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City of Red Deer

City to consider surplus land and buildings for affordable housing

Published

2 years ago

4 minute read

City Council approves housing asset development recommendations

At their regular meeting Monday, City Council unanimously supported ten recommendations related to municipal government enabling actions that reflect the Community Housing and Homelessness Integrated Plan (CHHIP). Administration also presented an action plan for pursuing all ten enablers within the next three years, including some that will be actioned immediately. The enabling actions were researched and analyzed extensively to provide optimized solutions for The City in relation to their impact in leveraging funds from other orders of government, as well as the difficulty and timeframe for implementation.

The recommendations are in response to a City Council motion from January 2022 directing The City’s Housing and Homelessness Integration Committee (HHIC) to expedite permanent supportive housing asset development and to explore and identify related funding and government enabling actions. On February 6, 2023, Council directed administration to prioritize zoning and permitting processes for affordable housing and permanent supportive housing applications, specific to applications seeking Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rapid Housing Initiative and Government of Alberta’s Affordable Housing Partnership funding.

Supported by case studies that demonstrate successful strategies used by other municipalities to incentivize and increase affordable and supportive housing stock, the approved recommendations provide the following direction:

• Surplus land: Administration will present a report to Council in late 2024 that contains a list of potentially suitable surplus lands or buildings that The City may consider using for affordable housing. A report containing a list of potentially suitable surplus lands or buildings that The City may consider using for affordable housing.

• Financial incentives: A tax supported financial incentives program will be presented in November 2023 for Council consideration during mid-cycle budget review. Additionally, Administration will explore The City’s application for the new “Housing Accelerator Fund” through the Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation.

• Property tax exemptions: To ensure equitable and transparent implementation for non-Alberta Social Housing Corporation properties that provide affordable housing, a grant program in lieu of property tax exemptions will be presented in November 2024 as part of the next budget debate.

• Land designations: A full business case regarding land designation outlining financial feasibility and risks to The City’s Land Bank will be presented to Council in late 2024.

• Fast track development: Administration will prioritize zoning and permitting processes for affordable housing and permanent supportive housing applications as an immediate, long-term measure, specific to applications seeking funding from other orders of government.

• Waive municipal fees: Administration will ensure municipal fees are eligible expenses in the tax-supported financial incentives program that will be presented to Council in November 2023 as part of mid-cycle budget review.

The resolutions also endorse the following administrative actions:

• Provision of continued support to potential applicants to federal, provincial and municipal affordable housing programs.

• Development of key messages supporting The City’s advocacy for increased affordable housing stock.

• Development of new Land Use Bylaw for Council consideration in 2023.

• Exploration of conversion of commercial buildings for timeliness and affordability reasons..

“In addition to reflecting the Community Housing and Homelessness Integrated Plan (CHHIP), the approved enabling actions are the result of community input, local context, and promising practices and we expect them to make an impact towards our community’s housing affordable housing and permanent supportive housing goals,” said Ryan Veldkamp, Social Wellness & Integration Supports Superintendent.

More information on Housing & Homelessness efforts can be found at: https://www.reddeer.ca/about-red-deer/social-well-being-and-community-initiatives/housing-and-homelessness/.

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City of Red Deer

Red Deer will choose a new Mayor as Ken Johnston decides to step away

Published on January 23, 2025

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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.

 

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City of Red Deer

Council ends reduced fine option for early ticket payment, school and playground zones start at 7 AM

Published on January 15, 2025

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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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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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