Red Deer Minute: Issue 205

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

📅 This Week In Red Deer: 📅

• On Tuesday, at 10:30 am, there will be a City Council meeting. Council will receive an update on the City’s Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) Transition. The City is transitioning from Mobile Photo Radar enforcement to an enhanced traffic enforcement model led by Community Peace Officers (CPOs), following Council direction and budget approvals in late 2024. This change responds to new provincial ATE policies effective April 2025, which restrict photo radar use to school, playground, and construction zones, and prohibit it on provincial highways, including key roads in Red Deer. Since January 2025, a dedicated CPO Traffic Unit has been deployed, increasing proactive enforcement and collaborating with the RCMP on joint operations targeting speeding and noise violations. The photo radar contract has been scaled back, focusing only on school and playground zones, and is expected to end once CPO staffing is complete. Early results show increased ticketing and successful identification of high-risk drivers. Recruitment efforts are ongoing to fill all CPO positions, with full staffing expected by June 2025 and a new CPO Superintendent anticipated by September.
  
  
• Council will also receive the Red Deer RCMP's Q1 2025 Community Policing Report. The report highlights wildfire preparedness, enforcement priorities, community engagement, and crime trends. The Detachment has prioritized wildfire readiness by activating its Division Emergency Operations Center early. Key policing efforts focused on visibility, intelligence-led operations, and crime reduction, including over 70 arrests and 150 grams of drug seizures by the Downtown Unit. Community outreach included events with seniors, high school students, and immigrant women’s groups. Crime statistics from Q1 include 1 homicide (up from 0 in Q1 2024), 8 robberies (up from 4), 103 assaults (down from 131), and 24 mental health-related calls (down from 47). Break and enter incidents in Red Deer increased significantly, rising from 96 cases between January and March 2024 to 157 cases during the same period in 2025 - a 64% year-over-year increase. Financially, the RCMP spent $32 million, nearly matching its revised $31.98 million plan, with 176 established positions and 16 vacancies.
  
  
• Councillor Bruce Buruma will bring forward a Notice of Motion calling for a comprehensive review of downtown Red Deer’s Paid Parking System. The motion highlights concerns from residents and businesses that the current system has discouraged downtown patronage and caused reputational challenges for the city. Despite a $2.7 million provincial grant and a five-year service contract, issues with the system persist. The motion requests that by Q3 2025 and annually thereafter, the City report to Council on financials, performance metrics, and contractual obligations related to parking. It also proposes forming an Ad Hoc Committee to develop a Strategic Downtown Parking Plan that prioritizes accessibility, business engagement, user-friendly enforcement, and optimal use of parking assets, including Sorensen Station Parkade.
  
  
• The City of Red Deer has kicked off its spring weed and pest control efforts with a focus on environmentally responsible practices. City staff are actively monitoring for noxious and prohibited noxious weeds, such as Canada thistle and bighead knapweed, using a mix of manual removal, limited chemical use, and innovative biological methods. One of the City's most unique tools is a herd of up to 700 goats, deployed in areas like Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary and Piper Creek to graze on invasive plants. Beetles are also used to target specific weeds like leafy spurge. The city encourages residents to report weed sightings and take action on private property. While herbicide use has been reduced significantly in the past decade, some targeted spraying still occurs on sports fields. Alongside vegetation management, staff are also watching for spring wildlife activity and advising residents to secure potential den sites and avoid disturbing baby animals.
  
  
• Red Deer’s housing market showed signs of continued cooling in April, with overall residential sales down 16% compared to the same month in 2024. A total of 170 properties were sold, with detached home sales falling 25% to 98 units. Semi-detached homes saw the steepest decline, dropping 29% year-over-year to just 15 sales. Apartment sales fared slightly better, with a modest 4% decrease and 23 units sold. Despite the slowdown, the market remains active, and inventory levels will be key to watch in the coming months as buyers and sellers adjust to changing conditions.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Common Sense Red Deer is gearing up for the upcoming municipal election. 

We plan to survey all of the candidates for Mayor and Council. What questions do you think we should ask? Hit reply to this email and let us know your top priorities!

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!