THIS WEEK IN EDMONTON

On the agenda: Public hearing, council calendar, social media

• Council is scheduled to discuss dozens of applications to rezone properties, the next council’s calendar, and how the city uses social media.
• There is a public hearing scheduled on Aug. 18, with a continuation next week on Aug. 28 and 29, and a council meeting scheduled on Aug. 19.

Here are key items on this week’s agenda:

• A whopping 49 items are on the agenda for the public hearing scheduled for Aug. 18, 28, and 29. These items include rezoning applications for three properties in Belgravia, a rezoning application from developer Gene Dub for an apartment complex in Rossdale, a rezoning application that could see six single-family houses replaced with a four-storey apartment building a block from a future Valley Line LRT stop, a proposal for a 27-storey tower in Windsor Park, a proposed bylaw that would allow developers to widen arterial roads in Lewis Farms, and changes to the zoning bylaw that would introduce regulations to homeless shelters.
• Administration has drafted a new calendar for the upcoming council term that council is scheduled to review on Aug. 19. If approved, the changes would mean that future councils will get a summer break of four weeks instead of five; regular meetings will end at 5:30pm instead of 5pm; and there will be an extra day added to public hearing meetings, among other adjustments. “The number of public hearing items requiring postponement in 2025 indicates additional meeting days are required,” reads a report about the changes. There have been public hearings that saw more than 100 Edmontonians attend in this council term, especially regarding rezoning applications, as backlash against infill development grows. Here is a list of administration- and council-driven reports and bylaws that are still due to council and committees in the coming months. If council approves this draft, it will vote on the official calendar at a meeting on Sept. 16.
• The City of Edmonton uses X (the social media formerly named Twitter) for emergency communication and real-time updates, Facebook for broad public reach and service awareness, and Instagram for community storytelling and visual engagement, according to a report about social media scheduled to be presented to council on Aug. 19. The City has the most followers on X at 273,000, and posts on that platform about 50 times per week. However, the City has recently reduced the number of times it posts on X and stopped paying for advertising on the platform. Some municipalities in Canada have stopped using X due to concerns about misinformation and polarization, the report said.
• City council is scheduled to hear from the public about the proposed North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan on Aug. 18. The plan renews, streamlines, and clarifies Edmonton’s approach to planning the lands that are part of the river valley zone. The proposed plan identifies most of the river valley as open space and limits developments that may damage the environmental health or limit public access to the river valley. In December, council asked administration to do more internal consultation on the plan. Ansh Gulati with the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition argued in an op-ed that the proposed bylaw falls short of adequately protecting the river valley. Gulati said that the draft uses weak, non-binding language like “should” instead of “shall,” eroding procedural safeguards, and that the bylaw fails to reflect the urgency of the city’s acknowledged climate emergency or sufficiently protect biodiversity.
• Council will meet in private to discuss appointments to the City of Edmonton Youth Council and hear a membership update from the Edmonton Police Commission.
• The owners of a commercial lot south of Whitemud Drive between 105 Street NW and Calgary Trail NW have applied to rezone the property so they can redevelop the former Lowe’s building and parking lot into housing. If the application is successful, the owners could develop buildings of up to six storeys tall on the 3.2-hectare western portion of the site. Council is scheduled to debate the application at a public hearing on Aug. 18.

