High River meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

High River council and assessment board set to weigh bylaws, development permits, and property assessment appeals

High River's municipal bodies have a full agenda this week, with Council scheduled to consider rate bylaws, development permits, and a safety code inspection contract, while the Assessment Review Board is set to hear multiple property assessment complaints. All meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed.

Council to consider rate bylaws and development permits

The Regular Council meeting on July 13, 2026 includes several items for consideration:

• **Bylaw 4664/2026** — the 2026 Rate Bylaw (General), regarding affordable housing rental rates.
• **Bylaw 4665/2026** — the 2026 Operating Expenditures Line of Credit Bylaw.
• **Development Permit DP 4002.25** — a commercial development at 1227 3 St SE.
• **Development Permit DP 1039.26** — a single-detached dwelling at 420 Montrose Cres SE.
• A proposed contract award to Park Enterprises Inspection Services for safety code inspections.

No vote tallies or outcomes are available, as minutes have not been published.

Committee of the Whole reviews land use and regional transit

Also on July 13, the Committee of the Whole is scheduled to discuss several municipal updates:

• A Northeast Area Structure Plan update.
• A regional pilot project for senior transportation.
• Southwest Outdoor Rink usage and maintenance.
• The RCMP Annual Community Priority Plan.
• A Grain Elevator development permit extension to May 8, 2027.

These items are listed for discussion; no decisions are confirmed in the available record.

Ratepayers group proposes budget reporting standards

The High River Ratepayers Community Group is presenting a request for action regarding the annual budget schedule. The group is proposing that Council initiate a standard reporting procedure for all 2026 department budget plans and quarterly results reviews. Specific proposals include:

• Publishing all 2026 department budget plans, including objectives, staffing plans, and resource allocation.
• Quarterly departmental results reviews presented at special evening council meetings.
• Discussion regarding payroll consuming $0.99 of every $1.00 collected from property taxes.

This is a presentation and request; no Council action is recorded.

Assessment Review Board hearings scheduled

Three Assessment Review Board hearings are on the agenda:

July 8, 2026 — 203 Redtail Ridge SE: A merit hearing for Roll No. 15083500, involving a complaint by property owners Scott & Joy McIntyre against the Town of High River assessor regarding the 2026 assessment. The complainants argue the property is inequitably classified as a "Custom Home" and that service deficiencies — including no snow removal, no street sweeping, and unsafe pedestrian access — reduce market value. The Town assessor provided 76 pages of disclosure evidence, and the complainant's rebuttal was filed July 6, 2026.

July 15, 2026 — Sunrise Place NE: Merit hearings for two properties: Roll No. 8013900 (38 Sunrise Place NE) and Roll No. 8016100 (64 Sunrise Place NE), both with a requested value of $360,000.00. Property owners Paul and Sarah-Jane Blomfield are challenging the assessments, with the Town of High River as respondent.

July 15, 2026 — Sunvale Place NE: A merit hearing for 14 properties on Sunvale Place NE. Paul Blomfield is acting as agent for the property owners, with Town of High River Assessor Stewart Dalrymple as respondent. The hearing covers assessment notices from 2024, 2025, and 2026, and includes payment of $50.00 residential ARB fees for properties including 6, 14, 16, 21, and 23 Sunvale Place NE.

No hearing outcomes are available.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Readers should check the Town of High River's official calendar for any additions or schedule changes.

High River council agenda covers residential development, water plant upgrades, and community funding requests

High River council and its committees met in late June to weigh a multi-unit residential development, water treatment plant contracts, a draft area structure plan, and several community funding requests. All meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes and vote tallies are not yet available.

Regular Council — June 22

Council's regular meeting agenda included a development permit, DP2001.26, for a multi-unit residential project at 4;28;19;7;SW. The application requires five variances.

Two water treatment plant contracts were on the agenda for CDM Mechanical Ltd.: $39,797.87 for a Dewatering System and $22,399.97 for Backwash Re-Use. Council was also asked to approve $25,000 in additional capital funds from the Water Utility Reserve.

A letter of support for a Wild Rose Community Connections grant application was also listed.

Because minutes are not yet published, it is not confirmed which items were approved, amended, or defeated.

