The Pulse: Dec. 11, 2023

This week, councillors will hold their final meetings before the holiday break. They will discuss forecasted budget deficits, the police commission, collective bargaining, and fare gates at transit stations.

A public hearing is scheduled on Dec. 11 and city council will meet on Dec. 12 with a continuation on Dec. 13. The audit committee will meet Dec. 14, and council will have a private, non-regular meeting on Dec. 15.

Here are central items on the agenda:

• The city is looking at an operating budget deficit of $52 million as of the end of September. That's about $20 million lower than the last financial update in June, according to the operating budget update. Line items that are different from the previous update include an additional $2.5 million for transit safety and cleaning measures, bringing the total projected variance on transit to nearly $5 million. The city is projecting to need another $500,000 for public washroom costs in response to a Shigella outbreak in the inner city, bringing the total to $2 million. These increases are countered by savings or increased revenues. The city projects it can save about $17 million this year mainly due to unfilled vacancies across city departments, which is nearly $9 million more than projected earlier in the year. The city also expects to bring in $2 million more from membership and admissions revenue due to higher than-expected demand for programs and services, and save $1.5 million from climate resilience and active transportation projects that were delayed.

• The capital budget update shows the new parkade at the Orange Hub continues creeping over budget — 15% over compared to 10% at the previous update. Pleasantview neighbourhood reconstruction is 4% over budget due to more roadway materials needed than originally expected. The financial updates don't account for any changes from the fall budget adjustment process earlier this month.

• In a private portion of the meeting scheduled for Dec. 12, council will hear an update on collective bargaining. The agenda for this update does not provide additional details. However, Civic Service Union 52, the union representing more than 6,000 workers within the City of Edmonton, the Edmonton Public Library, and other City-owned divisions, said mediation dates to determine a new collective agreement were scheduled for Dec. 5 and 6. An informal strike vote held in October showed 70% of workers were in favour of a strike, following five years of no pay increases.

• Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Tim Cartmell said he wants the city to install fare gates at two transit stations as a pilot project to see if they reduce violent incidents and fare evasion. Cartmell is this week set to introduce a motion that will ask administration to provide a plan for a two-year trial of the gates. Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz said fare gates don't make transit safer, but more staff would, and noted a report from the City of Calgary that found there is no correlation between fare gates and increased safety.

