April 2025 newsletter
Spring is here, and with it comes an important update on how Council communications will change ahead of the municipal election. Starting June 1, my office will have restrictions on what we can share, meaning no City-funded newsletters, open houses, or mass emails unless approved for emergencies. Beginning September 22 (Nomination Day), City-funded websites will not be updated until after the election.
Despite these changes, the Ward 1 Office and myself are still here to support you and assist with any concerns. If you have questions or need help with a City service matter, don’t hesitate to reach out!
News from City Council
Short-Term Rental regulation changes
As of April 1, 2025, new regulations for short-term rentals (STRs) are now in effect in Calgary. Approved by Council in December 2024, these regulations require operators to obtain licenses based on whether their property is a primary or non-primary residence, with separate fees for each.
Under the new rules, a moratorium has been placed on issuing new licenses for non-primary residence STRs if Calgary's rental vacancy rate drops below 2.5%, which currently stands at 4.8%. The definition of STRs has also been expanded to include rentals of up to 180 consecutive days. Additionally, short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO are now required to pay a $3,000 annual business license fee. While condo boards no longer need to approve STR applications, operators must still comply with their condo’s bylaws.
These changes aim to strike a balance between regulating the short-term rental market and preserving affordable housing in the city. For more information, visit Short-term rental business licence - rules and regulations.
Customer service standards for essential water service disruptions
On April 15, Councillor Sharp brought forward a motion to Executive Committee asking City Administration to improve how it communicates with and supports residents and businesses during water service disruptions. The motion unanimously passed technical review and will move to Regular Meeting of Council on April 29 for full debate and final approval.
If approved, the motion will direct Administration to review current practices and report back to Council by July 29, 2025, with recommendations to:
- Outline current service standards and performance targets
- Review how other cities and utilities manage disruptions
- Propose improvements, with estimated costs and timelines
- Ensure temporary water sources are accessible to everyone affected
- Offer free recreation passes during service disruption.
- Develop a new tool to track disruptions and gather feedback, with annual reporting starting in late 2025
The goal of the motion is to make information clearer, improve access to temporary services, and ensure more consistent support for residents and businesses when water service is interrupted.
Community updates
Spring waste collection schedule changes
The City is updating waste collection routes across Calgary to keep up with demand and improve how efficiently crews can cover growing neighborhoods. Starting the week of April 22, many households across Calgary will see a change to their pickup schedule.
That could mean:
- A new pickup day for your blue, green, or black cart (for example, moving from Wednesday to Thursday)
- A shift in your black cart collection week (for example, moving from even weeks to odd)
These updates are permanent and are being made to keep service reliable as Calgary grows.
Also starting that week: green carts go back to weekly pickup for the warmer months.
You can look up your new schedule now at calgary.ca/cartschedule or on the My Garbage Day app. Just enter your address to see what’s changing and set up reminders so you don’t miss your new collection day.
If you have questions or notice a problem after the switch, please call 311.
YYC West Runway Rehabilitation
As part of the ongoing West Runway Rehabilitation project at Calgary International Airport (YYC), residents may notice changes in aircraft noise and flight patterns. With construction resuming this month, there will be increased use of the East and Crosswind Runways, resulting in more aircraft flying over west Calgary and east Airdrie.
This shift in flight patterns is temporary and will last throughout the 2025 construction season. During the winter months, all runways at YYC will return to normal operations.
This adjustment is necessary for the rehabilitation of the West Runway and is part of a long-term plan to improve airport infrastructure. While the Calgary Airport Authority oversees the airport, NAV Canada manages air traffic and runway assignments to ensure safe and efficient operations.
For those who wish to share feedback or concerns about aircraft noise, the Calgary Airport Authority has a noise concern web portal at www.planenoise.com/cyyc or residents can leave a voicemail at 403-735-1408.
Sharing the path: biking etiquette & safety reminders
As the weather warms up and more people take to Calgary’s extensive pathway network, it’s important to ride responsibly and respectfully.
Whether you’re using a traditional bike, eBike, or eScooter, please remember: you’re considered a vehicle under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act and must follow both provincial laws and City of Calgary bylaws.
