Speaking Municipally

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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.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Cannabis

• Rental giant Boardwalk bans all cannabis smoking and growing from its properties

Calcium Chloride

• Edmonton to continue spraying calcium chloride on roads for another winter

Starlight Casino

• Starlight Casino at West Edmonton Mall ready to roll the dice after $57-million expansion

Terwillegar Drive

• Terwillegar Drive Concept Planning Study
• Council Agenda Item: Terwillegar Drive Improvements
• City report brings forward new option to ease congestion on Terwillegar Drive
• City officials float idea for $300-million expressway on Terwillegar Drive
• February 2018: Slowing down to speed up: Councillor calls for reset on Terwillegar Drive talks

In this episode we mentioned fellow Alberta Podcast Network member The Broadcast, hosted by Trisha Estabrooks and Alex Zabjek. Unfortunately, they have decided to go on hiatus but we encourage you to check out the archives. We also talked about the latest episode of The Well Endowed Podcast called Into the Woods and noted they are about to celebrate their 2 year anniversary - congrats! The Well Endowed Podcast is running a listener survey that you can fill out here.

Two other quick plugs: APN founder and Taproot co-founder Karen Unland is speaking at The Local Good's next Green Drinks event on October 3. And the latest episode of Let's Find Out is another collaboration with Taproot. This time, Chris Chang-Yen Phillips explores the Cree calendar.

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 September 28, 2018 edition.

We're proud to be a member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB! There are some incredible podcasters in Alberta and we're happy to be listed alongside them.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Pogo CarShare

• Pogo Carshare joins Communauto Group

Vehicle Noise Monitoring

• City turns off digital displays of decibel levels after noise complaints spike

Best of Edmonton

• Vue Weekly's Best of Edmonton 2018

The View

• Grandin-area tower The View goes to next step after public hearing
• Edmonton city council OKs 23-storey tower for small lot in Oliver

Smoking Ban

• Take two: Council votes a second time for 10-metre ban on smoking cannabis and tobacco
• St. Albert bans consuming cannabis in public

Exhibition Lands

• City unveils four concepts for future redevelopment of Exhibition Lands
• Edmonton Exhibition Lands
• Survey on the four concepts - open until September 30

Sanctuary City

• Edmonton city council approves 'sanctuary city' status to aid undocumented immigrants
• Coun. Sarah Hamilton calls out colleague for 'grand-standing' on sanctuary cities
• Calgary: City council a lonely place for Jeromy Farkas

Metro Line LRT

• Thales plans to have Metro Line fully operational by December

In this episode we mentioned fellow Alberta Podcast Network member Let's Find Out, hosted by former historian laureate Chris Chang-Yen Phillips. His most recent episode, The High Rise Inquisition, was commissioned by Taproot. We also talked about the OtherWise, a new podcast launching soon "dedicated to empowering diverse communities living on Treaty 6 territory by sharing stories of our lived experiences." They are holding a launch party on September 28.

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 September 21, 2018 edition.

We're proud to be a member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB! There are some incredible podcasters in Alberta and we're happy to be listed alongside them.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Hyatt hotel

• Downtown Edmonton hotel loses Hyatt branding

Funicular vandalism

• Vandalism leads to $47K repair for Edmonton's funicular

Operation 24 Hours

• Over 3,300 traffic violations issued during “Big Ticket Event”
• Police hand out 3,331 traffic tickets in 24 hours, warn drivers to slow down in playground zones

Mayor Iveson's 5-point budget plan

• A 5-Point Plan For Budget 2018
• UDI's response on Twitter
• IDEA's response on Twitter
• Troy's Twitter thread on the numbers
• Program & Service Review Q1 2018 Update
• Getting real: Councillor pushes for up to $64 million in cuts to test the waters
• Horse Hill ASP: More proof that Edmonton is addicted to sprawl

Access Without Fear

• Committee backs new sanctuary city policy for undocumented residents in Edmonton
• Access to Municipal Services Without Fear Policy

FISE

• FISE makes case for Edmonton extension but budget is tight

Smart Transportation Action Plan

• Quicker than expected: Edmonton prepares for transportation revolution with new pilot projects
• Coming soon: Buckle up for Edmonton's first driverless shuttles

Fines for cyclists on Groat Road Bridge

• Warnings over: Cyclists to get $100 fines for riding on Groat Road Bridge sidewalk

In this episode we mentioned fellow Alberta Podcast Network member The Daveberta Podcast, in which Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman discuss the latest news in Alberta politics. We also talked about the latest episode of The Well Endowed Podcast called Investing in People. They're running a listener survey that you can fill out 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's the September 14, 2018 edition.

