This week, Edmonton’s new city council is scheduled to hold its first public hearing of the term to consider rezoning applications, and discuss partnerships with the private sector.

There is an orientation meeting scheduled for Nov. 17, a council meeting scheduled for Nov. 18, and a public hearing scheduled for Nov. 19.

• Administration is scheduled to give presentations on the following topics on Nov. 17 and 18: The city structure, city culture, and City Plan; the fundamentals of finance, taxation, and reporting; and growth planning.
• The Canada Palestine Cultural Association’s Edmonton chapter has applied to rezone its building located in the Peter Lougheed Multicultural Village to allow for childcare, food and drink services, and limited retail. The CPCA building is located at 13312 142 Street NW, next to several other community centres such as the Italian Cultural Centre, the Sri Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara of Alberta, the Hindu Society of Alberta, the Jain Society of Alberta, and Chrysalis: An Alberta Society for Citizens with Disabilities.
• Council will consider a report that proposes more city partnerships with the private sector to build future infrastructure, including arenas and libraries, on Nov. 18. The strategy aims to address the city’s growing population and challenges in maintaining and expanding needed facilities. Administration identified the Woodcroft Library renewal, Cumberland Fire Station, Windermere North Transit Centre, and various arenas as potential collaboration projects.
• MJD Childcare has proposed to rezone a site that’s home to Elks Lodge No. 11, which the Elks of Canada fraternity organization established around 1959. The lot is located at 11823 129 Avenue NW, kitty-corner to a commercial area. MJD Childcare proposes to rezone the lot from the small-scale residential zone to the neighbourhood mixed-use zone, which would allow for a multi-unit, mixed-use building of up to four storeys.
• Council is scheduled to review a rezoning application for two houses located at 10421 and 10417 70 Avenue NW, respectively, in the Allendale neighbourhood. Polar White Investments has proposed the land be rezoned as the medium-scale residential zone, which would allow for a building of up to four storeys and limited community and commercial uses. Three people expressed opposition to the application, suggesting a four storey building would be too tall, and that the development would lead to parking and traffic congestion. Administration said it supports the application because a four-storey building would act as a transition at this location.
• A landowner has applied to rezone a property in Belvedere at the corner of 66 Street NW and 134 Avenue NW to allow for a building of up to four storeys. Administration said it supports the application because it will add additional density on a corner of an arterial and collector roadway. Twelve residents expressed opposition to the application, noting the potential impacts on the long-term residential rental tenants who live on the existing site, the report said.
• Council will receive a private update on intergovernmental relations and on procurement at a meeting on Nov. 18.

Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.

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• City Council will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 am. On the agenda is a report suggesting the City could consider more public-private partnerships to help build future infrastructure, including new arenas, a renewed Woodcroft Library, the Cumberland Fire Station, and the Windermere North Transit Centre. City Administration says these partnerships may help Edmonton keep up with growth while managing rising costs. Former Councillor Tim Cartmell argued private partners can design, build, and finance projects, with the City leasing only the portion it needs. He says combining uses, such as adding retail or housing alongside an arena, could make projects more affordable. Cartmell also suggested using existing vacant retail or City-owned space instead of building entirely new structures. Councillor Michael Janz says he is open to reviewing proposals but cautioned that private profit should not override public interest, noting the City often borrows at lower rates than private companies.
• Council will also review the process for the 2025 Fall Supplemental Budget Adjustments, which cover Capital, Operating, and Utilities budgets for the 2023-2026 cycle. Budget reports will be released on November 20th with presentations being made to Council on November 25th and 26th. Final deliberations and amendments will occur during the December 1st to 4th meeting. The process includes a structured amendment procedure, using a randomized order for Council members to propose changes, starting with budget decreases followed by increases. Capital budget amendments are considered first, followed by Operating and then Utilities. The Office of the City Clerk and Budget Office will provide templates, guidance, and a drop-in session to help Councillors with amendment preparation. The 2025 adjustments mark the last fall review of this budget cycle, with planning for the 2027-2030 budgets beginning in 2026.
• Two City Councillors elected under the Better Edmonton banner are stepping away from the party after it decided not to go dormant as previously indicated. Ward Nakota Isga Councillor Reed Clarke announced he will no longer participate or coordinate with Better Edmonton, while Ward pihêsiwin Councillor Mike Elliott said his focus on serving his ward independently. Both Councillors cited the party’s continued operations and fundraising plans as the reason for their departure, though Clarke stressed there is no bad blood and he remains on friendly terms with the party. Their exit leaves Karen Principe as the lone elected Better Edmonton Councillor. The party’s new chair, Cameron Johnson, said Better Edmonton will continue to operate, shadow Council decisions, and release policy options while allowing its elected members to act independently. 
• Primary Care Alberta has declared a tuberculosis outbreak in Edmonton’s inner city after lab tests confirmed local transmission between at least three people, including two with the same strain identified in October. PCA says 12 tuberculosis cases this year have been linked to individuals experiencing homelessness in Central Edmonton, with communal living spaces such as shelters increasing the risk of spread. Tuberculosis is a lung infection that can spread through coughing or sneezing but is treatable with antibiotics. Health officials say the current outbreak does not pose a risk to the general public. Contact tracing is underway, and anyone potentially exposed will be notified directly. PCA and provincial medical officers are meeting regularly with inner-city organizations to share information, support screening efforts, and monitor the situation.
• Edmonton is developing a new standardized design initiative to speed up approval for infill housing. The City plans to offer 12 pre-approved building designs so developers can pick a model and receive permits in weeks instead of months, with the goal of helping Edmonton meet its City Plan target of making half of new housing infills, while positioning builders to access federal Housing Accelerator Fund dollars. Infills remain contentious; recent architectural controls and debates over multiplex size have divided neighbourhoods, but most Council incumbents supportive of infills were re-elected. City staff say concerns about neighbourhood character are understandable but emphasize that infills are needed to meet housing demand. Developers welcome faster approvals but warn that designs must remain affordable for renters and flexible enough to fit local communities. The City says it will avoid overly uniform “cookie-cutter” models and allow for some customization.