Red Deer Minute: Hydroponic Tomatoes, Proactive Robots, and a Taxi Plate Draw

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 agenda for the June 24th City Council meeting.
  
  
• The Audit Committee will meet on Wednesday at 1:00 pm. The Committee will receive several reports, including one regarding the Long Term Business and Financial Systems Plan, and another regarding reports made under the City’s Whistleblowing Program. The Committee will also discuss the Audit Committee Work Plan before going in-camera to discuss a Whistleblower Report.
  
  
• Starting tomorrow at 6:00 am, until June 25th at 5:00 pm, downtown traffic on 49th Street and 48th Avenue will be affected due to underground infrastructure replacement by City crews. A single lane will be available on 49th Street from 48th Avenue to 49th Avenue, and on 48th Avenue north of 49th Street. Motorists should anticipate delays and consider using alternative routes during the roadwork period.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• The City conducted a taxi plate draw, resulting in the issuance of 15 new plates to various winners. Winners will be contacted by the City to proceed with their brokerages, and if any plates are returned or unused, a second draw will be held later. This draw aligns with the City's new Vehicle for Hire Bylaw, which mandates the issuance of additional plates each year for three years before restrictions on the number of plates are removed altogether.
  
  
• The City announced plans to deploy robots into Red Deer water pipes in the near future to detect weaknesses and prevent ruptures. The Public Works department is proactively addressing the risk of major water main breaks, given the catastrophic break that occurred recently in Calgary. The introduction of robotic analysts in the coming years is part of Red Deer's strategy to improve monitoring and reduce water main issues, particularly in critical areas such as hospitals.
  
  
• The Red Deer Food Bank received a $150,000 grant from Federated Co-operatives Ltd., allowing them to establish the Co-Op Community Food Farm. This initiative aims to grow nearly one million tomatoes in a hydroponic system to include in food hampers. The Farm will address the need for fresh ingredients, reducing reliance on external sources for produce, with future plans for rainwater capture and a solar energy system for sustainability and efficiency. Construction is expected to take four months, with planting targeted for Christmas distribution.

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