All diseased tree prunings can be brought to the site and placed in the marked area. This method of eliminating dead wood will help avoid attracting the beetle that could carry the disease and from providing a site the beetle could use as a nursery to increase its population.

Elms should be pruned to remove any dead wood, which would attract the beetles to the tree. This pruning must be done between October 1 and March 31, as the pruning cuts cause wounds that are attract the beetles. In line with several Albertan municipalities, St. Albert has established a bylaw (#5-98) that makes it illegal to prune Elms between April 1 and September 30.

Another initiative, which is run by StopDED, is an Elmwood collection at Alberta's borders with Saskatchewan, BC and Montana. Elms that die of Dutch Elm disease in areas outside Alberta are often cut for use as firewood in campgrounds, a practice which actually promotes the spread of the disease. People who travel in other provinces often pick up this wood and transport it into Alberta. The collection points were installed in order to intercept this illegally imported wood. If Alberta ever does see outbreaks of DED, it will be as a result of the importation of diseased material in this manner.
 

6. How are sidewalk repairs handled?

In the spring and throughout the summer, the sidewalk repair crews accumulate a list of locations in St. Albert that require repair. These are assessed and prioritized according to how serious the problems are at each location.
 
Reports of sidewalk damage are recorded and sent to the appropriate section and then inspected and scheduled for repair based on their level of severity.

For more information on sidewalk repairs please visit www.stalbert.ca/sidewalks.

7. Where is the City's Compost Depot located?

The compost site is located on the north side of Villeneuve Road, approximately 2.5 kilometres west of St. Albert Road. Signs are posted to direct residents to the site.

For more information on our Compost Depot please visit www.stalbert.ca/compostdepot.

8. What is the City's grass cutting schedule?

Grass on City boulevards is cut on a 10-day cycle, while playfields are cut weekly and other parks bi-weekly.

For more information on turf maintenance throughout the city please visit www.stalbert.ca/turfmaintenance.

9. How are tree maintenance requests handled?

Tree maintenance requests are recorded and sent to the appropriate section and then inspected and scheduled for repair based on their level of severity.

For more information on the City's tree maintenance practices and procedures please visit www.stalbert.ca/treemaintenance.

10. How can I report a burnt out or malfunctioning street light?

The City of St. Albert has a maintenance contract with Fortis Alberta, which manages the community's street lights. You can notify Fortis and request a repair by simply visiting the Fortis Alberta Street Light Repair
section here.

11.  Who can I contact with an after hours emergency?

For emergency calls related to sewer backups, water turn off emergencies and/or other urgent matters after regular business hours, residents can contact the City's Fire hall dispatch number at 780-458-2020 to speak to with an operator.