Council Meeting Highlights - April 20, 2026

EDA Conference Update
The Economic Development department proudly accepted two awards. One was a team award recognizing its innovative approach to economic development. The second recognized an Economic Developers Alberta member who has demonstrated notable professional accomplishments with less than five years of experience as an economic development officer, and it was presented to Maven Boddy. Congratulations to the team and Maven!

Governor General Order of Merit
Inspector Rene Brisson will be receiving the Governor General Order of Merit later this year. This honour recognizes the leadership, exceptional service, and distinctive merit demonstrated by members of the Canadian Police Services, with a focus on outstanding contributions to policing and community development. Congratulations, Inspector Brisson!

Community Gardens
In 2025, Council directed Administration to find a community group to manage the community gardens. The Camrose and District Family and Community Support Services agreed to take on this role and will keep the gardens at their current location across from the Fire Hall. They will manage registration, encourage ongoing participation, and plan site improvements as funding becomes available.

Cat Enforcement
Administration provided Council with a very detailed report so that Council could provide direction on how to move forward with creating rules to better manage cats in Camrose. This report builds on earlier direction from Council and includes input from the Camrose and Area Animal Shelter Society (CAASS), the Camrose Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (CESAC), and other municipalities. It also proposes a definition of animal hoarding to support future enforcement.

The report explains that many municipalities use a complaint-based approach, where residents are responsible for trapping and bringing cats to shelters. However, even this approach can increase workload for enforcement staff.

Local input highlights several concerns. CAASS advised that the shelter is often full and does not accept feral cats, which limits how enforcement could work. CESAC supports stronger rules to reduce impacts on birds and the environment. Both groups support measures like requiring identification, limiting roaming, and encouraging spay and neuter programs.

Administration notes that adding cat regulations would likely increase calls for service and would require more staff and funding. The City currently has one Community Peace Officer, and existing resources would not be enough to take on this added work. If Council chooses to move forward, a business case and budget request would be needed.

For feral cats, Administration suggested exploring a trap neuter release program in collaboration with the Animal Shelter, where cats are captured, sterilized, and returned to the area. This approach may help reduce populations over time, but it would be complex and require funding, partnerships, and available shelter and veterinary capacity.

Council gave direction on several options, including whether to limit the number of cats per household, require identification, restrict roaming, and require spaying or neutering. Administration will now work to bring forward a detailed plan with any corresponding budget implications for Council’s consideration.

Intergovernmental Policy
The City has drafted a new policy to guide how it works with other levels of government, with a focus on building relationships and speaking up for local priorities. The policy outlines how the City will set advocacy priorities, take part in regional committees and meetings, and share information with the public, while keeping its work nonpartisan and focused on community benefit.

The goal is to help secure support and resources for the community and ensure Camrose has a strong voice in regional and provincial decisions. A final version will be brought forward to a future Regular Council meeting for adoption.

Community Development Policy Reviews
Council provided direction on updates to several policies related to naming City-owned facilities and charges for services for major events. Administration recommended combining two facility naming policies into one to improve clarity and efficiency, while keeping the event service charges policy largely the same, with minor updates to how in-kind support costs are documented.

Administration will make some final updates, specifically regarding definitions, and then will bring the updated policy back to a future Regular Council meeting for adoption.

Bill 28 Feedback to Alberta Municipalities
Council gave direction on how the City should respond to proposed provincial changes in Bill 28 (Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act, 2026) and agreed with the recommendations put forward by Administration. These changes would update several laws that affect how municipalities operate, and Alberta Municipalities is asking cities to provide feedback.

The proposed changes cover a few key areas. One change would limit what costs municipalities can include in development charges, which are fees used to help pay for infrastructure needed for growth. This could make it harder for municipalities to recover those costs. Another change would require municipalities to publicly share the salaries of some staff above a set threshold. There are also changes that would give the Province more control over decisions about whether a municipality can be dissolved.

The Bill also includes new rules for public libraries. Council agreed that the Camrose Public Library Board should take the lead in reviewing these changes and providing feedback on how they may affect library services.

Utility Master Plan Updates
Council confirmed the direction in the proposed sanitary and water master plans to allow reduced or self serviced development in the northeast area of the city, specifically within Coordinated Services Areas 1 and 2 as identified in the City of Camrose and Camrose County Intermunicipal Development Plan. Full municipal servicing will be required in all other areas of the city and in the remaining Coordinated Service Areas.

Council also directed Administration to invite residents, the local development community, and Camrose County to provide input on the proposed utility master plans, including the Water Distribution, Sanitary, and Stormwater Master Plans, before bringing them to a future Council meeting for formal approval.

HLPS #3 Reservoir Roof Replacement Update
Council received an update on the project to replace the roof of the south water reservoir at High Lift Pumping Station 3. After reviewing options, Administration decided to move ahead with a new roof that will require the permanent removal of the tennis courts, as it will better protect drinking water, avoid structural challenges, and cost about 600,000 dollars less. The project is expected to go to tender in May, with most construction planned for the fall.

