Speaking Municipally

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The river

• Why does Edmonton's water smell a bit funky?
• Walking on ice can be a life or death decision

Red Deer

• Further IIHF event updates
• UCP leadership to be decided by mail-in ballot, Jean accuses Kenney camp of cheating

NFTs

• Edmonton lays claim to world's first NFT book, written by Todd Babiak and donated to the EPL
• World's first book published as a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) Available to Borrow Exclusively at the Edmonton Public Library

Mask bylaws

• Edmonton city council rejects mandating masks at recreation centres

Public washrooms

• City of Edmonton closes nearly all public washrooms in transit stations to reduce drug poisoning risk
• Feb. 22 agenda item
• 2021 Alberta drug poisoning stats
• How public washrooms help make a city work well

Jennifer Rice

• Troy's tweet

Progress Report

• Mack's tweet thread
• The Edmonton Police are trying to silence us, it won't work
• The Progress Report has filed a discreditable conduct complaint against Chief McFee

EVER Square

• Calgary Trail development gets zoning go-ahead but without bike paths some councillors wanted
• Agenda item
• EVER Square

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

This week we highlighted the Edmonton Community Foundation and its podcast, The Well Endowed Podcast. The ECF acts as a bridge between donors and charities to create a strong, vibrant community for generations to come. Departing CEO Martin Garber-Conrad spoke with Bloom recently about how the philanthropic innovation that started under his leadership will carry on into the future.

We also talked about The Future Of, a podcast from ATB that promises to give you insights to help navigate what is often an uncertain future. Hosted by ATB's chief economist Todd Hirsch, the podcast explores how our economy and communities can not only brace for change, but embrace the opportunity it creates.

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 lanes

• 102 Avenue bike lanes closed at 116 Street for EPCOR repairs, groups call for more consultation

Charter schools

• Budget 2022: Investing in school choice

Abdullah Shah

• Notorious landlord Abdullah Shah fatally shot outside Edmonton home

Carrie Hotton-MacDonald

• LinkedIn
• Episode 120: Speaking with the new ETS Branch Mandaringer

Smart fare

• Arc (formerly Smart Fare)

Ridership and recovery

• Operating budget update for 2021
• Alberta steps up with $79.5M transit money for struggling cities, matches federal funds

Bus network redesign

• Report for March 23

Regional transit

• Edmonton city councillors question cost, routes of regional transit system
• Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission
• EMTSC presentation to council

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

This week we highlighted fellow APN member Three Kitchens, a home cooking podcast released every Tuesday with recipes, tips and kitchen adventures. 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:

Wild pigs

• 'Full hog': Edmonton could become first Canadian city with permanent wild pigs if city is unprepared, expert warns

Pothole complaints

• City of Edmonton seeing 3 times more pothole complaints than last year

Mask bylaw

• PSA - Edmonton ends masking in public spaces
• City of Edmonton tweet
• Alberta lifting almost all remaining COVID-19 restrictions March 1
• Edmonton council to debate mask bylaw Tuesday afternoon
• Bill 4

Metro Line LRT

• Mass Transit: Planning for 1.25 Million People
• North LRT back on priority list
• Edmonton's Metro Line LRT expansion to Castle Downs reinstated

Downtown CRL

• Mack's tweet
• Parkade and pedway decisions seem to contradict City Plan

Alcohol in parks

• Alcohol in Edmonton parks allowed again this year

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

This week we highlighted YourForest, a podcast about the natural world featuring stories about the environment, renewable resources, conservation, forestry, and more. We also talked about ATB Cares which makes it easy to donate to eligible Albertan charities with ATB matching 20% of every dollar donated.

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:

Valley Line LRT

• New LRT now running in downtown Edmonton, but still just for testing

Work from home

• The Best Work-From-Home Cities for 2022

Freedom Convoy

• Edmonton police officers who joined 'Freedom Convoy' rally now suspended without pay

Guest: Temitope Oriola

• Opinion: Edmonton Police Commission's role isn't defending police action
• @TopeOriola

Code of conduct

• Integrity commissioner dismisses police association's complaint against councillor

The list

• Troy's tweet
• Edmonton police deny keeping 'list' of critics
• Another tweet from Troy
• Michael Janz interview on CBC

Sohi fires back

• 'A slap in the face': Mayor slams provincial budget
• Amarjeet Sohi's tweet thread on masks
• Kenney vows to stop municipalities imposing public health restrictions
• Amarjeet Sohi's tweet thread on the MGA change

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

This week we highlighted Edmonton Public Schools, which is hosting virtual open houses for the 2022-23 school year. We also talked about The Well Endowed Podcast from the Edmonton Community Foundation which tells the stories of how endowment funds intersect with the community.

