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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

Prospective candidates for Red Deer’s 2025 Election are advised that the nomination period is now open, and candidates have until noon on September 22, 2025 to file the necessary paperwork, secure required signatures, and complete all preliminary steps.

Voters in Red Deer will elect one Mayor, eight City Councillors, and School Trustees for the Red Deer Public School Division or the Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division. The number of positions available is as follows:

• Mayor (The City of Red Deer): 1 position
• City Councillor (The City of Red Deer): 8 positions
• School Trustee (Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division): 7 positions
• School Trustee (Red Deer Public School Division): 7 positions

“There are several new requirements this year that prospective candidates need to be aware of, per legislative changes,” said Jessica Robinson, Returning Officer. “Among these are the requirements to file a notice of intent, minimum signatures and a deposit for anyone looking to run in the Mayoral or City Councillor contests.”

Prospective candidates who intend to seek office in 2025 must file a Notice of Intent. This step must be completed before any campaign contributions are accepted or expenses incurred. A Notice of Intent may be submitted at any time during the campaign period by emailing the completed form to [email protected] or delivering it in-person to:

Red Deer Elections Office
City Hall (4914 – 48 Avenue)
Red Deer, AB

Nomination Requirements
To officially file as a candidate, all required nomination documents must be submitted during the nomination period, beginning January 2, 2025, and ending at 12 noon on Monday, September 22, 2025.

The following forms must be completed and submitted:

• Form 4 – Nomination Paper and Candidate’s Acceptance
• Form 5 – Candidate Financial Information
  

Signature and Deposit Requirements
Nomination papers must include original signatures from eligible electors in Red Deer. Digital signatures will not be accepted. It is recommended that candidates obtain more than the minimum required number of signatures in case any signatory is found ineligible.

All nomination forms must be signed before a Commissioner for Oaths in and for Alberta or the Returning Officer. Appointments to have forms signed can be arranged by emailing [email protected].

The 2025 Election will be conducted by the appointed Returning Officer, who also oversees the elections for both the Red Deer Public School Division and the Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division. Municipal elections in Alberta occur every four years, in accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act, Municipal Government Act, and the Education Act.

For More Information

For details regarding the nomination process, eligibility requirements, and key election dates, please visit elections.reddeer.ca.