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• On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council meeting. On the meeting agenda is an update to the City’s animal regulations that would replace the more than 20-year-old current framework, aiming to improve responsible pet ownership, animal welfare, and public safety. Pet limits remain at three dogs, six cats, four rabbits, three beehives, and six hens per household, but new temporary excess animal permits will allow exceptions for fostering through approved rescues. The bylaw maintains the existing limit of 75 pigeons per household [Editors Note: 75 pigeons?!?!], though some residents have raised complaints about noise and disturbances. It introduces new animal welfare offences, including penalties for abandonment, leaving pets unattended in dangerous conditions, and unsafe transport. Dog regulations are being strengthened, with higher fines for attacks, stricter rules for “vicious dogs,” and lower thresholds for nuisance declarations. The bylaw also clarifies rules for owned, unowned, and feral cats, supporting humane management strategies like trap-neuter-return programs. Licensing fees for cats, dogs, and pigeons will rise gradually, with discounts for seniors and income-assisted residents, while fines for violations are designed as deterrents. Enforcement will follow a focus on education, engagement, encouragement, and enforcement.
• Council will discuss Councillor Michael Janz’s proposed motion to allocate $50,000 to tackle noisy vehicles. The motion links excessive engine noise to street racing, speeding, and other dangerous driving behaviours. He suggests the Edmonton Police Service acquire a SoundVue detector, a device used internationally that measures vehicle noise and records identifying information, allowing for educational warnings rather than fines. The motion emphasizes research and data collection to identify noise hotspots, helping police deploy traffic officers more effectively. Janz suggests that reduced municipal powers, like the curtailment of photo radar, have coincided with a rise in traffic fatalities, with Edmonton recording 21 deaths so far in 2025. Supporters, including mayoral candidate Andrew Knack, highlight the quality-of-life impacts for residents living near noisy roads, particularly at night. The initiative would complement existing enforcement efforts like Project TENSOR, which targets speeders and loud vehicles, though current methods face limitations as drivers often avoid known check locations.
• Also up for discussion at the meeting are changes to the snow removal policy and sidewalk repair program. The City is facing a growing inventory of sidewalks and pathways that has outpaced funding. A recent report highlighted that the $5.9-million annual sidewalk repair budget has stayed largely unchanged over the past decade, while the City now manages over 5,700 kilometres of sidewalks. A proposal suggests adding $8 million per year to improve snow clearing on active pathways, with a focus on socially vulnerable areas, school zones, and bus stops, along with proactive repairs on 16 kilometres of high-risk sidewalks. The plan also includes hiring 15 seasonal staff and 15 new permanent bylaw enforcement officers, as well as one-time $1.43-million purchase of 10 Bobcat Toolcats. Snow removal priorities will now be guided by a high-priority sidewalk index, which considers pedestrian volume, proximity to key locations, and social vulnerability. Council will discuss approval for the funding adjustments in the fall budget. It's funny how there always seems to be funding available for whatever the latest Council pet project is, but never anything left for the actual core jobs of the City, isn't it...
• Downtown Edmonton business owners along 101 Street are raising concerns over the City’s plan to create a dedicated transit lane, which would remove street parking during weekday daytime hours. Some business owners argue that public parking is essential for their businesses and that diverting parking to nearby residential areas is inappropriate. While they support efficient transit, they feel a short bus lane may not significantly improve traffic flow and fear the City isn’t addressing their economic concerns. Councillor Anne Stevenson noted that the project will be reviewed after six months, encouraging businesses to monitor impacts on customer visits. However, some owners worry the review is merely procedural and that changes will remain permanent. In response, the City has adjusted parking on 108 Avenue and shortened the transit lane’s operational hours from 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
• Edmonton has entered the final phase of its 2025 accelerated roadwork plan for the Valley Line West LRT, starting with a nine-week partial closure at Stony Plain Road and 149 Street. The previous intersection at 142 Street recently reopened, allowing crews to shift focus west while keeping north-south traffic open. The accelerated plan, designed to shorten the overall project timeline, began in mid-April and aims to complete key intersections sooner, reducing long-term traffic disruptions. Work will include some overnight operations. Transit detours, such as ETS Route 7 rerouting, are in effect. City and Marigold Infrastructure Partners (MIP) officials acknowledge the short-term inconveniences for residents, pedestrians, and businesses but emphasize the long-term benefits of reopening roads faster. Earlier phases remain underway at 104 Avenue and 95 Avenue, with crews working around the clock to meet deadlines. The project’s phased approach allows for more intensive, temporary impacts while ultimately reducing the duration of major traffic restrictions across west Edmonton. Residents are being encouraged to follow City and MIP updates for the latest information on closures and detours.