The Tuesday, November 12, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting will start with a 3.75 hour Closed Meeting at 10:30 a.m. The open portion of the Council meeting will begin at approximately 2:45 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Confirmation of the Minutes of the October 28, 2024 Organizational Meeting Minutes
Confirmation of the Minutes of the October 28, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
Community Revitalization Levy (postponement)
- This is a postponement consideration related to exploring the impact of creating a Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) which would include Railyards, Capstone and historic downtown.
Riverside Meadows ARP Bylaw 326/A-2024/ Rezoning Bylaw 3357/TT-2024 (First Reading)
- City Council is asked to approve a bylaw amendment to change the zoning of a residential parcel from low density to medium density to facilitate redevelopment of the site.
- The proposed amendments, which align with City policies and plans, are supported by administration and the Riverside Meadows Community Association.
Zoning Bylaw Amendment to Support Addiction Recovery and Homelessness (First Reading)
- The Provincial Government and Recovery Alberta have communicated their intent to provide continued support for Red Deerians experiencing homelessness and fund services supporting addiction recovery in Red Deer.
- City Council will consider amendments to the Zoning Bylaw that are necessary for:
- Temporary Shelter: Continued operation of the Temporary Care Facility (shelter) at 5239 53 Avenue
- Winter Warming: Removal of a site exceptions that currently limits the use of an adjacent unit at Temporary Care Facility (shelter) so it can be used as additional warming space this winter.
- Detoxification: Expansion of the existing detoxification centre and overnight shelter at 5246 53 Avenue
- Supervised Consumption Services: Removal of supervised consumption and associated use permission at 5233 54 Avenue.
NOTICE OF MOTION:
Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Bruce Buruma Re: Adding two Citizen Representative to the City of Red Deer Audit Committee
- Councillor Buruma read the Notice of Motion into the record on October 28, 2024.
- The Notice of Motion considers the addition of two Citizen Representatives to the existing composition of the Audit Committee, and an administrative review of Audit Committees in other local governments and public organizations that include Citizen Representatives.
REPORTS:
Downtown Governance
- City Council is asked to authorize administration, in partnership with the Downtown Business Association (DBA), to explore a shift in service delivery that better enables all community partners to proactively address the unique needs and challenges facing the greater downtown area. Following Council endorsement, administration will prepare a report with recommendations to present to City Council in Q3 2025.
Amended Utility Budget
- On October 1, 2024, Council approved the 2025 Utilities budget and passed a resolution directing administration to increase the Municipal Consent and Access Fee (MCAF) to 15 per cent each for Electric, Water, and Wastewater. Based on this increase, administration has amended the Utilities budget.
- Administration is recommending Council approve the Utilities Department 2025 amended operating and capital budget, along with the Utilities Department 2026-2028 amended operating plan and the Utilities 2026-2035 capital plan.
Red Deer Regional Airport Authority Board Appointments
- Board appointments to the Red Deer Regional Airport Authority.
Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee Appointments
- Committee Appointments to the Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee.
Approval of Council Meeting Dates for 2025
Development Permit Consideration – Health and Medical Services
- As part of Recovery Alberta’s plan for continued support for Red Deerians experiencing homelessness and fund services supporting addiction recovery in Red Deer, a development permit application was submitted to provide Health and Medical Services (Mobile Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Services – MRAAM) at 5256 53 Avenue, at the location of the current Overdose Prevention Site (OPS)
- Health and Medical Services is already a permitted use under the zoning bylaw; therefore a zoning bylaw amendment is not required.
- Administration recommends approval of the development permit as it:
- Provides access to health and medical service in place of the OPS with a focus on health, wellness and recovery, preventing a gap in services as the OPS prepares to close by March 31, 2024.
- A permitted use with the applicant having the inherent right to develop a permitted use on their property. No variances of the zoning bylaw are required.
- The proposed development is a priority for The City as it ensures wraparound supports as identified within the Community Housing and Homelessness Integrated plan.
BYLAWS:
Emergency Services Tank Registry Bylaw Amendment
- Administration is requesting three readings and Council approval of the Emergency Services Bylaw 3586/2017 Amendment, removing the requirement for storage tank registrations. This amendment is in response to a change to the National Fire Code - 2023 Alberta Edition eliminating the need for Storage Tank Registrations.
Utility Rate Bylaw
- Administration is requesting three readings and Council approval of the Utility Bylaw 3606/B-2024. Following approval of the 2025 Utilities budget, adjustments are required to the bylaw to reflect the new rates to be applied.
- Rates will change as follows:
- Water: Increase by 6 per cent
- Wastewater: Increase by 6 per cent
- Waste management:
- Waste management facility: Increase by 2 per cent
- Collection: Increase by 5 per cent
- Fee changes will take effect for City of Red Deer customers on January 1, 2025; fee changes for regional customers will take effect on March 1, 2025, to align with various Commission agreements.
Electric Utility Rate Bylaw
- Administration is requesting three readings and Council approval of Electric Utility Bylaw 3273/B-2024. This will allow the Utilities Department to provide the billing services contractor with sufficient notice to modify rate calculations and ensure new rates, based on Council’s approved budget changes, will be in effect on January 1, 2025.
- The Electric Utility’s Operating and Capital budgets approved by Council result in an average Distribution Tariff rate increase of 6.5 per cent. The Distribution Tariff includes the Transmission System component, the Distribution System component, the Balancing Pool Allocation, and the Local Access Fee.
Public Hearings:
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 3357/UU-2024 Red Tape Reduction Bylaw Educational Institutions
- A public hearing will be held for a Zoning Bylaw Amendment intended to provide the community with increased flexibility in the implementation of the Zoning Bylaw and help external applicants with immediate development needs.
- Specifically, the amendment aims to add primary and secondary educational institutions as a discretionary use to several commercial zones to provide increased opportunities for educational institutions to exist in compatible districts.
The full meeting agenda can be viewed at meeting.reddeer.ca.
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