City of Red Deer

City RCMP Detachment closed to public. City Hall restricted

Published

2 weeks ago

From the City of Red Deer

Improving online and telephone customer service in support of social distancing recommendations

A shift to online and telephone customer service will take place with The City of Red Deer limiting public access to its facilities, such as Civic Yards, City Hall and Red Deer RCMP. This is being done in the effort to strengthen Alberta Health guidelines for social distancing.

While the risk to residents remains low, we are taking steps to protect staff and the public to prevent community spread.

“We encourage citizens to visit us online or call the Call Centre before coming to City Hall to do business,” said Tara Shand, Public Information Officer. “While City Hall does remain open for critical business, we are limiting public access as a means to protect the health and safety of our employees, customers and citizens.”

Effective tomorrow, The City’s Civic Yards facility (located at 7721 40 Avenue) and City departments located within Professional Building, including Human Resources, Corporate Services and Community Services (located at 4808 50 Street) will close to the public. The City’s Land and Economic Development office (located at 5000 51 Avenue) will also be closed to the public.

City Hall will remain open at this time, however, public access to City Hall will be limited to the main floor only. Residents are encouraged to do business with The City online or by phone as much as possible. Online services can be accessed online through www.reddeer.ca/mycity. Cemetery services, Waste Management Facility, and Sorenson Station Transit customer service remains open to the public. Transit continues to operate, with enhanced cleaning services, however dedicated school bus services are not running.

Also starting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18, the following changes take effect at the downtown RCMP detachment:

The front counter at the downtown Red Deer RCMP detachment is closed to the public.
Red Deer RCMP is accepting all reports (vehicle collisions, information related to investigations as well as reports of crimes and suspicious activity) from the public through email or telephone.
- To make a report to Red Deer RCMP call 403-343-5575 or email Kreddeer@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Non-emergency reports can be made between 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. seven days a week.
- In an emergency, or to report a crime in progress, call 9-1-1.
- When calling 9-1-1, tell the operator if you are experiencing cold or flu like symptoms.
Non-essential fingerprinting and criminal record checks are cancelled at this time.

Red Deer RCMP has also enhanced cleaning within its detachments and all staff are taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through wearing protective equipment such as gloves and increasing use of hand sanitizer.

“The safety and security of the public has always and will continue to be the top priority for Red Deer RCMP, which is why we are increasing our online and telephone customer service options,” said Gerald Grobmeier, Officer in Charge. “During these unprecedented times, we remain steadfast in our duty to serve and protect the citizens of Red Deer and are ready to respond to any potential situation while also continuing with high-quality around the clock policing services that citizens expect.”

“Our community has banded together through these difficult and challenging times,” said City Manager Allan Seabrooke. “We know the new additional restrictions announced today have significant impacts on our residents and their lives, and we thank everyone for their support of one another.”

The City is also mobilizing around our response to vulnerable populations, housing and social needs. Today, the Province announced funding to flow through Family and Community Support Services as well as Community Based Organization.

We encourage all citizens to follow the recommendations of Alberta Health Services. For the latest information on COVID-19 visit alberta.ca/covid19 and the latest on how City services are impacted visit reddeer.ca/covid19. Please call the Call Centre, open 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. with questions at 403.342.8111.

Related Topics:COVID-19 feature The City of Red Deer

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City of Red Deer

City closing playgrounds, introducing safety measures to transit system to prevent spread of COVID-19

Published

7 days ago

March 23, 2020

Duane Rolheiser

From The City of Red Deer

City takes additional measures to protect Red Deerians

As part of the ongoing effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, effective tomorrow, all playground in the city of Red Deer, will be closed.

“This was a difficult decision for us to make, as we know families are at home with children, looking for ways to keep active and enjoy warmer temperatures,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “We must make these hard decisions in order to stop the spread in our community. We know we are doing the right thing.”

Playground closures affect all play structures within Red Deer, including fitness parks. The City has not applied closures to any public trails, open park spaces or pathways at this time.

“We endeavor to keep trails and pathways open and our ability to do that will be directly linked to our citizen’s cohesion and respect to social distancing practices,” said Mayor Tara Veer.

Residents are reminded while out using city pathways and trails, to be sure to keep the recommended two metre distance between people you pass on the trails. Avoid touching handrails, garbage cans or any other object or surface while you are out, and wash your hands when you return home.

Yesterday, adjustments to Transit services were announced, moving from 30 minute service to one hour service, with the first buses departing from Sorenson Station at 7:45 a.m. Today, residents reached out to The City saying this change wasn’t ideal for riders using Transit to get to work in the morning. Starting Wednesday morning, the 6:45 a.m. departure time will resume in order to allow riders access to morning Transit service.

