Speaking Municipally

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

We're back with a discussion about changes we are making for election season. Namely, Troy will take a hiatus from the show. We discuss why and what that means for the show going forward.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Troy Pavlek

• TroyPavlek.ca
• troypavlek on TikTok
• troypavlek on X

Rapid fire

• Pickle-dusted doughnuts, pb&j chicken among new KDays food creations
• 'F--k you, Jo-Anne': Tempers flare in ci...

Council is about to start its summer break, but not before making a bunch of decisions that could shape the future of Edmonton. Infill and the zoning bylaw changes are the big item again this week, but we also talk about the Downtown CRL extension, the Winspear Centre expansion, road widening, a proposal for free parking, and more.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

CRL

• Edmonton council extends Downtown CRL...

We discuss the proposed moratorium on infill development, the extension of the Downtown Community Revitalization Levy, and the return of former MP Rahim Jaffer to municipal politics. We also look at how changes to vote counting will affect the 2025 municipal election, and the end of photo radar in playground zones.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Infill moratorium

• Cartmell to call for moratorium on new i...

Council is looking to reduce the maximum number of midblock infill units to six per lot from eight. Plus, entertainment districts are exempt from the single use plastic bylaw.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Midblock infill

• Edmonton may revise zoning bylaw to reduce mid-block multi-family units
• Edmonton council votes to reduce maximum homes on RS zone lots to six from eight

Street design standards

• ...

We talk with Edmonton Unlimited CEO Tom Viinikka about his first year in the role, measuring the city's innovation sector, what separates entrepreneurs from the rest of us, and what's next for the organization.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Tom Viinikka

• Edmonton Unlimited Welcomes New CEO, Tom Viinikka
• Edmonton Unlimited hires new CEO from within city ecosystem
• Tom Viinikka at LinkedIn

Edmonton Unlimited

We discuss the potential removal of a community-built bridge in Jackie Parker Park, the launch of the Better Edmonton party, the Capital Line South LRT extension, and the latest on wildfires in the Edmonton region. Plus, we dig into the zoning bylaw update.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Zoning Bylaw update

• Missing Middle Housing In Edmonton More Than Doubles After Zoning Overhaul
• 'No respect for the people'...

Council decided against selling the naming rights for recreation centres and other facilities, at least on the outside. The Edmonton Elks is the official name, but it is returning to the old name on the inside. Plus, we discuss the relationship between police and the city, speeding enforcement, and upzoning.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Naming facilities

• City council turfs business naming deals for rec ce...

Andrew Knack has announced he's running for mayor. We speak with him about his decision to enter the race now, his vision for the city, and how he plans to differentiate himself from the other candidates.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Andrew Knack

• Andrew Knack for Mayor
• Andrew's Linkedin post
• Speaking Municipally | 13 months notice
• Longtime Edmonton city councillor Andrew Knack to run for mayor

From the T...

We examine the new Downtown Action Plan, which was presented to the Urban Planning Committee this week. Additionally, administration seeks permission to sell the naming rights to 29 facilities, and PACE announces six of its candidates for the 2025 municipal election.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Downtown Action Plan

• Edmonton Proposing $553M Action Plan To Revitalize Downtown Core
• News Release: New Downtown...

We dive into the "start" of construction season, and the latest state of the city event. We also touch on traffic management in Belgravia, and private contracts for the Edmonton police.

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EPS contracts

• Private contracts for Edmonton police rose sharply over last five years: data

Construction season

• News Release: City thinks big as it kicks off 2025 construction season

We look at what the federal election results mean for Edmonton, including the return of Mayor Amarjeet Sohi to city council. We also discuss the future of E-Park with Coun. Aaron Paquette, and dig into when we might expect results in the upcoming municipal election.

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Federal election results

• Alberta's blue wave has Conservatives projected to win nearly every seat in Edmonto...

City council has approved the final property tax increase for 2025, and it's lower than expected … except maybe not? Plus, the City started removing EPark meters … but maybe not? We also discuss the integrity commissioner's annual report, and bike lanes.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Property tax increase

• News Release: City Council approves tax levy increase
• Edmonton property tax increase set at 5.7%, l...

The most predictable of outcomes has happened: people are upset about Front Yards in Bloom getting pruned. Plus, we discuss the Ritchie downzoning, new transit peace officers, and the growth of the bus fleet. And we look ahead to the federal election.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Front Yards in Bloom

• Edmontonians rally to save Front Yards in Bloom program
• 2024: Front Yards in Bloom celebrates 25th Anni...