Speaking Municipally

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Financial Insolvency

• 46% of Canadians $200 or less away from financial insolvency: poll

City Hall Tent

• City hall wading pool renovation on track for 2019 opening

Truck Convoy

• Smaller yellow-vest convoy tours Edmonton ring road with pro-pipeline message

Mayfair with Michael Janz

• Michael Janz
• Friends of our Park
• City lease talks with ritzy Mayfair Golf Course should be transparent: River valley advocacy group
• Kijiji: UNBELIEVABLE! LEASE 154 Acres of Prime River Valley for CHEAP

LRT Concept Plans

• Don Iveson's tweet
• Council Roundup: January 19, 2019
• Paige Parsons' tweet

Calcium Chloride

• City manager says information not intentionally withheld as brine debate returns to council
• Edmonton's controversial calcium chloride program to continue, council decides

Openness to new ideas

• Elise Stolte: Stalled out gondola project is a sad critique of Edmonton's openness to new ideas

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 fellow APN member The UnDad Podcast, a podcast that "explores being a parent in this bizarro modernity." Check out all the great APN member podcasts on the recently spruced up website!

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.

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Oilers Skills

• JONES: Connor McDavid too sick to display skills with Edmonton Oilers

LRT Service

• Planned system-wide LRT closure Sunday, January 27

Hyatt Hotel

• Hyatt brand returns to Edmonton's downtown with new hotel

Calcium Chloride

• Edmonton councillors to debate snow-removal program after Global News investigation
• Newly uncovered City of Edmonton memo raises questions about impacts of calcium chloride

Bike Share

• Council Roundup: January 11, 2019

Old Strathcona Towers

• 3 tall towers proposed for Edmonton's historic Old Strathcona

Suicide Barriers

• Suicide barriers not curbing crisis calls to High Level Bridge, say Edmonton police

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we talked about the Edmonton Community Foundation which produces The Well Endowed Podcast. Episode 36features Jon Hall and Twyla Campbell chatting about their new book, Maps, Markets, and Matzo Ball Soup: The inspiring life of Chef Gail Hall. We also highlighted BoostR from ATB Financial, which is a way to crowdfund and support local businesses.

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.

Coming up on Feb. 9, we're pleased to present How Nature Shapes Us, a collaboration with fellow APN member Let's Find Out.

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Our Guests

• Let's Find Out by Chris Chang-Yen Phillips
• Edmonton's transit stations are dead, empty, soulless places. An extra security guard won't change that by Elise Stolte
• Photo: Chris, Mack, Elise

Local Links

• Kingsway - there's no Avenue!
• Coat of arms of Edmonton
• Bylaw 2202: Parkland Bylaw
• Keillor Point Viewing Area
• Rutherford the Time-Travelling Moose

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we 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. You can start an endowment fund yourself or with a group — once it reaches $10,000, it can start distributing funds. We also highlighted Episode 21 of Don't Call Me A Guru, a podcast about social media strategy hosted by Linda Hoang.

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.

Happy Holidays!

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Ice District Liquor

• Minimum distance booze rule dropped in downtown Edmonton at request of Katz Group

Snoop Dogg

• Music Roundup: December 13, 2018
• Snoop Dogg & Friends: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Warren G, Kurupt, Luniz

Strathcona County Sovereignty

• UCP candidate Jordan Walker's tweet

Playground Zones

• Playground zone rollbacks to begin over winter school break

Budget

• Edmonton city council approves 2.6-per-cent property tax hike
• 'A city for the next generation': City council signs off on tax hike, billions in spending
• Council Roundup: December 16, 2018

Mayor Iveson 2018 Recap

• Mack's tweet thread

Speaking Municipally is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. This week we talked about Let's Do Coffee, a podcast by the Mawji Centre at NAIT that features interviews with student entrepreneurs and NAIT alumnus. Episode 4 is now available featuring military veteran and new dad Cole Rosentreter. We also mentioned The Well Endowed Podcast by the Edmonton Community Foundation. Episode 35 features guest Nicole Smith to talk about the Sage Seniors Association, and some of the challenges that senior women in Edmonton are facing.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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#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.