“This agreement helps improve taxi service availability, reduces deadheading and reduces impact to our environment,” says Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel. “We have an agreement that balances and meets the needs of the City of Edmonton, Edmonton International Airport, our taxi industry, and the citizens and visitors of our city.”

The agreement was negotiated late last year to reduce the amount of deadheading between the city and airport. Currently, unless they have a pre-arranged fare, only taxis from Airport Taxi Service can pick up at the airport and only Edmonton-based taxis can pick up in the city. This means Edmonton taxis that take passengers to the terminal must return empty, as must Airport Taxi Service taxis that take passengers to Edmonton.

Under the new agreement, the airport will only contract taxi companies and drivers that are licensed to operate in Edmonton. To make sure there are enough taxis to provide reliable service to the airport, City Council released 100 new taxi licences yesterday and the City will allow drivers that are currently providing service at the airport to apply for these licences.

“Providing excellent, efficient taxi service is key to an outstanding traveler experience,” says Reg Milley, President and CEO of Edmonton Airports. “Our customers and community partners told us that they prefer a seamless, regional approach to taxi service, with less deadheading.”

The new City licences will be distributed through a random selection process. Edmonton International Airport will be asking for bids, through an RFP process, to decide which Edmonton taxi brokers will be contracted to provide on-demand service at the terminal.

Alcohol at after hours events

Remedial massage therapists

Revitalization Strategy

City Council and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 30 have ratified a collective agreement for 2011-2013.

The agreement provides for wage increases of 2.5% in 2011, 3% in 2012 and 3% in 2013 for a three-year collective agreement expiring on December 28, 2013.

CUPE Local 30 represents approximately 3,200 permanent and seasonal employees who perform construction, maintenance and public works duties within various civic departments.

Renewal projects move ahead

City Council moved ahead several infrastructure projects of the three-year Capital Budget approved in December 2011 with bylaws that allow borrowing, taking advantage of low interest rates.

Council approved borrowing $56 million for Phase 1 revitalization work in The Quarters Downtown project. The debt will be paid back through the Community Revitalization Levy for that zone.

Council gave first reading to bylaws that enable borrowing to fund the replacement of the Walterdale Bridge, to purchase land needed for the future Southeast to West LRT line, and for a new Northwest Campus for Edmonton Police Service. Final approval of these bylaws will be considered at a subsequent Council meeting.

The clause outlines how the City proposes to use revenue from lease payments, a ticket surcharge, a community revitalization levy and parking revenue to pay for the new arena. It also notes in the event of a revenue deficiency, the City shall levy and raise municipal taxes sufficient to repay the loan.

“This is required and mandatory wording that must be included when borrowing from the Alberta Capital Finance Authority. We do not have any intention of increasing current taxes to pay for the arena and we apologize for any misunderstanding that may have resulted from the bylaw,” says Lorna Rosen, Chief Financial Officer. “Council passed a motion in 2009 that clearly stated that current taxes could not be increased and resources reallocated from other capital projects to pay for a new arena.”

The City has agreed to contribute $125 million towards design and construction of the $450 million downtown arena. That money will be raised in part from a CRL, reallocation of the subsidy currently paid on Rexall Place, increased parking revenues and other sources. Costs for the land and other public infrastructure to support the arena site are not included in the $450 million.

The Alberta Capital Finance Authority is a non-profit corporation that has been created to provide local authorities (municipalities) in Alberta with flexible funding for capital projects at the lowest possible cost.

“There really are some outstanding drivers working in Edmonton and this is our way of thanking them for all that they do,” said Garry Dziwenka, Chief Livery Officer with the City. “This year we also recognized some people who have helped improve the industry as a whole. They have worked tirelessly to make sure Edmontonians get the best service possible, and we are grateful for their contributions.”

Individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry were recognized with four special awards, including a Bill Dhanoa Award named after a driver who has been recognized as Edmonton’s best driver for multiple years.

