- On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Public Hearing to address several land use matters. If approved, changes in Hawks Ridge will allow for larger parks and amenities to support a planned school, while in Boyle Street, new rules permit medium-scale housing to increase residential capacity. Garneau will see a rooftop restaurant added to an existing building, and updates to Horse Hill and Quarry Ridge neighbourhood plans enable small to medium-scale housing. Blatchford is opening up for low to medium-rise residential and mixed-use development, and Rosenthal will accommodate housing with supporting infrastructure. Also, McKernan is set to allow a mid-rise mixed-use building.
- On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Infrastructure Committee. The Committee will hear an update on the Southeast Transit Garage project. The project is a key part of the City’s plan to transition to a zero-emission bus fleet and accommodate future growth. Land acquisition and schematic design are complete, with the facility now planned to house 255 to 290 buses, down from an initial 430 due to rising construction costs and phased fleet expansion. The project is funded through a municipal-federal partnership. Key upcoming milestones include detailed design, early site work, and phased construction, with the garage expected to be operational by late 2031.
- Mayor Andrew Knack has appointed former NDP MP Blake Desjarlais as his new Chief of Staff, succeeding Gabrielle Blatz. Desjarlais represented Edmonton-Griesbach from 2021 to 2025. Knack emphasized that Desjarlais was chosen from hundreds of applicants for his commitment to serving all Edmontonians and claimed his prior political history would not affect his role. The Mayor expressed gratitude to Blatz, who is moving on to serve as provincial women’s representative of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of Alberta.
- Councillor Michael Janz is calling for more data before the City moves forward with plans to remove diagonal “scramble” crosswalks along Whyte Avenue, just five years after they were installed. The proposed removal at Gateway Boulevard, 104 Street, and 105 Street is part of a plan to create dedicated bus lanes for Bus Rapid Transit. Janz noted significant public concern over pedestrian safety, citing fears of distracted drivers and the importance of street design for protecting people. He is requesting that Administration provide calculations on how the crosswalks affect transit speeds and whether other transit priority measures could offset delays. Janz emphasized that Whyte Avenue’s pedestrian traffic supports local businesses and that the street should prioritize people over commuter traffic. If implemented, pedestrians would return to crossing at traditional 90-degree intersections, with added curb extensions and turn restrictions intended to enhance safety.
- Mayor Andrew Knack and City Manager Eddie Robar have embarked on an 11-day trade mission to China and Japan to promote the City’s manufacturing and clean energy sectors. Organized and funded by Edmonton Global, the trip aims to attract foreign investment to expand the non-residential tax base and provide property tax relief to homeowners. The delegation will visit Beijing, Tianjin, Wuhan, and Tokyo to meet with leaders in agri-food, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. Edmonton Global estimates the mission could eventually generate up to $2 billion in capital investment and create hundreds of permanent jobs. Mayor Knack emphasized that the presence of senior leadership is vital for answering investor questions regarding permitting and local business supports.
