City Council recap – Tuesday, April 22, 2025 

City Council made the following decisions as part of today’s Regular City Council Meeting.  

REPORTS:  
 
Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee:  

• The Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee provided an update to City Council, outlining its initial findings and early recommendations on how Red Deer should organize and lead its economic development efforts in the future.  
  
  
• The Committee reviewed best practices, economic theory, and Red Deer’s local context to identify 10 key factors for success. Using these, they evaluated two models – in-house and arm’s length.  While the Committee’s final recommendations will be delivered in June, its current consensus is leaning toward the establishment of an arm’s-length organization to lead Red Deer’s economic development activities. Read more here: Update on Red Deer’s economic development strategy

Recommendation from Municipal Planning Commission and Options for Backyard Suites:  

• Council received two reports related to backyard suites: recommendations from the Municipal Planning Commission, and options for backyard suites. Since adoption of phase 1 of the Zoning Bylaw in 2024, there have been 10 applications for backyard suites.
  
  
• Council provided direction on which amendments administration should
  explore to bring back by the third quarter 2025 in regards to backyard suites (Zoning Bylaw). 

Alberta Municipalities Proposed Resolution:  

• Council approved a resolution to be discussed at the Alberta Municipalities Annual Conference in November. The resolution focuses on including municipalities on the list of entities who receive consumer carbon tax rebates and exempting municipalities from any future consumer carbon pricing mechanisms.   

Zoning Bylaw Project – Progress Report:   

• The City wrapped up Phase 1 of the Zoning Bylaw project in May 2024, and the updated bylaw came into effect in June. This first phase included a full rewrite of the residential, commercial, and industrial zoning rules, along with updated definitions. We also improved the overall layout and wording to make the bylaw easier to understand and use. 
   
• The project has three phases in total. Phase 2 was originally planned for late 2025, but it’s now expected in 2026. This change allows staff to focus on possible bylaw changes related to the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF2). 
   
• As requested by Council on May 13, 2024, this report provided an overview of the work so far, key observations from the first nine months of using the new bylaw, and what’s coming next in the project. The report was for information only.  

Capital Budget & Plan Amendment - Indigenous Cultural Centre:  

• City Council re-affirmed its commitment to the future Indigenous Cultural Centre through a budget funding adjustment. 
  
  
• Tonight, City Council approved a phased budget approach with $50,000 in the current 2025 budget to continue planning and public consultation, with a recommendation for $250,000 in the 2026 Capital Budget, and another $2-4 million in the Capital Plan for review and debate.    
  
• Public consultation on the new centre is underway as part of the planning stage.

BYLAWS:

Business Improvement Area Tax Bylaw (Three Readings):  

• The Downtown Business Association (DBA) was established in 1983 and is currently The City’s only Business Improvement Area (BIA). Legislatively the DBA board is responsible for determining its programs and services including preparing the annual budget for Council’s approval.  
   
• The 2025 DBA budget was approved on December 2, 2024, and subsequently, Council must pass a BIA tax and tax rate bylaw before May 1, enabling City administration to levy and collect the required 2025 BIA tax revenue funding. 
    
• Council approved the 2025 bylaw amendment to set a tax rate sufficient to raise the tax revenue previously approved by Council to fund the 2025 Downtown Business Association budget. Read more here: BIA tax rate approved by Red Deer City Council
  
  
• Councillor Lee brought forward a Motion Arising from Council at the end of the meeting that stated: 

  "That Council of the City of Red Deer hereby direct Administration to bring back a report to Council by end of Q2, 2025 outlining the steps to disestablish the Business Improvement Area; and

  Further be it resolved that the Downtown Governance Committee provide alternative funding options to Council to support the greater downtown when they report to Council in Q3, 2025."

Tax Rate Bylaw (Three Readings):

• Council is legislatively required to pass an annual tax rate bylaw. The Tax Rate Bylaw sets the property tax rates that collect the property tax revenue requirement approved in the 2025 Operating Budget and sets the rates to collect the 2025 requisitions for other organizations. 
  
  
• Council gave three readings and approved the 2025 tax rate bylaw. Read more here: Red Deer City Council approves 2025 property tax rate bylaw