ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

• Administration recommends adding another public hearing to council’s calendar on Feb. 12 because of the volume of rezoning applications that have been postponed at past meetings. It also recommends adding an additional day for the urban planning committee meeting on Feb. 10 where councillors are expected to discuss changes to the zoning bylaw that would limit infill development.
• Council is set to meet in private to discuss an investment opportunity.

Lastly, here are some updates on what happened last week at committee meetings:

• Administration told community and public services committee it observed just 10% compliance at the beginning of the snow-clearing parking ban this month. Enforcement officers have given out about 2,600 parking ban tickets so far. Committee did not support amending the traffic bylaw to lower the fine for violating parking bans from $250 to $150.
• Urban planning committee recommended replacing the 1992 Ribbon of Green Master Plan with the new river valley strategy. Administration said the updated strategy balances natural preservation with public use and recreation, aligning with climate resilience. It includes provisions for greater Indigenous oversight, multi-use trails, improved accessibility, and active ecological monitoring. Council is set to vote on the recommendation.
• Executive committee voted unanimously to recommend that city council provide a $6.5-million grant to the Winspear Centre as an alternative to the organization earning parking revenue from the Century Place parkade. Committee recommended taking the grant out of the financial stabilization reserve. Several councillors said the funding source was not ideal, but it was the only option. Council will vote on the proposal at a future meeting.

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• On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council meeting. On the agenda is a 2027-2036 Capital Investment Outlook. It provides a 10-year forecast of infrastructure needs to help Council make strategic funding decisions. The report emphasizes prioritizing renewal of existing assets - replacing or rehabilitating aging infrastructure - over new growth, due to limited available capital and an increasing number of aging assets. Nearly all unconstrained funding over the next decade will be directed to renewal programs, though $6.8 billion in previously approved transformational growth projects will continue over the next five years.
• Council will also discuss the 2027-2030 budget planning process. Key changes include in-person ward engagement sessions, departmental presentations, and a shift from written Q&A to a live inquiry format to facilitate immediate dialogue between Council and staff. Milestones include financial updates in March, department presentations in March, publication of the Corporate Business Plan in June, fall engagement reports, and proposed budgets released in late October/early November. A Non-Statutory Public Hearing in November will allow Edmontonians to provide direct input, while a Climate Budget will incorporate climate and emissions considerations into decision-making.
• The City is seeking ideas for the adaptive reuse of the historic Rossdale Power Plant, a landmark built in the 1930s that generated a quarter of Alberta’s power until 1970 and was decommissioned in 2008. The City has invited submissions until the end of April to guide how the building can be repurposed while preserving its heritage and aesthetic value. Previous proposals, like the Prairie Sky Gondola, were rejected due to concerns about river valley conservation, skyline impact, and respect for nearby Indigenous burial sites. The City has invested over $15 million in preservation work, including roof replacement and safety upgrades, and is now looking for innovative ways to revitalize the site without compromising its historic integrity. Heritage planners emphasize the importance of maintaining the building’s character, noting that Edmonton has lost many historic structures over the years. 
• Ward Anirniq Councillor Erin Rutherford has accused former election opponent Jesse Watson of harassment after he shared an Instagram story that she says revealed her partner’s vehicle near her home. Rutherford called the post a reckless risk to her family’s safety and privacy, describing it as “rage farming” and part of a broader trend of misinformation on social media. Watson defended the post, saying he received the image from a follower, did not disclose any private information, and shared it to highlight what he saw as irony regarding a City parking ban. Former Councillor Sarah Hamilton and Mayor Andrew Knack expressed support for Rutherford, framing the incident as part of a worrying pattern of intimidation and abuse against public officials. Rutherford emphasized that, during her campaign, she had deliberately avoided responding to Watson’s posts. Watson previously finished second to Rutherford in the 2025 municipal election.
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) Chief David Lazenby is calling for six new fire stations over the next four years to keep pace with population growth in the west, southwest, and northeast areas outside Anthony Henday Drive. Rapid development in neighbourhoods like Big Lake, Riverview, Wedgwood, Chappelle, Cumberland, and Horse Hills is expected to bring around 120,000 new residents, creating longer response times without additional infrastructure. In 2025, EFRS responded to 91,000 emergency incidents, a 68% increase over five years, including more than 54,000 medical calls and over 10,000 overdose-related incidents. Aging fire apparatus and rising costs of equipment are additional budget pressures for the department. Lazenby highlighted the department’s capacity to handle compounding emergencies, recalling simultaneous large-scale operations last year, including evacuations and a peat fire. Despite growing demand, he emphasized the commitment of Edmonton’s firefighters to respond promptly, prioritizing both public safety and crew mental health.