City Council on the agenda – Monday, May 13

On Monday, May 13, 2024, a Special Meeting of Council will begin at 9 a.m. to swear in Councillor Elect Chad Krahn.

The Regular City Council Meeting will start at 10:30 a.m. with a two hour closed meeting. The open portion of the Council meeting will begin at 1 p.m.

The following items are on the agenda:

Snow and Ice Pilot Program Update

• Administration is recommending Council receive the 2023-2024 Snow and Ice Control Pilot Program Operational Report for information.  
• Administration will come back to Council on May 27, 2024, with a report of recommendations for consideration of any future permanent service level changes to Ice and Snow Operations for the seasons of 2024-2025 and beyond.

Permanent Shelter: Request for provincial Expression of Interest

• City Council will consider requesting a provincial Expression of Interest after deciding to cease site selection until more information is available from the Government of Alberta related to vision and operator.

Budget Amendment: Recovery Conference Investment in Recovery

• Following Council’s decision to support Red Deer as a recovery community, the Office of Mayor and Council advocated to the Provincial Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to financially support a local conference on the topic of recovery and was successful in receiving a portion of their request.
• The City requested $150,000 in 2023. The Province provided $70,000 per year to The City for both 2023/24 and 2024/25, totalling $140,000.
• Administration absorbed the workload to deliver a conference in Red Deer in October 2023, however, significant business continuity challenges were faced, where administration supported numerous unplanned initiatives, including the Emergency Social Services response to wildfire evacuees and Recovery Summit planning to name only two.
• To sustain and expand these efforts in 2024, administration is asking for additional funding to execute the 2024 Recovery Summit in the amount of $50,000 to contract a Project Manager to facilitate the planning and execution of the event. 

Timber Ridge Middle School Site Evaluation

• City Council will consider a request from the Red Deer Public School District to approve the Timber Ridge site for a potential new middle school for northeast Red Deer.
• Per normal development practice, the Timber Ridge neighborhood requires developer construction of roads, stormwater services and payment of offsite levies prior to the school site being ready for transfer of land title to The City and then to the School Board. This request requires Council’s approval for the allocation of capital funding and for the deviation from normal development practices to support the construction of the middle school at the RDPS preferred site.

Land Use (Zoning) Bylaw (Second and Third Reading)

• City Council will consider second and third reading of a revised Zoning Bylaw.
• Administration will provide additional information on the following bylaw elements: correction to public service zones, height, percentage of suites in a neighbourhood, removal of grading diagram, increase allowable variances for porches, decks and ramps, removal of side yard setbacks on corner lots, commercial uses in high density residential, reduce duplex side yards to 1.2m, reduce residential narrow zone frontage, reduce zero lot line development site areas, and maintain current cannabis retail sale setbacks.

There are three public hearings on the Monday, May 13, 2024 City Council Agenda:

Land Use Bylaw Amendment 3357/C-2024

• A public hearing is being held regarding a Land Use Bylaw amendment proposal to rezone two lots on 59 Avenue from R1A – Residential (Semi-Detached Dwelling) District to R2 – Residential (Medium Density) District and remove the density cap from these two lots.
• Administration supports the proposed Land Use Bylaw amendment, which aligns with City policy that encourages intensification of established neighbourhoods through residential and mixed-use infill projects. It also aligns with the Philosophy and Framework of the new Land Use (Zoning) Bylaw by supporting development friendliness by reducing red tape.
• The proposed amendment supports the development of housing as described in the Community Housing and Homelessness Integrated Plan (CHHIP)and will enable a gentle density increase for the area.

Land Use Bylaw Amendment 3357/F-2024

• This public hearing is to consider a Land Use Bylaw amendment to rezone a portion of a parcel in the Queens Industrial Park and consolidate it with an adjacent lot.
• Administration supports the proposed Land Use Bylaw amendment, which aligns with the Strategic Plan’s Thriving City focus area. No concerns were identified by stakeholders.

Land Use Bylaw Amendment 3357/I-2024 and Capstone Area Redevelopment Plan 3574/A-2024

• This public hearing is in consideration of a Land Use Bylaw amendment proposal to fast track a rezoning request for a property in Capstone. The site is a corner lot adjacent to Taylor Drive, currently occupied by Carnival Cinemas.
• Administration supports the proposed Land Use Bylaw amendment, which aligns with City policy that encourages infill residential development and supports the Strategic Plan’s Community Health & Wellbeing focus area. The Capstone neighbourhood has capacity for increased density and increased housing is needed to achieve the long-term vision for the community.
• The rezoning is being fast tracked to facilitate a pending mixed use, residential and commercial development on the site. In May 2023 Council indicated a desire to ‘fast track’ development applications that would increase Red Deer’s housing supply.