Speaking Municipally

Game seven wasn't meant to be. That means that this is a boring politics podcast again and not a sports podcast. This week we discuss district plans, solar rebates, Warehouse Park, and the Edmonton Bike Park.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Game 7 downtown

• Oilers fall short of history as Panthers win Game 7 to capture 1st Stanley Cup title
• Edmonton businesses close early to let staff watch Oilers in Game 7
• 6 arrests made at Oilers Stanley Cup Game 7 watch party
• What impact has Rogers Place had on downtown Edmonton?
• E-scooter operators introduce cognitive test among features aimed at addressing critics

District policy and plans

• Is Edmonton council 'normalizing' the 15-minute city conspiracy theory?
• Stephanie's tweet
• Edmonton council passes district policy, clarifies freedom of movement amid 15-minute cities fears
• Edmonton promises residents 'freedom of movement' to calm concerns around 15-minute cities
• City councillor addresses concerns about Edmonton's district planning

Solar rebates

• News Release: Reopened solar rebate program gives multi-family buildings sustainability boost
• The exponential growth of solar power will change the world

EPCOR

• Golf courses, cemeteries, City of Edmonton properties need to start paying stormwater bills, Epcor says

Warehouse Park

• News Release: Transforming parking lots to paradise: Warehouse Park Project in downtown Edmonton to begin construction

Edmonton Bike Park

• Edmonton Bike Park
• Big News! RPFIP Awarded for the Edmonton Bike Park Project

From the Taproot newsroom

• Shiddy's and Flat Boy unite on Happy Beer Street
• Entrepreneurs work to build Edmonton's padel community
• Taproot Edmonton roundups

Rapid fire

• Alberta to opt out of federal dental plan by 2026: Premier Smith
• Boston Pizza Comforts Grieving Hockey Fans With Free Pizza
• PSA: 2024 property taxes due June 30

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

The Oilers are now two wins from the Stanley Cup. Plus, council is (kinda) talking about substantial completion, non-residential taxes, and compensation for disruption from major construction.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Substantial completion

• Urban Planning Committee: June 18, 2024
• 2023: Suburban sprawl costs Edmonton taxpayers more than infill: City report

Non-residential taxes

• Council pushes to boost City of Edmonton's lagging industrial tax base
• On the agenda: Edmonton's shrinking share of non-residential taxes, infill damage, construction impact
• Benchmarking the Edmonton Metro Region: Insights for Global Competitiveness

Major construction compensation

• 'Devastating impact': Edmonton businesses want solution to lost revenue from construction woes
• Montreal: Flat-rate subsidy for businesses in areas affected by major construction

Corporate Homelessness Plan

• Community and Public Services Committee: June 17, 2024

Oilers cup run

• 'There's definitely life': Rave review of Edmonton and of Oilers from major critic
• Oilers back on home ice as Edmonton gears up for Game 3
• Explore Edmonton economic impact of the NHL playoffs
• How Explore Edmonton Utilizes the Event Impact Calculator (EIC) to Advocate for Hosting Events

From the Taproot newsroom

• Tree enthusiasts set to cultivate urban canopy conversation at conference
• Papaschase First Nation explores drone soccer as a way to open doors
• Taproot Edmonton roundups

Rapid fire

• PSA: ETS summer service changes begin
• Genesee Generating Station is off coal – all units 100% natural gas-fueled
• Alberta to ban cellphones in K-12 classrooms starting in fall

Business membership

• Introducing Taproot Edmonton's Business Membership

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

This week we discuss an updated capital budget, and a new train. Plus, the police commission declines to show up to a council meeting in this, the city of champions.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Police commission

• City councillors call relationship with Edmonton police commissioners 'unhealthy' and 'frustrating'
• Sean Amato's tweet thread

Capital budget

• Edmonton council approves increase to $10.4B capital budget to build housing, renew roads and fix facilities
• Edmonton adds $262 million in capital spending on buses, LRT vehicles, infrastructure repairs and housing

Capital Line LRT

• News Release: City awards Design-Build contract for Capital Line South LRT Extension project
• Edmonton's Capital Line LRT to extend south as council approves bylaw to borrow $585M
• Cost for Edmonton Capital Line LRT south extension balloons by $242 million, council approves in secret

Transit ridership

• News Release: Transit ridership up 130 per cent
• Open Data Catalogue

More scooters

• News Release: Third e-scooter and e-bike vendor coming to Edmonton's streets

Blatchford

• Edmonton city councillor's idea to sell some undeveloped Blatchford land sputters out

City of Champions

• Should Edmonton bring back 'City of Champions' slogan?

