Council Meeting Highlights - November 17, 2025

Presentation from STARS
Glenda Farnden from STARS Air Ambulance provided an update to Council following her previous presentation on June 9, 2025. Council directed Administration to bring back a report outlining a $2-per-capita contribution for 2026 at the next Council meeting.

Presentation from Dean of Augustana
Dr. John Parkins, Dean of Augustana, provided Council with an overview of key campus updates, including enrollment, academics, staffing, tuition, student housing and services, facility improvements, upcoming events, and their strategic plan.

Q3 Development Stats
Manager of Planning & Development, Aaron Leckie provided updates regarding Quarter 3 statistics. Estimated construction value in 2025 continues to sit above the five-year average, with development activity split fairly evenly between residential and non-residential projects. While the number of major development permits is trending downward, the value of individual projects has increased. Minor permit activity rose in Q3, largely due to residential additions, more deck and fence permits, and a high number of compliance certificate requests.

Performance Deposits
Manager of Planning & Development, Aaron Leckie brought forward a report proposing a new Subdivision & Development Security Policy to replace and combine the City’s existing performance deposit and security policies. The updated policy focuses on collecting security only for high-risk or large-scale projects, using realistic construction estimates rather than flat rates. It also introduces clearer processes for handling breaches, a tiered system that rewards compliant developers, and standardized tracking through the upgraded permitting system.

This policy will be brought back to the Regular Council meeting on December 1, 2025, for approval and the corresponding older policies will be rescinded.

Unauthorized Tree Removal and Property Damage
Council received a letter about concerns related to trees on City-owned golf course property as well as a report providing background information on the ongoing communication and planned maintenance for that area. Recently, residents carried out pruning on the property, which raised safety and property concerns, and Police Service recommended issuing a letter of warning to clarify expectations moving forward.

Council supported the message outlined in the Bylaw letter and directed Administration to send a follow-up correspondence, signed by the Mayor, to reinforce the information provided.

Annual Fees and Charges Bylaw
Administration has completed its annual review of the City’s fees and charges and prepared a draft 2026 Bylaw for Council to review. Most fees are proposed to increase by about 2.5% to address inflation, while water and wastewater fees have a higher proposed increase of 5% to help reduce the infrastructure deficit on critical infrastructure.

The draft Bylaw also introduces several new or updated fees, some of these include:

• Lifetime Dog Licence Fees
• Annual Dog Licence Fee – Nuisance Dog
• Annual Dog Licence Fee – Dangerous Dog
• Kennel Licence being changed to Over Limit Permit
• Airport Landing Fees (Single Engine, Small Jet, Medium Jet)
• After Hour Call Out Fees for the Airport
• Fire Service False Alarms for both Residential and Commercial
• Fireworks Display Permit
• Drop-in Shower Fee

The updated Bylaw will be brought back to Council at the December 1st Regular Council meeting.

Public Commentary
A resident spoke during Public Commentary to request that Council consider signing a petition in support of establishing Leif Erikson Day.

Auditor Appointment
Council appointed RSM Canada LLP as the City’s external auditor for 2025, continuing their six-year service with Camrose. The proposed audit will cover the City’s annual financial statements, required reporting, pension plan audit, and related support, with work beginning in December 2025.

2026 Airport Hangar Lease Fees
Council established that the Camrose Municipal Airport’s revenue fee structure be updated so that the 2026 hangar lot lease rate is set at $2.32 per square metre plus GST, representing an approximate 2.5% increase over the approved 2025 lease rates.

2026 Business License Fees and Charges
Council approved all three readings to update the Annual Fees and Charges Bylaw, specifically adjusting business license fees. The City’s new e-permitting system was scheduled to launch on December 1, 2025, and the updated fees needed to be entered and tested in the system before it went live.

To support this timeline, the 2026 business license fees were set to take effect on December 1 instead of the usual January 1. The approved fees included an approximate 2.5% increase, and all other Planning and Development fees will be reviewed through the regular annual process.

Centra Cam Request
Council approved 750 additional casual staff hours each year to support employing up to two clients from Centra Cam. This amounts to an estimated cost of about $13,000 annually and will help provide additional light cleaning support at City facilities.

A trial placement is currently underway at the Aquatic Centre for November and December, with the possibility of continuing into 2025. These positions supplement, rather than replace, existing staff and may lead to future opportunities in other City locations.

City of Camrose Library Board - County Appointment
Council appointed Councillor Martin Maxwell, the Camrose County representative, to the City of Camrose Library Board for a term ending on October 31, 2026.

Parkland Regional Library Alternate Appointment
Council appointed Cheryl Dezall as alternate to the Parkland Regional Library Board, for a term ending on October 31, 2026.

Member-at-Large Resignation City of Camrose Library Board
Council accepted Lucy Ernst’s resignation as a Member-at-Large serving on the Camrose Public Library Board, effective December 31, 2025, with regret.

Correction to Council Committees
Council appointed Councillor Banack as an Alternate to the Heritage Advisory Committee, with the appointment effective from November 3, 2025, until the 2026 Organizational Meeting of Council.

Council also approved the removal of Councillor Francoeur from the Rose City Handi-van Society Board. As per the contract with the Rose City Handi-van Society, only one Council representative may be appointed to the Board of Directors, which is currently Councillor Throndson.

Proclamation Request
Council authorized the Mayor to proclaim November 2025 as Family Violence Prevention Month in the City of Camrose.