Taproot Edmonton presents a weekly discussion on key stories in municipal politics. We pay attention to City Council so you don't have to! Join us as we delve into conversations about the context surrounding decisions made at City Hall.
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.
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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.
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Infill moratorium
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.
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Midblock infill
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.
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Tom Viinikka
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.
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Zoning Bylaw update
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.
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Naming facilities
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.
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Andrew Knack
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.
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Downtown Action Plan
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
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
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.
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Property tax increase
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.
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Front Yards in Bloom
We look at new provincial bills affecting municipal elections, governance, and policing. We also discuss the end of Front Yards in Bloom, the shameful state of the BMO building site, and the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market expanding to two days.
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Crosswords
Bills 49/50/51
E-Park machines are being removed, making mobile payments the preferred option for parking. We also discuss directing parking revenue to nearby infrastructure improvements, the removal of speed-on-green cameras, guidelines for point access blocks, and the story behind the demise of Alberta's first commercial hydrogen fueling station.
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Crosswords
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is taking a leave of absence to run in the federal election next month. We talk through the implications. Plus, extended producer responsibility is here, and the city is adding service hours to transit.
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Extended Producer Responsibility
Sohi's leave of absence
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi joins us to discuss his political future. Will he run for re-election? Will he return to federal politics? We hear what Sohi thinks is needed to stand up for Canada and municipalities.
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Amarjeet Sohi
From the conversation
Coun. Sarah Hamilton has announced she will not seek re-election in the fall. We also discuss the pride flag issue between CSU52 and the Edmonton Public Library, transit safety and sounds, efforts to diversify Edmonton's trade beyond the United States, and why statues keep getting stolen.
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Sarah Hamilton
We discuss the potential renaming of the field at Commonwealth Stadium, a recommendation to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps, another Edmonton Public School Board trustee resignation, and the new ICE District deal. Plus, we talk about the Energy City Cactus Rats, ETS merchandise, and more.
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Commonwealth Stadium field
A new committee of council has been born (or, at least, is in utero). Plus, Bridgegate both continues and concludes, council has approved the Nordic spa in the river valley, and the province's CorruptCare scandal (allegedly) reaches the city.
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Bridgegate
You may have heard that several bridges will be closed at once, but is that true? We dig into bridge maintenance planned for the next few years. We also discuss new bus priority measures, Lime's winter cycling pilot, an audit of DATS, and the upcoming wildfire season.
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Bridge maintenance
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