Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Parking Ban

• Edmonton parking ban lifted Thursday afternoon

Stantec Tower Ads

• Stantec pitches digital signs to light up western Canada’s tallest tower

Thales Deadline

• Edmonton will spend months testing Metro LRT Line signal system; Thales says it’s ready

Budget

• Budget bits: Here are some interesting items city council is mulling
• Edmonton mayor reins in requests for budget add-ons

Funding Deal

• New era for provincial, cities partnership
• The Right Deal At The Right Time

Police Budget

• Councillors decide Edmonton police will get budget boost but not as much as requested
• Edmonton police get $75M boost over four years
• New Edmonton police helicopter saved from budget chopping block
• 'The sky has not fallen': City council queries staff on need for cannabis funding, mulls other saving strategies
• From 2014 on helicopters: Why isn’t City Council pushing back on the Edmonton Police Service?

Metro Line LRT

• Elise Stolte: Thales is not the bogeyman. Metro Line LRT doomed from the start

Transit Stations

• Elise Stolte: Edmonton's transit stations are dead, empty, soulless places. An extra security guard won't change that.

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we talked about the ATB Entrepreneur Centre, which is a great resource if you're starting a business. The Edmonton location is at 4234 Calgary Trail and they also have locations in Calgary, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge. We also talked about OtherWise, a variety podcast dedicated to empowering diverse communities living on Treaty 6 territory by sharing stories of our lived experiences. Episode 3 is now available. Finally, we plugged our fellow APN members PopCycle, a podcast hosted by Christian Zyp and Eric Newby that digs explores pop culture history.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Kirsten Goa

• @kirstengoa on Twitter
• Kirsten Goa on LinkedIn

Funicular

• Funicular closed for three weeks to fix cold weather-related issues

Photo Radar

• Canada Post strike delaying Edmonton photo radar violations

U of A Parking Tickets

• From $10 to $100: Parking tickets at University of Alberta set to skyrocket

Childfriendly Cities

• Child Friendly Edmonton
• Child Friendly Edmonton Symposium Panel Discussion

Budget Hearing

• Thrive YEG
• Eastglen residents rally to save pool
• Strathcona residents lobby Edmonton council for new pool

Downtown Parking Revenue

• Parking revenue for downtown Edmonton hasn’t panned out
• Mack's tweet thread
• Jennifer Keesmaat's tweet

Safe Injection Sites

• Tristin Hopper's tweet
• Online tirade over needles in Edmonton yard prompts debate on supervised injection sites

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we talked about Park Power, a provider of electricity and natural gas in Alberta that offers low rates, awesome service, and profit-sharing with local charities. We also highlighted We Are Alberta, a podcast hosted by ATB econo​mist Nick Ford who explores Alberta’s geography, its businesses, organizations, and its diverse and fascinating people—all viewed through an economic lens.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Duchess Bake Shop

• Duchess Bake Shop creates replica Hogwarts Castle to support Bissell Centre

Oilers fire McLellan

• Oilers fire McLellan, hire Hitchcock as new head coach

FIFA World Cup 2026

• Edmonton councillors raise concerns over hosting FIFA 2026 after Calgary rejects Olympic bid

Grey Cup Festival

• Edmonton business says traffic closures mean Grey Cup Festival isn’t a touchdown for all

Utility Rates

• Edmonton will see utility rate hike; council may consider full privatization of garbage collection

Cannabis Charges

• Courtney Theriault's tweet
• No spike in pot-impaired driving after legalization: police

Edmonton MP sues The Gateway

• Edmonton MP sues The Gateway student newspaper for defamation

Mike Nickel loses UCP nomination bid

• Edmonton city Coun. Mike Nickel loses UCP nomination bid
• Phil Urich's tweet
• Progress Alberta's tweet

Public Engagement

• Elise Stolte: 'Miserably fails the test,' Eastglen pool fiasco highlights Edmonton blind spot on public consultation
• City of Edmonton Public Engagement
• Edmonton's IAP2 International Award

Frost, Frost, Sweetie

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we mentioned Let's Do Coffee, the new podcast from NAIT's Mawji Centre. Episode 3 features a conversation with interior designer Candace Wolfe. We also plugged I Don't Get It, a podcast about the performing arts in Edmonton. Their most recent episode touched on the demise of Vue Weekly, which they called "the city's last bastion of dedicated print arts media."

