This week, budget season has begun. Troy and Stephanie guide you into the start of our year-end busy season, and explain how this will lead into next year's busy season, the election.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Budget

• Edmonton city council looks for cuts to lower 8.1 per cent tax hike eyed for 2025
• Edmonton city councillors question travel budgets and spending on Calgary Stampede

Election

• 9 candidates declare intention to run for Edmonton City Council

City manager

• Edmonton city council hires Eddie Robar as city manager
• Budget pressures top of mind for Edmonton's new city manager

Carbon budget

• Edmonton fails to meet climate targets 2 years after launching carbon budget
• Condo association calls green bin rollout 'rocky', while city says new habits take time

Single-use bylaw

• 500 days in, Edmonton has written 0 tickets under single-use bag, plastics bylaw

From the Taproot newsroom

• Edmonton Arts Council has a new funding strategy and leader
• Why the decline in public housing is 'the origins of Canada's housing crisis'
• Taproot presents: A conversation about housing

Canadian Podcast Awards

• Speaking Municipally is a finalist
• Karen's post on LinkedIn

Rapid fire

• City underlines successes and challenges as the Valley Line LRT turns one
• McDavid makes history with 1,000th NHL point

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

Taproot Edmonton reporter Colin Gallant joins us to discuss making Edmonton's housing more financially accessible, the Valley Line LRT's first anniversary, and the future of retail downtown.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Updates

• News Release: Fifth case of Dutch elm disease confirmed in Edmonton
• News Release: City launches Assisted Snow Removal Program Pilot
• City of Edmonton proposes 8.1% tax hike in 2025 to cover higher costs

Housing

• How should Edmonton grow to make housing more accessible?
• Housing Complex

Valley Line LRT

• City underlines successes and challenges as the Valley Line LRT turns one

Downtown retail

• As Foosh debuts downtown, experts suggest retail needs focus to thrive

From the Taproot newsroom

• YEG hopes visitors will stay and play at the airport
• On the agenda: Garneau rezoning, utility rate changes, council office budget

Election update (no not that one)

• 2025 Edmonton General Election | Register of Candidates
• Troy's tweet

Rapid fire

• Hundreds attend Edmonton protest against Alberta government's trans legislation
• Downtown Edmonton residential tower could rise higher than planned
• Alberta enabling Halal mortgages, implementing promised electric vehicle tax

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

The Downtown Investment Plan remains a hot topic of discussion. This week, we speak with Shani Gwin, a Métis woman, downtown business owner, AI entrepreneur, and DBA board member, for her take.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Guests

• Shani Gwin on LinkedIn
• pipikwan pêhtâkwan

Downtown Investment Plan

• Downtown Investment Plan (PDF)
• News Release: DIP INTO DOWNTOWN: Solutions for Edmonton's Financial Future — Strategic Investment in Downtown (PDF)

wâsikan kisewâtisiwin

• wâsikan kisewâtisiwin
• News Release: Edmonton startup wâsikan kisewâtisiwin selected as a 2024 Solver Team by MIT Solve

From the Taproot newsroom

• Would building more supply slow Edmonton's rising home prices?
• New head of Social Enterprise Fund dreams of change

Rapid fire

• Keith Gerein: Court delay serves no one except the political fortunes of Edmonton Coun. Jennifer Rice
• Setting off alarms by cooking? Edmonton's fire department could send you a bill
• Elaborate village-like encampment with power, water dismantled in south Edmonton

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

This week, we're getting an early start on winter by talking about snow and ice control. We speak with Mark Beare and Val Dacyk from the City of Edmonton about service standards for clearing roadways and active pathways, how much people love the snow plow map, how big the snow clearing operation is, what it would take to clear sidewalks, where your tax dollars go, and much more.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Guests

