(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

NEW PUBLIC INFO PORTAL

City council talks taxi bylaw amendments, utility governance, and more in regular meeting

Oct 28, 2024 | 5:03 PM

In their regular meeting Oct. 28, Red Deer city council tackled multiple housekeeping items including amending the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw, discussing a public information portal for the City’s utility governance review, and a notice of motion.

Prior to the regular meeting, council also held an organizational meeting to appoint citizen representatives to various committees, quasi-judicial boards, committees, and external boards and societies. The full list of appointees can be found here, although appointing to the Red Deer Regional Airport Authority Board has been postponed to November 12, 2024.

Vehicle for Hire Bylaw

In May, council approved increased plate draw limits for taxi drivers in the City for the next three years, followed by a removal of the cap after a fourth transition year.

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On Monday, city administration cited a few clerical errors in the original wording of the bylaw and requested a few minor adjustments to the document’s wording for clarity and to better match council’s intent for the bylaw.

Amendments made included:

1. Clarifying the language to communicate that after three consecutive years of plate draws, there will be a fourth year with no draws before the cap limit is lifted and in effect. Before the amendment, it read as going into effect right after year three.
2. Clarifying the language to communicate that plates may be transferred between vehicles – within a brokerage – in the event a vehicle is down for repairs. Before the amendment, plate transfers read as being restricted to circumstances where a vehicle was permanently removed from a fleet.

Inspections and licensing manager Erin Stuart, who prepared the report, said that industry members are supportive of the amendments as they will improve their operations.

The amended bylaw passed first, second, and third readings unanimously.

Utility Governance Review – Report Summary

Council received a report from administration outlining what steps have been taken so far in the electric utility governance review process, what steps are left to take, and explaining different elements of the review process.

This information has been compiled in a centralized portal for the benefit of the public, mainly to review for a better understanding of the situation ahead of upcoming public engagement opportunities like a public hearing, which are yet to be determined.

Notably, the summary report reminds that council has not decided on a particular direction for the future of the city’s electric utility. While council has asked to receive more information about how a Municipally Controlled Corporation model would work, it is still merely an option.

The city began the process of reviewing utility governance in 2021, with external consultations narrowing down options in 2023. Alberta’s electricity market has seen major changes in the last few decades, including deregulation in 1995. The management and operation of Red Deer’s utility has remained without significant changes since 1928, resulting in a critical need for modernization.

Read more:

• City council to decide on future of electricity management in Red Deer
• Red Deer to explore creating a Municipally Controlled Corporation for utility management
• City continues to explore modernized utility governance options

Notice of Motion – Councillor Bruce Buruma

Coun. Bruce Buruma brought a notice of motion forward to council, asking that two seats for citizen representatives be added to the City’s Audit Committee.

“I’ve been a member of the Audit Committee for the City of Red Deer and in terms of the finances and the operations, I’d say it’s a significant piece of work in terms of the size of the enterprise that we have,” he said. “We have some excellent members that are on the Audit Committee, but I do believe there’s an opportunity for expertise from the community in regard to their insights.”

The current makeup of the committee includes four spots, the mayor and three councillors. This motion requests to add two to that total for citizen representatives with relevant expertise, to go into effect by Q1 of 2025 or earlier.

The motion is expected to be returned to council for debate and consideration on November 12, 2024.

Capital Budget

Consideration of the 2025 Capital Budget was postponed to the November 18, 2024, Council Budget Meeting as per administration’s recommendation.

Administration commented, they need more time to fully review the city’s outstanding debt and reserve funded projects to provide an accurate picture of its current financial position.