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. 

ON TAP

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, councillors will consider reducing fines for violating parking bans, learn about the state of municipal assets, and review a framework for promoting Edmonton.

There is a community and public services committee meeting on Jan. 19, an urban planning committee meeting on Jan. 20, and an executive committee meeting on Jan. 21.

Here are some key items on the agenda:

• The community and public services committee is to discuss amendments to the traffic bylaw that would lower the fine for violating parking bans from $250 to $150. The fine was increased from $100 to $250 in 2022 in an effort to increase compliance, but administration said it’s been challenging to discern whether it worked given the wide variety of influencing factors, including the degree to which the bylaw has been enforced. If council lowers the fine, administration estimates an annual revenue reduction of about $232,500. Councillors had also asked administration to consider reducing fines further for people who pay tickets within seven days. The report said that change would require updated ticketing software, which would cost about $80,000, and more staff, which could cost at least $70,000 annually. City council will vote on any recommended changes at a future meeting.
• Just over half of the city’s assets are in very good or good condition, according to an annual inventory of municipal assets set to be presented at council’s executive committee. While the percentage of assets in poor and very poor condition has improved slightly and is within an acceptable margin, the city must invest more to maintain the portfolio, administration said. Transit vehicles especially need investment, as more than half of the city’s buses and light rail vehicles are in poor or very poor condition. Based on the age of the Edmonton Transit Service fleet, 250 buses should be replaced every four years, not including growth to accommodate service expansion. Council voted in the fall operating budget adjustment to purchase 25 new buses to accommodate growth. The asset data is meant to provide context for upcoming city council discussions, including the 2027-2030 capital budget.
• The executive committee is scheduled to review a framework for the city’s brand, which administration said “amplifies Edmonton’s strengths and presents a clear, credible, and consistent value proposition that attracts investment, talent, and opportunity.” The framework includes high-level vision and guidance instead of specific objectives and tactics, as different partners have unique mandates, needs, and timelines, reads the report. If the executive committee approves the framework, administration will implement it.

Here are some other items on the agenda:

• Councillors will revisit a conversation postponed from a council meeting in December so that representatives from Winspear Centre can provide input. In a report set to be presented to the executive committee, administration said it does not support creating a revenue sharing agreement to allow the Winspear Centre to earn revenue from the Century Place parkade. In 2014, the city loaned the Winspear $12.9 million to construct a parking structure. It is not yet open, but it has fewer than half the number of parking stalls than were originally planned, meaning the Winspear will collect less parking revenue than expected, affecting its ability to pay back its loan. Several options are under consideration. Administration said the city has no legal obligation to provide parking revenue to the Winspear.
• The urban planning committee will consider granting authorization to applicants looking to create statutory plans for two new neighbourhoods: Kettle Lakes, a neighbourhood in Decoteau, and an industrial area north of Highway 19 in the city’s southwest.
• Council’s executive committee is scheduled to consider designating the Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre as a municipal historic resource. Peter Hemingway, a notable Edmonton architect who also built the Muttart Conservatory, designed what was then known as the Coronation Pool as part of the Canadian centennial project. The building was renamed to honour Hemingway in 2005. While buildings that are designated municipal historic resources normally receive funding for restoration and rehabilitation, the centre has already been undergoing renovations since 2021.
• Administration recommends that council update the storefront improvement program to make it possible to reapply for funding after 10 years. This is expected to yield one or two extra applications per year, and the proposed changes can be accommodated through the program’s current budget. Administration also recommends adding the storefront refresh grant to the policy. The grant was piloted in 2019 for smaller projects that wouldn’t be eligible for the storefront improvement program. The larger grants have typically gone to property owners for large exterior building repairs, while tenants are responsible for smaller maintenance, repairs, and signage. The grants are available to business and property owners in business improvement areas and in the target areas of Little Italy and Norwood Boulevard.

Lastly, here are some updates from the last time council was in chambers:

• At a public hearing on Dec. 15, council voted 12-0 (Coun. Anne Stevenson was absent) to approve rezoning applications for 11 properties without debate, including for residential properties in Garneau and McKernan, and for a fire station in Athlone.
• Several hours of the public hearing were spent on a rezoning application in Crestwood. The rezoning passed 9-4, with Mayor Andrew Knack and councillors Karen Principe, Thu Parmar, and Reed Clarke voting against. Council also spent several hours discussing a rezoning application in Grovenor. That application passed 10-3 with Principe, Parmar, and Clarke voting against. Seven agenda items were postponed to a public hearing on Jan. 26 because of the limited time remaining in the meeting.

