Calgary Minute: New Communities, Ticket Tax, and Sharp Enters Race

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

This Week In Calgary:

• On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Public Hearing Meeting of Council to gather feedback on a number of land use amendment proposals. The Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes verbal updates from Alberta Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. A meeting of the Event Centre Committee will be held on Thursday at 9:30 am. No agenda has been posted for this meeting yet. The Calgary Planning Commission will meet on Thursday at 1:00 pm to address several land use amendment proposals.
  
  
• Calgary police officers are no longer required to share their names with the public during interactions, as part of a 12-month pilot project aimed at reducing the risk of doxing. Officers involved in high-risk roles, like protest response, will instead display their unique badge numbers, which can still be used for complaints or follow-ups. The Calgary Police Service says the change is meant to protect officers and their families from targeted harassment. The policy was developed with input from internal diversity and youth advisory boards and will be reviewed after the pilot period.
  
  
• People attending events at Calgary’s new Scotia Place arena will help fund the venue through a 9.5% ticket tax, some of which the Flames' ownership group, CSEC, can use to meet its financial obligations to the City. While the City is covering the majority of the arena’s $926-million cost, CSEC has committed to annual escalating payments totalling $708 million over 35 years. However, nearly $278 million of that could come from ticket tax revenue rather than directly from CSEC. City officials maintain the structure is sound and emphasize long-term returns from surrounding development and property taxes.

Last Week In Calgary:

• A City Committee has approved four new suburban communities to move forward for budget consideration in November, potentially adding around 9,000 homes. The developments - Haskayne, West View, and two sections of Glacier Ridge - come with an estimated $125 million upfront cost to the City. While the City's housing strategy prioritizes densification, officials say suburban expansion is still necessary to meet diverse housing needs. The largest proposal, Providence, was not approved for funding at this stage, though it could eventually bring 9,600 homes. Some Councillors expressed concerns about transparency and timing, especially during an election year. A review of the updated community growth process is expected in June.
  
  
• Ward 1 Councillor Sonya Sharp has entered Calgary's mayoral race, positioning herself as a candidate who prioritizes listening to residents and restoring trust in local government. At her campaign launch, Sharp emphasized her focus on affordability, public safety, and core municipal services. She criticized current City leadership for allowing unelected administrators to dominate policymaking, citing the blanket rezoning decision as a key example. She joins a growing field of candidates, including incumbent Jyoti Gondek, Brian Thiessen, and former Councillors Jeromy Farkas and Jeff Davison.
  
  
• The City has launched an online consultation to gather public input on the future of Cowboys Park, formerly Shaw Millennium Park. The upgrades are part of a sponsorship agreement with Penny Lane Entertainment, which plans to use the space for its annual Cowboys Music Festival. Initial construction has begun, with plans to replace green space with asphalt and artificial grass to support large event tents, sparking concerns about tree removal and reduced natural areas. Penny Lane will fund $6 million in improvements, while later phases will be covered by tax dollars as part of a broader downtown revitalization effort. Community members have expressed mixed feelings, with concerns about green space loss and noise balanced with hopes for increased vibrancy and economic benefits. The consultation is open until April 21st - click here to give your thoughts.

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