The special award recipients were:

Bill Dhanoa – The Bill Dhanoa Award
Bill Dhanoa has received multiple Vehicle for Hire Driver Appreciation Awards in the last few years and has significantly helped promote the awards and nomination process to the public. He is the first recipient of his namesake award, which will recognize drivers that make a significant contribution to the industry in the future.

Balraj Manhas – Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award
Balraj has been the president of the United Cab Drivers Association since 2006 and in that time has built the association into a well-recognized voice for taxi driver interests.

Gord Beatty – Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award
Gord has worked in the industry for over 25 years and in that time developed driver training programs for two of Edmonton’s largest taxi companies. These programs significantly improved safety and customer service, and eventually became the foundation for the City of Edmonton’s required driver training program.

Ian Lee – Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award
Ian has worked in the taxi broker industry for many years and consistently advocates for better safety and customer service standards in Edmonton. Ian has brought many well-researched recommendations to the Vehicle for Hire Commission over the years and is responsible for many regulatory improvements.

Winners of the driver appreciation awards were nominated by members of the public throughout the year, while the special award winners were nominated and selected by members of the Vehicle for Hire Commission.

“Team Martin” is the seventh work of art commissioned by the City for the Giants of Edmonton mural series, part of the City of Edmonton’s Capital City Clean Up Graffiti Management Program in partnership with 630 CHED.

"The Giants of Edmonton Mural Program is a way to pay homage to great Edmontonians while helping to discourage graffiti vandalism in the community," said Stephane Labonne, director of the City of Edmonton's Office of Great Neighbourhoods. "These murals demonstrate how art can add vibrancy to the neighbourhood and promote a safer and cleaner city.”

The mural, by local artist Kris Friesen depicts Kevin Martin and his team in a curling action shot as well as members of the 2010 Olympic gold medal curling team: Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Herbert and Team Martin coach Jules Owchar at the medal presentation.

“The club is so pleased with the mural. It’s a great way to add colour and beautify our community,” said Jules Owchar, who is also president of Avonair Curling Club.  “It is also an excellent way to acknowledge outstanding Edmontonians like Kevin and Team Martin, who have done so much for the sport of curling in Edmonton.”

"It means a lot that the mural is on the Avonair Curling Club where I got my start," said Kevin Martin who first joined Avonair as a student at NAIT and later as an ice maker. "I feel extremely honoured to be recognized in this kind of way with the likes of other great Edmontonians like Lois Hole and Joey Moss."

The subjects for the murals are nominated by way of an online poll of 630 CHED listeners. The City of Edmonton then selects the subject from among the suggestions and pays for the mural. 

Giants of Edmonton murals, each measuring approximately 425-450 square feet (40 square metres) include:

• The Honourable Lois Hole, Former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
• Sports fan Joey Moss
• The Canadian Forces
• Edmonton volunteers
• Hope Hunter, Boyle Street Community Services
• Our Natural Home – Edmonton’s River Valley
• Team Martin – The 2010 Men’s Olympic Curling Team

“The City of Edmonton is pleased to host TAGS this year and bring together so many experts on graffiti vandalism,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel. “The knowledge and skills shared at this conference will benefit not only Edmonton and other municipalities, but all citizens impacted by this crime.”

The conference features presentations from representatives of a number of local organizations involved in graffiti vandalism prevention and enforcement, as well as a number of international experts including:

• Dr. K.E. Keizer, An Associate Professor from the University of Groningen in The Netherlands presenting his research findings on the Broken Window Theory that shows the link between disorder in a community, such as litter and graffiti and increased crime.
• Sgt. Val Spicer, Vancouver Police Department, speaking on who graffiti vandalism taggers are and why they tag.
• Tom Ethans, Take Pride Winnipeg, will delve into the reasons murals make a difference in the community and how to transform city walls into colourful works of art.

Former graffiti taggers and current graffiti artists will also participate in a panel presentation and share their perspectives on the distinctions between graffiti art, street art and graffiti vandalism

“Our Graffiti Management Program’s graffiti vandalism prevention and reduction efforts have been successful because of our great partnership with Community Standards, Edmonton Police Service and fellow Edmontonians,” said Sharon Chapman, graffiti project manager for Capital City Clean Up. “Hosting this annual conference in Edmonton this year is a great opportunity to not only share our successes but to learn from the experience of others elsewhere on this ongoing societal issue."

