City of Red Deer
50% of survey responders concerned with Red Deer’s crime rates
From The City of Red Deer
Red Deerians happy with quality of life but crime is top concern
Ninety-three per cent of Red Deerians say their overall quality of life is good or very good and overall satisfaction with municipal services remains high, according to the 2019 Citizen Satisfaction Survey released today.
“Red Deer is consistently described as a beautiful and friendly city with numerous amenities and an expansive trail system that citizens cite year after year as reasons why quality of life here is so good,” said Allan Seabrooke, City Manager. “Like any growing city, Red Deer is facing significant challenges, particularlyin regards to crime and social issues and these issues are top priority for The City.”
Eighty-three per cent of respondents said they receive very good or fairly good value for tax dollars. When asked about how The City should balance taxation and service delivery levels, 47 per cent of respondents supported increasing taxes, while 41 per cent of respondents favoured cutting services.
When asked about the change in quality of life, 15 per cent of respondents said things have improved, attributing a well-managed municipality, job opportunities and enjoyment of living in Red Deer for the increase. For those who said their quality of life had remained the same (43 per cent), or worsened (41 per cent), crime, unemployment and social issues were identified as the top reasons.
From the survey, the top issues facing our community are crime (50 per cent), social issues (23 per cent) and transportation (14 per cent).
“This annual survey is one tool City Council uses to identify and respond to citizens’ priorities,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “Crime has doubled in importance for Red Deerians this year compared to last year, and this issue will continue to remain City Council’s top priority until we see substantial improvements in the crimeand social challenges our community is contending with.”
Roads were identified as the highest priority for residents in terms of infrastructure (76 per cent), followed by water treatment facilities (69 per cent), recreation facilities (43 per cent), wastewater treat ment facilities (43 per cent), and the transit system (38 per cent).
The Citizen Satisfaction Survey was conducted over the phone by Ipsos Public Affairs between May 13 and 24, 2019, with a randomly selected sample of 300 Red Deer residents aged 18 years or older; 30 per cent of interviews were conducted on cell phones. The margin of error is +/-5.7%, 19 times out of 20.
City to host Kinex Arena farewell event
The Kinex Arena was originally built in 1967 and has provided over 5 decades of fun, sport and recreation. As a farewell, The City is hosting a free public drop-in event.
Free Kinex Arena Farwell Event
Saturday, April 1
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
4725 A – 43 Street
Behind the Servus Arena (map)
Join us for our free skating times with themed music:
- 10 – 11 a.m. – preschool/family skate with preschool songs
- 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – 60’s & 70’s public skate
- 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – 80’s & 90’s public skate
- 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. – 00’s & 10’s public skate
Pre-registration is not required, drop-in when your schedule allows!
Skate with us through the ages as we host themed drop-in skating times with refreshments in the upper mezzanine. The refreshments are free and so are the memories! Walk back in time while reminiscing with historic pictures of the Kinex Arena over the last 55+ years.
Kinex Farewell Event FAQs
Kinex Arena Decommission FAQs
City of Red Deer
City of Red Deer puts out call to private owners interested in selling or leasing property for integrated homeless shelter
Call for privately owned properties for consideration during shelter site selection process
Administration will assess the privately-owned properties submitted, sites that are currently on the market, and municipally or provincially owned properties using Council’s criteria:
- Ability to acquire site: Acquiring the optimum site can be done in a timely manner. Acquisition options and costs are important considerations.
- Adequate size: The size of the site considers the potential need to adjust service delivery at any given time. It will accommodate proposed integrated amenities and services. It considers the land size needed to accommodate outdoor gathering spaces and activities. The site already has a building or can accommodate a building that meets the Province’s minimum requirement of 10,000 square feet.
- Broad community impact: The site aligns with The City’s vision for the community. Community impact includes considerations such as, impacts on economic and business development, and municipal operations. It includes potential reputational impacts and financial impacts (both capital and operating). It also includes impacts to those accessing shelter services in our community. The site considers impacts to our community as a whole, including health, and safety for all in our valued places and spaces that are enjoyed by our citizens.
- Impacts to surrounding area: Impacts to businesses, residences, parks, trails, and schools are a priority consideration in selecting site. The city’s reputation is considered. A preferred site can accommodate and foster development of a safe, secure shelter.
- Access to services & supports: Safety and basic needs for all is a priority. Regularly utilized services and supports that would not be co-located are taken into consideration. Sites where co-located services can operationalize are preferred.
Once the technical assessments are complete, administration will present options to Council for consideration to recommend to the province.
If you are a property owner and would like to submit a site for consideration, please fill out and submit the online form here.
For information on the future shelter site selection process, please visit www.reddeer.ca/shelter.
Background
Back on February 3, City Council provided a “community update” on the status of 2 properties which were thoroughly vetted but failed in the end to get the go ahead. Here is video from that announcement and the following q and a with media.
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