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:

Calgary Zoo

• Calgary Zoo asks visitors to keep masking to protect pregnant gorilla

Climate quilt

• A stitch in time: University student maps Edmonton's changing climate — on a quilt

Mountain trails

• 90 per cent of Edmonton trails could be closed to mountain bikers

Commission size

• Council looks to make police commission bigger amid calls for better oversight

Vaccine passport

• Edmonton council opts to not create city-run vaccine passport program
• Mack's tweet thread
• Andrew Knack's tweet
• Amarjeet Sohi's tweet

Noise injunction

• Temporary court injunction addresses nuisance noise
• Mack's tweet
• Injunction notice in PDF

Last Saturday

• Small group of pedestrians, cyclists bring convoy to a standstill in Edmonton's river valley
• Troy's tweet
• Mack's tweet about asking questions
• Mack's tweet about police communications

Police response

• Amarjeet Sohi's tweet about meeting with EPS/EPC
• Op-ed from EPC chair John McDougall: Edmonton police have a duty to keep protests safe
• Edmonton police chief calls for calm; defends response to truck protests, counter-protests

Guest: Michelle Peters-Jones

• @michpetersjones

Commission meeting

• Mack's tweet thread of the meeting
• Mack's tweets about the budget
• Troy's tweets about councillor silence
• Police commission hears Edmontonians' concerns over ongoing convoy protests
• Edmonton police readying for another anti-restriction protest this weekend

Secret airplane

• Edmonton Police have a secret plane and they're getting another
• Edmonton police replace plane operating 'covertly' for three decades
• Edmonton police to replace 'confidential' plane for $4.3 million
• Edmonton police insist airplane is not secret — it's just not publicized

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

This week we highlighted Edmonton Public Schools, which is hosting virtual open houses for the 2022-23 school year. We also talked about the Boys and Girls Clubs and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area, also known as BGCBigs. There's currently a need for mentors in many BGCBigs programs as well as virtual tutors who can support young people as they transition back to school."

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:

Snow complaints

• Edmonton 311 snow on walk complaints soaring, already exceed last winter's total

FC Edmonton

• Former Oilers executive Jeff Harrop appointed president of FC Edmonton

Disillusioned Albertans

• Majority of Albertans disillusioned with federal government

Municipal vaccine passport

• News Release: Alberta takes steps to safely return to normal
• City of Edmonton explores its own COVID-19 proof of vaccination program
• Politicians, experts speak out against premier's suggested restriction on municipal COVID rules

Expenditure budget

• City council meeting on Feb. 9

Police commission

• Erin Rutherford's post
• Edmonton Police Commission Bylaw C14040
• City council meeting

Police property damage

• Here's what happens when Edmonton police cause property damage

Less talking

• Council Services Committee on Feb. 8

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. Episode 113 looks at how the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is working to conserve and protect Alberta's natural environment. 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:

Bloom

• AI dreams, airport innovations, and a departing founder catch Bloom's attention

HEPA filters

• Edmonton Public Schools plans to put HEPA filters in all classrooms

PureFibre X

• TELUS brings Canada's fastest Internet speeds to Edmonton

Park drinking

• Alcohol in city parks needs more study, Edmonton councillors say
• Health advocates call on Edmonton council to cut off alcohol in parks pilot program

Facial recognition

• Edmonton police using facial recognition software to search 'mugshot database'
• EPS is using facial recognition technology to identify suspects in criminal cases
• News Release: EPS implements NEC facial recognition solution to further investigations
• Facial Recognition (edmontonpolice.ca)
• Interim Report: Facial Recognition Technology in Canada
• Arizona DOT Operating Budget Requests
• Edmonton police unveil details on use of facial recognition technology
• Calgary police says it won't use social media in its AI technology
• OPS tested facial recognition software, but doesn't use it

Sohi / Kenney

• 'Too soon and too fast:' Mayor Sohi urging province to keep COVID-19 measures in place
• Edmonton has 'bare minimum needs' from province's budget: Sohi

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

This week we highlighted Edmonton Public Schools, which is hosting virtual open houses for the 2022-23 school year. We also talked about the Boys and Girls Clubs and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area, also known as BGCBigs. There's currently a need for mentors in many BGCBigs programs as well as virtual tutors who can support young people as they transition back to school.

