City Council Recap – May 12

Red Deer City Council will meet on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The following items are on the agenda for consideration.

CONSENT: 

Utility Reserve Health

• City Council will receive a report outlining the current and projected health of The City’s utility reserves through to 2035.
• The report includes information on reserves for power, water, wastewater, and waste management utilities.
• The report notes that all utility operating reserves currently meet the minimum reserve targets established by Council policy. These reserves help support ongoing operations, manage unexpected costs, and reduce the risk of significant utility rate increases over time.
• Administration also notes that some reserves are expected to decrease in the coming years due to major infrastructure and capital projects before recovering over the longer term

Lancaster South Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan Bylaw 3217/C-2026 – Removal of Direct Control Zone 35 

• City Council will consider first reading of a bylaw amendment related to the proposed removal of Direct Control Zone 35 (DC 35) in the Lancaster South neighbourhood.
• The amendment would update the Lancaster South Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan to align with proposed zoning changes previously considered by Council on April 28, 2026. If approved, the amendment would remove references to DC 35 from the neighbourhood development concept.
• If first reading is approved, a public hearing for this bylaw would take place on June 9, 2026, alongside the related zoning bylaw amendment. 

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 3357/M-2026 – Rezone 6660 Taylor Drive from I-1 to I-C Zone 

• City Council will consider first reading of a proposed rezoning for 6660 Taylor Drive.
• The proposed amendment would rezone the property from Industrial Business Service (I-1) to Industrial Commercial (Mixed-Use) (I-C) to better support businesses that require a combination of industrial and commercial uses.
• The proposal aligns with existing planning documents and supports economic development opportunities in the area. No written concerns were received from nearby landowners during the public referral process.
• If first reading is approved, the proposal will return to Council for a public hearing on June 9, 2026.

 Zoning Bylaw Amendment 3357/W-2026 – Charitable Distribution Centre Updates 

• City Council will consider first reading of amendments to the Zoning Bylaw related to charitable distribution centres, such as food banks.
• The proposed changes would create a formal land use definition for charitable distribution centres and establish where these types of uses may be considered within the city. The amendments would also establish parking requirements and clarify that these uses would not be allowed as temporary uses in residential zones.
• The changes are intended to provide greater clarity for future applications and better reflect the types of services currently being provided by organizations such as the Red Deer Food Bank.
• If first reading is approved, the amendments will proceed to a public hearing on June 9, 2026.

BYLAWS:

Committees Bylaw Amendment 3576/B-2026 – Greater Downtown Governance Council Committee Addition 

• City Council will consider amendments to the Committees Bylaw related to downtown governance.
• The proposed amendment would support the addition of a new Council Committee focused on downtown matters.

Electric Utility Bylaw Amendment 3273/B-2026 – Updates to the Terms and Conditions for Distribution Access & Retail Access Services

• Council is being asked to give three readings to Bylaw 3273/B-2026, which updates the Electric Utility’s Terms and Conditions for Distribution Access Services and Retail Access Services. The current Terms and Conditions were last updated in 2001.
• The updates align the bylaw with current legislation, Alberta Utilities Commission rules, the City’s Utility Governance Policy and modern electric utility practices, including advanced metering infrastructure.
• The revised Terms and Conditions clarify roles, responsibilities, service standards, customer requirements, metering, data exchange, billing, settlement processes and cost recovery.
• There are no direct financial or budget implications as a result of the recommendations for updates to the Terms and Conditions for Retail Access Services. 

REPORTS:

Review of Supportive Living Accommodation Definition and On-Site Support Requirements 

• City Council will receive a report reviewing the current definition of supportive living accommodation and associated on-site support requirements within The City’s land use framework.

Emergency Health Services (EHS)

• Following a closed meeting discussion, City Council will return to open session to consider matters related to Emergency Health Services (EHS).

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 3357/R-2026 – Excavation, Stripping and Grading Amendment 

• City Council will hold a public hearing related to proposed amendments to excavation, stripping, and grading regulations within the Zoning Bylaw. Following the hearing, Council will consider second and third reading of the bylaw amendment.  

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 3357/S-2026 – Rezone Land in Bower Woods from A-1 to R-M and R-H Zones 

• City Council will hold a public hearing regarding a proposed rezoning in the Bower Woods area.
• The proposal would rezone land from A-1 Future Urban Development Zone to R-M Medium Density Residential and R-H High Density Residential zones to support future residential development.
• Following the public hearing, Council will consider second and third reading of the proposed bylaw amendment.