The Pulse: Feb. 18, 2025

This week, council committees will meet to discuss an audit of the Dedicated Accessible Transit Service, emergency management in 2024, and travel expenses.

There is an audit committee meeting scheduled for Feb. 18, an emergency advisory committee meeting scheduled at 9:30am on Feb. 19, a non-regular city council meeting scheduled for 1:30pm on Feb. 19, and a council services committee meeting scheduled for Feb. 21.

Here are key items on this week's agenda:

• The city auditor recommends that the Dedicated Accessible Transit Service update and use guidelines for assessing who is eligible to use the service. An audit found that DATS employees do not directly refer to the existing guidelines, which have not been updated since 2018, when making eligibility decisions. The audit also found there are weaknesses in password security and information retention practices, and that DATS does not have sufficient data validation controls in place. City administration accepts the recommendations laid out in the audit report, which is scheduled to be presented to council's audit committee on Feb. 18.
• The office of emergency management said 2024 was a "challenging" year marked by 28 major events over 183 days, including nearly 50 days in which there were two emergency activations, according to a report that is scheduled to be presented to council's emergency advisory committee on Feb. 19. The city registered about 2,900 evacuees during the Jasper wildfire and 1,800 during the Fort McMurray wildfire. The office is in the early stages of developing a wildfire strategy to mitigate Edmonton's wildfire risk, the report said.
• City administration has started the search for a new city auditor through a competitive process. Staff will issue a request for proposals by Feb. 20, council's audit committee will review proposals in April, and the new auditor will be appointed in July.
• Coun. Anne Stevenson is set to introduce a motion asking for a cap on accommodation and travel expenses that are covered by council's common budget. If passed, each councillor would have $250 per night for accommodation and could only use economy class flights, with the option for councillors to supplement through their office's budget or through their personal budget.
• Council is scheduled to ratify the interim chief of police and receive an intergovernmental update at a private meeting on Feb. 19.

Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.

• The City of Edmonton will begin clearing snow and ice from more than 3,000 cul-de-sacs on Feb. 18. The work will happen on weekdays from 8am to 4pm and is expected to take six weeks to complete. The City is urging residents to park in driveways or garages, and "no parking" signs may be posted 24 hours in advance if vehicles must be moved.
• Data from Edmonton's second annual business census shows a growing and diverse local economy, with 17,655 businesses employing more than 342,000 people, the City of Edmonton said in a release. The 2024 census expanded beyond downtown to include multiple districts, revealing that small businesses account for 98% of all surveyed establishments. The data, which captures industry, demographics, and employment trends, helps shape City programs and policies. The City plans to extend the census citywide by 2026.
• The Alberta government announced plans to build 11 new schools, including five in Edmonton, through public-private partnerships. This plan is part of a broader strategy to address rapid enrollment growth and alleviate space shortages in schools. The construction will happen under a $2.1-billion, three-year funding commitment, with the elementary and junior high schools expected to be completed by 2028. The province has also committed to a broader $8.6-billion school construction program over seven years to further address the growing demand for school spaces across Alberta.
• The Edmonton Downtown Revitalization Coalition is concerned that planned bridge closures for construction will hinder the city's downtown recovery. Five key bridges are scheduled for repair in the coming years, with construction set to begin this year on the Dawson, Wellington, and southbound Low Level bridges. The coalition warned that simultaneous infrastructure projects, including LRT roadwork, could severely affect businesses and commuters. The City of Edmonton says it is exploring phased construction schedules and detours to minimize disruptions.
• Lime has introduced a winter pilot in Edmonton, offering e-bikes earlier than usual this year after a successful trial last winter. The bikes feature winter tires and reflective wraps for added safety. They are available on priority bike paths cleared within 24 hours of snow. The program, which started in January, aims to test demand for winter cycling, with Lime collecting feedback to determine whether to continue next year.
• A two-alarm fire at Avenue Trading Post pawn shop on 118 Avenue in Edmonton broke out early on Feb. 16, causing significant damage to the building. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded quickly, but freezing temperatures created hazardous conditions as water from firefighting efforts turned to ice. No injuries were reported. The 1959 building, which also housed other businesses, had been listed for sale by its owners.
• Edmonton Global has launched a Regional Tariff Ad Hoc Working Group to address uncertainty over potential U.S. tariffs and their impact on the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. The group aims to coordinate industry and government efforts, strengthen advocacy, and develop strategic recommendations. It will also focus on mitigating trade disruptions, enhancing policy engagement, and positioning the region for economic resilience. The group includes representatives from a dozen local organizations and businesses, including Explore Edmonton, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, and Edmonton International Airport.
• BILD Edmonton Metro hosted its inaugural Economic Forecast Dinner on Feb. 12 where economists Stéfane Marion and Catherine Rothrock analyzed Canada's economic challenges and Alberta's resilience. Marion warned that trade tensions with the U.S., high tariffs, and excessive regulations threaten Canada's economic stability, while Rothrock highlighted Alberta's strong housing market, rising employment, and growing investment in non-residential construction as signs of optimism.
• The owners of Patricia Street Deli in Jasper are planning to reopen their business in downtown Edmonton after last summer's wildfires destroyed their original location. Owners Wendy and Glen Leitch are turning to crowdfunding to finance the new venture, and plan to maintain the deli's name and traditions while expanding their offerings.
• An Edmonton U-11 youth soccer team was scammed out of nearly $40,000. The team had spent three years fundraising for an international tournament in Las Vegas but days before their planned departure, parents discovered the money was gone and no bookings were made. The team's head coach is now missing, and the team was not registered for the tournament. The Edmonton Police Service is investigating.
• The PWHL's Takeover Tour hit Edmonton on Feb. 16, with a sold-out crowd at Rogers Place watching the Toronto Sceptres beat the Ottawa Charge 3-2 in overtime. The game was seen as a chance to showcase the league's growth and expansion potential.
• Kids from Edmonton and surrounding areas took part in a hockey tournament over the weekend to raise money for the Stollery Children's Hospital. The tournament, which is in its 14th year, raised nearly $575,000 for the hospital this year.
• Phyllis Stark, 83, discovered a love for pinball three years ago when her daughter introduced her to an arcade in Edmonton. Since then, Phyllis has become a regular at the arcade, attending a monthly ladies' pinball night. "When you're my age, anything that gets you out of the house is a bonus," she said.
• Financial difficulties could force the closure of House of Wheels, Edmonton's only indoor facility for skateboarding, scootering, and BMX biking. CEO Brent Purnell says the venue has an annual shortfall of at least $250,000, making it unsustainable without additional funding. Skateboarder Gregory Woytkiw has started a petition to urge the City of Edmonton to support the park.
• During her weekly radio show, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith asked for patience as allegations of improper procurement practices within Alberta Health Services are investigated. The controversy follows a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos, who claims she was fired for opposing the procurement of private surgery contracts. Smith emphasized the need for a thorough, independent internal review alongside an auditor general investigation. While Smith defended Health Minister Adriana LaGrange's work to restructure Alberta's healthcare system, she also confirmed that Infrastructure Minister Peter Guthrie has called for LaGrange to be moved from her cabinet portfolio while the allegations are investigated.

