City of Red Deer
City of Red Deer considering 9% tax increase – Inviting citizens to engage
Administration releases proposed 2024 budget and plans
This year’s budget process looks a little different than expected because Council originally approved a 2024 budget as part of the 2023/2024 budget process in November 2022. However, Administration had to take a step back and take a second look at the budget as The City is facing unprecedented challenges including increasing inflation, decreased revenue and less money from other levels and government.
Given these pressures, administration is presenting a budget amendment request of approximately $16 million dollars. In addition to utilizing the other funding sources available, this budget includes recommended scenarios for property tax increases above and beyond the previously approved 4.1 per cent. These scenarios range from 7-9 per cent. In relation to a typical home assessed at $345,000 in Red Deer, this would represent a tax increase of between $176 and $226 per year, or $14.67 and $18.83 per month.
“When Council approved the two-year budget in 2022, our economic reality was significantly different than it is now,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “Like our counterparts across the province, we’re facing tremendous economic pressures that are making it increasingly difficult to balance costs and funding sources while also investing in the future of our community. At the same time, we also know these same economic pressures are affecting the household budgets of our citizens, so we need to be deliberate and prudent in our decisions.”
Citizens are invited to review the full budget documents are provide input at engage.reddeer.ca.
“Administration is proposing an amended budget that balances the need to maintain the services our citizens rely on and value, while also considering long-term sustainability,” said City Manager Tara Lodewyk. “We are being transparent about our current challenges and realities: our revenues are reduced, and our expenses have increased significantly. Continuing on the same path of using reserves to make up this difference in our budget is not sustainable. This budget signals a crucial change of course toward a strong financial foundation and focusing on the importance of enabling growth.”
Council will deliberate the amended budget January 23-26, 2024. Citizens can watch the livestream at meeting.reddeer.ca.
To learn more, see our FAQ, or visit reddeer.ca/budget.
City of Red Deer
City Council paving the way for more house suites, backyard suites, tiny homes, and duplexes
Council adopts new Zoning Bylaw
At Monday’s regular City Council meeting, City Council passed second and third reading of the Zoning Bylaw 3357/2024, replacing the former Land Use Bylaw.
The goal of the Zoning Bylaw is to reduce red tape, permit more uses in each zone and improve ease and understanding of the document. Notable updates include:
- Reduction from 11 residential districts to 9 zones
- Reduction from 7 commercial districts to 6 zones
- Reduction from 5 industrial districts to 3 zones
- More permitted uses in each zone
- More gentle density options to provide increased housing options, including house suites, backyard suites, tiny homes, and duplexes
- Increased building heights to 12.5m that considers sightlines and privacy of existing dwellings
- Greater flexibility for development applications
- Expanded definitions
- Reduction of duplex side yards, removal of side yard setbacks on corner lots, and reduced frontage in residential narrow lots to improve competitiveness
- New regulations to gently transition existing neighbourhoods to maintain character
Following adoption of the Zoning Bylaw, the following amendments were made by City Council.
Proposed Amendment | Public Hearing Date |
Increase suites from 15% to 25% of the houses in a neighbourhood. | June 24, 2024 |
Allow commercial uses on the main floor of R-H Residential High Density. | June 24, 2024 |
Correct errors in the PS Public Service Zone use list: (*Recommended) a) Gaming and Gambling Establishment (Only at the Westerner) b) Education Primary & Secondary – Add to discretionary use list | May 27, 2024 |
Returning the Cannabis Retail Sales setbacks to be consistent with the current Land Use Bylaw 3357/2006 | May 27, 2024 |
“The new Zoning Bylaw incorporates years of public feedback and best practices to make a Zoning Bylaw that will result in more housing options, easier development, and ultimately will improve our competitiveness,” said David Girardin, Major Projects Planner. “With the approval of the Zoning Bylaw today, we are not finished our community engagement as there will be future public hearings on potential amendments in the coming weeks, as well as more formal public participation for each additional phase of the Zoning Bylaw.”
The Zoning Bylaw will come into effect in 30 days. Public participation for phase two of the Zoning Bylaw will begin later this year. For more information, visit engage.reddeer.ca.
City of Red Deer
City says Red Deer residents impressed by changes to snow and ice control program
City Council reviews pilot snow and ice control program
This past winter, The City of Red Deer piloted changes to the snow and ice control program that focused on restoring mobility sooner and providing safe, accessible and well-maintained transportation infrastructure for all.
Major changes included 24/7 operations for residential street clearing, increased traction control throughout the city, additional sidewalk, trail and staircase clearing, and decreased timelines for bus stop clearing. On Monday City Council reviewed the 2023-24 snow and ice control operational report which outlined the pilot’s successes and challenges, as well as the learnings and opportunities for improvement.
“Overall, our more responsive approach to snow and ice control resulted in better mobility for motorists and pedestrians, and a greater quality of winter road maintenance,” said Greg Sikora, Manager of Parks and Public Works. “Of the many successes of the pilot program, the community was most pleased with the noticeable improvement in traction control and our ability to clear Green Routes within six days, thanks to moving Green Route plowing to 24/7 operations.”
Improvements to pedestrian, cyclist and motorist transportation networks include:
- Increased presence and effectiveness of pre-treating, plowing, and sanding on major arterials, hills and bridges, with two and four-hour traction control equipment cycles,
- 5 locations of staircase clearing,
- 43 km of neighbourhood asphalt trails cleared after each snowfall,
- Inclusion of second side sidewalks (9 km)
- 635 transit stop clearing: 61 high priority cleared in 1 day, 153 medium priority cleared within 3 days, an additional 421 supplemental stops cleared within 7 days.
Throughout the pilot program, The City connected with the community to get feedback on operations including regular check-ins with the Engaged Citizens Group, two broad public surveys, a transit rider survey and the Citizen Satisfaction Survey.
Overall, citizens felt arterial roadways, hills and bridges were adequately maintained, and were satisfied with the Green Route plowing operation, with little concern raised about nighttime operations and 24/7 parking bans. Residents reported a prominent level of satisfaction with the additional mobility of trails, sidewalks and staircases, and there was improved public awareness of snow clearing programs.
Additionally, a noticeable improvement in adherence to the parking ban resulted in less than 100 tickets being issued this year. Complaint call volumes and service requests for traction control also trended downward this year.
“While we’ve received positive feedback from the community, we know there is always room for improvement. Our greatest challenges to the snow and ice control program remains the variability of weather, pivoting operations from a plow based program to a traction control focus and choosing the right time to execute Green and Grey Route plows,” said Manager Sikora.
In June 2023, Council adopted the revised Integrated and Accessible Transportation Policy (IAATP), which focuses on providing the community with mobility services based on four guiding principles: safe, accessible, well-maintained and accountable.
City Council will consider the future level of service at the May 27 City Council meeting.
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