Community and Public Services Committee Minutes

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Council Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall
Present:
  • A. Paquette,
  • J. Dziadyk,
  • A. Knack,
  • and M. Nickel

Councillor A. Paquette called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m., Wednesday, March 24, 2021, and acknowledged that Community and Public Services Committee meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory. 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 Metis and Inuit, and now settlers from around the world.

Councillor A. Paquette conducted roll call and confirmed the attendance of Members of Community and Public Services Committee.

*Mayor D. Iveson is a Committee Member pursuant to section 15(3), Council Committee Bylaw 18156

Mayor D. Iveson; and Councillors J. Dziadyk, A. Knack, M. Nickel and A. Paquette participated electronically.

Councillors M. Banga, T. Cartmell, T. Caterina, B. Esslinger, S. Hamilton, B. Henderson, and S. McKeen; S. McKerry, L. Kjorlien and R. Zheng, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

  • Moved by:M. Nickel

    That the March 24, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following change:

    Addition:
    7.1 Extreme Weather Protocol (D. Iveson)

    In Favour (4)A. Paquette, J. Dziadyk, A. Knack, and M. Nickel
    Carried (4 to 0)
  • Moved by:A. Knack

    That the minutes from the following meetings be approved:

    • February 25, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee - Non-Regular
    • March 3, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee
    In Favour (4)A. Knack, J. Dziadyk, M. Nickel, and A. Paquette
    Carried (4 to 0)

There were no Protocol Items.

  • The following items were selected for debate: 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.5, 6.7, 6.8, 7.1 and 9.1.

    In Favour (4)A. Knack, J. Dziadyk, M. Nickel, and A. Paquette
    Carried (4 to 0)
  • That the recommendations in the following reports be approved:

    • 5.1 Edmonton Public School Board - Pool Operating Cost Sharing
    • 5.2 Weed Control Program - Reduction in Funding
    • 6.4 Peace Officer Statistics - 2020 Year-end Report
    • 6.6 Castle Downs Family YMCA Funding Agreement
  • Moved by:A. Paquette

    That Community and Public Services Committee hear from the following speakers, in panels when appropriate:

    • 6.5 Bylaw 19580 - Amendments to the Fire Rescue Services Bylaw 15309
      1. J. Adria (previously approved at the March 3, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee meeting)
      2. T. Wilson (previously approved at the March 3, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee meeting)
      3. P. Logan, Canadian National Fireworks Association (previously approved at the March 3, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee meeting)
      4. R. Schnitzler (previously approved at the March 3, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee meeting)
      5. B. Schnitzler (previously approved at the March 3, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee meeting)
      6. N. Bhardwaj, Bhartiya Cultural Society of Alberta
    • 6.7 Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues - Request to Reallocate Council-approved Funds
      1. L. Cunningham-Shpeley, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
    • 6.8 Vehicle for Hire Annual Report - 2021 Update
      1. L. Burtic
      2. S. Burtic
      3. J. Waterman
      4. P. Strong, Greater Edmonton Taxi Service Inc.
      5. S. Vezina
    In Favour (4)A. Knack, J. Dziadyk, M. Nickel, and A. Paquette
    Carried (4 to 0)
  • Moved by:A. Knack

    That Community and Public Services Committee hear from the following speaker:

    • 6.1 Transit Tickets and No Fixed Address
    • 6.2 Transit Fare Fines
    • 6.3 Community Safety and Well-being - Bylaw Review
      1. P. Gorsak, Free Transit Edmonton
    In Favour (4)A. Paquette, J. Dziadyk, A. Knack, and M. Nickel
    Carried (4 to 0)
  • Moved by:A. Paquette

    That Community and Public Services Committee hear from the following speaker:

    • Extreme Weather Protocol (D. Iveson)
      1. R. Houle

    With the unanimous consent of Community and Public Services Committee, the motion carried.