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• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Executive Committee. On the agenda are options to address a parking revenue shortfall for the Francis Winspear Centre for Music (FWCM) following its Completion Project, which included an underground parking structure smaller than originally planned. FWCM is seeking additional revenue from the nearby City-owned Century Place parkade to meet its $12.9 million loan obligations, though the City has no legal requirement to provide this funding. Administration has proposed three options: (1) a Parking Funding Agreement, giving FWCM net revenue from after-hours and weekend parkade use, but requiring $1.1 million in security upgrades; (2) a Parkade License and Management Agreement, where FWCM would manage Century Place and cover operating costs in exchange for parking revenue; and (3) a one-time payment or loan forgiveness, estimated at $5 million, which preserves City control and avoids operating impacts. FWCM prefers the third option, though it requested $7.5 million.
• The Executive Committee will discuss the City of Edmonton’s 2025 Infrastructure State and Condition report. It provides a detailed snapshot of the City’s assets, including their quantity, replacement value, and physical condition. Edmonton’s infrastructure portfolio has grown to a replacement value of approximately $39.8 billion, up $5.1 billion from 2023, with 54.2% of assets rated Very Good or Good, 33.2% Fair, and 10.2% Poor or Very Poor. While overall conditions remain stable, aging assets, particularly in Facilities and transit rolling stock, pose risks of deterioration and increased maintenance costs if investment levels are not maintained. The report organizes assets by service area to better inform decision-making and highlights the importance of continued investment to sustain service levels, manage renewal needs, and address the “renewal gap.”
• Mayor Andrew Knack says frustration over neighbourhood snow removal has reached a tipping point, with poor compliance during parking bans making it harder for crews to do their work effectively. With Phase 2 blading underway, Knack said vehicles left on restricted streets slow plows and reduce the quality of snow clearing for entire blocks and has called for stronger enforcement, including towing and impounding vehicles, in future budgets. Knack said City crews are meeting the service levels set by council, but acknowledged those standards may no longer be sufficient, especially during one of the snowiest winters on record. After recently visiting Edmonton’s sister city of Harbin, China, he said the scale of investment and intensity of snow removal there highlighted what stronger resourcing can achieve. With major winter events like the Deep Freeze festival approaching, he added the City will look at whether additional short-term measures are needed to improve safety and accessibility.
• Edmonton’s office market showed signs of recovery in 2025, with vacancy rates falling to about 19%, close to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new CBRE report. Vacancies had peaked near 23% in 2023, but stabilization was helped by office-to-residential conversion projects and a broader return to in-person work. Commercial real estate experts say mandates bringing provincial employees back to the office are creating a ripple effect, encouraging more companies to follow suit. Several downtown towers have been partially converted to residential use, reducing excess office inventory and adding more activity to the core. Major financial institutions have also recommitted to downtown Edmonton, including National Bank’s investment in Manulife Place and ATB’s continued presence.
• Edmonton is considering a new bylaw that would require businesses to sort their waste, including organics and recyclables, as non-residential sectors generate 70% of the city’s waste, half of which is organic. The City plans to offer grants, educational toolkits, and look at programs for construction and demolition waste, while surveying businesses before finalizing the plan for a Council Committee this summer. Business owners support the idea in principle but want transparency to ensure their efforts make a difference and infrastructure improvements to handle increased organics. Similar bylaws exist in Calgary, Vancouver, Regina, and Halifax, and proponents say it levels the playing field and removes discretion from individual businesses.

ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

Before heading into the holiday break, Edmonton city council is scheduled to debate rezoning applications and interview candidates for the Edmonton Police Commission.

A public hearing is scheduled on Dec. 15, a council meeting on Dec. 16 and 17, and an orientation meeting on Dec. 17. Then, aside from a bit of agenda review in the new year, council resumes its regular meeting schedule on Jan. 19.

Here are some key items on the agenda:

• The City of Edmonton has applied to rezone the open space adjacent to the St. Peter Centre at 7330 113 Street NW to allow for a medium-scale residential building. If the application is approved, the city said it plans to sell the land to an affordable housing provider. The site is adjacent to a bus stop and less than 300 metres from the McKernan/Belgravia LRT Station. Some nearby residents said they oppose the application because they want to see the green space retained for soccer. Council is scheduled to debate the application on Dec. 15.
• More than 100 people said they oppose a rezoning application in Crestwood at 14603 95 Avenue NW. Franken Homes has applied to rezone the corner lot from the small-scale residential zone to the small- to medium-scale transition residential zone, which would allow for the building to be 1.5 metres taller and cover 60% of the lot instead of 45%. Those opposed to the rezoning application said the current RS zone is sufficient and that there is too much infill in the neighbourhood. They also raised concerns about parking, traffic, and the neighbourhood’s character. Administration said it supports the application because the location is appropriate for a larger building. Council is scheduled to debate the rezoning application at a public hearing on Dec. 15.
• The Michael Pavone Realty Group has applied to rezone a property in Queen Alexandra at 10541 81 Avenue NW to allow for a six-storey mixed-use building. The rezoning would remove the requirement for the property to have commercial bays facing the street and would allow for ground-floor residential. Council is scheduled to debate the rezoning application at a public hearing on Dec. 15.
• Council is to meet in private on Dec. 16 to interview candidates for the Edmonton Police Commission and Edmonton Regional Airports Authority.
• Council will learn more about safety and security, as well as public engagement, at an orientation meeting on Dec. 17

