Housing Action - Moving Forward

Council passed an updated Division of Class 1 Property Bylaw today. You may be wondering what does this has to do with housing action.

Two important changes were made:

1. Removing the tourist home - personal use subclass. This means that all tourist homes will be taxed at the non-residential tax rate starting in 2025, removing the option to declare it for personal use on a yearly basis. Tourist home owners have the option to convert their property to residential on a permanent basis, if they wish to pay the residential tax rate.

2. Added a new primary residential subclass. This change will allow Council to tax this class of property at a different rate than other classes starting in 2025.

Administration provided additional financial information on the Primary Residence Tax Program, which is intended to incentivize full-time/long-term occupancy of homes. Some of the highlights included what the tax and associated revenue would look like at different percentages of housing assessed value and how that compares to other municipalities who have implemented similar programs. To read more on the numbers discussed, reference item #G-1 in today's agenda package: 249633 (canmore.ca)

Community Speed Limits and Photo Radar Updates

Council received an update on Administration’s efforts to significantly improve the safety, efficiency, and diversity of our transportation network. Recent measures, including reduced speed limits, traffic calming installations, free public transit, and new separated pathways, have cut personal vehicle travel from 94% in 2013 to 68% in 2023. With upcoming provincial restrictions on Automated Traffic Enforcement to school, playground, and construction zones that will limit the Town's ability to enforce reduced speed limits, Administration is exploring alternatives such as expanding traffic calming, boosting traditional enforcement, and promoting respectful trail use to ensure that people can travel safely in our community. For more details, visit our Integrated Transportation Plan: https://www.canmore.ca/public/download/files/232269.

Canmore Eagles Repayment Agreement

In July, the Canmore Eagles were before Council as a delegation requesting the Town forgive the balance of debt that is owed under a repayment agreement between the Eagles and the Town. Today, Council decided not to forgive the debt, rather extending the terms of the repayment agreement (with a few amendments) to September 15, 2028.

Partners for Affordable Housing Partnership

Council approved $250,000 from the General Municipal Operating Reserve to fund Partners for Affordable Housing. They also directed Administration to work with them to identify up to five community housing developments in Canmore and support a joint application to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for the Capital Connect project for a demonstration initiative grant.

Council also:

1. Ratified a new contract for our local International Association of Firefighters chapter.