The Pulse: Jan. 24, 2022

Episode 163 of Speaking Municipally takes a look at a couple of very specific downtown issues that have wider implications.

One is Coun. Anne Stevenson's notice of motion to cancel a plan to spend $26.5 million from the downtown Community Revitalization Levy on the 103 Avenue Pedway, as well as $10.6 million on the first phase of development on public amenities at Qualico's Station Lands project.

The previous council approved a recommendation to amend the CRL to use funds in this way, but it is up to this council to vote on a borrowing bylaw to release the money. The councillor for O-day'min urged her colleagues to consider whether the idea "aligns with our public investment and city-building priorities."

"This is, I think, a very clear break from the previous council's direction," said podcast co-host Mack Male, who wondered whether we'll see a vote split between new and returning councillors when it comes to council on Jan. 24.

He also noted Stevenson's point that the city could build a significant amount of affordable housing with the money currently destined for the Station Lands project. "It's refreshing to me to see a new councillor say, well, we can continue to complain to the province and the federal government about how we need money for this. But we also have a lot of money we spend in the city, and maybe we should spend it more wisely."

Male and co-host Troy Pavlek also discussed who should bear the costs when police action causes damage, in light of a story involving Tzin Wine and Tapas on 104 Street. Police deployed flash-bangs or bean bag guns during the course of an arrest last summer, which resulted in almost $3,000 in damage to the restaurant. Business owner Kelsey Danyluk's landlord charged her for cleanup and repair, but she hasn't been able to recover those costs from either the city or the Edmonton Police Service.

• Four Treaty 6 First Nations — Alexander, Alexis Nakota Sioux, Enoch Cree, and Paul — have formed the First Nation Capital Investment Partnership to help build economic sovereignty by pursuing ownership in major infrastructure projects.
• Teachers in the Edmonton region say that the pandemic is causing the worst staffing shortages they've ever seen. In Edmonton, 10.9% of teachers and 20% of educational assistants in the public school system are absent.
• An inmate at the Edmonton Institution, the city's maximum security prison, said conditions inside have worsened due to staffing shortages. The prison is operating with about 100 fewer staff than its full complement of 266 correctional officers, Postmedia reports.
• Inheritance, a new exhibit at the Art Gallery of Alberta, features the work of four artists from across Canada and explores the history and impacts of racism in Alberta.
• The Chinatown and Area Business Association said that a recent increase in crime could spell the end for some businesses, as patrons may steer clear of the area, and vandalism hurts their bottom lines. "Nobody feels safe, our customers are leaving our community, our members are leaving our community," executive director Wen Wong said.
• The Edmonton Public School Board barred cheerleaders from D. S. MacKenzie Junior High School and Harry Ainlay High School from competing in person at the Cold Snap Cheer & Dance Championships at the Edmonton EXPO Centre over the weekend. The board said students would have to participate virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.
• A new wing of the Stollery Children's Hospital is being used to care for adults, as hospitals around the city are hitting capacity. AHS said the converted space was not yet being used to treat pediatric patients. In earlier phases of the pandemic, ICU beds were also used for adults in need.
• Alcohol-related illnesses have increased since the start of the pandemic in Alberta. In particular, alcoholic hepatitis, which can be deadly, has increased.

As incumbent Tim Cartmell and rookie Jennifer Rice settle into their terms as city councillors, both have an eye to tackle pivotal issues like the economy and the city's next budget.

Cartmell, who won more than 80% of the vote in Ward pihêsiwin, represents Edmontonians who live in both mature and brand new neighbourhoods. He said there are two main issues that he's heard about from his constituents: the need for traffic calming and more focus on building a 15-minute city.

"I want things closer. If I'm in a new neighborhood, I would like ... things that are convenient and within that 15-minute walk. Outside the Henday ring, where is my spontaneous recreation opportunity? Where is my daycare? Where's my employment opportunity?" Cartmell asked on Taproot's Speaking Municipally podcast.

"People want that, perhaps romantic experience, that they can do a lot of what they want to do within a few steps of their home."

Looking to the term ahead, Cartmell said his biggest priority is the next four-year capital and operating budgets.

"We're going to employ a prioritized budgeting process. What do people want to see, and it's going to be different in different wards ... and in different segments of the city. So that's the work I really want to dig into," Cartmell said.

"I'm excited to be on utility committee this time around. We took a giant step with our new waste collection system — refining and evolving that to make it ever better."

He added that he also wants to be more assertive on issues like snow clearing and the cost of infrastructure, in an effort to make progress on those files.

Meanwhile, Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi councillor Jennifer Rice wants to focus on diversifying the economy as the city recovers from COVID-19.

"If we have a strong economy, that means we will have ... even more resources to support people, to care about people," Rice said.

City council meets on Jan. 24, with continuation set for Jan. 26 if more time is needed to cover the agenda. A number of items are also going to public hearing on Jan. 25. Here are some of the key items scheduled to be considered:

• Mayor Amarjeet Sohi will introduce a motion that administration provide a report on how the City of Edmonton can help to increase the number of affordable child-care spaces accessible to Edmontonians. He wants to see the city look into zoning bylaws to remove barriers, developing a comprehensive child-care strategy, and more. The report back will be due in the first quarter of 2022.
• Council will consider a recommendation that the office of the city auditor complete an audit of the Edmonton Police Commission, which would require a one-time funding increase to the office of $200,000. The goal would be to have a more transparent and data-informed police budget, as well as better direction in achieving the anti-racism recommendations provided by the community safety and well-being task force.
• Coun. Anne Stevenson plans to move a motion that would cancel a plan to spend $26.5 million from the downtown Community Revitalization Levy on a pedway to the Station Lands.

This week's calendar offers ways to better understand precision health and urban heat islands, ideas to improve workplace wellness and diversity, and real talk from some entrepreneurs. Plus, Ice on Whyte begins!

• Jan. 25, 8am: AI for Precision Health: Challenges and Opportunities, a lecture from the U of A Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry in conjunction with Amii
• Jan. 25, 11am: Building an Inclusive Community from Startup to Scaleup, a Startup Edmonton panel with Ingrid Harb, Jahanzaib Ansari, and Rachel Williams
• Jan. 26, 12pm: Working Toward Wellness, a panel discussion presented by United Way Alberta Capital Region, with Michelle Devlin, Kim Wilkinson, Darren Cheverie, and Pauline Smale
• Jan. 26, 12pm: The Realities of Fundraising, a Startup Money Series event with DiveThru founder Sophie Gray
• Jan. 26, 2pm: "The Social Media Rage Machine": What To Do if Your Business Attracts Negative Attention Online, a "tell your story" webinar with Avery Johnson of Kaden Ave Communications
• Jan. 26, 7pm: Mapping Edmonton's Urban Heat Island, a Shrubscriber event looking at a Kings University project
• Jan. 27-Feb. 6: Ice on Whyte, an ice sculpture garden with carving demonstrations

Photo: Streetlights illuminated downtown Edmonton. (David Coyle/Instagram)