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• There will be a City Council meeting on Tuesday at 1:30 pm. There are several Motions Pending to be reviewed. Councillor Clarke plans to move two motions: one requesting a comprehensive analysis of potential City partnerships and sponsorships beyond naming rights, including revenue impacts and policy adjustments, and another analyzing Edmonton’s tax competitiveness compared with other Canadian municipalities, assessing effects on industrial investment, business attraction, and economic growth. Councillor Morgan intends to request a report evaluating the outcomes of the Permanent Enhanced Cleaning program on transit, including timelines and metrics for success. Councillor Stevenson has two motions: one seeking a report on one-time multi-year programs, grants, and initiatives ending with the 2023-2026 budget, and another requesting an update on the Integrated Call Evaluation and Dispatch initiative, detailing how funding from the Community Safety and Well-Being Strategy has supported integrated dispatch.
• Some Councillors are raising concerns that ward budgets haven’t been updated in 13 years, leaving each of the 12 wards with only about $205,000 to engage with residents, compared with Calgary’s $350,000 per ward for 15 wards. Councillor Aaron Paquette noted that inflation, population growth, and evolving technological and equity needs have made the outdated funding insufficient, limiting offices’ ability to communicate with constituents and provide services such as newsletters or accessibility supports. Council has asked Administration to review ward budgets and the Mayor’s Office funding and provide a detailed service package for consideration. In addition to core funding, Councillors requested office furniture and travel budgets for 2026, including attendance at conferences, advocacy days, and government events such as the Calgary Stampede. Total approved furniture costs for the year came to $11,178, with remaining 2025 budget funds potentially carried forward.
• Council has approved $11 million in annual funding for Explore Edmonton, the City’s tourism agency, along with an additional $2.5 million over three years to support a yet-to-be-named major event bid. Council emphasized the economic benefits, with Mayor Andrew Knack noting the city expects to see $29 back for every dollar invested. Explore Edmonton says that tourism has become a major economic driver, with the city hosting over 80,000 overnight visitors during the Oilers’ Stanley Cup run in 2024. The organization also manages the Edmonton Expo Centre, Convention Centre, and major annual events like K-Days and the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
• The City of Edmonton has begun demolishing the historic Northlands Park Racetrack and Casino to make way for a large residential development on the 220-acre Exhibition Lands site. The project will include 3,500 multi-family and rowhouse units, potentially housing up to 7,500 residents, and is part of a broader City plan that also involves a new fan park and eventual redevelopment of the Northlands Coliseum. Positioned just five kilometres from downtown and near the river valley, the area will be a transit-oriented urban village served by two LRT stations. Demolition is scheduled to finish in spring 2026, with construction on residential parcels starting soon after and some units expected by 2027. The development is expected to unfold over the next two decades, with a market-driven approach guiding residential and commercial construction. 
• Edmonton commuters and nearby businesses are seeing relief as 104 Avenue between 105 Street and 121 Street has reopened to two lanes in each direction, marking the completion of the 2025 accelerated Valley Line West roadwork plan. The project, which began in mid-April, involved upgrades to six major intersections along the future LRT line and finished on or ahead of schedule. City crews removed barricades and restored full traffic flow, setting permanent turning options for motorists in completed areas. Officials acknowledged the disruption caused by months of construction and thanked the public for their patience. Planning for the 2026 construction season is already underway, and details on next year’s work will be shared once finalized. The Valley Line West LRT itself remains on track for completion in 2028, after which extensive testing will be conducted before opening to passengers. 

On The Agenda

• Councillors are set to learn more about how the City of Edmonton would respond to an emergency situation at an emergency advisory committee meeting on Dec. 12. The committee will be asked to approve the municipal emergency plan, which has been comprehensively updated for the first time since 2021. The new plan includes a preliminary evacuation plan, which is the first step toward a full evacuation plan that’s required due to changes in the provincial Emergency Management Act. It also includes changes that expedite agreements between Edmonton and other municipalities for large-scale evacuations, like those that occurred during the wildfire seasons of 2023 and 2024.
• Councillors have requested $55,500 to attend conferences and other meetings in 2026, according to a report set to be presented to council services committee on Dec. 12. Travel and registration fees are funded by a budget the 12 councillors share, which is $73,000 in 2026. Coun. Keren Tang and Coun. Mike Elliott has each requested to attend the Calgary Stampede in June at a cost of $2,000 and $3,000, respectively. Coun. Jon Morgan has requested to attend three Canadian Urban Transit Association events at a total cost of $13,000. There is $17,500 set aside for all the councillors to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Edmonton in June.
• Councillors have requested a total of $11,578 for new office furniture, according to a report set to be presented to council services committee on Dec. 12. Office furnishings like workstations and chairs are funded by a budget the 12 councillors share, which is set at the first council services committee meeting of the year. The requests would result in a negative balance of $300, but the report said some requests would be able to be billed to the 2025 fiscal year.
• Administration is scheduled to present the external auditor’s 2025 report to council’s audit committee at a meeting on Dec. 10. The report details KPMG’s plan to audit the consolidated financial statements of the City of Edmonton for 2025.
• Administration will present the proposed boards of directors and budgets for the city’s business improvement areas for 2026 at a council meeting on Dec. 8.
• Council is scheduled to receive a private update on an unspecified event and on a confidential negotiation at a council meeting on Dec. 8.
• Councillors are set to learn more about how the City of Edmonton would respond to an emergency situation at an emergency advisory committee meeting on Dec. 12. The committee will be asked to approve the municipal emergency plan, which has been comprehensively updated for the first time since 2021. The new plan includes a preliminary evacuation plan, which is the first step toward a full evacuation plan that’s required due to changes in the provincial Emergency Management Act. It also includes changes that expedite agreements between Edmonton and other municipalities for large-scale evacuations, like those that occurred during the wildfire seasons of 2023 and 2024.
• Councillors have requested $55,500 to attend conferences and other meetings in 2026, according to a report set to be presented to council services committee on Dec. 12. Travel and registration fees are funded by a budget the 12 councillors share, which is $73,000 in 2026. Coun. Keren Tang and Coun. Mike Elliott has each requested to attend the Calgary Stampede in June at a cost of $2,000 and $3,000, respectively. Coun. Jon Morgan has requested to attend three Canadian Urban Transit Association events at a total cost of $13,000. There is $17,500 set aside for all the councillors to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Edmonton in June.
• Councillors have requested a total of $11,578 for new office furniture, according to a report set to be presented to council services committee on Dec. 12. Office furnishings like workstations and chairs are funded by a budget the 12 councillors share, which is set at the first council services committee meeting of the year. The requests would result in a negative balance of $300, but the report said some requests would be able to be billed to the 2025 fiscal year.
• Administration is scheduled to present the external auditor’s 2025 report to council’s audit committee at a meeting on Dec. 10. The report details KPMG’s plan to audit the consolidated financial statements of the City of Edmonton for 2025.
• Administration will present the proposed boards of directors and budgets for the city’s business improvement areas for 2026 at a council meeting on Dec. 8.
• Council is scheduled to receive a private update on an unspecified event and on a confidential negotiation at a council meeting on Dec.8.

