Here are my latest Edmonton notes!

Council approves first property tax freeze since 1997

Edmonton’s city council has finished its work for the year, approving a 0% tax increase for 2021, the first property tax freeze since 1997. I followed the budget discussion fairly closely and wrote about their decisions twice for Taproot:

• Council on track for no tax increase for 2021
• Council approves first property tax freeze since 1997

We also touched on the budget in the latest episode of Speaking Municipally.

At the beginning of the week, council gave final approval to the City Plan. It’s an important document, and its adoption caps off a successful run at the City of Edmonton for Kalen Anderson.

But the budget is where council’s true priorities are revealed. It’s one thing to put an initiative in the plan and quite another to fund it. The mayor took pains to connect the passing of the budget adjustments to City Plan. While I agree the budget council passed managed to fund a number of important projects given the ongoing pandemic, there’s a lot more to do to actually bring City Plan to life.

Speaking of the mayor, you should check out Emily Rendell-Watson’s year-end interview with him. I was glad to see him highlight his work on the regional file.

Other recent headlines

• There has been encouraging vaccine news lately but it’s hard to get excited given the numbers we’re seeing in Alberta. There have been 719 deaths in the province as of Dec. 13, with 20,562 active cases, nearly 10,000 of which are in the Edmonton zone.
• Congratulations to Puneeta McBryan on being named the new executive director of the Downtown Business Association!
• Canada’s most expensive Skip the Dishes order for 2020 was made by an Edmonton customer whose $900.27 bill included three bottles of Dom Perignon. Who knew!
• I really love local advertising agency AM/FM’s take on the fireplace channel for 2020: an hour-long video of a dumpster fire. Brilliant!

For more recent headlines, check out the latest from Taproot Edmonton.

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Here are my latest Edmonton notes!

Mayor Don Iveson won’t seek re-election

On Monday, Mayor Don Iveson announced that he would not seek re-election in next year’s municipal election. In the post, he talked once again about cities being perpetually unfinished.

"This complex, ever-evolving work demands thoughtful, compassionate and constructive civic leadership — which is why next fall’s election will be pivotal and why I feel it’s important to give people who may be considering a run, time and notice to make their plans," Iveson wrote.

While I am not entirely surprised by Iveson’s decision, I will be sad to see him go. I was proud to support Don back in 2013 when he first ran for mayor. I think he has done incredible work on behalf of Edmontonians, and I think our city is that much better for having had him in the mayor’s chair for two terms.

Many people think of transit when they think of Iveson, for better or worse. I think when we look back though, we’ll actually remember him more for his work on the regional file, which began immediately after he took office. We call it the Edmonton region today, rather than the bland and nondescript "capital region," thanks in large part to his leadership.

Thank you Don, and best wishes in whatever you choose to tackle next!

Other recent headlines

• Would a province-wide mask mandate really have been that hard to announce? The new restrictions announced by the Government of Alberta earlier this week are better than the previous inaction, but don’t go nearly far enough, in my opinion. The City of Edmonton announced some changes in response, but did not recommend declaring a state of local emergency.
• I was sad to hear about an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at the Edmonton Convention Centre which has been operating as a homeless shelter since the end of October.
• One of the big stories circulating this weekend is that the provincial government spent $4 million on ads with the NHL earlier this year. So incredibly disappointing, though not at all surprising. I suspect there’s much more to come on this.
• Congratulations to Ryan Jespersen on what appears to be a successful first week back "on the air" with the new show called Real Talk.

For more recent headlines, check out the latest from Taproot Edmonton.

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Here are my latest Edmonton notes!

City Hall School goes virtual

As a big fan of Linda Hut and City Hall School I was glad to see that it has continued this year, virtually. I know it’s not the same as being in the same room together, but it’s wonderful that so many students will still get the chance to learn more about their city.

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with two classes recently about local media, both times over Google Meet. The first time each student had their own device so there were a couple dozen videos and a very lively chat. The second time there was just one device for the room, which was a little closer to being in the room and seeing everyone in front of you. Both groups of students had great questions and were very engaged.

Thank you Mrs. Hut for the invitation and opportunity to participate!

Other recent headlines

• With so many new cases of COVID-19 in Alberta, and especially here in Edmonton, I was pretty hesitant about trick or treating this year. But we decided to go for a bit, fully masked up and with hand sanitizer at the ready. Everyone we encountered seemed to be taking it very seriously, and I loved seeing the creative approaches to handing out candy. There were self-serve bowls and boxes, plenty of chutes down railings, and even a pulley and bucket.
• I was also happy to see that runny nose was removed as a core COVID-19 symptom for children in Alberta, mirroring other provinces. “Runny nose is a very, very common symptom, as is a sore throat, and it’s not very specific for COVID,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw.
• I’m glad the City met its deadline and opened the Edmonton Convention Centre as a temporary shelter on Friday. The organizers of Camp Pekiwewin have said they’ll leave the encampment by Nov. 6. There have been some really encouraging developments in the fight against homelessness in our city recently. We discussed that on the latest episode of Speaking Municipally.
• There were so many great tributes to Joey Moss this week, who died at the age of 57. His story is well known here, but it’s clear his impact was felt far beyond Edmonton. More than 12,000 people have signed a petition to rename the Downtown Community Arena the Joey Moss Community Arena.
• Don’t miss the second episode of Taproot Edmonton Presents: Igniting Innovation which looks at the larger tech innovation landscape in Edmonton.

