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Council approves updates to Community Standards Bylaw

April 26, 2021 5:40 PM
(Red Deer, Alberta)

At today’s regular City Council meeting, Council gave second and third reading to an updated Community Standards Bylaw No. 3669/2021.

Updates address community concerns identified through the Neighbourhood Life and We Are Better Together public participation events where community feedback centered on creating clear and enforceable community standards, and addressing the negative impacts of chronic nuisance properties, and dealing with unoccupied buildings.

“Council’s approval of the modernized Community Standards Bylaw means greater clarity, enhanced effectiveness and stronger, more enforceable regulations for The City and our policing partners, as well as for our citizens who want to see an improvement in community standards,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “Community safety continues to be the top priority for our citizens, and this complete update of our longstanding Community Standards Bylaw responds to substantial citizen feedback.”

“We are excited about the innovative methods we have for addressing chronic nuisance properties in Red Deer,” said Erin Stuart, Inspections and Licensing Manager. “The ability to charge the property owner a fee each time we have to attend the designated property will be a powerful tool in discouraging future issues and will have a positive impact on community safety and crime reduction.”

This cost recovery by The City will see a flat rate fee billed directly to the property owner each time The City or RCMP is required to attend the designated property. While the rates do not provide for full cost recovery, they meet the goal of penalizing chronic offenders and lessening the amount currently subsidized by the tax base.

Updates to the Community Standards Bylaw also ensures consistency with legislation from other levels of government. The updated bylaw can found at reddeer.ca/bylaws.

Additional information is available in the Community Standards Bylaw FAQ (pdf).

For more information, please contact:         

Corporate Communications
The City of Red Deer

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