The State of Our City 2025 event, traffic congestion, and the Edmonton Police Commission's relationship with city council were on the minds of the hosts of Episode 307 of Speaking Municipally. Here's a quick glimpse:
1. State of Our City 2025
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce's State of Our City event broke with tradition. The annual luncheon has been called State of the City and featured the mayor. But this year, given the uncertainty of who would be mayor, with Mayor Amarjeet Sohi recently running, unsuccessfully, for a seat in the federal election, the event was instead planned to feature a panel of city-involved types, including city manager Eddie Robar, chamber president Doug Griffiths, Traci Bednard from Explore Edmonton, Kalen Anderson of BILD Edmonton Metro, and Tim Shipton of OEG. Ryan Jespersen moderated.
Taproot reporter Stephanie Swensrude attended, and told the Speaking Municipally co-hosts afterward that the panel talked of their love for the Edmonton Oilers and how the city could cut more red tape to stimulate business and build housing
"(Anderson said) we're the best in the country for approving permits and cutting red tape, but we're the best city in the slowest country, because as a country, we are building the same amount of housing units that we were in the '70s, when we only had 20 million people," Swensrude said. "Now we have 40 million people and, of course, so many people are moving here."
2. Traffic headaches
The City of Edmonton is discussing two hot topics that involve traffic: shortcutting in Begravia, and $1.5 billion worth of construction this year. For the former, Coun. Michael Janz's recent motion that asks administration to explore solutions for Belgravia, such as one-way segments of Saskatchewan Drive, passed. For the latter, the city said it strategizes road disruptions to cause the least inconvenience for drivers.
Co-host Mack Male said the Belgravia problem may offer the city benefits, too. "If you do want to shift people's behaviors, (traffic congestion) might be effective," he said. "If we could convince those drivers to get out and get on a bike, we'd be on our way to a mode shift."
Co-host Troy Pavlek, meanwhile, said that making driving inconvenient for commuters also makes driving inconvenient for local residents, which is not likely to inspire good feeling toward the city.
3. Police and council getting along?
Male and Pavlek noted the recent absence of public friction between the Edmonton Police Commission and city council. The commission, which has had a rash of resignations, has resumed having public meetings as it seeks a new chief to replace Dale McFee, who is now the head of Alberta Public Service.
Pavlek said McFee's absence and the lack of disputes may be related. "Maybe we actually didn't give Dale McFee enough credit," he said. "Perhaps some of the toxic relationship really did just fall on his shoulders, and without him in the chair, maybe (the police commission has) moved on."
The May 9 episode of Taproot's civic affairs podcast included a discussion on the rise in private contracts for the Edmonton Police Service, a chat about the comeback legacy of the Edmonton Oilers, and an update from the Taproot newsroom. Speaking Municipally comes out on Fridays. Listening and subscription options are all right here.