Executive Committee Minutes

Wednesday, October 09, 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 9:36 a.m., Wednesday, October 9, 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.

Mayor A. Sohi was absent for a portion of the meeting with notice.

Councillors M. Janz, A. Knack, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, A. Salvador, A. Stevenson and J. Wright; E. Robar, Interim City Manager; and N. Jacobsen, Meeting Clerk, B. Tyson and E. Norton, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That the October 9, 2024, Executive Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following changes:

  Additions:

  • 7.1 Capital and Operating Funding Shortfall Analysis
  • 7.4 GEF Seniors Housing Annual Report - 2023 Financial Reporting

  Replacement report:

  • 9.1 Blatchford Leasehold Interest Purchase and New License Approval
    (Private pursuant to sections 16, 24 and 25 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)

  Replacement attachments:

  • 7.5 Bylaw 20943 - To Designate the Crawford Residence as a Municipal Historic Resource
    - Attachment 1
  • 9.1 Blatchford Leasehold Interest Purchase and New License Approval
    - Attachment 2
    (Private pursuant to sections 16, 24 and 25 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)
  
  

  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: T. Cartmell

  That the September 18, 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

World Mental Health Day (A. Sohi)

Mayor A. Sohi, on behalf of Executive Committee, recognized October 10, 2024 as World Mental Health Day, which is an important reminder for all of us to check in with our friends, family and colleagues, as well as with ourselves. World Mental Health Day also encourages us to examine what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

1.5.2

Commemorating members of the Parks and Roads Services Team (A. Sohi)

Mayor A. Sohi on behalf of Executive Committee, honoured those from Parks and Road Services, who over the past nine months, have experienced profound and unprecedented losses, with the passing of twelve employees. These incidents were independent of one another, not work-related, and have deeply impacted individual families and team members.

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, 7.4 and 9.1.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

• Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That the recommendations in the following reports be approved:

  • 5.1 Multi-year Transit Funding Plan
  • 7.5 Bylaw 20943 - To Designate the Crawford Residence as a Municipal Historic Resource
  
  

  In Favour (5)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: K. Tang

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

  • 7.1 Capital and Operating Funding Shortfall Analysis

  1. 1. J. Brown

  • 7.2 Transit Service Needs to Meet Population Growth

  1. 1. D. Witte, Edmonton Transit Riders

  • 7.3 Chinatown Strategy - Initiatives and Progress

  1. 1. P. Luu
     2. G. Fiddler
     3. W. Chen, Chinatown Business Improvement Area
     4. W. Wong
     5. A. Hui
     6. Y. Cha
     7. J. Hon
     8. W. Lau
  
  

  In Favour (5)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)
• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Executive Committee hear from the following additional speaker:

  • 7.3 Chinatown Strategy - Initiatives and Progress

  1. 1. M. Hung, Chinese Benevolent Association
  
  

  In Favour (4)

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

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

  
  That Executive Committee hear from the following additional speaker:

  • 7.3 Chinatown Strategy - Initiatives and Progress

  1. 1. K. Luu
  
  

  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

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the following item be dealt with at a specific time on the agenda: 

  • 7.3 Chinatown Strategy - Initiatives and Progress - 1:30 p.m.
  
  

  In Favour (5)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

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

5.1

Multi-year Transit Funding Plan

This item was not selected for debate and was dealt with as part of item 2.2. The following motion carried:

That the revised due date of To be determined, for the Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02093, Multi-year Transit Funding Plan, be approved. 

Revised Due Date: To be determined, Executive Committee

6.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business on the agenda.

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Capital and Operating Funding Shortfall Analysis

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

• E. Robar, Interim City Manager
• M. Petigara, Financial and Corporate Services
• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• J. Brown

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services
• E. Robar, Interim City Manager
• C. Hotton-MacDonald, City Operations
• M. Petigara, Financial and Corporate Services
• R. Jevne, Community Services
• C. Walbaum, Acting Deputy City Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: A. Sohi

  That Administration provide a report to Committee outlining a workplan to complete the next steps as outlined in the October 9, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02218, including timelines for reporting findings, challenges, key opportunities and developing recommendations, including potential measures and indicators of success.

  
  
  
  
  

  Not put to vote

  Councillors T. Cartmell and A. Paquette requested the October 9, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02218 be requisitioned to City Council without a Committee Recommendation.

  
  

7.2

Transit Service Needs to Meet Population Growth

• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That the October 9, 2024, City Operations report CO02481, be postponed to the October 30, 2024, Executive Committee meeting.

  Due Date: October 30, 2024, Executive Committee

  
  

  In Favour (5)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.3

Chinatown Strategy - Initiatives and Progress

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

• A. Laliberte, Urban Planning and Economy
• B. Latchford, Urban Planning and Economy

The following public speaker made a presentation:

• W. Chen, Chinatown Business Improvement Area

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• W. Wong
• W. Lau
• M. Hung, Chinese Benevolent Association
• K. Luu
• Y. Cha
• G. Fiddler
• J. Hon
• A. Hui

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• B. Latchford, Urban Planning and Economy
• A. Laliberte, Urban Planning and Economy
• K. Petrin, Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy
• J. Robinson, City Operations
• T. Girvan, Urban Planning and Economy
• D. Jones, Community Services

The following members of the delegation answered questions:

• S. Pon, Chinatown Transformation Collaborative

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Administration transfer $480,000 from the Downtown Vibrancy Fund to the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund in each of 2025 and 2026 and prepare an unfunded service package for consideration by Council as part of the 2027-2030 Operating Budget.

