Week in Review - March 11, 2016
March 11, 2016
At Tuesday’s Executive Committee meeting, the committee reviewed reports on how the provincial government’s new climate change policy aligns with Edmonton’s Energy Transition Strategy. The reports found there is substantial alignment between the Province and the City’s plans, concluding that the City’s action plan is consistent with Provincial policies and direction. These reports were approved and are now being sent to City Council, where their approval would mean the release of funds to implement the City’s Energy Transition Strategy. Mayor Iveson sees this as a great opportunity to improve the quality of life of Edmontonians and create pathways to start reducing our carbon dependency. It also leaves room for further collaboration with the province on the ever-important climate change file.
Later Tuesday evening the Mayor was on hand to bring greetings at the Prairie Wood Design Awards gala, where design and architecture firms were recognized for their work in “pushing the boundaries of wood in construction.” Winners of the night included some new City of Edmonton landmarks:
- Institutional Wood Design Award: Kingsway/Royal Alex LRT Station
- Interior Wood Showcase Award: Meadows Community Recreation Centre & Library
- Recreational Wood Design Award: Borden Park Pavilion
Thursday saw the release of some important reports that will go before City Council on March 15th and 16th. The first was a report on the business case for the District Energy Sharing System for Blatchford. District Energy is a system that centralizes the production of heating and cooling over a large area (like the entire Blatchford neighbourhood). An innovative system that will go a long way in Blatchford reaching its goal of being an entirely carbon neutral neighbourhood that uses 100 percent renewable energy. “Blatchford as leadership on the environment...not only demonstrating the adoption of innovative approaches to energy but also energy efficient buildings and putting that together you got a model of a low- to no-carbon community that can be duplicated locally and federally,” said Mayor Iveson when asked about the importance of this project. Council will discuss several ways to implement the system in order to achieve the ambitious goals of the development - certainly one of the largest of its kind in the world.
There was also a report on the year-end financial results for 2015, showing that the City posted a $27.3-million surplus - the largest surplus in many years. This positive balance sheet was mainly due to lower than expected personnel costs, through delayed hirings and unfilled vacancies, and lower than expected fuel costs. Mayor Iveson acknowledged this good news and City Administration's ability to tighten up their budgets during this time of restraint. Half of this surplus is to be allocated to the Financial Stabilization Reserve, which will help the City withstand any future financial shocks. Administration is recommending the other half go to Council approved projects that are currently unfunded
Following this week’s Capital Region Board meeting Mayor Iveson informed the media that members of the Board, which is made up of Mayors from the surrounding Edmonton Metropolitan Region, agreed to move forward on setting up a regional economic development agency in order to “promote the region with one voice, attract investment with one voice, and improve our export potential with one voice.” The Mayor’s complete comments on this significant development can be heard in a recent upload of the media scrum. In the context of today’s economy, progress on regional collaboration is more vital than ever.
That wraps up the week! From the Mayor’s Office, have a sunny and beautiful weekend.
For More Information
Mayor Don Iveson
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB
T5J 2R7
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