City of Red Deer
City cancelling programs but keeps rec centres open
From The City of Red Deer
City of Red Deer modifies service and programming amidst COVID-19
All City delivered recreation and culture programming at City of Red Deer facilities is temporarily cancelled to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This is effective immediately.
According to Alberta Health (AHS), there are currently no confirmed cases of the virus in Red Deer, and the risk to residents remains low. The City of Red Deer is taking preventative measures in the interest of social distancing.
Measures being taken by The City of Red Deer at this time include:
- Activation of a City of Red Deer Emergency Operations Centre
- Cancellation of City programs in public facilities, including but not limited to, fitness classes, swimming lessons, educational and cultural courses
- Closure of hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas
- Closure of child minding services at the G.H. Dawe Community Centre and Collicutt Centre
- Revised cancellation policies for recreation facility passes, programs and rentals
- A shift from in-person to online City of Red Deer public participation and consultation activities
- Enhanced cleaning and janitorial services in high traffic areas and touch points
- Continued focus on hygiene
- Mandatory 14-day isolation period for all City of Red Deer employees who are symptomatic and/or who travelled internationally, effective March 12 at 4 p.m.
- Activation of a City of Red Deer call centre for residents to make non-emergency inquiries about City policies and facilities (403-342-8111), operation 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until further notice.
- The City is in communication and sharing information with contractors operating City facilities
(i.e. Heritage Ranch, Museum & Art Gallery, Bower Ponds, and neighbourhood activity centres), however, business decisions remain with those individual operators.
“The health and safety of our residents is priority number one,” said Karen Mann, Situational Monitoring Centre Director, The City of Red Deer. “We know some of these measures may cause frustration and disrupt the routines of individuals and families who engage in our many programs and services. However, we strongly believe these are necessary steps in minimizing the potential spread of COVID- 19 in our community.”
At this time all City recreation facilities remain open, such as the Collicutt Centre and G.H. Dawe Community Centre. Public facilities like City Hall, downtown RCMP and ES Counter Service remain open. Residents are reminded not to attend City facilities or any public place if they’re feeling ill. Please consider the following:
- Practice “social distancing”
- Use good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing
- Avoid touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
- Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill
- Keep at least 1 metre distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing
- Follow good respiratory hygiene; cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze (dispose of the used tissue immediately)
If you have symptoms such as fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing and have travelled outside Canada or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link 811. If you are not seriously ill, do not go to a physician’s office, a health care facility or a lab without consulting with Health Link 811 first. Call 911 if you are seriously ill and need immediate medical attention and inform them that you may have COVID-19.
The City of Red Deer’s call centre is available to provide general information about The City’s response to COVID 19 as well as to ensure 811 and 911 are left available to those requiring emergency assistance. The City’s call centre will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., until further notice.
The COVID-19 outbreak remains a fluid situation and information can change quickly and often. The City of Red Deer is prepared to make additional changes as required in order to keep residents safe and reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Residents are urged to visit the Alberta Health Services website at www.ahs.ca for the most up to date information.
It’s a telling detail about the person who leads Red Deer City Council. Always putting the city’s needs ahead of his own, Mayor Ken Johnston has announced his intentions within days of the opening of Nominations for October’s municipal elections,
After 12 years on council, Mayor Ken Johnston has decided against running for a second term as Mayor this fall. Johnson shared his decision in front of colleagues and supporters in a touching announcement on Wednesday.
At 71 years old, Johnston remains vibrant, passionate and healthy. He says that’s exactly why he and his wife Carolyn have decided now is the right time to start their next stage of life together.
Mayor Johnston listed a number of highlights and achievements he can look back on, including his help advocating for the redevelopment of Red Deer Regional Hospital, the growth of Red Deer Polytechnic, and positive moves in Economic Development.
All these lead of a feeling of ease about the decision to step away, though affordable housing and a permanent shelter for the homeless remain pressing concerns.
With about 8 months remaining in his term, Mayor Johnston is planning to push hard to move the needle on these housing issues.
“We’re looking forward to some more work and we’ll be going to the community shortly about it. So I still have optimism that maybe before the term is out we can have an announcement.”
This is the second major political announcement in Central Alberta in the last number of days. Earlier this week Red Deer Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen announced he won’t be running in the next federal election.
City of Red Deer
Council ends reduced fine option for early ticket payment, school and playground zones start at 7 AM
City Council approves first reading of updated Traffic Bylaw and General Penalty Bylaw
Red Deer City Council completed first reading of updated Traffic Bylaw (3707/2025) and General Penalties Bylaw (3036/A-2025) that will provide clarity and consistency in application of the bylaws as well as eliminate challenges in enforcement.
Key updates to the bylaws include:
- Ticket Pre-Payment:
- Removing the option to pay a parking ticket early to receive a reduced fee from the General Penalty Bylaw and adding it to the Traffic Bylaw.
- School and Playground Zone Start Times:
- Through investigating requests from schools to have school and playground zones start at 7 a.m., rather than 8 a.m., Administration determined that almost all school and playground zones in the city have students on the street prior to 7:30 a.m. To be consistent across the city, the start time is being moved to 7 a.m. providing an added measure of safety for all students.
- Salt on Sidewalks:
- Removing the provision prohibiting the use of salt on sidewalks as this provision was rarely reported and it is difficult and costly to enforce.
- Permits:
- More structure was added to the bylaw to clearly articulate conditions and requirements of Use of Streets Permits, as well as Excavation Permits and Alignment Permits.
- Lastly, fees for closures impacting on-street and off-street stalls have been adjusted to reflect the actual revenue in each parking zone rather than the flat fee.
- Penalties:
- Penalties have been reviewed and updated.
- During the last bylaw adoption, the penalty associated with vehicles being towed due to snow or street sweeping operations was inadvertently missed. This penalty has been added back in at a slightly higher amount due to an increase in the cost to tow a vehicle through The City’s contractor. This prevents the costs associated with towing vehicles during these operations from being subsidized by the tax base.
“These updates streamline the bylaws to create clarity for residents and administration,” said Erin Stuart, Inspections and Licensing Manager with The City. “They also help to eliminate regulations that are challenging to enforce and bring penalties in line with other City Bylaws.”
Second reading of both bylaws is anticipated for January 27, 2025.
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