Edmonton Notes for 5/15/2011

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• Had enough of the wind this week? Thankfully it seems to have died down this evening.
• It’s construction season! The City says that more than $157 million is being spent on special projects and $128 million is besting spent on arterial roads and intersections for a total of $285 million in construction projects. Work is underway in 96 neighbourhoods across the city.
• Due mainly to spending on last winter’s snowfall, the City is facing a $30.7 million deficit.
• The Telus World of Science is looking to the City to help fund a $285 million expansion. Mayor Mandel thinks the City should take a close look at the proposal.
• They don’t really bother me, but some people really get annoyed with those animated advertising signs that have popped up all over the city recently. The City is looking at the issue.
• On Friday, the City issued a statement on fire risk conditions, stating that they were monitoring the weather but were not considering a fire ban. Tonight, the entire Town of Slave Lake was forced to evacuate as fire engulfed the entire area.
• Stantec’s net income increased to $23.8 million in the first quarter, up from $16.3 million for the same period in 2010.
• The Charrette had a good entry on brownfield development recently, check it out.
• Apparently the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce isn’t on board with the City’s Way We Green plan.
• Are parking fines going up because of the province’s new license plate search fee?
• It has been recommended that the City spend $12 million over three years to replace Commonwealth Stadium’s 60,000 seats.
• The 2011 Edmonton Regional Joint Orthophoto initiative will see an airplane equipped with a special GPS camera snap high resolution shots of the capital region.
• Each day in Edmonton, 911 dispatchers handle about 1000 calls, 70% of which come from cell phones. The CRTC is setting up trials for SMS messaging for 911, but not here in Edmonton.
• The City is running out of space to store furniture, clothes, china, and other historic material, according to the Edmonton Heritage Council.
• Four new community-based crime prevention programs in Edmonton received $2.8 million in provincial funding this week. A partnership between the Edmonton Public Library and Boyle Street Community Services will receive $600,000 over three years.
• Three groups have been asked to submit proposals to develop the northeast section of Anthony Henday Drive.
• That’s one way to launch a new community: free helicopter rides were given for the grand opening of Granville. I guess “Edmonton’s newest community” could also earn the title of “Edmonton’s most unsustainable community”!
• A couple of older headlines, in case you missed them. The former Bank of Montreal building and old Odeon theatre, located at the corner of Jasper Avenue and 101 Street, are going to be demolished if the City grants the necessary permits. Over in Chinatown, a new highrise condo project has been proposed.
• For more headlines from the past week, check out theedmontonian.com. Speaking of, congrats to Jeff and Sally on being named Best Local Blog in Edmonton! You can see the entire Best of Edmonton results here.
• Vue Weekly also has some awards to share – check out the 2011 Golden Fork Awards here.
• Check out this awesome HDR photo of Edmonton by Ian McKenzie.
• The River Valley Trails Maps launch event takes place on Tuesday at the Muttart Conservatory.
• Transit Oriented Development open houses continue this week with the next installment taking place at the West End Christian Reformed Church on Tuesday evening.
• Edmonton Story Slam takes place on Wednesday evening at the Haven Social Club.
• The Downtown Edmonton Community League is holding its AGM on Thursday evening at Yellowhead Brewery.
• Also Wednesday evening is Cultivate 2011.
• Friday night sees another poster show happening at Latitude 53, this one called “Where are we going?”
• Hip Hop in the Park is coming up on Saturday.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

It was a windy but lovely day Saturday for the City Market at City Hall. It returns to 104 Street this weekend!

Event posters!