The Pulse: Aug. 18, 2023

City council returns from its summer break next week, just as Taproot Edmonton is starting ours.

A public hearing will take place on Aug. 21, and city council will meet on Aug. 22 and 23. Committee meetings resume the following week, with community and public services committee on Aug. 28, urban planning committee on Aug. 29, and executive committee on Aug. 30.

Here are some of the key items on the agenda for the next two weeks:

• Administration recommends approval of a tweaked funding formula for the Edmonton Police Service, which includes a cap of 30% of civic department expenses, intended to keep police funding from growing more quickly than other expenses. Salary settlements would remain outside the formula, however, something Mayor Amarjeet Sohi has been critical of in the past. Based on an independent review conducted by PwC, the Edmonton Police Commission supports administration's recommendation. In its analysis, PwC noted that the recommended approach for salary settlements presents "a risk that policing budgets would outpace those of civic budgets" and that there is risk associated with "the unpredictability of forecasted settlements." Under the proposed formula, EPS could request additional funding through service packages.
• Across the entire Edmonton Transit Service there is a gap of 260,000 service hours per year, based on an analysis completed by administration. Despite a 15% increase in population between 2015 and 2022 and the expansion of the city's roadway network, transit service hours per capita decreased. Several options are being considered to address the gap, including repurposing Valley Line Southeast LRT precursor buses, which would add approximately 70,000 service hours per year at a cost of $7.2 million.
• The effort to designate the North Saskatchewan River as a Canadian Heritage River could take another step forward if urban planning committee agrees to support and advocate for the designation by writing letters to the provincial and federal governments. City council voted in 2021 to conditionally support the initiative led by Smoky Lake County. Since then, the provincial and federal governments have both endorsed the nomination.

• The city's reception centre at the Edmonton EXPO Centre will accept evacuees fleeing Northwest Territories wildfires beginning at noon on Aug. 18. Officials say the centre can provide all immediate needs, including lodging, food, health services, and pet services, and does not currently need additional volunteers or donations. Calgary and Red Deer opened evacuation centres on Aug. 17, joining a host of Alberta communities that have done the same. Northwest Territories residents who need to leave or have already evacuated can register on the government's website.
• Residents of Yellowknife, the capital and largest community in the Northwest Territories, continue to flee by road and air as a wildfire burns west of the city. Rain forecast for Aug. 18 won't be enough to suppress the fire, said information officer Mike Westwick. The nearest evacuee reception centre is more than 1,000 kilometres from Yellowknife, and there were gas shortages in some communities along the highway. About 1,500 people were airlifted from Yellowknife on Aug. 17, with more scheduled to leave on Aug. 18. Airlines added additional flights to their schedules, and WestJet said it had increased its limit on pets allowed on board.
• The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society has been working to send animal crates from Edmonton to Yellowknife to help evacuees flee with their pets. Yellowknife is sold out of pet carriers, which owners need to bring pets on planes, trains, and buses. The first shipment went to Yellowknife on Aug. 17, but the rescue society is still taking donated carriers, which can be dropped off at 8108 Coronet Road NW in Edmonton. Veterinarians Without Borders is also accepting donations to support animals affected by the situation in Yellowknife. Michelle Tuma with the group shared an emotional plea for support.
• The YMCA of Northern Alberta is offering Northwest Territories evacuees free access to four health, fitness, and aquatics centres in Edmonton. Individuals and families can access the centres at no cost for recreational use, showers, or drop-in programming during standard hours of operation. Photo ID is required. The centres are: Castle Downs Family YMCA, Jamie Platz Family YMCA, Don Wheaton Family YMCA, and William Lutsky Family YMCA.
• Members from across Treaty 6 nations and visitors gathered at Enoch Cree Nation west of Edmonton on Aug. 17 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations. The organization was founded in 1993 to advance members' political positions and advocate for their rights. Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and provincial Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson both attended the celebration. Postmedia published a photo gallery of the event.
• The city announced it will integrate hydrogen as a fuel source for four city vehicles — two city buses and two waste collection trucks — as part of the Guardian Hydrogen Diesel System pilot project with Diesel Tech Industries. Edmonton also runs 60 electric buses and plans to add a hydrogen bus to its fleet in the fall.
• Flair Airlines has announced the launch a pilot program that will train people to fly 747 MAX aircraft within 18 months. The company says the program is "the fastest path" to a becoming a first officer on a commercial jet. Similar programs exist in Europe, but Canadian pilots have generally had to spend years flying small or regional planes before flying commercial jets. Canada is experiencing a pilot shortage due to the pandemic, an aging workforce, and the rise of discount airlines.
• The Alberta Motor Association is installing beehives at some of its locations, including the Calgary Trail location in Edmonton, to raise awareness about pollinators. Urban beekeeping company Alvéole will maintain the hives, 10 of which will be installed in 2023 and 10 more in 2024.
• Paradox Museum, an experience-based museum, will launch an 11,000-square-foot space in West Edmonton Mall in 2024. The museum's co-founder said the experiences are based on paradoxes or illusions, and visitors can immerse themselves in the exhibits. The concept has also been launched in cities across Europe and North America. Matthew Dutczak of Best Edmonton Mall, said the addition follows WEM's history of "new, whimsical, one-of-a-kind entertainment."

