Calgary Minute: Brick Return, CRMB Uncertainty, and Municipal Fee Increases

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

This Week In Calgary:

• The Infrastructure and Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
  
  
• The Audit Committee will meet on Thursday at 9:30 am. No agenda is available for this meeting yet either. Later in the day, at 1:00 pm, the Calgary Planning Commission will meet. There are several proposed land use amendments on the agenda.
  
  
• The future of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB) is uncertain following recent changes to provincial policy, which will make membership voluntary starting in 2025. (A change we campaigned for!) This shift, along with municipalities like Rocky View County and Foothills County announcing their intentions to withdraw, has led to discussions about the Board's dissolution. Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn and CMRB Chair Greg Clark have stated that dissolution is being considered, but the board is still exploring options, including the possibility of creating a new regional organization outside provincial regulation. The CMRB will reconvene in February 2025 to further discuss its future.

Last Week In Calgary:

• For the first time in over a century, Calgary's HMCS Tecumseh Naval Reserve opened its annual New Year's Day Levee to the public. Traditionally a military-exclusive event, the levee was reimagined to foster connections with Calgarians and raise awareness about the city's naval unit. Originating from European traditions, the levee has a rich history in Canada dating back to 1646 and is now a rare tradition among Canadian Armed Forces units. Attendees at the Calgary event enjoyed a ceremonial flag-raising and learned about the naval reserve's contributions, including training sailors for global military operations.
  
  
• Now that it's 2025, several municipal fees and taxes have increased. Property taxes will rise by 3.6%, while water and waste service fees will increase by approximately $5.09 per month. Transit fares will go up by 10 cents for adults and 5 cents for youth per ride. Recreation fees for passes and single admissions to City-run facilities will also increase. ENMAX electricity bills may decrease slightly due to the Province’s new fixed-rate calculation for local access fees, offering some financial relief to residents.
  
  
• The City salvaged 5,600 personalized bricks from Olympic Plaza. In preparation for the 1988 Olympics, a fundraiser allowed individuals to buy and customize bricks for $19.88, which were used to pave the Plaza. Initially believed to be unsalvageable due to weathering and damage, the City reversed its decision following public outcry. With requests for 8,000 bricks, approximately 70% were recovered and returned to their original donors. The Plaza is undergoing a $70-million overhaul as part of a larger $660-million Arts Commons expansion, with completion expected by 2028.

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