News Releases

Council Updates

Posted on: November 29, 2017

Council briefs for November 27, 2017

Banff Marathon executive director Paul Regensburg spoke to council as a delegation to give an overview of the 2017 race and speak about their sustainability initiatives. Regensburg said the race brought an estimated 11,270 visitors to Banff with the 2,250 participants. Racers came from 27 different countries, 41 US states, 11 provinces and 107 Alberta communities. There were 134 locals who participated in one of the Banff Marathon’s events. Regensburg also reported that through their sustainability work, the 2017 race produced 754lbs of waste, and 99.01% of that waste was diverted from the landfill. The Banff Marathon plans to return in 2018 on the third weekend in June.

Council voted to lower the flag at Town Hall to half-mast on December 15, the day of a memorial service for former town councillor Bill Roberge. Roberge was born and raised in Banff, served on the local school board, many service groups in town, and spent two terms on council. A Celebration of Life gathering for friends and family will be held at the Banff Legion.

Council gave three readings to the 2018 Temporary Borrowing Bylaw 247-12. This bylaw authorizes administration to borrow funds to cover operating expenses for the period of time prior to the Town raising budgeted revenue for the year. This is done annually, and the maximum borrow amount of $12.6 million outlined in the bylaw is calculated as approximately half of the total tax levy for the year plus half of the estimated Alberta School Tax levy, which would be payable prior to June 30.

Council gave first reading to Bylaw 388 – 2018 Fees and Charges. This bylaw is to set the fees charges for municipal services and facilities in 2018. Significant changes are proposed for business licence fees, burial fees, fire department, offsite levies, commercial parking rates, recreation fees, water sewer rates, street use fees, and development fees. Changes were reviewed at the November 13 meeting of the Governance and Finance Committee, and the bylaw is scheduled to be reviewed by council again on Monday, December 11. The bylaw, and details on how to submit feedback to council, are available at banff.ca/bylawreviews. Council also gave first reading to Bylaw 389 – Land Use Bylaw Amending Bylaw – Development Fees Amendment, and set a public hearing on Monday, December 18, at 2 p.m. Fees set through the Land Use Bylaw require a public hearing prior to final approval and therefore a separate Bylaw 389 has been prepared for consideration. Proposed fees were calculated based on cost-recovery for municipal services provided and were compared to fees for similar Alberta communities. They include:
  • Residential Development Permits – New Construction Single Detached Housing
  • Commercial Development Permits – New Construction, Additions, Renovations, Major Interior and Exterior Renovations
  • Commercial Change of Use
  • Bed and Breakfast Homes
  • Bed and Breakfast Renewals
  • Cash Contribution In Lieu of Onsite Garbage Storage, Recycling and Collection
  • File and Research Fees
  • Development Permit Extensions and Renewals
The draft bylaw can be viewed at banff.ca/bylawreviews along with details on how to submit feedback to council.

Council gave first reading to Bylaw 420 - Town of Banff Land Use Bylaw Amending Bylaw – Cannabis and Cannabis Related Businesses Definitions and scheduled a public hearing for Monday, February 12, 2018 at 2 p.m. The bylaw will define cannabis and cannabis related businesses in the Land Use Bylaw in advance of the Government of Canada adopting the proposed Cannabis Act. A copy of the draft bylaw is available at banff.ca/bylawreviews along with details on how to submit feedback to council.

Council appointed Raymond Horyn to the Development Appeal Board for a one-year term and appointed Zahra Soar to the Banff Public Library Board for a three year term. At the October 30 annual organizational meeting, council asked administration contact individuals who had applied for council committees, but had not been appointed, if they would be interested serving on a board with a vacancy. Two applicants expressed an interest in the library board and appeal board.

Council received a briefing on website and social media statistics for Banff.ca and the Town’s primary Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. Website visitation continues to increase year over year. The total number of visits for 2016 was 1,252,217 and January 1, 2017 to October 29, 2017 visits were at 1,159,153 with just over 2 million pageviews. Facebook.com/BanffTown, is the Town’s most widely followed social media platform with 32,700 likes. Next is Instagram (@banfftown) with 26,000 followers, and Twitter (@banff_town) with 9,600 followers.

