The Pulse: Nov. 4, 2024

This week, council will discuss an application to rezone land in Garneau, possible updates to utility rates, and its shared budget for office personnel.

There is a public hearing scheduled for Nov. 4 with a continuation on Nov. 5 if needed. There is a non-regular council meeting scheduled for Nov. 5, a council services committee meeting scheduled for Nov. 6, and a utility committee meeting scheduled for Nov. 8.

Here are key items on this week's agenda:

• Council is set to consider an application to rezone properties in Garneau that administration said would likely lead to the demolition of a historic resource. BM Homes has applied to rezone a four-lot parcel that includes the Thornton Graham Residence at 108 Street NW and 84 Avenue NW. The house was built in 1912. Rezoning would allow for a six-storey building. Administration said it supports the application because it could provide more housing near transit, active transportation networks, and amenities. Some nearby residents opposed the rezoning, citing parking and the potential loss of sunlight as concerns. Council is scheduled to vote on the application at a public hearing on Nov. 4.
• As of August, council spending on office expenses was under budget, according to a report scheduled to be presented to the council services committee on Nov. 6. Councillors have a shared annual budget of $3 million from which they pay their own salaries and those of their office staff, office furniture, travel costs to conferences, and other expenses such as allowances for vehicles. As of August, the budget has a surplus of $417,000, thanks in part to councillors attending conferences virtually and other savings created by staff vacancies. There is also a shared ward budget of $5.5 million that pays for executive assistants, community expenses, and business meetings, among other expenses. Ward budgets for all councillors are expected to finish the year on or under budget.
• Administration said it will cost about $2.69 million to implement climate initiatives in the city's waste services department in 2025 and 2026. These projects include retrofitting up to 19 buildings to improve energy efficiency, switching to greener fuel for heat and power, building infrastructure to support low-emission vehicles, and generating renewable energy at municipal facilities. Administration proposes to pay for these projects by using savings created by a provincial regulation that will take effect in April 2025. The Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation shifts the responsibility for managing recycling and hazardous waste from municipalities to those that produce the waste, thereby encouraging companies to create less waste and keep it out of landfills, a city report said. The city plans to charge waste producers to collect, process, and manage designated waste materials, creating a new revenue stream and reducing the revenue support needed from ratepayers. The shift means that waste utility rates will decrease by 10.7% for most ratepayers, pending council approval. Council's utility committee is scheduled to discuss the changes at a meeting on Nov. 8.

• Edmonton city council will debate the municipal budget this month, which proposes an 8.1% property tax increase to maintain current service levels amid rising costs, including police, public transit, and debt payments for capital projects. The budget discussions, beginning Nov. 13, will address funding for neighbourhood renewals, infrastructure projects, and operating costs. Councillors will also discuss optional projects, such as land preparation for future schools and enhanced cleanup programs. Council previously approved a tentative 7% tax increase for 2025.
• November is Housing Month, an annual campaign led by Homeward Trust to raise awareness about the need for affordable housing. The month features events including supportive housing tours and webinars. The City of Edmonton says it plans to help address the housing gap by adding 2,700 new or renovated affordable housing units by 2026. Since 2019, the City has invested $254 million to create more than 5,500 units.
• Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Alberta legislature to oppose the UCP government's proposed legislation affecting transgender rights. The bills would ban gender-affirming surgeries for minors under 18, restrict hormone therapy for those under 15, require parental consent for name or pronoun changes in schools, and limit transgender women athletes from competing in sports against biological women. Critics argue the measures infringe on transgender rights, while the government says they would protect minors' future choices.
• A panel hosted by the Edmonton Downtown Business Association discussed downtown's current issues, which are partly due to its large size and high office vacancy rates. Experts emphasized the importance of creating a public-private investment strategy to revitalize the city's downtown without solely relying on government funding. While the downtown has areas like the ICE District and educational institutions contributing to its vibrancy, panellists noted that more focused density and housing are needed.
• An Edmonton Police Service officer is under investigation after accidentally running over a woman lying in a strip mall parking lot on Oct. 20. The incident, captured on security video obtained by Postmedia, happened as the officer responded to a welfare check call. The woman survived without serious injuries and refused further medical treatment, police said. The police service's major collision investigation section is investigating.
• University of Alberta students have launched a project called 'Have you seen my son?' to honour Edmonton soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars by hanging more than 100 commemorative posters along 100 Avenue in Edmonton. The project also features posters at city hall and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum until Nov. 12.
• Edify Edmonton released its 16th annual Top 40 Under 40 list highlighting the achievements of young people in Edmonton and surrounding areas. The magazine will host a celebration at the Winspear Centre on Nov. 20.
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith received the support of 91.5% United Conservative Party members during her leadership review at the party's annual general meeting in Red Deer over the weekend. In a speech after the vote, Smith emphasized the importance of party unity and addressed criticism from groups that feel she hasn't fulfilled all her campaign promises. The party also passed several policy resolutions, including measures affecting transgender rights and environmental policies.
• Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Gale Katchur faced renewed criticism from cat rescue organizations after posting a photo of Halloween costumes referencing her past controversial comments about killing feral cats. Despite Katchur's apology for her earlier remarks, animal advocates, including Community Cats Edmonton and Zoe's Animal Rescue, expressed disappointment and questioned her decision to post the image on her mayoral Facebook page.

