Council Term and City Growth - As the next municipal election draws closer, Councillor Joel Goodnough confirms his name will be on the ballot.

Looking back on this term, Goodnough acknowledges that the accomplishments have taken a different shape compared to his previous term but remains optimistic about the city’s direction. “I feel our city staff brings great opportunities for the City to grow. Our job is to make way for that growth,” he said.

According to Goodnough, one of the biggest wins has been the significant progress in housing development and infrastructure improvements. “We haven’t seen this type of interest in years, and this is a direct result of our Planning and Community Development Team making the process easy to work through,” he explained.

With the city moving forward on key initiatives, Goodnough remains focused on ensuring the momentum continues.

A Piece of Market History Resurfaces! We have discovered that the first markets were held indoors at the old hardware store—where the downtown 7-11 stands today. Homemade egg noodles rolled out from a noodle-making machine were among the original market staples.

The Brooks Farmers’ Market was started by MaryAnne around 1982. Kathy remembers baking buns for the market when her son, Jeremy, was a toddler. He once splattered a tray of rising dough, creating a lasting memory of those early days!

Did you shop, sell, or help run the market in its early years? Do you have stories, photos, or memories that bring those moments back to life? Every detail—big or small—helps us rebuild the story of how the Brooks Farmers’ Market became what it is today.

Urban Hen Pilot Program - a resident on 12 Street West behind Prairie Meadows requested permission to keep up to 20 hens, exceeding the urban hen pilot program's initial limit of four hens. City council postponed the decision until the program's January 2025 review. It was then decided to address exceptions individually and increase the limit to six hens. Administration is now seeking Council's direction on further adjustments to the Animal Control Bylaw following the resident's presentation.

Updated CAO Bylaw - The City is updating the bylaw that defines how the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) manages operations, following a thorough review by senior management. These updates will remove unnecessary steps and align the CAO’s responsibilities with the Municipal Government Act (MGA). The CAO will have more flexibility in handling expenses up to $50,000, allowing for quicker decision-making. They will also be able to adjust the City's staff structure as needed and write off small unpaid bills up to $500. Any extra spending beyond the budget will be reported to Council every few months, ensuring transparency. These changes help the City respond more efficiently while still keeping Council informed.

Heritage Project - a mural on the new wooden fence built by CPKC in downtown Brooks is being decided on. CPKC has already added beautification elements, including evergreen trees, and provided archived heritage photos featuring the old railway station, aqueduct, and irrigation dam. After reviewing additional photos from the City, CPKC has approved designs for a mural or banner-style installation, a common practice in other communities. While CPKC will maintain the fence and landscaping, the City of Brooks will cover the costs of creating, installing, and maintaining the mural or banner. Council is considering four options: a painted mural or a printed banner in two different sizes. The estimated banner costs range from $672 to $896, with funds available from the BRZ Terminus Project budget. The banner option allows for future image replacements. Once a design is approved, an agreement for installation and maintenance will be established.

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