City Council Recap – September 15 & 16, 2025  

The following decisions were made by City Council at their regular meeting on September 15 and 16, 2025.

Reports:

RCMP Quarterly Report

• Red Deer RCMP presented the quarterly community policing report covering April 1 to June 30, 2025, providing crime statistics and updates on the Annual Policing Plan. City Council asked some key questions about current policing priorities, trends and enforcement strategies with Officer in Charge Holly Glassford sharing the following:
• Red Deer RCMP continue to be visible throughout the community through intelligence-led overt patrols strategically positioned in high-risk areas. They have surpassed their annual target for trail system patrols and focused traffic enforcement initiatives.
• RCMP members are actively engaged in community events including youth camps, diversity and inclusion consultation luncheons, crime reduction and fraud prevention educational sessions and more, remaining present and accessible in the community.
• In Q1, persons crimes decreased by 1 per cent and property crimes increased 1 per cent, over the same time frame in 2024.

BIA Levy Report

• Council directed Administration to prepare a bylaw by April 30, 2026, that could begin the process of disestablishing the Business Improvement Area (BIA). If approved, businesses within the BIA would ultimately vote on whether to proceed.
• Council asked Administration to develop a 2026 budget option for a grant in lieu of the BIA levy, ensuring the Downtown Business Association (DBA) continues to receive funding for programs and services even if the levy is set to zero.
• The DBA will continue to operate in 2025, and any decision to formally dissolve the BIA depends on the outcome of a legislated vote by downtown businesses.
• More information is available City Council Decisions on the Business Improvement Area (BIA)

Update on Highway 2 Improvements in the Red Deer Area 

• Council received an update on the Government of Alberta’s proposed Highway 2 improvements. Alberta Transportation has long-term plans to widen approximately 11 km of the highway between 32 Street and 67 Street/Highway 11 from four to six lanes, extend on-ramps for safety, and reduce road curvature to improve traffic flow. 
• City Council passed a resolution directing the Office of the Mayor and Council to continue advocating with the Provincial Minister of Transportation and local MLAs to keep Red Deer’s needs front and centre. Council also asked for regular reporting back so that both Council and the community stay informed as this project develops.
• The project remains in the planning stage and would be considered as part of the Government of Alberta’s spring 2026 budget.
• Once project budget is approved by the Government of Alberta, more details would come back to City Council and the community.

Parking Update

• In response to a notice of motion introduced to City Council on May 20, 2025, City Council received a report for information which included parking financials, data and explanation of funding agreement for grant received to support the new parking infrastructure.
• The report highlighted a series of improvements and initiatives that were implemented by City administration to improve the parking experience. These include access to a data dashboard, installation of wayfinding signs, additional pay stations, and free parking for accessible parking permit holders.

Bylaws:

Electric Utility (Second and Third Reading)

• Council approved Electric Utility Bylaw 3273/2000 Schedule A Distribution Tariff.
• This amendment allows the Utilities Department to ensure new rates, based on Council’s approved budget changes, and updated information related to our responsibilities for provision of Regulated and Default Supplier rates will be in effect on January 1, 2026.
• The Electric Utility rate will increase by 6% (about $3.85 more per month for 600 kWh use).

Utility Bylaw

• City Council approved the Utility Bylaw Amendment 3606-B2026. This amendment updates The City’s Utility Bylaw to reflect the new utility rates for water, wastewater, billing and service fees, and waste management, as set out in the approved budget.
• The amendment enables the Utilities Department to apply the new rates starting January 1, 2026, for all City of Red Deer customers. For customers in regional communities served through established agreements with the Regional Commissions, the new rates will take effect March 1, 2026.
• New utility rates: Beginning in the new year, your utility bill (water, wastewater, waste management, and service fees) will reflect the rates approved by Council in the 2026 budget.
• Water Utility, Water Treatment & Distribution: +5% (about $2.48 more per month for 17m³ use).
• Wastewater Treatment and Collection: No change. Rates will be held at 2025 levels while a third-party review of financial and rate models is conducted.
• Waste Management: Landfill +5.5%, Collection +5% (applies to Black and Green Carts; Blue Cart services are now funded under Extended Producer Responsibility legislation).
• City customers: Rates change January 1, 2026.
• Regional customers: Rates change March 1, 2026, in line with existing agreements.
• Council reviews and approves utility rates each year to ensure The City can continue to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable utility services, while reflecting the actual costs of providing these essential services.

Public Hearings:

Timber Ridge

• Following a public hearing, City Council passed second and third reading of Zoning Bylaw Amendment 3357/L-2025 to rezone ±3.8 hectares of undeveloped land in the Timber Ridge neighbourhood from Future Urban Development (A-1) to Residential Low Density (R-L), Residential Narrow Lot (R-N), Residential Duplex (R-D), and Parks & Recreation (P-1).
• With this change, Phase 6C of Timber Ridge can be subdivided and developed with a mix of regular single-family homes, narrower-lot homes, duplexes, and some park space, consistent with the approved Timber Ridge Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan.

Backyard Suites

• Following a public hearing and community feedback, Red Deer City Council unanimously approved changes to the Zoning Bylaw for backyard suites.
• These updates aim to provide more housing flexibility while respecting neighbourhood character and resident concerns. Special rules also apply to the neighbourhoods of Parkvale, Woodlea, Waskasoo, Riverside Meadows, and Westpark.

Key changes include:
Height & Size limits

• • Backyard suites cannot be taller than the main house and must not exceed 5.5 metres when built at grade or 7.4 metres tall when built above a garage.
  • Backyard suites can be a maximum of 75 square metres or 75% of the main house’s footprint, whichever is smaller.

Variance restrictions

• • The minimum distance of 2.5 metres between a backyard suite and the main house can no longer be varied.
  • The 15% cap on the number of House Suites plus Backyard Suites in all neighbourhoods cannot no longer be varied.
  • For the neighbourhoods of Parkvale, Woodlea, Waskasoo, Riverside Meadows, and Westpark, backyard suite regulations can only be relaxed to a maximum of 10%.

Improved notification

• • If a backyard suite application needs a variance, all property owners within 100 metres will be notified if a variance is requested for a backyard suite.

Neighbourhood character

• • In Parkvale, Woodlea, Waskasoo, Riverside Meadows, and Westpark, all backyard suite applications are subject to these neighbourhood’s Character Statements and Overlays.