City Council Minutes

October 14, 2009

Present:
S.Mandel; J.Batty, T. Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson,
D. Iveson, K.Krushell, K.Leibovici, L.Sloan, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.
Absent:
B. Anderson.
Also In Attendance:
A. B. Maurer, City Manager
A. Giesbrecht, Office of the City Clerk

A.CALL TO ORDER AND RELATED BUSINESS

A.1.Call to Order

Mayor S. Mandel called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m.

Councillors B. Anderson, L. Sloanand D. Thiele were absent.

Opening Prayer

Reverend T. Posyluzny, Holy Spirit Evangelical Lutheran Church, led the assembly in prayer.

A.2.Adoption of Agenda

Moved J. Batty – T. Caterina:

That the October 14, 2009, City Council meeting agenda be adopted with the following changes:

Additions

E.4.2009 Supplementary Capital Budget Adjustment – October 2009 – New Projects and Approved projects with Changes Due to Transfers, Scope Changes, Recosting and New Funding Sources

Attachment 5 of September 28, 2009, Finance and Treasury Department report 2009FTB010

E.13.Progress Update: The Quarters and Boyle Renaissance

E.14.Retained Earnings – Use and Disposition

E.15.Proposed New Top of Bank Policy – City Policy C542, Development Setbacks from River Valley/Ravine Crests

September 30, 2009, City Council Meeting Minutes

Replacement Page

E.1.Deputy Mayor Terms – October 14, 2009, to October 26, 2010

Attachment 1 of September 21, 2009, Corporate Services Department report 2009COC052

A. B. Maurer, City Manager; and A. Giesbrecht, Office of the City Clerk, answered Council's questions.

Councillor D. Thiele entered the meeting.

Members of Council requested thatthe addition of Item E.4., Attachment 5, be split out of the Motion on the Floor for voting purposes.

Motion on Addition of Item E.4., Attachment 5, put:

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons,
B. Henderson, D. Iveson,K. Krushell, A. Sohi,
D.Thiele.

Opposed:R. Hayter, K. Leibovici.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

Motion on Remainder of A.2. Items, put:

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

A.3.Adoption of Minutes

Moved D. Thiele – R. Hayter:

That thefollowing meeting minutes be adopted:

  • September 25, 2009, Special City Council
  • September 29, 2009, City Council
  • September29, 2009, City Council Public Hearing
  • September 30, 2009, City Council

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina,E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

A.4.Protocol Items

Communities in Bloom Award(K. Krushell)

On October 3, 2009, Edmonton won the national Communities in Bloom award in the over-300,000 population category. The judges also gave special recognition to Edmonton’s Front Yards in Bloom program, which received more than 1,000 nominations this year.

On behalf of City Council, Councillor K. Krushell thanked those Edmontonians who met with the Communities in Bloom judges and the Front Yards in Bloom team from Canada Post, the Edmonton Horticultural Society and the City of Edmonton.

Building a Great City (S. Mandel)

Mayor S. Mandel invited A. B. Maurer, City Manager, to provide information on a document entitled Building a Great City, produced by the City’s Capital Construction Department. Copies of the document were distributed to Members of Council and a copy was filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

Mr. Maurer noted that the document highlights major achievements of Council relative to approving and implementing Capital Budget projects, and the progress made in addressing significant infrastructure challenges.

Poet Laureate (S. Mandel)

Mayor S. Mandel introduced Edmonton’s third Poet Laureate, Roland Pemberton, recently named to the position. Professionally known as Cadence Weapon, Mr. Pemberton is recognized internationally as a hip hop artist. During his two-year term, he will create a number of new works highlighting Edmonton as he sees it.

Mr. Pemberton presented one of his compositions in his first official reading to City Council.

Gold Award of Excellence (S. Mandel)

On behalf of City Council, Mayor S. Mandel congratulated the City of Edmonton’s Planning and Development Department on winning the Premier of Alberta’s Gold Award of Excellence on October 7, 2009. The award recognizes the department’s collaboration with the provincial government in the creation of BizPal, an online tool that streamlines the permit and licence process at three levels of government.

Award of Distinction (S. Mandel)

On behalf of City Council, Mayor S. Mandel congratulated the City of Edmonton’s Planning and Development Department on winning the International Downtown Association’s (IDA) Award of Distinction for the Business Revitalization Zone Handbook. Edmonton’s handbook, one of 77 submissions to the IDA, is regarded as one of the most comprehensive user-friendly Business Revitalization Zone reference guides in North America.