HLPS #2 Water Leak  
The City’s oldest water reservoir is showing signs of wear, including damaged concrete found during a recent inspection. There are no immediate safety concerns, but the reservoir has been taken out of service while repairs are planned so it can be back in use before summer, when water demand is higher. Administration will bring forward repair costs for Council’s approval and is also reviewing long term options due to the age of the facility.

Public Hearing Bylaw 3404-26
A public hearing was advertised on March 17 and 24, 2026, for a proposed Land Use Bylaw amendment, giving residents the opportunity to attend or submit written feedback by March 30. No submissions were received.

Land Use Amendment Bylaw 3404-26
Council gave second and third readings to Bylaw 3404-26 for the redistricting of a portion of Lot 5, Plan 9022394, located between Stoney Creek Valley, Camrose Drive, 50 Street, and the future phases of Creekview Ridge. The land is being rezoned from Low Density Residential (R1) to Mixed Use Residential (R2) to allow duplex housing on suitable lots, in line with the approved neighbourhood vision. This change does not affect the planned subdivision layout or the overall density set out in the 2019 Outline Plan.

2025 Financial Statement Approval
Council approved the City of Camrose’s 2025 Audited Financial Statements, Reserve Summary, and Financial Information Return, which were audited by RSM Canada LLP and reviewed by both the Finance Committee and Council.

2025 Audit
Council received the 2025 audit report of the City of Camrose, completed by RSM Canada LLP and presented to the Finance Committee on April 17, 2026.

2026 Property Tax Bylaw
Council approved Bylaw 3407-26, which sets the City’s 2026 property tax rates and keeps the same balance of taxes between residential and non-residential properties. Property tax notices are expected to be mailed by May 15, with payment due June 30.

While the City’s budget included a 4.65% municipal tax increase, stronger than expected growth helped reduce the municipal portion to about 4.1%. However, a significant increase in the provincial education tax, which is set by the Government of Alberta, means most residents will see a higher overall increase.

On average, total property taxes, including municipal and education taxes, are expected to increase by about 6.3% for residential properties and 5.4% for non-residential properties, depending on changes in individual property values.

Bylaw 3406-26 Community Standards Amendment Bylaw
Council approved updates to the Community Standards Bylaw to move existing rules for non-motorized recreation on City waterbodies into a bylaw that can be enforced. This change does not alter what activities are allowed, but adds clearer rules, definitions, and fines to support safety, protect the environment, and ensure consistent enforcement.

The updated Bylaw also allows for commercial rentals such as canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards on Mirror Lake.

Road Closure - Camrose and District Chamber of Commerce - Jaywalkers Jamboree
Council approved the road closures for the Camrose and District Chamber of Commerce Jaywalkers Jamboree event. As part of the event, 49th Avenue and 50th Avenue, between 50th Street and 51st Street will be closed to all traffic, from 5:00pm on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 to 6:30pm on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Additionally, 50th Street from 48A Avenue to 51st Avenue, 49th Avenue and 50th Avenue between 49th Street and 51st Street, and 51st Avenue between 49th Street and 51st Street will be closed to all traffic from 1:00pm on Thursday, June 4, 2026 to 6:30pm on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Road Closure - Camrose Public Library - Summer Kickoff Event
Council approved the road closure for the Camrose Public Library Summer Kickoff Event. As part of the event, 50th Avenue between 47th Street and 48th Street will be closed to all traffic, including bicycles, skateboards, e-scooters, and roller blades from 3:30pm to 9:00pm on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Road Closure - Camrose Blues Festival
Council approved the road closure for the Bailey Theatre Society’s Camrose Blues Festival event. As part of the event, parking stalls located in front of 5033 - 50 Street and 5041 - 50 Street will be closed to all traffic, including bicycles, skateboards, e-scooters, and roller blades from 6:30pm to 2:00pm on Thursday, July 16, 2026, to Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Proclamation Requests
Council authorized the Mayor to proclaim April 28, 2026, as the National Day of Mourning.
Council authorized the Mayor to proclaim May 3-9, 2026 as Hospice and Palliative Care Week.

Letter of Response - Yichun (Verbal)
Council authorized the Mayor to sign a letter of response to Yichun as discussed in the Closed Session.

Letter of Support - Camrose Sport Development Society (Verbal)
Council authorized the Mayor to send a Letter of Support to the Camrose Sport Development Society, which is submitting a bid to host a team for at least one week of training and one or two exhibition games prior to the World Junior Hockey Championships, which will be held in Edmonton and Red Deer starting on Boxing Day 2026.

Letter of Response - Business Interests of a Third Party (Verbal)
Council approved Administration to write a letter to a third party as discussed in the Closed Session.

Business Interest of a Third Party (Verbal)
Council approved the motion to proceed as discussed in the Closed Session with the business interests of a third party.