Red Deer Minute: Mayoral Reflections, Tree Recycling, and a Direct Control District

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 City Council Agenda Review Committee. The Committee will set the agenda for the first Council meeting of the new year, which takes place on January 13th.
  
  
• Red Deer residents have several options for recycling their real Christmas trees. The City provides 11 drop-off locations where undecorated trees will be collected and turned into mulch for use in local parks and trails. Alternatively, residents can support the Red Deer Firefighters Children's Charity by donating to have firefighters pick up trees from their yards on January 16th. The charity uses funds to assist local families by purchasing medical equipment for children, supporting school lunch programs, and collaborating with nonprofits. Details for firefighter pickups can be found online.
  
  
• The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour will visit Red Deer from January 8th to 10th, with screenings held at the Memorial Centre each evening at 7:00 pm. Each night features over two hours of unique films showcasing themes like climbing, skiing, kayaking, and mountain culture. The festival typically draws between 1,000 and 1,500 attendees in Red Deer. Tickets and additional details are available online.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• Mayor Ken Johnston gave a year-end interview, reflecting on the 10.5% property tax increase - the largest in over a decade - as well as past decisions to rely on reserves. The City saw positive developments, including record housing starts, growth in small businesses, and progress on the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre project. However, housing and homelessness remained pressing issues, with a record 766 people experiencing homelessness. Despite these challenges, Johnston highlighted the city's high quality of life, its role as a cultural hub, and optimism for the future with significant investments in infrastructure and community development.
  
  
• A new Direct Control District has been proposed that would allow house suites on a case-by-case basis. Currently, house suites are permitted in single-family homes but not in duplexes. This new District would enable the City to evaluate applications individually. The proposal has received its first reading, with further discussions set for the new year.
  
  
• The Red Deer Food Bank started using two hydroponic Sea-Cans to expand its fresh produce initiatives. The Sea-Cans were purchased through a $75,000 donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These units began producing in late 2024 and there are plans to reach 1,000 - 1,500 heads of lettuce per month once both Sea-Cans are operational.

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