DIANNE'S COUNCIL EXPERIENCE
Elected as City Councillor October 2010-2013 and re-elected October 2013-2017 and 2017-2021
City Council committee experience 2017-2021:
- Red Deer Public Library Board
- Red Deer River Municipal Users Group - RDRMUG
- Red Deer River Watershed Alliance - RDRWA
- Red Deer Chamber of Commerce
- City Manager Recruitment Committee
- Inter-City Forum on Social Policy
- Alberta Urban Municipalities Association - Sustainability and Environment Committee (2021)
- Alberta Urban Municipalities Association - Safe and Healthy Communities Committee (2020, 2019, 2018)
- Red Deer College Polytechnic Advocacy and I’m a Red Deer College alumna
- Completion of Indigenous Canada course - online University of Alberta
- Completion of Understanding Hate Crimes webinar series through the Community Safety Citizen Services - City of Edmonton
Previous City Council committee experience includes Municipal Planning Commission, Community Housing Advisory Board, Audit Committee, RDRMUG and RDRWA, Nomination Committee, Greater Downtown Action Steering Committee, Tourism Red Deer, Urban Aboriginal Voices Society, Governance and Policy Committee, AUMA Status of Women Task Force, FCSS Family and Community Support Service, Riverbend Golf and Recreation Society, Westerner Park Board (2010-2012) and Red Deer Subdivision and Development Appeal Board
DIANNE'S PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
- current Red Deer River Watershed Alliance (RDRWA) Board member
- current Alberta Labour Relations Board member
- former Central Alberta United Way Campaign cabinet and current supporter
- former Condo Association Board member
- Governor General Conference Study 1990
- Red Deer College Alumni Board member 1988-1995
- Employment Insurance Board of Referees 1990-2010 & Ethics Working Committee
- former Alberta Federation of Labour Board member & Human Resources Committee
- former Red Deer and District Labour Council Board member
- 30 years labour relations and workers' advocate representation with the Canadian Union of Public Employees including 17 years as former Provincial Alberta Regional Director with negotiations, conflict resolution, budget and governance skills
DIANNE'S CAMPAIGN COMMITMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY
Municipal politics affects us each and every day. And politics depends on your participation, not only at the ballot box on election day, but throughout the years and term of Council and for Red Deer's future. I think we all recognize the past 18 months have been difficult for all, including your City Council, as we’ve faced challenges and restrictions with community face-to-face gatherings, While Council and Committee meetings have been held on line, we’ve all missed the human connection and networking. We all hope and anticipate better days and ways ahead as we continue to adapt and live through the changing health information, changing ways and the pandemic.
We rely upon municipal services; from first thing in the morning, we put on the light switch, we turn on our water tap or flush the toilet. We walk, drive, cycle or wheel through the City on maintained roads and sidewalks or experience a bump and pothole on the road that requires repair. Or we take public transit on routes and services we rely upon. We may call, email or drop by City Hall for services or receive a response to a question, concern or service requirement in our neighborhood. We may visit one of the many recreation centres or one of Red Deer City parks. We may take a walk, run or wheel through the trail system. We may take out a library card or visit the museum. It may be waste collection day in our community and a reminder from Notify Red Deer about which cart to put out. Hopefully we don't need necessary emergency services that day, calling upon our police or emergency services employees. These are all municipal services. And the City of Red Deer has dedicated staff who are very proud of Red Deer and work diligently to deliver services each and every day.
On October 18th or at the advance polls from October 4th to October 16th, you will be electing a City Council who is entrusted to make effective decisions. A significant role for City Council is to balance the many competing needs with valued tax dollars, respect for our tax dollars to provide public services and with the City’s role in quality of life for each of us.
An effective Council for our City is a convergence of ideas, not only from the elected City Council members representing us at the Council decision making table, but through dialogue, engagement, listening and communicating with our citizens - from youth to seniors and from all corners of our City, throughout the term of office. This can happen at organized meetings, events or forums, or through connections through telephone, email or when I'm out and about in our community. An effective Council should be connecting with the community throughout the term.
As I listen and reflect on the past 11 years, I'm sharing my comments which reflect many conversations I have had with Red Deerians about a vision for Red Deer. And if re-elected, these will be brought to the Council table for the work ahead over the next four years. It is through the combination of the Mayor and all elected Councillor’s ideas and vision that we work together, for you Red Deer.
SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION
- A City is never finished with safety and security. It has and will continue to be a priority for Red Deer for the continued lens for a safer city in our neighborhoods and business communities. Council makes decisions on policing and enforcement services, through budget resources and funding. As Albertans, we all await provincial decisions about whether or not municipalities and rural Alberta will see a provincial police force in our province or continued supports for the RCMP. This decision is significant to ensure Red Deer retains local decision making of our policing services and as Council makes policing budget decisions.
- Along with RCMP funding and supports for the women and men who respond daily to community safety challenges, I support required operational funding to support emergency fire services and municipal enforcement of bylaws and community peace officers with timely response, through the City's Protective Services Division.
- The City’s Community Safety Strategy is about people and support and response. This includes work related to community safety issues for the residential and Red Deer business community, including a downtown focus. Over the past few years, Council continues to recognize the ongoing challenges about safety and security. This also includes the social disorder and needed supports for responding to homelessness in our growing city.
- In addition to enforcement and policing, it is also important to advance community safety through conversations, coordination and collaboration, prevention and education with an up-stream approach. This includes early attention and response to mental health, addictions, violence in relationships and youth and family intervention. There's much activity and conversations at the City of Red Deer and Community System Leadership Team. These are representatives from the community who focus on community safety in Red Deer. This group of community leaders identify system gaps within our community and focus on potential solutions and opportunities for strategies that enable a more collaborative approach to some of the challenges Red Deerians are facing. Representatives on the City's Systems Leadership Team are from Alberta Health Services, Children’s Services, the City of Red Deer, Red Deer Public and Catholic School Districts, Community Corrections, Urban Aboriginal Voices Society and the RCMP.
- Safety and policing is complex; recognizing the diverse safety needs with timely response to personal and property crime, serious and violent crime, traffic safety and downtown safety attention. Conversations must continue to occur with the MLA’s and MP’s - the Provincial and Federal orders of government regarding the justice system to ensuring that criminals are not released back into the community to reoffend until they have served their sentence.
SOCIAL COMMUNITY NEEDS - HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY REDUCTION
- Sustainable communities is defined as how communities are planned, built or modified to promote sustainable living. Sustainable communities tend to focus on environmental and economic sustainability. And there is also social sustainability - both positive and negative impacts on people. Social sustainability for me, is about creating sustainable, successful places and spaces that promote well being and understanding what people need from the places we live, work, socialize and enjoy.
- In December 2017, through the provincial government, community agency Safe Harbour transitioned their social detox program to a medical detox program. And through the provincial government, community agency Turning Point provides harm reduction (policies, programs and practices to support individuals and reduce consequences of risk taking behaviors such as drug use). Turning Point operates the downtown temporary Overdose Prevention site which is provincially funded. The temporary trailer site over the past years provides community overdose prevention supports and referrals to detox and treatment options. Red Deer Night Reach support operates primarily in the downtown vicinity, providing supports of harm reduction materials, clothing, food snacks and first aid. City Council determines the role for zoning decisions and public hearings as we hear from the community. This past year, there have been several public hearings regarding the zoning of the temporary shelter located in the Cannery Row building, downtown. City tax dollars do not support the building or operations of a temporary or permanent shelter; these are provincial tax dollars that provide these services. Council continues to work with the province and community as a whole, as homelessness, shelter, mental health and addictions health needs are necessary and provided services for Red Deer and all other Alberta cities and growing communities from the provincial government. Continued community conversations are occurring, at the time of writing, regarding next steps for the closure of the temporary shelter on September 30th, and what steps will be taken to ensure adequate temporary shelter space in Red Deer.
- This past year, Council and City administration, working with the provincial government, has had many conversations regarding community social needs. Those conversations will continue. There is now agreement with the provincial government on the location of 10 acres of land for a provincially funded therapeutic treatment centre. This provincial site will bring 75 beds for addiction recovery which will serve Red Deer and the central Alberta region. I appreciate the province’s support for a long term residential treatment/therapeutic centre for those struggling with addictions and support for their families.
- Continued conversations of your next Red Deer City Council will be focused on the location and building of a 24-7 integrated homeless shelter space with services and supports for the vulnerable. The City acknowledges the province’s commitment of $7 million for a future built integrated shelter. This is a long over-due Provincially funded and operated infrastructure that will be welcomed for our growing City. We all look to the integrated shelter being built as quickly as possible to include day time programs and support for those needing shelter, meals, and other supports that can provide ways to a better way of life. The province determines the operator(s) for temporary and permanent shelters.
