Edmonton Notes for May 1, 2016

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• This year’s property tax increase has been set: “The average single-family home in Edmonton will see a 4.1% increase in property taxes this year, and non-residential properties will see a 2.1% increase.” For a typical house valued at $408,000 the City says that property taxes will be about $3,265 per year, $963 of which is for the provincial education tax. “Tax notices will be mailed to all property owners May 24, 2016. The deadline to pay taxes is June 30, 2016.”
• The new Council Committee on Energy Transition was introduced this week. The committee is made up of 15 citizens, will meet every two months, and has a mandate “to encourage and promote the strategy, liaise with the City Manager and City Council on implementation of the strategy, and help develop performance measures.”
• This week the City launched its 2016 Construction On Your Streets Map. The map is powered by the Open Data Catalogue and shows 170 projects (and will be regularly updated). “The City is investing $402 million in building transportation infrastructure in 2016. Projects include more than 127 bridges, interchanges, and arterial, collector and local roads spanning approximately 425 lane kilometres.”
• The 2015/2016 DONATE-A-RIDE campaign raised $225,816 which means that 94,565 transit tickets will be distributed to 71 agencies who work with vulnerable youth and adults in Edmonton. This is the second-strongest campaign since the initiative started in 1996 – last year’s campaign raised $242,685.
• Edmonton is apparently considering a bid to host the Juno Awards in 2018. “Over the past nine years, host cities have received an average of more than $10 million worth of economic impact,” according to the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
• Congratulations to EPL on winning the CLA/OCLC Award for Innovative Technology for the Capital City Records: Edmonton Local Music tool which celebrates and promotes Edmonton-made music and is building an ongoing historical record of Edmonton’s music scene.
• The City is now accepting applications for Urban Hen Keeping Licenses as part of its extended pilot project. There are just 50 available however, and they’ll be issued on a first come, first served basis. Everyone else will get added to the wait list.
• The first concert announced for Rogers Place is Keith Urban who is scheduled to play on September 16, 2016. Tickets go on sale Friday morning. Also announced this week is the official Rogers Place Public Open House which will take place on September 10. Save the date!
• EPS is reminding motorists to remove all valuables from vehicles after the Downtown Division experienced “more than double the number of theft from automobile incidents this month in comparison to April 2015.”
• This week is International Compost Awareness Week, so the City is encouraging Edmontonians to “revitalize their gardens and cut down on their waste”. You can learn more about composting here.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs won the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft in yesterday’s lottery. Edmonton won the 4th overall pick.
• Michael Ross has used Council data to create an interative tool called, Which Edmonton City Councillor are you? Fun!
• Edmonton Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault is featured in this month’s issue of Avenue Edmonton. Check it out here.
• Peter Spearey starts Monday as Edmonton’s new Lead Urban Designer. Also starting Monday at the City is Carolyn Campbell, who is the new GM and Chief of Communications and Public Engagement.
• Robin Mazumder was back in Edmonton recently and felt inspired to blog about the things he misses about our city.
• Looks like it is going to be a beautiful week in Edmonton, so it might be a good idea to get a head start on YEG Date Night’s 50 Summer Date Ideas in Edmonton.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Path To The City, photo by Jeff Wallace

Upcoming Events

• The City is hosting two pre-construction meetings this week for its active bike route projects. The meeting for the 102 Avenue Bike Route will take place on Tuesday at 5pm at Christ Church. The meeting for the 83 Avenue Bike Route will take place on Wednesday at 5pm at Moravian Church.
• TEC Edmonton is hosting the TEC Venture Angels Forum on Wednesday at Enterprise Square.
• The Gateway Association is hosting the 2016 Mayors Luncheon on Wednesday at the Chateau Louis featuring Mike Bradley, Mayor of Sarnia, Ontario.
• Green Drinks returns with a “Made in YEG” theme on Wednesday evening at Yellowhead Brewery.
• If you’re interested in the potential redevelopment of Mill Woods Town Centre, don’t miss the open house taking place Thursday at the EPL Mill Woods Branch.
• The 2016 YEG Queer Youth Prom takes place Friday evening at the Central Lions Senior Recreation Centre.
• Royal Bison is back! Check out one of Edmonton’s favorite craft fairs from Friday through Sunday at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre.
• This week is Emergency Preparedness Week. The City is hosting its annual Get Ready in the Park event on Saturday at Hawrelak Park from 10am to 4pm.
• The second annual GDX Edmonton is taking place Saturday and Sunday at the Robbins Health Learning Centre. The event celebrates games and game development in Alberta.
• Head over to Tipton Park (10849 81 Avenue NW) on Saturday for the public opening of the heritage exhibition and archway which “celebrates an enormous legacy of children’s play and Gyro playgrounds in Edmonton.”
• Burlesque of the Ages takes place Saturday at CKUA.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Training Day, photo by Kurt Bauschardt