The recognition of graffiti vandalism as a crime that can lead to serious offences has lead to national efforts to improve training, investigative skills and the sharing of intelligence on tracking and tagger identification.

“Graffiti vandalism is a problem shared by cities worldwide,” said Deputy Chief Neil Dubord, Edmonton Police Service. “The presence of graffiti in the community can generate fears of increasing gang activity, disorder and crime. It has a strong emotional and financial effect on the victimized.  Graffiti perpetuates more graffiti, and this perpetuates more cycles of disorder and crime.

“However, we are now able to hold more vandals accountable for their crimes because we are sharing information between law enforcement agencies, businesses, civic governments, and the community,” said Deputy Chief Dubord.

Taking place today and tomorrow at the Westin Hotel, TAGS 2011 is hosted by the City of Edmonton’s Capital City Clean Up Graffiti Management Program, in partnership with Community Standards and the Edmonton Police Service (EPS).

If Council approves the amendments, they would take effect January 1, 2012. Your business licence would not be changed until your renewal date.

For more information visit Proposed Business Licensing Changes

While students are hitting the books, the City’s Parking Enforcement Officers are hitting the pavement to ticket and tow illegally parked vehicles.

Parking Enforcement Officers are beginning a three-week, zero-tolerance parking enforcement campaign to get drivers in the habit of parking legally around schools.

“Parking illegally around schools creates congestion and blocks sightlines, making it harder for drivers and kids to see each other,” says Erin Blaine, Parking Enforcement Coordinator with the City of Edmonton. “To keep our kids safe, it’s important that no parking zones are respected during the school run.”

Parents dropping kids off for school should park legally down the street from the school and walk their children to the door.

The annual campaign also focuses on residential neighbourhoods, bus zones and emergency access routes around post-secondary institutions.

Post-secondary students should park in their college or university’s parking lot or walk, bike or take transit.

Vehicles parked illegally in these areas will be ticketed and towed without warning. Owners will be subject to a $50 fine, plus any towing and impound fees.

Officers handed out over 2,000 tickets during last September’s campaign. The City also towed dozens of vehicles around schools and post-secondary institutions.

Cat-related problems are at their peak at this time of year, so the City is reminding owners to take responsibility for their furry friends.

“We see way more lost cats, unwanted kittens and cat-related complaints during the warmer months, and many of these problems are preventable,” said Keith Scott, the coordinator with the City of Edmonton’s Animal Care & Control Centre. “Owners can keep their cats safe and out of trouble by spaying or neutering them, licensing them and keeping them at home.”

Keeping cats at home prevents them from being exposed to dangers like vehicles, human cruelty, disease, poisonous chemicals, other pets and wildlife. Cats should also be kept either indoors or safely confined to the yard to prevent them from becoming a nuisance. Neighbours can humanely trap cats that trespass on their land and owners can be fined $100 for allowing their cat to roam on private property.

Even if kept at home, cats can slip away and get lost. The best way to make sure they come back is for owners to license them. Sadly, most cats in Edmonton aren’t licensed and don’t make it back home if they are picked up by others. A licence makes it easy for the City to contact an owner if their cat is found. It’s also the law; the fine for not having a valid pet licence is $250.

Cats should also be fixed to prevent unwanted kittens. “There are already too many cats in Edmonton and not enough good homes for them, so owners need to make sure their cat can’t add to the problem,” said Scott. Spaying or neutering cats also curbs unwanted behaviours like fighting, biting, spraying, roaming and noisy heat cycles.

The City is running an education campaign this summer to remind both cat and dog owners about their obligations. Campaign messages are being shared through ads on buses, on billboards, in parks and in supermarkets. In addition, Animal Care & Control Officers are patrolling Edmonton on bicycles and in trucks to encourage pet owners to be responsible.

For more information, visit www.edmonton.ca/pets.