Speaking Municipally

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Earthquakes

• Series of earthquakes in northern Alberta felt in Edmonton, Grande Prairie and B.C.
• Smith introduces flagship Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, giving cabinet new power

Transit reality

• Edmonton bus drivers share images showing daily realities of working within public transit system

Michael Elliott

• Head of Edmonton police union stepping down: 'My mental health is more important at the moment'

Emergency shelters

• New emergency shelter spaces approved as deaths mount
• PSA: Extreme weather response activated
• 'Catastrophe of homelessness': Three dead at makeshift Edmonton shelters in early November
• Troy's tweet

Boyle Street

• City of Edmonton hears appeal of new Boyle Street Community Services building
• Boyle Street Community Services relocation plan halted by development appeal board
• 'Deeply disappointed': Development appeal board revokes permit for new Boyle Street centre
• Boyle Street targeted in racist phone calls following development dispute

Budget stuff

• Climate change raised repeatedly during budget hearing
• About 170 speakers sign up to offer wish lists for Edmonton budget during public hearing
• Transit security, recreation, Valley Zoo investment among budget asks at Edmonton council hearing
• Edmonton budget: sports and recreation, social services, transit big topics at public hearing
• Municipalities across Edmonton region face budget challenges for 2023
• Troy's tweet thread

City surplus

• City of Edmonton projects $68M operating budget surplus by end of 2022
• Mayor Amarjeet Sohi's tweet

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week we talked about Park Power, your friendly, local utilities provider in Alberta. Offering Internet, Electricity, and Natural Gas with low rates, awesome service, and profit-sharing with local charities. We also highlighted Alberta Blue Cross, which offers group benefit plans that enable employees to manage their own health, dental, life and disability coverage online.

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!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Stuff a Bus

• PSA: ETS Stuff a Bus returns to help those in need

Danibucks

• Address to the Province

FC Edmonton

• FC Edmonton won't operate in 2023, CPL hints at 2024 return

Gang money

• Edmonton police release new gang strategy tied to higher funding request

Edge Fund

• Council report
• The Edge Fund: Championing Tech and Innovation in Edmonton

Budget

• City council to consider $7.5M funding request for emergency shelter in west Edmonton
• Edmonton should fund on-demand transit with higher Epcor profits: mayor
• 'Lifeline' on-demand transit service at risk of being cut if not funded by city council

Valley Line LRT

• 'Profoundly disappointed': Two-thirds of concrete pillars on new Edmonton LRT line now need repairs
• Now it's 30 of 45 concrete piers that need fixing on Valley Line Southeast LRT
• Edmonton councillors frustrated, disappointed with latest Valley Line LRT setback

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week we talked about Alberta Blue Cross, which offers group benefit plans that enable employees to manage their own health, dental, life and disability coverage online. We also highlighted The Well Endowed Podcast from the Edmonton Community Foundation, which explores the impact of passionate people who are working to make Edmonton a strong, vibrant city to live in.

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!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Taylor Swift

• Taylor Swift speaks out after Ticketmaster cancels her tour's general ticket sale: 'It pisses me off'

School masks

• Edmonton Public Schools asks province to bring back mask mandates during illness outbreaks

Net-zero home

• Edmonton couple spend 20 years transforming '60s bungalow into comfortable net-zero home

Guest: Puneeta McBryan

• @puneeta00
• LinkedIn

Treegate

• Holiday Light Up
• Mayor Sohi's tweet
• CTV's original story
• Edmonton's cancelled giant Christmas tree offered 'no direct value' to businesses: EDBA
• 'So much more that Christmas can be': Mayor says of Holiday Light Up minus big tree

Arc cards

• News Release: Get ready for Arc; Edmonton region's fare payment system welcomes more riders
• City of Edmonton tweet

Heritage Festival

• Heritage Festival moving to Borden Park, Exhibition Lands for 3 years due to Hawrelak Park closure

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week we talked about connectFirst Credit Union, "a new, brighter way to bank for all Albertans." We also highlighted Alberta Blue Cross, which offers group benefit plans that enable employees to manage their own health, dental, life and disability coverage online.

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!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Windermere solar panels

• Solar panel installation begins on Edmonton's 1st net-zero energy fire station

Parking ban

• News Release: Parking ban Phase 1 (Major roads) takes effect Nov. 8 at 7pm
• News Release: Parking ban Priority 1 (Major roads) ends Nov. 11 at 8am

Carbon budget

• Troy's tweet thread
• News Release: Air Products to Receive Approximately $475 Million (CAD) in Funding for Alberta, Canada Net-Zero Hydrogen Energy Complex from Government Energy Transition Programs
• 'Shocked and disappointed': Edmonton climate advisory committee decries proposed budget
• 2021 Fall Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment
• The City of Calgary releases recommendation for 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets
• C40 Cities