B.PROCEDURAL MATTERS

B.1.Items Selected for Debate and Vote on Remaining Items

City Council selected the following items for debate: E.2., E.3., E.4., E.5., E.6., E.7., E.9., E.10., E.12., E.13., E.14., E.15., P.1. and P.2.

Moved D. Thiele – J. Batty:

E.REPORTS

E.1.Deputy Mayor Terms - October 14, 2009, to October 26, 2010

  1. That the Deputy Mayor Terms, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the September 21, 2009, Corporate Services Department report 2009COC052, be approved.
  1. That if any Deputy Mayor is unavailable, the Councillor whose Deputy Mayor term follows will be Acting Mayor.
/ Corporate Svcs.

E.8.Edmonton Arts Council – 2009 Arts and Museums Building Operating Program

That the 2009 Community Investment Program Arts and Museums Building Operating Grant recommendations, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the September 22, 2009, Edmonton Arts Council report 2009EAC010, be approved. / Arts Council

E.11.Notice of Intention to Designate - The Frederick S. Jones Residence as a Municipal Historic Resource

  1. That a Notice of Intention to Designate a Municipal Historic Resource, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the September 14, 2009, Planning and Development Department report 2009PPP131 be served to the owner of the property occupied by the Frederick S. Jones Residence located at 13067 – 115 Street NW, in accordance with section 26 of the Historical Resources Act.
  2. That funding of $75,000 for this project be provided from the Heritage Reserve Fund (Internal Order # 174101).
/ Planning & Dev.
E.11. cont.

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

B.2.Time Specifics and Decision to Hear

Moved D. Iveson – B. Henderson:

That the following item be made time specific:

1:30 p.m.E.7.Edmonton Northlands – Revised Articles of Association

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

Moved D. Thiele – K. Krushell:

That Council hear from the following speaker:

E.10.U-Pass – Pilot Program Evaluation – Summary of
U-Pass Performance

N. Holmgren, President, Students’ Association of Grant MacEwan University

Lost

For the Motion: D. Iveson, K. Krushell, D. Thiele.

Opposed:S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, K. Leibovici, A. Sohi.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

C.COUNCILLOR INQUIRIES

C.1.Benefits Associated with Public Transit Service (A. Sohi)

Given that public transit provides benefits beyond the movement of people in the City of Edmonton, Administration is requested to provide the following:
  1. What factors and calculations can be used to determine the reductions in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions resulting from bus and light rail transit (LRT) operations?
  2. What factors and calculations can be used to determine the savings in operating and capital budgets for roads and related systems resulting from public transit operations? Is it possible to provide a high-level estimate of the cost of road construction/maintenance that is avoided through the construction of LRT?
  3. Provide an estimate of these benefits associated with the public transit service levels for 2009.
  4. How can the reduction of future GHG emissions associated with new bus and LRT service be used or sold for carbon credits?
Please respond through the appropriate committee. / Transportation
Due:1st meeting in Jan./10
TPW Committee
C.1. cont.

C.2.Location of Public Meetings and Information Sessions (A. Sohi)

What criteria does the City use to determine the location of public meetings and public information sessions (e.g., for planning or consultation purposes)?
Please include information about whether accessibility by transit, walking and biking are high priorities in selecting locations. Please provide a list of locations used for such meetings in Ward 6 over the past year.
Please respond through the appropriate committee. / Planning & Dev.
Due:1st meeting in Jan./10
Exec. Committee

C.3.Open Data (D. Iveson)

In local, national and sub-national governments around the world there is a trend toward making up-to-date government information freely available on-line in generically accessible data formats as so-called Open Data.
  1. What level of awareness does the City Administration have regarding Open Data in municipal government?
  2. What current initiatives are underway within City Administration that might qualify under the spirit of Open Data?
  3. What further initiatives are under consideration within the City, and on what basis are they being evaluated?
  4. Is Administration monitoring any successes and or challenges with this trend in other jurisdictions, especially large Canadian cities, and if so what can be shared with Council?
  5. What would City Administration's recommendation be on next steps regarding Open Data plans or strategies?
/ Corporate Svcs.
Due:1st meeting in Jan./10
Exec. Committee

E.REPORTS

E.2.2010 Council and Committee Schedule

Moved E. Gibbons – D. Iveson:

That the September 16, 2009, Corporate Services Department report 2009COC072 be postponed to the October 28, 2009, City Council meeting. / Corporate Svcs.
Due: Oct. 28/09

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

E.3.Council Committee Governance Review - Self Evaluation of Committee Structure

Moved K. Leibovici – R. Hayter:

That the August 27, 2009, Corporate Services Department report 2009COC047 be received for information. / Corporate Svcs.

