On the agenda: Budget adjustments, police accountability, and encampment response

This week, city council will meet on April 17. There's also a non-regular city council meeting on April 19, and a special audit committee meeting on April 21. Recruitment for various boards and committees continues with non-regular meetings of community and public services committee and executive committee on April 18, and urban planning committee on April 19.

Here are some of the key items on the agenda:

• The 2023 spring supplemental operating budget adjustment proposes budget changes that would maintain the 4.96% tax increase approved in December 2022. Adjustments include a $5.8 million increase in tax revenue due to assessment growth, the removal of budgeted costs for withdrawing from the Edmonton Metro Transit Services Commission, and other impacts arising from changes to economic forecasts and federal and provincial budgets.
• Responding to a city council motion from October 2022, the Edmonton Police Commission has brought forward recommendations to enhance reporting and accountability. The recommendations include: the establishment of an independent third party to manage alleged breaches of the commission's code of conduct, conflict of interest, and oath of office policies; changes to the police commission bylaw to allow non-commissioners to serve on standing committees and to allow the commission to establish advisory committees; and advocacy for provincial legislation changes to make the chair full-time.
• The city's enhanced encampment response plan will be considered by city council, with a motion on the floor from Coun. Aaron Paquette that would direct administration to develop a prototype to "create bridge pathways from homelessness to housing and recovery."

Here are some of the other new agenda items:

• The city's 2022 audited consolidated financial statements are ready for review by audit committee. KPMG's external audit report is also available for review.
• Several borrowing bylaws will be considered, including:
  • $100 million for the accelerated bike network implementation plan
  • $34.5 million for the District Energy Network Strategy and District Energy Nodes
  • $13.6 million for missing and enhanced sidewalk connections
  • Sidewalk reconstruction in McCauley, Baturyn, and Ottewell
• Bylaw 20497 would amend the Edmonton Police Commission Bylaw to align with changes made to the Police Act as of March 29, 2023.
• Council will receive 2022 annual reports and 2023 work plans:
  • The Edmonton Design Committee will improve its onboarding and training tools, conduct industry engagement, and host a luncheon with the mayor and councillors.
  • The Energy Transition Climate Resilience Committee will contribute to the Zoning Bylaw Renewal and District Planning initiatives, explore how to use charter powers to speed up the adoption of building codes, and support the "rapid acceleration" of the bike plan implementation.
  • The Edmonton Salutes Committee will review funding requests, attend several events, and will seek new opportunities to reach out to military families.
  • The Edmonton Combative Sports Commission will continue with policy review efforts, will conduct stakeholder engagement of fighter safety policies, and will create tools to strengthen the appeals process.
  • The Community Services Advisory Board will participate in the Public Spaces Bylaw review, will review and update the CSAB bylaw, and will follow up on the Community Safety and Well Being work.
  • The Naming Committee will participate in the River Valley Alliance's trail naming initiative, and will work with the Grandin Working Circle to bring forward recommendations for a new name for the former Grandin/Government Centre LRT Station.

Meetings are streamed live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.