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City and County Councils adopt Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework as foundation for future partnerships and agreements

March 29, 2021 3:59 PM
(Red Deer, Alberta)

In order to ensure and identify efficiencies in service delivery to The City of Red Deer and Red Deer County residents, The City of Red Deer and Red Deer County Councils adopted an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) through bylaw in response to the modernized Municipal Government Act (MGA). The MGA requires bordering municipalities to develop an ICF to facilitate and encourage cooperation and cost-sharing in service delivery, when possible.

The foundation of the ICF contains all current service agreements between The City and The County and builds upon the 2007 Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP). The ICF Joint Council Committee, now transitioned into the Regional Collaboration Committee, is currently comprised of the Mayors and two Councillors from both Councils.

“Adopting the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework sets the foundation for future negotiations and agreements. It is the first phase in our efforts to build what we hope will prove to be a long-lasting, mutually beneficial commitment,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “Now that the foundation is set, the committee is shifting into the next phase and focusing on addressing pending regional matters and negotiating additional joint partnerships and service opportunities to find efficiencies and better serve our citizens.”

The committee will work on a list of prioritized regional collaboration matters outlined in the ICF, including but not limited to, the Red Deer Regional Airport, Westerner Park, community safety, social issues and regional economic development initiatives. The committee may have future amendments to the ICF in the coming months to recognize new capital partnerships and operating agreements.

“Through our continued collaboration, we will only strengthen an already positive partnership with our neighbour,” stated Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood. “Working together, both efficiently and economically, will be a great benefit to our ratepayers.”

The ICF meets all of the MGA requirements, with the following included:

  • Current agreements: There are 16 agreements currently in place between The County and The City.
  • Dispute Resolution: The process in place in the event there are disagreements between the two municipalities.
  • Capital Partnership, Operating Agreements and Service Agreements: This section outlines a request process for new and existing service and cost-sharing agreements. A request can be made by either municipality, at any time.
  • Five-year review: As per the MGA, the ICF must be reviewed at a minimum every five years.

Representatives from both municipalities will continue to work together on maintaining the current agreements, and will continue to identify and discuss other opportunities for intermunicipal collaboration. The next phase of work is anticipated to be complete by spring 2021.

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For more information, please contact:

Corporate Communications
The City of Red Deer

Mayor Jim Wood
Red Deer County

 

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