For more recent headlines, check out the latest from Taproot Edmonton.

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Here are my latest Edmonton notes!

Taproot Edmonton Presents: Igniting Innovation

Our new podcast, Taproot Edmonton Presents, launched this week with Igniting Innovation, a six-part series exploring how startups and investors are coming together in Edmonton’s tech innovation sector. Here’s the trailer.

The first episode features Zack Storms, founder and chief organizer of Startup TNT, and his wife, Keren Tang, an angel investor with the Startup TNT Investment Summit. They share stories about building and fostering relationships with entrepreneurs and investors in Edmonton’s tech innovation sector, plus discuss diversity and the challenges the community is facing.

We’re releasing new episode every week through to the Investment Summit on Nov. 19. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Lined up for Little Brick

Sharon and I went to Little Brick this afternoon for coffee and a cookie and to check out their winterized patio. We found a long line but decided to wait. It took 45 minutes from arrival to having our coffee in hand.

While Little Brick is a great example of a winter patio, with shelter from the wind, heaters, and fireplaces, few are going to wait that long when it’s colder. A lineup isn’t something I had considered when talking about winter patios on Speaking Municipally recently.

It’s a great sign that so many people are wanting to support local businesses though, and I hope that demand continues (and can be met) throughout the winter.

Other recent headlines

• The City of Edmonton’s 2020 Employee Experience Survey found that employees are feeling disconnected due to the pandemic and "uneasy as a result of discussions around temporary layoffs service level changes and workforce reductions." It was completed by nearly 5,600 employees, or about a third of the City’s workforce.
• CBC reports that the rise in online shopping during the pandemic has led to increased demand for warehouses in Edmonton. That’s interesting, and is perhaps further proof that the pandemic is simply accelerating trends that were already underway.
• Parity Cup will hold monthly challenges starting Nov. 1 to encourage more women to run for office in Edmonton and Calgary in next year’s municipal election. Great idea!
• More than 470 local businesses have been assisted by the Economic Recovery Grant Program, according to the City of Edmonton. Most have used the funds for personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies.

For more recent headlines, check out the latest from Taproot Edmonton.

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Here are my latest Edmonton notes!

One year until the municipal election

Edmonton’s next municipal election is exactly one year away: Oct. 18, 2021. And while it does feel early to be talking about the horse race, that gates have opened nonetheless. A number of candidates have announced their intention to run for mayor.

Among them is Councillor Andrew Knack. "Yes, considering it but recognizing there might be some really excellent people that I think would be even better mayors who are considering it right now," he told CTV News.

I think Councillor Knack is a wonderful councillor and I can absolutely see how he’d make a great mayor someday. Perhaps that is why Councillor Mike Nickel continues to attack him online. They couldn’t be more opposite.

I was very happy to see so many Edmontonians from across the city chime in on Twitter to defend Councillor Knack this weekend. And I have to imagine that most of council is wishing they could redo the sanction hearing.

Other recent headlines

• I’m glad to see the temporary patio program has been extended until March 31, 2021. Who knows whether Edmontonians will be willing to eat outside in the cold, but at least now restaurants that want to find out can try. Well, except in situations when the City denies fantastic ideas like Tiramisu Bistro’s proposed igloos. Troy and I talked about this on the podcast and I ranted a bit about winter patios. Heaters are helpful, but protection from the wind is what is what we really need!
• The City has begun installing new bus stop signs in anticipation of the new bus network that will launch in April. They feature improved accessibility and "indicate a significant and exciting transit change is coming." I look forward to seeing them in person.
• A brand new LEGO store is set to open in Phase IV at West Edmonton Mall in November. I’m sure plans were underway well before the pandemic but still this must have a challenging time to launch an "experiential" store.
• The Whitemud Creek Coal Mine, located near Snow Valley, was Edmonton’s last. It operated from 1952 to 1970. "In the hundred years of coal mining in Edmonton, 160 mines and prospects covered 3260 acres and produced 15 million tons of coal."

For more recent headlines, check out the latest from Taproot Edmonton.

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Here are my latest Edmonton notes!

Mayor Iveson pledges to end homelessness this fall

Mayor Don Iveson amped up his messaging around ending homelessness this week, saying that city council is "all in" and that he would do "whatever it takes" to deliver dignified shelter for all people by the end of the month.

While the ambition to end homelessness is nothing new, the urgency certainly seems to be. Five years ago, the mayor was talking about eliminating poverty "within a generation." While EndPovertyEdmonton is about much more than housing, that is a big part of it.