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:

Bloom

• Bloom opens with a look at what's popping in innovation

Excessive noise

• Edmonton councillor calling for clampdown on excessive vehicle noise

Traffic court

• Alberta government pausing plan to change how people can fight traffic tickets

Children's hospital

• Stollery Children's Hospital beds in Edmonton to be used for adult emergency overflow

Station Lands

• City of Edmonton to build $26M pedway as part of private multi-tower project
• Mack's tweet with the vote
• Mack's tweet on public engagement
• Mack's tweet on affordable housing
• Council agenda item

Orange Hub

• Edmonton city council agrees to build $14M parking lot at Orange Hub
• City aims for Edmontonians to 'live more locally' with 15-minute districts
• Troy's RIP City Plan tweet
• Council agenda item

Police audit

• Council privately quashes recommended audit of Edmonton policing and use of city funding

Innovation hub

• Innovate Edmonton to move into new home on Jasper Avenue this fall

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

This week we highlighted Edmonton Public Schools, which is hosting virtual open houses for the 2022-23 school year. We also talked about the Boys and Girls Clubs and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area, also known as BGCBigs. There's currently a need for mentors in many BGCBigs programs as well as virtual tutors who can support young people as they transition back to school.

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:

Driver shortages

• 'They're not filling all those bus seats:' Edmonton transit union says some bus trips being missed due to increase in driver absences amid rising COVID-19 spread
• PSA - ETS adjusts service in response to workforce shortages

Safe crossings

• PSA - 48 new safe crossings confirmed for 2022

Assessment notices

• News release: Edmontonians encouraged to watch their mailboxes for 2022 property assessment notices

Stevenson's memo

• Station Lands briefing memo
• Notice of motion at Executive Committee
• Qualico looking for $37M in CRL funding to move Station Lands forward

Police damage

• City of Edmonton won't compensate restaurant owners after police damaged building
• 'We can't close': Edmonton businesses fight to stay afloat during peak of fifth wave
• Edmonton restaurant frustrated with city policies after business damaged during police arrest: 'It's the principle'
• Avnish Nanda on Twitter

Madu and McFee

• Alberta justice minister fined for distracted driving, called police chief about ticket
• Jason Kenney's tweet thread
• Suspended Alberta justice minister says he called police chief to check he wasn't being profiled
• 'A slap in the face': Edmonton police leader upset with Madu; Kenney not answering questions

Bus network redesign

• Interim report on BNR
• On-demand transit seems to be catching on
• City of Edmonton provides 1st interim report reviewing bus network redesign - Edmonton
• Lengthy walking distance complaints roll in on Edmonton's new bus routes, no changes recommended in first update to council

Snow clearing

• Tim Cartmell: Snow Clearing: Is it Time to Start from Scratch?
• PSA - City of Edmonton trials windrow pick up in Griesbach

Councillor introductions

• Tim Cartmell, pihêsiwin
• Jennifer Rice, Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi

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

This week we 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." We also talked about Edmonton Public Schools, which is hosting virtual open houses for the 2022-23 school year.

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!

Guest hosts

• Councillor Andrew Knack - @AndrewKnack
• Councillor Keren Tang - @kerentangyeg

War on cars

• City of Edmonton apologizes for concrete bike lane barriers in Garneau
• Freezing rain in Edmonton area leads to treacherous highway conditions, multiple collisions

Power outage

• Power Outage Map
• Power restored for 45K EPCOR south Edmonton customers

Animal care

• Local rescues strained as Edmonton Animal Care & Control pauses intake of healthy animals

Budget

• Edmonton Police Service budget increase for 2022 cut to $1M, capital budget finalized
• Budget and Finances at the City of Edmonton

Carbon budget

• Countdown to 2050: Explaining Edmonton's carbon budget

Snow and ice

• Edmonton crews ready to catch up on snow clearing after 3-week deep freeze
• 'A big inconvenience': Residents in southeast Edmonton neighbourhood frustrated with windrows left behind
• Winter Roads at the City of Edmonton

Transportation

• Lengthy walking distance complaints roll in on Edmonton's new bus routes, no changes recommended in first update to council
• PSA: ETS adjusts service in response to workforce shortages
• Valley Line Southeast LRT
• Arc Smart Fare

Police funding

• Edmonton Police Service Funding Formula
• Police funding a contentious issue as council prepares to make decisions on 2022 budget

Councillor Introduction

• Karen Principe, tastawiyiniwak

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

This week we highlighted the Alberta Association of Optometrists which represents almost 800 Doctors of Optometry in over eighty communities across the province. Remember, Alberta Health coverage is available towards your urgent eyecare appointment. We also talked about BGCBigs Edmonton. There's a need for mentors to support more than 600 young people waiting for a mentor in their lives.

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!