Council Meeting Highlights - July 7, 2025

Camrose Booster News Reporter

Nadine Leming is introduced as the newest reporter for The Camrose Booster.

Presentation - Offensive, Profane and Obscene Flags and Banners

A Camrose resident presented to Council on Offensive, Profane and Obscene Flags and Banners located on private property.

2025 Fleet Replacements Update

General Manager of Infrastructure, Kris Johnson and Fleet and Shop Manager Marty MacGregor, gave Council an update regarding fleet replacements in 2025. To date, the purchase and salvage of one unit has been finalized, 9 in progress and 4 units are currently under review. Administration is confident that the current budget is sufficient, barring any unforeseen changes. Administration addressed questions from Council regarding changes in market value as well as the impact of tariffs on pricing of replacement units.

2026 Fleet Replacements

General Manager of Infrastructure, Kris Johnson, updated Council with a report about the upcoming 2026 Fleet Replacements. The City manages a fleet of 157 vehicles and equipment (excluding Fire and Police), valued at over $13.8 million. Each year, Administration reviews which units need replacing based on condition, repair costs, and usage, with funding coming from dedicated reserves. For 2026, an updated list of fleet replacements - including some deferrals and one new pickup truck for Building Maintenance - will be presented to Council for approval at the Regular Council Meeting on July 21. The updated plan increases total spending by $72,000 compared to the original 2024 estimate.

Facility Waste and Cardboard Collection RFP

The City’s current waste and cardboard collection contract for municipal facilities expires in October 2025. Administration is recommending that Council approve a new Request for Proposals (RFP) with a 2-year term and the option for up to three 1-year extensions. This change would give the City more flexibility and help with long-term budgeting while encouraging strong contractor performance.  Council directed Administration to proceed with 2-year term RFP as presented.

Municipal Affairs’ Survey on Recall Rules

In 2023, Alberta’s Municipal Government Act was updated to allow recall petitions for elected municipal officials, and in 2024, Bill 20 shifted petition validation from municipal CAOs to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Alberta Municipalities (ABMunis) has since raised concerns about gaps in the current rules, such as the lack of restrictions on incentives, fundraising, and the obligation to submit completed petitions. The Province is now exploring further changes and may soon consult municipalities. To prepare, ABMunis developed recommendations on petition criteria, timelines, allowed activities, and signature requirements, aiming to make the process clearer, fairer, and more consistent. Council directed that they will support ABMunis recommendations going forward on this matter.

Community Standards Bylaw Draft

Brianne Hillson, General Manager of Corporate Services presented to Council about a drafted new Community Standards Bylaw to improve property maintenance, public behaviour, and community well-being. This bylaw would replace four older ones and aims to simplify rules around topics like noise, snow removal, panhandling, and RV parking. Council is being asked to review and give feedback before the bylaw moves to first reading. Council provided general support for provisions on panhandling, RV Parking and noise times, while suggesting consultation on contractor timelines for snow removal, and landscaping wording amendments. Council agreed with the recommendation of the removal of the firearms section to be addressed in a separate bylaw pending provincial input. Fines are to be aligned with averages where appropriate and the bylaw will be discussed again at a future meeting.

Cat Enforcement and Regulations

Administration is asking Council whether to move forward with creating a bylaw to regulate cats in Camrose. This follows a request from the Camrose and Area Animal Shelter Society (CAASS), which wants to see cat licensing introduced to support responsible pet ownership and protect local wildlife. Cat-related provisions were removed from the City’s Animal Bylaw in 2023 due to limited enforcement resources and low complaint numbers. Other municipalities have shared mixed experiences - some have faced ongoing enforcement challenges, while others focus on public education and homeowner responsibility. Council and Administration agree that there are logistical challenges to cat enforcement and regulations, as well as resource strain, and gave direction to bring this back at a later date once more research has been done on other municipalities.

Advocacy Topics Update

There have been no updates to the Advocacy Topics by Administration.  Council was given a chance to update and share news.

• Alberta Transportation has reached out regarding setting up meetings with municipalities along Hwy 21 about Hwy 21 passing lanes and hopes to have more news to share at the next council meeting.
• Camrose and Area Rides in Luxury has shared that the grant from Healthy Aging Alberta for this service has been extended to March 2027.

Public Commentary
A resident spoke about concerns over sidewalk safety around his properties.

Bill Fowler Centre Washroom Use

The public washrooms at the Bill Fowler Centre have been closed since January 2025 due to repeated vandalism and misuse and were replaced with porta-potties. Initially, one accessible unit was installed and cleaned weekly, but cleaning was increased to twice a week in May due to high use. A second porta-potty was later added following complaints that the first was filling up too quickly. Despite these efforts, the City continues to receive concerns about the use of porta-potties at this busy location.

Council has decided to follow recommendations from Administration to re-open the Bill Fowler Centre bathrooms until September Long Weekend to support increased summer demand on the 24/7 porta-potties at Mirror Lake Park, with the stipulation that the outdoor entrance remain locked and that washrooms are accessed by entering through the Visitor Info Centre during business hours only. 

Special Event Permit - Camrose Flying Club 2025 Drive In Airshow

The Special Event Permit to the Camrose Flying Club for the 2025 Drive In Airshow to be held July 26 and 27, 2025 has been approved!

Road Closure - Bylaw 3380-25

Council is being asked to consider first reading of Bylaw 3380-25, which would close a small portion of unused road right-of-way on 54 Street. The closure will not impact traffic or access to any nearby properties and will match the zoning of the adjacent lot. All costs, including surveying and registration, will be paid by the applicant, with the estimated land value set at $5,000 plus GST. Council carried the motion to consider first reading of Bylaw 3380-25.

Water Restrictions Bylaw

Council gives three readings to Bylaw 3378-25 Water Restrictions Bylaw which will replace the current Water Conservation/Water Use Bylaw and Policy. This update combines all water restriction stages and enforcement details into one clear document.

The new Bylaw also revises the stages of water conservation where Stage 0 encourages voluntary conservation, and Stage 1 imposes mandatory rules such as limited lawn watering and turning off decorative outdoor water features. Vehicle washing and surface cleaning will still be allowed during Stage 1 but prohibited under Stage 2. Stage 2 and 3 include stricter bans on outdoor water use and bulk water sales.

Administration is also developing a separate internal policy to guide how City departments will respond during each stage of water restrictions. In most cases, City operations will follow the same rules as the public, unless water use is necessary to protect public safety or prevent damage to infrastructure.

Although winter precipitation was near normal, spring rainfall has been far below average, leading to only 120 days of estimated water storage in Driedmeat Lake. As a result, the City plans to move into Stage 1 water restrictions shortly to delay possible provincial intervention.

More information about these water restrictions will be available shortly.

25th Annual Camrose Kick’n Country BVJ Parade - Road Closure Request

The road closure requests for the Big Valley Jamboree Parade to be held on Thursday, July 31, 2025 have been approved!