Red Deer city council to maintain 'balanced mitigation strategy' in dealing with urban encampments

Red Deer city council made the following decisions during its September 16, 2024 meeting:

CONSENT AGENDA:
Support for Councillors Applying to Alberta Municipalities Committees (AMC)

• City Council supported Councillor Buruma, Councillor Jefferies and Councillor Krahn in applying to Alberta Municipalities Committees as follows:
  • Councillor Buruma applying to serve on the Economic Strategy AMC
  • Councillor Jefferies applying to serve on the Safe and Healthy Communities AMC
  • Councillor Krahn applying to serve on the Infrastructure AMC

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 3357/SS-2024 Omnibus (First Reading)

• City council unanimously passed first reading of this omnibus Zoning Bylaw amendment to provide City staff and the public with clear interpretation and increased flexibility in the implementation of the Zoning Bylaw.
• The amendment is primarily about improving clarity and consistency in several areas, including specificity related to definitions and housekeeping items.
• Second and third reading will come back in four weeks.

NOTICE OF MOTION:

• Councillor Dianne Wyntjes proposed a notice of motion earlier this month related to a city-administered community grant program.
• On Monday, city council passed the following:
  • Council request Administration to review Council Policy GP-F-2.6 Community Development Grants and return by Q1 2025 with options to Council. This should include an operational funding stream in addition to existing grant funding and criteria that provides appropriate parameters for available funding. Organizations will have the opportunity to apply for both streams; and
  • Council directs the Office of Mayor & Council to request the Government of Alberta to perform a provincial review of their community grant programing to ensure consideration for adequate and appropriate operational funding, in addition to existing program related funding.
  • Council directs Administration to work with Alberta Municipalities to advance advocacy efforts towards the Government of Alberta to review provincial community grant programing to ensure consideration for operational funding, in addition to existing program related funding.
• The resolution passed with 2 councillors opposed (Councillor Barnstable and Councillor Doerksen)

REPORTS:

Red Deer & District Family and Community Support Services Multi-Municipal Operating Agreement

• Council unanimously approved continuing its commitment to the Red Deer & District FCSS by authorizing administration to sign the Multi-Municipal Operating Agreement.
• The FCSS Multi-Municipal Agreement forms the basis by which the Red Deer and District FCSS Board functions in partnership between six participating municipalities. The agreement was developed in cooperation with designated municipal administrators from each community, the FCSS Board and legal advisors. The agreement outlines the way the partner municipalities work collaboratively. It authorizes The City of Red Deer to perform the administrative responsibilities on behalf of the partnership. The Agreement also outlines the methods by which the partner municipalities cost share program development, direct services, and indirect services (funding to partner organizations).

Committee of the Whole

• A new tool called Committee of the Whole (COTW) was supported by city council as they directed administration to amend the Procedure Bylaw and bring it back to council.
• COTW is a mechanism for council to meet in a more relaxed and informal setting, allowing council to speak to matters without a motion being on the floor, directing questions to administration and to each other without time limits.
• City council also directed administration to evaluate council’s meeting calendar and determine when to use COTW, and to report back to council after one year, on the effectiveness of COTW.
• Best practice from a governance perspective is for council to conduct their business through open meetings; however, there are a variety of formats Council can utilize to achieve this including a COTW format.
• With approval of a Procedure Bylaw Amendment, COTW would be held in an open setting, with the ability for an item to be moved into a closed session when the matter fits within the exemptions set out in the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act.

Utility Governance Review Update

• The city will continue to explore a modernized governance structure and potential formation of a Municipally Controlled Corporation (MCC) for utilities after city council unanimously approved a placeholder within the 2025 utility budget going forward this fall.
• The report in front of council today outlined the findings of the implementation plan overview, and the conceptual budget requirements for implementation of a modernized electric utility.
• More information about this report is available here.

Urban Encampment Report

• The city will proceed with the following actions based on city council’s direction related to urban encampments:
• Consistent Mitigation: Maintain the city’s current approach to encampment responses, ensuring the most balanced mitigation strategy available to protect public lands while supporting vulnerable individuals.
• Advocacy for Shelter Strategy: Council will continue to advocate to the Government of Alberta for a comprehensive shelter strategy, including the development of a low-barrier 24/7 emergency shelter with a Recovery-Oriented System of Care.
• Review of Transitional Housing: Request the Housing and Homelessness Integrated Committee (HHIC) review the potential for new transitional housing infrastructure as an interim solution to support individuals transitioning out of homelessness.
• Administration also committed to provide council with an update related to its Urban Response Policy and Procedure Guidelines to address community safety concerns such as heating sources, in the first quarter of 2025.
• The information shared responds to a Notice of Motion re: Urban Encampment Responses that council approved during the 2024 budget debate at which time council requested administration bring forward a report on encampments within Red Deer's publicly owned lands, including outcomes and analysis of possible service level changes and the progress of the review of Corporate Administrative Policy 3141C - Urban Encampment Response.

Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee

• A new model for economic development in Red Deer will be explored after city council unanimously approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee at Monday's meeting.
• The new committee is a mechanism to inform and make recommendations on a model, strategy and overall approach to economic development.
• The committee will include fewer than ten members to facilitate efficient progress within the established timeframe.
• The committee will advise council with a report outlining the methodology, learnings, and recommendations for how to achieve vision and desired state of prosperity. Council will use this report to decide on a governance model and path forward including resourcing.
• Council will receive the committee’s recommendations in April 2025, with decisions on how to proceed expected by June 30, 2025. Recruitment for the committee will begin immediately with the goal of finalizing membership by November 2024.