Red Deer Minute: Housing Grant, Service Week, and Finding Budget Savings

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

This Week In Red Deer:

• On Tuesday, at 11:00 am, there will be a City Council Agenda Review Committee Meeting.
  
  
• It’s Service Week. Mayor Ken Johnston made the proclamation to honour the contributions of local service clubs. This annual event highlights the support these clubs provide to nonprofits. During Service Week, seven local nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels and Central Alberta Humane Society, will each receive $1,500 from various service clubs. The Central Alberta Humane Society plans to use its funds for stocking up on food, and Rotary Club members will assist with tasks at their facility.
  
  
• Construction on the Red Deer Regional Hospital parkade will cause traffic detours for the next two months. Starting this week, 39th Street between 52nd and 51st Avenue will be closed to allow for the installation of new concrete components. The parkade exit and nearby transit stops will be temporarily relocated, with signage directing traffic and pedestrians. Access to the Alberta Health Services staff parking lot will also shift to a temporary entrance. The parkade expansion will add two levels and 500 parking spaces, with construction expected to finish in a year.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• Council explored options to save $20 million in next year's budget by considering 37 different service reductions that Administration selected from 275 service areas. Discussions included replacing mandatory censuses every four years with ones directed by Council, reducing turf and outdoor amenity maintenance, and cutting plant and flower budgeting in the city’s downtown. Council discussed changing to a ward system, but this idea was largely rejected due to concerns about divisiveness. Decisions will be made in November, when Council will also consider raising taxes or fees as additional ways to balance the budget.
  
  
• Councillors agreed on the need for more housing but were divided on a federal program's zoning requirements. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund requires ending exclusionary zoning, allowing four-plexes on any residential lot. Some Councillors opposed this, citing concerns about public backlash and recent updates to the Zoning Bylaw. However, Mayor Ken Johnston urged Council to apply for the grant, stressing the housing crisis and the need to explore every option. In the end, a majority of Councillors voted to move forward with the grant application. This does not impact zoning regulations for the time being - if Red Deer is given the grant then further conversations will take place. And, if need be, Mayor Johnston says the money can be returned.
  
  
• It was agreed by Council that producers of packaged goods will be responsible for recycling under the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy starting April 1st, 2025. This policy shifts the recycling program from municipal control to the producers, who will manage the collection and recycling of plastics and cardboard. Citizens will continue using their blue carts, but the City's role will change to oversight rather than direct service provision. The transition is expected to be smooth, with potential cost savings and no significant impact on consumer prices. Council has unanimously agreed to participate and will review the details and implications of the policy by the end of the year.

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