Council is back this week with some major financial updates on Monday, a public hearing on Tuesday, and a special audit committee meeting on Wednesday.
Key items on the agenda include:
- As of June 30, the city is projecting an operating surplus of $24.4 million for year-end thanks largely to funds within the Financial Strategies budget that will not be required for the rest of the year. That $38 million offsets higher snow and ice control costs, ongoing pandemic expenses, and higher fuel costs. The Edmonton Police Service is reporting a deficit of almost $4.7 million as of May 31, due in part to less ticket revenue and higher spending on personnel than projected. The year-end forecast projects a deficit for EPS of $5.4 million.
- The city reports that as of June 30, a majority of capital projects are within an acceptable tolerance for budget (98.6%) and schedule (82.3%). The Yellowhead Trail/Fort Road widening and the Stadium LRT Station upgrade projects are the most over budget. Capital expenditures for 2022, at nearly $2.2 billion, will be significantly higher than previous years due to the Valley Line West LRT, finalizing the Valley Line Southeast LRT, the Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion, and the Terwillegar Drive Expansion. The city projects to finish the 2022 fiscal year with $4.2 billion in outstanding debt, or 68.5% of the Municipal Government Act debt limit.
Here are some of the other notable agenda items:
- Council will deal with a borrowing bylaw related to the Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion project, which reduces borrowing authority by $23.7 million.
- Recommendations from committee include designating the Carleton Sheldon Residence as a Municipal Historic Resource, approving the requested one-time funding of $800,000 to support the Edmonton Ski Club's temporary buildings, and that Mayor Sohi advocate to the province for changes to the Traffic Safety Act to deal with vehicle noise.
- Charter Bylaw 19864 would allow for a mid-rise, mixed-use building along 111 Avenue in the Prince Rupert neighbourhood with a maximum height of approximately six stories and a maximum density of 160 units.
- Amendments to the Decoteau ASP and Decoteau North NSP would reconfigure residential, commercial, institutional, park, and public utility uses in the Decoteau North neighbourhood. The site currently consists of agricultural land and a natural area. The amendments would rename the neighbourhood as Alces, which is Latin for moose.
- Audit committee will take part in a workshop aimed at maximizing effective oversight, with two guest speakers: David Christopherson, former MP Hamilton-Centre and former alderman at the City of Hamilton; and Richard Pootmans, councillor and chair of the audit committee at the City of Calgary.
Several motions are pending, the wording for which can be found in the PDF agenda.
- Neighbourhood Entrance Signs on Private Property (J. Wright)
- Outdoor Pool Operations (A. Sohi)
- Council Seating Chart Adjustments (J. Rice)
- Options to Change Councillor Appointments (J. Rice)
- 2021 Edmonton Police Services Annual Report (A. Sohi)
- Additional Support for Industrial Development - Fulton Creek Business Park (A. Sohi)
- Specialized Recreation Programming (E. Rutherford)
- Potential Grazing Strategies for Weed Control on City Property (M. Janz)
- Aggregate Recycling Program (E. Rutherford)
Meetings are streamed live on city council's YouTube channel.
Photo: City council at its inaugural meeting in City Hall on Oct. 26, 2021. (Mack Male/Flickr)