Community and Public Services Committee Minutes

Monday, February 26, 2024

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

Virtual Meeting

Present:

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

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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, February 26, 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.

Councillors T. Cartmell, S. Hamilton, M. Janz, E. Rutherfod, A. Salvador, A. Stevenson and J. Wright; and J. Abekah, G. Goodin and B. Tyson, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That the February 26, 2024, Community and Public Services Committee meeting agenda be adopted.

  In Favour (4)

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

  Carried (4 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: A. Knack

  That the February 5, 2024, 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

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

  • 7.1 Mental Health and Addiction within City of Edmonton

  1. 1. G. Puligandla, Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton Region
     2. A. Ross, Edmonton Counselling Community of Practice/Momentum Counselling
     3. J. McGowan
     4. Y. Durak, Islamic Family Social Services Association
     5. A. Altaf, IslamicFamily
     6. S. Stauffer, Cornerstone Counselling
     7. K. Hay, Kickstand Edmonton

  • 7.2 Dog Off-Leash Area Establishment - Pop-up Dog Parks and Community Initiated Options

  1. 1. A. Gruneir 
     2. K. Matheson
        

  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

4.1

Mortality Rates and Edmonton's Homeless Population

This report is scheduled to be dealt with at the May 21, 2024, Community and Public Services Committee meeting.

Due Date: May 21, 2024, Community and Public Services Committee

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

Mental Health and Addiction within City of Edmonton

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

• J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services

The following member of the delegation made a presentation:

• M. Snaterse, Alberta Health Services

The following public speakers made presentations:

• J. McGowan
• Y. Durak, Islamic Family Social Services Association

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• A. Ross, Edmonton Counselling Community of Practice/Momentum Counselling
• G. Puligandla, Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton Region
• K. Hay, Kickstand Edmonton
• S. Stauffer, Cornerstone Counselling

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• C. Hawrelak, Community Services
• J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services

The following member of the delegation answered questions:

• M. Snaterse, Alberta Health Services

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That the February 26, 2024, Community Services report CS01745, be received for information.

  In Favour (4)

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

  Carried (4 to 0)
• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  That the Mayor, on behalf of City Council, write a letter to the provincial Ministers of Health and Mental Health and Addictions, outlining: 

  • City costs associated with providing emergency services related to mental health, addiction, and drug poisoning incidents;
  • Opportunities for collaboration, provincial investment in Edmonton, and/or a future road map of future Council work and reports; and 
  • Include a copy of the February 26, 2024, Community Services report CS01745 with this letter.

  In Favour (4)

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

  Carried (4 to 0)

7.2

Dog Off-Leash Area Establishment - Pop-up Dog Parks and Community Initiated Options

The following members of Administration’s delegation made presentations:

• E. Robar, Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• M. Beare, City Operations

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• A. Gruneir
• K. Matheson

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• J. Wilson, Community Services
• E. Robar, Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services
• C. McKeown, City Operations
• M. Beare, City Operations

• Moved by: A. Knack

  That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  1. That an $8.00 per year increase to dog license fees for both spayed/neutered and non-spayed/non-neutered animals, and that the funding be used to create and enhance off-leash dog parks across Edmonton as well as to address the financial deficit for this program.
  2. That Administration return to Spring 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment with an unfunded service package to make the variance whole regarding the funding drop-off.

  In Favour (4)

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

  Carried (4 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

Councillor K. Principe asked whether there were any Notices of Motion. There were none. 

12.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m., Monday, February 26, 2024.