Council received an update on the proposed Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL). There are 12 projects under consideration, totaling $409 million. Of that, $139 million is for the downtown arena and related infrastructure, with the other $270 million for other downtown improvements, including parks, servicing the drainage system and upgrading Jasper Avenue. On May 8, 2013, Council will vote on the final list of projects for the CRL.

New bylaw to reduce environmental footprint

Council passed a bylaw that helps reduce the city’s environmental footprint while making it easier for businesses to find important regulatory drainage information. The bylaw reduces limits on the release by business of certain contaminants such as oils, grease and chlorine, to align with national environmental regulations. It will also see development of a code of practice to assist the business community in compliance. The bylaw, which comes into effect June 1, 2013, represents an amalgamation of three earlier bylaws addressing sewer use and surface drainage, making it possible for businesses and citizens to find the associated regulatory information in one place.

Council approves Groat Road Bridge Replacement Project funding increase

Council approved a recommendation to increase the budget for the 102 Avenue over Groat Road Bridge Replacement Project by $11.5 million, to a total of $32,150,000. The budget increase was needed to enhance the drainage infrastructure ($3.5 million); stabilize the slopes on both sides of the ravine ($4 million); provide transit service and a pedestrian shuttle for the duration of construction ($2 million) and a $2 million allowance is being maintained to cover the cost of inflation. The new 102 Avenue over Groat Road Bridge will be built in 2014-15.

The City’s operating budget for programs and services in 2013 will grow by $24.6 million within a combined municipal and education residential property tax increase of 3.33%. Council heard on April 10 that an extra $19.3 million is available because the amount due to the province in education tax is increasing by less than 3.33%, leaving a balance available for municipal purposes. In addition, $5.3 million is available because assessment growth, due to new construction and improvements, is higher than originally estimated. Council agreed to allocate the money as follows:

• $10.3 million to pay for land purchases for city projects
• $9 million for additional neighbourhood road repairs
• $3 million increase in the allowance for assessment complaints
• $2.3 million to help achieve a 0.75% tax rate reduction requested by Council last December

Supplemental Capital Budget Adjustment

Council accepted recommendations to amend the 2012-2014 capital budget to accommodate cost escalations and emerging issues. Six projects will be funded, using funds carried over from 2012, transferred between projects, or received from the provincial government:

• Snow Valley landslide, due to 2012 rain storms ($2.5 million)
• Commonwealth Stadium locker room retrofit to host FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2014 and 2015 ($1.9 million)
• William Hawrelak Park lake redevelopment, to meet International Triathlon Union requirements ($1.232 million)
• Great Divide waterfall refurbishment ($735,000)
• Five slope repairs, due to 2012 rain storms (covered by Alberta Disaster Fund - $363,000)
• Six park conservation projects, due to 2012 rain storms (covered by Alberta Disaster Fund - $320,000)

Creating Positive Outcomes for Urban Aboriginals

On behalf of City Council, Mayor Stephen Mandel will sign a Memorandum of Coordination and Collaboration with the Government of Alberta, Aboriginal Relations. The agreement brings both levels of government together to advance opportunities for positive social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal peoples living in Edmonton.

Council Does Downtown Proud!

City Council granted an additional $50,000 to Downtown Proud!, a program responsible for removing approximately 144,000 litres of litter off downtown streets. Downtown Proud!, a social enterprise that hires hard-to-employ individuals, will use the funds to increase their summer hours, contributing to a cleaner, safer and more welcoming City.

Stage set for Tour of Alberta

Tour of Alberta, a six-stage cycling race from September 3-8 is the newest pro-cycling event on the international cycling circuit. The race, modeled after classic road races, such as the Tour de France, will cover more than 800 kilometres through 20 Alberta communities. This year’s race will begin in Edmonton and finish in Calgary. The City of Edmonton granted $250,000 to the local organizing committee, the Alberta Pelaton Association, to support the direct costs associated with the Edmonton leg of the race.

Council honours City’s Roadway Maintenance Crew

City Council gave a standing ovation to City of Edmonton Road Maintenance employees for the exceptional job they did this winter caring for City streets, sometimes during very difficult circumstances and weather conditions. From October through April, City crews worked in rotating shifts to provide 24/7 coverage to sand, plow and clear nearly 12,000 km of roads. 

Poetry among provinces

Mayor Mandel responded to a poetry challenge issued from the City of Regina Mayor Michael Fougere to recognize UNESCO’s World Poetry Day on March 21 and National Poetry Month in April. Edmonton's Poet Laureate Anna Marie Sewell wrote a poem entitled Sister Song: for the Cranes. Anna Marie performed the poem with the help of Norwood Elementary Grade 3 students. A video of the performance will be sent to Mayor Fougere in Regina.

