On the agenda: Garneau rezoning, utility rate changes, council office budget

This week, council will discuss an application to rezone land in Garneau, possible updates to utility rates, and its shared budget for office personnel.

There is a public hearing scheduled for Nov. 4 with a continuation on Nov. 5 if needed. There is a non-regular council meeting scheduled for Nov. 5, a council services committee meeting scheduled for Nov. 6, and a utility committee meeting scheduled for Nov. 8.

Here are key items on this week's agenda:

• Council is set to consider an application to rezone properties in Garneau that administration said would likely lead to the demolition of a historic resource. BM Homes has applied to rezone a four-lot parcel that includes the Thornton Graham Residence at 108 Street NW and 84 Avenue NW. The house was built in 1912. Rezoning would allow for a six-storey building. Administration said it supports the application because it could provide more housing near transit, active transportation networks, and amenities. Some nearby residents opposed the rezoning, citing parking and the potential loss of sunlight as concerns. Council is scheduled to vote on the application at a public hearing on Nov. 4.
• As of August, council spending on office expenses was under budget, according to a report scheduled to be presented to the council services committee on Nov. 6. Councillors have a shared annual budget of $3 million from which they pay their own salaries and those of their office staff, office furniture, travel costs to conferences, and other expenses such as allowances for vehicles. As of August, the budget has a surplus of $417,000, thanks in part to councillors attending conferences virtually and other savings created by staff vacancies. There is also a shared ward budget of $5.5 million that pays for executive assistants, community expenses, and business meetings, among other expenses. Ward budgets for all councillors are expected to finish the year on or under budget.
• Administration said it will cost about $2.69 million to implement climate initiatives in the city's waste services department in 2025 and 2026. These projects include retrofitting up to 19 buildings to improve energy efficiency, switching to greener fuel for heat and power, building infrastructure to support low-emission vehicles, and generating renewable energy at municipal facilities. Administration proposes to pay for these projects by using savings created by a provincial regulation that will take effect in April 2025. The Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation shifts the responsibility for managing recycling and hazardous waste from municipalities to those that produce the waste, thereby encouraging companies to create less waste and keep it out of landfills, a city report said. The city plans to charge waste producers to collect, process, and manage designated waste materials, creating a new revenue stream and reducing the revenue support needed from ratepayers. The shift means that waste utility rates will decrease by 10.7% for most ratepayers, pending council approval. Council's utility committee is scheduled to discuss the changes at a meeting on Nov. 8.

Here are some other items on the agenda:

• Council is set to consider a rezoning application in Westmount that would remove the requirement for residential units on a property and allow for a bar, liquor store, cannabis store, or body rub business to operate there. The site at 12710 107 Avenue NW is currently zoned to allow a five-storey building that has at least three residential units. The proposed mixed-use rezoning would remove the requirement for housing units. Administration said it supports the application because it supports intensification along 107 Avenue NW, which is a secondary corridor under the district planning policy. Some residents oppose the application, citing concerns about parking and traffic congestion. Council is scheduled to vote on the application at a public hearing on Nov. 4.
• Green Space Alliance has submitted a rezoning application for a property in King Edward Park that would allow for a six-storey building with limited commercial opportunities. Administration said it supports rezoning the parcel at 8526 8530 81 Avenue NW because it is part of a primary corridor in the district planning policy that is near Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, transit, and active transportation routes. Some nearby residents oppose the development, suggesting a six-storey building is too tall for this location, especially because it is in the middle of a residential block instead of on a corner. Council is set to vote on the rezoning application at a public hearing on Nov. 4.
• Administration proposes increasing the energy utility rates in Blatchford. Townhouse lots in the community pay a daily fixed or variable rate to use the city's district energy system, and administration proposes increasing both by 10%. Multi-unit lots pay a monthly fixed or variable rate, and administration proposes increasing those rates by 2.7% and 10%, respectively. Administration also recommends a 2.7% rate increase for infrastructure fees for both townhouses and multi-unit lots. Council's utility committee will discuss the changes at a meeting on Nov. 8, and if committee approves them, they will be brought to council for a vote at a future meeting.
• Council is expected to spend up to $82,200 to attend conferences and events between January and the municipal election in October, a report set to be presented at a council services committee meeting said. Much of the cost is for councillors to travel to various events with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, including its annual conference in Ottawa, which would cost about $36,000 if eight councillors attend.
• Council is scheduled to meet in private on Nov. 5 to discuss a shortlist of candidates for the Edmonton Police Commission.

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