Updated Railway Avenue Design
Council was presented with a revised concept plan for Railway Avenue that showed how the public’s comments were heard and incorporated to improve the design including better accesses to businesses, a permeable median, and realigned intersections. There was strong interest in the project, with a wide variety of opinions and feedback received. 

Utility Master Plan Update
The Town of Canmore updates the Utility Master Plan (UMP) every 5-6 years to ensure there is adequate capacity within the water and wastewater systems to accommodate growth and demand.  The list of recommended projects included in a UMP update allows us to develop a long-term plan to meet demand and pressures on the utility, specifically around reserve balances, capital funding, and utility rates.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
In the fall of 2022, administration worked with a consultant to complete an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Best Practice Review. The review identified strategies to effectively remove barriers to electric vehicle (EV) ownership, with a specific focus on charging infrastructure. Some of the recommendations include incentive programs, providing chargers at existing Town of Canmore facilities, and updating policies, guidelines, and Land Use Bylaw to support electric vehicle charging.

Renewable Energy Feasibility Study
A Renewable Energy Feasibility Study was conducted to better understand the feasibility of influencing and achieving reductions using renewable technologies and approaches. Recommended next steps include considering a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement, looking at the feasibility solar canopies on municipal parking lots, and continuing the solar incentive program.

Regional Emergency Management Bylaw
The Town of Banff and Town of Canmore share similar hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities, as well as a longstanding history of sharing resources. Formalizing the relationship between the towns in a regional emergency management plan will help to ensure that there is greater resident and community protection. It increases capacity of emergency management staff and enhances municipal emergency management plans. By working together, both municipalities can be better prepared to mitigate, respond, and recover in the case of a disaster. A regional emergency management bylaw will be brought forward at an upcoming meeting for Council’s consideration.

Council also:

• heard the EPCOR 2022 Performance Report
• heard the 2022 year-end Fire Rescue Report
• approved at a Special Meeting this morning, capital budget adjustments due to contractor availability and market pricing for a number of projects including Bow River West Pathway, Bow Valley Trail and Teepee Town Street and Drainage Improvements, Bow Valley Trail Water Upgrade, and directed administration to update the 2024-2028 capital plan to account for future project budget and staging approvals as part of the 2024 budget amendment process.