A Métis entrepreneur told the co-hosts of Episode 283 of Speaking Municipally that the authors of the Downtown Investment Plan did not adequately engage with Indigenous organizations.

Shani Gwin, CEO of pipikwan pêhtâkwan and Edmonton Downtown Business Association board member, said she was disappointed by the new Downtown Investment Plan. The plan was co-authored by Alex Hryciw, chair of the Downtown Revitalization Coalition, and Jason Syvixay, vice-president of strategy and operations for BILD Edmonton Metro, who joined Episode 281 of Speaking Municipally to outline the nearly $500 million in funding requests within it to the municipal, provincial, and federal governments.

"It's very tough to look at that plan and see the logos of a lot of big players in the downtown and not see one Indigenous organization or order of government," Gwin said.

The plan mentions Indigenous people twice — at the beginning in a land acknowledgment and near the end when it calls for an Indigenous-led economic development and investment strategy for downtown to receive $50 million over multiple years. "That element of the plan, the $50 million, I just question, where did that come from? Like, did it come from another plan that engaged Indigenous people? Who did it come from? Because it's not clear to me in the plan," Gwin said.

Gwin added that she continues to be troubled by the Downtown Revitalization Coalition's messaging, which she said focuses on public safety, "boots on the ground," and discussion of crime.

She said she doesn't feel unsafe downtown. "There might be a couple (of) interactions where someone just starts screaming at me or something like that, but I don't feel unsafe because, I don't know, those people look like a lot of my family members or people that I've grown up around or interacted with," Gwin said. "I have an understanding of addiction and a lot of the reasons why those folks might be there ... I know there's been a rise in crime and other things (downtown), but I do sort of feel there is something about targeting Indigenous houseless people in the downtown core from that group of people, and it does upset me."

Gwin said because she is but one Indigenous voice, she can't speak on behalf of all Indigenous groups about how the plan could be improved. But, she said, the authors should have consulted with a variety of Indigenous people, groups, and orders of government to get more diverse ideas for revitalizing downtown.

The Nov. 1 episode of Taproot's civic affairs podcast has more about the plan's shortcomings, and about Gwin's pipikwan pêhtâkwan company being chosen out of more than 2,200 international applicants as one of 30 finalists to receive $10,000 from MIT Solve. Listeners also get an update from Taproot's newsroom by managing editor Tim Querengesser. Find all the ways to listen and subscribe to Speaking Municipally, which comes out most Fridays, right here.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Alberta Co-operative Conference at Matrix Hotel
• National Remembrance Event starting at 10:30am online
• Devils vs. Oilers starting at 6:30pm at Rogers Place
• Stroll of Poets Haven Reading Series starting at 6:30pm at Upper Crust
• Silent Book Club starting at 7pm at St. Albert Public Library

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Nov. 12: Winter Cycling Workshop at Bike Edmonton Downtown
• Nov. 15: Chinatown Writing Club at Van Loc
• Nov. 15-17: The Road Ahead: Strategies for Building a Better Future at the University of Alberta (Arts Building and Convocation Hall)

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