• Critics are calling for transparency and improved responses to mental health crises from the Edmonton Police Service after two recent fatal police shootings. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) and Edmonton police are investigating the deaths, which happened days apart in the Oliver and Laurel neighbourhoods. The family of a woman killed by police in a Laurel-area apartment during a wellness check said her death resulted from "a complete mishandling of the tools available to law enforcement in the application of dealing with mental health issues." Critics are concerned about the limited information released by law enforcement, as well as the lengthy investigation process that follows a fatal police shooting.
• During its budget discussions last month, city council approved additional funding for the Edmonton Public Library to expand the Heritage Valley branch, which has seen high usage since its opening in 2018. The additional $486,000 investment will allow the branch to grow from 3,000 to 10,000 square feet, adding a separate program room, more study and seating spaces, and a larger collection of books and public computers. Construction is expected to begin next year, with the renovated branch opening in 2025. Library services will remain available during renovations.
• An outreach worker with the Bear Claw Beaver Hill House group, which works closely with Edmontonians experiencing homelessness, says a province like Alberta shouldn't have so many encampments. The encampments are "a sign of our collective failure as a society," Kathleen Mpulubusi said during an appearance on CBC Radio. Mpulubusi called on the provincial government to provide more resources to help people get off the streets. "We're in one of the richest countries in the world, in one of the richest provinces in Canada ... and people shouldn't have to live this way," she said. Edmonton Police Service Chief Dale McFee said recently that the city needs "a different approach," adding that complaints have grown from about 6,500 to nearly 15,000 in the past two years.
• Edmonton recorded 62 drug poisoning deaths in September, 60 of which were from opioids, according to the latest provincial data. The city's opioid poisoning death rate of 66.3 per 100,000 people in September was the second-highest in Alberta, behind Lethbridge. Across the province, there have been 1,411 opioid-related deaths, marking a 25% increase over the same period in 2022. The Alberta government is continuing its focus on recovery-oriented care, with the opening of two out of 11 promised recovery communities and the removal of user fees for publicly funded treatment. The province has also announced plans for compassionate intervention legislation and the My Recovery Plan app, although the app's full rollout has been delayed.
• A joint study from researchers at the University of Alberta and the City of Edmonton found that reducing the speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h in August 2021 led to a 25.1% decrease in collisions and a 31% reduction in injuries and fatalities in Edmonton. The report highlighted that while the lower speed limit improved safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, there were "still areas where drivers did not slow down, indicating the need for further intervention."
• The Old Strathcona Business Association is expanding its window repair grant program to include a wider range of vandalism repairs. The association, which began the program with $165,000 from the city, has only given out $15,000 so far because of the initial restriction to front-facing window damage. "Businesses are finding that they're dealing with a lot more than just broken windows," said association executive director Cherie Klassen, who called for an increased police presence and the creation of a street outreach team to address broader public safety concerns affecting local businesses in the area.
• Albertans United for the Children of Gaza is holding a donation drive to gather humanitarian aid for children in the Palestinian territory, with a focus on baby supplies, food, and first aid items. Donations will be accepted at a warehouse on Princess Elizabeth Avenue and 102 Street until the end of December, and will be distributed through UNICEF and the Red Crescent Egypt. Former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who helped organize the drive, said the response has been "tremendous."
• The Canada Palestine Cultural Association is using the traditional Palestinian embroidery art form known as tatreez to share and preserve Palestinian culture through a new project called Threads of Diaspora. The art, recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance, has become a form of resistance and connection for Palestinians, particularly as association members like Manal Kalousa have faced personal losses amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The association is inviting Edmontonians to an open house on Dec. 14 to learn more about tatreez and its significance.
• Business Insider included Edmonton in a profile of winter cities and their efforts to battle seasonal depression and loneliness. Edmonton's WinterCity Strategy has helped the city become more enjoyable during winter in recent years. The number of winter patios has increased to about 20, up from a handful in winter 2019-2020, and the city hosts festivals every weekend from November through mid-March.
• The Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) says it has 500 animals in its care that need homes, which is more than double the capacity of its facility. Economic pressures, a shortage of vets, and high costs are leading to the increase, said Brenda Leonard with SCARS, adding this has been the worst year the organization has seen in two decades.

Events this week include a discussion about resilient communities, a celebration of craftspeople, an adults-only puzzle night, seasonal networking, a look at regenerative tourism, and mocktail lessons.

• Dec. 11, 7pm, Alberta Craft Awards 2023, presented online by the Alberta Craft Council
• Dec. 12, 3pm: Holiday Open House & Mixer, presented by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce at the World Trade Centre
• Dec. 12, 11am: A Flourishing Future: Unveiling the Regenerative Tourism Strategy, presented online by Explore Edmonton
• Dec. 13, 5pm: BioAlberta Holiday Networking Social at Brewsters Unity Square
• Dec. 13, 6pm: Building a Stronger Town: An Evening with Charles Marohn at the University of Alberta
• Dec. 14, 6:30pm: Sip & Solve at the TELUS World of Science
• Dec. 14, 6:30pm: Holiday Mocktail Class, with Mock-Ups Mocktails at the Duchess Bake Shop

Find even more things to do in Taproot's weekly roundups. And don't miss Taproot's holiday market roundup.

Photo: Mock-Ups creator JoAnne H. Pearce will share recipes to impress guests with alcohol-free holiday beverages in a mocktail workshop at Duchess Bake Shop. (Mock-Ups)