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Calgary 2026

• Plebiscite results

Metro Line LRT

• ‘A non-event’: Thales says things rolled smoothly during LRT signal testing

Signs

• Residents and drivers question massive amount of traffic signs on south Edmonton street

Public Hearing & Speaking at Council

• Rec centres, tax burden dominate Edmonton city budget hearing
• The City of Edmonton has an opportunity to support new approaches to local journalism

All is Bright

• All is Bright on 124
• Andrew Knack's tweet
• Robert Summers' tweet

Community Rec Facilities

• City could save $1.4M closing trio of underused pools, community 'blindsided'
• Program & Service Review Project Plan

Scramble Intersections

• Edmonton rolling out three more scramble crosswalks in bid to reduce pedestrian deaths

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we talked Back to School Again, a podcast hosted by Katrina Ingram that features people who made the decision in mid-life to return to school. We also highlighted ATB Financial's alphaBeta, which chronicles their efforts to improve banking through technology and transforming using robotics, AI, blockchain, and more.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free.

Reddit

• Edmonton Subreddit

Ditching Transit

• Final round of signal testing to shut down all LRT service on Saturday
• Elise Stolte: 'Can't keep getting angry.' Riders desert Edmonton Transit, go back to driving

2019-2022 Operating Budget

• Proposed 2019-2022 Operating Budget
• Edmonton's 2019 budget calls for 3.3 per cent property tax hike
• 750 new job positions at city in question, Edmonton councillor says

Program & Service Review

• Q4 Update

Auditor's Report on Consulting

• City Auditor Report on Consultant Services
• City of Edmonton spent more than $600M on consultants over 5 years

Cartmell & the Valley Line West

• Tim Cartmell: Funding the West LRT is Not a Prudent Decision

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we mentioned the Edmonton Community Foundation's production, The Well Endowed Podcast. We also highlighted the 2 and Out CFL Podcast which is recording a live show during Grey Cup Week in Edmonton. Get your tickets here!

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

#yegkidcount

• #yegkidcount on Twitter

2019-2022 Operating Budget

• Proposed 2019-2022 Operating Budget

2026 Calgary Olympic Bid

• The Sprawl: The Plebiscite Edition

LRT Funding

• Alberta funds Edmonton Valley Line West
• Alberta commits $1.04 billion to Edmonton's west Valley Line LRT expansion

Affordable Housing

• Edmonton budget talks will include $67M request for subsidized housing
• Elise Stolte: These tiny suites could be Edmonton's answer to affordable housing

Vision Zero & Crosswalks

• Councillors seek to step up funding for crosswalk improvements

Chief Knecht Retires

• Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht retires: 42 years of service, seven at the helm
• Outgoing police chief reflects on time with Edmonton Police Service
• December 2014: Why isn’t City Council pushing back on the Edmonton Police Service?

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we talked about the OtherWise podcast and their second episode on "the significance of land acknowledgement, what it means to be a treaty person as a newcomer immigrant, and the relationship between newcomers and Indigenous communities." We also highlighted ATB's commitment to hockey in Alberta. Learn more at atb.com/hockey.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free. Here's the November 2, 2018 edition.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Cannabis

• Alberta’s 5 Nova Cannabis stores raked in $1.3M in first 5 days of legalization

Keillor Point

• This is the end for Edmonton's End of the World

LRT Damage

• LRT to return to full service Thursday after 40 trains sidelined by mechanical issue
• Damage control in full force as city continues to fix damaged LRT cars

Innovation Hub Update

• Edmonton councillors call for accountability of city's economic agency
• Mack's Twitter thread from Council on October 23

Startup in Residence

• Beta City YEG
• Municipal challenges set for international startups

Capital Budget

• Big budgeting: Edmonton rolls out proposed four-year, $4.3-billion capital budget
• Nearly 100 projects potentially left out of Edmonton's capital budget
• Councillors favour taking on debt to fund high-priority projects during first capital budget discussion
• September 2013: Edmonton does not have a debt problem

Provincial Funding

• The Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI)
• 'Just frustrated': Iveson wants to meet with Notley to untangle municipal funding issue

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we talked about Let's Do Coffee, a new podcast from the Mawji Centre for New Venture and Student Entrepreneurship at NAIT. Episode 2 features an interview with VR entrepreneur Kyle Gagnon. We also highlighted ATB's Branch for Arts & Culture, located inside the CKUA building on Jasper Avenue. It's a bank, music venue, and creative space all in one.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free. Here's the October 26, 2018 edition.