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• Edmonton City Council has approved a 6.9% property tax increase for 2026 following four days of budget deliberations. The budget passed with an 11-2 vote - Councillors Mike Elliott and Karen Principe were opposed. This is higher than the 6.4% increase initially proposed and includes funding for tourism marketing, transit cleaning, new buses, and additional peace officers for traffic safety. Council also approved $7.3 million for road upgrades in west Edmonton in partnership with the provincial government and Enoch Cree Nation, as well as expanded use of the derelict residential tax subclass to encourage property revitalization. The City says the tax increase addresses structural budget variances caused by high costs, rapid population growth, and changing service needs. Tax assessments will be released in January, with notices mailed in May.
• During budget debates, Councillor Aaron Paquette proposed a plan to restore $64.5 million to the City’s financial stabilization reserve, which would have pushed taxes above 9% this year but lowered increases in future years - his motion was defeated 12-1. Funding for Explore Edmonton was approved 8-5, with Councillors Reed Clarke, Thu Parmar, Karen Principe, Michael Elliott, and Mayor Andrew Knack voting against. Councillor Karen Principe also proposed several motions to cut spending and reduce taxes, including reallocating funds from contractual items, vandalism control, and the EPCOR dividend, but all were defeated.
• The Emergency Advisory committee meets on Friday this week to review the City’s updated 2026 Municipal Emergency Plan, a major revision that adds new evacuation planning requirements, updated emergency social services standards, and streamlined procedures aligned with recent provincial legislation. The meeting includes a full briefing on how Edmonton manages prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during disasters such as wildfires, floods, hazardous materials incidents, and large-scale evacuations. A key spending item is the requested budget increase for the Emergency Management Program, including six additional full-time staff positions costing $927,074 annually to meet new provincial requirements and support emergency readiness. Council members will also receive mandatory training updates required under Alberta’s emergency management regulations.
• The Edmonton Police Service has become the first police agency in the world to test Axon’s new body-worn cameras equipped with facial recognition. Up to 50 officers will use the cameras in a month-long trial to evaluate whether the technology can accurately match faces captured on video with EPS’s existing database, including individuals flagged for safety concerns or with serious outstanding warrants. The system runs in “silent mode,” meaning officers will not receive real-time alerts. Instead, specialized staff will review footage afterward to assess accuracy and operational impact. EPS says all facial-recognition still images will be deleted after testing, with video retained under standard rules. Officials describe the trial as an exploration of whether the technology can enhance public and officer safety, while stressing it will not replace human judgment. Results will be reviewed by the Edmonton Police Commission in 2026, and a Privacy Impact Assessment has been submitted to the provincial commissioner.
• The Alberta government has entered negotiations with the top-ranked bidder to redevelop the former Royal Alberta Museum site in Edmonton’s Glenora neighbourhood. The move follows a shift from last year’s plan to demolish the vacant 1967 building and convert the area into park space. Six proposals were submitted, three met provincial criteria, and one has now advanced to early negotiations. The building currently costs about $700,000 annually to maintain and carries an estimated $225 million in deferred maintenance and renovation needs. Community groups and local MLAs have long urged preservation of the structure, pointing to strong public support in earlier surveys. The Province says more details will be released if negotiations succeed, with the option of approaching the next-ranked proponent if required.

ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, council will deliberate over changes to the fall budget adjustment at a council meeting scheduled for Dec. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

City administration has proposed a 6.4% property tax increase for 2026, in line with what the previous council approved in the spring. The current council questioned administration about the budget during a meeting on Nov. 25.

Administration has identified a $52.3-million gap in the operating budget. City staff have shifted money around internally to address $13.4 million of that gap, and said in a report that the remaining $38.8 million will “be addressed through specific action plans, which include fee increases, program reviews, and adjustments to service levels.”

Council will debate whether to fund several currently unfunded budget service packages, including $1.9 million to staff transit stations with safety attendants during periods of lower ridership, $95,000 to support expanding the derelict residential tax subclass beyond mature neighbourhoods, $2.7 million to make a temporary enhanced transit cleaning program permanent, $9.9 million to improve snow clearing and sidewalk repair, $555,000 to reinstate the infill liaison team, and $2.9-million to improve DATS service levels.

Meanwhile, three capital projects require more money than previously approved in the four-year budget cycle. The estimated cost for the 137 Avenue and Anthony Henday Ramps project has more than doubled, from $6.6 million to $14.3 million. Construction of the Athlone Fire Station is now expected to cost $28 million, or $10 million more than its original allocation. Costs to build the Walker Fire Station have increased, too, from $19.9 million to $32.8 million. About $3 million of the increase is attributed to construction, while an additional $10 million is needed because the project is now proposed to include an emergency communications dispatch centre.

