Red Deer Minute: Axing X, Tourism Campaign, and Development Levies Reduced

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

This Week In Red Deer:

• This morning, at 10:00 am, there will be a meeting of the Council Agenda Review Committee. The Committee will set the agendas for the April 22nd Regular Council Meeting, an April 22nd closed meeting, and the April 24th Community Investment Day.
  
  
• The Municipal Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday at 9:00 am to discuss a development permit application. Also on Wednesday, there will be a meeting of the Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee and the Audit Committee. No agenda is available for either meeting.
  
  
• Tourism Red Deer is launching its new “Highway 2 More!” campaign to attract summer travellers passing through central Alberta. The initiative encourages motorists to take an exit off Highway 2 and explore the local attractions in Red Deer and surrounding communities. The CEO of Tourism Red Deer says the goal is to showcase the area’s hidden gems and position the region as a must-see destination. The campaign highlights spots like Canyon Adventure Park and aims to boost local tourism and economic activity throughout the summer season.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• The City of Red Deer has decided to stop using X for regular communication starting May 1st, keeping the platform only for potential emergency updates. Officials say the shift is due to low engagement on X, with just 4% of users interacting with City content, compared to much higher engagement on Facebook and Instagram. Red Deer’s communications team is also exploring alternatives like Bluesky.
  
  
• Council gave Second and Third Readings to the updated Off-Site Levy Bylaw, reducing development levies by nearly 20%. The rate developers pay for infrastructure such as roads, water lines, and sewers will be dropped to $164,605 per hectare from the previous $204,816. The updated bylaw incorporated feedback from the development community, and Council confirmed that the model will be reviewed annually.
  
  
• The Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) Board of Trustees approved a series of student fee increases in response to rising service costs. Students requiring transportation without full provincial funding will see a $50 fee increase. Partially funded students now face a new transportation fee of $250, with early registration discounts available, while non-funded students will be charged $550. Career and Technology Studies fees rose from $1 to $12 per credit. Construction, fabrication, and mechanics fees increased by $40 to $120, and the cost for a five-credit foods class was set at $80.

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