Full debate can be watched here.
Forum Speech
Hello everyone! Thank you for coming out today! My name is Janelle Sandboe and I would be honoured to earn your vote for a seat on Chestermere City Council.
You will want to vote for leaders that can handle Chestermere’s many, ongoing challenges, so please allow me to share how my background prepares me to serve you in those Council Chambers.
Since I moved here ten years ago, I’ve devoted my time to many local boards, including the Chestermere Public Library and CRCA, and have spent thousands of hours volunteering in Chestermere. I also recently opened a local business here called The Sandbox. We are this building’s lounge and we run low-cost activities for youth and their families.
Professionally, I work in fund development over $1M. That means that I build relationships with people and I work collaboratively with them to connect real money to real results. My portfolio is collectively worth tens of millions of dollars, having notable projects with ATCO, Calgary Public Libraries, Alberta Health Services and many of Alberta’s largest Oil and Gas companies.
After running for council in 2021 and falling short by only 81 votes [correction], I was invited to manage the fundraising program for a $9M charity with the responsibility of funding life-saving water education to millions of people in over 100 countries.
Folks, Chestermere is the incredible community where we have planted our roots, where we raise our children, and I am eager to serve our community in ever greater ways.
So why don’t we talk about Chestermere! You may have noticed that we have grown rapidly in the last decade or so.
Let’s slow down on residential development so that we can finally allow our infrastructure and amenities to catch up.
For example, if I earn your vote and sit in those Council Chambers this year, I’m committed to building new schools in Chestermere immediately, and yes, I do know how to get this done.
I’m committed to buying the rec centre lands back from Rocky View so we can finally turn this facility into the recreational hub that it needs to be.
I’m committed to finding better ways to engage residents in City decisions, because not everyone is on Facebook, and the bare minimum of public consultation is unacceptable.
These commitments are not shared lightly. My words are my reputation and my character.
If I am successful in earning your vote on June 24th, you can be absolutely sure that I will work for you, for Chestermere, with action, trust and smart growth.
Thank you!
Forum Yes/No Portion
Test: Is pineapple a good topping for pizza?
Yes. Sorry, pineapple haters.
1. Have you recently familiarized yourself with the MGA, that is the Municipal Government Act?
Yes. I have dug into the MGA many times over the last 10 years.
2. Have you owned or been a director of a successful business in Chestermere?
Yes. My husband and I own the Sandbox, the lounge/board game cafe inside the Rec Centre that offers low-cost activities for youth and their families.
3. Have you volunteered or been actively involved with a non-profit organization serving the city of Chestermere in the last 2 years, and prior to the start of the election?
Yes. Volunteering is my favourite hobby. I have spent thousands of hours volunteering in Chestermere.
4. Is Chestermere currently growing too fast to properly support education, recreation and infrastructure?
Yes, but also no. Yes in the sense that we need to slow down residential development so that our infrastructure and amenities can catch up (SMART GROWTH). No in the sense that our situation is NOT hopeless. We CAN correct the imbalance we are currently experiencing.
5. Are you in favour of a temporary moratorium on new development until our infrastructure catches up?
Yes. We should not be considering new developments or densification in existing communities until our infrastructure and amenities catch up to our current/projected population.
6. Do you support having developers cover an increased portion of Chestermere’s infrastructure costs?
In new developments, yes.
7. Do you intend to increase commercial enterprise in Chestermere?
Yes, but this is not a quick win. I intend to bring forward a motion that would allow us to review what our best options are to support and increase commercial/light industrial growth in Chestermere.
8. Are you in favour of high-density housing?
No. I am advocating that we slow down on all residential development and densification until our infrastructure and amenities catch up. This should allow us time to take a breath, do a lot more public consultation, and consider what our community’s needs will be moving forward.
9. Are you committed to working toward the construction of new recreation facilities, such as a modern library, a pool, or a rink?
Yes. I have been participating in facility planning and advocacy efforts for several years through my Board service with the Chestermere Public Library and CRCA.
10. Do you support raising property taxes to build a recreation centre?
No. While amenities do cost money to build and operate, we have grown so rapidly that our tax revenue is likely to support increased services. We will not be able to get everything we want without increasing taxes so it is very important that our next Council understands residents’ priorities.
11. Do you support the rezoning and development of the Golf Course or any recreational land?
Very strongly no.
12. Are you committed to working with the Rocky View School Board and Calgary Catholic School Board to secure funding, land, and ultimately build more schools?
Yes! Schools are an immediate priority and our local Trustees are excellent advocates.
13. Will you actively and collaboratively work towards resolving the lack of primary and acute health care in Chestermere?
Yes. Councilors must be active advocates when speaking to the Province. We can also address our commercial lease costs as a way to attract more family doctors
14. Do you believe Chestermere requires an increased police presence to address rising rates of crime?
No. From my understanding, Chestermere is/has been at the upper end of RCMP per capita. I have spoken to hundreds of residents in the last 4 weeks, and from those conversations I have noted that many of the issues making us feel unsafe can be addressed by bylaw. I would be in favour of increasing our bylaw staff resources to address our growing community’s concerns. I am not in favour of reducing police presence in Chestermere.
15. Do you believe the non-profit sector is adequately funded to serve a growing Chestermere?
No. Funding NFPs who work locally in their own communities is the most cost-effective way to address community needs.
16. Will you advocate for increased and regular public transit services in Chestermere?
No, in the sense of “not right now”. More public consultation is needed. I have knocked on over 1500 doors and spoken to hundreds of residents. Transit is not in most residents’ top 3 priorities. Those who do hold an opinion on transit have diverse perspectives (firmly in favour v. firmly against). I am not in favour of any expensive change where the community is not on the same page. I do see an increased need for public transit in Chestermere as our population continues to grow, so we should continue to review the need regularly.
17. Should the electoral ballot be amended to allow for political party affiliations?
No. Council should remain as agile and Chestermere-focused as possible.
18. Will you reinstate question period, where you will answer non-vetted spontaneous questions?
Yes.
19. Are you committed to respectfully working with all elected officials?
Yes.
20. Are you in favour of retaining the current interim CAO until after the 2025 municipal election to support stability in the governance of Chestermere?
Yes.
21. Do you intend to run in the 2025 Municipal Election?
Yes.
22. Are you committed to running a clean campaign, free of personal attacks?
Yes!