TAMRMS#: B06
5.2
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Photo Enforcement Update and Options
Presented by: Aaron Giesbrecht, Manager, Emergency Services – Policing Branch
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
That the Standing Committee of the Whole recommend to Council that Administration move forward with Option A – Continue Photo Enforcement (to the extent possible), as outlined in the report entitled Photo Enforcement – Background and Service Delivery Options – September 2025, provided as an attachment to the agenda report dated September 9, 2025.
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SUMMARY
The scope of the Photo Enforcement program in Alberta has significantly changed since the Alberta Government introduced new restrictions on its use in December of 2024. As a result, Council direction is required for Administration to make appropriate contract and service delivery changes. Administration is recommending that Photo Enforcement Services continue to be provided to the community (to the extent possible) through an amendment to the service contract with the current vendor, Global Traffic Services. This direction will allow for photo enforcement to be provided:
- in school, playground and constructions zones (for speed and stop sign enforcement),
- in intersections that are not on a Provincial Highway or Connector Roadway (for Red Light enforcement), and
- in locations that are provided a specific exemption from the Province of Alberta to address increased collision frequency.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On December 5, 2023, Council passed the following motion:
(CA-23-050)
That the recommendations in the following agenda reports be approved: 7.2 Standing Committee of the Whole Item: Automated Enforcement Service Delivery.
On November 14, 2023, the Standing Committee of the Whole passed the following motion:
(AR-23-547)
That the Standing Committee of the Whole recommend to Council that Automated Enforcement Service levels be maintained as outlined in Option A – Status Quo, in the attached report entitled “Automated Traffic Enforcement Background and Service Delivery Options”.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The City has been providing photo enforcement services to the community since 2001 to enhance proactive traffic enforcement services, which are known to contribute to overall traffic safety.
The scope of the Photo Enforcement program in Alberta has significantly changed since the Alberta Government introduced new restrictions on its use in December of 2024.
Photo Enforcement is now only permitted to be used:
- in school, playground and constructions zones (for speed and stop sign enforcement),
- in intersections that are not on a Provincial Highway or Connector Roadway (for Red Light enforcement), and
- in locations that are provided a specific exemption from the Province of Alberta to address increased collision frequency.
Since the changes have been announced, Photo Enforcement services have continued to be provided (with a reduced scope to ensure compliance with the new program parameters) under an interim/temporary contract with the current service provider. The interim service contract is scheduled to end October 31, 2025.
Administration is seeking direction from Council on their desired path forward on providing these services.
The attached report entitled Photo Enforcement – Background and Service Delivery Options) has been drafted to provide high level information surrounding this topic and the options that are available.
After considering all the factors, Administration is recommending to proceed with the level of service that is outlined in Option A – Continue Photo Enforcement (to the extent possible).
There is little downside to moving forward with amending the current contract and continuing to provide photo enforcement services to the community. The contract model will ensure that the service, at minimum will be cost neutral and will not place additional tax burden on residents for mobile enforcement, while it addresses a traffic enforcement demand that works towards keeping the community streets safe.
This option will also allow Administration further time to understand the impact of the photo enforcement program scope reduction and if it will be necessary or advisable to increase peace officer FTEs so that overall traffic safety in the community does not degrade.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Discussions with the appropriate local RCMP stakeholders have taken place and they have advised that should Council choose to continue to provide Photo Enforcement Services to the community, they will continue to be supportive and are committed to working with Administration and the contracted service provider.
In accordance with the Provincial guidelines, the RCMP’s role will continue to include the review of locations that are being considered for the deployment of photo enforcement and to ultimately approve or deny use at locations, after considering the traffic safety plans and the Provincial guidelines.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
Although not the intent of reason for maintaining a photo enforcement program, by passing the recommended motion, Administration believes that the program will be cost neutral at minimum and depending on the offences that are detected, there is potential for the fine revenue to exceed the costs of delivery the program. Any net proceeds realized would continue to go to the bottom line of the Policing Branch operating budget that would ultimately off-set some of the costs associated to providing RCMP and Municipal Enforcement Officers.
Should a new Red Light camera location be deemed necessary and viable, there would be costs associated with the installation of the necessary infrastructure. This would be determined at the time of the site review and on a case-by-case basis.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
There would be a positive impact to traffic enforcement service delivery by deploying the approved traffic safety enforcement tools that are available. This will help reduce some of the pressure on traditional in-person enforcement/resource needs.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks
Due to some of the ongoing public dissatisfaction and perceptions that are associated with photo enforcement, public acceptance on continued deployment of photo enforcement may draw some negative feedback from portions of the community.
In addition, ongoing photo enforcement program compliance requires regular and ongoing reporting to the province along with mandatory adherence to guidelines. Although current resourcing is in place to ensure compliance, as the community grows and/or the program grows, additional staffing may be necessary to maintain this.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
None at this time.
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan:
None at this time
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
F.4.2 Photo Enforcement
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
ALTERNATIVE 1:
That the Standing Committee of the Whole recommend to Council that Administration move forward with Option A + Option B – Hybrid Model - Increase Community Peace Officer FTEs, as outlined in the report entitled Photo Enforcement – Service Delivery Options – 2025, provided as an attachment to the agenda report dated September 9, 2025.
Financial:
In addition to the financial impacts outlined previously in Option A, this will add an estimated $910,500 to the budget ($310,500 in operating and $600,000 in capital) to fund five additional peace officers and three additional patrol vehicles and the necessary equipment.
Administration would further review and include the funding in the 2026 budget.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time
Program or Service:
In addition to the impacts outlined previously in Option A, this will address the traffic enforcement gap that was created from the photo enforcement program reduction. It would also increase the total number of Peace Officers that would be available for incidents and events including but not limited to emergency management, corporate security or urgent bylaw enforcement matters.
Full implementation from recruitment to purchase of equipment, vehicles and workplace accommodation needs may take between 12 and 18 months.
Organizational:
Adding an additional five peace officers, will require further workforce planning and organizational structure reviews to ensure that appropriate supervisor to employee ratios will be in place and human resource standards are met.
Risks
Although Administration believes that the current building renovations that are underway will be sufficient to accommodate this number of increased peace officers, it will increase the stresses related to parking, workstations and total building capacity sooner than what was originally planned. When considering other potential needs and increases to RCMP officers or civilian policing staff, combined, it may increase the needs associated to the new policing building build time.
ALTERNATIVE 2:
That the Standing Committee of the Whole recommend to Council, that Administration move forward with Option C – Cease All Photo Enforcement Services, as outlined in the report entitled Photo Enforcement – Service Delivery Options – 2025, provided as an attachment to the agenda report dated September 9, 2025.
Financial:
Although this does not have a direct impact on the planned recommendation for the 2026 budget, moving forward with this option will eliminate any possibility of subsidizing public safety costs through any net proceeds that the photo enforcement may realize.
Compliance & Legal:
Terminating the existing contract is an option that is available for the City under the current terms and conditions.
Program or Service:
This may be seen as positive by some members of the community but also may be seen as negative by others due to the decrease if pro-active traffic enforcement services being decreased.
This will also increase demand for traditional in-person enforcement services.
Organizational:
This will increase administrative capacity as work that is currently associated to contract management/oversight as well as provincial reporting, analysis and site reviews will be eliminated.
Risks
There is potential for the community to see an increase in traffic safety incidents with the total elimination of photo enforcement.
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Report Date: September 9, 2025
Author(s): Aaron Giesbrecht
Department: Emergency Services
Department Director: Everett Cooke
Managing Director: Diane McMordie
Chief Administrative Officer: Bill Fletcher