Urban Planning Committee Minutes

Tuesday, February 06, 2024

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

Virtual Meeting

Present:

• A. Stevenson, 
• K. Tang, 
• T. Cartmell, 
• E. Rutherford, 
• and A. Sohi 

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1.

Call to Order and Related Business

1.1

Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement

Councillor A. Stevenson called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m., Tuesday, February 6, 2024, and acknowledged that Urban Planning 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 A. Stevenson conducted roll call and confirmed the attendance of Members of Urban Planning Committee.

Mayor A. Sohi is a Committee Member pursuant to section 15(3), Council Committees Bylaw 18156.

Councillors S. Hamilton, A. Knack, A. Paquette, K. Principe, J. Rice, A. Salvador and J. Wright; and C. Martin, Acting Deputy City Clerk, M. de Guzman and A. Karbashewski, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the February 6, 2024, Urban Planning Committee meeting agenda be adopted.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the December 5, 2023, Urban Planning Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  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: 6.1, 6.2 and 7.1.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

• That the recommendation in the following report be approved: 

  • 5.1 Edmonton Transit Service - Bus Fleet Replacement Plan
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Urban Planning Committee hear from the following speaker:

  • 7.1 Direct Downtown to Airport Bus Route

  1. 1. L. McFarlane

  Previously approved at the December 5, 2023, Urban Planning Committee meeting:

  • 6.1 Closed and Shared Streets in Downtown

  1. 1. J. Syvixay, Urban Development Institute - Edmonton Region
     2. A. Hryciw, Downtown Recovery Coalition
     3. S. Lohner, Paths for People
     4. C. Probert, Downtown Edmonton Community League
     5. P. McBryan, Edmonton Downtown Business Association
     6. S. Raitz, Paths for People
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  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

Edmonton Transit Service - Bus Fleet Replacement 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 March 19, 2024, Urban Planning Committee, for the City Operations report CO02086, Edmonton Transit Service - Bus Fleet Replacement Plan, be approved.

Revised Due Date: March 19, 2024, Urban Planning Committee

6.

Unfinished Business

6.1

Closed and Shared Streets in Downtown

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

• K. Snyder, Urban Planning and Economy
• N. Smith, Urban Planning and Economy

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• J. Syvixay, Urban Development Institute - Edmonton Region
• A. Hryciw, Downtown Recovery Coalition
• S. Lohner, Paths for People
• S. Raitz, Paths for People

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• K. Petrin, Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy
• T. Girvan, Urban Planning and Economy
• N. Poirier, Community Services
• N. Smith, Urban Planning and Economy
• K. Snyder, Urban Planning and Economy
• P. Orozco, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: K. Tang

  Car-free and Shared Streets in Downtown - Action Plan

  That Administration provide a report outlining an Action Plan developed to address the outstanding opportunities as outlined in the December 5, 2023, Urban Planning and Economy report UPE01333 - Closed and Shared Streets in Downtown, actions in the community-developed Downtown Pedestrianization Plan, and the following items:

  • a sequencing of actions and an implementation schedule with budget and resource requirements;
  • metrics to inform ongoing monitoring and evaluation, with regular  reporting on progress; and
  • connection and integration with the Capital City Downtown Plan through engagement with key stakeholders and the community. 

  Due Date: November 26, 2024, Urban Planning Committee

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

6.2

Commingle Paratransit and On Demand Services

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

• E. Robar, Deputy City Manager, City Operations

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

• C. Hotton-MacDonald, City Operations

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• P. Schmold, City Operations
• S. Feldman, City Operations

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  Rider Experience for Paratransit Dedicated Accessible Transit Service

  That Administration provide a report outlining options to improve the rider experience for paratransit Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS) service, including the pick-up window for trips and late night travel. 

  Due Date:  September 17, 2024, Urban Planning Committee

  
  

  In Favour (4)

  T. Cartmell, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Direct Downtown to Airport Bus Route

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

• E. Robar, Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• D. Vriend, City Operations

The following public speaker made a presentation:

• L. McFarlane

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• C. Hotton-MacDonald, City Operations

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That the February 6, 2024, City Operations report CO01632, be received for information.

  
  

  In Favour (4)

  T. Cartmell, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (4 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

Councillor A. Stevenson asked whether there were any Notices of Motion. There were none. 

12.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 12:08 p.m., Tuesday, February 6, 2024.