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Headlines: Oct. 3, 2024

· The Pulse
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  • Edmonton city council approved the new District Policy and 14 district plans. The changes, along with the Zoning Bylaw approved last year, represent "major strides in streamlining how planning and development happens," and make it easier to build in Edmonton, which is seeing record numbers of new residents and housing development permits, said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. The policies and plans now in effect replace 54 planning documents that dated back to the 1980s. Council has not yet approved plans for a 15th district called Rabbit Hill.
  • Edmonton city council unanimously voted to proceed with banning convenience stores from selling knives not used for cutlery. Administration will draft a bylaw for council to vote on in the coming months. If approved, the rules would require stores to be placed in a new business category when they renew their licences, so it will take years for Edmonton's 500 to 600 convenience stores to be covered. Administration also warned that it cannot proactively enforce the bylaw without more funding.
  • A group of Strathearn residents living near the Valley Line Southeast LRT is calling on the City of Edmonton and TransEd to address an unpleasant high-pitch screeching sound that trains make while rounding a bend at the top of Connors Hill. City officials say they are working with TransEd to reduce rail noise by "applying extra grease" to the tracks in Strathearn and two other areas. Volume levels are as expected and comply with the project agreement and bylaws, said Edmonton Transit Service branch manager Carrie Hotton-MacDonald. "But we're going to continue to try and work with the community because we understand it's a concern for them," she said.
  • Edmonton city council approved offering prorated tax forgiveness to owners of derelict properties as an incentive to clean up their properties quickly. Last fall, Edmonton became the first Canadian city to create a tax subclass for derelict residential properties, with a tax rate about three times higher than average.
  • A cattle drive through Edmonton's downtown, from Churchill Square to Fan Park at ICE District, took place Oct. 2 to mark the start of Rodeo Week, which is running until Oct. 5. To surprise Edmontonians, organizers did not announce the cattle drive beforehand. Canadian Finals Rodeo returned to Edmonton this year, where it was created in 1974, after being held in Red Deer for the past few years.
  • The City of Edmonton marked its second year as a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities with an event at City Hall on Oct. 2. Edmonton was the first Canadian city to join the global network in 2022.
  • Advocates and officials marked Disability Employment Awareness Month at City Hall on Oct. 2, aiming to raise awareness about the working experiences of people with disabilities and make Edmonton more inclusive. In a social media post, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the City of Edmonton is a "leader in hiring diverse employees, and incorporating diverse perspectives."
  • AECOM has signed a subcontract to design Phase 1 of the Capital Line LRT South Extension project, which is being built by Capital Line Design-Build Ltd., a member of Ledcor Group of Companies. AECOM also did work on the Valley Line project and previously helped the City of Edmonton develop a policy framework for light rail transit planning.
  • The province has decided against the idea of allowing grocery and corner stores to sell liquor. The Alberta government's review found the change would "significantly harm" small businesses, and liquor store owners say the market is already saturated.
  • At the Alberta Municipalities convention in Red Deer last week, delegates voted 85% in favour of asking the province to reverse its ban on vote-counting machines in municipal elections. Premier Danielle Smith said soon after that Albertans should expect hand-counted ballots to be the only option in future municipal elections, and possibly provincial elections. Delegates also debated the province's plan to expand the role of Alberta sheriffs, defeated a resolution to advocate for permanent residents gaining the right to vote in municipal elections, and heard Smith make off-script comments about the province taking over tax collection duties from municipalities.