Now we’re talking about less than a month. That’s no doubt because of the throne speech, which included "an historic commitment ‘completely eliminate chronic homelessness’" in Canada. The promise of federal money seems to have opened the door, and COVID-19 has made it potentially more affordable (the pandemic has also compounded Canada’s housing crisis, as FCM states, better exposing the problem).

Not that cost has ever really been a barrier. As a society we’ve long had the ability to completely eliminate chronic homelessness, but instead of spending less upfront to prevent the problem we’ve spent more after the fact to manage it. That’s true at all levels of government.

Here in Edmonton, we spend well over $400 million every year on policing. It’s perhaps the single largest line-item in the municipal budget. This summer, the suggestion that we take some of that money and spend it on housing instead came up repeatedly. Councillor Michael Walters had something really interesting to say about this in the latest episode of Speaking Municipally (around the 38 minute mark):

"It could go to housing, we could do that, that makes sense to me," he said. "But then we’re into this jurisdictional problem where the more we take on with our property tax base when its provincial jurisdiction, that’s the money we’re never going to get from the Province, ever…that’s the challenge."

There’s a window of opportunity now to address this important challenge with support from the federal government, avoiding the issue Walters mentioned with the provincial government. Just in time too, as the temperature continues to drop.

Other recent headlines

• The Edmonton City as Museum Project hosted an "ECAMPing Trip" on Thursday focused on Edmonton’s identities. The entire video is full of interesting information, including the connection to rail in the reason why EIA’s airport code is YEG and not YED. The section on YEG starts around 1 hour, 4 minutes and includes a shoutout to me for the first #YEG tweet.
• The Association for Canadian Studies suggests that of six Canadian urban centres survey, Edmonton is seeing the most people avoiding downtown. That’s concerning for lots of reasons, though it’s not clear why more people are avoiding downtown here. Lots of folks are working from home, and many businesses downtown remain closed. I think all the construction probably doesn’t help.
• Speaking of downtown, The Works has setup a multi-site exhibit called Context is Everything featuring about 1,600 handmade dandelions inside different buildings and behind windows. "The dandelion is such a great symbol of strength and perseverance and resilience — and not yielding because it doesn’t care where it goes," said Saskatoon artist Monique Martin. The exhibit is up for the rest of the month, so that’s a good reason to explore.

For more recent headlines, check out the latest from Taproot Edmonton.

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Trying a different format this week!

Stanley Milner library reopens downtown

The Stanley A. Milner library downtown reopened this week after nearly four years of revitalization work. Capacity was limited for the grand opening weekend, but we booked a timeslot for Saturday and were able to visit. The inside is beautiful, and I look forward to spending a lot of time there post-pandemic. Emily had lots of fun exploring the children’s library, and I was very happy to see so much seating (all with power oulets) throughout the building. I didn’t have a chance to explore the new Makerspace, but I did write a little about that in the Tech Roundup.

While the inside of the library looks great, I still think the outside is ugly. Saying "you can’t judge a book by its cover" or "it’s what’s on the inside that counts" are just nice ways of saying what is plainly true – the outside of the library is a big disappointment. Edmonton deserves better.

I hope the gigantic air vent outside the main entrance of the library is temporary (maybe it is particularly loud right now because of LRT construction). It sounds like a jet engine. You simply cannot have a conversation with someone anywhere near the front door. The beautiful central library in Calgary literally has a train running through it and I don’t remember any uncomfortable or unpleasant noise during any of my many visits.

Other recent headlines

• City Council’s Audit Committee has directed Administration to look at reducing the number of supervisors in the City of Edmonton’s workforce. That’s the right call. The excuse that the numbers are off because the City hired more technical people in-house to help make sure projects would be delivered on-time and on-budget feels anachronistic to me. That said, tens of millions of dollars on a few too many City staff is better than hundreds of millions of dollars on far too many consultants, so I guess we’re making progress.
• I am very excited about our city’s new Indigenous ward names and I look forward to learning the correct pronunciation of each. If you’re worried about that, check out Councillor Paquette’s tweet!
• Edmonton will host the 2021 world junior hockey championship from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 without fans in attendance. I hope the bubble is smaller than it has been for the NHL playoffs. I want to be able to cross 102 Street again without needing to make a huge detour. If it must be closed for the bubble, maybe we can get a walkway installed to allow pedestrians to cross over top of the fencing? I mean, if we can spend more than $100 million to save 3 minutes for drivers on Terwillegar Drive, surely we can put up some temporary stairs for pedestrians downtown.
• The Edmonton Police Service unveiled its new $500,000 tank – I mean, armoured vehicle – this week. "Without the proper tools, things get more dangerous and we can’t respond as quickly," said Sgt. Rick Abbott. Uh huh, I’m sure that vehicle is going to help with response times. He continued: "It does look aggressive. But the reality is we can’t get involved in politics in my job. We’re too busy trying to keep Edmontonians safe." Oh FFS. Council, and Councillor Scott McKeen in particular, should be ashamed for letting this purchase go ahead, especially after making such a big deal about the e-bike rebates earlier this year.

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