The Pulse: Jan. 21, 2025

Eddie Robar, the now-permanent city manager for the City of Edmonton, said on Episode 291 of Speaking Municipally that working on the next four-year budget after the October election is a test he's excited to take.

"What is a new council looking for? Does it change significantly the direction we're looking to (go in)?" Robar told co-hosts Mack Male and Stephanie Swensrude. "(The budget) is an opportunity to put a stamp on what we're trying to do as a city moving forward, and really showing Edmontonians what's important."

In 2022, council approved the 2023-2026 capital budget at $7.91 billion. A significant portion of that goes towards previously approved projects like LRT expansion, Blatchford redevelopment, new recreation centres, and the Yellowhead Trail freeway conversion.

Council's latest fall adjustment came with a 6.1% increase to property taxes, whittled down from the 8.1% increase that administration had proposed.

Coun. Andrew Knack's successful motion for the city to use zero-based budgeting (budgets that start at zero and require departments to advocate for their next round of funding, rather than building on the status quo) for the next cycle was discussed in Episode 289 of Speaking Municipally.

Robar said how zero-based budgeting will work has yet to be determined. Still, he said the approach will be a chance to "retool" and demonstrate "budget accountability" to achieve outcomes like lower taxes and economic development.

"I think we've heard that loud and clear in the past, we've put ourselves in positions that have not necessarily helped us to achieve those outcomes," Robar, a past Speaking Municipally guest, said. "What we have to do in this next four-year cycle is to try and drive that in a different direction."

The Jan. 17 episode of Taproot's civic affairs podcast includes more from Robar about changes coming to Edmonton Transit Service, opportunities for the city to generate revenue, and more. Plus, Taproot's managing editor, Tim Querengesser, provides an update from the Taproot newsroom. Speaking Municipally comes out on Fridays. Listening and subscription options are all right here.

• The City of Edmonton will deactivate its extreme weather response on Jan. 21 as temperatures are expected to improve. The expanded overnight shuttle service and emergency shelter at Al Rashid Mosque will conclude after the night of Jan. 20. Two winter overnight shelter shuttle buses will continue to operate on north and south routes nightly until March 31.
• Natural Christmas tree collection in Edmonton began on Jan. 20. Residents are asked to remove all decorations and hardware before placing the trees on their curbs for pickup. Trees larger than two metres should be cut up into smaller pieces. The last day for collection will be Feb. 3. Condo and apartment residents, along with those who miss their neighbourhood's collection day, can bring their trees to community recycling depots or Eco Stations.
• City council's community and public services committee discussed bylaw amendments that would ban the sale of knives in convenience stores due to safety concerns. Councillors discussed the complexities of legally defining what constitutes a knife and potential loopholes, with proposed amendments including fines for violations. In December, officers seized 71 prohibited knives and other weapons from a central Edmonton convenience store, the Edmonton Police Service said in a news release.
• The TELUS World of Science - Edmonton was forced to close temporarily after a small fire broke out on Jan. 20. The fire was contained immediately and the cause hasn't been determined. Anyone with passes or bookings scheduled while the building is closed will either receive a refund or be offered the opportunity to reschedule their visit.
• A majority of Edmontonians who responded to a government survey on the future of the old Royal Alberta Museum urged the province to reconsider its plans to demolish the building, according to a Postmedia analysis of responses obtained through a freedom of information request. According to the data, 57% of survey respondents favour preserving and repurposing the structure because of its historical significance. Despite this, the government plans to proceed with creating a green space on the site, citing high maintenance costs for the unused building.
• Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has been suspended for three games without pay for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland during a game on Jan. 18, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced. Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers was given the same suspension for cross-checking Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard during the same game.
• Wild Rose Cakes in Edmonton created a 10-inch chocolate salted caramel birthday cake for Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and winger Connor Brown. The pair celebrated their birthdays at a joint celebration over the weekend. "We are a huge hockey family, we love hockey, we love Connor McDavid so it was really exciting," Wild Rose Cakes owner Kristianna Squirechuk told CTV News.
• Edmonton's Lois Hole Hospital for Women celebrated its 10-year anniversary on Jan. 20 as a cord blood collection site. The hospital has collected more than 9,000 units since opening as a collection site in 2015. The cord blood bank collects and stores umbilical cord blood, which is rich in stem cells that can be used for transplants and treating a variety of diseases.
• Olivia remained the most popular name for baby girls for the 12th consecutive year, while Noah remained the top boy name for the sixth straight year, according to the 2024 Alberta baby names list. Other top baby names for girls include Charlotte, Amelia, and Sophia, while Oliver, Liam, and Theodore are popular for boys. The list also reflects a trend towards names inspired by nature and cultural heritage, with unique choices like Cedar, Bear, and Celestial gaining popularity.
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith issued a statement welcoming President Donald Trump's decision to delay imposing tariffs on Canadian goods as his administration studies the issue further. Smith emphasized the need for diplomacy and increased trade to prevent future tariffs and strengthen Alberta's "economic and security partnership with the United States." She also called for enhanced border security, a "crack down on immigration streams," and repealing federal anti-energy policies.
• The Edmonton Oilers have climbed to the top of the weekly Power Rankings, winning three out of four games last week and excelling in both offensive and defensive metrics. The Oilers are tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific Division and are expected to take the lead.
• The Edmonton Oilers announced they have signed free agent defenceman John Klingberg on a one-year contract. Klingberg, 32, has played in 633 NHL games over 11 seasons with the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Alex Ovechkin, who is nearing Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record, took time to honour the Great One by viewing his memorabilia at Rogers Place while visiting Edmonton for the Washington Capitals game against the Oilers. Ovechkin, currently with 874 career goals, is just 20 goals shy of surpassing Gretzky's record of 894.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Understanding Business Financial Statements and Cash Flow Statements starting at 10:30am online
• NABI Networking at Noon starting at 11am at Northern Alberta Business Incubator Society
• Business Networking Hack Workshop starting at 11:30am at Greater Parkland Regional Chamber Office
• Web Growth Strategies to Scale your Business | Learning Lab Series starting at 12:30pm online
• Glenora Rotary's Third Annual Pyrogy Dinner starting at 5pm at Towne & Countree Kitchens
• Dry January Classic Mocktails Class starting at 6:15pm at Spilt
• Washington Capitals vs. Edmonton Oilers starting at 7pm at Rogers Place
• Book Clubs of EPL: Becoming starting at 7pm at Edmonton Public Library (Woodcroft)
• Tuesday Jam Hosted by Alex Ketchum Quartet A Charlie Parker Tribute starting at 8pm at The Yardbird Suite

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Jan. 28: Thirty Day Startup at Pub 1905
• Jan. 29-Feb. 1: Flying Canoë Volant
• Feb. 5: Winter Walk Day

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