Executive Committee Minutes

Wednesday, February 07, 2024

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

Virtual Meeting

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, February 7, 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.

Councillors A. Knack, A. Paquette, K. Principe, J. Rice, E. Rutherford, A. Stevenson and K. Tang; and E. Norton, B. Tyson and G. Goodin, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: S. Hamilton

  That the February 7, 2024, Executive Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following changes:

  Addition:

  • 7.2 Naming Committee Renaming Recommendation
    - Attachment 5

  Replacement report:

  • 7.2 Naming Committee Renaming Recommendation
    - Naming Committee report EXT02205
  
  

  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: A. Salvador

  That the January 17, 2024, 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 and 7.4.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

All items were selected for debate.

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: A. Salvador

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

  • 7.3 Esports Events

  1. 1. M. Côté, The Alberta Esports Association
     2. D. Kwan, Interactive Arts Alberta
  
  

  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

There were no Requests to Reschedule Reports. 

6.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business on the agenda.

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Taxes Recommended for Cancellation (Write-Off) - Cancellation of Uncollectible Taxes and Penalties

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• C. Watt, Financial and Corporate Services
• C. Ashmore, Employee and Legal Services

• Moved by: J. Wright

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  That the cancellation (write-off) of $198,365.88 in uncollectible taxes, including all accrued penalties, as at December 31, 2023, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the February 7, 2024, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02200, be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.2

Naming Committee Renaming Recommendation

The following members of the delegation made a presentation:

• E. McDonald, Edmonton Naming Committee
• I. Ahmad, Oliver Community League

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

• T. Pawlyk, Urban Planning and Economy

The following members of the delegation answered questions:

• I. Ahmad, Oliver Community League
• E. McDonald, Edmonton Naming Committee
• R. Paches

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• T. Pawlyk, Urban Planning and Economy
• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services
• B. Mol, Financial and Corporate Services
• R. Dufresne, Financial and Corporate Services
• C. Sousa, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  1. That the Oliver Community League’s request to rename its Neighbourhood name to Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ be approved.
  2. That Oliver Arena, Oliver Pool, and Oliver Park be renamed to Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ Arena, Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ Pool, and Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ Park, respectively.
  3. That the future “The Yards/116 St. LRT Stop” along the Valley Line West be renamed to “Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ/116 St. LRT Stop”.
  4. That an effective date of January 1, 2025, for the renaming recommendations, as outlined in the February 7, 2024, Naming Committee report EXT02205, be approved.
  
  

  In Favour (5)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.3

Esports Events

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

• A. Laliberte, Urban Planning and Economy

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• D. Kwan, Interactive Arts Alberta
• M. Côté, The Alberta Esports Association

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• A. Laliberte, Urban Planning and Economy
• R. Jevne, Community Services
• B. Latchford, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  Growth of Local Esports Events

  That Administration work with local esports organizations on how to best support the growth of local events in the City of Edmonton and provide a report to Committee with the findings. This work should include how the City of Edmonton Civics Events team will support this work, including but not limited to accessing grants like other sporting events, and options to expand eligibility for grants for esports.

  Due Date: October 9, 2024, Executive Committee

  
  

  In Favour (4)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

7.4

Explore Edmonton Tax Forgiveness Options

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

• A. Szabo, Financial and Corporate Services

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• C. Ashmore, Employee and Legal Services
• C. Watt, Financial and Corporate Services
• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

  That tax forgiveness for account 10972146 in the amount of $1,193,776.65, including associated penalties accrued since 2021, be approved.

  
  

  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

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

Mayor A. Sohi asked whether there were any Notices of Motion. There were none.

12.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 2:03 p.m., Wednesday, February 7, 2024.