  • Moved by:A. Paquette

    That Community and Public Services Committee hear from the following speaker:

    • 6.1 Transit Tickets and No Fixed Address
    • 6.2 Transit Fare Fines
    • 6.3 Community Safety and Well-being - Bylaw Review
      1. J. Vargas, Free Transit Edmonton

    With the unanimous consent of Community and Public Services Committee, the motion carried.


  • Moved by:M. Nickel

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

    • 6.5 Bylaw 19580 - Amendments to the Fire Rescue Services Bylaw 15309 - Second item of business
    • 6.7 Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues - Request to Reallocate Council-approved Funds - First item of business
    In Favour (4)A. Knack, J. Dziadyk, M. Nickel, and A. Paquette
    Carried (4 to 0)

There were no Councillor Inquiries.

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

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 April 14, 2021, be approved.

Revised Due Date: April 14, 2021

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 May 28, 2021, be approved.

Revised Due Date: May 28, 2021

R. Smyth, Deputy City Manager, Citizen Services, answered questions.

  • Moved by:A. Knack

    That the revised due date of June 30, 2021, be approved.

    Revised Due Date: June 30, 2021

    In Favour (4)A. Knack, J. Dziadyk, M. Nickel, and A. Paquette
    Carried (4 to 0)

Items 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 were dealt with together.

R. Smyth, Deputy City Manager, and D. Aitken, Citizen Services; and C. Hotton-MacDonald, City Operations, made a presentation.

J. Vargas, Free Transit Edmonton, made a presentation and answered questions.

D. Aitken and J. Foord, Citizen Services; C. Hotton-MacDonald, City Operations; and N. Jacobsen, Office of the City Manager (Legal Services), answered questions.

  • Moved by:A. Paquette

    That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

    1. That Administration prepare amendments to the Conduct of Transit Passengers Bylaw 8353 provisions regarding loitering, including recommendations for exempting helping agencies and organizations, their corresponding social workers and anyone accessing these services in transit stations as part of a whole systems approach to community safety and transit.
    2. That Administration work with community partners including but not limited to Boyle Street, REACH, Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, Bissell Centre, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mosaic Centre, iHuman, Native Counselling Services of Alberta and YESS to increase referrals to 24/7 Crisis Diversion, and return to Committee with program and/or delivery proposal(s) for agencies to provide access to supports and services within transit stations.

    Due Date: First Quarter 2022

    In Favour (4)A. Paquette, J. Dziadyk, A. Knack, and M. Nickel
    Carried (4 to 0)

Items 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 were dealt with together.

  • Moved by:A. Paquette

    That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

    1. That Administration prepare amendments to the Conduct of Transit Passengers Bylaw 8353 to reduce the current fine amount for fare evasion from $250 to $150, to be in line with other jurisdictions as outlined in Attachment 3 of the March 24, 2021, City Operations report CR_7813.
    2. That Administration work with social agency partners to co-create equitable fine repayment options, including options to allow for proof of purchase of a monthly transit pass within a two week period, and conduct an anti-racism review of current low income fare programs to remove barriers and support equitable participation from those who need support, and provide a report back.

    Due Date: First Quarter 2022

    In Favour (4)A. Paquette, J. Dziadyk, A. Knack, and M. Nickel
    Carried (4 to 0)

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

That the March 24, 2021, Citizen Services report CS00185, be received for information.

R. Smyth, Deputy City Manager, Citizen Services; and J. Zatylny, Edmonton Fire Services, made a presentation.

R. Schnitzler, made a presentation.

J. Adria; T. Wilson; P. Logan, Canadian National Fireworks Association; and N. Bhardwaj, Bhartiya Cultural Society of Alberta, made presentations and answered questions.

R. Smyth, Deputy City Manager, Citizen Services; J. Zatylny and R. Croome, Edmonton Fire Services; and L. Ramaswamy, Office of the City Manager (Legal Services), answered questions.

