thisweekinedmonton
- There is only one meeting at City Hall this week. The Agenda Review Committee will meet on Tuesday at 8:30 am. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
- Councillors are working to manage a projected $34 million deficit while discussing options for a property tax increase in 2025. City Administration recommended an 8.1% increase, but some Councillors expressed dissatisfaction with this proposal. We think this is unacceptable. Council should be cutting taxes, not raising them, and they could absolutely afford to do so if they got wasteful spending under control. If you agree, please sign our petition calling on Council to get “Back To Basics”.
- Edmonton Transit numbers show a record-breaking 6.4 million rides in October - a 22% increase from the previous year. Factors such as affordability are driving more Edmontonians to choose transit over driving, with many citing the cost savings from avoiding car insurance and parking fees. The Valley Line Southeast also hit a milestone with 300,000 monthly riders, doubling since its opening. On-demand transit services reached a new high, with over 72,000 riders. The City is on track to surpass 60 million riders by the end of 2024.
- There are no meetings at City Hall today, as it is Remembrance Day. Several Remembrance Day events will take place in and around Edmonton to honour fallen armed forces members. Those attending the ceremony at Edmonton City Hall are being asked to be inside no later than 9:50 am. The Alberta Aviation Museum will hold its event at 10:30 am, while the Beverly Cenotaph ceremony begins with a church service at 9:30 am, followed by a memorial at 10:50 am. Other events include ceremonies at Kingsway Legion, the Jewish Federation of Edmonton, Norwood Legion, and Patricia Park Memorial, all starting around 10:30 am. Additionally, West Edmonton Mall will host a ceremony at the Ice Palace at 10:00 am.
- On Tuesday, at 8:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Agenda Review Committee, followed by a Public Hearing at 9:30 am to address several land use amendments. On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of City Council. At this meeting, Administration will present its fall budget adjustment reports to Council. The meeting will continue on Thursday at 9:30 am.
- Edmonton police are investigating a series of suspicious fires in south Edmonton, including a recent arson in the King Edward Park neighbourhood. The fire, reported Thursday night, started in a dumpster and spread to a detached garage, causing $50,000 in damages but no injuries. Since May, seven such incidents have been reported in the Strathearn, Cloverdale, King Edward Park, and Holyrood areas. Although there is no connection to Project Gaslight at this time, which involves extortions targeting the South Asian community, police are actively patrolling and investigating the fires. Local residents are concerned over the increasing number of incidents, fearing for their safety.
- This morning, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council Public Hearing to address several proposed zoning amendments. If the hearing does not conclude on time, it will continue on Tuesday at 1:30 pm. On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Non-Regular Meeting of City Council. The agenda includes a closed session regarding candidate shortlisting for the Edmonton Police Commission.
- On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, the Council Services Committee will meet to discuss Councillors’ budgets and expenses. Finally, the Utility Committee will meet on Friday at 9:30 am. There are several items on the agenda, including the Waste Services Climate Action Plan, as well as rates for the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility.
- Edmonton is selling land in the Quarters at a significantly reduced price to the non-profit Edmonton City Church Corporation to develop transitional housing and office spaces. The project aims to add 19 transitional housing beds and relocate an emergency women's shelter from the Gibson Block to a new building with 50 shelter beds. Although the sale, valued at over $3 million, has been met with concerns about demolishing the historic Joseph Reed Residence, Councillors are hoping this initiative will spur additional private investment in the area. The development is expected to enhance foot traffic and economic activity.
- The Community and Public Services Committee will meet this morning at 9:30 am to discuss, among other things, the renewal of the Memorandum of Shared Recognition and Cooperation with the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.
- On Tuesday, at 8:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Agenda Review Committee, followed by a meeting of the Urban Planning Committee at 9:30 am. At the latter meeting, the Committee will discuss the planting, maintenance, and retention of trees on public and private property, as well as a report on multi-unit residential building designs with "point access blocks" - those with a single exit staircase.
- The Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The agenda for this meeting includes an environmental impact assessment for the Wellington Bridge Replacement Project, and a report on transit needs to meet population growth, among other items.
- This morning, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council Public Hearing. There are several land use amendments on the agenda, including a proposal to zone for a pair of high rise residential towers. (More on that below!). If the hearing does not conclude on time, it will continue on November 4th at 6:00 pm.
- The Agenda Review Committee will meet on Tuesday at 8:30 am, as will City Council, at 9:30 am. Council’s agenda includes a monthly update on Dutch Elm Disease, the 2023 Annual Report from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner, and the Executive Committee’s report on the Chinatown Strategy, along with several other items. Should the meeting not conclude on time, it will continue on Wednesday at 9:30 am. Also on Tuesday, at 4:30 pm, there will be a Special City Council Meeting to discuss a City Manager recruitment update.
