This week, city councillors return for committee meetings and private council meetings to discuss a proposed composting facility, the city auditor's findings, and recruitment for a city manager.
There is a utility committee meeting scheduled for Sept. 3 and an audit committee meeting scheduled for Sept. 4. There is a special city council meeting scheduled for Sept. 4 and a special city manager recruitment committee meeting scheduled for Sept. 6.
Here are key items on this week's agenda:
- Edmonton lacks sufficient space to process organic material into compost as the city ramps up its food scrap collection from apartments and condos, according to a report scheduled to be presented to council's utility committee on Sept. 3. The city started collecting organics from apartments and condos in 2023. City staff expect 121,000 tonnes of organic waste will need to be processed annually by 2027, and recommends building a new composting facility at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. The new facility would likely not be complete until 2028, creating a gap where some organic waste may not be processed. Administration is asking council's utility committee to approve a non-competitive contract with Claystone Waste to process organics from apartments and condos until a new, proposed facility comes online.
- Forty-six recommendations from the city auditor are currently outstanding, 14 of which are overdue but on track to reach their revised due dates, according to the auditor's latest report to council. City administration has acted on 10 recommendations since the last audit committee meeting in June.
- The city auditor found that the waste services branch generally manages its curbside collections program effectively. The branch can improve its data integrity, as the auditor said some data collection is incomplete and inaccurate, making it less useful for management decisions. The auditor also found that waste collectors have an inconsistent understanding of what makes a waste cart "non-compliant" under the waste services bylaw.
- The City of Edmonton has identified three new risks that could interfere with its goals, according to administration's annual corporate strategic risk report. The new risks are insufficient growth in the non-residential tax base, political changes at the provincial and federal levels, and the spread of misinformation and disinformation. City administration said it will develop a plan to attract non-residential investment, enhance strategic planning for political changes, and ensure accurate and timely information is available through official channels. The report is scheduled be discussed by council's audit committee at a meeting on Sept. 4.
- Council is scheduled to receive a private update on city manager recruitment on Sept. 4 and Sept. 6.
Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.
Photo: A machine processes organic materials at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. Council's utility committee is set to discuss building a new composting facility. (City of Edmonton)