The Pulse: March 15, 2021

Preliminary results suggest the City of Edmonton finished 2020 with a surplus of $40.2 million.

In its latest financial update, administration suggests that "without early budget adjustments the City of Edmonton could have ended the year with a deficit of over $100 million."

Revenues were $29.1 million less than the budget that was adjusted for COVID-19 last spring, while expenses were $69.3 million lower. The figures suggest the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an overall decline in revenue of $171.7 million, compared to the original budget for 2020.

Administration says a number of factors contributed to the surplus, including smaller than anticipated declines in revenue from business licenses and lower than anticipated fuel and utilities costs. Personnel costs were "extremely" close to the budgeted amount. Revenues from Edmonton Transit were $14 million lower than the adjusted amount budgeted in April 2020.

• The City of Edmonton is rolling out a new garbage cart and food scraps system today, where homes will be given a large cart and two food scrap bins. Pickups will also only happen bi-weekly as opposed to the weekly schedule of the past.
• At least five of nine trustee seats for Edmonton Public School Board will be open heading into the municipal election this fall. Only Nathan Ip has announced he will run again for a third term.
• Councillor Scott McKeen will bring a motion to council today that urges Mayor Don Iveson to lobby the federal government to "recognize the overdose crisis as a national public health emergency," plus "fund and accommodate a safe supply pilot program, or programs, in Edmonton."
• Alberta has reported its first two cases of the Brazilian variant of COVID-19, which are travel-related in Calgary.
• The United Conservative Party will conduct a leadership review in 2022, it announced on Friday. “We believe this keeps us fully compliant with our bylaws, and strengthens membership engagement with our party," party president Ryan Becker wrote in an email to constituency association presidents.
• GraceLife Church held another busy service on Sunday morning, a week after it was charged as an entity for refusing to follow public health orders.

Here are some of the notable agenda items coming before city council for the week of March 15-19:

• A report on the 2019-2022 Capital Budget says that expenditures of $1.3 billion in 2020 are "in line with spending from previous years" with nearly three-quarters of the spending concentrated in LRT, road, and neighbourhood projects. Of the 69 projects with expenditures of at least $20 million, administration says all are within the acceptable tolerance for budget and 84% are within the acceptable tolerance for schedule.
• The Edmonton Exhibition Lands Planning Framework is now ready for third reading after being approved by the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board on Feb. 4. The Northlands Area Redevelopment Plan will be repealed. Administration says the Exhibition Lands site is "the city's second largest infill redevelopment opportunity." An implementation strategy is under development for the project which has an estimated redevelopment timeline of 30 years.
• Proposed amendments to the Council Procedures Bylaw would remove the requirement to record the names of people allowed to attend items discussed by council in private, and the reasons that person was allowed to attend. Council and committee meeting agendas will now be released at least ten clear days prior to the meeting.

Will Edmonton be a good place to live? That's the question we'll be exploring March 18 at the next listening session for our People's Agenda project.

Join us at noon for another discussion to uncover what is important to you as we head towards the municipal election on Oct. 18. Please register here to attend.

The topic reflects the synthesis of a number of responses to our People's Agenda question concerning quality of life. So far, people have told us they want to know how candidates will maintain or improve their quality of life and that of others. Many are concerned about the affordability of the city, while some are particularly concerned about the vibrancy of downtown or the efficiency of the waste management system. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some are concerned about the survival of small businesses and the future of local arts.

That's a lot to tackle in one hour, and we won't get to all of it, but this seems like an interesting lens through which to consider the candidates' priorities. Chris Chang-Yen Phillips will once again be our host.

If you can't make it, we will recap it on Friday, as we did last week on city finances. Save the dates for future sessions — we'll be convening every Thursday until the end of April.

The reviews are in and it's clear that Episode 120 of Speaking Municipally is a must-listen. Hosts Troy Pavlek and Mack Male spoke with Carrie Hotton-MacDonald, the new branch manager of the Edmonton Transit Service.

"Great podcast interview," tweeted @gisellegeneral. "Having good transportation choices is important for sure."

"Carrie’s messaging on everything was on point, and she inspired great confidence in her abilities," tweeted @DinicolaNicola. "Can’t be an easy job, but I’m glad we have her aboard!

Hotton-MacDonald "imbues empathy, compassion & dedication to public service," tweeted @SohiAmarjeet. "I am deeply impressed with your interview...and wish you all the best in your new role," he tweeted in a follow-up.

In the interview, Hotton-MacDonald said her extensive experience using transit will help her improve the network.

• SkirtsAfire's “Makings of a Voice” by Dana Wylie is extended until March 20. Get your tickets now at http://tickets.fringetheatre.ca.
• The Edmonton Angel Summit Pitch Preparation is on March 15. Register here. The Edmonton Angel Summit itself is scheduled for March 18.
• Alberta Women Entrepreneurs is hosting Ready, Set, Focus – An Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide on March 16. Cathy Goulet, president of Killick Leadership Group Ltd, will speak at the free event.
• Business Link has organized a half-day conference on March 18 that aims to support women entrepreneurs and small business owners in finding passion in entrepreneurship.

Thanks to Kage Leeb for sharing his photo with us!