• Mark Beare on LinkedIn
• Valerie Dacyk on LinkedIn

Snow and ice control

• News Release: City launches updated Snow and Ice Control Program
• Roadways Snow Clearing Map
• Active Pathways Snow Clearing Map
• Community Sandboxes
• Winter Travel
• 2022: Apparent jump in snow-clearing kilometres not all that it seems
• 2023: City seeks input on sandbox program for ice control

From the Taproot newsroom

• Housing Complex
• Introducing Housing Complex, a special project from Taproot Edmonton
• Home truths: In Edmonton's housing system, some win, some lose, and many feel conflicted

Rapid fire

• Edmonton won't add optional criminal record checks for council candidates
• Edmonton boo-levard becomes Candy Corn Lane for Halloween

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

A new report published by a coalition of business leaders calls for nearly $500 million of investment in Edmonton's downtown. We talk with the report's authors, Alexandra Hryciw and Jason Syvixay, about the action items, and what they hope to achieve.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Guests

• Alexandra Hryciw on LinkedIn
• Downtown Revitalization Coalition
• Jason Syvixay on LinkedIn
• BILD Edmonton Metro

Downtown Investment Plan

• Downtown Investment Plan (PDF)
• News Release: DIP INTO DOWNTOWN: Solutions for Edmonton's Financial Future — Strategic Investment in Downtown (PDF)
• Opinion: Now is the time to invest in Edmonton's downtown
• Business leaders call on governments to invest in downtown Edmonton
• Housing Accelerator Fund - City of Edmonton

From the Taproot newsroom

• Housing pilot tests if connecting people can boost inclusion
• Edmonton on track to approve one garden suite a day in 2024
• How NorthwestFEARFest's boss put his life into film

Rapid fire

• Edmonton park rangers shooting plastic bullets at aggressive coyotes
• Law society to sanction former Alberta justice minister Kaycee Madu
• $7M Alberta advertising campaign against oil and gas emissions cap rolling out in 5 provinces

The 2024 Canadian Open Data Summit takes place in Edmonton on Oct. 30 and 31, with a full day of programming on Oct. 29 focused on generative AI. The event features keynotes, panels, workshops, and more. Themes for this year's event include data perspectives on the housing crisis, the power of open science, and how sharing commercial data has led to competitive advantages for businesses. Registration is now open.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

Council heard more about the fiscal gap, though no action was taken yet. Plus, the latest transit ridership numbers, the Stadium Station redesign, whether to continue planting elm trees, and how this winter's approach to encampments will look a lot like last winter's despite increased need.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Fiscal gap

• Edmonton seeking solutions to fix grim 'fiscal gap'
• Edmonton's Funding Dilemma: Collaboration Over Confrontation - Tim Cartmell
• Edmonton mayor's letter to province asks for fair treatment in next year's budget
• Keith Gerein: Edmonton's mayor steps up, but will he take a swing?
• Calgary and province announce agreement to move forward on part of Green Line LRT

Transit ridership

• News Release: Transit ridership outpaces population growth
• Edmonton transit ridership up 14% in 2024
• Edmonton Transit to stop selling paper tickets, monthly passes as of Nov. 9

Stadium Station

• Stadium Station redesign sees calls for service drop by 50%

Elm trees

• Tree expert sees ways to avoid nightmare on elm-lined streets

Health Streets pilot

• Edmonton 'healthy streets' Chinatown safety hub shutting down

Encampments

• Edmonton police chief on the winter encampment strategy
• Edmonton has spent $225k fencing off former encampment sites in the first nine months of 2024
• Alberta and Edmonton at odds over data on homeless navigation centre
• Edmonton city council to get more information on encampment closure risks

Regional drivers

• 'We're subsidizing the region': 32% of drivers on Edmonton roads don't live in the city, report finds
• Edmonton has a 'free rider problem' on its roads, new report says

From the Taproot newsroom

• Alberta Ecotrust aims to accelerate building retrofits
• Provincial Priorities Act could hurt Alberta's priorities, says academic
• Transit riders organize to push for improved service and community