From the Taproot newsroom

• Sustainable fashion house hosts runway experience to build city's scene
• New doc recreates Edmonton's norm-busting Flashback nightclub
• Taproot Edmonton roundups

Rapid fire

• News Release: City adds new water bottle-filling stations
• YEG Departures Roadway construction to end this fall
• 58 per cent of Canadians not following Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup final: survey

Business membership

• Introducing Taproot Edmonton's Business Membership

This episode is brought to you by the Edmonton Public Library which is hosting another instalment in its Forward Thinking Speaker Series. Don't miss Dr. Marie Wilson in conversation with Chief Wilton Littlechild on June 19. The Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners will discuss what we can do to further reconciliation across Canada. Tickets are now available for this EPL fundraiser.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

Boyle Street has had the permit for its site revoked…again. Plus, the police have declined a public audit, and we'll talk about Sohi's polling numbers. Is it really that time already?

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Guest: Jack Farrell

• @_jack_farrell
• Jack Farrell at St. Albert Gazette

Boyle Street / CPTED

• Boyle Street denied permit to build south Edmonton overdose prevention site
• Permit denied for Wolf Den overdose prevention site in Edmonton
• Jack's tweet thread
• How EPS got involved in city planning — The YEG Yeller
• EPS CPTED training

Police audit

• Edmonton police commission refuses to release audit plan to city council
• Michael Janz's tweet thread

From the Taproot newsroom

• Tim Querengesser, managing editor
• Padmanadi and Seoul Fried Chicken tackle Calgary expansions differently
• Council to decide if U of A's proposal to redevelop farmland into housing can start planning
• Taproot Edmonton's roundups
• What are you curious about? Let us know at [email protected]

LRT music

• News Release: Travel to the tunes of Tchaikovsky and more in downtown LRT stations
• Stephanie's tweet
• 2011: Mercury Opera's 104 Underground (an operascape)

Sohi trouble

• Edmonton heading in 'wrong direction,' Sohi on the ropes: Leger poll
• Poll results show Edmonton city council faces a tough re-election road
• Civic Matters: Downtown Edmonton during the Oilers' playoff run

District planning

• Edmonton district planning decision could be weeks away, signals plans may be sent back for changes
• 'Citizens are abandoned and angry': Public speakers distrustful of Edmonton district planning

Rapid fire

• Increase in Edmonton's paper, reusable bag fee takes effect July 1
• Taste of Edmonton announces presale tickets ahead of 40th anniversary
• 'We are at risk of running out': Calgarians asked to use 25% less water than yesterday

This episode is brought to you by the Edmonton Public Library which is hosting another instalment in its Forward Thinking Speaker Series. Don't miss Dr. Marie Wilson in conversation with Chief Wilton Littlechild on June 19. The Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners will discuss what we can do to further reconciliation across Canada. Tickets are now available for this EPL fundraiser.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

A conversation at the summer institute of the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative about what Edmonton can and should do to contribute to the alleviation of the housing crisis.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Guests

• Joshua Evans, associate professor of human geography at the University of Alberta and director of the Affordable Housing Solutions Lab
• Eric Rice, a writer and researcher working with Taproot to better understand Edmonton's housing ecosystem

Housing links

• Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative
• Episode 265: An Accelerated discussion on housing
• Edmonton Affordable Housing Maintenance Fund
• Protect, Enhance, Grow: Investing in Edmonton's Community Housing Sector
• 'Damned If We Do, Damned If We Don't': Examining the Municipal Problematization of Homelessness in Edmonton, Canada During COVID-19

Books

• Homelessness is a Housing Problem
• The Tenant Class

Note: The series of Q&A interviews by Rice to be published in the fall by Taproot Edmonton is made possible through funding from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

We're joined by Christel Kjenner, director of the housing action team at the City of Edmonton, to get an overview of what the city is doing about the housing crisis.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Christel Kjenner

• Christel Kjenner on LinkedIn
• November 2021: The future of affordable housing according to our Christel ball (Episode 154)

