The co-hosts of Episode 321 of Speaking Municipally explored the city's deal with the provincial government and OEG, more provincial meddling with the city's bike lane plans, and whether city pools stay open long enough. Here's a quick snapshot.
1. OEG deal lacks housing accountability
City council approved a master agreement with OEG on Aug. 25 to build an event park and housing near Rogers Place. The deal, using the Alberta government's Community Revitalization Levy, will also see money go to the demolition of the Northlands Coliseum and development of Exhibition Lands near the Edmonton EXPO Centre. The total value of the deal is $408.2 million, and it is split between the province, city, and OEG. Council passed the deal with a 9-4 vote, with councillors Michael Janz, Andrew Knack, Erin Rurtherford, and Jo-Anne Wright voting against.
Co-host Stephanie Swensrude said a city news release mentioned that OEG is supposed to build 2,500 housing units as part of the deal, but added that the agreement does not require the company to follow through.
"Not only did (council) admit that there's no legal requirement to build housing, the 2,500 number is barely even being dreamt of anymore," Swensrude said. "OEG promises 354 units of housing by the second half of 2028 and 420 more over the next five years — based on demand in the downtown market."
2. Red tape for bike lanes
Devin Dreeshen, the minister of transportation and economic corridors, continues to fight bike lanes in Edmonton. A CBC report notes that Mayor Amarjeet Sohi met with Dreeshen and told him the city has already signed contracts to build bike lanes within Delton, Alberta Avenue, and 132 Avenue. Dreeshen said he has convinced the city to conduct traffic assessment plans for future bike lanes, which co-host Mack Male found incongruous with provincial priorities.
"For a government that wants to get rid of red tape, (this is) a weird amount of red tape to add back into the process," Male said. "I'm sure this is not the last we'll hear about bike lanes."
3. Spray parks in September?
The city closed most of its outdoor pools on Sept. 2. Queen Elizabeth Outdoor Pool will remain open until at least Sept. 14, and it is next to the Kinsmen Spray Park. Male noted that spray parks closed around this time in 2024, but no such closures have been announced for 2025. He questioned the logic of closing pools and spray parks before the weather cools, noting the average daily temperature last September in Edmonton was 21.6 C, and at least one day that month was 26 C.
"We've had this conversation about funding, and it's more expensive the longer they keep (spray parks) on," he said. "(But) it's such a waste of good infrastructure when we know that it's going to be hot through September — why not leave them running?"
The Aug. 29 episode also includes discussion of snow clearing, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, and Taproot's election project. Listening and subscription options are all right here.