Summary#

Calgary City Council voted 15–0 to leave the Cooperative Stormwater Management Initiative (CSMI) and ask the Mayor to send a joint advocacy letter with Rocky View County to the Alberta government about regional stormwater challenges. The decision shifts Calgary’s plan for servicing East Belvedere to a City-owned and operated Forest Lawn Creek system. City staff say the goal is to give stormwater servicing a more certain timeline.

• City staff must take steps to leave CSMI, formally end Calgary’s User Agreement and settle payments.
• The City’s approved $55 million CSMI budget is to be redirected to Forest Lawn Creek.
• The City will forfeit about $1.5 million in CSMI contributions by the end of 2026.
• The Mayor is asked to execute a joint letter with Rocky View County to the Alberta government.
• Council kept the closed-meeting discussions and presentations confidential until a review by July 28, 2036. It approved public release of the recommendations, cover report and Attachments 1 and 2, but not Attachment 3.

What it means for you#

• East Belvedere residents and developers: Calgary is switching to a City-run stormwater servicing option. City staff anticipate construction could be completed in 2029; the report says servicing connections are needed by the end of 2028 and 2030. These are staff expectations, not guaranteed dates.
• City taxpayers: The City’s existing $55 million budget for CSMI is to fund the Forest Lawn Creek option instead. The decision does not include a new budget request.
• Regional partners: Calgary is leaving the shared initiative involving Strathmore, Rocky View County and the Western Irrigation District. City staff say the remaining partners may continue, but their costs would be higher without Calgary’s contributions.
• The wider public: The decision changes Calgary’s stormwater servicing plan; it does not itself approve new housing or other development.

Money#

The City has approved $55 million for the project, but the report gives no exact cost for the Forest Lawn Creek option.

• The $55 million consists of $8 million for 2023–2026 and $47 million for 2027–2030. It is to be redirected from CSMI to Forest Lawn Creek.
• City staff estimate CSMI’s capital costs are about 17% lower, but say the estimate is a Class 5 estimate, with a wide margin of uncertainty. They expect Forest Lawn Creek to have higher annual operating costs.
• Calgary has contributed about $1 million so far. City staff say the amount forfeited will be about $1.5 million by the end of 2026.
• City staff do not foresee a new budget request, but the report does not give exact Forest Lawn Creek capital or operating costs.

What is unclear#

• The public report does not give the detailed terms for ending the User Agreement or settling payments.
• Exact costs, operating arrangements and construction milestones for Forest Lawn Creek are not stated.
• The report does not say how the other CSMI partners will respond or what their revised costs would be.
• Public engagement was not undertaken. The report says partners and the Alberta government were informed.

Case for#

• City staff say changes in the Western Irrigation District’s approach, along with uncertainty about future partner funding, create risks for CSMI’s costs, liabilities and schedule.
• Staff say Forest Lawn Creek offers more certainty about servicing reliability and timing, and fewer development controls.
• Staff say switching now leaves time to plan, design and build the system for anticipated completion in 2029.

Case against#

• City staff estimate CSMI’s capital costs are about 17% lower, though they caution that the estimate is highly uncertain.
• Staff expect Forest Lawn Creek to have higher annual operating costs.
• Calgary’s departure means it will forfeit about $1.5 million in contributions, and staff say costs will rise for partners that continue without Calgary.
• City staff note that CSMI’s evolving approach could offer long-term benefits, but say it does not match East Belvedere’s servicing needs.