On the agenda: K-Days, Africa Centre, living wage

This week, councillors are set to discuss a potentially reduced footprint for K-Days and other major events, review a sale agreement for a proposed community centre, and hear an update on the city's living wage requirement.

There is a community and public services committee meeting on April 20, an urban planning committee meeting on April 21, and an executive committee meeting on April 22.

Here are some key items on the agenda:

• The amount of city-owned land allocated to outdoor events at the Exhibition Lands, such as K-Days, could be reduced from 55 acres to about 21 acres, administration said in a report to urban planning committee. Redevelopment of the Exhibition Lands is underway to turn the property into a sustainable, transit-oriented neighbourhood, a shift from what the report calls "large land areas that are seldom used." The redevelopment calls for the land leased to Explore Edmonton, which runs K-Days, to eventually be reduced to 15.7 hectares, but administration said the land where the Coliseum sits can host extra festival space once the former arena is demolished. The report said administration will continue to work with Explore Edmonton as the lands are redeveloped to ensure it has enough time to relocate storage, maintenance shops, and parking as the area redevelops.
• Executive committee will review a proposed sale agreement with the Africa Centre for a portion of Athlone Park at 13160 127 Street NW that will allow the organization to construct the African Multicultural Community Centre. An updated business case outlines three development scenarios; administration recommends that the centre use the site to balance community programming with revenue-generating components, including eight affordable housing units. The centre has introduced some measures to mitigate a potential loss of revenue in the case of vacancy, including a new endowment fund established at the Edmonton Community Foundation. The agreement proposes selling the land for $1, with a buy-back option if the centre doesn't start construction within five years.
• Administration said it will continue work to ensure that its suppliers and contractors pay their employees a living wage by managing contracts, engaging with suppliers, and enhancing monitoring. The current living wage in the Edmonton region is $22.30 per hour.
• Administration has created a wildfire risk management strategy that focuses on managing vegetation, responding to wildfires, collaborating with neighbouring jurisdictions, and educating and preparing the community. Council's community and public services committee will be asked to recommend one of three implementation levels, the first using existing budget and the other two requiring a funding package in the 2027-2030 budget.

Here are updates on some items we told you about last week:

• Council approved $15 million to begin work on the first phase of the River Crossing Community Development, which would see the construction or rehabilitation of the roads north of Re/Max Field and the first steps toward housing development on the field's parking area. Coun. Anne Stevenson asked administration to provide a memo outlining a short-term and long-term strategy for parking and transportation to Re/Max Field, as well as transit support provided to major venues such as Commonwealth Stadium and Rogers Place.
• Council voted to reinstate parking on 101 Street, from 107 Avenue to Kingsway, weekdays from 9:30am to 3:30pm.
• A portion of land currently used as green space in the Dunluce neighbourhood will be listed for sale for affordable housing after an 8-5 council vote. Coun. Erin Rutherford, who represents Dunluce, opposed the decision because she said the neighbourhood already has sufficient affordable housing and not enough green space, but those who voted in favour cited the city's need for more affordable homes.
• Council voted to finalize the 6.9% tax levy increase for 2026.
• Council discussed which arterial roads should be widened. Administration said it will bring options for funding to the 2027-2030 budget deliberations.
• The following borrowing bylaws received first reading: to increase the budget for the replacement of light rail vehicles by $80.8 million to a total of $321.3 million; to increase the budget for the design and delivery of ramps at 137 Avenue NW and Anthony Henday Drive by $8.5 million to $15 million; and to increase the budget for the downtown district energy initiative by $18.4 million $54.3 million. The bylaws still require a second and third reading.

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

For more on various civic issues, including affordable housing in Dunluce, recommendations to improve safety downtown, and transit to sports venues, listen to Episode 352 of Speaking Municipally.