Town of Redcliff Council May 11 meeting highlights

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Redcliff Town Council used its May 11 meeting to move forward on the 2026 Tax Rate Bylaw, among other items. First, however, the April 27 minutes were adopted.

The April minutes included direction for administration to continue reviewing parking options for 1475 Highway Avenue SE, consult the RCMP for additional input, and return to Council with more information at a future meeting. The adopted minutes also confirmed a motion to reduce speed limits to 30 km/h in parts of southwest Redcliff. The change applies to 3rd Avenue SW from Main Street to the west edge of the dog park near 6th Street SW, to the full stretch of 4th Street SW beside the sports fields, campground and greenhouse area, and to additional gravel roads in the southwest block shown on the town’s proposed map. Administration was also directed to make the needed signage changes under the town’s Traffic Control Devices Bylaw.

As the meeting moved to new business on May 11, the second and third reading of Bylaw No. 2006/2026, the Town’s 2026 Tax Rate Bylaw took centre stage. The Municipal Government Act requires Council to pass a tax rate bylaw each year to raise the revenue needed to cover expenditures and transfers approved in the annual budget.

The 2026 municipal tax levy is set at $6,754,168. That is an increase of 2.34 per cent, or $154,643, from the 2025 levy of $6,599,525.

The school requisition for 2026 is $2,860,420, up 9.92 per cent from $2,602,353 in 2025. The report states that the Town of Redcliff collects that amount on behalf of the province and sends it back into the school system.

The Cypress View Foundation requisition is listed at $101,156, an increase of 2.20 per cent from $98,976 last year.

The levy for designated industrial properties is $978. Administration said there was no significant change in that amount for 2026. The levy is set by the province and applies only to designated industrial property assessments.

A road repair near Burger King is shaping up to be a much bigger job than first expected. The stretch at 1401 Highway Avenue SE was flagged last fall for maintenance, but staff say the damage has worsened beyond routine pothole work and now calls for a larger deep base repair and resurfacing project. The affected area has grown from about 208 square metres to roughly 675 square metres to deal with widespread cracking and provide a longer-lasting fix, pushing the estimated cost from about $30,000 to $82,000, or roughly half of the town’s $160,000 asphalt repair operating budget for 2026. Administration invited proposals and received three quotes. This repair was issued separately because of the site’s high-priority status, while other asphalt repair locations are still being gathered for quotation.

Spring enforcement remained a steady focus in Redcliff, according to the Municipal Manager’s report to Council. Community and Protective Services continued proactive work on boulevard parking, unattached trailers, unsightly properties, repeat nuisance locations, and issues in the Highway Avenue area as seasonal activity picked up. Staff also kept up public education around traffic bylaw rules, trailer parking, boulevard use, roadway safety, and neighbour disputes tied to land use concerns.

On the governance side, the report pointed to continued work on setting up the Municipal Policing Committee, including recruitment materials, public advertising, survey preparation, and coordination with the RCMP. Staff also kept moving ahead with updates to the Animal Control Bylaw and reviewed Council-directed changes and enforcement wording. Work also continued on traffic safety concerns near Highway Avenue and Duncan Drive, including signage options, possible costs, and RCMP input, alongside a broader review of bylaws, policies, and public information.

The report also highlighted ongoing work in operations, safety, and long-range planning. Staff continued rolling out the town’s BIS safety management system, along with health and safety documentation, competency tracking, and practical training tools. Follow-up also continued on inspection items, facility safety matters, and Fire Services readiness, while administration monitored pressure points tied to enforcement demands, fire response, possible traffic control upgrades, and longer-term service delivery needs.

Regionally, the town continued working with the RCMP and other municipal partners on enforcement priorities, emergency management, recreation matters, land stewardship, nuisance properties, environmental risk reduction, and mutual support planning. The bylaw enforcement monthly report showed 43 cases handled in April, including assistance to the public and other departments, seven new business licences, several nuisance and dangerous property files, parking and boulevard violations, and three TRAVIS permits. Staff said traffic enforcement remained a consistent issue, while nuisance and unsightly property complaints typically increase in the spring.

Taken together, the May 11 meeting showed Redcliff Council balancing larger financial decisions with the day-to-day issues that matter to residents, from taxes and road repairs to traffic safety, enforcement, and community standards. With key bylaws moving ahead and administration continuing work on several local concerns, the meeting reflected the steady pace of municipal government as the town heads into the busy spring and summer season.