City Council - Non-Regular - Minutes

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

1:30 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Council Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall

Present:

• A. Sohi, 
• T. Cartmell, 
• S. Hamilton, 
• M. Janz, 
• A. Knack, 
• A. Paquette, 
• K. Principe, 
• J. Rice, 
• E. Rutherford, 
• A. Salvador, 
• A. Stevenson, 
• K. Tang, 
• and J. Wright 

---

1.

Call to Order and Related Business

1.1

Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement

Mayor A. Sohi called the meeting to order at 1:32 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2025, and acknowledged that City Council 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 City Council.

Councillor S. Hamilton was absent with notice for a portion of the meeting.

Councillor M. Janz was absent without notice for a portion of the meeting.

Councillor E. Rutherford was absent for a portion of the meeting due to technical issues.

E. Robar, City Manager; and N. Jacobsen, Meeting Clerk, J. Shearer and M. Friesen, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: S. Hamilton
  Seconded by: J. Rice

  That the February 19, 2025, City Council - Non-Regular meeting agenda be adopted with the following change:

  Addition:

  • 7.1 Ratification of Interim Chief of Police
    (Private pursuant to sections 17, 23, 24 and 29 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)
    

  In Favour (11)

  A. Sohi, T. Cartmell, S. Hamilton, A. Knack, A. Paquette, K. Principe, J. Rice, A. Stevenson, A. Salvador, J. Wright, and K. Tang

  Carried (11 to 0)

1.4

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

There were no Requests to Speak. 

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.

2.5

Vote on Bylaws not Selected for Debate

There were no Bylaws on the agenda.

3.

Reports to be Dealt with at a Different Meeting

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

4.

Requests to Reschedule Reports

There were no Requests to Reschedule Reports. 

5.

Public Reports

There were no Public Reports on the agenda.

6.

Bylaws

There were no Bylaws on the agenda.

7.

Private Reports

7.1

Ratification of Interim Chief of Police

• Moved by: J. Rice
  Seconded by: J. Wright

  That City Council meet in private pursuant to sections 17 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy), 23 (local public body confidences), 24 (advice from officials) and 29 (information that will be available to the public) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the discussion of item 7.1.

  In Favour (13)

  A. Knack, S. Hamilton, A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, J. Rice, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson, J. Wright, and K. Principe

  Carried (13 to 0)

  City Council met in private at 1:38 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

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

  • S. Amiri, Edmonton Police Commision

  The following member of the delegation answered questions:

  • M. Barker, Edmonton Police Commision
  
  
• Moved by: J. Wright
  Seconded by: K. Tang

  That City Council meet in public.

  In Favour (13)

  A. Knack, S. Hamilton, A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, J. Rice, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson, J. Wright, and K. Principe

  Carried (13 to 0)

  City Council met in public at 1:52 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

  
  
• Moved by: A. Sohi
  Seconded by: J. Wright
  1. That the selection of the interim Chief of Police under the provisions and terms set out by the Edmonton Police Commission and outlined in the February 19, 2025, Edmonton Police Commission report EXT02835, be ratified.
  2. That the name of the interim Chief of Police remain private and confidential until that appointment is announced by the Edmonton Police Commission pursuant to sections 17 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy) and 29 (information that will be available to the public) for the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
  3. That the February 19, 2025, Edmonton Police Commission report EXT02835 remain private pursuant to sections 17 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy), 23 (local public body confidences), and 24 (advice from officials) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

  In Favour (13)

  A. Knack, S. Hamilton, A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, J. Rice, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson, J. Wright, and K. Principe

  Carried (13 to 0)

7.2

Intergovernmental Update - Verbal report

• Moved by: J. Rice
  Seconded by: J. Wright

  That City Council meet in private pursuant to sections 21 (disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations), 24 (advice from officials) and 25 (disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the discussion of item 7.2.

  In Favour (13)

  A. Knack, S. Hamilton, A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, J. Rice, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson, J. Wright, and K. Principe

  Carried (13 to 0)

  City Council met in private at 1:56 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

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

  • E. Robar, City Manager
  • J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
  • C. McKeown, Acting Deputy City Manager, City Operations
  • S. Ebrahim, Office of the City Manager
  • S. Gellatly, Community Services
  • C. Hotton-MacDonald, City Operations

  The following members of the delegation made a presentation:

  • W. Driechel, Edmonton Police Service
  • S. Milles, New West Public Affairs
  • M. Solberg, New West Public Affairs

  The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

  • E. Robar, City Manager
  • M. Plouffe, Chief People Officer and City Solicitor
  • C. McKeown, Acting Deputy City Manager, City Operations
  • D. Jones, Community Services
  • C. Hotton-MacDonald, City Operations
  • S. Gellatly, Community Services
  • S. Ebrahim, Office of the City Manager
  • Y. Oke, Office of the City Manager
  • C. Kjenner, Community Services

  The following members of the delegation answered questions:

  • W. Driechel, Edmonton Police Service
  • M. Solberg, New West Public Affairs
  
  
• Moved by: K. Tang
  Seconded by: A. Salvador

  That City Council meet in public.

  In Favour (13)

  A. Knack, S. Hamilton, A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, J. Rice, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson, J. Wright, and K. Principe

  Carried (13 to 0)

  City Council met in public at 4:41 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

  
  
• Moved by: K. Tang
  Seconded by: J. Rice
  1. That the February 19, 2025, Office of the City Manager verbal report OCM02837, be received for information.
  2. That the Feburary 19, 2025, Office of the City Manager verbal report OCM02837 remain private pursuant to sections 21 (disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations), 24 (advice from officials), 25 (disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) and 27 (privileged information) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

  In Favour (13)

  A. Knack, S. Hamilton, A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, J. Rice, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson, J. Wright, and K. Principe

  Carried (13 to 0)

8.

Motions Pending

There were no Motions Pending on the agenda.

9.

Notices of Motion and Motions without Customary Notice

9.1

Tax Forgiveness Options - Southern Springs GP LTD (K. Tang)

Councillor K. Tang requested permission to make a motion without notice regarding Tax Forgiveness Options for Southern Springs GP LTD.

• Moved by: K. Principe
  Seconded by: A. Paquette

  That City Council waive the rules on providing notice of motion as set out in section 32 of Bylaw 18155 - Council Procedures Bylaw to allow Councillor K. Tang to make a motion without notice regarding Tax Forgiveness Options for Southern Springs GP LTD.

  In Favour (13)

  A. Knack, S. Hamilton, A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, J. Rice, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson, J. Wright, and K. Principe

  Carried (13 to 0)

  The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

  • A. Szabo, Financial and Corporate Services
  • S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services
  
  
• Moved by: K. Tang
  Seconded by: A. Knack

  Tax Forgiveness Options - Southern Springs GP LTD

  That Administration provide a report to Committee on the background and outlining the tax forgiveness options for Southern Springs GP LTD from 2020-2024 for property address 671 Watt Boulevard SW (account 10934587).

  Due Date: May 14, 2025, Executive Committee 

  In Favour (13)

  A. Knack, S. Hamilton, A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, J. Rice, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson, J. Wright, and K. Principe

  Carried (13 to 0)

9.2

Community Leagues Life Safety Infrastructure Needs (E. Rutherford)

Councillor E. Rutherford stated that at the next regular meeting of Community and Public Services Committee, the following motion would be moved:

That Administration provide a report on options, including potential funding sources, for responding to Life Safety infrastructure needs for Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues and the community leagues based on the most recent building condition assessments completed to-date.

• Notice of Motion Given: February 19, 2025, City Council - Non-Regular

10.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2025.