Council received a briefing on the success of the RCMP Musical Ride performances held in Banff September 2-3 in celebration of Canada 150. Council approved an event budget of $64,500. Revenue from ticket sales would cover a portion of the cost, with the shortfall funded from the budget stabilization reserve. Administration kept ticket prices at a cost-effective rate for spectators, charging $16 per ticket, $48 for a family pack of four tickets, and free entry for children two and under. Free tickets were also provided to local RCMP members and their families. As a result, administration budgeted for $15,000 to come from the budget stabilization reserve to cover the costs of producing this event. However, administration was able to secure partnerships with several local businesses, including the Banff Trail Riders, Mountain FM, and Discover Banff Tours, who provided in-kind support or services at cost. With ticket revenues, this reduced the overall cost of the event to $7,765.89.

Council received a briefing on the summer 2017 communications strategies outcomes. In response to the anticipated visitation growth during the Canada 150 celebrations and the free national park pass, the Town of Banff collaborated with Parks Canada and Banff & Lake Louise Tourism to develop and implement a visitor experience communication strategy. The campaign was designed to educate travellers and residents on alternative ways to explore and experience Banff National Park during Canada 150. The communications efforts from these strategies combined with the additional promotion by Parks Canada and the Calgary Regional Partnership for On-It transit had a noteworthy impact on visitor behaviour and transit ridership this summer. As well, the visitor experience campaign strengthened the partnership between all three collaborators. The Roam marketing strategy raised awareness of public transit in the townsite among Calgary visitors.

Council received a briefing on the Banff local transit service review. Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission, in collaboration with the Town of Banff, commissioned Dillon Consulting Limited to conduct a service review of the Banff local transit routes and return a report itemizing opportunities for increased route optimization and efficiency. Some key points include:
  • Current routes are optimized for efficiency and no recommendations are being made for significant changes to routes 1 and 2, with frequency being the key change identified for improvement. Dillon concluded that Roam’s routes are the most practical, with buses travelling on Banff Avenue and travelling to the destinations currently serviced being optimal. Schedule adherence has been identified by Dillon as a concern in the summer months with frequency increases as a viable solution. Stops on each route were analyzed with no recommendations being made for changes at this time.
  • Roam transit within Banff operates at a very high service utilization rate of approximately 40 boardings per revenue hour. Dillon compared Banff to a city of 33,000 people in order to account for visitor population – this size of city would typically realize 15 boardings per revenue hour.
  • Operating revenue to cost ratio, including administration for Route 1, 2 and 4 are predicted to be at approximately 59% for 2017. According to Dillon: “this is a very high revenue-cost ratio for a system this size”.
Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Council Updates

