Edmonton Minute: Solar Rebates, Warehouse Park, and Canada Day Festivities

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

This Week In Edmonton:

• Happy Canada Day! There are activities happening around the city today, including free family activities and musical performances at the Ice District, and music and multicultural performances at Mill Woods Park culminating with a fireworks show at 11:00 pm. For more details on specific activities and times, click here.
  
  
• There are three Committee meetings tomorrow, and each agenda includes the election of either a Chair or Vice-Chair, or both. The Special Community and Public Services Committee will meet at 8:00 am, as will the Special Urban Planning Committee. At 8:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Special Executive Committee. There is also a Public Hearing tomorrow at 9:30 am to deal with many zoning amendments.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council meeting. Council will consider procedural amendments to the Council Code of Conduct before addressing several public reports. The reports include one on the Corporate Homeless Plan, which notes that Edmonton spent about $91 million in homelessness supports last year - up from $71 million in 2022. Council will also hear a report on the Equitable Recreation Programming Audit and a Waste Services Fiscal Policy Update. Should the meeting not conclude on time, it will continue on Thursday at 9:30 am.

Last Week In Edmonton:

• City Council has approved the first part of the new district planning program, which aims to separate the city into 15 districts to encourage housing and business growth. Despite public engagement, many residents expressed concerns about the program’s impact on residential areas, housing prices, and environmental protections. To address public fears, they clarified that the plan won't restrict freedom of movement. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi emphasized the importance of maintaining Edmonton's affordability and providing diverse housing options. The policy must be approved by the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board before receiving final Council approval.
  
  
• The City announced that multi-unit residential properties are now eligible for the solar panel rebate program. The city has committed $1.3 million in rebates to the program, which will be available to properties with four or more permitted dwellings. Applications for the program will open on July 2nd and rebates will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Single-family residential homeowners in Edmonton were offered similar rebates from 2019 to 2023.
  
  
• City crews broke ground on the downtown Edmonton Warehouse Park Project. The project will convert several surface parking lots into a park featuring a tobogganing hill, an off-leash dog park, a community space, a playground, and an outdoor exercise area. The project is expected to cost about $44.8 million. Construction on the Warehouse Park Project is expected to begin in July and will take two years to complete. A part of 107th Street, north of Jasper Avenue, will be permanently closed to make way for the park and become a pedestrian promenade.

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