Executive Committee Minutes

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

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

Council Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall

Present:

• A. Sohi, 
• A. Salvador, 
• S. Hamilton, 
• M. Janz, 
• and J. Wright 

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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, January 17, 2024, and acknowledged that Executive 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

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

Councillor M. Janz was absent with notice for a portion of the meeting.

Councillors T. Cartmell, A. Knack, K. Principe, J. Rice, and E. Rutherford; and K. Stolarz, Deputy City Clerk, C. Martin, B. Tyson and E. Norton, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: S. Hamilton

  That the January 17, 2024, Executive Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following changes:

  Addition:

  • 7.1 Bylaw 20678 - To Implement the Clean Energy Improvement Program    
    - Attachment 3
    (Private pursuant to section 27 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)

  Replacement Attachments:

  • 7.1 Bylaw 20678 - To Implement the Clean Energy Improvement Program    
    - Attachment 1
  • 7.2 Land Sale Approval - Edmonton Exhibition Lands - Phase One
    - Attachments 1 and 2
    (Private pursuant to sections 16, 24 and 25 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)

  Orders of the Day:

  That the Orders of the Day for the January 17, 2024, Executive Committee meeting be changed as follows: 

  • Recess: 9:50 a.m. 
  • Reconvene upon adjournment of the January 17, 2024, Special City Council
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: J. Wright

  That the December 6, 2023, Executive Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (5 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, 7.2, 7.3, 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That the recommendations in the following reports be approved:

  • 5.1 Financial Loss During Major Construction Projects - Draft Policy
  • 5.2 Esports Events
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: S. Hamilton

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

  • 7.1 Bylaw 20678 - To Implement the Clean Energy Improvement Program

  1. 1. D. Turnbull, Canadian Home Builders Association - Edmonton Region
     2. S. Drozda, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation

  • 7.2 Land Sale Approval - Edmonton Exhibition Lands

  1. 1. P. McKinnon-Coco
     2. W. Sauvé

  • 7.3 Al-Mustafa Academy and Humanitarian Society - Support with Outstanding Tax
    Balance

  1. 1. A. Hasan, Al Mustafa Academy & Humanitarian Society
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, and J. Wright

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

  That Executive Committee hear from the following additional speaker:

  • 7.2   Land Sale Approval - Edmonton Exhibition Lands - Phase One

  1. 1. J. Alarcon, Milk Thistle Farm
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  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

5.1

Financial Loss During Major Construction Projects - Draft Policy

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 March 20, 2024, Executive Committee, for the Integrated Infrastructure Services report IIS02125, Financial Loss During Major Construction Projects - Draft Policy, be approved.

Revised Due Date: March 20, 2024, Executive Committee

5.2

Esports Events

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 February 7, 2024, Executive Committee, for the Urban Planning and Economy report UPE01865, Esports Events, be approved.

Revised Due Date: February 7, 2024, Executive Committee

6.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business on the agenda.

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Bylaw 20678 - To Implement the Clean Energy Improvement Program

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

• K. Snyder, Urban Planning and Economy
• B. Daly, Urban Planning and Economy

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• D. Turnbull, Canadian Home Builders Association
• S. Drozda, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• K. Snyder, Urban Planning and Economy
• B. Daly, Urban Planning and Economy
• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services
• C. Hodgson-Mousseau, Employee and Legal Services
• C. Tomaras, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: A. Salvador
  1. That an updated replacement Attachment 1 be added to the January 17, 2024, Urban Planning and Economy report UPE02134.
  2. That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:
     1. That Bylaw 20678 be read a first time.
  3. That Attachment 3 of the January 17, 2024, Urban Planning and Economy report UPE02134 remain private pursuant to section 27 (privileged information) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.2

Land Sale Approval - Edmonton Exhibition Lands - Phase One

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

• B. Jarocki, Financial and Corporate Services
• L. Grewal, Financial and Corporate Services

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• P. McKinnon-Coco
• W. Sauvé
• J. Alarcon, Milk Thistle Farm

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• B. Jarocki, Financial and Corporate Services
• L. Grewal, Financial and Corporate Services
• A. Laughlin, Deputy City Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services

• Moved by: A. Salvador
  1. That the sale of land on the terms and conditions as outlined in Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 of the January 17, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02210 be approved, and that the land purchase and sale agreements be in form and content acceptable to the City Manager.
  2. That Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 of the January 17, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02210 remain private pursuant to sections 16 (disclosure harmful to business interests of third parties), 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.
  3. That Administration engage with representatives and farmers from the Edmonton Urban Farm and Explore Edmonton on options for the relocation of the Urban Farm to support its retention at Exhibition Lands.
  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

7.3

Al-Mustafa Academy and Humanitarian Society - Support with Outstanding Tax Balance

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  That tax forgiveness for account 10290545 (Al-Mustafa Academy and Humanitarian Society) be approved in the amount of $73,863.40 along with associated penalties accrued since 2021.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, M. Janz, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

8.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

9.

Private Reports

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That Executive Committee meet in private pursuant to sections 16 (disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party), 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 for the discussion of items 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3.

  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

  Executive Committee met in private at 4:35 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2024.

  
  
• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That Executive Committee meet in public.

  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

  Executive Committee met in public at 5:08 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2024. 

  
  

9.1

Instructions for a Legal Matter #1

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• A. Laughlin, Deputy City Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• C. Walbaum, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• M. Plouffe, Chief People Officer and City Solicitor

• Moved by: J. Wright
  1. That the instructions, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the January 17, 2024, Integrated Infrastructure Services report IIS02237, be approved.
  2. That the January 17, 2024, Integrated Infrastructure Services report IIS02237 remain private pursuant to sections 24 (advice from officials) and 27 (privileged information) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy.
  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

9.2

Instructions for a Legal Matter #2

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

• K. Fallis-Howell, Employee and Legal Services

• Moved by: J. Wright
  1. That the City of Edmonton’s claim be resolved as recommended in the January 17, 2024, Employee and Legal Services report ELS02238, and that the agreement be in form and content acceptable to the City Manager.
  2. That the January 17, 2024, Employee and Legal Services report ELS02238 remain private pursuant to sections 16 (disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party), 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 (4)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

9.3

Instructions for a Legal Matter #3

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

• A. Turcza-Karhut, Employee and Legal Services

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• M. Plouffe, Chief People Officer and City Solicitor
• A. Laughlin, Deputy City Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• C. Walbaum, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: J. Wright
  1. That the instructions, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the January 17, 2024, Employee and Legal Services Report ELS02252, be approved.
  2. That the January 17, 2024, Employee and Legal Services Report ELS02252 remain private pursuant to sections 16 (disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party), 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 (4)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)
• Moved by: J. Wright

  That Administration provide a memo: 

  1. identifying active legal claims being advanced against the City with an estimated liability of over $1,000,000,
  2. identifying active legal claims being advanced by the City with an estimated recovery of over $1,000,000, and
  3. explaining the corporation's rationale for self-insuring against liability.
  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. Hamilton, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, and J. Wright

  
  
  
  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 5:16 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2024.