Coun. Keren Tang, whose ward includes the future Walker Fire Station, said the stations are necessary, but that she’s worried infrastructure costs are ballooning with every budget. Tang said the increase that’s proposed has come as a surprise, too. “We approved $19.9 million, which is not a small number, and the ground hasn’t been broken yet, I haven’t seen any designs, I haven’t seen much engagement on this, and now we’re asking for an additional $12 million,” Tang said. “That’s a lot.”

Council will also debate purchasing 25 new buses, for $25.22 million, to transition three On Demand Transit zones to scheduled service. This change would result in a $420,000 operating budget increase in 2026, and about $7.4 million annually starting in 2027, the year the buses are expected to enter service.

The agenda includes a report that suggests the removal of most photo radar sites coincides with an increase in speeding, especially drivers travelling at 20 to 30 km/h over the posted limit. The previous council asked for this report, to outline ways the city could increase safety enforcement. That report notes the number of speeding vehicles has increased by nearly 11% in 2025 compared to 2024. The largest increase, it notes, is among vehicles travelling at 20 to 29 km/h over the speed limit, which grew by 87.3%.

The report also includes an update on the city’s progress on Vision Zero. That plan targets eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2032, and was adopted in 2015. In the first four years, traffic deaths and serious injuries decreased by 50% and 32%, respectively. In 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, fatalities and injuries continued to drop. But fatalities have climbed rapidly in recent years. Fourteen people died in traffic-related events in 2019, growing to 24 in 2023 and 26 in 2024. So far in 2025, 31 people have died in traffic-related events. Speed has been a contributing factor in about half of those fatalities, according to Edmonton Police Service data. Council is set to debate an enhanced traffic safety enforcement strategy during budget deliberations.

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

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• City Council will meet several times this week to discuss the 2025-2028 budget, starting today at 9:30 am. Councillors are set to review the proposed 2026 budget, which includes a 6.4% property tax increase, matching the previous Council’s spring approval. Administration cites a fiscal gap caused by declining provincial grants, a shrinking share of non-residential taxes, debt limits, inflation, and population growth, making it challenging to maintain service levels.
• Despite the tax increase being debated, concerns remain that critical arterial roads may not be repaired due to insufficient funding. Councillor Keren Tang proposed adding $5 million - the lowest funding option - to extend the service life of the worst-condition roads, emphasizing that maintaining existing infrastructure is a core service and cheaper than letting deterioration worsen. Residents have expressed frustration with patchwork repairs, urging the city to address long-term road quality. Mayor Andrew Knack acknowledged the importance of roadwork but indicated that additional funding may have to wait until the next four-year budget cycle.
• Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams told the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce that municipalities must focus on core services and avoid spending on extras, stressing that the province is not a “shining knight” for City finances. Edmonton receives about $250 million from the provincial government, which fluctuates with revenues, so Williams urged Councils to deliver essential services like road maintenance, water systems, and garbage collection efficiently. He encouraged innovative solutions to help municipalities manage budgets without raising property taxes, emphasizing long-term infrastructure planning and asset use. Williams also stressed that addiction and social disorder are primarily provincial responsibilities, with the Alberta Recovery Model guiding compassionate intervention for those struggling with addiction. While municipalities should cooperate with provincial strategies, they must respect the mandated approach and avoid duplicating services. Overall, Williams called for fiscal responsibility at the municipal level while supporting coordinated provincial-municipal efforts on social challenges.
• Edmonton is moving ahead with 10 new affordable-housing developments after selling surplus school sites to builders for a symbolic one dollar each. The projects are funded through a $99-million federal Housing Acceleration Fund grant and will add more than 1,300 units across the city, including 925 below-market homes capped at 80% of average rents. Sites in neighbourhoods such as Belmont, Blue Quill, Dunluce, Miller, and Summerlea will host a range of purpose-built housing, from multi-generational units to second- and third-stage housing for women and families leaving violence. Several projects include partnerships with community groups, Indigenous organizations, and newcomer-serving agencies. City officials say the initiative will make a meaningful contribution to Edmonton’s affordable-housing shortage, while the province has opened a new $200-million funding round through its Affordable Housing Partnership Program. The remaining surplus school lands continue to be evaluated for future housing opportunities.
• The Province has selected a location on the University of Alberta’s south campus for a new standalone Stollery Children’s Hospital, marking the first major step toward expanding pediatric care in the capital region. The site, currently a green space near 122 Street and 51 Avenue, was chosen for its room to grow and its proximity to the university’s clinical and research hub. Detailed planning for space, services, and infrastructure will continue until 2026, with costs and timelines to be determined afterward. Construction of a full hospital is expected to take at least five to eight years once it begins. The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation has launched a $1-billion fundraising campaign to support the project. Once complete, the facility is expected to free up space at the existing Stollery within the University of Alberta Hospital, helping meet growing acute care demands in a city that has added more than 300,000 residents since the original Stollery opened in 2001.

This week, council will get its first look at the fall budget adjustment and will continue with orientation.

There is an orientation meeting scheduled for the mornings of Nov. 24, 25, and 26, and a city council meeting scheduled for the afternoons of Nov. 24, 25, and 26.

Council will review the fall budget adjustment at the afternoon meetings. Administration has proposed a 6.4% tax increase for 2026, which is in line with what the previous council approved in the spring.

