Speaking Municipally

This week, council got to ask questions about the proposed fall budget adjustment. Plus, we learn more about the city's plan to enforce speed limits, the "end" of construction season, and the Valley Line LRT turns two.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Budget

• Report: Operating Financial Update - Sept. 30, 2025
• Report: Fall 2025 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment - 2023-2026 Operating Budget
• Report: Fal...

Council held its first public hearing since the election, and infill was front and centre. Plus, we talk about Vision Zero, P3 projects, and the upcoming budget season.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Public hearing

• Infill expansion in Mayfield neighbourhood rejected unanimously by council

Vision Zero

• With pedestrian fatalities climbing in Edmonton, advocates call for safer infrastructure
• City look...

Troy is back! For a chat. We talk about the election and his plans. Plus, we check in on Better Edmonton, the downtown park, and the bike lanes on 103 Avenue.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Troy Pavlek

• TroyPavlek.ca
• Troy appreciation thread on Reddit
• Episode 316: Can you get rid of the Rapidfire segment next?

Municipal parties

• 2 new city councillors are leaving Better Edmonton. What does that mean ...

We sit down with Edmonton's new mayor, Andrew Knack, to talk about optimism, regional collaboration, video game marathons, and much more. 

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Mayor Andrew Knack

• AndrewKnack.ca
• Andrew Knack at Taproot's vote site
• Andrew Knack - Extra Life Edmonton donation page

Related links

• New Edmonton city council votes unanimously to create more daytime shelter spaces
• Mayor Knack responds ...

This week, we take you inside city hall for the swearing-in ceremony and inaugural city council meeting of the 2025-2029 term. Plus, we look at possible changes to provincial electoral boundaries in Edmonton, and hear from some municipal election scrutineers.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Swearing-in ceremony

• Edmonton's new city council starts work by identifying priorities
• Don Iveson's post
• You're likely to...

We take an initial look at Edmonton's new city council, which looks eerily similar to the old one. Plus, we discuss delayed results, missing ballots, and monumental recounts. 

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Election results

• Unofficial results
• Andrew Knack: 'Edmonton chose independent leadership'
• Edmonton mayor-elect Knack's priorities include safety, affordability
• Edmonton votes 2025: School board trustees
• ...

We reflect on the biggest issues the 2025 campaign. Plus, we cover advance voting turnout and some last little bits of election analysis. 

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

2021 Election

• Oct. 15, 2021: Episode 151 - It's Election Thyme

Taproot Survey

• Comparison of Cartmell, Jaffer, Knack, and Walters
• Candidate Pitches
• The Taproot Survey is helping voters and candidates ahead of Election Day
• Taproot Survey
• T...

We dive into how much money candidates have raised and been forced to declare. Plus, we paid a visit to the mayor's office for an exit interview. 

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Bike lanes

• Valley Line West: 102 Avenue bike lanes temporarily moving to 103 Avenue

Campaign disclosures

• Voters told Taproot they want campaign contributions disclosed before the election
• Disclosures show Cartmell pulled i...

This week, we're excited for the new Warehouse Park, and scared about the impact of the postal strike on the election. Plus, we bring you the scariest audio of all: candidate soundbites!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Warehouse Park

• Warehouse Park, other incentives spur up to 1,800 housing units downtown
• Warehouse Park - City of Edmonton

Postal strike

• City elections office forms contingency plan f...

We dive into the candidate responses to Taproot's election survey, which are now available at taproot.vote. Plus, we discuss the new police chief, a mandate letter for the municipal affairs minister, and Nomination Day.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Darren Markland

• Darren Markland obituary
• Video featuring Darren Markland

New police chief

• 10 years later, documents shed new light on EPS steroid sca...

Enjoy this episode of The Well Endowed Podcast from our friends at Edmonton Community Foundation. The Well Endowed Podcast shares the stories of people and organizations who make our city thrive. That seems right up the alley of Speaking Municipally listeners!

This episode, called Second Skin, is about a tattoo removal program run by enCompass that helps give people with troubled pasts a second chance.

If you like what you h...

We dive into all the last-minute motions that council squeezed in during its final week of meetings this term. Plus, we talk about construction woes on the west end, inconsistencies between different rezoning applications, and a candidate's proposal for free transit.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

West end construction woes

• Reddit thread
• Michael Walters video

Rezoning inconsistencies

• Sept. 15 Publ...

Executive committee has approved the sale of land to build supportive housing, but not everyone is happy about it. Plus, urban planning committee wants more red tape for short-term rentals, and we hop on the bike bus.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Bridge housing

• Bridge healing project in Highlands moving ahead
• City goes ahead with Highlands bridge housing project despite residents' concerns

Short-te...

This week, we talk about infrastructure, incumbency, and infill developments. Plus, a promised update on spray parks, and we talk about where you can find Taproot at some upcoming events.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Spray parks

• Spray Parks
• Coun. Cartmell's Instagram post

Infrastructure policy

• Bridges, Roads and Results: Tim Cartmell's Plan to Fix Edmonton's Infrastructure and Rebuild Public Trust
• Ep...

City council has approved the contentious master agreement to build a new event park at ICE District. Plus, even though it's hot outside, we talk about snow, and bike lanes. All your favourite things.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Fringe festival

• Record-breaking year for Edmonton Fringe Festival

Event park

• News Release: Master agreement approved for event park and Village at ICE District
• Edmonton...

Council decided to keep meeting times as is, but it recommends a shorter summer vacation for future councils. Plus, there was heated discussion about river valley development, incentives for student housing, and what to do about Edmonton City Centre.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Council calendar

• Council says no to longer meetings but does reduce summer break

Social media

• Report: Aug. 19, 2025 - Soc...

This week, we drive into the wonderful world of transit memes aboard route #4. Plus, the push to close 76 Avenue to cars, the latest efforts to address noisy vehicles, and the need to repair community league facilities.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Police blotter

• 'Unleashing': Politicians Say Ex-Police Watchdog's Insults Go Too Far

Transit love

• How two transit movements take similar routes to h...

Edmonton is building fewer parking spaces than housing units, St. Albert is trying to grow its downtown population, Hawrelak Park could open by the end of the year, and we look at the City's new mowing map.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Downtown St. Albert

• Why St. Albert's downtown could be welcoming a lot more residents

Parking

• Edmonton building fewer parking stalls than infill housing units

El...

Taproot co-founder Karen Unland returns to the show to talk about how we are approaching the 2025 municipal election and the impact we hope to have. We've also got clips from an interview with Coun. Michael Janz about infill.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Karen Unland

• Karen on LinkedIn
• Speaking Municipally: Episode 127

Election project

• What issues do you care about as you consider who to vote for...