Council Highlights November 17, 2025

Tri-Annual Management Report

for the Period Ending August 31, 2025

Lola Barta, Interim Managing Director of Corporate Services; Vandy Bishop, Treasury and Insurance Officer; and Kristen Young, City Controller and Manager of Financial Control and Reporting presented the Tri-Annual Management Report for the period ending August 31, 2025 to City Council for information.

The report comes before City Council three times per year and provides a summary on the finances of municipal services as well as the City’s business units (rate-based utilities, energy production, land development and real estate), investments, and reserves. It also includes statistics related to the City’s workforce.

Motion: Postpone budget amendments

City Council approved a motion to postpone the following budget amendments to the Regular Meeting of City Council on December 8, 2025: 

• 2026 Utility Distribution Systems Operating Revenue and Expenditure Budget Amendments 

• 2026 Utility Distribution Systems Capital Budget Amendments 

• 2026 Electric Generation Operating Revenue and Expenditure Budget Amendments 

• 2026 Electric Generation Capital Budget Amendments 

• 2026 Natural Gas Production Operating Revenue and Expenditure Budget Amendments 

• 2026 Operating and Tangible Capital Asset Budgets for Land and Real Estate 

The postponement is intended to give the new council an opportunity to further review the material before making a decision.

Presentation: 2026 Utility Rate Bylaw Amendments

Jasmin Gross, Energy Marketing and Business Analyst, presented the proposed 2026 Utility Rate Bylaw Amendments to City Council.

The proposed Utility Bylaw amendments introduce new utility rates for 2026. The 2026 gas and electric utility rate changes that are proposed will vary by customer class, but if approved, the average 2026 residential monthly utility bill would include a year over year increase of $2.25 for electric utility services and $0.81 for gas utility services for a total utility increase of $3.06 including Municipal Consent and Access Fee (MCAF) impacts.

Following the presentation, City Council gave first reading to Bylaw 4864, the Electric Utility Bylaw and Bylaw 4865 the Gas Utility Bylaw. The bylaws will return to the December 15, 2025 Council Meeting.

Presentation: Budget Amendments for Electric Generation and Gas Production

Joel Higgins, Energy Marketing and Business Analyst, presented the 2026 Electric Generation Operating Revenue and Expenditure Budget Amendments, 2026 Electric Generation Capital Budget Amendments; and 2026 Natural Gas Production Operating Revenue and Expenditure Budget Amendments. 

Operating models have been updated to reflect the most recent commodity price forecasts, emissions compliance costs, asset retirement obligations and sustaining capital maintenance schedules. The overall net impact to financials is an increase of $5.6 million to net earnings and a $15.6 million increase to Tangible Capital Assets. Tangible Capital Assets are proposed to be funded through Working Capital and Capital Reserves.

The proposed amendments will come to the December 8, 2025 meeting as per the motion approved earlier in the meeting.

Presentation: Land and Real Estate Budget Amendments

Randi Buchner, Manager of Land and Real Estate (LRE), presented the 2026 Land and Real Estate Budget Amendments.

Since the completion of the Land Strategy earlier in 2025, the department has reallocated capital to existing projects where appropriate, based on project needs. Completed projects will be closed out at year-end, and the remaining budget for projects not expected to proceed in the near term are being relinquished as part of this proposed budget amendment. Since land capital projects are funded through future sales, the relinquished budget is administrative and does not affect overall budget availability.

The proposed amendments will come to the December 8 meeting of City Council. 

Motion: Bring back Bylaw 4867 to amend the Procedure Bylaw

City Council approved a motion directing administration to bring back Bylaw 4867 to amend the Procedure Bylaw to the December 8, 2025, meeting with further amendments. The current amendments include: 

• Amending the Terms of Reference for the Development and Infrastructure Committee to formally include Economic Development as a designated reporting department, with the following responsibilities: 

• • Submit quarterly written updates on strategic initiatives, investment attraction, workforce development and growth readiness; 

• • Deliver bi-annual in-person presentations to the Development & Infrastructure Committee and Council; and  

• • Provide performance metrics and progress reports aligned with the new Council’s strategic plan and the Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunity Strategy. 

• Change the name of the Administrative and Legislative Review Committee to the Administrative and Legislative Review and Government Relations Committee. 

• Establish the Council Employee Committee. 

• Identify the Mayor as an ex-officio member to each standing committee. 

• A change in Schedule “A” (Orders of the Day) to reflect “Closed Session” rather than “Confidential Reports” to better align with section 197 of the MGA. 

Council requested an additional amendment to return City Council meeting start times to 6:30 p.m., with a closed session scheduled as needed prior to the open meeting. The bylaw will return to council with the additional amendment on December 8, 2025.

Motion: Change next Council Meeting start time

City Council approved a motion to adjust the start time of the December 8, 2025, Regular Meeting of City Council to 6:30 p.m.