EEDC leased it, but will they come?
An older downtown tower could be reborn as a new Innovation Hub to revitalize Edmonton’s tech startup community — if it can get tenants

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

• Mayor Don Iveson's 2018 State of the City Address
• Innovate Edmonton Hub
• October 15, 2018 City Council Executive Committee Agenda
• Mack's tweet thread from Executive Committee on Monday, October 15

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we were happy to talk about the Edmonton Community Foundation, which "acts as a bridge between donors and charities to create a strong, vibrant community for generations to come." Be sure to check out The Well Endowed Podcast, produced by ECF. We also plugged APN's sponsorship opportunities. Consider engaging APN to help your organization reach local customers in a new and intimate way.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free.

Calcium Chloride

• Edmonton council to decide whether to continue controversial road de-icing program

Thales

• New Metro Line LRT signalling system ready to go today: Thales Canada

David Staples

• David Staples: One-two punch hammers city council's plan to increase taxes

Free Transit

• 'Not ... an essential service': Free transit debate exposes divisions on council
• Edmonton councillor’s transit inquiry gets rough ride from city council
• Edmonton city council kicks free transit idea to curb
• Don Iveson Tweet

Regional Transit

• 13 signatures mark a major milestone for regional transit in Edmonton area
• Edmonton Global officially launches to attract investment to the Edmonton Metro Region

New Bus Routes

• New bus routes being finalized with public feedback

Falcon Towers

• Council approves a near doubling of density for two downtown towers
• Too many towers? Council grapples with looming question of how much is too much
• Don’t get too excited about supertall building proposals in Edmonton

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we spoke about OtherWise, a variety podcast dedicated to empowering diverse communities living on Treaty 6 territory by sharing stories of their lived experiences. We also highlighted Perch, a podcast by ATB that connects with the experts, influencers and big thinkers who are shaping our province. Give both a listen wherever you get your podcasts!

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free. Here's the October 13, 2018 edition.

As a reminder, Taproot Edmonton is hosting a panel during Edmonton Startup Week focused on the future of local tech coverage. We hope to see you there!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Calgary Snow

• 'Help is on the way!' Edmonton sending snow plows to Calgary
• Don Iveson tweet

Snow Tires

• City ponders benefits of mandating winter tires during winter months

Marijuana on October 17

• This bud's for northern Alberta: On Oct. 17, most cannabis retailers will be in the Edmonton region

Terwillegar Expressway

• Edmonton city councillors endorse quicker, simpler fix for Terwillegar Drive

Liquor Stores

• Downtown core could see more liquor stores if city council gets its way

Calcium Chloride

• City council leery about expanding Edmonton's road salt and calcium chloride pilot

Thrive Edmonton

• Thrive Edmonton

Paula Simons

• Journal columnist Paula Simons one of three named to Canada's Senate
• Paula Simons: 'What's going on?' Edmonton teen in shock after Governor-General's nomination for his Syrian refugee memoir

Free Transit

• 'If the numbers add up': City councillor asks Edmonton to examine free transit
• Editorial: No free transit rides
• Transit Ridership/Capita

In this episode we mentioned LitFest Alberta, Canada's original nonfiction festival, running October 11 to 21 in Edmonton. Passes are $129 but you can use promo code APNROCKS to get $5 off because LitFest is a sponsor of the Alberta Podcast Network! Speaking of APN, we decided to plug the Events page this episode - check it out for an up-to-date listing of podcast-related events taking place across Alberta.

Speaking of events, Taproot Edmonton is hosting a panel during Edmonton Startup Week focused on the future of local tech coverage. We hope to see you there!

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a home for curiosity-driven stories about our city, cultivated by the community. In addition to this podcast, Taproot publishes the Council Roundup every week. Sign up to get it delivered by email for free. Here's the October 5, 2018 edition.