City council endorses Community Compass to guide service delivery decisions over 12 years

Red Deer city council has endorsed the strategic planning initiative called Community Compass: Our master Plan for Service Delivery.

They unanimously endorsed the initiative during Red Deer city council’s regular meeting on Tuesday.

It will guide how the city plans, prioritizes, and delivers services to the community over the next 12 years. It will also make sure services are aligned with community priorities, responsive to emerging trends, and coordinated across the organization.

The city says the Community Compass responds directly to recommendations from the 2021 Value for Money Audit and aligns with Red Deer’s Vision 2050.

“The Community Compass strengthens council’s ability to make informed and transparent decisions,” said Mayor Cindy Jefferies in a media release. “It ensures that as our community grows and changes, we are making decisions that reflect what matters most to Red Deerians while balancing long-term sustainability.”

While developing the plan, the city conducted research and engagement with over 1,170 community touch points, as well as internal analysis, and review of leading practices from other municipalities. They formed three companion reports, including what we heard, what we learned, and the map book.

For clarification, the Community Compass does not pre-determine projects, spending, or service levels. It actually provides a consistent lens to guide decision makers on how decisions are made. This ensures recommendations brought to council are evidence-based, align with the community, and transparent in how trade-offs are considered.

“The Community Compass changes how we bring recommendations forward to Council,” said Sarah Tittemore, General Manager of Operations. “It provides a consistent lens so decisions aren’t developed in isolation, and brings together existing plans, local expertise, and research in a way that improves alignment and supports more coordinated decision-making.”

Implementation of the Community Compass, the city says, will begin immediately, and integration into planning, reporting, and decision-making processes will follow over time. Council will begin to see the framework applied in recommendations, including service planning and budget discussions.

The Community Compass also establishes the foundation for the next phase of work: the development of recreation, parks, community development and emergency services sub-plans.