WEEKLY UPDATE - OCT 23

Welcome back to a belated weekly wrap up! Last week was a brief recess for Council, but we had a few big items the week before.

At Executive Committee, we talked about the Chinatown Strategy. There was a lot of good news in the update, and we heard from many community members who are doing fantastic work in Chinatown. I was pleased to speak in support of a motion to commit $480,000 to continue the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund. We’ve seen great things coming from this investment and I’m excited to see it continue until 2026.

We also delved into a detailed analysis of our structural budget challenges with a 150 page report. We saw how many fiscal gaps have built up over time and have left us with significant constraints. I appreciate the analysis, and the further action City staff are taking to address these challenges. This information will help inform the tough budget decisions we make later this fall. My goal will be to reinvest in core services and set us up for long term success.

At Utility Committee, we reviewed EPCOR’s Performance Based Regulation application. This was a huge piece of work and will impact how much you pay for waste and stormwater management, and maintaining our infrastructure moving forward. I’m pleased that Committee directed a number of changes that will strengthen affordability for rate payers, and I look forward to seeing the revised filing coming forward later this year.

That’s all for the latest Council business. Until next week!