- Edmonton is facing a shortage of ice time for sports like hockey, figure skating, and ringette, despite having 21 city-operated arenas and 31 rinks. Hockey Edmonton, which has over 8,000 participants, is competing with other sports for limited ice availability. Privately-run arenas, such as Silent Ice Centre, help alleviate the pressure but come with higher costs, creating financial barriers for participants. Some groups are being forced to travel to rural arenas, increasing costs further.
- This week, there is only one meeting scheduled on account of the Thanksgiving holiday - a meeting of the Agenda Review Committee, which will take place tomorrow at 8:30 am. Speaking of Thanksgiving, we hope you are having a wonderful long weekend with family and friends. At Common Sense Edmonton, we’re grateful for each and every one of you who read our newsletters, sign our petitions, and donate to our work.
- Edmonton’s Healthy Streets Operations Centre in Chinatown is set to close at the end of this year after a two-year pilot program funded by the City. Despite the City's decision not to extend the pilot, community leaders are hoping that collaborative efforts between the City, police, and social agencies will continue to ensure local safety. The HSOC was established with a $15.2 million budget to address crime and disorder in Chinatown and nearby areas. While some successes were noted, such as a decrease in ambulance calls and reduced violent crime severity, other non-violent crimes increased, leading to a mixed evaluation of the program.
- Edmontonians are being asked to vote for a local bird that best symbolizes the city as part of a campaign to promote urban biodiversity. Six bird species have been nominated, including the black-billed magpie. You can cast your ballot online. Voting for the first round will continue until December 31st, with the top three birds advancing to a second round that ends on March 31st, 2025. Does anyone know of a dysfunctional bird that costs more and more every year?
- There will be a meeting of the Community and Public Services Committee at 9:30 am this morning. The Committee will discuss a private report pertaining to “Event Sponsorships”. On Tuesday, at 8:30 am, there will be an Agenda Review Committee meeting, and at 9:30 am there will be an Urban Planning Committee meeting. At the latter meeting, the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy will be discussed, with an eye on making the area more pedestrian friendly.
- On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Executive Committee. On the agenda is a discussion about designating the Crawford Residence as a Municipal Historic Resource, and a plan to address transit service needs for the city’s growing population including fleet renewal, fleet growth, and facility plans. The Committee will also discuss a Capital and Operating Funding Shortfall Analysis - the document shows that only 57.5% of the City’s ideal renewal needs are funded in the 2023 to 2026 budget cycle. Finally, on Friday, there will be a meeting of the Utility Committee at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss and potentially approve EPCOR Water Services Inc.'s Performance Based Regulation rate application for Wastewater Services for the 2025-2027 period. This rate application, if approved, will set wastewater utility rates for customers from April 1st, 2025 to December 31st, 2027.
- PACE (the Principled Accountable Coalition for Edmonton), a new municipal political party launched in response to the Province's passing of Bill 20, is hosting a series of information sessions. The events take place at various locations around the city throughout October and November, and at them, PACE will share how they plan to build a team, seek common sense candidates, and prepare for the next municipal election. Their next upcoming info session takes place tomorrow, at 7:30pm, at the SE Edmonton Seniors Center. A full list of events is available online.
- On Tuesday, there will be a City Council Public Hearing at 9:30 am to address several zoning amendments, including one in Westmount that seeks to rezone a large area at 105 Avenue and 124 Street. There are plans to construct a large-scale apartment building reaching up to 85 meters tall, covering a footprint of 850 square meters.
- There will be a meeting of City Council on Wednesday at 9:30 am. Council will review and make decisions on previously discussed items, including knife sales, potential fare gates at certain LRT stations, tax options for remediated derelict properties, and the 2024 Affordable Housing Grant Awards, along with amendments to various community plans. Should the meeting not conclude on time, it will continue on Thursday at 9:30 am.
- At 12:00 pm on Thursday, there will be a Special Audit Committee meeting to discuss a private item labelled “External Auditor - Non-Audit Service Request”. On Friday, there will be a meeting of the Special City Manager and City Auditor Performance Evaluation Committee at 9:30 am to discuss a consultant update, followed by a Non-Regular Meeting of City Council at 1:30 pm. During the latter meeting, a private Intergovernmental Update will be discussed.
- This morning, at 9:30 am, there will be a Special City Council Meeting. On the agenda is a private City Manager Recruitment update. Tomorrow, at 8:30 am, the Agenda Review Committee will meet to set the agendas for several of October’s Committee meetings.