Administration has identified a $52.3-million gap in the city’s operating budget. City staff moved money around internally to address $13.4 million of the gap, and the remaining $38.8 million will “be addressed through specific action plans, which include fee increases, program reviews, and adjustments to service levels,” the budget report said. Administration has proposed reducing the budget of the city’s anti-racism office by $430,000. Other proposed service reductions will be discussed in private.

Council will debate budget service packages that are currently not funded, including $1.9 million to staff transit stations with safety attendants during periods of lower ridership, $95,000 to support expanding the derelict residential tax subclass beyond mature neighbourhoods, $2.7 million to make a temporary enhanced transit cleaning program permanent, $9.9 million to improve snow clearing and sidewalk repair, $555,000 to reinstate the infill liaison team, and a $2.9-million funding increase to improve service levels with DATS.

Meanwhile, three capital projects require more than what was already approved in the four-year budget cycle. The estimated cost for the 137 Avenue and Anthony Henday Ramps project has more than doubled, from $6.6 million to $14.3 million. Construction of the Athlone Fire Station is now expected to cost $28 million, or $10 million more than its original allocation. Construction of the Walker Fire Station has increased, too, from $19.9 million to $32.8 million.

Council will debate purchasing 25 new buses, for $25.22 million, to transition three On Demand Transit zones to scheduled service. This change would result in a $420,000 operating budget increase in 2026, and about $7.4 million annually starting in 2027, the year the buses are expected to be put into service.

The budget report also includes an update on the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy. Council had asked administration to establish a reserve fund so that parking revenues from the ePark lot across Gateway Boulevard from the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market would be used to support the upgrades identified in the strategy, including design and construction of upgrades to End of Steel Park. Administration forecasts that the parking revenues will be able to fund the design of the park, but not the construction or any other upgrades in the strategy.

The carbon budget report said the proposed adjustments aren’t expected to significantly change the city’s emissions. The city is still forecast to deplete its community carbon budget in 2036 and its corporate carbon budget in 2032. Its stated goal is to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

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• Today, at 8:30 am, there will be special meetings of the Community and Public Services Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Urban Planning Committee. The Committees will each elect a Chair and Vice-Chair, but there is little else on the agenda. At 9:30 am, City Council Orientation continues, and Councillors will receive presentations from Administration on Supporting Financial Sustainability. Tuesday’s orientation session will focus on Economic Development, on Wednesday Council will hear about Service Delivery and Advancing Safety and Security.
• Council budget meetings will also begin today, at 1:30 pm, and continue on Tuesday at 1:30 pm and Wednesday at 1:30 pm, as well as December 1st to 4th beginning at 9:30 am each day. Edmontonians are facing a 6.4% property tax increase, which Administration says is needed to address the City’s growing fiscal pressures from inflation, population growth, declining provincial grants, and debt limits. Many planned capital projects, including new buses and road expansions, have been left unfunded, though $6.5 million is allocated for the Rossdale Power Plant roof. Officials warn that any reductions to offset the tax hike would likely come at the expense of service levels. The budget marks the final year of the current four-year cycle, with the new Council expected to draft a fresh budget in 2026.
• Edmonton is facing a rise in traffic fatalities, with 30 deaths so far this year, up from 26 in 2024 and 24 in 2023. Nearly half of these collisions involved speeding, and excessive speed violations over 50 km/h above the limit are up 19%. Street racing and reckless driving are also reportedly contributing to the problem. Police stress that automated enforcement could reduce dangerous driving, but high-risk intersections remain a concern. Most fatal crashes occur on arterial roads and during darkness, with speed being the key factor. The City is targeting priority areas, such as 118 Avenue near Highlands School, using measures like flashing beacons, which have cut average speeds by 14%. Despite these efforts, officials warn that speeding and traffic fatalities continue to pose a serious threat to public safety.
• Edmonton Ward Dene Councillor Aaron Paquette is proposing to turn the City’s ED Tel Endowment Fund into a sovereign wealth fund to reduce reliance on property taxes and attract more development. The fund, currently worth $1 billion, generates about $48 million annually for property tax relief, but Paquette aims to grow it to $6 billion over 10-15 years to fully offset tax increases. He argues the City has already squeezed all efficiencies from its budget and needs alternative revenue streams. Concerns have also been raised that businesses are moving just outside Edmonton to avoid high taxes, leaving the City to shoulder rising costs. Paquette suggests the City offer incentives and better infrastructure support to attract developers while including safeguards to protect taxpayers.
• Former Mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell has announced he is leaving the Better Edmonton Party, which he co-founded during last year’s municipal election. Cartmell said he decided to step back after a period of reflection but praised the remaining team for continuing to push core issues and potentially prepare for the next election. The party saw three Councillors elected in October, though two of them recently left the party as well. Cartmell expressed pride in the campaign’s accomplishments and in his eight years of service on City Council, calling it an enriching experience despite the recent departures.

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.

I can speak from experience that it's not easy being an artist or craftsperson, and its even harder to make one's living from one's art or craft. Fortunately for local artists and craftspersons OddBird’s Flight School program was established to help them with marketing their art and crafts. The first graduates of the program will be plying what they learned at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre from November 28 to 30 and December 5-7.

Local artists appreciate and need your support and encouragement, so make it a point to attend the OddBird’s graduates' show and/or other arts and crafts shows during this season.

Edmonton's new council meets for the first time today in what is largely an introductory session. From the make up of the council it appears to be more of the same. Stephanie Swensrude of TapRoot has compiled a list of where she thinks council stands on various issues. Time will reveal how accurate she is.

