Speaking Municipally

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Recycling sand

• Once a leader in recycling street sand, City of Edmonton now throws it all away

Making Space

• The City is Making Space for new perspectives on zoning with first-ever podcast

E-scooters and e-bikes

• E-scooters and e-bikes start rolling this summer

Road laneway growth

• Apparent jump in snow-clearing kilometres not all that it seems

Overdose response

• News Release: City and downtown partners team up to pilot drug poisoning prevention and response program
• Dedicated teams to provide drug poisoning prevention and response in downtown Edmonton

102 Avenue

• Should downtown Edmonton's 102 Avenue be pedestrian only?
• Edmonton city councillors push to pilot 102nd Avenue as pedestrian lane

Guest: Andre Corbould

• Office of the City Manager

The letter

• Chinatown Safety: immediate actions and follow-through | by Office of the Mayor Amarjeet Sohi
• My response to Minister Shandro's letter on the Police Act. | by Office of the Mayor Amarjeet Sohi
• Section 30(1) of the Police Act invoked
• Ministerial letter to Edmonton mayor about public safety

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

This week we highlighted the Edmonton Community Foundation which produces The Well Endowed Podcast. We also talked about ATB Cares, which makes it easy for all Albertans to support the causes they care about.

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:

Assessment notices

• News Release: 2022 property tax notices in the mail

Tourism funding

• Government of Canada makes major investments in Edmonton summer festival and in tourism experiences across Alberta

Oilers advance

• Oilers eliminate Flames with Game 5 win, advance to first West final in 16 years

Chinatown safety

• Chinatown deaths weigh on discussions of community safety and police funding
• Daughter of Chinatown homicide victim pleads with city councillors to make area safer
• Citizens pack Edmonton council chambers to speak on Chinatown crime, safety and policing
• Project Connection to focus on areas facing increased trends of violence and disorder
• Edmonton LRT system to see more peace officer patrols start Sunday
• Linda Hoang's tweet

Shandro's letter

• Section 30(1) of the Police Act invoked
• Tyler Shandro's tweet
• My response to Minister Shandro's letter on the Police Act. | by Office of the Mayor Amarjeet Sohi
• Administration's presentation

Transit safety

• City council agenda item
• Survey results
• Proposed bylaw amendments

Funding formula

• A safe Edmonton requires a fair and accountable funding strategy. | by Office of the Mayor Amarjeet Sohi

Outdoor pools

• City of Edmonton's outdoor pool season shortened this summer due to budget pressures
• Splash your way into the long weekend as City spray parks open!

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

This week we highlighted Alberta Blue Cross which can help employees manage their own health, dental, life and disability coverage online — any time, on any device. We also talked about the Edmonton Community Foundation which acts as a bridge between donors and charities to create a strong, vibrant community for generations to come.

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:

Leadership vote

• Alberta Premier Jason Kenney resigning as UCP leader despite narrow win in leadership review
• Jason Kenney to remain as premier, party leader until new UCP leader is chosen

Edmonton Elks

• Edmonton Elks lose money during disappointing 2021 CFL season

High Level Streetcar

• High Level Streetcar line extension grand opening planned for Thursday

CSWB Strategy

• Councillors undecided on how best to spend community safety money
• Edmonton aims to end racism, poverty and be the safest city in Canada by 2030 with new strategy
• Suggested actions for investment

Policing downtown

• Edmonton mayor pitches $5M for outreach patrol teams and day shelter
• Edmonton police up downtown patrols, council hears calls for safety
• Downtown Recovery Coalition

Funding formula

• City councillors propose $385M base budget for Edmonton police
• Erin Rutherford's motion
• Andrew Knack's rationale
• Allegations against Stevenson
• Police Act

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

This week we 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. Inventures 2022, where you can Learn, share, and be inspired by the startups, entrepreneurs, investors, and global thought leaders who are redefining the future.

