Council Meeting Highlights - March 23, 2026

Presentation - Covenant Health Community Board/St Mary's Hospital Foundation
Board Chairs from the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation and Covenant Community presented to Council on how their organizations support the hospital and serve the Camrose community.

Presentation - Poverty Simulation
Representatives from Primary Care Alberta and the Community Supports Navigator presented to Council on the results of the 2026 Poverty Simulation and the next steps moving forward.

Tax Rate Options
Council reviewed options for setting the 2026 property tax rates and has directed Administration to move forward with the status quo approach, where municipal tax changes are applied evenly between residential and business properties.

At the same time, the Province has increased the education tax, which the City is required to collect. This will result in a noticeable increase on property tax bills for both homeowners and businesses, and the City cannot change this amount.

The 2026 Tax Rate Bylaw will be brought forward to Council on April 20, 2026.

Fire Training Grounds Update
Final work on the fire training facility is underway, with full use expected by May or June, pending minor fixes and confirmation that the live fire components meet required safety standards. The project has received strong external support and is currently expected to be completed under budget.

Find out more about this project at: www.ourcamrose.ca/fire-training-facility 

Extended Producer Responsibility Products, Packaging and Paper Phase 2 Update
Council received an update on the next phase of the City’s recycling program, which may introduce curbside recycling collection starting in October 2026, pending Council approval. If approved, residents would have their recyclables picked up from their homes.

To help shape how the service will work, the City will launch a short public survey starting in April. Residents will be asked for input on things like collection frequency, whether they prefer bags or carts, and how collection should be scheduled.

While the City is reviewing options for how recycling services will be delivered in the future, Administration is also looking at options for the role of the Recycle Depot. More details and recommendations will be shared with Council for their approval at a later date.

2026 Off-Site Levy Bylaw Update
Council has directed Administration to issue a Request for Proposal to support an update to the City’s Off-Site Levy Bylaw in 2026. This update is needed to ensure the bylaw meets current provincial requirements and clearly explains how levy rates are calculated. The review will help make the process more transparent and easier to understand.

Intergovernmental Relations Policy
Council has approved a plan to strengthen how the City works with provincial and federal governments. This helps the City speak up for local needs, access funding, and stay informed about decisions that affect residents.

With this approval, Administration will move ahead with the work outlined in the plan. The focus will be on building relationships, advocating for key local priorities, and improving how this work is coordinated.

Administration will also bring forward a formal policy based on this plan at a later date.

Rose City Curling Club Request for Financial Support
The Rose City Curling Club ended its season early after an unexpected chiller failure at the Max McLean / Curling Rink in early February 2026. As a result, the Club lost ice time and had to end their season early. The Club considered rebuilding the ice once the system was working again but ultimately chose not to.

City crews worked quickly and put in significant time and effort to repair the ice plant and restore operations as soon as possible. Despite these efforts, the shutdown still resulted in lost revenue for the Club.

To help address these impacts, Council approved a waiver of the Club’s lease fees for the final three months of the 2025–2026 season and the full seven months of the 2026–2027 season.

Aquatic Centre Pass Sharing with Wetaskiwin
Council approved an agreement with the City of Wetaskiwin to allow pool pass holders to use each other’s facilities during annual shutdowns. During these periods, eligible pass holders can access the alternate pool at no extra cost while their regular passes remain frozen.

Facility Booking / Use of Common Spaces Policies
Council approved updates to the Facility Booking Policy to clarify how City recreation spaces can be used. Groups who want to promote ideas, religions, or collect petition signatures must now book a room and cannot do these activities in common areas.

Common areas, such as lobbies and hallways, are intended to remain neutral, welcoming spaces for everyone. They are meant for accessing programs and services, not for promotion or solicitation.

The updates also include clearer rules for bookings, events, and general facility use. These changes help ensure City spaces are used fairly, consistently, and respectfully for all users.

Hazardous Waste Roundup County Agreement Extension
Council approved a one-year extension of the cost-sharing agreement with Camrose County to continue offering Recycling Roundup events in 2026. These events provide residents with a safe way to dispose of household hazardous waste, with costs shared based on how many residents from each municipality use the service.

Bylaw 3405-26 - Land Use Bylaw Amendment
Council has approved first reading of a bylaw to change the zoning of a vacant building. The building was previously used as an administrative office for the Battle River School Division and has been empty for about two years. This would allow it to be used for office space in a way that fits the area and is expected to have minimal impact on traffic.

Camrose Cruisers Street Closure Request
Council approved several downtown street closures on June 13, 2026, from 6:00am to 6:00pm for the “Show & Shine, Cruise” event.

Member-At-Large Resignations
Council accepted Lesley Schatz’s resignation as a Member-At-Large serving on the Indigenous Advisory Committee, with regret.

Council accepted Allison McPherson’s resignation as a Member-At-Large serving on the Camrose Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee, with regret.