The old adage "outta sight, outta mind" held true for some time, but this latest TapRoot article suggests the saga of establishing a Camrose casino in Ward Karhiio continues. I believe the last thing Millwoods/Meadows or for that matter Edmonton needs is another casino. I'm hoping our new mayor and council can get together with all parties involved to find a way to end to this saga once and for all!

Taproot partnered with the Edmonton Public Library for a mayoral forum at the Stanley A. Milner Branch on Oct. 9. The in-person event was sold out, and more than 6,000 people tuned into the livestream, which was recorded to allow you to watch it in full afterwards. Ten candidates shared their vision for Edmonton’s future: Ronald Stewart Billingsley, Jr., Tim Cartmell, Tony Caterina, Abdul Malik Chukwudi, Vanessa Denman, Andy Andrzej Gudanowski, Rahim Jaffer, Andrew Knack, Olney Tugwell, and Michael Walters.

Here’s a recap of what some of the candidates said about infrastructure, property taxes, and infill.

Infrastructure

Tim Cartmell said, if elected, he would focus on maintaining the city’s existing infrastructure. “We’re $1.9 billion behind the ideal spend on maintaining the stuff that we already have. That is going to be absolutely key in the next four years — making sure that we actually are pushing back and biting it back against that deficit,” he said. Cartmell pitched private-public partnerships and working with other levels of government to reduce pressure on property taxes when paying for that infrastructure.

Andrew Knack noted that the city’s population has grown in record numbers over the last few years, and said most newcomers have moved into suburban communities beyond Anthony Henday Drive. “Those are areas that don’t have services — we are short for fire halls right now outside the Henday, we need the recreation spaces, we need libraries, we need parks,” he said. “We have a number of locations where their roadway infrastructure isn’t enough.”

Michael Walters said he wants to negotiate a fair deal between the city and the provincial government for infrastructure grants that can take some pressure off paying for infrastructure through revenue collected through property taxes.

Rahim Jaffer said, if elected, that he’d stop the “shotgun” approach to adding infrastructure, where the city builds several large projects simultaneously. “What I’d like to do is focus on some of the bigger infrastructure projects, and get those done within a certain quadrant of the city. As I mentioned, if there’s emergency issues that come up, we can move people accordingly, but just in order to allow those major arteries to remain open and clear, it’s very important to have that oversight, because otherwise you have this gridlock that continues to plague most of our citizens trying to get around.”

Property taxes

While some candidates have discussed cutting services to lower taxes, Walters proposed taxing only to a level that makes the city competitive for businesses, provides excellent public services, and promotes livability. “We certainly need to look at our budgets and our tax increases through those three lenses and make sure that we are not going much past inflation, particularly at a time when families are already struggling dearly to pay the bills,” Walters said.

Knack said partnering with the private sector wouldn’t fully address the budget pressure the city faces, and that he’s proposed a “responsible budget, one that is still going to invest in our city.”

Infill

Cartmell said infill housing should be focused on large swaths of mostly-empty land, like Blatchford, the Exhibition Lands, and surface parking lots in the east portion of downtown. “This is where we can build the housing that we really need to take the pressure off of established neighborhoods,” he said.

Knack said the city needs to densify to avoid growing only through suburban expansion. He pointed to recent zoning bylaw amendments that reduce the footprint of some infill developments in mature neighbourhoods. “We also need to do more on preserving mature trees — we’re one of the few large cities in this country that doesn’t have a mature tree protection bylaw,” Knack said.

You can hear from the 10 mayoral candidates who attended the forum by watching the recording of the event. Advance polls are open until Oct. 11. Election day is Oct. 20. Visit the Taproot vote site to find your ward and where to vote. You can also take the Taproot survey to match with candidates and take a look at how much money candidates have raised in the first part of the election period.

Watch a rep[lay of the debate by clicking the link.

Edmonton city council passed big decisions and final motions before ending its term

By Stephanie Swensrude

The 2021-2025 council has met for the final time, and the official campaign period for the municipal election on Oct. 20 has begun. But before calling it a day, the current council tackled several big policy changes, agreements, and final motions that may get lost in the election campaign. Here’s a synopsis.

Zoning bylaw

In late June, council started a public hearing to examine proposed changes to the zoning bylaw that would end up stretching into council’s summer break. Councillors voted to amend some parts of the zoning bylaw while keeping other parts intact, and they also directed administration to prepare amendments to the zoning bylaw and district policy that could be decided on by the next council. This followed months of mounting discontent with infill development in the city among a segment of the population, with some residents feeling that their neighbourhoods were changing without their input. Taproot examined this in July.

Administration prepared amendments to the zoning bylaw that would, among other changes, restrict the number of units that can be built on mid-block infill sites in the small-scale residential zone from eight to six. Nearly 200 people signed up to speak at the public hearing. Many expressed frustration at how infill construction has changed their neighbourhoods, though some residents said the city was on the right track and urged council not to give up.

After hearing from the speakers, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi introduced a motion to strike the unit maximum from the amendments, thus keeping the limit at eight units. The motion barely passed; Sohi, plus councillors Aaron Paquette, Keren Tang, Erin Rutherford, Anne Stevenson, and Jo-Anne Wright voted to keep the eight-unit limit. But the idea of reducing mid-block infill to six units isn’t gone forever; council has asked administration for a report analyzing how that change would affect the financial feasibility of infill and the number of units that would be constructed.