“We heard from residents that the changes implemented today made it difficult to get to work for early morning shifts,” said Karen Mann, Emergency Operations Centre Director. “We thank residents for reaching out to us and providing us with invaluable feedback. We are happy to be able to make this adjustment for the first departure to be at 6:45 a.m. beginning on Wednesday morning, to provide this service to the residents who need it.”

The City of Red Deer continues to explore all options and measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

City reduces transit hours and frequency effective tomorrow

As part of the ongoing effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, reduced transit hours and frequency will be implemented on all conventional routes beginning Monday, March 23, 2020.

Red Deer Transit will move to an hourly schedule from a 30 minute schedule. From Monday to Saturday, the first departure from Sorensen Station will leave at 7:45 a.m., and the last departure (from Sorensen Station) at 7:45 p.m. Sundays and holidays will continue to operate on the one hour service, with the first departure from Sorensen Station at 8:45 a.m., and the last departure (from Sorensen Station) at 6:45 p.m.

In addition, new safety measures are in place to encourage social distancing. All passengers are to enter and exit through the rear door, with the exception of wheel chairs and disabled customers. Every other seat will be blocked off to ensure social distancing between passengers.

Action Bus trips for accessible transportation will continue for our registered clients. Effective Monday March 23, 2020, this service will be limited to bookings for essential travel for medical appointment, work and grocery shopping only. A two-passenger maximum limit will be implemented across all Action Bus vehicles as an added measure of protection for the safety of customers and operators.

“The changes to transit beginning tomorrow will ensure we are providing the service many in our community rely upon for getting to work or medical appointments in the safest way possible as we all work to minimize exposure,” said Bart Rowland, Emergency Operations Centre Director.

The City’s decision to reduce transit hours and frequency is being done in an effort to be vigilant in The City’s response and planning related to COVID-19.

The City of Red Deer continues to explore all options and measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

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City of Red Deer

City to delay water, sewer and waste utility payments

Published

2 weeks ago

March 19, 2020

Duane Rolheiser

From the City of Red Deer

The City of Red Deer’s focus over the past number of weeks has been and will continue to be virus mitigation. News today from Alberta certainly highlights the need for continued efforts to reduce the spread.

“I was saddened today to learn of Alberta’s first death as a result of COVID-19,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “On behalf of City Council, Administration and all Red Deerians, I want to express my deepest sympathies to this individual’s family and loved ones.”

As part of the ongoing response to COVID-19, The City announced today customers can defer water, sewer and waste utility payments for 90 days with no penalties, if they are struggling to pay their bills.

Recognizing that many citizens in Red Deer may be experiencing significant economic impacts stemming from the COVID-19 situation, residential, farm and small commercial customers can defer their utility payment for water, sewer and waste for the next 90 days. If a customer defers payment, no penalties will be applied.

Customers who need to defer their water, sewer and waste collection payment for up to the next 90 days are asked to call The City’s Call Centre at 403-342-8111 to make the necessary arrangements. These will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

With limited services available at City Hall, customers are encouraged to pay bills online or by phone (www.reddeer.ca/mycity or 403-342-8203). For our residential, farm and small commercial customers who can still make their regular water, sewer and waste collection payment, but for whatever reason, the payment is late, no new penalties will apply after March 19, 2020.

The City has also made progress on its response related to housing and social supports for vulnerable populations in our community. At this time, a temporary space is secured at Cannery Row (4946 53 Avenue), with costs that will be covered by the Government of Alberta. Emergency zoning will remain in place for a period of six months, in alignment with our state of local emergency (SOLE). Cannery Row will be used as an overnight and daytime warming centre.

The current warming centre will continue to serve as the queuing space for the Overdose Prevention Site (OPS). Detox will remain in the current Safe Harbour space.

“As we continue to navigate through this situation, we are committed to maintaining essential services for Red Deerians, and ensuring all members of our community are being taken care of,” said Allan Seabrooke, City Manager. “We are monitoring the situation daily and will continue to make decisions that best suit the needs of the community, while protecting citizens.”

Other changes announced today include:

Suspensions of parking fees in the downtown until further notice. This includes metered parking and daily lots. We are currently exploring options related to monthly lots and will be communicating directly with monthly pass holders.
We are redeploying traffic enforcement in ways that respond to current needs. Residents must still abide by speed limits and traffic safety measures. Automated traffic enforcement measures will be increasingly used in high risk and playground areas in an effort to protect those who are using our park spaces and playgrounds.
We are reviewing current Transit operations and anticipate making an announcement regarding potential service changes within the next few days.

We strongly encourage all citizens to follow the recommendations of Alberta Health Services. For the latest information on COVID-19 visit alberta.ca/covid19 and the latest on how City services are impacted visit reddeer.ca/covid19. Please call the Call Centre, open 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. with questions at 403-342-8111.

Read stories on all of our sites: Todayville Red Deer – Todayville Edmonton – Todayville Calgary.