The Pulse
July 20, 2026

So far, Edmonton city council's budget process has taught Coun. Reed Clarke that there aren't as many levers to pull as he thought when he ran for office.

"When I came into this, I was like, 'There's probably an expense issue we've got to look at, but there's also a revenue issue we've got to look at,' but as I go through this, there's just not that many places to generate more revenue," Clarke said. "I mean, there's property taxes, obviously, there's user fees, there's fines, there's development permits, but there's not that many things you can pull on that revenue side."

Clarke, who was CEO of Sport Edmonton and the Edmonton Stingers before he was elected in Ward Nakota Isga in October 2025, joined Episode 365 of Speaking Municipally to discuss how he's approaching the 2027-2030 budget.

Edmonton makes most of its operating and capital budget decisions in four-year chunks, with annual adjustments. After public engagement throughout the first half of this year, administration will release its proposed version of the 2027-2030 budget in early fall, which council will debate and amend in late November and early December. The decisions made this year will shape the entire term.

Early in the budget-building process, Clarke inquired about partnerships with the private sector, similar to the sponsorship that led to the naming of the Booster Juice Recreation Centre in Terwillegar. The potential return wasn't as high as he thought it would be, he said. "Even if we got out there and we put ads on everything, and we got good Edmonton-based companies to support these things, I don't know if it'd be enough money," he said.

He also considered a push to sell city-owned buildings and land, but again, the potential results weren't enough to make a huge difference, he learned. "A lot of (the land) is not shovel-ready, it's not serviced to the level we need, so it's not easy to just hand over to a developer and say, 'Hey, buy this land and go at it,'" he said. He added that many of the hundreds of city-owned buildings are not in good enough condition to sell without significant improvements, plus it makes sense to maintain some of them for the not-for-profit sector.

One area that could increase revenue, however, is in bylaw enforcement, he said. For example, the city found that parking bans were only adhered to in about 10% of cases after a record snowfall in late 2025, hampering snow-clearing efforts. Fines were not high enough to motivate people to move their cars, and few bylaw officers were writing tickets. Plus, few cars were towed due to a lack of tow-lot space, a problem that has recently been mitigated somewhat.

All this to say that some people have been breaking the rules and not facing consequences. It's not just about parking bans — Clarke said more enforcement is needed on construction, sidewalk clearing, and other bylaw violations, too. That would not only potentially bring in money, but also increase trust in local government, he said.

"(Investing in) a department that has an opportunity to actually generate revenue and to enforce the bylaws and the policies that we actually make at council seems to make a lot of sense to me," he said.

• The City of Edmonton said that westbound Yellowhead Trail between 97 Street and St. Albert Trail has reopened after crews completed emergency repairs for flood damage caused during recent heavy rains. The City thanked contractors, municipal crews and EPCOR for their help in completing the necessary work. The recent storms caused about $230 million in insured damage in May and June, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
• The City of Edmonton was set to lift its extreme heat response at 9am on July 19 as conditions were expected to improve. Potable water stations will remain open through Sept. 30. Free bottled water and N95 masks are also available at city facilities.
• A meeting between Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen and Capilano-area residents opposing a planned 50 Street bike lane was interrupted by a pro-bike-lane rally as the province gathered input for fall legislation. Meanwhile, the government launched a bike lane concerns portal, which received mixed reviews, CBC reported.
• Trisha Estabrooks said she will seek the Alberta NDP nomination in Edmonton-Strathcona after Naheed Nenshi announced he will run in Calgary in the next election.
• The City of Edmonton is investigating a Grovenor infill property that was being used as an Airbnb rental, Postmedia reported, despite receiving Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation financing for affordable rental housing. Mayor Andrew Knack said properties built under affordable housing agreements must comply with funding rules, while critics called for stronger oversight of short-term rentals.
• The former Italian Bakery site on 97 Street in Edmonton's Chinatown has been put up for auction with a minimum opening bid of $990,000, less than half its previous $2.3-million listing price. The landmark property, which housed the bakery for more than 60 years before the downtown location closed in early 2025, includes retail, office and residential space. The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce hopes new ownership will help spur redevelopment and revitalize the surrounding area.
• Registered third-party advertisers supporting Alberta separation have raised more than $458,000 ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum, outpacing federalist groups by more than $365,000, according to the latest Elections Alberta figures. Separatist organization Let Alberta Decide is leading fundraising with about $257,000, while Alberta's Voice is the top-raising federalist group at slightly more than $51,000. Under Alberta's referendum rules, registered advertisers may spend up to $607,000 on advertising, while individual, corporate and union contributions are capped at a combined $5,000 annually.
• The Alberta government spent about $309,300 on an external agency to develop its official 2026 referendum website, according to documents obtained by Postmedia through an access to information request. The site, which launched in April and later added the question on Alberta separation from Canada, provides information, videos and FAQs on the province's 10 referendum questions ahead of the Oct. 19 vote. The government said the contract was awarded through a competitive procurement process and that more than 40,000 people have visited the website.
• The Edmonton Elks drew 20,020 fans to Commonwealth Stadium on July 17 for a 19-17 win over the B.C. Lions, a turnout the team framed as a sign attendance is rebounding. "This was the best crowd we've seen outside of Labour Day. Full credit to the fans for showing up," head coach Mark Kilam said.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• ERIN Member Monday starting at 10am online
• Theatre in the Park starting at 11am at Beaumaris Park Playground
• Magpie Festival Class: Richard Lee | Movement Lab — Selective Tension starting at 11:30am at Sugar Swing Ballroom
• Library Lunchtime Concert starting at 12:15pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Theatre in the Park starting at 2:30pm at Maple Leaf Park
• The Orchards Farmers' Market starting at 3:30pm at 4059 Orchards Drive SW
• The Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards starting at 6:30pm at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Kamloops Northpaws: Uni Student Night starting at 7pm at Re/Max Field
• Magpie Festival Class: Birkley Wisniewski | Lindy Hop starting at 7pm at Sugar Swing Ballroom
• 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:

• July 25-26: Butter and Biscuits at Rutherford House
• Aug. 13-23: Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in Old Strathcona and beyond
• Aug. 19: Feast on the Field at Commonwealth Stadium

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.

This puzzle has a secret answer! The clue is: What Edmonton is no longer removing until 2027 (an apt anagram of the circled letters).