Keeping issues on the front burner with a Facebook posting I made last weekend.

Imagine dynamic staffing for Red Deer Firefighters, but with FOUR firemedics per truck (not staff in the entire station) being the minimum on duty. We need to increase our fire-medic staffing by at least 25% (192->242).

How do we pay for it? Well, first of all we stop wasting money on vanity projects like the CPR Bridge 'Rehabilitation' and start focusing on the essential infrastructure and services we already have.

The CPR Bridge would have functioned okay with the capacity it was experiencing and when it no longer did, would we should have considered breaking it up not restoring it. Even the CPR knew the bridge would become an unnecessary financial burden, that's why they abandoned it in the 1990s.

I often said during the process, and after, that why don't they take apart the bridge and use it to build a new hybrid bridge between Bower and Capstone (that's before I found out just how mismanaged our cities finances are by Council).

I find it interesting that the estimated $50 Million Bower-Capstone bridge vanity project (endorsed by Councillor Doerksen (who is running again) includes the "island" in the middle of Red Deer River. I remember years ago when they said the "island" wasn't a real island because it was formed by sentiment and could wash away with the next 100 year flood (don't quote me on that). Now they want it to be the anchor half way across in their new bridge?

We can’t undo the $11.2 million wasted on the CPR Bridge, but we can look at cutting costs in ways that don’t affect residents.

One option is converting large areas of our parks back to natural grasses and plants, which wouldn’t need weekly mowing. Take the Gaetz Avenue North hill near Parkland Mall (my 'go to' example these days because I see it every week). The stretch between Gaetz and Riverside Industrial is rarely, if ever, used, yet it’s constantly maintained. Instead, we could add a few paths connecting to the sidewalk and trail, while letting about 80% of the area return to natural grasses, flowers, and plants that require little to no upkeep, support pollinators like bees and butterflies, and encourage local wildlife.

It should be noted on the other side (between south-north Gaetz) is another park. I think a memorial park of sorts? It is regularly maintained but doesn't even have parking spaces so it can be used by anyone. The only activity I've seen in that park are squatters under the trees and one time they had a smashed up car on the intersection corner as a reminder of drinking and driving.

Clearly, skipping maintenance on unused grassy areas in our parks won’t fund the RDES, but it highlights one of the many ways the city spends money on maintaining spaces that residents rarely even use.

Why not put some of those solar “trees” I mentioned in center park—the park between the twinned avenue—and turn the area into a mini power source for streetlights and other city needs? There are practical ways for us to become the “renewable energy, green city” that so many envision. We have the land, the resources, and the talented people to make it a reality.

We need a smarter approach to dealing with petty crime—one that eases the strain on our parks and city maintenance crews while also holding offenders accountable. That’s why I propose the “My City, Our Home Rejuvenation Program.” (part of Community Standards). This initiative would apply to youth and young adults, ages 14–20, who commit minor offenses such as graffiti, shoplifting, property damage, public indecency or even certain first-time drug offenses. Instead of issuing fines that are rarely paid and do little to change behavior, participants would be required to give back through community service. They would help clean graffiti, pick up litter, and restore public spaces. The message is clear: if you commit the crime, you take responsibility by repairing the harm done. It’s a fair, visible, and constructive form of restitution that benefits both the offender and the community. What do you think Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta should we put these offenders to work as restitution for their offenses?

We really need to take a serious look at the future of Westerner Park. From a fiscal standpoint, it doesn’t add up. They still owe the City of Red Deer $19 million, and while the City has given them a break until 2027, what happens after that—another break? This year alone, they’re about half a million dollars in the red again. I’ll start a separate thread to get into this further, but here’s my honest concern: I don’t like the idea of an organization that loses money year after year still owing us $19 million just because it ‘feels good’ to keep the Fair going. I haven’t made up my mind on what should be done, but looking at the numbers, it’s hard not to question how sustainable this really is.

Don't answer about Westerner Park here, I've asked AI (yes, I know, but it gave some interesting information) and I'd like to discuss it further in another thread. Thanks. Kevin M. Klerks