Council briefs for August 14, 2023

Posted on: August 18, 2023

Council briefs for May 8, 2023

Posted on: May 17, 2023

Council briefs for April 24, 2023

Posted on: April 28, 2023

Council briefs for April 10, 2023

Posted on: April 13, 2023

Council briefs for March 27, 2023

Posted on: April 3, 2023

Council briefs for March 13, 2023

Posted on: March 17, 2023

Council briefs for February 27, 2023

Posted on: March 6, 2023

Council briefs for February 13, 2023

Posted on: February 27, 2023

Council briefs for December 19, 2022

Posted on: December 30, 2022

Council briefs for December 12, 2022

Posted on: December 14, 2022

Council briefs for November 28, 2022

Posted on: December 5, 2022

Council briefs for November 14, 2022

Posted on: November 27, 2022

Council briefs for October 24, 2022

Posted on: November 4, 2022

Council briefs for October 11, 2022

Posted on: October 17, 2022

Council briefs for September 26, 2022

Posted on: September 29, 2022

Council briefs for September 12, 2022

Posted on: September 14, 2022

Council briefs for August 8, 2022

Posted on: August 15, 2022

Council briefs for June 13, 2022

Posted on: June 15, 2022

Council briefs for May 24, 2022

Posted on: June 8, 2022

Council briefs for May 9, 2022

Posted on: June 8, 2022

Council briefs for April 25, 2022

Posted on: April 29, 2022

Council briefs for April 11, 2022

Posted on: April 18, 2022

Council briefs for March 28, 2022

Posted on: March 31, 2022

Council briefs for March 14, 2022

Posted on: March 16, 2022

Council briefs for February 28, 2022

Posted on: March 2, 2022

Council briefs for February 14, 2022

Posted on: February 16, 2022

Council briefs for January 24, 2022

Posted on: January 26, 2022

Council briefs for January 12, 2022

Posted on: January 12, 2022

Council briefs for January 10, 2022

Posted on: January 11, 2022

Council briefs for December 13, 2021

Posted on: December 14, 2021

Council briefs for December 6, 2021

Posted on: December 10, 2021
CP crossing

Council briefs for November 22, 2021

Posted on: November 25, 2021

Council briefs for November 8, 2021

Posted on: November 10, 2021

Council briefs for November 1, 2021

Posted on: November 3, 2021

Council briefs for November 9, 2020

Posted on: November 10, 2020

Council briefs for October 26, 2020

Posted on: October 27, 2020

Council briefs for October 13, 2020

Posted on: October 16, 2020

Council Briefs for September 21, 2020

Posted on: September 23, 2020

Council briefs for September 8, 2020

Posted on: September 9, 2020

Council briefs for March 9, 2020

Posted on: March 11, 2020

Council briefs for February 24, 2020

Posted on: February 25, 2020

Council briefs for February 10, 2020

Posted on: February 11, 2020

Council briefs for January 27, 2020

Posted on: February 4, 2020

Council briefs for November 25, 2019

Posted on: November 27, 2019

Council briefs for November 12, 2019

Posted on: November 13, 2019

Council briefs for October 28, 2019

Posted on: October 31, 2019

Council briefs for October 15, 2019

Posted on: October 16, 2019

Council briefs for September 23, 2019

Posted on: October 7, 2019

Council briefs for September 9, 2019

Posted on: September 11, 2019

Council briefs for August 12, 2019

Posted on: August 14, 2019

Council briefs for July 15, 2019

Posted on: July 16, 2019

Council briefs for June 24, 2019

Posted on: June 25, 2019

Council briefs for June 10, 2019

Posted on: June 21, 2019

Council briefs for May 13, 2019

Posted on: May 15, 2019

Council briefs for April 23, 2019

Posted on: April 25, 2019

Council briefs for April 8, 2019

Posted on: April 11, 2019

Council briefs for March 25, 2019

Posted on: March 27, 2019

Council briefs for March 11, 2019

Posted on: March 12, 2019

Council briefs for February 25, 2019

Posted on: February 26, 2019

Council briefs for February 11, 2019

Posted on: February 12, 2019

Council briefs for January 28, 2019

Posted on: January 30, 2019

Council Briefs for January 14, 2019

Posted on: January 16, 2019

Council briefs for December 19, 2018

Posted on: January 16, 2019

Council briefs for December 10, 2018

Posted on: December 12, 2018

Council briefs for November 26, 2018

Posted on: November 27, 2018

Council briefs for November 13, 2018

Posted on: November 15, 2018

Council briefs for October 22, 2018

Posted on: October 25, 2018

Council briefs for September 24, 2018

Posted on: September 26, 2018

Council briefs for September 10, 2018

Posted on: September 12, 2018

Council briefs for August 13, 2018

Posted on: August 15, 2018

Council briefs for July 16, 2018

Posted on: July 18, 2018

Council briefs for June 25, 2018

Posted on: June 27, 2018

Council briefs for June 11, 2018

Posted on: June 13, 2018

Council briefs for May 28, 2018

Posted on: May 29, 2018

Council briefs for May 14, 2018

Posted on: May 15, 2018

Council briefs for April 30, 2018

Posted on: May 1, 2018

Council briefs for April 23, 2018

Posted on: April 25, 2018

Council briefs for April 9, 2018

Posted on: April 10, 2018

