Edmonton Minute: Transit Needs, Downtown Density, and a Tax Increase Proposed

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

This Week In Edmonton:

• This morning, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council Public Hearing to address several proposed zoning amendments. If the hearing does not conclude on time, it will continue on Tuesday at 1:30 pm. On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Non-Regular Meeting of City Council. The agenda includes a closed session regarding candidate shortlisting for the Edmonton Police Commission.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, the Council Services Committee will meet to discuss Councillors’ budgets and expenses. Finally, the Utility Committee will meet on Friday at 9:30 am. There are several items on the agenda, including the Waste Services Climate Action Plan, as well as rates for the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility.
  
  
• Edmonton is selling land in the Quarters at a significantly reduced price to the non-profit Edmonton City Church Corporation to develop transitional housing and office spaces. The project aims to add 19 transitional housing beds and relocate an emergency women's shelter from the Gibson Block to a new building with 50 shelter beds. Although the sale, valued at over $3 million, has been met with concerns about demolishing the historic Joseph Reed Residence, Councillors are hoping this initiative will spur additional private investment in the area. The development is expected to enhance foot traffic and economic activity.

Last Week In Edmonton:

• A proposed property tax increase of 8.1% for 2025 has been put forward for Councillors to vote on, along with a recommendation for a 7.3% increase in 2026. Edmonton's Chief Financial Officer said that it is necessary to maintain current City services despite budget constraints, though some Councillors, such as Tim Cartmell, questioned Administration's efficiency and service delivery methods. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi expressed relief that the proposed increase is lower than the initially suggested 13%. Council will discuss the budget later this month.
  
  
• Experts at a recent panel discussion highlighted concerns about the expansive size of Edmonton's downtown, suggesting that its vastness hinders vibrancy and density. With a significant amount of vacant retail space and an office vacancy rate around 21.4%, panelists emphasized the need for increased housing to rejuvenate the area. The current downtown population is approximately 13,000, but a panelist suggested that between 60,000 and 80,000 is what the City should be aiming for.
  
  
• Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) has identified the need for 99 additional buses by 2026 to accommodate a surge in public transit demand, which has increased by 12% since 2019. Weekend ridership has notably risen by 28%, prompting plans for enhanced service frequency, new routes, and a shift from on-demand to conventional bus service in certain neighbourhoods. In addition to the new buses, ETS will also need to replace 260 aging buses within the same timeframe. City officials are seeking funding from the Canada Public Transit Fund to help fund these initiatives.

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