Executive Committee Minutes

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

9:30 A.m. - 5:00 P.m.

River Valley Room, 1st floor, City Hall

Present:

• A. Sohi, 
• A. Stevenson, 
• A. Knack, 
• J. Rice, 
• and E. Rutherford 

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1.

Call to Order and Related Business

1.1

Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement

Mayor A. Sohi called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m., Wednesday, February 15, 2023, and acknowledged that Executive Committee meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory. The Chair also acknowledged the diverse Indigenous peoples whose ancestors' footsteps have marked this territory for centuries such as: Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, as well as Metis and Inuit, and now settlers from around the world.

1.2

Roll Call

Mayor A. Sohi conducted roll call and confirmed the attendance of Members of Executive Committee. 

Mayor A. Sohi and Councillor E. Rutherford were absent with notice for a portion of the meeting.

Councillors T. Cartmell, M. Janz, A. Paquette, K. Principe, A. Salvador, K. Tang and J. Wright; and E. Norton, B. Tyson and J. Vizbar, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That the February 15, 2023, Executive Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following change:

  Addition:

  • 7.7 Additional Support for Industrial Development - Fulton Creek Business Park
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: A. Knack

  That the January 18, 2023, Executive Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

1.5

Protocol Items

1.

Michael Strembitsky School (A. Stevenson)

Councillor A. Stevenson, on behalf of Executive Committee, welcomed the Grade 6 class from Michael Strembitsky School in Ward Karhiio and their teacher, T. Boyko.

2.

Items for Discussion and Related Business

2.1

Select Items for Debate

The following items were selected for debate: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6 and 7.7.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

• Moved by: A. Knack

  That the recommendation in the following report be approved:

  • 5.1 Revenue Source for Transit - Potential, Risk and Implementation and Intergovernmental Advocacy
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: A. Sohi

  That Executive Committee hear from the following speakers, in panels when appropriate:

  • 7.2 Property Tax System
  • 7.3 Residential Subclasses and Options for 'Other Residential' Phase-Out 

  1. 1. T. Burr, Urban Development Institute - Edmonton Metro
     2. H. Edgar
     3. A. Pye, NAIOP Edmonton
     4. J. Czerwinski

  • 7.7 Additional Support for Industrial Development - Fulton Creek Business Park

  1. 1. M. Edwards, NAIOP Edmonton
     2. A. Pye, NAIOP Edmonton
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

2.4

Requests for Specific Time on Agenda

• Moved by: E. Rutherford

  That the following item be dealt with at a specific time on the agenda:

  • 7.7 Additional Support for Industrial Development - Fulton Creek Business Park - Second item of business
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

3.

Councillor Inquiries

There were no Councillor Inquiries.

4.

Reports to be Dealt with at a Different Meeting

There were no Reports to be Dealt with at a Different Meeting.

5.

Requests to Reschedule Reports

5.1

Revenue Source for Transit - Potential, Risk and Implementation and Intergovernmental Advocacy

This item was not selected for debate and was dealt with as part of item 2.2. The following motion carried:

That the revised due date of Third Quarter 2023, Executive Committee, for the Financial and Corporate Services report FCS01246, Revenue Source for Transit - Potential, Risk and Implementation and Intergovernmental Advocacy, be approved.

Revised Due Date: Third Quarter 2023, Executive Committee

6.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business on the agenda.

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Edmonton Screen Industries Office - Updates and Realignment

The following member of Administration's delegation made a presentation and answered questions:

• A. Laliberte, Urban Planning and Economy

The following members of the delegation made a presentation and answered questions:

• T. Viinikka, Edmonton Screen Industries Office
• P. Garritty, Edmonton Screen Industries Office

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• S. McCabe, Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy
• T. Mansfield, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: A. Knack

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  That the Edmonton Screen Media Fund subsidy agreement between the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Screen Industries Office Society be amended to update the reporting requirements and uses for the Edmonton Screen Media Fund, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the February 15, 2023, Urban Planning and Economy report UPE01524, and that the agreement be in form and content acceptable to the City Manager. 

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.2

Property Tax System

Items 7.2 and 7.3 were dealt with together.

The following member of Administration's delegation made a presentation:

• C. Watt, Financial and Corporate Services

The following public speaker made a presentation:

• J. Czerwinski

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• T. Burr, Urban Development Institute - Edmonton Metro
• A. Pye, NAIOP Edmonton
• H. Edgar

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• C. Watt, Financial and Corporate Services
• A. Szabo, Financial and Corporate Services
• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services
• C. Ashmore, Office of the City Manager (Legal Services)
• S. McCabe, Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: E. Rutherford

  That the February 15, 2023, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS01361, be received for information. 

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.3

Residential Subclasses and Options for 'Other Residential' Phase-Out

Items 7.2 and 7.3 were dealt with together.

Councillors A. Knack and A. Stevenson requested report FCS01153 be requisitioned to City Council without a Committee Recommendation.

7.4

Leduc Annexation Area Assessment Potential Adjustments

The following member of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• A. Szabo, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  That Administration proceed with the Leduc Annexation Area Residential Property Tax Cancellations for 2022, in the amount of $10,610.17, as outlined Attachment 1 of the February 15, 2023, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS01500, to be paid through the assessment and tax prior year appeal loss budget.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.5

Jurisdictional Scan on Property Tax Assistance Programs for Seniors

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• A. Szabo, Financial and Corporate Services
• C. Watt, Financial and Corporate Services
• C. Ashmore, Office of the City Manager (Legal Services)
• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That Administration return to Committee with a report outlining possible approaches to a low-income seniors property tax rebate program. 

  
  

  In Favour (1)	J. Rice
  Opposed (4)	A. Knack, A. Sohi, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Defeated (1 to 4)

7.6

Taxes Recommended for Cancellation (Write-Off) - Cancellation of Uncollectible Taxes and Penalties

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• A. Szabo, Financial and Corporate Services
• C. Ashmore, Office of the City Manager (Legal Services)
• C. Watt, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  That the cancellation (write-off) of $117,760.25 in uncollectible taxes, including all accrued penalties, as at December 31, 2022, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the February 15, 2023, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS01559, be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.7

Additional Support for Industrial Development - Fulton Creek Business Park

The following member of Administration's delegation made a presentation:

• A. Laliberte, Urban Planning and Economy

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• M. Edwards, NAIOP Edmonton
• A. Pye, NAIOP Edmonton

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• A. Laliberte, Urban Planning and Economy
• S. McCabe, Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy
• K. Petrin, Urban Planning and Economy
• M. Wispinski, Urban Planning and Economy
• J. Johnson, Office of the City Manager (Legal Services)
• A. Szabo, Financial and Corporate Services
• J. Wood, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  That revised Council Policy C592A - Industrial Infrastructure Cost Sharing Program, as outlined in Attachment 4 of the February 15, 2023, Urban Planning and Economy report UPE01473, be approved to allow future, eligible, industrial developers to recover 100 per cent of the tax uplift for over-expenditure costs. 

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Sohi, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

8.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

9.

Private Reports

There were no Private Reports on the agenda.

10.

Motions Pending

There were no Motions Pending on the agenda.

11.

Notices of Motion and Motions without Customary Notice

Mayor A. Sohi asked whether there were any Notices of Motion. There were none. 

12.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:57 p.m., Wednesday, February 15, 2023.