City Council on the agenda – February 24, 2025

The Monday, February 24, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting will start at 10:30 a.m.

CONSENT:

2025 Tax Sale Reserve Bids

• Council is asked to pass a resolution approving the reserve bids for properties on the 2025 tax sale list. This approval process is an annual requirement of all Alberta municipalities as per the Municipal Government Act (MGA).

2025 Adopted Operating Budget and 3-Year Operating Plan

• Administration will recommend approval of the 2025 Adopted Budget.
  • The Adopted Operating Budget is a procedural step intended to confirm the interim 2025 Operating Budget as approved by Council on November 21, 2024. This is primarily designed to confirm the total net municipal taxes required for the Tax Rate Bylaw which will be considered by Council in April 2025. Additionally, Administration addresses any material changes (i.e. impacts from other levels of government, collective bargaining settlements, administrative errors, etc.) that have arisen since November, as well as the confirmation of any one-time expenditures that were previously approved and need to be carried forward for one more year.
• Administration will also recommend approval in principle of the 2026 – 2028 operating plan.
  • The 3-Year Operating Plan is a forecasted estimate as to how The City’s budget may be impacted by factors of inflation and growth.
  • The plan requires Council’s endorsement and is not a commitment of actual budget for these future years. They are only an indicator and is why approval in principle is what is only required.

Community Development Grants Policy Review Report

• Council will receive a report evaluating the effectiveness of the current grant policy, identifying and addressing concerns of community organizations, and offering policy recommendations that align with community needs.
• There are eight recommendations in the report that address areas for improvement and outline actionable steps to enhance policy implementation:
  • Recommendation 1 (for Administration): Improve grant advertising and outreach.
  • Recommendation 2 (for Administration): Align reporting requirements to grant size.
  • Recommendation 3 (for Administration): Further develop standard templates for grant processes.
  • Recommendation 4 (for Administration): Develop follow-up process for unsuccessful applicants.
  • Recommendation 5 (for Administration): Formalize the inclusion of a proportion of non-project specific administrative expenses (operating funding)
  • Recommendation 6 (for Administration): Implement community impact reporting.
  • Recommendation 7 (for Council): Establish a Council process to reassess funding priorities.
  • Recommendation 8 (for Council): Continue current granting streams as established in the Community Development Grant Policy.

Committees Bylaw Update (Establishment of a Police Committee)

• This report is for decision of Council on an amendment to the Committees Bylaw to establish a Policing Committee. Administration’s recommendations are based on feedback received from Council at the Committee of the Whole Meeting held on February 5, 2025.
• If approved by City Council, a municipal policing committee aims to give residents a stronger role in setting the priorities and performance goals of the RCMP.
• Administration recommends the volunteer committee include 7 voting members (2 Councillors, 5 Citizen Representatives). Non-voting members will include the Red Deer RCMP Officer in Charge, the Manager of Safe and Heather Communities and the Manager of Municipal Policing.

REPORTS:

City Manager Mandate

• The 2025 City Manager Mandate Priorities report outlines key priorities established by City Council for the City Manager to guide administrative efforts in the year ahead.
• The report highlights four primary focus areas: Financial Stewardship, Economic Development, Community Safety & Wellbeing, Community Acumen.

Sorensen Station Washrooms

• Administration will present a report about a Sorensen Station Washroom project.
• During the 2025 budget debate, Councillor Wyntjes moved, and Councillor Higham seconded a motion that would bring the Sorensen Station Washroom project forward into the 2025 capital and operating spending plan. Council postponed the vote on this motion so that Administration could return with a detailed report by the end of Q1 2025.
• Administration is recommending referring the item back to 2026 budget planning process in order to evaluate all priorities and bring forward additional washrooms in the downtown as part of a future financial decision that is weighed against all other priorities identified at the time.

BYLAWS:

2025 Utilities Borrowing Bylaws (Second and Third Reading)

• Administration is requesting Council pass Second and Third Reading of a series of borrowing bylaws related to the 2025 Utilities Budget. First Reading of these bylaws was passed on January 13, 2025. The 2025 Utilities Budget was approved on October 1, 2024. Based on the approved funding sources identified in the capital budget, borrowing is required. As such, the following borrowing bylaws are required to enable borrowing when needed.
• • 3714/2025 – 2025 Electric Infrastructure Replacements & Upgrades Project
  • 3715/2025 – 2025 Electric Overhead & Underground Systems – Annual Program
  • 3716/2025 – 2025 Electric Customer Metering Project
  • 3717/2025 - 2025 Wastewater Main Infrastructure – Annual Program
  • 3718/2025 – 2025 Water Infrastructure - Annual Program
  • 3719/2025 - 2025 Water Treatment Rehabilitation & Replacement Project
  • 3720/2025 – 2025 Water Utility Infrastructure Project