Councillors will return this week from their summer break to attend committee meetings, where they will discuss snow removal, animal control, and the state of infrastructure at community leagues.
There is a community and public services committee meeting on Aug. 11, an urban planning committee meeting on Aug. 12, an executive committee meeting on Aug. 13, and a city manager and city auditor performance evaluation committee meeting on Aug. 14.
Here are key items on this week's agenda:
- Administration has presented four options to enhance snow removal and maintenance for sidewalks and active pathways. The city currently spends about $30.15 million to remove snow from 1,450 kilometres of active pathways and sidewalks, and $5.9 million to repair sidewalks across the city each year. The funding option that represents the biggest change would include a one-time capital spend of $5.31 million and an increase to the operating budget of $19.01 million to prioritize snow clearing on 800 kilometres of sidewalks, proactively repair 45.5 kilometres of sidewalks, and hire more bylaw officers to enforce snow-clearing standards on private sidewalks. The report detailing the options, which is scheduled to be presented to council's community and public services committee on Aug. 11, noted there is no funding available in the 2025 and 2026 budgets to enhance snow removal and maintenance, but that council can request the enhancements be added to the 2027-2030 budget.
- Administration has proposed an incentive program to encourage more student housing in the core. A report that is set to be presented to council's executive committee meeting on Aug. 13 describes a program where projects would receive up to $30,000 per new student unit if they are located downtown, create housing for 10 to 150 students, keep rents at market rates for the next 10 years, and demonstrate the ability to meet construction milestones such as obtaining permits. The proposed program would be funded through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Housing Accelerator Fund. Edmonton has been allocated $192 million through the fund to fast-track more than 5,700 new housing units by 2026. If executive committee approves the program, council will vote on it at a future meeting.
- Administration has prepared amendments to the animal control bylaw, which will be presented to council's community and public services committee on Aug. 11. Administration proposes dog owners face more serious consequences when their animal attacks or bites people or other pets. The bylaw would also change practices for returning unowned, roaming cats to their neighbourhoods, and allow caretakers who trap and neuter feral cats to continue managing those colonies. If the committee approves the changes, council will vote on them at a future meeting.
- Edmonton community leagues need more than $30 million to repair aging infrastructure across the city, according to a report that is scheduled to be presented to city council's community and public services committee on Monday. However, the report said that there is no funding within the city's operating or capital budgets for these repairs. Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues executive director Laura Cunningham-Shpeley told Taproot that while she appreciates the city is in a tough financial position, it's important to invest in Edmonton's community leagues. "I think we need to start having a good conversation about what these spaces bring to every part of our city ... not only from a recreation standpoint, but also around the potential that they hold, from even emergency preparedness to opportunities for education in the neighborhood," Cunningham-Shpeley said.
- Council's urban planning committee is scheduled to review the environmental impact assessment for the 76 Avenue trestle bridge and culvert replacement project in the Mill Creek Ravine. The project involves daylighting a portion of Mill Creek, as the culvert will be replaced with a vehicle bridge. The report said the project is expected to have minor environmental impacts. If the committee approves the assessment, council will vote on it at a future meeting.
- Council's executive committee will be asked to approve the city selling a land parcel in Heritage Valley Town Centre at 11955 32 Avenue SW, as the sale is above the delegated authority of the city manager. The report said the city will lose money on the sale due to high development costs, but that future developments in the area will reduce the loss over time. The buyer intends to build rowhouses and semi-detached houses.
Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.
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