Citycouncil

The largest makeover to zoning bylaws since 1960 is being considered by city council. A public hearing on the rezoning is scheduled for October 16th.  Supporters have scheduled a social event for September 25th for the purpose of equipping people to speak in favor at the public hearing .

#newzoningbylaws, #citycouncil, #publichearing

City council begins the difficult task of juggling the budget today and there are many difficult decisions they wil have to make in the process.

#citycouncil, #budget

On Monday City Council voted to go ahead with a regional transit plan which will go into effect next year without knowing how much that commitment will cost. The latest estimate was $7.2 million for the first phase but a more exact figure won't be finalized until the fall budget is approved. Monday's vote was intended to demonstrate Edmonton's commitment to regional transit.

Monday's vote was not unanimous and in addition to the City Councillors who voted against plan Edmonton’s transit union called the regional transit plan flawed” and pointed out the city’s admission last week that efficiencies initially thought to come from the plan are no longer there.

#regionaltransitplan, #CityCouncil

Many unaddressed concerns remain with regards to a gondola crossing from downtown to old Strathcona will be under discussion at Wednesday's city council meeting.

#citycouncil, #Do you think City Council needs more time to deliberate the issues regarding the Prairie Sky Gondola proposal? , #proposal

In response to multiple speakers who called upon City council to make Edmonton a safer city part of the plan is for Edmonton Police Service to apply a new strategy. This is the beginning of fulfilling Edmonton's lofty goal of becoming the safest city in Canada by 2030

#EPS, #safestcity, #citycouncil

• There is only one meeting at City Hall this week. The Agenda Review Committee will meet Tuesday at 9:00 am, and these meetings are generally scheduled for just 30 minutes. Council will then take the rest of the week off. Just because they’re on a break doesn’t mean we will be, though. Hopefully, we will have some exciting news in your inbox this week!
• The weather is warming up and, on Saturday, the Spring Festival will take place at Manchester Square. Come with the kids and enjoy food trucks, lawn games, live music from local bands, and more. We are excited it’s no longer winter and we can have in-person events again. This event is free, but there will be items available for purchase from a variety of vendors as well as a beer garden.
• Starting May 1st, the alcohol in parks pilot project will begin again, this time with expanded locations. Between the hours of 11:00 am and 9:00 pm, people will be able to drink at 124 picnic sites in 18 different parks. While we’re happy to see people being treated more like adults, you will still be unable to walk around the park with your beverage. Why make this so bureaucratic? 

#CityofEdmonton, #CityHall, #citycouncil

City Councillors today voted 11-2 in favor of a motion to decriminalize "simple personal possession" of illegal drugs.The city will prepare a submission to Health Canada for a section 56(1) exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

#drugdecriminalization,#citycouncil,

I receive THIS WEEK IN EDMONTON posts from Common Sense Edmonton. On Saturday I attended Common Sense Edmonton' s Pints & Politics gathering and met a number of their supporters. Common Sense Edmonton is a grass roots organization that depends on volunteer support so if that is of interest to you contact them.

• It’s a full week at City Hall, starting with a City Council meeting this morning at 9:30 am. There’s a large agenda, including both an operating and capital financial update. Edmonton is also proposing it be allowed to levy a special tax to replace alley lighting. How do we not have money for street lamps when our operational budget is $3 billion dollars?
• Tuesday, at 9:30 am, the City Manager and City Auditor Performance Evaluation Committee will meet to receive a consultant's update. Afterwards, at 1:30 pm, there will be a City Council Public Hearing to discuss the usual zoning amendments. City Council will continue on Wednesday at 9:30 am should it not conclude on Monday. Finally, on Wednesday at 1:30 pm, there will be a non-regular meeting of the Community and Public Services Committee to discuss appointments to various boards and commissions.
• On Thursday, the Urban Planning Committee is set to meet at 9:30 am to discuss memberships of boards and commissions. On Friday, there are three meetings. At 9:30 am, the Audit Committee will present a few audits, after which the Audit Selection Committee will meet from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm to discuss Audit Committee membership and recruitment, and finally, there will be a non-regular meeting of the Executive Committee to discuss appointments to its boards and commissions. 

#CommonSenseEdmonton, #cityCouncil, #volunteersupport

"Out of sight, out of mind" is something I hope doesn't apply to what Edmontonians thought about this winter's snow removal (or lack of). Warmer weather and some clean up efforts have changed neighbourhood streets from what they looked like weeks ago.

The city is conducting a survey until March 6. The survey will be used by administration to develop options of snow and ice control service enhancements that will be presented to city council in April.

#snowremoval, #survey,#citycouncil

When Premier Kenney announced the gradual removal of restrictions beginning Tuesday midnight one might think that everyone would celebrate the news. Not only was it not a cause for mass celebration it caused mixed reactions from three different sectors of our city as well as the general populace.

Below are reports on the reactions of three different and important sectors of Edmonton. The first is City Council's reaction, that is followed by comments from some in the business community and lastly is a report from Edmonton Public Schools.

#Covid, #restrictions, #Citycouncil, #business, #EdmontonPublicSchools