Week in Review - September 4, 2015
September 04, 2015
Last weekend was one that was spent doing what Mayor Iveson loves best - interacting directly with the public. On Saturday, the Mayor was on hand to celebrate North Millbourne Community League’s 40th anniversary. Mayor Iveson took time to speak with local residents about issues that mattered to them, he partook in a rock’em sock’em game where he combated others in giant plastic bubble balls (you have to see the photos), and he presented past community league president Karrie Baker with a certificate commemorating the anniversary. In all, a fun-filled day in Edmonton’s south-east side.
To start off the work week, Community Services Committee recommended a bylaw to City Council that would implement a complaint procedure for fire pits that are an extreme nuisance or significantly impact a neighbours’ health. A balanced approach that still allows Edmontonians to enjoy a backyard wiener roast, but also allows residents a way to deal with neighbour’s who are not being so neighbourly. That evening, Mayor Iveson was in William Hawrelak Park to welcome the almost 5,000 undergraduate students to their first year of study at the University of Alberta - embarking on a new journey at the Mayor’s alma mater.
Tuesday’s Executive Committee saw passionate statements made as the committee reviewed a report on Project Watch, the initiative between the Edmonton Police Service, the City and the Province that is supposed to ensure safe housing conditions for vulnerable persons and their families. The Mayor highlighted the current “crisis” that vulnerable people find themselves in, with many staying in hotels and motels where conditions are deleterious. To ensure this is rectified, the Mayor moved two motions to work with the Province on making sure these families receive appropriate housing.
The Transportation Committee meeting on Wednesday brought disappointing news, with Administration informing the Mayor and Councillors that there may be significant delays during peak hours at key intersections that interact with the Metro LRT line. Mayor Iveson moved three motions to help mitigate the anticipated delays and to also look ahead to improving the performance of future LRT lines.
On the more comedic side of things, the Mayor took part in a video to promote this year's Edmonton Comedy Festival. Watch out for those awful puns and hilarious stories! The festival will take place October 7-10, 2015 at the Arts Barns in Old Strathcona.
Thursday evening had the Mayor at the Kinsmen Club of Edmonton, giving a speech that centered on poverty reduction in our city. He spoke of how poverty is not just about the lack of financial resources, but is also linked to kinship and connection to place. The Mayor brought to the Kinsmen Club the message that to honour the Treaty Spirit we must end poverty in Edmonton.
Finishing off the week, the Mayor wrote a blog post offering his view on the draft bylaws that would legalize and regulate private vehicle-for-hire operators, such as Uber, in Edmonton. The draft bylaws were released by the City and public input is now being collected as City Council considers adopting this innovative policy that will ensure driver and passenger safety and also offer choice to consumers.
Just in time for post-secondary classes, the Metro LRT Line is set to open for service on Sunday, September 6, 2015. This will be the first time the new line is open to the public; allowing passengers the ability to travel between Century Park, Downtown, Kingsway Mall, the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. This is only the first phase of a staged opening for the line, with further improvements forthcoming.
A busy, eventful and productive week has definitely passed us by. The Mayor’s Office wishes you a restful and relaxing long weekend!
For More Information
Mayor Don Iveson
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB
T5J 2R7
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