Housing at the city

• Affordable Housing Strategy
• Housing Accelerator Fund
• Feb. 21, 2024: Building more homes that Canadians can afford in Edmonton

Housing context

• Calgary population surges by staggering 6%, Edmonton by 4.2% in latest StatsCan estimates
• Lack of clarity in district plans could erode trust, councillors say
• Edmonton mayor names 16-member task force to tackle housing and homelessness
• Housing advocates say big money is transforming rental markets. And Alberta could be a poster child
• New standard could help shift Edmonton's growth pattern
• Fifteen years after the original strategy, Edmonton has a new plan for homelessness

Rapid fire

• The 'Redmonton' party no more: Alberta NDP's base has shifted to Calgary
• Edmonton Fringe raises $100,000 in donations, unveils 2024 theme
• Troy's tweet

See us in person!

• May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot at the Foundry Room

This episode is brought to you by Park Power, your friendly, local utilities provider (and title sponsor of Taproot's Regional Roundup). Park Power offers electricity, natural gas, and internet to homes, businesses, and farms throughout Alberta. Learn more at parkpower.ca.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

There's a new task force on housing and homelessness. Plus, everything is a district, recreation centres will soon be sponsored, and we discuss police accountability.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Housing task force

• Edmonton mayor names 16-member task force to tackle housing and homelessness
• State of the City

Clean energy retrofit

• Edmonton finalizes clean energy retrofit loans program
• Lauren Boothby's thread

Police accountability

• Edmonton mayor disturbed by images of police response to pro-Palestinian protesters
• Message to the U of A community: Update on encampment
• Protesters attend Edmonton city hall meeting after police teardown of U of A pro-Palestine camp
• Disruptive meeting could trigger security changes at Edmonton city hall
• Tweet about commission meeting

Districts

• Rice Howard Way to become Edmonton's new entertainment district
• Downtown Edmonton 'education district' could spur revitalization, school leaders say
• Experience Edmonton's Arts District
• 2015: Coffee Bureau and Lock Stock Coffee have revived Edmonton's coffee district

Naming rights

• Edmonton's Terwillegar rec centre to get a new, sponsored name
• 2022: Jumpstart Inclusive Playground now open in Edmonton

Rapid fire

• PSA: Have fun in the sun in Edmonton's spray parks, opening this weekend
• News Release: New EPark App launches today
• Canada's 100 Best restaurants list snubs Edmonton; three bars crack top 50

See us in person!

• May 21: Don't let the pink slime get you: AI's role in a healthy media ecosystem at Work Nicer Beaver House.
• May 25: Edmonton International Cat Festival at the Robbins Health Learning Centre at MacEwan.
• May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot at the Foundry Room.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

Summer is here, and it comes with the sale of a riverboat, scooters, and summer streets. Plus, council writes a very sternly worded letter to the province. It'll work this time, they promise!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Tim Querengesser

• Tim's work
• LinkedIn profile
• @TimQuerengesser

Edmonton Riverboat

• Meet the new owners of the Edmonton Riverboat

Summer streets and scooters

• PSA: Summer Streets gives Edmontonians safer spaces for outdoor fun
• Where are Edmonton's e-scooters?

Bill 18/20

• Bill 20 offers power to accelerate housing through property tax breaks
• Edmonton city council asks Alberta to scrap Bill 18 and Bill 20 for consultation
• Changes to city charters, Municipal Government Act meant to bolster housing, cut costs: McIver
• Edmonton mayor, Alberta government meet to talk about Sohi's 6-page funding letter
• Sohi sends 6-page letter to Smith detailing ways Alberta can help Edmonton
• Federal government and Boyle Street Community Services invest in vital community building in downtown Edmonton
• Calgary's single-use items bylaw repealed, businesses no longer required to charge bag fee

Edge Fund

• Edmonton grants $4.7M to 17 organizations through Edge Fund
• Edmonton's biggest rec centres face name change in new sponsorship deal

Rapid fire

• The City of Edmonton finally has a 'Nathan Fillion Civilian Pavilion' & it's here to stay (for now)
• Premier Danielle Smith's tweet
• Edmonton fire chief Joe Zatylny resigns effective May 10

See us in person!

