thisweekinedmonton
- There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. The Agenda Review Committee will resume next week, followed by regularly scheduled meetings the week of January 13th.
- Tuesday is New Year’s Eve! Celebrations feature free activities across the city, including fireworks, live music, and family-friendly events. Churchill Square will host two fireworks displays - an early show at 8:00 pm for families and a traditional midnight display. There will also be skating, cultural performances, and food trucks. The ICE District Plaza will have a hockey watch party, live music by Jade Eagleson, and a midnight fireworks finale. There will be free transit after 6:00 pm and extended service hours to make the festivities accessible for everyone.
- There are no Council or Committee meetings this week, due to the Christmas break. The Agenda Review Committee will resume on January 7th, 2025, and a return to regularly scheduled meetings will resume the week of January 20th.
- The City is activating its extreme weather protocols in response to the expected return of cold temperatures. The City's response is triggered when temperatures reach -20°C with wind chill for at least three consecutive nights, accompanied by an Environment Canada extreme cold alert. Open City facilities, including recreation centers and libraries, will be available for those seeking shelter from the cold, and residents are encouraged to assist vulnerable individuals by directing them to shelters. The extreme weather response will last until Friday, December 20th, with the possibility of an extension depending on weather conditions. The City also urges residents to call 211 if they see anyone sheltering outside.
- Candy Cane Lane is celebrating its 55th year of holiday lights along seven blocks in west Edmonton. The event, which has expanded over the years, continues to attract visitors of all ages, bringing festive cheer to the community. Homeowners decorate their properties with elaborate displays, and the event also supports Edmonton's Food Bank, with over 600,000 kilograms of food donated since 1993. New this year are QR codes that allow people to donate money online. The lights will remain on through New Year's Day.
- This morning, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council Public Hearing to gather feedback on several land use amendments. Some of the proposals include allowing for medium scale housing on Alberta Avenue, allowing for tower or medium-rise development opportunities in Strathearn, and amending the Northwest District Plan.
- On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of City Council. The agenda includes designating a part of Edgemont Community Park as a Municipal Reserve, designating Alexander Circle as a Municipal Historic Resource, and establishing procedures for the 2025 municipal election. There are several private reports to be dealt with as well, including two collective bargaining updates and a City Manager update. Should the meeting not end on time, there will be a continuation on Wednesday morning at 9:30 am.
- The Utility Committee will meet on Friday at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss EPCOR’s request for updated wastewater rates and service terms for 2025 to 2027. After submitting an initial proposal in May 2024, EPCOR made adjustments based on feedback from the Utility Committee in October. The revised plan includes updated performance measures to maintain service quality. Council will now decide whether to approve that updated proposal.
- Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, a day to support causes that make a difference. If you appreciate the work we do and want to help us continue advocating for common sense at City Hall, we’d be grateful for your support. We don’t usually make an explicit ask in these emails, but given that we’re a non-profit and don’t take a dime of government funding, we rely on your support to keep us going. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. If you’d like to contribute, you can do so by clicking here. Thank you!
- There will be a meeting of City Council this morning at 9:30 am, continuing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at the same time, if required. The purpose of the meeting(s) is to debate the budget. Recall that the City has proposed an 8.1% hike! Business groups, including the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and BOMA Edmonton, are urging Council to find cost savings during budget adjustments to alleviate the tax hike. They presented recommendations focused on cutting non-essential services and investing in downtown development, which they claim could generate significant economic returns.
- Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is proposing a budget plan that aims to reduce the tax increase from 8.1% to below 6%. His plan focuses on maintaining core public services, enhancing City cleanliness, supporting low-income transit programs, and fostering industrial growth. To fund these initiatives, the proposal includes reallocating utility revenues, cutting the neighbourhood renewal program by $15 million, and replenishing the City's Financial Stabilization Reserve. Sohi is also advocating for a return to branch-level budget reviews and a streamlined approach to decision-making and policy development. He is calling on the provincial government to restore grants for property taxes on provincial buildings.
- The Community and Public Services Committee will meet today at 9:30 am. The agenda includes updates to the City Policy on Immigration and Settlement. On Tuesday, at 8:30 am, the Agenda Review Committee will meet, followed by a meeting of the Urban Planning Committee at 9:30 am. At the latter meeting, the agenda includes a report on Neighbourhood Renewal Funding and a review of 102 Avenue. More information is available online.
- On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, the Executive Committee will meet. Several public reports are on the agenda, including one on the Indigenous Housing Grant Program, and another on the Cost Benefit Analysis and Cost Drivers on Comparative Capital Projects. There will be a City Council Non-Regular Meeting on Thursday at 9:00 am to discuss Candidate Interviews and Appointments to the Edmonton Police Commission. Finally, on Friday, the Audit Committee will meet at 9:30 am. Several reports are on the agenda, including a Fraud Risk Management Audit and a Facility Maintenance Services Audit.
- PACE and TAPYeg, two municipal political parties, are merging ahead of the 2025 election, aiming to unite for a stronger chance at success. The merger brings together two parties focused on fiscal responsibility, safety, and accountability, with a commitment to keeping taxes low and prioritizing the city's core services. PACE, which will now include members from both groups, intends to focus on practical, community-oriented solutions. There are two upcoming public meetings to provide more information - one on Wednesday, November 27th at 7:30 pm, at the South East Edmonton Seniors Association (9350 82 St. NW) and another on Wednesday, December 4th at 7:30 pm at the Westend Seniors Activity Centre (9629 176 St. NW).
- 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.