City council meets on Jan. 24, with continuation set for Jan. 26 if more time is needed to cover the agenda. A number of items are also going to public hearing on Jan. 25. Here are some of the key items scheduled to be considered:
- Mayor Amarjeet Sohi will introduce a motion that administration provide a report on how the City of Edmonton can help to increase the number of affordable child-care spaces accessible to Edmontonians. He wants to see the city look into zoning bylaws to remove barriers, developing a comprehensive child-care strategy, and more. The report back will be due in the first quarter of 2022.
- Council will consider a recommendation that the office of the city auditor complete an audit of the Edmonton Police Commission, which would require a one-time funding increase to the office of $200,000. The goal would be to have a more transparent and data-informed police budget, as well as better direction in achieving the anti-racism recommendations provided by the community safety and well-being task force.
- Coun. Anne Stevenson plans to move a motion that would cancel a plan to spend $26.5 million from the downtown Community Revitalization Levy on a pedway to the Station Lands.
Here's what else is on the agenda:
- Coun. Michael Janz will present a motion to explore the possibility of licences for landlords and to improve tenants' access to information. He will also introduce a motion that administration report back about options to increase fines for excessive vehicle noise.
- Bylaws will be presented to amend the Chappelle neighbourhood area structure plan and allow for low-intensity commercial uses; and to authorize the City of Edmonton to undertake, construct and finance Coronation Community Recreation Centre.
- Items that were at committee last week for consideration to be recommended to council will also be covered this week. That includes the heritage resource management strategy, the Orange Hub Phase II rehabilitation project, the goods and services procurement policy, the heritage community investment program operational grant results, and a report from the Edmonton Screen Industries Office.
- More than 10 bylaw amendments and proposed charter bylaws will be presented at a public hearing on Jan. 25. Included on that list are proposals to rezone land in the Tamarack, Davies Industrial East, and Silver Berry neighbourhoods, as well as to allow for infill in Pleasantview and West Jasper Place, and more.
Meetings are streamed live on city council's YouTube channel.
Photo of a child at play by Amanda Yu, who spoke to Taproot about the need to preserve downtown daycares