The Pulse
May 11, 2026

This week, councillors are set to discuss user fees, the city's aging bus fleet, and Blatchford's capital budget.

There is a community and public services committee meeting on May 11, an urban planning committee meeting on May 12, an executive committee meeting on May 13, and a utility committee meeting on May 15.

Here are some key items on the agenda:

• A proposed policy would set user fees for city services to achieve pre-established cost recovery targets. A report to be presented to executive committee said the city's non-tax revenues have not been keeping pace with the rate of expenditure growth, requiring higher property tax increases to maintain a balanced budget. The city also doesn't have a consistent approach for determining user fees, the report said. The policy will be presented alongside the 2027-2030 operating budget in the fall. If approved, administration will implement a policy for all user fees and then repeal existing policies for recreation user fees and transit fares. The approach doesn't necessarily mean that the full cost of services will be covered by such fees, the city said.
• Administration laid out three options to renew the city's aging bus fleet in a report to be presented to urban planning committee. If council chooses not to replace any buses and spend only $42.4 million to refurbish part of the fleet, there could be a reduction of up to 331,000 annual service hours, the report said. The second option is to spend $186.9 million to replace 100 buses over the four-year budget cycle, which administration said is the minimum investment to avoid service reductions. The third option would see the city spend $386.9 million to replace 300 buses over four years, which would eliminate the need for some refurbishment work. Even if council chooses a moderate level of replacement, more than half of the conventional fleet will be over 20 years old in the next four years, two years past the ideal retirement age.
• Administration will ask utility committee to increase the budget for the distribution piping system in Blatchford. The neighbourhood is developing faster than the original forecast, and pipes need to be installed sooner than expected, said a report to be presented to utility committee. The city said a one-time increase of $7.6 million will not increase the overall capital costs of the district energy system in Blatchford. The report said the faster pace of development is expected to continue.
• The city's policy for supporting vulnerable people during extreme weather events has been updated to reflect feedback from that population, said a report that will be presented to community and public services committee. The "safety first" principle has been expanded to include psychological and cultural safety, and the "connected" principle has been shifted to "integrated" to emphasize that municipal supports exist within a broad social service system. A new procedure to support the policy introduces clearer articulation of roles and responsibilities. The new policy requires council approval.

• The Edmonton Police Service plans to increase its presence in crime hot spots, such as Churchill Square, saying it will no longer tolerate public disorder and open drug use. Police Chief Warren Driechel said the initiative aims to restore community pride and trust. The effort includes enhancing cooperation with transit peace officers. While acknowledging the role of social service providers, Hope Mission and the Edmonton Downtown Business Association stressed the need for collaboration to ensure safety and address underlying issues.
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services battled several grass fires on May 8, as dry conditions allowed fires to spread quickly. Fires near 137 Avenue and Mark Messier Trail, and along Winterburn Road, are suspected to have started in encampments. Crews controlled the fires within an hour, though water availability was a challenge in rural areas. On the same day, city crews conducted a prescribed burn in Jan Reimer Park as part of broader wildfire prevention efforts to reduce potential fire fuel.
• More than 50 organizations in Edmonton participated in Canada's Emergency Preparedness Week to assist residents in preparing for emergencies and natural disasters at the Edmonton Expo Centre. Attendees engaged with emergency responders and experts, learning strategies to respond during crises. Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of emergency management, noted that 41% of Canadians are unaware of disaster risks.
• The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) is struggling to meet the growing demand for its free counselling services, amid rising sexual assault reports. The centre, operating for 50 years, offers up to 15 free counselling sessions to victims. Following a funding dispute with the Alberta government, SACE lost $1.8 million, resulting in employee layoffs and increased wait times. The centre's May fundraiser aims to diversify funding by symbolically representing waiting victims with sponsored teddy bears.
• Boyle Street Community Services Executive Director Jordan Reiniger is marking the end of his tenure with the Edmonton-based charity. The board has appointed Krysta Fitzgerald as interim executive director until a permanent replacement is found.
• Alberta's government has launched the Building Indigenous Mentorship and Pathways Pilot Program with a $300,000 investment to support Indigenous youth entering the skilled trades sector. The initiative, run by Building Trades of Alberta, emphasizes mentorship, culturally informed guidance, and community outreach. It aims to connect Indigenous youth with apprenticeships and jobs in skilled trades, addressing labour demands. The program includes Indigenous trades mentorship symposiums in Calgary, Edmonton, and Fort McMurray, involving leaders, educators, and employers to discuss career opportunities and guidance.
• Katherine Murphy, former chief strategy officer for the Calgary Police Service, has been appointed as the first CEO of Alberta's new Police Review Commission. The agency is tasked with overseeing Police Act complaints and criminal allegations against Alberta police officers. While praised by some, Murphy's appointment draws criticism from the Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association, which is concerned about her previous police affiliation potentially impacting the independence required for the role. The commission aims to reinforce trust between Alberta's communities and police while managing both the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team and Police Act investigations.
• The Edmonton Stingers lost to the Winnipeg Sea Bears in the Canadian Elite Basketball League opener at the Edmonton Expo Centre on May 9. Mason Kraus hit two crucial free throws to secure a 77-75 victory for Winnipeg. The Stingers' Dain Dainja topped his team with 19 points.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Nandauri, available online as part of Edmonton Jewish Film Festival
• Housing Forward: 2026 Prairies Affordable Housing Summit starting at 4pm at Art Gallery of Alberta
• TEDxUAlberta 2026: RegeneraTED starting at 5pm at Horowitz Theatre
• Feeling Bublé — A Tribute to the King of Swing starting at 5:30pm at Mayfield Dinner Theatre
• Audreys Classics Book Club: Invisible Man starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• Come ye, and behold, as we assuredly DIE-NASTY starting at 7:30pm at Varscona Theatre
• Rough Cut Comedy - Weekly Comedy Showcase!, starting at 8:30pm at River City Revival House

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• May 14: State of the City Address at Edmonton Convention Centre
• May 25: Thou Art Here Trivia Night Fundraiser at Bent Stick Brewing
• May 31: Ice: Voices for a Frozen World at St. Basil's Cultural Centre

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

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

Need a hint for 1-Across? Here you go.