- Council and City administration continues to work with the Provincial and Federal orders of government and with the community to access funding for needed additional housing supports for Red Deerians.
- With a lens to social sustainability, it is important to acknowledge the many community agencies and organizations and their staff, such as the Central Alberta United Way and Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance (CAPRA) and other community agencies who provide programs and support services to Red Deer's vulnerable citizens. This is about improving the health of our community, with poverty reduction strategies affecting individuals, seniors, children, lone parent families, youth, people with disabilities, new immigrants, indigenous citizens and Red Deer families.
- Through the City of Red Deer's Social Policy Framework, Alcohol and Drug Strategy, and Community Safety Strategy, and a continued focus of prevention, community safety and health and wellness all matters for quality of life for Red Deer residents.
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY
- With the challenging provincial and local economy and lower municipal revenues from transit, recreation, and development, the City of Red Deer, just like our households and business community, has seen less than expected revenues these past two years. For 2021 and 2022, Council has approved the tax rate bylaw with 0% municipal increases along with no increases in user fees or any new fees in the two years, which was a guideline set by Council. My decision making at the Council table will continue with responsible prioritization of tax dollars for services. And appropriate decisions and actions in response to many competing municipal services, all within the lens of our local and provincial economy. It’s truly about respect for our tax payer dollars. At the same time, Council must be cognizant to keep up with maintenance of city infrastructure and assets and not leave future Councils with difficult decisions of low reserves or being faced with high tax increases.
- A Councillor and Council as a whole must have the health of the community in mind when making decisions - social and community well being, environmental along with the financial health of the City's finances.
- Managing utility costs and monitoring impacts of rate increases, with those financial levers which the City has control over.
- During the next two, two-year budget cycles, recognizing affordability with fees and charges such as transit fares, recreation fees, development service fees and the tax rate.
- Continuing to have Council and City operations look to innovation and efficiencies in the delivery of services. This past term, City Administration reached out to businesses with on-line surveys and responded with cutting "red tape" and adjusting policies. This included reducing development costs, less servicing costs and bringing more flexibility. Ease of doing business with the City along with continuing ways to better City ways for citizen response is a priority for me.
- Continuing to access revenue grant dollars from Provincial and Federal orders of government to support Red Deer - Alberta’s third or fourth largest city……depending on who you ask, as Red Deer competes with Lethbridge during each census count.
- Engagement with Red Deer citizens, organizations and businesses is important to me. I’d like Council to have a “Community Engagement Day” with days set aside each month, where no decisions are made by Council (those are made in Council Chambers), however Council will receive and hear from citizens, organizations and businesses about issues, concerns, ideas and ways we can make Red Deer a better community I’d also like to see more "Community Round Table" meetings and conversations to ensure the City - Council and Administration - engage with Red Deerians about issues within the community. We are stronger together when we listen and engage with each other for Red Deer.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWING OUR ECONOMY
- Councillor must continue critical and ongoing analysis of business recruitment and retention for Red Deer - at business parks, downtown and throughout the City. And as the City sets the stage to encourage future business investment, along with future development at Capstone.
- I support a more active and vibrant arts and culture community in Red Deer. There’s so much more we can do to enhance and promote an active Red Deer's arts and culture scene. Such as creating more music and arts downtown. If you haven’t seen the new murals downtown, check them out! When we come together to enjoy and appreciate the talents of the artistic community, those activities provide enjoyment for us and they attract and attach new comers and visitors to our city.
- I support the Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP) and working with our regional communities. When there is development and tourism within Red Deer and throughout the region, the City of Red Deer and all of central Alberta benefits. Red Deer can focus on our internal Red Deer economic development and tourism and at the same time work with our regional partners; we are stronger together.
- The City, working with the community, looks to the Red Deer Major Event Strategy and Destination Development Framework which was adopted in April, 2021. This plan will serve us well as we look to continuing to draw and host events that brings economic activity and enjoyment in Red Deer. Red Deer can be proud of hosting major events such as the 2019 Canada Winter Games, the Memorial Cup and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the Canadian Finals Rodeo and in 2018, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) Convention. We hope the AUMA will once again return to Red Deer when large events and conferences gather. Red Deer can also attract many other events based on our central Alberta location. I’m excited about the possibilities and potential as Red Deer becomes a host and destination of choice.