Committee of the Whole — June 22

The Committee of the Whole agenda covered several discussion items, including an update on the Better Together regional senior transportation pilot and a review of winter and non-winter usage policies for the Southwest Outdoor Rink.

The RCMP Annual Community Priority Plan was scheduled for review, along with a Grain Elevator development update. Two zoning variance applications — for 9 2 St SE and 420 Montrose Cres SE — were presented for informational review only.

No formal decisions are made at Committee of the Whole; items typically return to Regular Council for action.

Council Engagement Session — June 22

Council received an information session on the draft Northeast Area Structure Plan, which outlines future land use, mobility, and servicing for the area. No formal decisions were made.

The draft plan estimates 8,000 residents at full build-out. About 50% of the area is designated traditional neighbourhood, with 26% set aside for service and employment uses. The concept plan has been revised to move a road east and adjust green space and a neighbourhood centre.

Three rounds of public engagement have been completed, with an open house and landowner meeting scheduled for June 23. Technical reports on water, sewer, stormwater, and traffic impact assessment are complete.

Community Vitality Advisory Committee — June 30

The committee agenda included votes on several funding requests:

• $7,500 for the High River Chamber B2B Mentorship Program
• $10,000 for the River City Classics 5th Annual Brian Chipchase Memorial Car Show
• $1,000 for the Highwood Curling Club Great Scot Event
• A sponsorship request for the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition (amount not listed in the agenda)

The committee was also scheduled to review a 2026 CVAC Funding Summary financial report. Minutes have not yet been published, so the outcomes of these funding votes are not confirmed.

Coming up

No meetings are listed on the town's schedule for the next 14 days. Residents should watch the Town of High River website for updates, as minutes from the June meetings may be posted and new meetings may be added.

Growth plans, community funding dominate High River council agendas

High River’s council and advisory committee meetings this past week tackled long-term planning for a new northeast neighbourhood and a series of funding requests for local events, though no final votes were taken.

All four meetings—Regular Council, Committee of the Whole, Council Engagement Session, and the Community Vitality Advisory Committee—were agenda-only sessions, meaning items were presented and discussed but minutes have yet to be published. The most significant item was a briefing on a draft Area Structure Plan that envisions 8,000 future residents.

Northeast Area Structure Plan unveiled

Council received an administrative briefing on the draft Northeast Area Structure Plan during a June 22 engagement session. The plan outlines future land use, transportation, and servicing for a new growth area. At full build-out, the area is expected to house roughly 8,000 people, with 50 per cent of the land designated as traditional neighbourhood and 26 per cent for service and employment uses.

The concept plan was revised following three rounds of public engagement. A road alignment was moved east, and a green space and neighbourhood centre were adjusted accordingly. An open house and landowner meeting were scheduled for June 23. Technical studies on water, sewer, stormwater, and traffic impacts have been completed. Council did not make any formal decisions.

Development permit and water plant contracts

Regular Council on June 22 considered a multi-unit residential development permit (DP2001.26) at an unspecified location that would require five variances. Also tabled were two contract awards to CDM Mechanical Ltd.: $39,797.87 for a Water Treatment Plant Dewatering System and $22,399.97 for a Backwash Re-Use project. Administration requested an additional $25,000 in capital funds from the Water Utility Reserve to support the work. Council was also asked to provide a letter of support for a Wild Rose Community Connections grant application.

Senior transportation, rink usage reviewed

Committee of the Whole discussed updates on the Better Together regional transportation pilot, which provides rides for seniors. The committee also reviewed winter and non-winter policies for the Southwest Outdoor Rink and considered the RCMP Annual Community Priority Plan. Administration presented two zoning variance applications—for 9 2 St SE and 420 Montrose Cres SE—for informational review. A development update on the Grain Elevator project was also on the agenda.

Advisory committee weighs event funding

The Community Vitality Advisory Committee on June 30 heard requests for financial support. The River City Classics 5th Annual Brian Chipchase Memorial Car Show requested $10,000, while the High River Chamber of Commerce sought $7,500 for a B2B mentorship program. The Highwood Curling Club is asking for $1,000 for its Great Scot Event, and a sponsorship request was put forward for the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition. The committee also reviewed a 2026 funding summary.

Coming up

No upcoming public meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks. Meeting minutes for the above sessions are expected to be released in the coming days.