Rapid fire

• Recap: Winnipeg 6, Edmonton 0
• News Release: Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!
• City Bird : Vote - Bird Friendly Edmonton

The 2024 Canadian Open Data Summit takes place in Edmonton on Oct. 30 and 31, with a full day of programming on Oct. 29 focused on generative AI. The event features keynotes, panels, workshops, and more. Themes for this year's event include data perspectives on the housing crisis, the power of open science, and how sharing commercial data has led to competitive advantages for businesses. Registration is now open.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

Edmonton is going to have to pay much more for elections, but we can't say why without risking a $787 million settlement. Plus, we've got some news about district planning.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Property tax

• Sohi launches campaign to ask province for more municipal support
• Edmonton, other municipalities ask province to pay its property taxes
• Fair Compensation Project

Election costs

• On the agenda: Bill 20, district planning, 124 Street highrise
• The Alberta government banned electronic vote tabulators. Municipalities want it to reconsider

District plans

• News Release: District Policy and plans approved for next milestone in City's planning modernization
• New district policy, plans including 15-minute cities concept OK'd by Edmonton city council

Old Strathcona

• Whyte Avenue and Old Strathcona plans: less parking, more parks

New towers

• Mill Woods Town Centre: New grocery store, rental towers built in 2025
• Edmonton city council approves rezoning proposal for 31-storey tower on Jasper Avenue

From the Taproot newsroom

• Pedestrian-only Rice Howard Way continues into fall
• NongBu is closed but continues to shape city's food scene
• Tree expert sees ways to avoid nightmare on elm-lined streets

Rapid fire

• Alberta government drops idea of expanding liquor sales to grocers, convenience stores
• Canadian Finals Rodeo kicks off with surprise Downtown Edmonton cattle drive
• Earth's General Store closes despite crowdfunding effort to save the business

Discover Our Climate Quest, a Canadian exhibition packed with fun, interactive activities for all ages. Explore carbon capture pinball, solar panels in action, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, and much more. Level up your climate science knowledge and get inspired for our sustainable future! Opening Oct. 5 at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton! Learn more

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

This week, we discuss the new Edmonton sign, a new poll about the mayor and city council, new crashes into the LRT, and a new report on Canada's municipalities. Plus, updates on ChargeStop, homelessness, and the 2021 mayoral race.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

ChargeStop

• ChargeStop builds Canada's first dedicated EV station in Strathcona

Edmonton sign

• News Release: How do you spell colour, light and sparkle? E-D-M-O-N-T-O-N!
• Troy's tweet
• Michelle Sound's post
• Michelle Sound
• Crystal Lee Clark

Council poll

• Only 1 in 4 Edmontonians think Sohi, city councillors should be re-elected: CityNews poll
• Troy's Reddit comment

2021 election update

• 3 mayoral candidates sanctioned for overspending in 2021 Edmonton election

Homelessness

• Number of people living unhoused in Edmonton up 47% in 2024: Data

Senate report

• Challenges and Opportunities for Canadian Municipalities | Senator Paula Simons
• Paula's LinkedIn post

Neighbourhood planning

• Opinion: Citywide plans diminish diversity of Edmonton neighbourhoods

LRT crashes

• Two crashes involving Edmonton's Valley Line LRT in two days
• Edmonton LRT train involved in crash after vehicle drives onto tracks: ETS

From the Taproot newsroom

• Developers urge Edmonton to follow B.C. on single-egress buildings
• Why one shop owner traded a storefront for a shipping container
• Support to address hoarding in Edmonton is running out

Rapid fire

• Most non-homeowners in Edmonton feel buying own home is out of reach: CityNews poll
• Why American food chains are choosing Edmonton

This episode is brought to you by Park Power, your friendly, local utilities provider (and title sponsor of Taproot's Regional Roundup). Park Power offers electricity, natural gas, and internet to homes, businesses, and farms throughout Alberta. Learn more at parkpower.ca.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

