This week, urban planning committee will meet on Tuesday morning, community and public services committee will meet on Tuesday afternoon (with a continuation scheduled for Friday), and executive committee will meet on Wednesday.
Key agenda items include the following:
- There is currently no municipal census planned, and conducting another one would cost $4.7 million. Administration recommends that the census policy be repealed, which means the city would rely on provincial data and the federal census. The last municipal census was conducted in 2019.
- Approximately 18,000 Edmontonians purchased Ride Transit passes in July 2022 and as of September 2022, the Leisure Access Program had about 70,000 members. Both programs offer subsidized passes for low-income individuals. Opportunities to expand both programs will be considered.
- An amendment to Traffic Bylaw 5590 would increase the fine for parking bans from $100 to $250. Administration says the change brings the fine "into alignment with most bylaw infractions."
Here are some of the other new agenda items:
- Administration recommends the approval of $210,053.81 in funding to 12 organizations through the 2022 Anti-Racism Grant program. Last year, council approved $213,591.25 in grants for 16 organizations.
- The steering committee for the Indigenous Culture and Wellness Centre project has identified Government House Park as the eventual preferred location for the centre, but is also considering purchasing an existing building for $18 million in the interim. No funding has been committed for the purchase.
- Administration recommends approval of a $4.35-million agreement with the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association for arena usage for the 2022-2023 winter season. Last year's agreement — originally worth $4.34 million — ultimately resulted in $3.91 million in fees for just less than 24,000 hours of rental time.
- Administration recommends approval of a new collaborative relationship agreement for 2023-2026 with the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, which includes operating funding of $546,000 per year.
- Administration recommends against continuing the Housing Redevelopment Grant program in its current form, due to challenges with the application process and issues encountered by applicants.
- This summer, administration developed an action plan to reduce barriers to transit fare programs. Highlights include a simplified application for subsidized passes, more fare options for the Donate A Ride program, and enhanced communication to boost awareness.
- Two options for defining a residential subclass for derelict properties will be considered. Administration recommends against a non-residential subclass. Since April 2022, the city's community property safety team has dealt with 39 properties, and a new process for prioritizing and expediting demolitions has been developed.
- Administration has prepared an analysis of federal, provincial, and municipal responsibilities for the Community Safety and Well-being Strategy.
Several other postponed items are scheduled for this week:
- A motion from Coun. Ashley Salvador to seek a report on options to redevelop surface parking lots in the city centre will be considered.
- Amendments to the Ward Boundaries and Council Composition Bylaw will be considered.
- A motion on the floor from Coun. Erin Rutherford would result in the city adopting the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace as a benchmark, if approved.
Meetings are streamed live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.
Photo: The Leisure Access Program allows eligible low-income Edmontonians to access participating City of Edmonton recreation facilities through an annual pass or a subsidized monthly pass. (Mack Male/Flickr)