  
  
  
  
  
• Moved by: K. Tang

  With the unanimous consent of Executive Committee, Councillor K. Tang re-stated the motion so that it reads as follows:

  1. That Administration allocate $480,000 to the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund on a multi-year basis for 2025 and 2026, with funding from the Downtown Vibrancy Fund.

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  2. That Administration prepare an unfunded service package for consideration during the 2027-2030 budget deliberations to provide ongoing funding for the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund.

  
  
  
  
  

• Amendment:

  Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That “That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:”, be moved prior to Part 1 so that the motion reads as follows:

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  1. That Administration allocate $480,000 to the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund on a multi-year basis for 2025 and 2026, with funding from the Downtown Vibrancy Fund.
  2. That Administration prepare an unfunded service package for consideration during the 2027-2030 budget deliberations to provide ongoing funding for the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund.
  
  

  In Favour (2)	T. Cartmell, and K. Principe
  Opposed (3)	A. Paquette, A. Sohi, and K. Tang

  
  
  
  Defeated (2 to 3)

• Motion, put:

  Moved by: K. Tang

  1. That Administration allocate $480,000 to the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund on a multi-year basis for 2025 and 2026, with funding from the Downtown Vibrancy Fund.

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  2. That Administration prepare an unfunded service package for consideration during the 2027-2030 budget deliberations to provide ongoing funding for the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund.

  
  
  
  
  

  Members of Executive Committee requested that the motion be split for voting purposes.

  
  

• Part 1 of Motion, put:

  Moved by: K. Tang

  1. That Administration allocate $480,000 to the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund on a multi-year basis for 2025 and 2026, with funding from the Downtown Vibrancy Fund. 

  
  

  In Favour (4)	A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, and K. Tang
  Opposed (1)	K. Principe

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 1)

• Part 2 of Motion, put:

  Moved by: K. Tang

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  2. That Administration prepare an unfunded service package for consideration during the 2027-2030 budget deliberations to provide ongoing funding for the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund.

  
  

  In Favour (4)	A. Paquette, A. Sohi, K. Tang, and K. Principe
  Opposed (1)	T. Cartmell

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 1)

• Summary of Committee's Decision on item 7.1:

  Moved by: K. Tang

  1. That Administration allocate $480,000 to the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund on a multi-year basis for 2025 and 2026, with funding from the Downtown Vibrancy Fund.

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  2. That Administration prepare an unfunded service package for consideration during the 2027-2030 budget deliberations to provide ongoing funding for the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund.

  
  
  
  
  

7.4

GEF Seniors Housing Annual Report - 2023 Financial Reporting

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

• J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services

The following members of the delegation made a presentation:

• K. Mah, GEF Seniors Housing
• S. Donalds, GEF Seniors Housing

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services
• J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services

The following member of the delegation answered questions:

• K. Mah, GEF Seniors Housing

• Moved by: A. Sohi
  1. That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:
     1. That the 2024-2028 GEF Seniors Housing Strategic Plan, as set out in Attachment 5 of the October 9, 2024, Community Services report CS02564, be approved.
     2. That the GEF Seniors Housing 2025 Operating Budget, as set out in Attachment 6 of the October 9, 2024, Community Services report CS02564, be approved.
  2. That Administration advise GEF Seniors Housing to revise the 2025 GEF Seniors Housing Capital Budget, as set out in Attachment 7 of the October 9, 2024, Community Services report CS02564, to reflect a fully funded total capital budget of $2.5 million and return to Council.
  
  

  In Favour (5)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.5

Bylaw 20943 - To Designate the Crawford Residence as a Municipal Historic Resource

This item was not selected for debate and was dealt with as part of item 2.2. The following motion carried:

That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

That Bylaw 20943 be given the appropriate readings.

8.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

9.

Private Reports

9.1

Blatchford Leasehold Interest Purchase and New License Approval

• Moved by: K. Principe
  1. That a leasehold interest purchase agreement between the City of Edmonton and Bel-Fran Capital Ltd., as outlined in Attachment 1 of the October 9, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02651, be approved, and that the purchase agreement be in a form and content acceptable to the City Manager.
  2. That a license agreement between the City of Edmonton and The Board of Trustees of Edmonton School District No. 7, as outlined in Attachment 2 of the October 9, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02651, be approved, and that the license agreement be in a form and content acceptable to the City Manager.
  3. That the October 9, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02651 remain private pursuant to sections 16 (disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party), 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.
  
  

  In Favour (4)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

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 4:55 p.m., Wednesday, October 9, 2024.