The Pulse: July 4, 2022

Edmonton is blazing a trail when it comes to incorporating a carbon budget into its decision-making, but a lot of things still have to be figured out when it comes to applying the concept during this year's crucial budget deliberations.

As city council sets its four-year financial budget this fall, it also has to take into account the implications of its decisions on its ability to stay within a carbon budget of 135 megatonnes as of 2050, as well as its ability to achieve interim goals to decrease community-based net greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2025 and by 50% by 2030, compared with 2005 levels.

How that happens is still a work in progress, said Harmalkit Rai, the city's deputy city treasurer and branch manager of financial services, on Episode 185 of Speaking Municipally, Taproot's civic affairs podcast.

"There will be an annual reporting-back mechanism, most likely in the fall, where we're going to be showing council (where) they are in terms of tracking towards their carbon targets," Rai said. "It's yet to be seen how we adapt our decision-making process and what kind of accountability we build into this process."

To live up to the Community Energy Transition Strategy, Edmonton will need to spend about $100 million annually on capital infrastructure and catalyst investments to decrease emissions across the board. That is not currently budgeted for but will be up for discussion as part of the 2023-26 budget.

"There's stuff that's already doing, but there will be a lot more we'll have to discuss as a part of the budget deliberations in terms of investments to achieve these targets," Rai said, encouraging Edmontonians to participate in the city's budget engagement, which is gathering feedback until July 17.

• The 13-year-old girl reported missing from Edmonton more than a week ago was found safe in Oregon on July 2. Edmonton police said a 41-year-old man from Oregon has been arrested and will be charged with child luring, but more charges could be laid as the investigation unfolds. "We're ecstatic. We are so relieved to have her back," the girl's father told CBC News.
• The city announced on June 30 that construction at five supportive housing sites will wrap up over the next six weeks, providing 210 new homes. A video shows how they were built using modular construction.
• In an interview with The Globe and Mail regarding the city's June 22 announcement about new green energy contracts, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said Edmonton is leading by example. "I hope that encourages other municipalities and residents within the municipalities to do their part," he said.
• Former mayor Don Iveson will serve as co-chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. "Honoured to be able to help lead the continuing national effort to end homelessness," Iveson said.
• Edmonton runner Marco Arop ran the 800 metres in a season's best time of one minute, 43.61 seconds — the third-fastest time in the world this year — to win the pre world invitational championships in Edmonton on July 3.
• City council's executive committee last week requested more information on how to support the nighttime economy, which could include the designation of a night mayor. Some are concerned that there won't be enough venues for music events when Edmonton hosts the Juno Awards next year.
• The frequently-vandalized plaque outside the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald that honoured Frank Oliver was removed by city crews last month and won't be put back. "The city is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous nations and therefore we have no plans to replace the plaque of Frank Oliver," city spokesperson Mary-Ann Thurber told CTV News.

This is city council's final week of meetings before the summer break. There's a city council meeting on July 4, with a continuation scheduled for July 6. A public hearing is scheduled for July 5.

• The Healthy Streets Operation Centre proposed for Chinatown — which would support multidisciplinary teams across the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Police Service, and community partners — could cost $18 million over four years to operate. The EPS is requesting 36 new officers as part of its business plan for the centre. A location for the facility has not yet been selected and could add to the cost.
• Establishing three small-scale sanctioned encampments from early August until Oct. 31 would cost about $2 million. Administration does not recommend moving forward with the proposal, but acknowledges that "no other options were determined to be viable" this summer. Workforce trailers, micro shelters, or a tiny home village are all options for next year.
• Bylaw 20117, ready for first reading only, aims to reduce single-use plastics by prohibiting single-use plastic shopping bags and polystyrene foam serviceware, and charging a mandatory minimum fee for paper and reusable shopping bags, among other things.
• A rezoning application for 10209 100 Ave. downtown proposes to replace the vacant Dwayne's Home site with a mid-rise residential building of about six storeys with up to 215 dwellings. The Sedona Multi-Unit Development would feature a "heritage-style" aesthetic through brick cladding and vertically oriented windows.

This week, you can learn about human exoskeletons, high-protein cooking, or TikTok marketing; engage in an aural extravaganza; ponder the intersection of art, history, and the river valley; or tour the public art of St. Albert.

• July 5, 4:30pm: Construction Innovation Centre: Wearable Robots (Exoskeletons) from Rainforest Alberta - Edmonton
• July 5, 7pm: Protein Power: How to Cook with Nutrition and Muscle in Mind from the University of Alberta
• July 5, 7:30pm: Everywhen listening party with Jonathan Kawchuk at the Telus World of Science IMAX theatre
• July 6, 12pm: Basics: The Foundation of TikTok for Business from Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
• July 7, 12pm: Art & Time: Yorath House and Edmonton's Westerly Parks
• July 8, 12pm: St. Albert Public Art Walking Tour from the Art Gallery of St. Albert

Find even more listings in Taproot's weekly roundups.

Photo: Artist and past historian laureate Marlena Wyman, seen here at a 2019 event, will deliver a talk with writer and historian Adriana Davies about their residency at Yorath House. (Mack Male/Flickr)