Community and Public Services Committee Minutes

Monday, January 15, 2024

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

River Valley Room, 1st floor, City Hall

Present:

• K. Principe, 
• J. Rice, 
• A. Knack, 
• A. Paquette, 
• and A. Sohi 

---

1.

Call to Order and Related Business

1.1

Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement

Councillor K. Principe called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m., Monday, January 15, 2024, and acknowledged that Community and Public Services Committee meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory and Métis Homelands. 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 Métis and Inuit, and now settlers from around the world.

1.2

Roll Call

Councillor K. Principe conducted roll call and confirmed the attendance of Members of Community and Public Services Committee.

Mayor A. Sohi is a Committee Member pursuant to section 15(3), Council Committees Bylaw 18156.

Councillor A. Paquette was absent with notice for a portion of the meeting.

Councillors T. Cartmell, E. Rutherford, A. Salvador, A. Stevenson, K. Tang and J. Wright; and A. Karbashewski, G. Goodin and C. Martin, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That the January 15, 2024, Community and Public Services Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following change:

  Replacement attachment:

  • 7.1 Updated Affordable Housing Strategy
    - Attachment 1

  In Favour (4)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (4 to 0)
• Moved by: K. Principe

  That the January 15, 2024, Community and Public Services Committee recess and continue upon adjournment of the January 15, 2024, Special City Council meeting.

  In Favour (4)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (4 to 0)

  Clerk's Note: The January 15, 2024, Community and Public Services Committee meeting was adjourned via motion at the January 15, 2024, Special City Council meeting. Item 7.2 was laid over to the February 5, 2024, Community and Public Services Committee meeting.

  
  

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: A. Knack

  That the December 4, 2023, Community and Public Services Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  In Favour (4)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (4 to 0)

1.5

Protocol Items

There were no Protocol Items.

2.

Items for Discussion and Related Business

2.1

Select Items for Debate

The following items were selected for debate: 7.1 and 7.2.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

All items were selected for debate.

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That Community and Public Services Committee hear from the following speakers, in panels when appropriate:

  • 7.1 Updated Affordable Housing Strategy

  1. 1. J. Evans, Affordable Housing Solutions Lab
     2. C. Noble, Bissell Centre
     3. S. McGee
     4. K. Suvanto, Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
     5. L. Francescutti
     6. L. Awwad, IslamicFamily
     7. O. Yaqub, IslamicFamily 
     8. L. Cunningham-Shpeley, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
     9. C. Beasley, University of Alberta Students' Union
     10. Q. Wade, Edmonton 2 Spirit Society
     11. B. Upadhyay, Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc
     12. B. Claude, Civida
     13. G. Johnston, Civida
     14. H. Bayne, Climate Justice Edmonton
     15. R. Tate
     16. J. Vandekerkhove, Soloss
     17. C. Mihko Kihew, Edmonton 2 Spirit Society

  • 7.2 Aligning Turf and Horticulture Resources and Service Levels

  1. 1. S. Watson

  In Favour (4)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (4 to 0)

2.4

Requests for Specific Time on Agenda

There were no requests for items to be dealt with at a specific time on the agenda.

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

There were no Requests to Reschedule Reports. 

6.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business on the agenda.

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Updated Affordable Housing Strategy

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

• J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
• C. Kjenner, Community Services
• H. Quan, Community Services

The following public speakers made presentations:

• S. McGee
• K. Suvanto, Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
• L. Awwad, IslamicFamily
• O. Yaqub, IslamicFamily 
• L. Cunningham-Shpeley, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
• B. Upadhyay, Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc
• G. Johnston, Civida
• H. Bayne, Climate Justice Edmonton

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• Q. Wade, Edmonton 2 Spirit Society
• C. Mihko Kihew, Edmonton 2 Spirit Society
• C. Noble, Bissell Centre
• R. Tate
• J. Evans, Affordable Housing Solutions Lab
• C. Beasley, University of Alberta Students' Union
• J. Vandekerkhove, Soloss

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• C. Kjenner, Community Services
• H. Quan, Community Services
• A. Osman, Community Services

• Moved by: A. Sohi

  That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  That the City of Edmonton Updated Affordable Housing Strategy (2023 - 2026), as outlined in Attachment 1 of the January 15, 2024, Community Services report CS01673, be approved.

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, A. Sohi, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (5 to 0)
• Moved by: A. Knack

  Reassessment of Lived Experience Research

  That Administration provide a report that revisits past research and opportunity areas tailored towards segments surfaced through the Affordable Housing Needs Assessment qualitative lived experience research as outlined in Attachment 2 of the September 26, 2022, Community Services Report CS01088) and determine paths for action, directly involving people with lived and living experiences, including but not limited to: advocacy; prototyping; service adjustment and coordination.

  Due Date: April 29, 2024, Community and Public Services Committee

  In Favour (3)

  A. Knack, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (3 to 0)
• Moved by: A. Knack

  That Administration provide a memo supplementing the updated Housing Needs Assessment as outlined in Attachment 4 of the January 15, 2024, Community Services report CS01673, with a further breakdown of low and very low income Edmontonians including, but not limited to, sources of income and affordable housing available to them.

  In Favour (3)

  A. Knack, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (3 to 0)

7.2

Aligning Turf and Horticulture Resources and Service Levels

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

• E. Robar, City Operations
• C. McKeown, City Operations

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• S. Watson

The following member of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• C. McKeown, City Operations

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  1. That Administration prepare a funded service package and capital profile for the Spring 2024 Supplemental Operating and Capital Budget Adjustments to increase turf and horticulture funding to be able to deliver current service levels as described in the January 15, 2024 City Operations report CO02130.
  2. That Administration prepare an unfunded service package and capital profile for consideration during the Fall 2024 Supplemental Operating and Capital Budget Adjustments to enhance service levels for turf and horticulture maintenance as described in the January 15, 2024, City Operation report CO02130.

  Not put to vote

   

  This item was laid over to the February 5, 2024, Community and Public Services Committee meeting (see item 1.3).

  
  

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

There were no Notices of Motion and Motions without Customary Notice (see item 1.3). 

12.

Adjournment

The meeting concluded at 5:15 p.m., Monday, January 15, 2024 (see item 1.3).