• May 21: Don't let the pink slime get you: AI's role in a healthy media ecosystem at Work Nicer Beaver House. Taproot CEO Mack Male and Ethically Aligned AI founder Katrina Ingram will discuss the uses and abuses of AI in media. Generative AI is flooding the world with "pink slime journalism," but it's also helping responsible companies like Taproot carry out our work more deeply and efficiently. We'll explore those realities at this community event associated with Upper Bound, Edmonton's annual AI conference. Tickets to our event are free.
• May 25: Edmonton International Cat Festival at the Robbins Health Learning Centre at MacEwan. We're thrilled to be a media sponsor for this 10th annual celebration of all things feline. We've asked our friends at Zoe's Animal Rescue to share our booth, so come by to meet some members of the Taproot team, and give a kitty a skritch while you're there. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and kids get in free.
• May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot at the Foundry Room. Our civic affairs podcast is recording live during the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative's summer institute, and you're invited. Hosts Troy Pavlek and Mack Male will discuss how the City of Edmonton can help alleviate the housing crisis; their guests are Joshua Evans of the Affordable Housing Solutions Lab and writer/researcher Eric Rice, who is working on a project with Taproot to help us better understand the housing system. Tickets are free.

This episode was brought to you by Inventures, the breakthrough innovation event from Alberta Innovates that is happening in Calgary from May 29 to 31. Inventures will bring more than 4,000 entrepreneurs, startups, scale-ups, academics, investors, and industry leaders together to cultivate relationships, showcase emerging technologies, and capitalize on Alberta's innovation advantage.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

We speak with Eddie Robar, the interim city manager at the City of Edmonton, about what he plans to do for the time he'll be in the role.

Since recording this episode, the Alberta government reversed its decision to cut its share of funding for low-income transit passes in Edmonton and Calgary following public backlash and discussions with the cities’ mayors.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Eddie Robar

• Eddie Robar on LinkedIn
• 2015: Halifax Transit Manager Eddie Robar latest city executive to leave for greener pastures
• 2016: Back on track: Edmonton hires new transit manager
• News Release: City Council names Eddie Robar as Interim City Manager
• Eddie Robar named interim City of Edmonton manager while permanent replacement sought
• New interim Edmonton city manager Eddie Robar focusing on improving work culture after tense labour dispute

Low-income transit pass

• Alberta government cuts funding for Edmonton, Calgary low-income transit pass, mayors say
• Province reverses decision to cut funding for low-income bus passes in Calgary and Edmonton

Rapid fire

• News Release: Alberta's vision for passenger rail
• News Release: New EPark mobile payment in effect today
• Brett Kissel curse? Radio host starts petition to stop singer from performing anthem at Oilers playoff games

Speaking Municipally Live

• May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot

This episode is brought to you by NAIT. Celebrating the impact of its grads on the community, NAIT announces this year's award recipients who are visionaries, community-builders, trailblazers and more. See their impact at nait.ca/celebrate.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

The spring budget adjustment has been finalized, and the final tax increase council arrived at was quite a bit higher than expected.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Spring SOBA

• On the agenda: Potential tax increases, Windsor Park rezoning, supportive housing
• News Release: City Council finalizes 2024 spring budget adjustments
• Edmonton sets 8.9 per cent property tax hike for 2024
• Edmonton city council needs to have a 'firmer backbone' over budget: Tim Cartmell
• Erin Rutherford: Financial stewardship is more than keeping taxes low
• Opinion: Don't blame bike lanes for Edmonton's property tax hike
• Joint Letter - Spring 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment

Police recruitment

• Attrition is down. Recruitment is up.
• 'On an upswing': Edmonton police seeing fewer officers leaving the force, more recruits
• 2023: Edmonton Police Service sees jump in departing officers in 2022

Keren Tang

• Edmonton councillor at the centre of anonymous letter sent to province speaks out
• Alberta premier says 'anonymous letter' forwarded to Edmonton ethics commissioner

Bill 204

• New bill allows Alberta government to set conditions for national urban park decisions
• Regional Roundup: April 24, 2024

Bill 20

• Alberta bill gives cabinet power to remove municipal councillors, change or repeal bylaws

Rapid fire

• Redevelopment plans in question after historic Edmonton air hangar gutted by fire
• EPSB: April 30 - Special Board Meeting
• Hydrogen convention to bring world to region

Speaking Municipally Live

• May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot

Edmonton heritage

• How Edmonton's first community archivist builds better records

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!