Red Deer Minute: Debt Review, Land Annexation, and Online Development Permits

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

This Week In Red Deer:

• Today, there will be a Regular Meeting of City Council. The meeting will begin with a closed session at 10:30 am to discuss the Permanent Homeless Shelter. When the discussion is over, Council will open the meeting up to the public and hear several financial reports, including the 2022 Operating Variance Report, 2022 Capital Information and Expenditure Variance Report, and the 2022 Reserve Report. Remember how the City had to dip into its reserves to cover the shortfall in the budget? Council will also review the City’s debt limit policy - a self-imposed limit of 75% of what the Province will allow.
  
  
• Mayor Ken Johnston will be absent from today’s Council meeting. He is still in France at the Paris International Air Show, showcasing the economic opportunities of the central Alberta region, particularly the Red Deer Regional Airport. No details of any particular deals or announcements have been provided...
  
  
• While the official first day of summer was last week, the unofficial marker of the season - when the kids get out of school - takes place this week. Wednesday is the last instructional day for Red Deer Catholic, and Thursday is the last day for Red Deer Public! What are your summer plans?

Last Week In Red Deer:

• Another step was taken in the process of annexing land from Red Deer County. A public hearing was held on Tuesday by the Provincial Land and Property Rights Tribunal, with about 40 people in attendance. The two landowners spoke in favour of the project, while the adjacent acreage owners shared their concerns. The public had concerns regarding traffic, agricultural lands, wetland preservation, noise, and property values. The Tribunal will now prepare a written recommendation to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. The City’s goal is to turn the roughly 216 hectares of commercial land in the northwest corner of the city, along Highway 2, into a regional “power centre”.
  
  
• The Central Alberta Women's Emergency Shelter (CAWES) received nearly $30 million in funding from the federal government. CAWES will use the funding for a 47,940 square foot facility with 50 emergency shelter beds and 40 transitional housing units. Of note, this is a different shelter than the permanent homeless shelter that has been debated around the community for the last few years. This shelter will serve women and children fleeing domestic violence.
  
  
• The City’s development permits moved entirely online. This is something Common Sense Red Deer has advocated for in the past, so we are happy to see it come to fruition. The City also plans to eventually move other applications, like for secondary suites and signs, online too.

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