From The City of Red Deer

Plows are ready to roll into residential areas

City crews are gearing up to start Snow Zone Plowing and residents are reminded to sign up for Snow Zone Alerts to get text, email, and phone call reminders before they need to move their vehicles off the street.

Snow Zone Plowing (residential) will begin on January 20 on Green Routes (Collector Roads and Bus Routes) in Snow Zone H; Grey Route (Residential Streets) plowing in Snow Zone H will follow on January 24. Plowing will continue alphabetically through Snow Zones until complete. Parking restrictions will be in place during plowing in each Snow Zone, which could be a few days at a time.

“It should only take our crews a day or two to plow Green or Grey Routes in each Snow Zone, but it does take us a lot longer if vehicles are left parked on the streets,” said Public Works Manager Greg Sikora.

“When we’re plowing Green Routes, you can park your car on a Grey Route, which is usually justaround the corner. It is the same case for Grey Route plowing; if you really need to park on the street,you can park on a Green route. That’s why we don’t plow Green and Grey Routes in a Snow Zone at the same time,” he continued.

There are many different ways for residents to learn the schedule:

•   Sign up for Snow Zone Alerts at reddeer.ca/notifyreddeer to get text, email or phone call reminders before plowing starts in their Snow Zone
•   Check the schedule online at reddeer.ca/snowzone
•   Follow the City of Red Deer on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates
•   Call the Snow Zone Hotline at 403-406-8796
•   Look for signs at neighbourhood entrances and on Green Routes

   

  “We know it is hard to remember exactly when plows will be in your area, which is why Notify Red Deer is such a great tool for residents to use,” said Sikora, “It takes just a few minutes to sign up and you get a text, email or phone call – whichever you prefer – to remind you to move your car.”

  During Green Route plowing, residents will find no-parking signs along the street. Parking restrictions are in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday while plowing is scheduled, and vehicles left onthe street will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

  During Grey Route plowing, residents will notice signs at the entrance to their neighbourhood. Parking restrictions are in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday while plowing is scheduled and vehicles left on the street are ticketed and plowed in. Parking restrictions are not in effect on weekends.

  “We are reaching out to residents to help us get residential roads clear as quickly as possible,” said Sikora. “If we work together, we can get streets cleared and get out of your way fast. We are asking residents to be a part of the program and ensure the streets are free of cars before we head into yourneighbourhood.”

  Residents are encouraged to visit the City’s website at reddeer.ca/snowzone for details about the program, schedule updates, and to sign up for Snow Zone Alerts.

The full January 2020 Snow Zone Plowing Schedule is attached, and will be kept up to date on our website.

January 2020 Snow Zone Plowing schedule

All schedules are subject to weather and other delays, and may be subject to change. Any changes to the schedule will be posted on the City website at reddeer.ca/snowzone.

From Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce

Chamber reacts to City of Red Deer 2020 Operating Budget

The Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce is encouraged by Council’s willingness to reduce the tax burden on city residents and businesses.

Chamber CEO Rick More commented. “Overall it is promising to see City Council and staff members taking actions to alleviate the cost of doing business in our City. It has been a long-time ask by our Chamber that the city take a hard look at costs, focus on competitiveness, business friendliness and reducing the tax burden on our local job creators.”

The Chamber acknowledges that neither reducing the capital contribution nor the transfer to operating reserves is a sustainable or long-term solution to tax competitiveness, but the right call for the time. “As we enter yet another year of this economic downturn, the number of business closures combined with those on the verge of shutting their doors and the exodus of business from our downtown core, the last thing we needed was another substantial tax increase. We will continue to encourage the city to focus on more efficient program and service delivery that results in long-term cost savings but maintains our core services,” continued More.

Prior to budget deliberations the Chamber provided a written submission to Council encouraging them to align municipal priorities with the province’s stated direction of job creation and growing the economy. These focus areas are especially pertinent given prior government messaging that municipal funding will be awarded based on this alignment.

More concluded “It is also encouraging to see that Council directed the City Manager Seabrooke to find an additional $400,000 in savings, but important to note that equates to approximately one-tenth of a percent of total operational spending. In a household with a $75,000 annual budget its equivalent to finding just $77 in savings. We’re confident that in a nearly $400 million budget there is significant room to reduce spending. By setting conditions that allow local business to thrive, our entire community will benefit from increased job opportunities and a strong local economy.”

The Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan, collaborative leader in building a vibrant community and fosters an environment where businesses can lead, be innovative, sustainable, and grow.