Weekly Update - April 22nd, 2022

While it didn't feel as hectic as usual, a lot still happened this week!

💰 Council approved the Spring Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment (SOBA), which will hold our tax increase to 1.91%. This rate balances the financial pressures of residents and businesses that have been struggling through the pandemic with the need to continue investing in the places and programs that make our community great.

🏬 We approved two rezonings in the ward that I’m pretty excited about - including a modest increase in height to the “Open Sky” tower under construction in Oliver and the transformation of the Horne and Pitfield warehouse building on 104 Street to a mixed use tower, with the historic facades of this beautiful building preserved. Thanks to both Oliver Community League and Downtown Edmonton Community League civics committee for their careful review and input on these proposals.

✅ Council also gave the green light to start the District Planning process, which will provide a finer-grained implementation of the City Plan at the local level. This is a significant piece of work coming forward and you’ll be hearing a lot more about it in coming months!

🚃 I’m also pleased that we directed City staff to further explore a range of new tools to supplement ongoing funding for transit. This is an important step to ensuring great transit service and I look forward to seeing the results when the report comes back to Council.

🎙The biggest highlight of the week for me was joining the Speaking Municipally podcast to talk about my work on the Police Commission. It came out at noon today - be sure to give it a listen! I look forward to talking much more about community safety and wellbeing in our community. There are some key reports coming up next month related to police funding and that I'll be talking about lots!