Council has decided to keep their representatives on the police commission, at least for now. Plus, we talk LRT station fare gates, EVs, bike lanes, and more.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Police commission

• Edmonton won't remove city councillors from police commission, for now
• Alberta hiring CEO for 'massive' new agency to investigate complaints against police

Fare gates

• Edmonton eyes two-year LRT fare gates pilot for Churchill and Belvedere stations
• On the agenda: Transit fare gates, affordable housing, tax forgiveness

Financial disclosures

• 'Relevant': Edmonton to make city council's financial disclosures public

ChargeStop

• Snacks, seating and super-fast charging: What to expect at Edmonton's new EV-only service station

Bike lanes and index

• An Edmonton bike lane crumbles 1 month after construction
• How the Edmonton police bike index reunites owners with stolen wheels

From the Taproot newsroom

• IDEA's new leader targets barriers that can limit housing
• Docuseries explores Edmonton communities through food
• As community leagues prepare to celebrate, more people are volunteering

Rapid fire

• Fort Saskatchewan mayor apologizes for comments about killing feral cats
• Gondek urges premier to find 'most cost-effective solution' as province reviews Green Line LRT
• News Release: New Northbound overpass on 50 Street opens to traffic, marking key project milestone

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

This week, Mack and Stephanie speak with Coun. Andrew Knack about his decision not to seek re-election in next year's municipal election. They also discuss the city's $34 million budget shortfall.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Andrew Knack

• @andrewknack
• Andrew Knack on LinkedIn
• The Toughest Decision I've Ever Made — Andrew Knack

Budget

• City of Edmonton projecting $34M deficit for end of 2024
• News Release: Statement on Q2 2024 Financial Update

From the Taproot newsroom

• Vancouver and Toronto companies relocating to Edmonton region
• Elev and Five Oaks launch student housing project called The Hive
• RUNWITHIT Synthetics secures $3.5M investment to put its tools into more hands
• Tech Roundup: Sept. 10, 2024

Rapid fire

• Edmonton Police Service begins rollout of body-worn cameras
• McDavid on living in Edmonton
• 'Female rage': Edmonton woman sparks airplane 'manspreading' debate

This episode was brought to you by Life Sciences Week, celebrating Alberta's thriving life sciences sector from Sept. 23 to 27. Explore cutting-edge research, network with industry leaders, and witness groundbreaking innovations. Whether you're a student, entrepreneur, or investor, there's something for everyone. Taproot is proud to be a media sponsor of Life Sciences Week.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

This week, the province has all but banned photo radar in Alberta. Plus, we have more problems with composting, and cars driving into trains.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Police commission

• Edmonton city council to weigh police commission request to remove council positions from board

Photo radar

• Not so fast: Edmonton non-profit, city councillor push back on proposed plan to restrict photo radar

Valley Line LRT

• 15 collisions between vehicles and trains on Edmonton's Valley Line since opening: city

Paquette's plan

• Edmonton councillor reveals his money plan to avoid more cuts or tax hikes

Waste collection

• 'It's frustrating': Edmonton councillors say organics processing plan need more details
• On the agenda: Compost capacity, new risks, city manager

From the Taproot newsroom

• Panel suggests Edmonton struggles to promote itself
• Leduc residential construction 'going like gangbusters'
• CarePros growth spurs new company and product launch
• Events Roundup: Sept. 5, 2024

Rapid fire

• Volunteer snake wranglers have hands full protecting at-risk reptiles from Edmonton roads
• News Release: First appearance of Dutch Elm Disease in Edmonton
• Alberta Legislature security personnel able to carry guns as of Sunday

This episode was brought to you by Life Sciences Week, celebrating Alberta's thriving life sciences sector from Sept. 23 to 27. Explore cutting-edge research, network with industry leaders, and witness groundbreaking innovations. Whether you're a student, entrepreneur, or investor, there's something for everyone. Taproot is proud to be a media sponsor of Life Sciences Week.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!