Red Deer Minute: Policing Committee, Sockey Day, and Revisiting Backyard Suites

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

This Week In Red Deer:

• This morning, at 10:30 am, there will be a City Council Regular Meeting. The agenda includes reports on the 2025 Adopted Operating Budget and 3-year Operating Plan, the 2025 City Council Priorities, and the Community Development Grants Policy Review. Council will also pass a bylaw reinstating the Red Deer Police Committee. (See below for more information!).
  
  
• The Housing and Homelessness Integration Committee will meet on Tuesday. No time or agenda is available for this meeting yet.
  
  
• Applications are open for the Community Recreation Enhancement Grant, which supports non-profit organizations in providing recreation programs, services, and events. Applications can be submitted online, with a virtual information session scheduled for March 4th at 7:00 pm. The upcoming application deadline for spring 2025 is April 4th at 4:00 pm. Interested organizations must RSVP for the virtual session on the City's website.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• The Red Deer Municipal Planning Commission rejected a proposal for a two-bedroom backyard suite in the Parkvale neighbourhood due to its size. The suite would have been nearly double the size allowed under current land use regulations, which cap the size of backyard suites to 75% of the principal dwelling's footprint. While the City's Development Officer supported the variance, many neighbours raised concerns about the suite's compatibility with the area’s aesthetic and potential impacts on traffic and property values. This is the second backyard suite proposal rejected in recent months, prompting the Commission to suggest that Council reconsider the Land Use Bylaw, potentially adjusting rules around size and compatibility in older neighbourhoods.
  
  
• It was announced that Red Deer must reinstate its policing committee in response to new provincial regulations requiring communities with RCMP contracts to have one. The committee will enhance police accountability, involve the public in setting policing priorities, and oversee the municipal police service agreement. It will consist of seven members, including five public representatives and two City Councillors, with at least one member from an underrepresented group. The committee will also assist in selecting the RCMP detachment commander and provide updates to the Minister of Public Safety. Once approved by City Council, it may take several months to fill positions and establish policies. Red Deer previously had a policing committee from the 1980s to the early 2000s before it was disbanded.
  
  
• Sockey Day 2025 set a new record for United Way Central Alberta, with 5,138 pairs of socks donated during the Red Deer Rebels' Family Day game. The event, which saw nearly 7,000 attendees, exceeded last year's total of 4,813 pairs of socks. The collected donations will support local agencies in Central Alberta, helping individuals and families in need. More than 20 community partners contributed to the effort, including a friendly competition among 13 local bank branches, with Scotiabank collecting the most socks.

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