City to consider surplus land and buildings for affordable housing

City Council approves housing asset development recommendations

At their regular meeting Monday, City Council unanimously supported ten recommendations related to municipal government enabling actions that reflect the Community Housing and Homelessness Integrated Plan (CHHIP). Administration also presented an action plan for pursuing all ten enablers within the next three years, including some that will be actioned immediately. The enabling actions were researched and analyzed extensively to provide optimized solutions for The City in relation to their impact in leveraging funds from other orders of government, as well as the difficulty and timeframe for implementation.

The recommendations are in response to a City Council motion from January 2022 directing The City’s Housing and Homelessness Integration Committee (HHIC) to expedite permanent supportive housing asset development and to explore and identify related funding and government enabling actions. On February 6, 2023, Council directed administration to prioritize zoning and permitting processes for affordable housing and permanent supportive housing applications, specific to applications seeking Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rapid Housing Initiative and Government of Alberta’s Affordable Housing Partnership funding.

Supported by case studies that demonstrate successful strategies used by other municipalities to incentivize and increase affordable and supportive housing stock, the approved recommendations provide the following direction:

• Surplus land: Administration will present a report to Council in late 2024 that contains a list of potentially suitable surplus lands or buildings that The City may consider using for affordable housing. A report containing a list of potentially suitable surplus lands or buildings that The City may consider using for affordable housing.

• Financial incentives: A tax supported financial incentives program will be presented in November 2023 for Council consideration during mid-cycle budget review. Additionally, Administration will explore The City’s application for the new “Housing Accelerator Fund” through the Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation.

• Property tax exemptions: To ensure equitable and transparent implementation for non-Alberta Social Housing Corporation properties that provide affordable housing, a grant program in lieu of property tax exemptions will be presented in November 2024 as part of the next budget debate.

• Land designations: A full business case regarding land designation outlining financial feasibility and risks to The City’s Land Bank will be presented to Council in late 2024.

• Fast track development: Administration will prioritize zoning and permitting processes for affordable housing and permanent supportive housing applications as an immediate, long-term measure, specific to applications seeking funding from other orders of government.

• Waive municipal fees: Administration will ensure municipal fees are eligible expenses in the tax-supported financial incentives program that will be presented to Council in November 2023 as part of mid-cycle budget review.

The resolutions also endorse the following administrative actions:

• Provision of continued support to potential applicants to federal, provincial and municipal affordable housing programs.

• Development of key messages supporting The City’s advocacy for increased affordable housing stock.

• Development of new Land Use Bylaw for Council consideration in 2023.

• Exploration of conversion of commercial buildings for timeliness and affordability reasons..

“In addition to reflecting the Community Housing and Homelessness Integrated Plan (CHHIP), the approved enabling actions are the result of community input, local context, and promising practices and we expect them to make an impact towards our community’s housing affordable housing and permanent supportive housing goals,” said Ryan Veldkamp, Social Wellness & Integration Supports Superintendent.

More information on Housing & Homelessness efforts can be found at: https://www.reddeer.ca/about-red-deer/social-well-being-and-community-initiatives/housing-and-homelessness/.

City of Red Deer

www.reddeer.ca

Follow Author

“HotSpot” – How to use the City of Red Deer’s new downtown parking app

City of Red Deer / 1 month ago

Bus fares and transit fees rising next month: City of Red Deer

City of Red Deer / 1 month ago

City welcoming evacuees from Northwest Territories

City of Red Deer

“HotSpot” – How to use the City of Red Deer’s new downtown parking app

Published on September 25, 2023

City of Red Deer

HotSpot has launched in Red Deer! If you’re visiting our downtown for work, attending an event, or supporting a downtown business, you’ll use HotSpot to pay for your parking.

Three ways to pay!

HotSpot mobile app

A free download for iPhone and Android users, the HotSpot app is the easiest way to manage daily parking sessions and monthly permits.
Download HotSpot:

Fast tap signs

Located throughout the downtown parking areas, fast tap signs allow payment through the HotSpot website with a quick scan code. You don’t need a HotSpot account to use the fast tap signs.

Pay stations

If you prefer not to use an app or website, 21 new pay stations will be available throughout downtown and hospital zones. Pay stations offer several payment options, including coins, credit cards, Interac tap, Apple Pay and Google Pay. SmartCard parking cards will also be accepted at the pay stations, but are no longer able to be reloaded and are no longer being sold. Pay stations are expected to be up and running in early October. Until they arrive, customers are encouraged to use the app and fast tap signs to pay for parking.

Pay Station and Parking Zone Map (pdf)

HotSpot app features By using the HotSpot mobile app to manage your parking, you can:

Pay for parking
Extend parking sessions
Avoid tickets with auto-alerts
Refund unused time
Manage your monthly parking permit

More information

Review The City of Red Deer Parking Management Strategy (pdf).

Questions about downtown parking may be directed to The City’s Inspections & Licensing department at 403-342-8185 or [email protected].

The City of Red Deer thanks the Government of Alberta for supporting the Parking Infrastructure Improvement Project through Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding.

City of Red Deer

Bus fares and transit fees rising next month: City of Red Deer

Published on August 21, 2023

City of Red Deer

Increase to fees and fares, effective September 1

Starting September 1, 2023, there will be an adjustment to fares and fees for Transit, Recreation and Cemetery Services.During 2023/2024 budget deliberations City Council agreed that an increase to bus fares, recreation fees and cemetery fees was necessary to keep up with the rising costs for operating.

“Like every business, our operating costs have increased and in order to maintain our current levels of service for our riders we had to consider increasing our bus fares,” said Jeremy Bouw, Manager, Transit & Fleet Services. “This year we have seen our ridership slowly increasing and we want to keep that trend moving upward by maintaining our transit services and continuing to attract new riders.”

As of September 1, the following rates will be applied to Transit services:

Cash Fares
- Adult (18-64 years) – $3
- Youth (6-17 years) / Student / Senior – $2.50
12 Ride Pass
- Adult – $33
- Youth / Student / Senior – $27.50
Unlimited Ride (Monthly Pass)
- Adult – $75
- Senior – $62
- Student – $62

MyRide, The City’s electronic bus pass, is available for purchase at Transit Customer Service in Sorensen Station or at City Hall. MyRide can be conveniently reloaded with the fare type of your choice in 12 ride bundles or unlimited monthly passes at Transit Customer Service, City Hall or one of the seven reload stations located throughout the community.

As of September 1, the following recreation services will experience rate changes:

Daily admission at the Collicutt Centre, Recreation Centre, Michener Centre, Servus Arena, Kinsmen Community Arenas and Setters Place at Great Chief Park
Monthly Recreation All Access Passes and Recreation Value Passes*
10 punch passes at the above-mentioned facilities
Group admission fees at the above-mentioned facilities
Childminding fees at the Collicutt Centre and G.H. Dawe Community Centre
Facility rental fees

* The Recreation Plus Pass fee was adjusted with the opening of the newly expanded G.H. Dawe Community Centre in February, and will not receive another adjustment in September.

“Our intent is always to provide as much access to recreation as possible, while managing increased costs, staffing levels and maintenance demands,” says Tammy Greba, acting Recreation Superintendent. She continues, “as a demonstration of this, we continue to offer the Fee Assistance Program to those needing financial help accessing City Arts and Recreation programs and services.”

For more information on fees and fares visit: