THIS WEEK IN EDMONTON

ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, city councillors will meet to discuss proposed changes to sewers that could save the city more than $500 million, existing policies that potentially add millions to the cost of building municipal assets, and hear from the public about the proposed extension to the downtown community revitalization levy.

There is a utility committee meeting scheduled for June 23, an audit committee meeting scheduled for June 24, an infrastructure committee meeting scheduled for June 25, an audit selection committee meeting scheduled for June 25, and a public hearing scheduled for June 26 and 27.

Here are key items on this week’s agenda:

• The city could save $571 million if it changes the layout of wastewater utility pipes, according to a report that will be presented to council’s utility committee on June 23. EPCOR assessed sanitary flows across the system in 2023, projecting future flows until 2062, and found that the configuration of pipes in new areas, as well as the timeline for when they would be needed, is no longer valid. The original plan assumed new areas would generate 350 litres of sanitary waste per capita per day. But reduced water consumption, inflow and infiltration reduction practices, improved sanitary technology, and better construction methodology have resulted in an actual rate of 140 litres per capita per day, and the projection indicates water consumption will continue to decline. Administration has proposed to eliminate several portions of wastewater pipes in the north, west, and south parts of the city. The proposed changes would also eliminate the need for complex river and creek crossings. If council’s utility committee approves the changes, they will go to city council for a vote at a future meeting. Another item on the agenda to be presented to the committee appears to be about the proposed use of the $571 million, but city administration had not published its report on the city’s website by Taproot’s publication deadline.
• Administration will review several city policies after a study, which compared Edmonton’s cost to build municipal assets to costs in other municipalities, found that Edmonton’s policies can increase administrative, legal, and design costs. In the study, a consultant designed a fire station to meet all of Edmonton’s standards and one that met the minimum building code requirements, which is typical in smaller municipalities. The study found the minimum code station would cost approximately $13.3 million, while Edmonton’s would cost approximately $21 million. Policies and processes that drove costs up the most were the climate resilience policy, the fire rescue service delivery policy, the City of Edmonton facility construction standard, and the Edmonton Design Committee process. The study also found that the operating cost of the hypothetical Edmonton fire station was estimated to be higher than the basic one. This contradicts administration’s assumption that facilities built to high standards would cost less to operate long-term. Administration said the three policies are under review, and that the new mandate for the Edmonton Design Committee will include a clarification that its architectural advice is optional. The study will be accompanied by a report about the city’s planning and design process for municipal infrastructure assets.
• Administration has set two days aside for a public hearing on whether to extend the downtown community revitalization levy, which would allow the city to use tax revenue from new development to fund projects. Part of the proposed extension concerns the $250-million event park that’s been proposed by the Oilers Entertainment Group beside Rogers Place. About $97 million of that cost would come from the province, $84 million would come from the group, and the remainder would come from the city, via the levy. Some councillors, including Coun. Michael Janz and Coun. Erin Rutherford, have raised concerns about using public funds to benefit private projects. Janz said that he wants this decision to be put to a referendum during the upcoming municipal election in October. He said he will introduce a motion at the meeting to refer the bylaw back to administration and see if it’s possible to add a question to the ballot to gauge support for public money going to the event park and its proponents. “I resent the fact that there are some good things for Edmontonians in this,” Janz said, “but they’re conditional on giving out a billionaire bailout. No government should be picking winners and losers. No government should be telling a city that you can only have critical infrastructure funding and long-overdue funding if you agree to pay off one private business.”
• Staffing changes and an increase in investigation volumes have limited the city auditor office’s ability to complete all of the audits originally planned for 2025. The office has proposed that it complete the audits on the city’s parking operations and on standing agreements with suppliers next year.
• The city auditor reviewed credit card transactions that city employees had asked to be reimbursed and found that 11.6% of transactions were not approved in the accounting system, with some dating back to 2023. The unapproved transactions totalled about $340,000. The auditor recommends the city review and clear all previously unapproved transactions in the system and ensure future transactions are approved in a timely manner.
• The first phase of construction for the downtown district energy system, which includes connections to Winspear Centre, Century Place, and Chancery Hall, is nearing completion and utility operations are expected to start soon. Administration has developed a utility fiscal policy to guide utility operations, debt financing, financial planning and utility rate setting. Council’s utility committee is set to review the policy on June 23, and then council will make the final decision at a future council meeting.
• Councillors will meet in private on June 25 for a membership update from the public members of the audit committee.

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THIS WEEK IN EDMONTON

• On Thursday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Special City Council Public Hearing. The City of Edmonton is working to extend and expand its Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) Plan, which would push the program’s expiry from 2034 to 2044. The CRL is a financial tool that redirects increased property tax revenues generated by new development in the downtown core to fund public infrastructure and revitalization projects. Since its implementation in 2015, the CRL has supported over $4.7 billion in private investment, resulting in new office towers and thousands of residential units, but significant portions of downtown remain underdeveloped, and recent challenges - like the COVID-19 pandemic and increased construction costs - have slowed progress. To address these issues and maintain momentum, the amended plan introduces several new “catalyst projects” such as the Village at Ice District Infrastructure, a new Event Park, a Brownfield Remediation Program, upgrades to transit infrastructure, an expansion of the Winspear Centre, and a revamped Attainable Housing Program. While the CRL framework enables funding, inclusion in the plan does not guarantee that a project will move forward - each will still require individual Council approval through the standard budgeting process. Critics argue that CRL funds - derived from public tax revenue - should not be used to subsidize private ventures, with particular scrutiny aimed at the proposed $250-million Event Park in the Ice District. Debate also emerged over which types of projects should be eligible for CRL support, and whether alternatives such as general City funding would be more appropriate. We’ll be watching the hearing and will keep you updated!
• There will be a Special Infrastructure Committee meeting on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss a City of Edmonton report analyzing cost drivers and policy impacts on capital infrastructure projects, using fire stations as a case study. The study compared a basic design - meeting only building code requirements - to a full policy design incorporating all City standards and policies. The full policy version cost approximately $7.7 million more and had higher projected operational costs over 25 years, mainly due to electrification under the Climate Resilience Policy and more complex infrastructure. However, it also significantly reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Four City policies accounted for 98% of the cost increase: the Climate Resilience Policy, Fire Rescue Service Delivery Policy, City Construction Standards, and the Edmonton Design Committee process. The report emphasized that while these policies support long-term goals like sustainability and safety, they often lack immediate financial payback and add upfront costs. In response, Administration is reviewing policies to find efficiencies and determine whether all cost drivers are necessary or scalable.
• Council voted to reduce the maximum number of homes allowed on interior lots in the small-scale residential (RS) zone from eight to six units. The motion, introduced by Councillor Michael Janz, responds to concerns from some residents who feel eight units is too dense for mid-block lots, although Mayor Amarjeet Sohi emphasized the need to balance these concerns with the City’s broader goals for sustainable infill and population growth. The RS zone, created under zoning bylaw 20001, encourages diverse housing types and aims to accommodate Edmonton’s growing population within existing neighbourhoods. Data presented shows the zone is already increasing housing options, with a majority of permits in redeveloping areas approved for multi-unit housing. Some residents and housing advocates oppose the reduction, arguing it could slow development and worsen the housing crisis. Public feedback is expected at a June 30th hearing, where further discussion on the bylaw amendments will occur.
• The City of Edmonton has decided not to take over the maintenance and operations of the Edmonton Expo Centre and Convention Centre, leaving those responsibilities with Explore Edmonton. A recent report found that both venues are generally in good condition and that Explore Edmonton maintains them efficiently, using a flexible staffing model tailored to the fast-paced event environment. The City cited budget limitations, including a $100 million annual maintenance budget that covers all City facilities, as a key reason it cannot absorb these duties. Additionally, technical and contractual challenges, such as incompatible building systems and exclusive third-party contracts, make a takeover difficult and costly. Explore Edmonton had requested additional funding to continue operations, but City staff warned that shifting maintenance in-house could increase costs and reduce service effectiveness. Despite this, the City and Explore Edmonton plan to collaborate on shared contracts and joint reviews to improve efficiency. Council received the report for information and kept some details confidential due to business sensitivity.
• Councillor Michael Janz has officially announced his intention to seek a second term representing Ward Papastew, running as an independent despite new rules allowing political parties in municipal elections. Janz, a former Edmonton Public Schools trustee, highlights his experience navigating challenging post-pandemic years and his commitment to building a more affordable city with strong public services. He emphasizes his progressive stance, advocating for more housing and transportation options while opposing urban sprawl by prioritizing growth within the city rather than outward expansion. Janz is also planning to introduce a motion calling for a city-wide referendum on the proposed event park deal involving the Oilers Entertainment Group, signalling his dedication to public involvement in major City decisions. He strongly opposes big corporate money and political parties influencing local politics, stressing that elections should be decided by ideas rather than financial power. Looking ahead, Janz hopes to secure a fair deal from the provincial government to better support Edmonton, particularly in areas like policing, property taxes, and public health care.