A council committee's decision to endorse closing several intersections to drivers in Edmonton's west end to accelerate construction of the $2.6-billion Valley Line West LRT is a sign of a changing city, the co-hosts of Episode 295 Speaking Municipally said.

"This is just a really big change for Edmonton," said co-host Mack Male. "I can't think of a time when we've done something quite like this."

Coun. Andrew Knack, who introduced a motion to accelerate the LRT project in 2024, told CBC that constituents have said they have felt construction pain for several years now. The future line is slated for completion in 2028. Knack also said that many have suggested that hurrying construction would be akin to ripping off a bandage. One thing worth considering in the process, Knack said, is the closure of the busy Wellington Bridge at the end of 2025.

In August, city council voted against creating a compensation program that would have provided roughly $2,500 for individual businesses affected by the future LRT line as a form of compensation. Male said the recent decision to close whole intersections may have landed better if council had endorsed that idea back in August. That said, on Episode 273, Male opined that $2,500 wouldn't offer much reprieve, anyway.

The Feb. 14 episode of Taproot's civic affairs podcast covered the City of Leduc's recent decision to annex land from Leduc County, the public spaces bylaw that a council committee endorsed sending to council, and the ongoing friction at the Edmonton Police Commission. It also featured the final segment with the creators of Edmonton Food Faves We Crave. Plus, Taproot's managing editor, Tim Querengesser, provided an update from the Taproot newsroom. Speaking Municipally comes out on Fridays. Listening and subscription options are all right here.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Shaping Energy Future Competitiveness starting at 12pm online
• Trade Talks - Diversifying Markets and Managing Trade Barriers starting at 1pm at Bison Lodge
• Dagen Watch Party starting at 5pm at Rogers Place
• Moriawase: An Evening of Sashimi, Sushi & Beyond starting at 6pm L'OCA Quality Market (Sherwood Park)
• Chen Plays Bach and Saint-Saëns starting at 7:30pm at Winspear Centre
• Leeroy Stagger starting at 7:30pm at Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• March 1: Black History Month Gala starting at 6pm at Balwin Community Hall
• March 8: Cardboard Cup at Edmonton Ski Club
• March 8: International Women's Day at Art Gallery of Alberta

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