Council did, however, vote to change some design policies for mid-block infill in the small-scale residential zone. Council voted to approve reducing the maximum size of a building and the number of entrances that are permitted to face neighbouring properties. It also voted to approve changing the required design for the facade of infill buildings. Council also directed administration to bring forward funding options for reinstating the infill liaison team during the next budget adjustment, which will be decided by the next council.

Fan park deal

At the last meeting of the term on Sept. 19, council officially approved the deal between the City of Edmonton, the provincial government, and Oilers Entertainment Group to build an event park and housing near Rogers Place (council essentially approved the agreement in late August but gave the bylaw its second and third reading on Sept. 19). The deal, using the Community Revitalization Levy, will also see money go to the demolition of the Coliseum and the development of Exhibition Lands near the Edmonton EXPO Centre. The total value of the deal is $408.2 million, to be split between the province, city, and OEG. Council passed it with a 9-4 vote, with councillors Michael Janz, Andrew Knack, Rutherford, and Wright voting against.

The deal was contentious, with proponents suggesting the city should welcome any funding it can get from the province, along with investment from the private sector. But Knack, who is also running for mayor, said the deal was rushed and put the city in a weak negotiating position. “A gun is to our head right now, saying, ‘No, don’t dare amend this agreement, because if you amend it, we don’t have enough time to fix it. It’s going to be thrown away,’” Knack said. “We’ve been given no choice. You either have to say, ‘Yes, we want some of this money’... or you could try to amend it and then potentially risk the whole piece.”

New police chief

Also on the very last day of meetings on Sept. 19, council unanimously voted to ratify the new chief of the Edmonton Police Service, Warren Driechel. The Edmonton Police Commission had chosen Driechel and presented its selection to council for a vote. Driechel had been working as co-interim chief alongside Devin Laforce since former Chief Dale McFee retired in February.

The 2021-2025 council was sworn in about four years ago. They were busy until the bitter end debating agreements, introducing motions, and appointing the new police chief. (Mack Male/Flickr)

Driechel said he wants to maintain the work McFee already started. “I think we’re pointing in the same direction. We’ve built a lot of really great things over the last five, six years, really optimizing some of those things,” he said at the press conference announcing the new position.

When Driechel was a part of the drug and gang enforcement unit, he was involved in a scandal in which officers were caught purchasing anabolic steroids from fellow cops between 2005 and 2013.

At the event announcing his appointment, Driechel said the scandal follows him every day.

“I was struggling with some things at the time. They’re very personal to me. I always knew that at some point it would become public, and when it did, I struggled with the idea that it defined me as a person,” he said. “I’m just hoping that eventually I can pass it and it just doesn’t define me.”

Final motions

At the final regular council meeting, councillors had a long list of motions pending to get through. Councillors typically use the motions to ask administration to create a report about a particular issue or to prepare amendments to a bylaw or policy that would then be debated and voted on. Less commonly, councillors can use the motion to direct administration to do something.

Thirteen is an unusually high number of motions for a council meeting. Given the election is approaching, this could be the last chance for individual councillors to create such motions before they potentially lose their seat.

Ward O’day-min Coun. Anne Stevenson spoke through tears as she introduced a motion aimed at keeping 20 affordable housing units in Riverdale. HomeEd, an affordable housing provider owned by the City of Edmonton, listed for sale the Riverdale Place townhouses in the spring, noting they had reached the end of their useful lives and that the sale could help fund new affordable housing. Tenants and other Riverdale residents had been fighting to keep the units. Stevenson’s motion directs administration to bring forward a rezoning application that includes a requirement for a minimum of 20 affordable housing units on the lot. That motion passed 9-4, with councillors Tim Cartmell, Jennifer Rice, Karen Principe, and Wright voting against. The motion doesn’t necessarily keep the affordable housing units; the next council will vote on the rezoning application at an indeterminate future meeting.

Cartmell, who is running for mayor, introduced a motion directing administration to cease construction work on bike lane projects where a lane is intended to replace a lane of vehicle traffic, pending a complete review of all individual bike lane projects. After several unsuccessful attempts from other councillors to amend the motion, it was a put to a vote and failed 4-9, with councillors Sarah Hamilton, Cartmell, Rice, and Principe voting in favour.

Rutherford, meanwhile, made a motion asking administration to explore how to reduce the impact of infill buildings in the small-scale residential zone that are constructed to their maximum height. Following council’s unanimous approval, that information will be included in the aforementioned report analyzing the eight-unit maximum, which is expected to be presented to council in early 2027.

Rutherford also introduced a motion that she had intended to introduce in August, when council passed the new river valley area redevelopment plan. She asked administration to prepare amendments to the plan that clarify requirements for Indigenous engagement, and to write a report to clarify the current legal requirements for Indigenous engagement on both city-owned land and private land in the river valley. Council approved the motion unanimously.

Knack wanted to ask administration to explore purchasing part of the Fulton Creek land in southeast Edmonton. Earlier this year, council rejected a proposal that would have seen the Fulton Creek Business Park expand, the creek relocated, and nearly 7,000 trees felled. Knack’s motion did not pass; only Knack, Hamilton, Salvador, Janz, and Stevenson voted in favour.

Janz, whose ward includes the University of Alberta, introduced a motion asking administration to consider adding post-secondary students to the Leisure Access Pass program. The program provides access to municipal recreation facilities and attractions at a free or reduced cost. Council passed the motion unanimously, and administration will return to council’s community and public services committee next year with more information.