ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, councillors are set to discuss an integrated approach to construction planning, a rezoning application in Wîhkwêntôwin, and aging infrastructure.

There is an infrastructure committee meeting on Feb. 23, a public hearing on Feb. 24, and an audit committee meeting on Feb. 25.

Here are some key items on the agenda:

• Administration said it will make changes to construction plans for a more integrated, proactive, and coordinated approach, after what it called a “challenging traffic season” in 2025. In a report set to be presented to infrastructure committee, the city said it has deferred the construction of the northbound Low Level Bridge until 2027 and has hired a manager to focus on integrating projects and minimizing traffic impacts downtown. Administration will also work with contractors on schedules that allow for work to be completed faster, as it did with the accelerated Valley Line West construction last year. Jason Meliefste, branch manager of infrastructure delivery, told CBC Edmonton the city is keen to avoid overlapping construction projects this year.
• Administration said it does not support a rezoning application for a lot in Wîhkwêntôwin because the proposed zone allows for development that would not align with the neighbourhood’s heritage-defining features. The report said the site at 11202 99 Avenue NW is located in a dense node of unique historic buildings. The Armstrong Residence, a historic building that once sat on the property, was demolished in September. The current zoning allows for a four-storey building, and the report says the developer wants to rezone the property to allow for a mixed-use, three-storey building with a wider variety of potential commercial uses. Administration said it offered to work with the applicant to create a direct control zone that mimics the proposed zone while regulating architectural controls. Council is scheduled to debate the application on Feb. 24.
• StreetSide Developments has proposed rezoning a church and park space at 11520 Ellerslie Road SW to allow for small and medium-sized forms of housing. The developer proposes rezoning part of the lot along Ellerslie Road SW to allow for a six-storey tower and another part for a three-storey development. Administration heard from about 150 residents who said they oppose the rezoning because it could make traffic and parking congestion worse, and because the church and open space are well-used by the community.
• The replacement value of Edmonton’s infrastructure assets has grown by 37% to nearly $40 billion between 2013 and 2025, according to a report that will be presented to council’s infrastructure committee. More than 50% of the assets are in good or very good condition, but administration said investment must be increased to prevent assets from falling into poor condition. The report is meant to provide context for upcoming council decisions, including the 2027-2030 capital budget deliberations that are scheduled for later this year.

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• The Infrastructure Committee will meet on Monday at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss the City of Edmonton’s 2026 Traffic Management Plan. It focuses on reducing congestion and disruptions caused by major construction projects, building on lessons from the challenging 2025 season. The plan emphasizes five key priorities: improved sequencing of projects, prioritizing innovation, proactive operational coordination, better integration with developers and utility companies, and enhanced communication with residents and businesses. Traffic modelling will guide project timing, lane restrictions, and signal adjustments, while communications will include newsletters, project websites, social media, real-time navigation updates, and community engagement events. Major City projects include Valley Line West LRT, Capital Line South LRT, Yellowhead Trail upgrades, and Whitemud Drive improvements, with developer and utility projects also affecting arterial roads. Mitigation strategies include traffic calming in adjacent neighbourhoods, accommodating vulnerable road users, and ensuring multi-modal access. Traffic relief is expected in fall 2026 as key projects such as Wellington Bridge, 95 Avenue, and Terwillegar Stage 2 are completed.
• The Audit Committee meets Wednesday at 9:30 am. On the agenda is a recent data analytics audit of the City of Edmonton’s gift card program for attractions and recreation centres. The audit found that controls were only partially effective. While gift card sales and redemptions were properly recorded in the accounting system, significant issues were identified with access and data integrity. Access to gift card records is not restricted to employees with a valid business need, with over 500 active accounts belonging to terminated staff or unrelated departments, creating potential risks for unauthorized access or fraud. Data integrity problems were also noted: about 14% of gift card reference numbers did not meet the required 5-digit format, 7% contained non-numeric characters, and some duplicates or out-of-range numbers were present, which could hinder citizen redemption and open opportunities for misuse. The audit recommends implementing a formal access management plan to limit user permissions and enhancing data validation procedures, including staff training and software improvements, to ensure accurate gift card numbers. To support ongoing monitoring, an internal dashboard has been created, providing weekly automated updates on flagged transactions and audit metrics. Management has committed to completing access controls by June 30th, 2026, and improving data integrity by March 31st, 2027. 
• Edmonton has emerged as Canada’s leader in new cycling infrastructure, adding 517 km of weighted bike lanes between 2022 and 2024 - more than double Calgary and over three times Toronto. A Simon Fraser University study highlighted the City’s fast-paced development, including a well-connected network along the river, downtown, and neighbourhoods, with a focus on protected, high-comfort routes. While Edmonton expands its cycling network, other cities and provinces, such as Ontario, Winnipeg, Halifax, and Charlottetown, are slowing, pausing, or even removing bike lanes due to budget, planning, or political pressures. Officials and advocacy groups stress the importance of thoughtful design that balances cycling access with road and parking needs.
• The City brought in 100 private graders to bolster snow-clearing efforts as a winter storm and deep freeze hit the region. Crews began working around the clock, expanding from 20 to 120 graders, alongside roughly 120 plow trucks, in an effort to clear major routes quickly. A Phase 1 parking ban took effect Wednesday at 7:00 am, restricting parking on major roads, arterials, collector roads, and transit routes, with officials hoping early contractor deployment would improve road conditions sooner. The City has faced criticism in past snow events over slow clearing and low compliance with residential bans, but reports say compliance improved during the most recent Phase 2 effort. A broader review of snow and ice operations is planned later this year, as budget pressures and expanding infrastructure continue to challenge winter maintenance efforts.
• Edmonton Riverbend MP Matt Jeneroux has crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party, citing a "national unity crisis". Previously a provincial MLA and long-time Conservative representative, Jeneroux will now serve as a special adviser on economic and security partnerships under Prime Minister Mark Carney. This move marks the third Conservative defection recently, bringing the Liberal seat count to 169 - just three shy of a majority. If the government sweeps three upcoming byelections in Toronto and Montreal, they could secure a majority through these parliamentary shifts. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the decision, stating it betrays Edmonton voters who supported affordability and the resource sector.