Proterra, the U.S.-based company that built 60 electric buses for the Edmonton Transit Service, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The company made the filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on Aug. 7.

Proterra's voluntary petition states that the company has $818 million in total assets and $609 million in total debt. The documents indicate the City of Edmonton has an unsecured claim of more than $8 million in deferred revenue, putting it among the 30 creditors with the largest unsecured claims. The city said it couldn't provide additional information on what the unsecured claim entails as it is an active legal matter.

The other Canadian creditor on the list is the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission, which has an unsecured claim of just over $1 million. That service has nine electric buses from Proterra in its fleet, which serves Banff and Canmore.

In statements emailed to Taproot, ETS branch manager Carrie Hotton-MacDonald said the city is assessing the situation and will be kept apprised of updates through both the bankruptcy filings and through Proterra directly.

"We have a robust maintenance program for the ETS bus fleet," Hotton said in a statement. "The city will make necessary adjustments to minimize any impacts as the situation evolves."

The city's order, which has been paid in full, consisted of three lots of 20 buses, with the final lot received in 2022. While the city isn't anticipating any additional orders, it continues to work with Proterra with respect to parts as needed. The 60 buses from Proterra are part of a total fleet of 964.

While Taproot takes a short break to rejuvenate, here are some of the festivals, performances, exhibits, workshops, get-togethers, and other events you may want to add to your calendar between now and Labour Day.

• Until Aug. 27: Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in Old Strathcona
• Until Sept. 3: Freewill Shakespeare Festival at The Cristal Palace Spiegeltent outside the Edmonton Expo Centre
• Aug. 18, 11am: The AGA Turns 99 at the Art Gallery of Alberta
• Aug. 18, 6pm: Alberta Avenue Night Market at the Mona Lisa Pub
• Aug. 18, 7pm: ESO Outdoors at Castle Downs Park
• Aug. 18, 7pm: Opera al Fresco, presented by Edmonton Opera at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• Aug. 18-19: DevonFest
• Aug. 18-20: Poundmaker's Lodge 50th Annual Pow Wow in St. Albert
• Aug. 18-20: Alberta Game Jam Edmonton at NAIT's Productivity and Innovation Centre
• Aug. 18-26: Edmonton Pride Festival at Churchill Square
• Aug. 19, 11am: 2nd Annual Pride Day & AGA Pride Market 2023 at the Art Gallery of Alberta
• Aug. 19, 1pm: Perogy Palooza at the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts
• Aug. 19, 1pm: Edmonton Reggae Festival at Louse McKinney Riverfront Park
• Aug. 19, 1pm: If These Walls Could Talk: Art and Heritage Walking Tour at the Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
• Aug. 19, 1pm: Make Your Own Braided Rag Rug with Sarah Janzen, presented by Alberta Craft Council at the Al Fresco Street Market
• Aug. 19, 7pm: Jubefest Concerts: NUOVA Vocal Arts at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
• Aug. 19, 7pm: Pride Film Screening, presented by HIV Edmonton at the Art Gallery of Alberta
• Aug. 19, 7:30pm: Open Edmonton with Titilope Sonuga, Melafrique, and the Key 30 Orchestra at the Triffo Theatre
• Aug. 19-20: Alberta Open Farm Days
• Aug. 19-20: Alley Hoop Classic
• Aug. 19-20: YEGO 2023 at Mill Woods Town Centre
• Aug. 20, 9am: Sourdough Raft Race
• Aug. 20, 10am: Summer Saya at EPIC, presented by the Edmonton Philippine International Centre at 10104 32 Avenue NW
• Aug. 20, 11am: Edmonton Marathon
• Aug. 20, 11am: Chinatown Summer Festival, presented by the Chinatown Business Association