Red Deer Minute: Merry Christmas, Capstone Development, and a New Committee Approved

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

This Week In Red Deer:

• It’s Christmas on Wednesday. Thank you to every single one of our readers and supporters who reached out, donated, volunteered, or shared our content this year. We appreciate every single one of you and hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with friends and family. Merry Christmas!
  
  
• We don’t often use these weekly emails to explicitly ask for support, but we’re in the middle of our year-end fundraiser, and we’ve set a goal to raise $10,000 by December 31st. This is a critical time for non-profits, and reaching our goal will ensure we can continue the important work we do. If you value what we bring to the table and want to see us keep going, please consider making a donation today. Every bit helps, and we’re deeply grateful for your support. You can contribute by clicking here. Thank you!
  
  
• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. Regularly scheduled meetings will resume in January.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• Council has approved holding monthly "Committee of the Whole" meetings starting in 2025. These meetings will offer a less structured format for discussions compared to regular Council sessions, focusing on debate and information exchange without making formal decisions such as passing bylaws or approving budgets. Chaired by the Deputy Mayor, the meetings will involve City staff and provide a platform for informal discussions, narrowing down options for future decisions. The initiative, led by Councillor Bruce Buruma, aims to foster better governance by allowing Council members to explore issues more freely.
  
  
• Abbey Platinum Master Built has acquired 1.6 acres in Capstone for a mixed-use development that will include 64 stacked townhomes and commercial space. The project, located at the corner of Alexander Way and 54th Avenue, is expected to offer housing options for young professionals, families, and empty nesters. The development is part of the broader vision to transform the Capstone area into a vibrant, urban community with retail and commercial services. The townhomes will be built next to The Alex a 62-unit residential property set to open in 2025.
  
  
• Council unanimously passed a new Election Bylaw, though several Councillors expressed frustration, particularly regarding the requirement to manually count votes instead of using electronic tabulators. The manual counting process is expected to add $940,000 in costs and delay results, making the 2025 municipal election one of the City's most expensive at an estimated $1.5 million. The Bylaw also includes changes such as expanded access to special ballots and increased nomination signature requirements for candidates.

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