Executive Committee Minutes

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

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

Council Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall

Present:

• A. Sohi, 
• A. Paquette, 
• T. Cartmell, 
• K. Principe, 
• and K. Tang 

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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 9:33 a.m., Wednesday, August 28, 2024, and acknowledged that Executive Committee meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory and the Métis homeland. 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

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

Councillors M. Janz, A. Knack, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, A. Salvador, A. Stevenson and J. Wright; E. Robar, Interim City Manager; and K. Stolarz, Deputy City Clerk, B. Tyson and G. Goodin, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That the August 28, 2024, Executive Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following change:

  Addition:

  • 7.2 Implementation of Transit Revenue Actions
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, and K. Principe

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: K. Principe

  That the August 14, 2024, Executive Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, and K. Principe

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

1.5

Protocol Items

1.5.1

International Overdose Awareness Day (A. Sohi)

Mayor A. Sohi, on behalf of Executive Committee, recognized August 31, 2024, as International Overdose Awareness Day and joins Edmontontonians in mourning the many lives lost to the drug poisoning crisis.

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 and 7.4.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

All items were selected for debate.

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: K. Tang

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

  • 7.1 Ride Transit Program Funding Gap

  1. 1. D. Witte, Edmonton Transit Riders

  • 7.2 Implementation of Transit Revenue Actions

  1. 1. D. Witte, Edmonton Transit Riders

  • 7.4 Affordable Housing Site - Sale of Land Below Market Value and Grant Funding - Parkdale Residential

  1. 1. T. Soroka, Jasper Place Wellness Centre
     2. M. Soroka, Jasper Place Wellness Centre
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, and K. Principe

  
  
  
  Carried (5 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

Ride Transit Program Funding Gap

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

• C. McKeown, Acting Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• S. Feldman, City Operations

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• D. Witte, Edmonton Transit Riders

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• C. Hotton-MacDonald, City Operations
• S. Feldman, City Operations
• D. Jones, Community Services
• C. McKeown, Acting Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• E. Robar, Interim City Manager

• Moved by: A. Sohi
  1. That Administration maintains transit fares for 2024-2026 in the transit user fee schedule approved as part of  the 2023-2026 Operating Budget.
  2. That an unfunded service package be brought to the Fall 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment, to provide one-time funding of $10,200,000 to the Ride Transit Program budget to implement the Ride Transit Program.
  3. That Administration review the revenue-to-cost recovery ratio in Policy C451H - Edmonton Transit Service Fare Policy and provide options, including new target ranges, and return to Committee.
  4. That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  That the Mayor, on behalf of City Council, seek a meeting with the Government of Alberta to discuss maintaining the ongoing sustainability of the Ride Transit Program. 

  
  
  
  
  

• Amendment:

  Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That point 2 be struck and replaced with:
  
  2. That Administration bring forward options to the Fall 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment for reallocation within the existing Operating Budget to support the Ride Transit Program on a one-time basis in the amount of $10,200,000.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, and K. Principe

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

• Motion as Amended, put:

  Moved by: A. Sohi
  1. That Administration maintains transit fares for 2024-2026 in the transit user fee schedule approved as part of  the 2023-2026 Operating Budget.
  2. That Administration bring forward options to the Fall 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment for reallocation within the existing Operating Budget to support the Ride Transit Program on a one-time basis in the amount of $10,200,000.
     Due Date: Fall 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment
     
     Edmonton Transit Service Fare Policy C451H Review
  3. That Administration review the revenue-to-cost recovery ratio in Policy C451H - Edmonton Transit Service Fare Policy and provide options, including new target ranges, and return to Committee.
     Due Date: First Quarter 2025, Executive Committee
  4. That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  That the Mayor, on behalf of City Council, seek a meeting with the Government of Alberta to discuss maintaining the ongoing sustainability of the Ride Transit Program. 

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, and K. Principe

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.2

Implementation of Transit Revenue Actions

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

• C. McKeown, Acting Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• S. Feldman, City Operations

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• D. Witte, Edmonton Transit Riders

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions

• C. Hotton-MacDonald, City Operations
• D. Jones, Community Services
• S. Feldman, City Operations
• C. McKeown, Acting Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• R. Jevne, Community Services

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Administration implement the next steps required to advance Items P-18 (create an online store for ETS souvenirs or merchandise) and P-17 (enhance ETS fare collection for special events to decrease fare evasion and increase revenues) as outlined in the August 28, 2024 City Operations report CO02506, and that Administration bring forward budget adjustments when actual revenues can be confirmed.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, and K. Principe

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.3

2023 Alley Lighting Maintenance Tax Excess Revenue

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• H. Rai, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services
• J. Chow, City Operations

• Moved by: K. Principe

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  1. That the excess revenue of $52,373 collected as part of the 2023 Alley Lighting Maintenance Special Tax be applied to the 2025 Alley Lighting Maintenance Rates.
  2. That the 2025 Operating Budget be adjusted to reduce the revenue collected through 2025 Alley Lighting Maintenance Special Taxes by $52,373, offset by an equivalent transfer from the Financial Stabilization Reserve.
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, and K. Principe

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.4

Affordable Housing Site - Sale of Land Below Market Value and Grant Funding - Parkdale Residential

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

• B. Jarocki, Financial and Corporate Services

The following public speaker answered questions: 

• T. Soroka, Jasper Place Wellness Centre

The following member of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• S. Kehrig, Community Services

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the sale of land in Parkdale, Lots 1 to 3, Block 4, Plan 5850R, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the August 28, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02515, to Jasper Place Wellness Centre, on the terms and conditions outlined in Attachment 2 of the August 28, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02105, be approved, and that the agreement(s) be in form and content acceptable to the City Manager.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, and K. Principe

  
  
  
  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 3:04 p.m., Wednesday, August 28, 2024.