- I look to the development of Capstone and opportunities for Red Deer's new downtown, small business growth and mixed use neighborhood with the City’s available riverfront public gathering space, residential development, restaurants and businesses in the conceptual development plan, which came from Red Deer community voices and vision. If you haven’t yet dropped by Capstone, to see the fountain and rest areas, walk along the River trail, or drop in to support some of the great businesses in Capstone, put it on your list. While there has been development interest in Capstone - downtown Red Deer - Council and Administration can look to continued marketing and the plan, as the City continues to advance interest in development on these terrific lands.
- With the focus on Red Deer economic development, attention to City efficient operations and innovations and always remembering citizen service, is a day to day focus for City operational and governance leadership. Some economists are predicting post-pandemic booms (although they have been known to be wrong). Red Deer must look to readiness - whether that’s serviced land supply, retention of current businesses, recruitment for new businesses, consideration of incentives, ease and business friendliness with the City; all which can welcome jobs and services to the Red Deer community.
- It’s recognized many businesses and families have been challenged through the pandemic. Orders of government - municipal, provincial and federal, organizations, businesses, and community can, as we continue to live and adjust to the pandemic, refocus on what’s important to us as community. There may be interest in adapting some of the changes to become new ways, including ways of doing business, continued on-line participation, hybrid models of working at home, the shift to continued home delivery options and outdoor patio dining, interest in small businesses opportunities, and a renewed interest in local tourism and travel. There are many opportunities ahead.
- I always value and appreciate the community wisdom and conversations with Red Deerians. We have always been a “can do” city. I look forward to future formalized community round tables and informal conversations where we can share ideas and perspectives for Red Deer.
OUR ENVIRONMENT
- The message of looking after our water, air and land and conservation, always bears repeating as we advance the City's Environmental Master Plan; we've experienced record breaking temperatures in Red Deer and throughout Alberta with less moisture and drought conditions, along with seeing climate impacts across Canada, North America and the world.
- The continued lens to the built environment of where we build, how we build and what we build through continued conversations with developers, construction customers and citizens is necessary as the City grows and evolves.
- Accessing provincial and federal grants that can be returned to Red Deer for reinvestment.
- Continued attention to the remediation of brownfields and vacant and derelict properties. I continue my support for community gardens, City food forests and investment in the urban forest with tree planting and replacement.
- Following public engagement, we’re now accustomed to the cart system and composting and recycling, that rolled out in 2018 and 2019. If you haven’t yet signed up for a text, email or phone call from Notify Red Deer https://www.reddeer.ca/whats-happening/notify-red-deer/ . We’ve changed our behaviors for waste management and are making a difference for the life cycle of the landfill. Over the coming years, as technologies continue to evolve, I see opportunities for Red Deer and regional collaboration on waste-to-energy potential and future facilities. This technology continues to advance in Canadian municipalities and it's important we do our homework prior to any investment in these types of facilities.
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS
- A Councillor's role is to be out and about in the community, to support organizations, events and people. Here I am with community friends, Sue and Sabrina in 2021.
- As we've recognized more on-line connections these past 18 months, the City should continue to expand ways and methods to inform, connect and engage connection with citizens to advance civic participation and information sharing - all of us are smarter together as we listen and share ideas. At the same time, we must continue to recognize that not all citizens are on-line and there are methods and ways to rely on traditional forms of communication. I recognize the one aging citizen who phones me regularly for an update; she's not on-line nor subscribes to the local newspaper; she appreciates our one-on-one conversations.
- Throughout the Council term, citizen conversations about competing municipal needs and wants, all within managing valued tax dollars. As Council is now working with a two-year budget process, this gives Council, citizens, businesses and City administration better stability in budget planning and decisions. Council also has an important mid term budget review during the two year budget (Operating and Capital) process.
- I support Red Deer and community initiatives as we build a strong community together and as a welcoming and inclusive City. Together, we must stand against intolerance and divisiveness. This past year, I participated in on-line learning sessions from the City of Edmonton - understanding hate crimes and what can divide us as a community. We recognize and value organizations such as the Central Alberta Refugee Centre (CARE), the Central Alberta Immigrant Women's Association (CAIWA) and the Catholic Social Services in our community who all provide supports, services and information for newcomers to Red Deer
- The City of Red Deer acknowledges the ancestral and traditional aboriginal territories of Treaty 6 and Treaty 7 Nations and the Metis. The Truth and Reconciliation findings will lead us to important community work with our indigenous community citizens in the years to come. I commit my leadership to this important work for the years ahead.
