On the agenda: Downtown parking lots, river valley plan

This week, council will discuss a program to regulate downtown surface parking lots, financial updates for the capital and operating budgets, and a new plan for redevelopment in the river valley.

There is a public hearing scheduled on Dec. 9, a council meeting scheduled on Dec. 10 and 11, and a utility committee meeting scheduled on Dec. 13.

Here are key items on this week's agenda:

• Council is scheduled to debate a program that would regulate surface parking lots in the core at a public hearing on Dec. 9. Administration has identified about 120 surface parking lots in the core, noting many are operating without a development permit and have no current pathway to obtaining one because previous city policies essentially ban that possibility. Administration has proposed a new use in the zoning bylaw to allow for a temporary surface parking lot — as long as the lots are improved with paving or upgraded gravel, trees and shrubs, lighting, and accessible parking spots. Parking lot operators would have 18 months to apply for a development permit and another 18 months to complete improvements. Both residents and lot operators criticized administration's proposed maximum permit duration of seven years for gravel lots and 10 years for paved lots. Residents and community organizations said seven to 10 years was too long and didn't feel temporary, suggesting a permit max of three to five years. Operators, on the other hand, said the permit was too short to make the proposed improvements financially viable, especially if they are required to pave, and suggested permits run up to 20 years or even be made permanent. If council approves the program, operators can apply for the temporary permit as of January.
• Administration projects it will spend about $2 billion on capital projects this year, which is higher than in previous years, because major projects are progressing further into construction. Between 2019 and 2023, the city spent an average of about $1.29 billion annually on capital projects, according to an update on the capital budget that will be presented to council on Dec. 10. Administration also projects a $19.4-million operating budget deficit by the end of 2024, equivalent to about 0.6% of the overall expense budget. This is due in part to lower revenue from transit fares, increased contract work, and higher costs for maintenance, parts, materials, fuel, and personnel. The financial stabilization reserve is projected to be at about $58.8 million at the end of the year, below the minimum balance of $133.8 million.
• Development will not be permitted in most of Edmonton's river valley, should council approve a new North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan. Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed plan on Dec. 10. The plan identifies the land use for most of the river valley as open space, meaning parks, recreation, and spaces for gathering and ceremony would be permitted, and other potential uses would not be.

Here are some other items on the agenda:

• Council is set to receive a verbal update on Dutch elm disease at a council meeting on Dec. 10.
• Council is scheduled to vote on designating Alexander Circle in Glenora as a municipal historic resource. Alexander Circle would become the first public park in Edmonton to be protected from demolition and other changes due to heritage considerations. Efforts to protect Alexander Circle started after administration paused work on a heritage strategy for the Glenora neighbourhood earlier this year and redirected funds to a city-wide strategy.
• Nearctic and Rockwell Investments have applied to rezone part of the Strathearn Heights redevelopment beside the Strathearn LRT stop to allow for medium-rise buildings throughout the site. This would ultimately allow the site to be developed at a lower density than the current zoning, though towers would still be allowed. The proposed new zone also requires commercial space along 95 Avenue NW and 87 Street NW.
• City council is set to debate whether it should amend a sale agreement, and as a result, potentially kill a proposed arts development in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood. The Edmonton Community Development Company, which is behind the proposed ArtsCommon 118 development, said it no longer sees the original project as viable and is facing barriers to development. The project, in the works since at least 2018, was planned to create 78 live-work artist studios, two floors of market space for artists, performance spaces, a rooftop garden, and industrial kitchen space. To support the development, Edmonton transferred several land parcels to ECDC, with the condition that ECDC started to build ArtsCommon by July 2028. The development company has asked for that sale agreement to be amended, as its time condition has made it hard to build on the lot, which remains empty. The company said amending the agreement would allow it to build smaller commercial developments or other initiatives that support the area. Executive committee reviewed the request at a former meeting but sent the decision to city council without recommending a course of action. Council is set to debate the request at a meeting on Dec. 10.
• Council is set to vote on creating a Migrant Action Plan to address the needs of Edmonton residents born outside of Canada. While immigration is primarily a responsibility of the federal and provincial governments, cities play a role in welcoming and integrating new Canadians, a report said. Nearly one-third of Edmonton's population were immigrants as of May 2021, the month for which the newest data is available. Administration estimates nearly 38,500 people moved to the Edmonton region from other countries between 2022 and 2023. Pending council approval, administration will create an action plan to assess the needs of the immigrant population, set goals, identify community partners, and review funding.
• Three Indigenous organizations could receive money to build affordable housing following a city council vote on Dec. 10. Yellowhead Tribal Council has proposed a 149-unit mixed-market housing project at 560 Belvedere Way NW. Fifty-nine units will be offered at approximately 60% of market rent, and the rest will be offered at market rates. Administration recommends granting YTC $5.25 million for the project. The Métis Capital Housing Corporation has proposed a six-unit transitional supportive housing project in Calder for Métis women, families, and 2SLGBTQ+ people fleeing domestic violence. The units will be rented at 32% of market rates for the next 40 years. Administration said it recommends giving the project $480,000. NiGiNan Housing Ventures proposed a 28-unit affordable housing project in Elmwood Park. Half the units will be studio apartments, half will be three-bedrooms, and all will be offered at a maximum of 80% of market rents to clients in the provincial Persons with Developmental Disabilities program. The project will include a shared courtyard and outdoor amenity space. Council's executive committee considered the grants but requisitioned the report to council without a recommendation.
• Council's executive committee recommends amending the city's public private partnership policy so administration no longer requires council approval to use the P3 model for projects with a budget of less than $500 million. The current threshold is $30 million, a report detailing the proposed amended policy said. Administration said the proposed change would align with industry benchmarks for major projects and better reflect the scale and complexities involved in large-scale infrastructure. Council is scheduled to vote on amending the policy at a meeting on Dec. 10.
• Council's utility committee is scheduled to review EPCOR's performance based regulation application and compliance filing, which will set the city's utility rates for April 2025 to December 2027. Administration said EPCOR's filing is reasonable.
• Council will meet in private during a meeting on Dec. 10 to speak with the city manager, hear an update from a shareholder, and discuss collective bargaining.

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