Here are some of the notable agenda items coming before city council for the week of April 6-9:
- The Community Safety and Well-Being Task Force, formed last fall after public hearings on racism in policing, has released its report containing 14 recommendations intended to "help make Edmonton safer for everyone." The task force recommends freezing the current level of funding to the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) "until alignment with comparable cities is achieved" and suggests that the money, estimated at $260 million over the next five years, be "refunded and invested in the community to make certain health and social services available on a 24/7 basis." The report says that in recent years the funding formula for EPS "has been completed divorced from expectations" and that "EPS has enjoyed the privilege of receiving the money no matter what."
- An update on the Traffic Safety Automated Enforcement Reserve projects a deficit by the end of 2022 due to "a number of changing realities" including "a continuing decline in automated enforcement violations."
- The Alberta Aviation Museum is looking to rezone Hangar 14 to allow for signage which is prohibited under the current zoning approved in 1984. No other redevelopment of the historic building is proposed.
The Community Safety and Well-Being Task Force report states that thanks to a funding formula approved in 2018, the Edmonton Police Service has "received steady budget increases regardless of its initiatives or priorities, and despite not achieving many of its identified performance targets."
Recommendations from council's committees include:
- That the fine for fare evasion on transit be reduced from $250 to $150 "to be in line with other jurisdictions."
- That amendments to the loitering provisions of the Conduct of Transit Passengers Bylaw be made to exempt "helping agencies and organizations, their corresponding social workers, and anyone accessing these services in transit stations as part of a whole systems approach to community safety and transit."
- That a temporary exemption to the Edmonton Transit Service Fare Policy for the period April 30 to August 31 be approved to allow for fare program eligibility expansions to support students affected by the pause on U-Pass.
- That upcoming bylaw amendments reduce the number of parking spaces a homeowner can share or rent on their property from three to two.
- That business license fees be waived by 50% from April 2021 to March 2022 and that vehicle for hire fees in 2021 also be waived by 50%.
- That an exemption to the 2021 Edmonton Economic Recovery Construction Grant Incentive Policy be approved for a building in ICE District at 10324 103 Street/10305 104 Avenue.
- That administration provide a report in Q1 2022 after reviewing the governance structure for creating advisory committees of council.
Other agenda items coming up include:
- Council will receive another COVID-19 update at 9:30am on Wednesday, April 7.
- Administration recommends approval of two modified mid-rise building proposals, for an 8-10 storey building in Strathcona and a 6 storey building Garneau.
- Reports on the Citizen Initiative Act (Bill 51) and the Recall Act (Bill 52) have been published.
Agendas for this week include:
- Tuesday, April 6: City Council Meeting
- Wednesday, April 7: Emergency Advisory Committee Meeting
- Wednesday, April 7: City Council Public Hearing
Meetings are streamed live on city council's YouTube channel.