Operating budget

• Demolition date for Northlands Coliseum still up in the air, almost 5 years after it closed
• Bike Plan Implementation – Moving Towards the 2023-2026 Capital and Operating Budget

Downtown vibrancy grants

• Downtown vibrancy funds largely spent on festivals and public safety

Single-use item reduction grant

• News Release: City funding available to help organizations reduce single-use items

Wolf Willow parking ban

• Wolf Willow parking ban will be discontinued
• What We Heard: Wolf Willow Residential Parking Pilot Program (PDF)

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week, with the help of the Edmonton Community Foundation, we gave a Pod Power shout out to YourForest, a podcast about the natural world. We also highlighted Park Power, your friendly, local utilities provider in Alberta. Offering Internet, Electricity, and Natural Gas with low rates, awesome service, and profit-sharing with local charities.

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!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

World Cup drinking

• Bars in Alberta will open early and serve alcohol during FIFA World Cup

Condo noise

• 'Inordinate' noise: Judge orders Downtown condo corp to investigate longstanding sound complaint

Valley Zoo

• Edmonton Valley Zoo could be shut down, lose accreditation without repairs: city budget

Operating budget

• News Release: Proposed operating budget focuses on maintaining services, financing transformational projects
• Proposed Operating Budget PDF
• Proposed city budget calls for 3.9% property tax hike in each of next 4 years
• Edmontonians uncomfortable with tax increases, want better snow control: city surveys

Carbon budget

• Carbon Budget PDF
• Troy's tweet thread

Urban agriculture

• Urban farmers see need for more productive regulatory environment

Downtown amenities

• City council report

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week we talked about connectFirst Credit Union, "a new, brighter way to bank for all Albertans." We also highlighted Alberta Blue Cross, which offers group benefit plans that enable employees to manage their own health, dental, life and disability coverage online.

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!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Cracked pillars

• Lauren Hunter wins Halloween
• An Edmonton radio host dressed up as an LRT cracked concrete pillar and won Halloween

Prime Minister

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi

No Visible Trauma

• Nov. 9: No Visible Trauma Screening at Metro Cinema

Capital budget

• News Release: City releases proposed 2023-2026 Capital Budget, totalling $7.75B
• City recommends shrinking new Lewis Farms aquatic centre to save $58M
• Newly formed non-profit tries to reopen Scona Pool after City of Edmonton closed it permanently

Municipal census

• Census consensus: Edmonton city council to decide policy on $4.7M data grab

Surface parking lots

• Edmonton to crack down on vacant, illegal parking lots

Free transit

• Edmonton city councillors support free transit for unaccompanied youth under 12

170 Street pedestrian bridge

• 'Aesthetically pleasing' 170 Street pedestrian bridge near WEM getting final touches

Snow and ice control

• News Release: City forecasts an improved snow and ice experience for this winte
• Name the Plow Contest

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week we talked about Alberta Blue Cross, which offers group benefit plans that enable employees to manage their own health, dental, life and disability coverage online. We also highlighted Park Power, your friendly, local utilities provider in Alberta. Offering Internet, Electricity, and Natural Gas with low rates, awesome service, and profit-sharing with local charities.

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!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Soccer fields

• News Release: Two new indoor fields open in the South Soccer Centre

Raccoons

• Raccoons in Alberta? Increased sightings indicate they're moving further north

Danielle Smith

• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith apologizes for comments on Russia-Ukraine war
• No apology from Danielle Smith over comments on discrimination of unvaccinated people
• New Alberta cabinet includes familiar faces in prominent portfolios

First anniversary

• Mayor Amarjeet Sohi's tweet
• Coun. Ashley Salvador's tweet
• Coun. Andrew Knack's tweet
• Q&A: Mayor Amarjeet Sohi on downtown safety, police budget, and transit delays in his 1st year
• Postmedia video with Mayor Sohi
• 'Not afraid to push boundaries': Edmonton mayor reflects on first year
• 1 year since Edmonton city council was elected — what has been accomplished?

Funding formula

• Mack's Twitter thread
• Sohi wants changes to Edmonton Police Commission: 'I think it's outdated'

Weekend shootings

• News Release: Police investigating five weekend shootings
• Five weekend shootings in Edmonton posed 'significant' risk to public
• Edmonton police investigate 5 unrelated shootings in 3 days; 127 shootings so far this year
• 'Significant' risk to public after 5 weekend shootings: police
• Innocent bystander shot and killed as Edmonton police confront suspected armed robber

Neighbourhood renewal

• Mayor says Edmonton should keep education tax to close $4.7 billion gap over next decade
• Edmonton council debates increasing taxes or delaying neighbourhood renewal
• Council report on neighbourhood renewal
• Council report on renewal funds
• Affordable housing should be treated and funded as 'core infrastructure,' says Edmonton's mayor

Blatchford

• Blatchford review ordered after project fails to meet expectations
• Edmonton wants to make building homes in Blatchford more affordable
• Blatchford: Now What? - Tim Cartmell

Solar rebates

• Rebates for homeowners to go green in Edmonton

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week we talked about The Well Endowed Podcast from the Edmonton Community Foundation, which explores the impact of passionate people who are working to make Edmonton a strong, vibrant city to live in. We also talked about Overdue Finds, an Edmonton Public Library podcast featuring conversations about books, movies, music, pop culture and other great things happening in Edmonton.

