A note from Janelle
“Shortly after we moved to Chestermere in 2014, there was a lot of dissatisfied chatter about the garbage bins. If you’re new to the City, you might not realize that at that time, this was THE issue. People had opinions. Most were not favourable. And for months we all raged, argued and cried about these garbage bins. Ridiculous as it sounds, it was one of the early signs for me that my family had found our forever community. Chestermere has faced many important issues in the last few decades, and the one thing that never falters is how much people care about our shared home.”
The Issues
​
Schools
-
We have struggled to build new schools in Chestermere. As both a parent to school-aged children and City Councillor, I will advocate relentlessly to accelerate development of existing school sites.
-
Chestermere students have no option to pursue French Immersion into high school, limiting their opportunities for professional fluency and confidence. I will seek opportunities to expand second language education for local students.
Recreation
-
Rockyview County owns the land that the CRCA/rec centre sits on. As a former Director with the CRCA and current business owner inside the facility, I believe that the best way to improve on this critical piece of recreation infrastructure is for the City of Chestermere to purchase the land at a fair market rate.
-
I support this City’s current initiative to evaluate parking improvement options at the CRCA. This will significantly reduce vehicle damage and risk, as well as improve parking and pedestrian safety at Anniversary Beach.
-
The City of Chestermere must work collaboratively with recreation stakeholders to improve the existing CRCA facility and plan for another, complementary recreation facility before 2029.
-
Future recreation plans must prioritize new indoor ice and new indoor pitch.
-
I support the Lakeside Greens Golf Course Preservation Society’s initiative to prevent re-zoning of Lakeside Greens Golf Course.
-
Recreation also includes non-athletic pursuits such as fine art, hobby activities and social clubs. I will ensure that affordable space is included in future recreation facility plans to accommodate Chestermere’s diverse recreational needs.
Development
-
We need to slow development approvals, especially in already-developed neighborhoods, until our roads, schools and other infrastructure catches up to our current and projected population.
-
Now is not the time to re-zone any parcels of land to residential use (whether from recreational use, commercial or otherwise).
-
We must maintain positive and professional relationships with our developers in order to ensure we are working towards mutually positive outcomes in Chestermere communities.
Planning and Policy
-
Chestermere’s immediate needs are significant. Funding all of them with only Chestermere taxes is unrealistic. As someone who has been working in fund development above $1M throughout my career, I am keenly focused on tactical funding opportunities. Private-public partnerships and other funding models must be urgently explored. I will ensure that we maximize provincial grants as well as other partnerships to relieve pressure without sacrificing immediate needs.
-
I have been developing and reviewing policy in the social-profit sector for almost a decade. It is critical that the City listen to the advice in the May 3, 2024 Deloitte report and immediately implement improved financial stewardship practices. Without these improvements we are likely to continue seeing financial mismanagement of our tax dollars.
-
Chestermere residents who experience a life transition have trouble finding appropriate housing nearby. Whether that’s a young person wanting to move out of their parents’ home or an older adult downsizing, they deserve to continue living in Chestermere. We must prioritize the changing needs of our existing population in all future development plans.
-
I am a business owner who occupies space in Chestermere, so I know that Commercial space in Chestermere is too expensive for many businesses. I will put forward a motion for the City to review Chestermere’s leasing landscape and review creative solutions from comparable Canadian cities, such as subsidized small-business incubators. This review will conclude with a report on creative solutions that may make running a small business in Chestermere more viable for our many hard-working entrepreneurs.
-
Chestermere needs an updated Municipal Development Plan and Utility Master Plan. I will ensure that the completed plans describe a Chestermere that we all want to live, work and play in.
​
Community
-
I will never allow Chestermere’s not-for-profits to be denied FCSS funding and other critical grants.
-
As a community member who has invested my time in nearly every one of Chestermere’s not-for-profits, I will continue to ask our local charities & community groups for creative solutions to complex social challenges. And then - I’ll make sure that the most economically-sound proposals are funded.
-
I am concerned about the lack of opportunities for many of Chestermere’s young people. I will advocate that the City make larger grants available for local not-for-profits who serve Chestermere’s children and youth, particularly those who offer work and volunteer experience to teens.
-
I commit to being a good neighbour. I will earn your trust every day by keeping my promises, speaking openly and honestly about issues and asking for feedback.
June 11, 2024 Rotary Forum
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!