Red Deer city council talks bylaw updates, new zoning, and community service planning

The bylaw temporarily pauses interest and principal payments on the loan, buying the organization time to reach a better financial position before payments resume; to be clear, it does not forgive any amount of the loan, it changes the timeline of when it will be repayed.

“I think it gives them their best chance to get that footing and continue to move forward. As they develop more events and better events, I think that’s where their earnings start to catch up and then that’s where the city’s support starts to lower, meaning we need to then get ourselves protected as well and make sure we get those loan payment started again,” explained Mike Olesen, Growth and Finance General Manager.

He added that the change has no budget implications at this time as the City has already been servicing the debt for the loan.

Upon first reading, the suspension was for an “indefinite” amount of time, to be determined at council’s discretion moving forward. For second and third readings, Councillor Chad Krahn amended the motion to include a review date of April 1, 2027. This aligns with the WEA’s three-year plan, which outlines when they expect to reach even, if not positive, revenues.

Additionally, council unanimously passed first reading of an updated Traffic Bylaw and General Penalty Bylaw, with additional information expected to come back to council before second and third reading.

In the proposed changes, some fines have stayed at the same value, some have even decreased, and many have increased.

Erin Stuart, manager of inspections and licensing, explained that these fines haven’t been updated since 1997.

She also explained administration’s rationale for the proposed rates, which considered those in comparative municipalities, offence severity and potential impact to public safety.

Administration will bring additional information on specific changes to council, and the item is expected to return to council Jan. 27. You can find these proposed changes in pages 71-132 of the council agenda.

An item arising from the 2025 budget debate, council also received a report on the process of updating the Community Services Master Plan.

“Our current community services planning documents are 28 years old. We need to hear from our community to know what they’re looking for in the future and there will be some great opportunities for them to participate and share their thoughts,” said Tricia Hercina, acting general manager of community services for that meeting.

She said the document sets guiding principles for administration and helps them with the planning and execution of community services as they move forward. It applies to services such as community development, including culture and environmental initiatives, recreation areas and parks.

The City expects to conduct public engagement regarding this plan in Q2 of 2025 and to see budget implications around 2027. This work initially was approved and began as a part of the 2024 budget. Since then, it has been carried over into 2025, and a contract for the consultation work has been awarded to RC Strategies.

Another item landing before council was a notice of motion regarding lighting and trail safety in Monfort Heights, brought forward by Councillor Dianne Wyntjes.

She addressed resident safety concerns she has received since 2016 and said she would like to see appropriate trail lighting installed in the area via capital funding by the end of Q2 in 2026.

The motion will return to council for debate and a decision on Jan. 27, 2025.

The council day closed with a public hearing on two proposed bylaws, Bylaw 3357/XX-2024 and Bylaw 3357/VV-2024, which both passed.

Bylaw 3357/XX-2024 creates a new Direct Control (DC) zone under the Zoning Bylaw that would allow residential duplexes to create house suites, but only once they are approved as a DC zone. These approvals would come to council on a case-by-case basis and require public hearings. Essentially, the zone would be used as a tool to replace site exceptions for these cases.

This zone allows the City to gauge the feasibility of and community interest in the change before making it a widespread allowance across the city, while keeping it within close council control.

That bylaw passed 5-3, with Councillors Wyntjes, Vesna Higham and Victor Doerksen opposed both on second and third readings. Higham and Wyntjes both cited concern around a lack of public engagement and considered it a departure from council’s typical zoning procedure.

Bylaw 3357/VV-2024 was then considered, as it represents the first use of this new zone; the applicant intends to create a house suite within a duplex located at 34 Rutherford Drive.

First reading was unanimously approved on Dec. 16, 2024. Today, second and third readings passed 7-1, with Higham opposed.

No members of the public spoke at the hearing and administration reported that they didn’t receive any complaints when they engaged with neighbours of the site.

by Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

Red Deer city council talks bylaw updates, new zoning, and community service planning

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