We're proud to announce that Speaking Municipally is now a member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB! There are some incredible podcasters in Alberta and we're happy to be listed alongside them.

Here are the relevant links if you'd like to go deeper on this week's episode:

Yard Waste

• Plan to remove grass clippings from weekly garbage pickup inches ahead
• Mayor Iveson — “I leave my clippings on the lawn"

109 Street Development

• Former Knox-Metropolitan United Church demolished to make way for condos

Office Vacancy Rate

• 'It's really fun to see': BioWare, DeepMind part of tech surge in downtown Edmonton's office market

Budget Updates & Debt

• An Edmonton City Council clash is coming on debt as other money dries up
• 'A lot of money': Industry eyes late fines as grand opening booked for Walterdale Bridge

Culture, Integrity, and Ethics

• Culture of accountability at city hall finally taking hold: city auditor
• Former MP Brent Rathgeber named Edmonton's first ethics adviser

Lower Speed Limits

• Councillors to debate lowering residential speed limit to 30 km/h
• 30 km/h could be new default speed limit in Calgary
• Vision Zero Edmonton on Twitter: "We have to do better. There was one speeder who went 100 km in a 30 km zone today."

In this episode we mentioned fellow Alberta Podcast Network member That's a Thing?!, "a sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20." We also talked about the ATB X Accelerator, "a three-month accelerator program built and operated by ATB, exclusively for early-stage entrepreneurs across a wide range of industries."

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 September 7, 2018 edition.

Playground Delays

• City promises to cut red tape for neighbourhood playgrounds, splash parks

Fringe Festival

• Fringe Festival sets a record: 133,276 tickets sold
• Fringe Roundup Review: 2018 Edition

Valley Line LRT West Left Turn

• Removing left-turn lane on 104 Avenue at 109 Street endorsed by council committee

Urban Beach

• Accidental Beach won't become permanent urban attraction, councillors decide
• Louise McKinney Riverfront Park Urban Beach
• Council Report on urban beaches

planWhyte

• Edmonton's new plan for Whyte Avenue aims to balance history with progress
• Council votes down bid by Old Strathcona developer
• Council Report on planWhyte

Hangar 11

• Hangar 11 to live another day: Committee votes to keep building, study reuse
• Council Report on Hangar 11

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 August 31, 2018 edition.

Pesticide-related offences

• City of Edmonton faces environmental charges: "The Alberta government has laid seven charges against the City of Edmonton for pesticide-related offences."

P3 for Valley Line LRT West?

• Mayor says west leg of LRT will not be built as a public-private partnership
• 'I shouldn't have said that': Edmonton mayor reveals private details about west LRT line

Edmonton not so livable

• New rankings shun Edmonton, praise Calgary, peeve capital city residents

Committee vs. Council

• City Clerk FAQ

Cannabis Retail Sales

• 1st of 2 applications to rezone land for marijuana sales heading to Edmonton council

Future of Waste Management

• City reports focus on future of waste services
• Thick skin needed to overhaul Edmonton's failing garbage system, expert says
• Reduction and/or Elimination Mechanisms of Single Use Plastics
  • "Beyond single-use plastic bags, Vancouver, in a bid to become zero-waste by 2040, became the first major Canadian city to ban plastic straws (May 2018). The city council motion also bans the distribution of foam cups and takeout containers and will come into effect on June 1, 2019."

Secondary Suites

• City expands opportunities to take advantage of the benefits of secondary suites
• Council OKs broad new rules for rentals in duplexes, small lots and row-houses

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 August 24, 2018 edition.