- There is a new art piece in Sir Winston Churchill Square. This 32-foot interactive installation aims to enhance the downtown area with vibrant colours and serve as a backdrop for photos while showcasing local artists. During winter, it will remain in the Square to brighten the nights, and in summer, it will travel to festivals and City facilities. Designed by local agency Vignettes Showcase Inc. in collaboration with Métis artists, the piece features a roof that allows visitors to look up at the sky and includes a rotating mural that represents different interpretations of home. The installation also has programmable LED lights that change colours, adaptable for special occasions. If you don't want your tax dollars spent on things like this, sign our petition demanding City Hall accept that Edmonton Must Get Back To Basics.
- After becoming the first airport in Canada to adopt drone logistics in December 2021, Edmonton International Airport is moving ahead with integrating drone deliveries into its logistics. Using something called a Sparrow drone, Volatus Aerospace has been launching drones from a drone terminus in Leduc to a spot in Pat Wilson Park. In the next phase of the project, using a Canary Drone which weighs 20kg, Volatus will be able to fly at predetermined heights along the drone route. The drone can carry packages weighing 4.5 kg up to 25 kilometers. The goal of the drone delivery business is to take over from expensive-to-operate vehicles for the final mile of delivery or for delivery in areas where it’s difficult to take a wheeled vehicle.
- This morning, at 9:30 am, there will be a Community and Public Services Committee meeting. The Committee will discuss an Indigenous Framework and Reconciliation Update, options to address the retail sale of knives, and an addendum to the 2025-2026 Community Safety and Well-Being Funding. The Committee will look to increase that funding by $2,000,000 over two years to support the Violence Prevention Action Plan, the 2SLGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Action Plan, and a top-up for the Community Safety and Well-Being Grant.
- On Tuesday, at 8:30 am, there will be an Agenda Review Committee meeting, followed by an Urban Planning Committee meeting at 9:30 am. At the latter meeting, the Committee will receive a report regarding a plan for a two-year pilot project to use fare gates at two transit facilities. The Committee will also discuss the perception of LRT safety and the River Valley Planning Modernization (RVPM) project.
- There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss the Affordable Housing Investment Program 2024 fall grant awards, as well as options to provide tax forgiveness for remediated derelict properties. The new tax class introduced in 2024 to encourage the renovation of abandoned properties is showing positive results, but Administration is recommending improvements. By adjusting the tax forgiveness policy, the City is hoping to provide better incentives for property owners to address derelict properties sooner, with a higher tax rate applied while properties are derelict and a lower rate once they are fixed. This adjustment is expected to cost the City less than $55,000 in 2024. Also on the agenda is the transfer of stormwater management facilities to EPCOR.
- On Tuesday, the Agenda Review Committee will meet at 8:30 am, followed by a meeting of the Utility Committee at 9:30 am. The Utility Committee will review EPCOR’s 2023 Performance-Based Regulation Progress Report and a report on the Organics Processing Program. On Wednesday, the Audit Committee will meet at 9:30 am to discuss the Waste Collections Audit, the Emergency Support Response Team Reception Centre Management Audit, and a report on 2025 Corporate Strategic Risks. The Waste Collections Audit found that while performance goals and data tracking are strong, there are issues with data collection and assurance.
- To close out the week, there are two small meetings - a Special City Council meeting at 1:30 pm on Wednesday to discuss a private City Manager Update, and a continuation of last week’s Special City Manager Recruitment Committee meeting at 9:30 am on Friday.
- New municipal political party PACE (Principled Accountable Coalition for Edmonton) is hosting an event on September 5th, at 7:00 pm at the Leefield Community League. The party launched in response to the Province's passing of Bill 20, which allows for municipal political parties at next year's election and their goal is a more fiscally prudent, business-friendly, and growth-oriented City Hall.
- The Agenda Review Committee will meet on Tuesday at 8:30 am. At 9:30 am, the Urban Planning Committee will meet. The Committee will discuss amendments to the Zoning Bylaw to reduce the maximum floor area for commercial establishments in certain residential zones from 300 m² to 200 m². This change aims to balance support for local small businesses with the need to minimize potential negative impacts on neighbouring residential properties. The proposal will be discussed in a future City Council public hearing. Also on Tuesday, at 12:00 pm, there will be a Special City Manager Recruitment Committee meeting to discuss, what else, the recruitment of a City Manager.
- On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Executive Committee. On the agenda is a potential policy to help businesses experiencing financial losses during major construction projects. The Committee will also discuss an action plan for addressing the City’s ongoing budgetary issues. We have a plan in mind - only fund the essentials! If you agree, sign our petition demanding City Hall accept that Edmonton Must Get Back To Basics.
- There will be a City Council Non-Regular Meeting on Thursday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes two private reports - one regarding an Intergovernmental Update and the other regarding a City Manager Update. To end the week, there will be a meeting of the Emergency Advisory Committee on Thursday at 1:30 pm. The Committee will discuss an Emergency Management Program Update.