Edmonton Minute: City Turnover, Nighttime Economy, and a Permanent Navigation Centre

Edmonton Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Edmonton politics

This Week In Edmonton:

• On Tuesday, at 8:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Agenda Review Committee, followed by a City Council Public Hearing at 9:30 am to deal with several zoning amendments. Among the amendments to be discussed is the redevelopment of a large site in Woodcroft to support more residential density.
  
  
• On Wednesday, there will be a City Council meeting at 9:30 am. Council will discuss increasing the 2024 operating budget for the Social Development branch by $155,000 on a one-time basis with funding from the Council Contingency Fund, to pay for “2SLGBTQIA+ engagement contract work” as part of creating “safe and inclusive public spaces”. Also on the agenda is a discussion about options for a program that temporarily freezes property taxes for new residential construction or office conversions in downtown, as well as regulatory options to address surface parking lots in Centre City and the Quarters. There are a few private reports on the agenda too, including a City Auditor Recruitment Update. If the meeting does not wrap up on time, it will continue on Thursday at 9:30 am.
  
  
• As Andre Corbould's time as City Manager ends, the City is finalizing his severance arrangements. Corbould, who started in January 2021, was paid $350,267.94 per year, and became the seventh high-ranking City official to leave in less than a year, raising questions about turnover and stability at City Hall. A formal recruitment for a permanent replacement is underway.

Last Week In Edmonton:

• The Alberta government said it was concerned about Edmonton’s finances and stability and was on “standby” to help the City, should it need. The Province said reasons for concern were the above-mentioned seven senior staff members leaving the City, as well as financial challenges. Premier Danielle Smith said that she’s hopeful the City can solve these issues independently, and so far, no one has taken action, intervened, conducted an audit, or implemented extraordinary measures, but that the Province is prepared and available to provide assistance if needed. Smith said such a decision to intervene would not be made lightly.
  
  
• Edmonton's Nighttime Economy Strategy, a recently published report, delved into economic and tourism trends with the goal of cultivating a vibrant nighttime economy in Edmonton. Authored collaboratively by City officials, Explore Edmonton, and UK-based Night Time Economy Solutions, the Strategy aims to support business growth during nighttime hours. It prioritizes enhancing transportation infrastructure and ensuring safety. The Strategy will be presented for discussion at the Executive Committee meeting on April 10th.
  
  
• The Province announced that it will make Edmonton's navigation and support centre permanent. The centre was set up in response to the dismantling of homeless encampments, and it offers various supports for mental health, addiction treatment, primary healthcare, connections to housing and financial services, and Indigenous cultural supports. Social Services Minister Jason Nixon said that the navigation centre model surpassed expectations, with over 700 individuals using its services, leading to over 2,200 referrals.

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