Week in Review - February 25, 2016
February 25, 2016
Last weekend Mayor Iveson paid a visit to Edmonton’s first carbon-free laneway house. The Mayor took a tour of Karly Coleman and Andy Hengst’s newly built infill property, which features an electric car charger, solar wall, and smart-grid integration system. The home was built shortly after City Council passed its new infill bylaw that removed location restrictions on garage and garden suites, and allowed for narrower lots. The home is an example of creative, sustainable solutions that will help increase density in our city’s core.
Monday was by-election day in Ward 12. Residents in the ward came out and elected former police officer and engineer Moe Banga as their representative on City Council. Mayor Iveson is looking forward to working with the incoming-Councillor; who is viewed as a community builder who aims to serve his constituents to the best of his ability. The swearing-in ceremony for the new Councillor will take place Friday at City Hall in the City Room.
Committee agendas were packed this week, starting with Community Services Committee reviewing proposed governance models for the MacEwan West Jasper Place space. There is a lot of interest from community organizations in making the building an arts, culture and post-secondary hub in the area. With so many different groups interested in the building the Mayor hopes a mix of tenants would help keep west Edmonton vibrant. The next steps are for city administration to establish a tenant selection committee and finalize the selection, governance and operating models by the fourth quarter of 2016.
Also at Community Services Committee, the Body Rub Centres Task Force presented its implementation plan for recommendations that aim to reduce the exploitation of vulnerable people. The 29 recommendations were reviewed and the Committee passed motions to further examine the requirement for body rub parlours to undergo enhanced security screening, and to bring forward a proposal to fund the recommendations to City Council on April 5, 2016.
Next up, Executive Committee received a report on zoning bylaw amendments that will reduce barriers for child care services in downtown and industrial areas. The amendments will give discretion on the parking requirements for child care spaces, allowing for the expansion of access to these spaces. Decreasing these barriers will provide greater opportunity to increase the supply of affordable childcare options, especially in Edmonton’s downtown core. The amendments are moving forward and will go to public hearing soon to give Edmontonians a chance to voice their opinion on the expected changes.
That ends another busy week at City Hall. Coming up next week, the Mayor will be at City Council on Tuesday where reports on the William Hawrelak Park water feature, River Valley funicular, and Stanley Milner Library renewal are up for discussion.
Don’t forget that NextGen’s Pecha Kucha 24, a night of entertaining 6-minute presentations from the city’s brightest, is taking place on Thursday at Metro Cinema - tickets still available. Thanks for reading, the Mayor’s Office wishes you a great weekend!
For More Information
Mayor Don Iveson
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB
T5J 2R7
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