The Pulse: Feb. 21, 2023

This week, there's a public hearing on Feb. 21, a city council meeting on Feb. 22 with a continuation scheduled for Feb. 24, and a private meeting of the committee that evaluates the performance of the city manager and city auditor on Feb. 23. Here are some of the key items on the agenda:

• Administration has made progress on OP12, the operating budget amendment that requests $60 million in savings over the 2023-2026 budget cycle, plus another $240 million in reallocations to council's priorities. The first recommendation is to define core services by asking three questions:
  • Is it a program or service required by legislation?
  • Is it practically necessary?
  • Is it a council priority?
• Bylaw 20345 would close the traffic lane on 102 Avenue between 99 Street and 103 Street for one year. Administration opposes the closure, highlighting constraints related to streetscape activity, design, local access, and safety, and arguing that "opening this space for vehicle traffic would contribute to vibrancy and support businesses more significantly." Paths for People said it was "miffed" by the city's suggestion and called the closure a "low-cost and high-impact" way to add more people-oriented space to the downtown.
• Bylaw 20387 would authorize the city to borrow $4.5 million for the 103A Avenue Pedway project to deal with inflation and revised cost estimates. The total project budget has increased from $26.5 million to $31 million.

• The city activated its extreme weather response on Feb. 20 in anticipation of the cold weather this week. The response, which is set to end Feb. 26, includes three overnight bus routes to bring people to shelters with capacity, day services at the Bissell Centre and Boyle Street Community Services, and wellness checks by the Encampment Response Team. The city wants residents to call 211 if they see someone in distress and 911 if it is an emergency. Scarlet Bjornson from the Bissell Centre encouraged Edmontonians to keep mitts, socks, and other warm items in their vehicle to give to people in need.
• CBC News spoke to students at the University of Alberta who have seen an increase in social disorder on campus in recent months and want the university to increase security. A non-exhaustive log kept by University of Alberta Protective Services (UAPS) said there were 225 security incidents in January, which was 11% higher than December. U of A spokesperson Michael Brown said incidents have risen in several locations, including HUB Mall and the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (ECHA), adding the university has not increased security funding but has a variety of programs to keep people safe, such as a safety committee, a community assistance team, and police liaison constable.
• City council will consider this week whether to raise the fine for excessive vehicle noise to $1,000 and double that for subsequent infractions. Coun. Michael Janz, who started a petition last summer to raise the fine, believes the proposed traffic bylaw amendments have broad support on council.
• As part of the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy, the city is hosting a drop-in session at the Strathcona Community League hall on March 2 to give the public the opportunity to view draft design ideas and share feedback. CBC News talked to Edmontonians about their impressions of plans to revitalize Whyte Avenue and land around Gateway Boulevard. Feedback received during previous public engagements on the strategy included improved connectivity, improved parks and more public gathering spaces, said project manager Marco Melfi.
• Police are investigating a fatal collision between a car and an Edmonton Transit Service bus near 108A Street and Whitemud Drive on Feb. 18. A 37-year-old woman who was a passenger of the vehicle died in hospital the next day. The other passengers and drivers of both vehicles were either unhurt or had non-life-threatening injuries. The Edmonton Police Service said neither speed nor alcohol were factors in the crash.
• Arnold Nett, an inspirational 90-year-old athlete in Edmonton, has broken several records since taking up track and field 35 years ago, including becoming the first Canadian over 90 to complete the 60-metre hurdles.

Correction: This file has been updated to reflect that the fatal collision on Whitemud Drive was at 108A Street, not 108A Avenue.

Opportunities this week include a conversation with the creator of Maus, a look at the democratic role of community leagues, a 20th birthday for an artistic institution, a grab-bag of nerdy talks, and a series of short films featuring Black creatives.

• Feb. 21, 7pm: A Conversation with Art Spiegelman, part of the Edmonton Public Library's Forward Thinking Speaker Series
• Feb. 22, 1pm: Democracy, City Building, and Community Leagues – A Deep Dive into the 100-year History of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
• Feb. 23, 5pm: The Nina's 20th Birthday Celebration at the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts
• Feb. 23, 7:30pm: Nerd Nite 70: Variety Pack at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Feb. 23, 7pm: Local Heroes Film Festival: Black History Month screening at the Stanley A. Milner Library

Find even more things to do in Taproot's weekly roundups.

Taproot is seeking input on whether to build an event calendar. Tell us what you think.

Photo: Mean Hakeem, Evan Bourque's film about mixed martial artist Hakeem Dawodu, is one of seven short films showing at the Edmonton Public Library's Muttart Theatre on Thursday. (Evan Bourque)