Community and Public Services Committee Minutes

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

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 

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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., Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 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 E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson, K. Tang and J. Wright; and C. Martin, B. Webster and S. Parsons, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That the July 11, 2023, 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 June 19, 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

1.5.1

Community Peace Officer Graduation Recognition (K. Principe)

Councillor K. Principe, on behalf of Community and Public Services Committee, recognized Class 40 of the Peace Officers graduating in City Hall.

1.5.2

Tribute for the passing of former City Manager Cyril Armstrong (K. Principe)

Councillor K. Principe, on behalf of Community and Public Services Committee, extended condolences to the family and friends of former City Manager Cyril Armstrong, who passed away on June 24, 2023.

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 8.1.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

All items were selected for debate.

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: K. Principe

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

  • 7.1 Assisted Snow Programs
    1. L. Cunningham-Shpeley, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
    2. T. LaRiviere, Accessibility Advisory Committee
  • 7.2 Cost Sharing Partnerships with Organizations to Increase Small-scale Community Amenities, Recreation and Leisure Spots in the Downtown Area
    1. P. McBryan, Edmonton Downtown Business Association
  • 7.3 Community Park Amenities Program
    1. J. Janvier, Soraya Hafez Community Playground Committee
    2. S. Bell, Soraya Hafez Community Playground Committee
    3. J. MacDonald, Soraya Hafez Community Playground Committee
    4. B. Schroeder
    5. H. Langenhahn
    6. L. Cunningham-Shpeley, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
    7. H. Leeder
  • 8.1 Current Status of City-enabled and City-provided Indigenous Business Supports (A. Paquette)
    1. B. Hanewich, EndPovertyEdmonton

  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

Assisted Snow Programs

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

• J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• T. LaRiviere, Accessibility Advisory Committee

The following public speaker answered questions:

• L. Cunningham-Shpeley, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
• K. Scott, Community Services
• D. Jones, Community Services
• D. Jubinville, Acting Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That Administration bring forward an unfunded service package for consideration during the Fall 2023 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment for the City to operationalize an Expanded Snow Program, as outlined as Option 2 of the July 11, 2023, Community Services report CS01783, and that the scope of the program be expanded to include:

  • Leveraging the Provincial Special Needs Assistance for Seniors Benefit Program.

  Due Date: Fall 2023 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment

• Amendment

  Moved by: A. Paquette

  That the motion on the floor be amended by adding the following:

  • Potential options for an Expanded Snow Program with base data points identifying current utilization, and integration with current City programs; and
  • Strategies for incorporating community league participation currently under the Snow to Go program and to include a dedicated budget.

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

  A. Giesbrecht, City Clerk, answered questions.

  
  

• Motion as Amended, put: 

  Moved by: J. Rice

  That Administration bring forward an unfunded service package for consideration during the Fall 2023 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment for the City to operationalize an Expanded Snow Program, as outlined as Option 2 of the July 11, 2023, Community Services report CS01783, and that the scope of the program be expanded to include:

  • Leveraging the Provincial Special Needs Assistance for Seniors Benefit Program; and
  • Potential options for an Expanded Snow Program with base data points identifying current utilization, and integration with current City programs; and
  • Strategies for incorporating community league participation currently under the Snow to Go program and to include a dedicated budget.

  Due Date: Fall 2023 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

7.2

Cost Sharing Partnerships with Organizations to Increase Small-scale Community Amenities, Recreation and Leisure Spots in the Downtown Area

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

• A. Laliberte, Acting Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• P. McBryan, Edmonton Downtown Business Association

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• A. Laliberte, Acting Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy
• B. Latchford, Urban Planning and Economy
• C. McKeown, City Operations
• T. Girvan, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: A. Sohi

  That Administration bring forward an unfunded service package for consideration during the Fall 2023 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment which would allow the City to continue the City Centre Optimization Project, including an increased focus on the maintenance of parks, as outlined in the July 11, 2023, Urban Planning and Economy report UPE01577. 

  Due Date: Fall 2023 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

7.3

Community Park Amenities Program

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

• K. Snyder, Urban Planning and Economy
• H. Hassan, Urban Planning and Economy

The following public speakers made presentations:

• S. Bell, Soraya Hafez Community Playground Committee
• B. Schroeder
• H. Leeder

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• J. Janvier, Soraya Hafez Community Playground Committee
• L. Cunningham-Shpeley, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
• H. Langenhahn

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• S. Young, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• C. Churchill, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That Administration bring forward an unfunded capital profile for consideration during the Fall 2023 Supplemental Capital Budget Adjustment that provides one-time funding of $5.5 million to the Community Parks Amenities: Growth program, as outlined in the July 11, 2023, Urban Planning and Economy report UPE01630.

  Due Date: Fall 2023 Supplemental Capital Budget Adjustment

  In Favour (5)

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

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

  That Administration work with legacy Neighbourhood Park Development Program (NPDP) playground projects currently underway, including the Soraya Hafez Playground Committee, to develop a phased approach to navigate through the transition period to attain the playground/amenity project completion past the previously defined 2024 fundraising deadline.

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

8.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

8.1

Current Status of City-enabled and City-provided Indigenous Business Supports (A. Paquette)

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

• A. Laliberte, Acting Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• J. Ferner, Urban Planning and Economy
• T. Mansfield, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That the July 11, 2023, Urban Planning and Economy report UPE01844, be postponed to the August 28, 2023, Community and Public Services Committee meeting.

  Due Date: August 28, 2023, Community and Public Services Committee

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

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 4:59 p.m., Tuesday, July 11, 2023.