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!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Danielle Smith

• New Alberta premier says unvaccinated 'most discriminated against group' after swearing-in

Blatchford

• Blatchford review ordered after project fails to meet expectations
• Edmonton wants to make building homes in Blatchford more affordable

Oilers+

• RELEASE: Oilers+ video streaming service officially launched

Guests: Edmonton Global

• Sherri Bouslama, manager of brand strategy & communications
• Chris McLeod, vice president of global marketing & communications
• Economic Development Matters Podcast
• Edmonton Global

forward/slash

• forward/slash Economic Summit
• Economic summit a 'first step' toward bringing Edmonton region together

Background

• Edmonton Global officially launches to attract investment to the Edmonton Metro Region
• Edmonton Global 2019-2023 Strategic Plan
• Recap: Ignite Edmonton 2015
• E-Town celebrates entrepreneurship in Edmonton (2013)

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week we talked about connectFirst Credit Union, "a new, brighter way to bank for all Albertans." We also highlighted Alberta Blue Cross, which offers group benefit plans that enable employees to manage their own health, dental, life and disability coverage online.

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!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Red tape award

• NEWS RELEASE: City wins 2022 Municipal Excellence Award for Red Tape Reduction

UAlberta ventilation data

• University of Alberta releases building-specific ventilation data

Learning city

• NEWS RELEASE: Edmonton secures place as Canada's first UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities member
• Mayor Amarjeet Sohi's tweet

Guest: Bashir Mohamed

• @BashirMohamed
• Edmonton SRO Research Project

DNA phenotyping

• NEWS RELEASE: Police use DNA phenotyping in unsolved sexual assault
• EPS Statement on DNA Phenotyping
• Edmonton police use DNA phenotyping as 'last resort' in hopes of identifying sexual assault suspect
• Ubaka Ogbogu's tweet
• Opinion: Edmonton police wrong to release DNA phenotyping mugshot of a Black man

Single-use reduction bylaw

• NEWS RELEASE: City council passes bylaw to significantly reduce waste
• Edmonton finalizes plastic bag, disposable food container bylaw
• Edmonton restaurants grapple with proposed ban on single-use items

Rec centre naming rights

• Edmonton councillors vote to sell naming rights of Clareview Recreation Centre
• Clareview Rec Centre to be renamed Jumpstart Community Recreation Centre

EPS jurisdictional scan

• Edmonton police funding debate dominated by conflict of interest concerns
• Per Capita Police Funding
• Police funding increases could be locked in before budget talks

EPS funding formula

• Councillors consider new funding formula for Edmonton Police Service
• Mack's tweet thread

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week we talked about The Well Endowed Podcast from the Edmonton Community Foundation, which explores the impact of passionate people who are working to make Edmonton a strong, vibrant city to live in. We also highlighted Park Power, your friendly, local utilities provider in Alberta. Offering Internet, Electricity, and Natural Gas with low rates, awesome service, and profit-sharing with local charities.

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!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

North side power couple

• When Gene Met Karen

Strategic plan

• Edmonton police eye public perception in latest strategic plan

Handsome coach

• Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft named most handsome of 2022

Jason Kenney

• Jason Kenney says he never intended to 'be in this gig for a long time'

Bike lanes

• Edmonton councillors support spending $170M on new bike lanes by 2026
• Edmonton may spend $170 million to build 100 km of bike lanes by 2026
• Aaron Paquette's tweet thread

Affordable housing

• Edmonton councillors urged to include precariously housed people in creating affordable housing solutions
• Sohi: My reflections after today's Community and Public Services Committee meeting

Funding formula

• Rob's tweet
• Mack's tweet
• 2019: Edmonton's new police chief isn't afraid to shake up status quo, say former colleagues

Downtown Recovery Coalition

• Edmonton councillor wants to get rid of illegal parking lots Downtown and speed up development
• Working towards a safe and vibrant downtown Edmonton - Downtown Recovery Coalition
• Mack's tweet

Code of conduct

• Edmonton's integrity commissioner should have more power: city staff

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: locally grown, community supported.

This week we talked about Alberta Blue Cross, which offers group benefit plans that enable employees to manage their own health, dental, life and disability coverage online. We also highlighted connectFirst Credit Union, "a new, brighter way to bank for all Albertans."

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!