  • Moved by:A. Knack

    That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

    1. That Bylaw 19580 be amended as follows:
      1. Delete section 3
      2. Delete section 2(a) from Schedule B
    2. That Bylaw 19580, as amended, be given the appropriate readings.
    3. That Administration, in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, review requirements related to fireworks and provide draft amendments to ensure the safety of Edmontonians while removing barriers/costs.
    In Favour (4)A. Knack, J. Dziadyk, M. Nickel, and A. Paquette
    Carried (4 to 0)

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

That the funding agreement between the City of Edmonton and the YMCA of Northern Alberta for one-time funding of up to $1 million, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the March 24, 2021, Citizen Services report CS00256, be approved, and that agreement be in form and content acceptable to the City Manager.

R. Smyth, Deputy City Manager, Citizen Services, made a presentation.

L. Cunningham-Shpeley, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, made a presentation and answered questions.

  • Moved by:M. Nickel

    That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

    That the Edmonton Federation of Community League’s request to reallocate $78,000, as outlined in the March 24, 2021, Citizen Services report CS00199, be approved.

    In Favour (4)A. Paquette, J. Dziadyk, A. Knack, and M. Nickel
    Carried (4 to 0)

S. McCabe, Deputy City Manager, and K. Petrin, Urban Form and Corporate Strategic Development, made a presentation.

L. Burtic made a presentation.

S. Burtic; J. Waterman; P. Strong, Greater Edmonton Taxi Service Inc.; and S. Vezina, made presentations and answered questions.

  • Moved by:M. Nickel

    That Community and Public Service Committee recommend to City Council:

    1. That the 2021 fees within Vehicle For Hire Bylaw 17400, for dispatch and vehicle licences, be waived by 50 percent.
    2. That the 2021 fees within Vehicle For Hire Bylaw 17400, for dispatch and vehicle licenses for limousines, be waived by 100 percent.
    3. That Administration provide amendments to Vehicle For Hire Bylaw 17400 to remove the requirement to provide trip logs for limousines.
    In Favour (4)A. Knack, J. Dziadyk, M. Nickel, and A. Paquette
    Carried (4 to 0)

R. Smyth, Deputy City Manager, Citizen Services; and A. Kemp, Edmonton Police Service, made a presentation.

R. Houle, made a presentation and answered questions.

R. Smyth, Deputy City Manager, J. Foord, and D. Aitken, Citizen Services; A. Kemp, Edmonton Police Service; and N. Jacobsen, Office of the City Manager (Legal Services), answered questions.

  • Moved by:D. Iveson

    That the March 24, 2021, Citizen Services report CS00443, be received for information.

    In Favour (4)A. Knack, J. Dziadyk, M. Nickel, and A. Paquette
    Carried (4 to 0)

There were no Motions Pending on the agenda.

  • Moved by:M. Nickel

    That Community and Public Services Committee meet in private pursuant to section 16 (disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the discussion of item 9.1.

    In Favour (4)A. Paquette, J. Dziadyk, A. Knack, and M. Nickel
    Carried (4 to 0)

    Community and Public Services Committee met in private at 11:38 a.m., Wednesday, March 24, 2021.


  • Moved by:M. Nickel

    That Community and Public Services Committee meet in public.

    In Favour (4)A. Paquette, J. Dziadyk, A. Knack, and M. Nickel
    Carried (4 to 0)

    Community and Public Services Committee met in public at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, March 24, 2021.


Community and Public Services Committee met in private at 11:38 a.m., Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

Rob Smyth, Deputy City Manager, and R. Jevne, Citizen Services, answered questions.

Community and Public Services Committee met in public at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

  • Moved by:A. Knack
    1. That the Recommended Actions, as outlined in Attachment 2 of the March 24, 2021, Citizen Services report CS00389, be approved.
    2. That the March 24, 2021, Citizen Services report CS00389 remain private pursuant to section 16 (disclosure harmful to business interests of a third party) and 25 (disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act until after a public announcement of the event has been made by the promoter.
    In Favour (4)A. Knack, J. Dziadyk, M. Nickel, and A. Paquette
    Carried (4 to 0)

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

The meeting adjourned at 5:04 p.m., Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

No Item Selected