Speaking Municipally

Recent stories about speaking municipally


Three people cross a street in downtown Edmonton
city council vision zero

Dallas reporters walk Edmonton for street safety tips

Reporters from Dallas, Texas, recently visited Edmonton to learn about the city's Vision Zero efforts and feature them as an example their city can learn from.

Several people hold podcasting microphones while riding the Valley Line Southeast LRT.
city council transit

Valley Line opening means resources could be redeployed, transit director says

The opening of the Valley Line Southeast LRT has the potential to improve transit elsewhere in the city, the Edmonton Transit Service's director suggested during a trip on the train with a crew from Speaking Municipally.

A sunset casts colourful reflections on the glass high-rises of downtown Edmonton
city council downtown

Using CRL to fund office conversions seen as a gamble

City council's urban planning committee has signalled an interest in using the downtown community revitalization levy to subsidize office tower conversions, a suggestion Taproot's city hall watchers expressed concerns about on Speaking Municipally.

An LRT train runs along a track through a grassy field in the fall, with Edmonton's skyline in the background
city council transit

Citizens assemble to celebrate Valley Line Southeast LRT opening

The Valley Line Southeast LRT is scheduled to begin passenger service on Nov. 4 at 5:15am, and that's cause for celebration, say the hosts of Speaking Municipally.

An Edmonton Transit Service bus enters an intersection on 107 Street
city council transit

No free rides: Council sends message to focus on transit quality

A decision not to waive transit fares for unaccompanied riders under 12 surprised Speaking Municipally's city hall watchers but struck them as a message that council wants more focus on making transit better.

A large green box reads "SAND BOX IF EMPTY CALL 311."
city council winter

Edmonton cuts community sandboxes to beef up other snow control measures

The City of Edmonton's plan to reduce the number of community sandboxes from 770 to 100 over two years could dismay residents, say the hosts of Speaking Municipally.

New multi-family buildings line a sidewalk on a spring day, with leafless trees along the boulevard
city council zoning

EFCL supports zoning bylaw renewal with climate caveats

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues is in favour of proposed changes to the city's zoning bylaw, though it wants to see amendments to support climate-change mitigation measures.

A map showing the four temporary locations housing Boyle Street's services
downtown podcast

Boyle Street solution seen as heartening but puzzling

Speaking Municipally takes a look at Boyle Street Community Services' move to four temporary locations while it waits for its new facility to be finished next fall.

Andre Corbould, wearing glasses and a suit, looks down at his notes in city council chambers
city council budget

Edmonton's deficit likely to cause pain, podcast posits

Tax increases or service cuts seem inevitable in light of the $73.8-million deficit the City of Edmonton is projecting by the end of this year, noted the city hall watchers at Speaking Municipally.