Council Highlights - November 24, 2025

View the Agenda and Minutes from the November 24, 2025 Council Meeting.

Below is an overview of Council discussions and decisions from the Regular Council meeting on November 24, 2025:  

Public hearing and bylaw – Land Use Bylaw Amendment 

Council held a public hearing for Bylaw 2025-18, an amendment to Land Use Bylaw 2025-14. The mayor opened the hearing at 1:03 p.m. and outlined the public hearing rules. No one in the gallery spoke for or against the amendment. 

The Manager of Planning, James Crozier, explained three proposed changes: 

• Clarify rules for infill development height so the one-storey height difference rule applies only within low-density residential areas, not beside commercial or high-density sites. 

• Add rules limiting the width of gates in fences where there is no approved driveway or parking pad. This aims to stop vehicle access across green spaces for unapproved parking. 

• Add a definition for “low impact design,” a stormwater approach that can allow reduced landscaping or higher parcel coverage when runoff is managed on site. The update also clarifies how parcel coverage adjustments work in districts with higher maximum coverage. 

Administration plans to do a full review every four to five years, about once per council term. The mayor closed the public hearing at 1:29 p.m.  

Council Action:  Council gave Bylaw 2025-18 second and third reading, as presented.  

Alberta Community Partnership grant – Central Alberta First Economic Strategy 

Administration asked council to authorize an application to the Alberta Community Partnership grant program to support Phase 2 of the Central Alberta First Economic Strategy. The CAO said the program does not require matching funding from the municipality and allows up to $200,000 per project. If funding is not approved, the strategy can still move ahead, but with fewer projects or a smaller scope. 

Council Action: Council authorized the CAO to apply to the Alberta Community Partnership grant program for Phase 2 of the Central Alberta First Economic Strategy. Council confirmed the Town of Olds as managing partner for the project.  

2026 Base Operating and Utilities Budget Presentation 

The Director of Corporate Services presented the 2026 base operating budget. A base budget reflects current 2025 service levels at 2026 costs, with no new services or positions included. 

Key points from the presentation included: 

• Base operating expenses are projected at about $36.6 million, with revenues of about $36.3 million, leaving a deficit of roughly $355,000 before any new project requests. 

• Major pressures include the remaining O-NET debt servicing costs, contract and maintenance cost growth, continued impacts from the Sundial closure, ongoing water loss and inflow and infiltration work, and health benefits inflation impacts.  

• Residential assessment is up about 11.6 per cent, mostly from inflation, with total assessment up about 8.4 per cent. 

• Among comparable municipalities, Olds has one of the lowest tax levy-to-assessment ratios for both residential and non-residential properties. 

• Utility rates are fully funded by user fees. A small increase to water and wastewater rates is projected due to increased costs from the respective commissions. Solid waste rates are projected to remain the same. The average residential utility bill would rise by about $1.62 per month, based on typical use. 

• Council discussed how to better explain education and other requisitions on tax notices, and asked administration to look at further options for clarity's sake.  

• Administration noted that future operating projects and capital proposals will shape final tax and utility rate decisions. 

Council Action: Council accepted the 2026 base operating and utilities budget presentation and discussion as presented. 

Olds Town Council seeks to be transparent and open with residents. These highlights touch briefly upon the key information presented and decisions made at the meeting.    

Council has called two special council meeting to consider the 2025 Operating and Capital Budgets: 
Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 5:00 PM and  Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM

The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for December 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM.    
Visit www.olds.ca/councilmeetings for all meeting agendas and minutes.