Red Deer Minute: Art Donation, Funding Denial, and a Hospital Information Session

Red Deer Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Red Deer politics

This Week In Red Deer:

• Today, at 1:00 pm, there will be a Special Meeting of City Council. The entire meeting will be held in-camera (in secret) to discuss the permanent shelter. It’s well past time that Red Deerians got some information on this topic!
  
  
• The Public Art Commission will meet on Wednesday at 5:00 pm. The Commission will receive a report on a potential public art donation. The City has received an offer to donate a steel, wood, and clay art installation, commissioned by the Alberta Art Foundation for Hunting Hills High School in 1996. Discussions are underway to find a suitable location for the piece. The Commission will also discuss Art and Culture projects happening in the city and community.
  
  
• On Thursday, Alberta Infrastructure will be hosting a public information session regarding the Red Deer Regional Hospital expansion project. The session will take place from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at The Chalet in Westerner Park.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• The City has made progress on a comprehensive review of its Land Use Bylaw, a first in 25 years, aiming to modernize regulations surrounding building heights, backyard suites, and various zoning issues to better align with current needs and streamline processes for developers. During a recent Council meeting, Administration shared insights from the public consultation phase, which engaged citizens, businesses, developers, realtors, youth, and newcomers. Key areas of public interest included the management of infill development, the integration of duplexes and suites in low-density residential areas, and adjustments to parking and landscaping standards. The updated bylaw is scheduled for presentation to Council for initial reading on March 18th.
  
  
• Red Deer’s $16 million application for federal housing funds was denied. This marks the third instance of the City's efforts being overlooked. In response to this setback, Mayor Ken Johnston said he was frustrated and disappointed, and emphasized the necessity of a community-based approach to tackle the issue, including exploring the potential of civic-owned properties for affordable housing projects. Mayor Johnston said that a private developer had been interested in starting an affordable housing project if Ottawa had come through with the money, and land had already been rezoned by the city in anticipation.
  
  
• Mayor Ken Johnston said that the Province plans to inspect the Parsons House, a structure with over 120 years of history. The building stands in the shadow of the new eight-storey Justice Centre, and requires the inspection to ensure its structural integrity after being exposed to heavy machinery during the Justice Centre's construction. Originally serving as the home of one of Red Deer’s pioneering doctors, Dr. Richard Parsons, the house is a significant piece of the city's heritage. Alberta Infrastructure, which used the house as an office during construction, plans to offer it to the City of Red Deer before possibly listing it for sale.

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