By Alessia Proietti

City Manager Recruitment & Entertainment District

Red Deer city council meetings: earlier start time and two special meetings added

May 25, 2022 | 10:53 AM

Red Deer city council has approved an earlier start time to the remainder of their regular meetings while adding two Special Council Meetings to their schedule.

While meetings currently begin at 12:30 p.m., council approved on Tuesday that all future regular meetings for 2022 will begin at 10:30 a.m. The following dates are:

• Monday, June 20
• Monday, July 4
• Monday, July 18
• Monday, August 15
• Monday, August 29
• Monday, September 12
• Monday, September 26
• Tuesday, October 11
• Monday, October 24 (also an Organization Meeting)
• Monday, November 7
• Monday, November 21
• Monday, December 5

The Multi-Year Budget Review on Monday, November 28 will begin at 10 a.m. Public Hearings will continue to be at 5:00 p.m.

Administration recommended the earlier start time to alleviate the strain of late meetings, reduce the need for additional meetings due to incomplete items, and reduce overtime costs for administration employees.

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Councillor Vesna Higham and Councillor Bruce Buruma voiced against the change.

Councillor Higham highlighted that the position of an elected official is a part-time one; however, she says the role has been getting more complex and demanding over the years since her start in 2001. With an earlier start time and agendas being given to council just a few days before meetings that total over 100 pages, she believes it does not provide councillors the ability to properly balance their responsibilities.

“We started at 4:30 p.m. when I first started in 2001 but last term was 3:30 p.m.,” she said. “We moved all the way up to 12:30 p.m.; I think that’s a significant move in the right direction. To move it any further, I think, jeopardizes and puts at risk that ability of council to give our all and really understand and digest and come prepared.”

Councillor Kraymer Barnstable, on the other hand, says the earlier start time is a sign of an engaged council.

“I see that as a positive sign for our community. I see this as a sign that this council wants to get the answers correct, they want to get the job done the right way and what we’re doing right now is just to elongate it,” he said.

The 2022 council meeting schedule was initially approved on November 1, 2021. While the next regular council meeting is scheduled for June 20, a request was also made to set two Special Council Meetings.

Both being approved, the first will be on Monday, May 30 at 3:30 p.m. for administration to provide an update on the City Manager Recruitment.

The second meeting will be on Friday, June 10 at 2:30 p.m. to discuss the City Manager Recruitment and provide council an expedited opportunity to give second and third reading to the Entertainment District Bylaw.

READ: Red Deer city council considers designating a downtown Entertainment District