Ward system plebiscite debated by council Monday

City council will debate whether to ask the public to vote in a plebiscite on a ward system on Monday.

The municipal voting process will come to council chambers again following a plebiscite motion put forward by Councillors Chris Stephan, Buck Buchanan and Frank Wong in December.

Currently, voters in Red Deer cast ballots in an at-large election system where they vote for eight councillors and one mayor.

The change would mean voters would vote for councillors within a boundary or a ward.

The next civic election is on Oct. 21.

However, a plebiscite is not binding and any change must ultimately be approved by council.

In April 2012, city council affirmed its commitment to at-large system by a vote of 6 to 3. Stephan, Buchanan and Wong were opposed.

this week

• SLIDESHOW — Red Deer standoff ends peacefully • May-14-2013
• Man faces multiple charges following Tuesday standoff • May-15-2013
• Flames force evacuations • May-13-2013
• Police squad targets local organized crime • May-16-2013
• Warrants issued for suspects in carjacking near Blackfalds • May-17-2013
• Man stabbed in Red Deer park • May-14-2013
• Camera captures thievery • May-10-2013
• Remains identified as those of Rocky man • May-17-2013
• Case of missing Red Deer pig must close by June • May-14-2013
• Developer to compensate for mistakenly downing trees • May-16-2013

last week

• Red Deer College suspends 6 programs, cuts 32 jobs • May-09-2013
• Tower plunge victim named • May-08-2013
• Police probe homicide • May-07-2013
• Man crosses river to save woman • May-09-2013
• Diversified Glycol Services warehouse destroyed by fire • May-08-2013
• Shoppers flock to Target • May-07-2013
• Worker falls to death from wireless tower • May-08-2013
• Target opening in Red Deer Tuesday • May-06-2013
• Wildfire west of Nordegg held in place • May-08-2013

Red Deer Advocate