As the weather warms up and more people take to Calgary’s extensive pathway network, it’s important to ride responsibly and respectfully.
Whether you’re using a traditional bike, eBike, or eScooter, please remember: you’re considered a vehicle under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act and must follow both provincial laws and City of Calgary bylaws.
Key reminders:
- Cyclists must obey all traffic signs and signals, just like drivers.
- Dismount and walk your bike or scooter across crosswalks. This is a provincial requirement and helps keep everyone safe, especially on busy regional pathways.
- Use your bell or voice when passing others. Say “on your left” and give at least one metre of space.
- Ride single file, keep to the right, and move off the path when stopping.
- Be visible at dawn, dusk or night with a white front light, red rear light, and rear reflector.
- Helmets are mandatory for anyone under 18, and for all eBike and eScooter users, regardless of age.
- Pathways are for everyone, cyclists, walkers, joggers, and skaters alike. Let’s keep them safe and enjoyable by riding with courtesy, awareness, and care.
For full details, visit Cycling bylaws and safety tips.
Street sweeping is underway
Calgary’s annual Spring Clean-up Program is now underway, and street sweeping has started for this spring season. If you haven’t already seen the signs go up in your neighbourhood, they’ll be coming soon!
Sweeping takes place Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and parking bans are in effect when signs are posted. To avoid a ticket and help crews do a full sweep, please move your vehicle off the road on your scheduled day.
A few quick notes:
- Crews are not pre-sweeping this year. If weather or equipment causes delays, the work will be rescheduled for later in the program (June).
- If debris is missed due to parked cars or carts, residents can clean it up themselves, just bag gravel and dust before placing it in the black cart (double-bag if it’s heavy).
- There are no changes to collection schedules during sweeping, but your regular pickup may be impacted if your cart isn’t accessible.
In the next couple of weeks, crews will be sweeping in Silver Springs, Varsity, and Bowness, with more communities to follow through May and into June.
To check your exact sweeping dates and sign up for reminders, visit calgary.ca/sweep. There’s also a live progress map and a virtual assistant if you have questions.
City Service updates
April speed awareness
April is speed awareness month across Alberta, and we want to remind drivers the difference even a few km/hr can make when operating a vehicle. Last year (2024), Calgary saw the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in more than a decade. There were 29 fatal collisions, and 13 pedestrians were killed on our streets; 35 per cent of fatal collisions involved unsafe or excessive speed. We all understand in theory that speeding is dangerous, but we may not understand that every kilometre over the speed limit increases the risk of a crash.
As drivers, we have the responsibility to adjust our speed based on road conditions. Speed limits aren’t the only guide – conditions like sun glare, snow/slush, surface quality, poor visibility (night, fog, rain) can make roads more hazardous. Remember that posted speed limits are for ideal conditions, so you may need to slow down in order to be driving safely.
Just because you're not exceeding the speed limit does not always mean you're driving safely for the conditions. Be safe, slow down.
Learn more by visiting Calgary.ca/BeSafe.
Stormwater strategy update
In September 2023, The City of Calgary committed to providing annual external updates on the implementation of the Stormwater Management Strategy. The 2024 progress update is now available on the Stormwater page at calgary.ca/stormwater.
The Stormwater Management Strategy outlines a long-term approach over the next 20 years to improve water quality, manage stormwater runoff, and reduce pressure on the stormwater system. This strategy will continue to inform investments and decision-making as the city grows.
Key highlights from the 2023/24 implementation include:
- Making established communities more resilient: The installation of permeable pavement in Marda Loop and design work for soil cells in Inglewood/Ramsay.
- Proactively managing assets: The initiation of an updated stormwater public asset lifecycle inventory and securing additional budget for operational staff.
- Utilizing low-impact development: Research into LID technologies and development of tools to assess their effectiveness at a site and watershed level.
- Setting stormwater performance measures: Continued studies like the Nose Creek Low Energy Release to enhance citywide stormwater management.
The City will continue to collaborate with partners, developers, and Calgarians to ensure the delivery of innovative stormwater solutions. The progress update can be accessed at calgary.ca/stormwater for further details.
Categories: General, Newsletter