Council briefs for March 26, 2018

Posted on: March 27, 2018

Council briefs for January 22, 2018

Posted on: January 23, 2018

Council Briefs for January 15, 2018

Posted on: January 16, 2018

Council briefs for January 8, 2018

Posted on: January 10, 2018

Council briefs for December 18, 2017

Posted on: December 19, 2017

Council briefs for December 11, 2017

Posted on: December 12, 2017

Council briefs for October 10, 2017

Posted on: October 11, 2017

Council Briefs for September 25, 2017

Posted on: September 27, 2017

Council briefs for September 11, 2017

Posted on: September 12, 2017

Council briefs for August 14, 2017

Posted on: August 15, 2017

Council briefs for July 17, 2017

Posted on: July 19, 2017

Council briefs for June 26, 2017

Posted on: June 27, 2017

Council briefs for June 12, 2017

Posted on: June 13, 2017

Council briefs for May 23, 2017

Posted on: May 24, 2017

Council briefs for May 8, 2017

Posted on: May 9, 2017

Council briefs for April 24, 2017

Posted on: April 26, 2017

Council briefs for April 10, 2017

Posted on: April 11, 2017

Council briefs for March 27, 2017

Posted on: March 28, 2017

Council briefs for March 13, 2017

Posted on: March 13, 2017

Council briefs for February 27, 2017

Posted on: February 28, 2017

Council briefs for February 13, 2017

Posted on: February 14, 2017

Council briefs for January 25, 2017

Posted on: January 25, 2017

Council briefs for January 23, 2017

Posted on: January 24, 2017

Council briefs for January 9, 2017

Posted on: January 10, 2017

Council briefs for November 28, 2016

Posted on: November 29, 2016

Council briefs for November 14, 2016

Posted on: November 16, 2016

Council briefs for October 24, 2016

Posted on: October 25, 2016

Council briefs for October 11, 2016

Posted on: October 12, 2016

Council briefs for September 26, 2016

Posted on: September 28, 2016

Council briefs for July 18, 2016

Posted on: July 19, 2016

Council briefs for June 27, 2016

Posted on: June 28, 2016

Council briefs for June 13, 2016

Posted on: June 14, 2016

Council briefs for May 9, 2016

Posted on: May 10, 2016

Council briefs for April 25, 2016

Posted on: April 26, 2016

Council briefs for April 11, 2016

Posted on: April 11, 2016

Council briefs for March 29, 2016

Posted on: March 30, 2016

Council briefs for March 14, 2016

Posted on: March 17, 2016

Council briefs for February 22, 2016

Posted on: February 23, 2016

Council Briefs for February 8, 2016

Posted on: February 16, 2016

Council briefs for January 25, 2016

Posted on: January 26, 2016

Council briefs for January 11, 2016

Posted on: January 11, 2016

Council briefs for December 7, 2015

Posted on: December 8, 2015

Council briefs for November 23, 2015

Posted on: November 25, 2015

Council Briefs for November 9, 2015

Posted on: November 12, 2015

Council briefs for October 26, 2015

Posted on: October 26, 2015

Council briefs for October 13, 2015

Posted on: October 14, 2015

Council briefs for September 28, 2015

Posted on: September 29, 2015

Council briefs for September 14, 2015

Posted on: September 18, 2015

Council briefs for August 17, 2015

Posted on: August 24, 2015

Council briefs for July 20, 2015

Posted on: July 21, 2015

Council briefs for June 9, 2015

Posted on: June 10, 2015

Council briefs for May 25, 2015

Posted on: May 26, 2015

Council briefs for May 11, 2015

Posted on: May 12, 2015

Council briefs for April 13, 2015

Posted on: April 14, 2015

Council briefs for March 23, 2015

Posted on: March 24, 2015

Council briefs for March 9, 2015

Posted on: March 11, 2015

Council briefs for February 23, 2015

Posted on: February 23, 2015

Council briefs for January 26, 2015

Posted on: January 26, 2015

Council briefs for December 18, 2014

Posted on: December 18, 2014

Council briefs for December 8, 2014

Posted on: December 8, 2014

Council Briefs for November 24, 2014

Posted on: November 25, 2014

Council briefs for November 10, 2014

Posted on: November 10, 2014

Council Briefs for October 27, 2014

Posted on: October 29, 2014

Council Briefs for October 14, 2014

Posted on: October 15, 2014

Council Briefs for September 22, 2014

Posted on: September 23, 2014

Council briefs for September 8, 2014

Posted on: September 9, 2014

Council Briefs for August 18, 2014

Posted on: August 19, 2014

Council Briefs for July 21, 2014

Posted on: July 22, 2014

Council Briefs for June 23, 2014

Posted on: June 24, 2014

Council Briefs for June 9, 2014

Posted on: June 10, 2014

Council Briefs for May 12, 2014

Posted on: May 14, 2014

Council briefs for April 28, 2014

Posted on: April 30, 2014

Council Briefs for April 14, 2014

Posted on: April 15, 2014

Council Briefs for March 24, 2014

Posted on: March 25, 2014

Council Briefs for March 10, 2014

Posted on: March 11, 2014

Council Briefs for February 24, 2014

Posted on: February 25, 2014

Council Briefs for February 10, 2014

Posted on: February 12, 2014

Council Briefs for January 13, 2014

Posted on: January 14, 2014

Council Briefs December 9, 2013

Posted on: December 10, 2013