City Council - Recap – March 10, 2026

The following decisions were made at today’s City Council meeting. 

CONSENT:

Campaign Disclosure Report

• City Council received a report on campaign disclosure statements submitted by candidates in the 2025 municipal general election.
• Under Alberta’s Local Authorities Election Act, candidates who filed a notice of intent or ran in the election are required to submit financial disclosure statements outlining campaign contributions, fundraising revenue, and expenses, which municipalities must receive and make publicly available to support transparency in local elections.

Zoning Bylaw Amendments 3357/C-2026 – Omnibus Amendments

• Council approved an omnibus amendment to Zoning Bylaw 3357 to improve clarity, consistency, and flexibility in how the bylaw is interpreted and applied. The proposed changes are mainly housekeeping and minor policy/wording updates (e.g., adding “Shopping Centre” as a C-4 use, clarifying fence rules, removing obsolete/duplicated items, and fixing typos/numbering).
• The bylaw will be advertised and brought to a Public Hearing on April 14, 2026.

REPORTS:

Adopted Budget and 3-Year Operating Plan

• Council adopted the 2026 Operating Budget, a required step under the Municipal Government Act that confirms the Interim Budget approved in December and enables the 2026 Tax Rate Bylaw to proceed in April.
• Administration has incorporated final technical adjustments and reconciliations to ensure the budget figures are accurate and aligned with Council direction.
  • After incorporating the reconciled figures, the fully balanced budget results in a 4.08 percent increase, compared to the 3.97 per cent approved during the budget debate in December 2025.
  • Council was presented with options on how to proceed, ultimately approving Option 1 that maintains the tax rate at 3.97 per cent.
• Council reviewed The City’s 3-Year operating financial plan in principle, as required by legislation.

Electric Utility MCC

• Administration presented a report in response to a request for information from Council at the February 24, 2026, Council meeting.
• On February 24, 2026, Administration provided an update on the implementation of the Electric Utility Municipally Controlled Corporation. Following the update, Council requested further information about divestment and a side-by-side comparison of governance model options.
• Specifically, the resolution asked for: valuation and proceeds; one-time and on-going costs; impacts to people and bills; timing and feasibility; and a risk register.

PUBLIC HEARINGS
Zoning Bylaw 3357/D-2026 – Rezoning Portions of 5578 and 5588 47 Street from CAP-R to CAP-C

• City Council held a public hearing regarding a proposed zoning bylaw amendment for City-owned land in the Capstone neighbourhood that rezones portions along 47 Street from Capstone Primarily Residential to Capstone Commercial. The amendment better aligns zoning with the intended vision for the area and supports future mixed-use development.
• Following the public hearing, City Council passed Second and Third Reading of the bylaw, formally approving the zoning change.

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 3357/I-2026 – Rezoning 6002 63A St from RL-RM

• Red Deer City Council passed second and third readings of a zoning bylaw amendment for 6002 63A Street in the Highland Green neighbourhood, changing the zoning of the property from Residential Low-Density (R-L) to Residential Medium-Density (R-M). The amendment is intended to support additional housing opportunities through sensitive infill development.