The Pulse: July 12, 2021

City council begins its four-week summer break today. While most decisions over the past five weeks were unanimous, a handful were not.

The most contentious decision was the temporary mandatory face coverings bylaw amendment on June 22. A motion from Coun. Jon Dziadyk to amend the bylaw to end the mandatory requirement as of July 1 was highly debated. The first and second reading reflected a divided council, with the amendment passing by a 7-6 vote. Mayor Don Iveson and councillors Andrew Knack, Ben Henderson, Scott McKeen, Aaron Paquette, and Michael Walters voted against.

A motion to move straight to the third reading failed thanks to a single vote against by Paquette. That would normally have delayed the third reading until the next scheduled meeting of council, but a 12-1 vote (only Knack opposed) allowed Dziadyk to make a motion to hold a special city council meeting on June 25. That carried 11-2, with Knack and Paquette opposed. At the special meeting, the third reading of the amendment passed 7-6.

According to an enforcement update on June 28, the city issued a total of 7,480 warnings and 441 tickets related to the temporary mandatory face coverings bylaw since it took effect on Aug. 1, 2020.

Other non-unanimous decisions included:

• Coun. Mike Nickel, who was found in violation of the council code of conduct following six complaints to the integrity commissioner, twice escaped a sanction from his colleagues. With a super-majority required, the first vote failed 7-4 on June 24 and the second vote failed 8-3 on July 5.
• Nickel was the sole vote against the spring capital budget adjustments. During that discussion, a proposal to spend another $800,000 in 2021 to advance the Parsons Road lane widening project (between 19 Avenue and Ellerslie Road) was defeated 10-3, with Dziadyk, Nickel, and Coun. Moe Banga in favour.
• Only Nickel voted against first reading of a bylaw to authorize $2 million in borrowing for the 170 Street Pedestrian bridge.
• The weed management program received a one-time, $970,000 boost this year in a 10-3 vote, with Iveson, McKeen, and Coun. Tim Cartmell voting against.
• The Air Services Opportunities Fund, which has now raised about $14.9 million, was approved by council 11-2, with Dziadyk and Nickel voting against. Edmonton will contribute $1.94 million in 2021, $3.97 million in 2022, and $3.97 million in 2023.

Council's first meeting back after the break will be an executive committee meeting on Monday, Aug. 9.

• Canadian Blood Services is urgently calling on Edmontonians to fill 2,000 appointments in July. With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions on medical procedures, there is an immediate need for blood products across the country.
• A data theft from Meals on Wheels in January has left 27,000 clients, donors, volunteers and employees exposed and revealed a major gap in Alberta's privacy legislation, reports CBC News.
• A staffing shortage at the Royal Alexandra Hospital has forced the temporary closure of six hospital beds for the summer. Nursing shortages have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, report CBC News and Global News.
• As Edmonton works toward its goal of Vision Zero, the default speed limit will drop to 40 km/h on most residential and downtown streets Aug. 6. The current default speed — if drivers don't see a sign on the road — is 50 km/h.
• A new workshop helps bystanders to intervene in hate-motivated attacks and support victims. The workshop was organized in response to a series of attacks against Muslim women in Edmonton over the past year.
• Developer Gene Dub and First Nations groups await the results of a ground penetrating scan performed at the site of the former Camsell Hospital, where Indigenous people were sent for treatments for decades. Hub says he plans to extend the search and do the entire area along 127 Street.
• The city has asked Edmontonians to stop spraying public lands with herbicides. Reduced mowing this summer has lea to more weeds in city parks and residents have been taking matters into their own hands with illegal spraying.
• A Strathearn resident is concerned over the impact that elevated sidewalks will have on drainage to his property, as well as pedestrian safety. The sidewalks are being elevated due to the new Valley Line Southeast LRT line.
• Residents and caregivers of CapitalCare Laurier House Lynnwood showed their appreciation to Coun. Andrew Knack and David Ghermezian, president of Triple Five Group which owns West Edmonton Mall, for ensuring the 170 Street footbridge would be rebuilt.

Correction: An earlier version of this section misspelled Gene Dub's name.

In Episode 137 of Speaking Municipally, hosts Troy Pavlek and Mack Male recap the final week of city council meetings before the summer break. City council is now off until Monday, Aug. 9.

Coun. Mike Nickel escaped sanction for the third time in less than a year as a vote to reprimand him for violating council's code of conduct failed 8-3 (the motion required nine votes to pass). This time, even though Coun. Tim Cartmell switched his vote to favor a sanction, the absence of Coun. Michael Walters prevented the censure from being approved.

City council directed administration to halt plans to introduce parking fees at some parks and attractions. The plan will be considered again next year however, when council looks at a larger public parking policy. City council approved 16 of 18 recommendations brought forward as part of the city's Reimagine Services review.

And as Taproot reported last week, about $14.9 million has been committed from municipalities in the region for the Air Services Opportunities Fund. The intent is to provide incentives for airlines that agree to establish direct routes in and out of Edmonton. Edmonton Global, which is spearheading the initiative, hopes to grow the fund in the future.

Speaking Municipally will continue with new episodes throughout the summer.

Photo: You won't find E-Park machines at city parks anytime soon. (Mack Male/Flickr)

• Alberta Women Entrepreneurs is hosting an event on July 15 for Indigenous women who are contemplating taking a business idea to the next step. It will cover entrepreneurship, including a process to decide if owning a business is for you, and help look at whether the timing is right to start a new venture. You can also join AWE for an advanced session on using TikTok the same day.
• The first annual Night Market at the River Cree will offer First Nation and local artisans, vendors, food trucks, and more. The free event runs July 15-18.
• The Works: Activated - Art in the Square, Online, and in Communities is on in Churchill Square until July 17.

Photo: Chinatown's annual Canada Day celebration was postponed until July 11 due to extreme heat in the Edmonton region over the past two weeks. The event took place for the first time at Kinistinâw Park which opened to the public in The Quarters last year. (Mack Male)