A. Sinclair, City Clerk; and D. H. Edey, General Manager, Corporate Services Department, answered Council's questions.

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

E.14.Retained Earnings – Use and Disposition

Moved D. Iveson – J. Batty:

That item E.14. be dealt with now.

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

D. H. Edey, General Manager, Corporate Services Department; and
A. B. Maurer, City Manager, answered Council's questions.

Moved J. Batty – R. Hayter:

  1. That Administration establish a Fleet Services Reserve as follows:
a.Current retained earnings be reallocated as outlined below:
  1. $10 million for facilitation of transition to a Fleet Replacement Reserves.
  2. $7.5 million for the implementation of a fleet management system which will be paid back to retained earnings starting two years after the implementation of the system.
  3. $4.5 million for procurement of advanced fuel efficient technology subject to the approval of the plan by Executive Committee.
  4. $2.5 million for acquisition and installation of a fuel monitoring system for Municipal Fleet.
b.Remaining retained earnings be allocated on a one-time basis to the Financial Stabilization Reserve which may be reallocated to capital with the approval of Council.
  1. That Administration establish regular reporting mechanism to Executive Committee which would include a clear understanding of the department’s municipal fleet requirements.
/ Corporate Svcs.

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

A.4.Protocol Items

Prince Charles School (S. Mandel)

On behalf of City Council, Mayor S. Mandel welcomed students of Prince Charles School and their teacher, Mr. Shuttleworth.

Grant MacEwan University (S. Mandel)

On behalf of City Council, Mayor S. Mandel welcomed students of Grant MacEwan University School of Journalism program.

E.REPORTS

E.4.2009 Supplementary Capital Budget Adjustment - October 2009 – New Projects and Approved Projects with Changes Due to Transfers, Scope Changes, Recosting and New Funding Sources

C. Warnock, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, answered Council's questions.

Moved R. Hayter – E. Gibbons:

That Amendments to the 2009-11 Capital Budget, as outlined in Attachments 2 and 3 of the September 28, 2009, Finance and Treasury Department report 2009FTB010, be approved.

A. B. Maurer, City Manager; M. Debrinski, Finance and Treasury Department; A. B. Maurer, City Manager; C. Warnock, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer;R. Smythe and L. Cochrane, General Manager, Community Services Department; and R. Boutilier, General Manager, Transportation Department, answered Council's questions.

Moved D. Thiele – K. Leibovici:

That any Member of Council who may wish to do so be allowed to speak for an additional five minutes.

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

A. B. Maurer, City Manager; R. Boutilier, General Manager, Transportation Department; L. Cochrane, General Manager, and
L. Brenneis, Community Services Department; and L. Rosen, General Manager, Asset Management and Public Works Department, answered Council's questions.

Amendment moved D. Iveson – A. Sohi:

That Attachment 2 be amended as follows:

“Proposed funding from Fleet Services Retained Earnings” be replaced with “Proposed funding from Financial Stabilization Reserve” on Row 4.

D. H. Edey, General Manager, Corporate Services Department;
A. B. Maurer, City Manager; R. Boutilier, General Manager, Transportation Department; L. Brenneis, Community Services Department; andA. Giesbrecht, Office of the City Clerk, answered Council's questions.

Amendment to Amendment moved K. Krushell – B. Henderson:

That the following be added after “Row 4”:

“and that funding approval be subject to a detailed report returning to Council via Transportation and Public Works Committee explaining the need for funding.”

(E.4. continued on page 11)

Orders of the Day were called. Council recessed at 12 p.m.

Council reconvened at 1:30 p.m.

Councillors B. Anderson and J. Batty were absent.

E.7.Edmonton Northlands - Revised Articles of Association

A. Giesbrecht, Office of the City Clerk, answered Council's questions.

Moved T. Caterina – K. Krushell:

That Councillor E. Gibbons be allowed to make a Motion Without Notice to amend the June 19, 2009, motion regarding the size of the Edmonton Northlands Board.