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:

Bike swap

• Alberta Bike Swap returns with family-friendly addition

Juno Awards

• After almost 20 years, Edmonton will once again host Canada's Juno Awards

Garden life

• Edmontonians invited to "Live the Garden Life" during the Year of the Garden 2022

State of the City

• Mayor slams province, praises region, in State of the City address
• Edmonton Mayor Sohi blasts province in state of city address
• Mayor Amarjeet Sohi State of The City 2022 (PDF)

Transit safety

• Sohi says latest LRT attack 'really scares people away' from transit, asks for provincial help
• CTLA news release

Tax increase

• Edmonton heads toward tough budget with steep tax increases or deep service cuts
• Edmonton considers spending millions more on snow clearing

Blatchford

• Edmonton councillor concerned about pace, affordability of Blatchford development

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

This week we highlighted Inventures 2022, where you can Learn, share, and be inspired by the startups, entrepreneurs, investors, and global thought leaders who are redefining the future. We also talked about Alberta Blue Cross, which makes group coverage for small businesses easy.

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:

Public washrooms

• News Release: New mobile washrooms being installed; transit washroom reopening takes a phased approach
• Edmonton reopening 10 LRT washrooms, adding 12 mobile locations

Empathetic Albertans

• Mental health study shows Albertans feeling less empathetic towards others than at start of pandemic

Campaign finance

• 2010-2021 Campaign Disclosures Statements
• Michael Oshry spent more than $220K of own money for his Edmonton mayoral campaign

Warehouse Park

• Warehouse Park | City of Edmonton
• PSA: Transforming parking lots into paradise
• Warehouse Park: Designing a safe urban oasis in downtown Edmonton

Summer Streets

• PSA: Summer Streets give everyone room to walk, run, bike and roll

Snow clearing

• Edmonton city councillors agree snow removal budget needs boost
• News Release: City of Edmonton honoured by American Planning Association for innovative work in carbon budgeting

High Level Bridge

• Council weighs options to renew or replace Edmonton's 109-year-old High Level Bridge
• Edmonton historic board urges city keep heritage in mind as older buildings demolished

Encampments

• Number of homeless people in Edmonton expected to grow, city report says
• Surge in Edmonton's homeless camps likely this summer but staff don't recommend city-run encampment

Infill

• Edmonton reaches goal to have infill units make up 25% of new homes
• Affordability needs to be built into Edmonton's plans to boost density with infill development: expert
• Edmonton's omnibus zoning bylaw would change entire city and limit development rules

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

This week we highlighted Alberta Blue Cross, which makes group coverage for small businesses easy. We also talked about NorthwestFest, the international documentary festival that is returning in cinema and online this month.

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:

Electric scooters

• Edmonton introduces new rules for e-scooter providers

Snow budget

• Edmonton city councillors agree snow removal budget needs boost

Avian flu

• Edmonton Valley Zoo moves birds away from public sight to protect against deadly avian flu

Guest: Paula Simons

• Senator Paula Simons
• @Paulatics
• Wikipedia page
• Podcast pick: Alberta Unbound

Paula's inquiry

• Challenges and Opportunities of Canadian Municipalities
• YouTube: The relationship between the federal government and municipalities
• Senator Éric Forest's remarks

Paula's walk

• Janes Walk: Curating Alberta, Sat, 7 May 2022 at 3:00 PM

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

This week we highlighted The Well Endowed Podcast from the Edmonton Community Foundation which tells the stories of how endowment funds intersect with the community. Episode 121 looks at A Taste of Ramadan, an event that provided food and entertainment to hundreds of Edmontonians earlier this month. We also talked about NorthwestFest, the international documentary festival that is returning in cinema and online this May.

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:

Most affordable

• What a flex: Edmonton named one of the most affordable cities in the world

Rotten eggs

• Edmonton residents concerned about gas odour from Imperial Oil refinery

Pride corner

• A busy intersection in Edmonton has been dominated by homophobic street preachers for years

Guest: Anne Stevenson

• @edmonton_anne
• Ward O-day'min Councillor

Police commission

• Op-ed from EPC chair John McDougall: Edmonton police have a duty to keep protests safe
• Commission should question police about fatal shooting, says criminologist
• Opinion: Edmonton Police Commission's role isn't defending police action
• Tweet from Alayne Sinclair
• Council looks to make police commission bigger amid calls for better oversight

Governance stuff

• Police Act
• Edmonton Police Commission Bylaw (PDF)
• Edmonton Police Commission Policies

Other links

• Heart of YEG Safe Walk
• Council privately quashes recommended audit of Edmonton policing
• Integrity commissioner dismisses police association's complaint against councillor
• The Progress Report has filed a discreditable conduct complaint against Chief McFee

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

This week we highlighted the Alberta Podcast Network itself, which builds audiences for Alberta-made podcasts and connects those listeners to Alberta-based businesses, organizations, and community partners. Advertising with the network can be a great way to reach Albertans! We also 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.

