This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes a survey on development along Whyte Avenue, a town hall on transit accessibility, and additions to Edmonton's Vision Zero Street Labs project.
Prioritize Whyte Avenue has launched a survey advocating for capital investments in Old Strathcona ahead of municipal budget decisions in the fall. The group hopes to see funding for public spaces, sidewalks, patios, and transit infrastructure along 82 Avenue NW.
"From business to community, we're all in this together and we need your help!" the survey's preamble reads.
Council has funded similar initiatives in the area, like the pedestrianization of 83 Avenue, which began last summer. The city is also in the process of bringing Bus Rapid Transit to the avenue, and developing the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy, which is expected to be funded in the next decade. While these projects align with the coalition's goals, Prioritize Whyte Avenue worries that splitting the projects could wreak havoc on the corridor by lengthening the impacts of construction.
"The City of Edmonton should be learning from its mistakes and trying to focus construction/renewal into tighter timelines," its survey reads. "By merging these into one project, impacts on local businesses and festivals can be more time-limited and we can get closer to a renewed corridor sooner."
Prioritize Whyte Avenue is made up of four groups. Edmonton Transit Riders and Paths for People are not-for-profits that focus on commuter accessibility. The French Quarter and the Old Strathcona Business Association advocate for economic development in their business improvement areas.
Organizers told Taproot the survey has no concrete end date, but will remain open through spring. The group plans to publish survey results in the summer, ahead of bringing suggestions to city council as the city builds the four-year municipal budget in the fall.
Prioritize Whyte Avenue hopes to improve commuters' experiences along the main stretch of 82 Avenue from 109 Street to 83 Street. (Sara Sheydwasser)
Here are some other opportunities to provide input in the Edmonton metro region:
- Until March 14: Clarity Development Advisory is seeking input on the rezoning of eight properties at the corner of Scona Road and 93 Avenue NW.
- Until March 18: Parkland County has launched a survey on water and wastewater services as it builds a master plan.
- March 21: Edmonton Transit Riders is hosting a town hall to gather input from Edmontonians who are Deaf about accessibility improvements on transit.
- March 23: The City of Leduc is holding a public hearing to rezone some land for residential and recreational purposes.
- March 23: Strathcona County's Family and Community Services is holding an information session about developing a community foundation.
- March 24: Sturgeon County is holding a public hearing about closing and disposing of a section of Range Road 222.
- March 24: Parkland County is holding public hearings on redistricting a section of land from agricultural to commercial use and closing and selling a portion of road.
- March 26: Edmonton is continuing its series of town halls for playground renewals with a drop-in event about Weinlos Park.
- Until March 27: Leduc County has launched its citizen satisfaction survey.
- Until March 29: Devon RCMP have issued a policing priorities survey.
- Until March 30: Edmonton is gathering information about traffic safety concerns in Abbottsfield and Rundle Heights, Argyll, Casselman and McLeod, Lendrum Place, and Terrace Heights for the Vision Zero Street Labs project.
- Until March 31: The City of Leduc has launched its annual budget planning and citizen satisfaction survey.
- Until April 10: Fort Saskatchewan is looking for input on a new land use bylaw and will be holding a series of town halls after the final draft is published on March 16.
- April 13: The City of Leduc is holding a public hearing on a proposed bylaw change to reflect changes in a larger municipal development plan.
- Ongoing: The Town of Gibbons has opened a survey asking residents if Gibbons should remain a town or be dissolved into a Sturgeon County hamlet. This comes after the town's poor financial state came to light.
"Your turn" is Taproot's weekly collection of public engagement opportunities in the Edmonton region. Watch this space every Friday for opportunities to make your views known.