- Working with non-profit community agencies such as the Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance (CAPRA) to advance collaboration and social supports for vulnerable families and individuals as we help to address poverty reduction and housing needs.
- Through Council work, I support ongoing relationships with community partners such as the Catholic, Public and Francophone School Districts, the Downtown Business Association, Red Deer Polytechnic, Westerner Park, the Red Deer District Chamber of Commerce, the Red Deer Welcoming and Inclusive Network and Urban Aboriginal Voices.
- I support advancing regional relationships with neighboring Counties and their elected Mayors and Councillors, including municipal collaboration when feasible, including cost sharing agreements and regional approaches. The City of Red Deer has with Red Deer County, a signed Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) agreement which summarizes all the existing agreements between the City and the County. Continued discussions are ongoing with Red Deer County through the Regional Collaboration Committee (RCC) where we look to building a stronger central Alberta region and increase regional benefits.
CORE SERVICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND OTHER MUNICIPAL ISSUES
- This past year transit changes were made to reshape Red Deer transit service. The next Council must continue to support adequate, accessible and affordable transit with timely and frequent routes, and to encourage transit use. And to ensure accessibility for citizens with disabilities or physical needs for Red Deer Action Bus service.
- Housing supports in Red Deer means collaboration and coordination and working with community agencies to advance the City’s 2019 Community Housing and Homelessness Integrated Plan (CHHIP). The next Council will work through a more integrated and collaborative governance model for housing and homelessness.
- Continued attention to infrastructure maintenance and investment of core services including roads and maintenance, snow removal, necessary services of electricity, water, waste water and storm water management for resilience and weather and storm preparedness are important investments.
- Support for maintained sidewalks and trail management with adequate lighting and safety, parks and recreation and turf management, efficiency of transit, support for libraries and literacy and community neighborhood initiatives.
- As the city grows, continuing the work to address and reduce urban noise, including education and enforcement opportunities. Noise and enforcement remains a challenge. It's recognized that revving motors, modified exhaust systems, and loud music from a vehicle all create excessive vehicle noise in our community. This past summer the City focused on enhancing traffic noise enforcement. At this time, while City's like Calgary and Edmonton have used decibel equipment for monitoring and enforcement, these systems are not yet tried and true in the courts. Please call the non-emergency line at 403 343 5575 with vehicle description and license plate of the offending vehicle. You will be asked to visit the RCMP detachment to write a statement and may be required to attend court as a witness to the infraction you've reported. The same number can be called for all other noise complaints.
STRENGTHENING INTERGOVERNMENTAL DIALOGUE AND ADVOCACY WITH THE PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL ORDERS OF GOVERNMENTS
- Following 20+ years of advocacy with the Province, we're now seeing the provincial Justice Centre/Court House being built downtown Red Deer, providing timely, necessary and future court services.
- Equally important as justice, is needed provincial tax dollars to Red Deer Hospital expansion with upgrades to address waiting times for medical treatment, not only for Red Deerians but all central Albertans. All of us await further provincial decisions and actions and the time line from provincial commitments of $6 million set aside in 2021 along with with provincial expansion set to receive $19 million in the 2022-2023 and $35 million in the 2023-2024 future provincial budgets. At this time, the province advises they are going through business planning stages before proceeding to design and construction. We’re all waiting for this long and needed health infrastructure.
- Intergovernmental dialogue with the provincial MLA's and Ministers and federal MP's to receive funding for safe and affordable permanent supportive housing along with reliance on the private sector for a diverse supply of housing types in our City is a priority. This includes encouraging infill development and help revitalize those vacant lots we may see. Rezoning and redevelopment of underutilized industrial and commercial land can also offer additional supply of land to be used for market and non-market housing. Deducting the length of approval for developments, non-market and market housing is also important as we all recognize that time is money (financing interest, staffing, and quickly moving through the approval process). Of course, NIMBYism - "not in my back yard" comments and differing views may also prolong the approval process and development. Conversations with neighbors, the community and the developers with Council are important to help mitigate concerns and to reach desired housing outcomes.
