City of Red Deer and Red Deer County representatives met Wednesday to map out how best to achieve mutually beneficial development and growth.
Mayors and two councillors from both municipalities sit on a Regional Collaboration Committee that discusses issues and opportunities that affect both committees and to develop recommendations to maintain an equitable regional partnership.
Among the top priorities is to update a 2007 Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP), which is a document that outlines how each municipality expects to grow in partnership with its neighbour.
“We are thankful to have established a collaborative mindset, and open, positive communication with Red Deer County. We know we can accomplish so much more together and want to send a strong message that the region is open for business,” said Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston in a statement.
“We are working together to ensure regional citizen issues are jointly considered by each municipality and infrastructure and servicing efficiencies are maximized to the mutual benefit of the citizens.”
County Mayor Jim Wood echoed Johnston’s sentiments, saying, “our joint vision for this IDP fosters prosperity and growth that will bring benefits to the Central Alberta region as a whole. We are working well together, and we want to continue that momentum.
“Our hope is that this agreement will spark mutually beneficial partnership opportunities, while respecting each municipality’s independence, individual culture, character and development preferences. Together we will provide a good quality of life to our regional citizens.”
The collaboration committee expects to have a draft IDP ready this fall. Public consultation and further council review will follow with the goal of having a finalized IDP ready for adoption by the end of the year.
Mayors of both county and city will be travelling together to Paris, France for a joint economic development opportunity later this month.
Planners refer to IDPs to make recommendations to council for managing or changing land use, and to address growth issues in a way that respects the interests of the county and the municipalities they share a border with.