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:

Participatory budgeting

• Edmonton councillors offering $50k in grants through 'participatory budgeting'

Group sale

• Group of property owners selling 10-lot block near Edmonton's river valley

Critical race theory

• 'A political football': Concern over Alberta's premier pushing U.S.-style views on school curriculum
• Education Minister Adriana LaGrange's response

Guest: Trisha Estabrooks

• @TrishEstabrooks
• Ward D Trustee

City plan and schools

• Edmonton City Plan
• Dr. Anne Anderson Community Centre
• Ever Active Schools
• Edmonton Catholic, public schools expand shared busing program to save money

Growth pressures

• Ten-Year Facilities Plan 2023-2032
• Edmonton Public Schools facing mounting enrolment pressures
• 'We have been passed over for new builds': Edmonton Public School Division needs more locations

Board governance

• An Announcement and a Call to Action | by Bridget Stirling
• EPSB Trustee Handbook

Other links from the discussion

• Division Feedback Survey
• Edmonton Public Schools seeks feedback on calendar revamp
• Edmonton Public Schools trustee tables notice of motion asking for government support for incoming refugee students
• Alberta to spend $72 million to expand charter schools

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

This week we highlighted NorthwestFest — Canada's longest-running non-fiction film festival — which is back in hybrid form this year, running IN CINEMA from May 6th to the 14th, and ONLINE from May 5th to 15th. 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:

77 trees

• 'It's a bummer': Edmonton chops 77 trees near cemetery for new sidewalk, bike lanes

Ditch the draft

• Protesters call for Alberta government to scrap K-6 draft curriculum

AHS CEO

• Dr. Verna Yiu out as president and CEO at Alberta Health Services

Michael Janz

• @michaeljanz
• Meet the councillors: Sarah Hamilton and Michael Janz look forward to team-building

Ashley Salvador

• @AshleyASalvador
• Meet the councillors: Keren Tang and Ashley Salvador identify key priorities as they begin their terms

Links from the discussion

• Curbing Excessive Executive Compensation
• Fire, police team up to extinguish growing problem of suspicious fires in northeast Edmonton
• 2019: City may back out of suburban development biz, council votes

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

This week we highlighted ATB, which was built to help Alberta businesses. Be sure to check out The Future Of, a podcast hosted by ATB's chief economist, Todd Hirsch. We also spoke about The Well Endowed Podcast from the Edmonton Community Foundation. Episode 119 looks at how The Dash Fund helps keep the memory of a very special pet alive while supporting pets in need.

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:

Praise for us

• Chris On A Bike's tweet
• Lisa Brown's tweet

Wastewater counts

• Wastewater COVID-19 counts rising in Edmonton and Calgary

Iveson's new gig

• News release: Co-operators appoints former Edmonton mayor Don Iveson as executive advisor for climate investing and community resilience

Carbon tax

• Alberta legislature to debate motion calling on Ottawa to stop carbon tax increases

Downtown recovery

• Downtown Dining Week returns as workers come back to the core
• The Five-Day Workweek Is Dying
• News release: City continues to drive growth and job creation alongside economic partners

Old Strathcona parking lot

• Old Strathcona parking lot sparks debate on how Edmonton leases public lands

Vision Zero Street Lab

• Victoria Promenade survey
• Conrad Nobert's tweet
• Daniel Morin's tweet

100th Street bridge

• Conrad's tweet

Clean energy improvement program

• PSA: Applications open for Clean Energy Improvement Program
• PSA: Overwhelming response to Clean Energy Improvement Program Pilot
• Edmonton pilot program to help homeowners with green upgrades

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

This week we highlighted ATB, which offers expert and practical advice in everyday banking, and investment planning expertise and management services with ATB Wealth. We also 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.

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!