Election signs, pollinator parks, pay hikes, community amenities and climate change are just a few issues on the table for Red Deer city council on Monday.
Council will consider a two-per-cent general pay hike for exempt (non-unionized) staff retroactive to Jan. 1. Exempt staff salary scales are reviewed annually. Factors taken into consideration include external equity, internal equity, cost of living and the local economic picture. For the last two years, the city increased the wage by three per cent. There are roughly 140 exempt staffers at the city.
The first of two planned Climate Change Adaptation Plan reports will be considered. In 2011, the city began work on a corporate plan to respond to the anticipated impacts of climate change on city operations. The first report covers the overall goals, anticipated climate change impacts facing Red Deer and the responses.
The second part, to be developed in the coming months, will provide specific and detailed plans under each major theme, as well as priorities and implementation details.
In the future, the city may consider undertaking a community-based climate change plan.
A community amenity consultation plan that will allow council to determine what Red Deerians want for amenities is also on the agenda. The proposed formal process will allow council to connect with residents to prioritize amenities and balance what is needed with the financial realities that face the city.
Council will also discuss pollinator protection after Councillors Paul Harris and Lynne Mulder introduced the motion at the last meeting. The motion calls for banning neonicotinoids and related pesticides, and creating dedicated pollinator parks in the city.
The consideration of a notice of motion brought forward by Councillors Lawrence Lee and Ken Johnston about election signs may be pushed ahead to 2016. The councillors want to limit the number of signs and reduce the time they are up during elections. Administration recommends considering the motion in the overall context of the Election Report from the Legislative Services Manager in 2016, a year before the next municipal election.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com