The Pulse: Oct. 21, 2024

This week, council returns to meetings to discuss how Ellerslie Road will cross the future Capital Line LRT extension, potential ways to reduce the property tax levy, and the Integrity Office's annual report.

There is a public hearing scheduled on Oct. 21 and a city council meeting scheduled on Oct. 22 with a continuation on Oct. 23, if required. There is a private special city council meeting on Oct. 22.

Here are key items on this week's agenda:

• Council will discuss whether the city should build a tunnel or bridge along Ellerslie Road to allow drivers to travel over or under the future Capital Line LRT extension at a meeting on Oct. 22. The extension's former design included an elevated station just north of Ellerslie Road. In May 2023, due to budget constraints, council voted to change that to an at-grade station with an option to separate the intersection of the track and roadway in the future. A city report said building an overpass for Ellerslie Road at this intersection, which is currently four lanes but will be widened to six, would cost about $64 million, while an underpass would cost about $99 million. Both estimates exclude engineering costs, use a four-lane road in the analysis, and are in 2023 dollars, meaning eventual costs would likely be higher, the report said. Administration conducted an analysis using the traffic volumes it projects for 2050. It found that leaving the intersection with a grade conflict and the current four-lane configuration would delay drivers from 20 to 30 seconds, and would delay them from 10 to 25 seconds once the road is widened to six lanes. There is no funding for construction of this phase of the extension, meaning council is not required to make a decision.
• City administration said there are limited options to reduce the property tax levy due to a significant lack of money for renewal projects. A report set to be presented at a city council meeting on Oct. 22 details that only 58% of renewal projects are funded. That number drops to 35% after accounting for priority bridge renewal and the Neighbourhood Renewal Program. Administration said growth projects funded in the 2023-2026 budget were mandated by legislation, had high safety impacts, or were eligible for funding from other levels of governments. Administration did not recommend reducing the budgets of those projects. Not all projects that council has added to the budget meet the same criteria, however, and administration said these are the first it recommends be cut to reduce tax pressure. These projects include additions to the active transportation network, improvements to Chinatown infrastructure, and designing a new library in Riverbend. The budget for these projects totals $216 million. Funding for projects that council has chosen to add to the budget has been at least partially committed or spent, except for the planning phase of two mass transit routes. Administration said it will provide council with a report in November that outlines ways to reduce neighbourhood renewal spending. It will also include a list of all projects in the planning or design phases where capital funds have not been committed for project delivery.
• Jamie Pytel, the city integrity commissioner, and Brent Rathgeber, the city ethics advisor, said most bugs have been worked out of the Integrity Office now that it's five years old. According to its 2023 annual report, scheduled to be presented to council on Oct. 22, the office is working to add policies to the Council Code of Conduct, including those involving social media and respect in the workplace. The report said event attendance is the section of the code of conduct that generates the most inquiries. The office received 17 complaints in 2023, eight of which it investigated. The integrity commissioner found the code was breached after they investigated allegations that Coun. Jennifer Rice discriminated against and harassed an employee. Rice obtained court orders in August to stop a sanctioned hearing on the matter after a judicial review, which is scheduled for May 2026, after the next municipal election in October 2025.

• Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi criticized the UCP government's Bill 20, which introduces new regulations on campaign expenses and donations, and allows local political parties and slates to register for municipal elections. Sohi argued the legislation favours political parties over independent candidates and increases election costs by mandating manual vote counting. Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said the changes are intended to "increase accountability, transparency, and public trust in local elections," but the Alberta NDP says the bill undermines local democracy and imposes unnecessary provincial control over municipal affairs. With the new regulations set to take effect on Oct. 31, Edmonton Elections is updating its procedures and will host an online information session the same day about the changes.
• Postmedia published an analysis of Edmonton city council voting records that show a core group of five councillors, including Amarjeet Sohi, Keren Tang, Ashley Salvador, Anne Stevenson, and Jo-Anne Wright, are consistently driving council decisions. Sohi is the leading force on council, winning nearly 90% of votes, while two councillors, Jennifer Rice and Karen Principe, align less frequently with the majority.
• Edmonton Public Schools support workers, represented by CUPE Local 3550, are set to strike for the first time, protesting the Alberta government's wage cap that limits salary increases despite rising living costs. The union, which includes teaching assistants and other staff, argues that wage restrictions and inadequate funding are exacerbating a labour shortage, leading to burnout among current employees. The strike is set to begin on Oct. 24. The school board said in a statement it remains committed to negotiating an agreement to avoid classroom disruptions.
• An Edmonton Public Library program called Together We Grow, which brings infants and their parents to sing and listen to stories at retirement residences, received an award for excellence and innovation from Alberta's municipal affairs minister. The program, started at Rutherford Heights Retirement Residence, aims to foster connections between young children and seniors. The library plans to build on the program's success by sharing its model with other libraries across Alberta.
• The Edmonton Police Service conducted a traffic enforcement blitz on Oct. 11, issuing 1,342 tickets in a single day, which was more than the 902 total tickets issued in all of September. The effort focused primarily on speeding, with 922 speeding tickets among the violations.
• The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is marking Small Business Week by hosting a series of events at the World Trade Centre Edmonton, providing resources and connections to help small businesses thrive and expand beyond Edmonton. Members and non-members are encouraged to participate in five days of learning and networking.
• Grande Boulevard in Edmonton's Summerside neighborhood will transform into Candy Corn Lane for Halloween, creating a festive atmosphere with elaborate decorations. Neighbourhood resident Rhonda Navratil said the tradition attracts thousands of children and includes an accessible Halloween event on Oct. 20 for children with disabilities.
• A new report by economist Jack Mintz for the Insurance Bureau of Canada recommends Alberta remove caps on insurance premiums, lower the provincial insurance tax rate, and introduce limited no-fault coverage to address rising insurance costs. The report argues that current price controls are ineffective, leading to higher costs and insurers leaving the province. The Alberta government is considering the recommendations as part of its work to reform the car insurance system.
• United Conservative Party members have proposed a resolution to remove carbon dioxide's designation as a pollutant and abandon net-zero targets. The resolution is set to be debated at the party's annual general meeting in Red Deer, scheduled for Nov. 1 and 2. University of Alberta professor Andrew Leach criticized the proposal as anti-scientific, warning it could isolate Alberta globally and harm the province's reputation. The policy, if passed, would not be binding, but Leach said it reflects internal party pressure on climate change issues.
• The Alberta Order of Excellence has announced its 2024 inductees, recognizing eight people for their contributions in fields such as art, science, justice, literature, public service, health, and commerce. Among the honorees are Edmonton's Robert Foster, a pharmaceutical scientist, and former mayor Stephen Mandel.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Fraud and Finances starting at 9am at Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
• Alberta BioPartners at Sandman Signature Edmonton Downtown Hotel
• Library Lunchtime Concert starting at 12:15pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Renaissance Dance Class starting at 6pm at the Ritchie Community League

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Until Oct. 27: The Woman in Black at Varscona Theatre
• Oct. 29: Nerd Nite: Howloween Bootique at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Oct. 30-31: Canadian Open Data Summit at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.