For the first time, a developer has accessed the City fund. An affiliate of KingSett Capital, represented by Verus Partners, used a $4 million rebate from the fund to help construct Northport Business Park, located at 170 Street and 129 Avenue. The new business park houses businesses ranging from sales, storage, warehouse, office, logistics, servicing and manufacturing, and includes a storm water pond and landscaped areas.

“This fund is one more way we are making Edmonton a destination for industrial development and investment,” says Gary Klassen, General Manager, Sustainable Development. “We are committed to helping our city grow and to be competitive by facilitating opportunities for industry to set up shop here.”

The RIS Fund helps developers recover initial development costs. In return the developer commits to constructing services such as sewers, water and roadways, as well as warehouses or office buildings on their land. The rebate is available to developers who increase the property assessment by more than $10 million. 

“Rebates paid to developers are not a grant. They are funds that the initial developer is entitled to recover from future developers,” adds Klassen. “The intent is to encourage development by advancing the funds to the initial developer, and later recovering the funds back from future developers.

“We develop in many locations in North America and have not seen a similar initiative,” says Paul Derksen of Verus Partners. “It is a very well thought out program and benefits us as developers and the City. This support is crucial to our decision in developing in Edmonton. The Revolving Industrial Servicing Fund is certainly something we will be using again.”

Verus Partners is nearing the start date for a new project south of Ellerslie which will require some similar infrastructure needs and they are planning to apply for the incentive money from the fund again.

“The development of Northport Business Park shows how the RIS Fund is a solid investment tool for the City,” says Klassen. “We draw new industrial business to Edmonton, we see the development of under-utilized lands, and we gain future tax revenue from a developed business park.”

The RIS Fund is one tool to enhance Edmonton’s economic sustainability and allow the City to continue to invest in growth and improve services for citizens.

A report to City Council showed the City of Edmonton ended 2012 with a surplus of $18.6 million, about 1% of the overall expenditure budget. Reasons for the 2012 surplus figure include reduced spending on deferred filling of personnel vacancies, offset by less-than-budgeted revenue from photo enforcement tickets (because the ticket system was not fully transferred to the City until partway through 2012.) The City will use $8.4 million of the surplus to fund previously approved or recommended activities, another $1 million to address inmate transfer costs and place the remaining $9.2 million in the Financial Stabilization Reserve.

Text amendments approved to the Zoning Bylaw

City Council passed Zoning Bylaw amendments to some Low Density Residential Zones and the Mature Neighbourhood Overlay to allow for 50-foot lot subdivision on an infill basis. Amendments incorporate design criteria and location criteria from the Residential Infill Guidelines. The amendments affect new and mature neighbourhoods in the City.

Expropriation of land for the Valley LRT line approved

To meet the timelines set by City Council for the construction of the Valley LRT line, Council approved a recommendation to commence the expropriation of properties and interests in property located along the Stage 1 alignment. These properties and interests in property are required for the construction and operation of the Southeast to West LRT line from downtown to Mill Woods, as well as any transportation facilities required to support this LRT line.

Arterial Roadway Paving Program receives additional funding

City Council approved a recommendation to spend an additional $12 million on a mill and overlay program on arterial roads throughout the city. A mill and overlay program is essential for roadways that are aging. Two or three inches of a road are milled off and then an overlay of asphalt is applied. The injection of an additional $12 million into the Transportation Roads Projects budget will provide the opportunity for a significant improvement in the condition of some of the City’s worst roadways, and will avoid the ongoing requirement for pothole repairs on these roadways in 2013 and future years.

The plan is one of the City of Edmonton’s six long range plans that envision and guide the city’s future in urban planning, transportation, environment, community living, economic development and financial sustainability.

“Citizens and business leaders expect Edmonton’s economic future to be diverse and sustainable so that Edmonton can continue to grow as a prosperous, competitive world city,” says Paul Ross, Executive Director of Economic Sustainability. “This plan outlines five major, dynamic, made-in-Edmonton economic strategies that will guide Edmonton’s economic and growth agenda for the next decade.”

The strategies are:

• A Confident and Progressive Global Image
• Internationally Renowned as a Powerhouse of Industry
• An Unrivalled, Competitive Business Climate
• An Environment for Innovation
• A Vibrant, Livable City

The City and Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) are already collaborating on key economic development activities to begin implementation of The Way We Prosper. Those initiatives include work in a number of areas:

• Industrial development program and industrial land strategy
• Image and reputation management
• Marketing of green waste management technologies
• Transformative projects such as Blatchford Redevelopment, the Quarters and LRT expansion
• Regional economic development with partners such as Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and Port Alberta
• Adoption of business-friendly services by City departments to streamline front counter decisions and reduce red tape
• Attraction of investment in the finance, insurance, and real estate sectors
• Address the labour and workforce challenges of industry, business, education, and government

“Edmonton is an economic powerhouse on the global stage and is in a strategic location at the heart of Alberta’s energy sector,” says Ross. “This plan will make it possible for us to aggressively move in new directions in economic development.”