Red Deer Minute: Utility Rates, Shelter Zoning, and a Massive Tax Increase

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

This Week In Red Deer:

• Today is Remembrance Day. The Red Deer Legion’s ceremony at Servus Arena begins at 10:30 am. The Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery will also be open, featuring military artifacts, tours, and a family art project, along with a live performance by the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. More details are available online.
  
  
• On Tuesday, at 10:30 am, there will be a meeting of City Council. The meeting begins with a closed session, wherein Council will discuss citizen appointments to Committees, Commissions, and External Boards, as well as a temporary shelter status update, among other items. Once the meeting opens back up to the public, Council will discuss several agenda items, including governance of Red Deer’s Greater Downtown, the addition of two citizen representatives to the Audit Committee, and a development permit for a new addictions treatment trailer. (More on that last one below!).
  
  
• The Public Art Commission will meet on Wednesday at 5:00 pm. The meeting will begin with the election of a Chair and Vice-Chair. Much of the meeting will be held in-camera (in secret).

Last Week In Red Deer:

• The Red Deer District Chamber has urged the City to reduce operational expenses by 3% in its 2025 budget, aiming to save $9-10 million. The Chamber emphasized that addressing the City’s budget shortfall shouldn’t rely solely on tax increases, as a balanced approach with expense cuts is essential to avoid overburdening property owners. A recent Chamber survey revealed that 52% of members support exploring alternative methods to lower costs, with 64% indicating that a double-digit tax hike would strain their business operations. Chamber officials warned that a large tax increase could hurt local businesses' sustainability and growth.
  
  
• A development permit has been submitted for a mobile rapid access addiction treatment trailer to be placed near Safe Harbour Society’s detox center and overnight shelter. Recovery Alberta, which took over local addiction services from the Turning Point Society, will repurpose an existing trailer previously used as an overdose prevention site. The facility will provide medication-assisted treatment, harm reduction supplies, counselling, and referral services, with no on-site drug consumption allowed.
  
  
• Construction has finished on the Red Deer Justice Centre, a new courthouse set to open in early 2025. It is now being prepared for public use. Costing approximately $203 million, the facility offers space for 16 courtrooms, with 12 already built and room for four more to accommodate Red Deer's growing population. The Centre also includes specialized suites for dispute resolution and an Indigenous courtroom that can accommodate cultural practices like smudging.

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