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter,
B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell, K. Leibovici,
L. Sloan, A. Sohi.

Absent:B. Anderson, J. Batty, D. Thiele.

Moved E. Gibbons – T. Caterina:

That the following June 19, 2009, motion be amended by replacing “19” with “21”:
That the City of Edmonton’s representative on the Edmonton Northlands Board be decreased from Mayor and four Members of Council to Mayor and two members of Council subject to a maximum Board size of 19 Directors. / Corporate Svcs.

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter,
B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell, K. Leibovici,
L. Sloan, A. Sohi.

Absent:B. Anderson, J. Batty, D. Thiele.

Moved E. Gibbons – T. Caterina:

  1. That revised Articles of Association for Edmonton Northlands, outlined in Attachment 2 of the September 28, 2009, Corporate Services Department report 2009COL019, be approved as the City of Edmonton’s recommendation to Edmonton Northlands.
  2. That the Master Agreement between the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Northlands be amended consistent with the provisions in Attachment 3, and that the amending agreement be executed by the City Manager.
/ Corporate Svcs.
E.7. cont.

A. Giesbrecht, Office of the City Clerk, answered Council's questions.

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter,
B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Leibovici, L. Sloan,
A. Sohi.

Absent:B. Anderson, J. Batty, K. Krushell, D. Thiele.

A.4.Protocol Items

McKernan School (S. Mandel)

On behalf of City Council, Mayor S. Mandel welcomed students of McKernan School and their teacher, Ms. Hurst.

McKernan School (S. Mandel)

On behalf of City Council, Mayor S. Mandel welcomed students of McKernan School and their teacher, Ms. Vachon.

E.4.2009 Supplementary Capital Budget Adjustment - October 2009 – New Projects and Approved Projects with Changes Due to Transfers, Scope Changes, Recosting and New Funding Sources

(continued from page 10)

D. H. Edey, General Manager, Corporate Services Department; and
A. B. Maurer, City Manager, answered Council's questions.

Amendment to Amendment on E.4., put:

That the following be added after “Row 4”:

“and that funding approval be subject to a detailed report returning to Council via Transportation and Public Works Committee explaining the need for funding.”

Carried

For the

Amendment to

Amendment: S.Mandel; R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson,
K. Krushell, K. Leibovici, L. Sloan, A. Sohi,
D.Thiele.

Opposed:T. Caterina, E. Gibbons.

Absent: B. Anderson, J. Batty.

Amendment as Amended on E.4., put

That Attachment 2 be amended as follows:

“Proposed funding from Fleet Services Retained Earnings” be replaced with “Proposed funding from Financial Stabilization Reserve” on Row 4, and that funding approval be subject to a detailed report returning to Council via Transportation and Public Works Committee explaining the need for funding.

Lost

For the

Amendment as

Amended: B. Henderson, D. Iveson,K. Krushell, L. Sloan,
A. Sohi.

Opposed:S. Mandel; T. Caterina, E. Gibbons, R. Hayter,
K. Leibovici, D. Thiele.

Absent: B. Anderson, J. Batty.

L. Brenneis, Community Services Department; and A. B. Maurer, City Manager, answered Council's questions.

Amendment moved D. Iveson – S. Mandel:

That “with the deletion of the following Capital Projects from Attachment 2 of the September 28, 2009, Finance and Treasury Department report 2009FTB010:

  • 09-75-5810 Growth Vehicles
  • 09-28-4002 Growth Vehicles
  • 09-66-1281 Bus Fleet Replacement”

be added after “approved.”

Carried

For the

Amendment: S.Mandel; J.Batty, T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter, B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell,
K. Leibovici, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, L. Sloan.

A. B. Maurer, City Manager; L. Brenneis, Community Services Department; L. Rosen, General Manager, Asset Management and Public Works Department; and D. H. Edey, General Manager, Corporate Services Department, answered Council's questions.

Moved S. Mandel – K. Leibovici:

That any Member of Council who may wish to do so be allowed to speak for an additional five minutes.

Carried

For the Motion: S.Mandel; T.Caterina, E.Gibbons, R.Hayter,
B. Henderson, D. Iveson, K. Krushell, K. Leibovici,
L. Sloan, A. Sohi, D.Thiele.

Absent:B. Anderson, J. Batty.

L. Rosen, General Manager, Asset Management and Public Works Department, answered Council's questions.