Edmonton Council Goes on Summer Break, Achievements Questioned – Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

More than eight months after being sworn in, the Edmonton City Council is now on summer vacation.

While councilmembers will continue to attend community events and respond to citizen inquiries, the council will not meet again until mid-August.

Eight new councilors joined new mayor Amarjeet Sohi in October and there have been hiccups even recently as members adjusted to their new roles.

During the final meeting, councilmembers spent more than an hour discussing a motion by Sspomitapi District Councilmember Jo-Anne Wright.

He wanted the administration to provide a report reviewing and rationalizing the number of temporary staff positions in the city.

The staff argued that they would have to pull out tens of thousands of documents and would have to work overtime to complete the work for the next council meeting.

Second-term Councilwoman Sarah Hamilton noted that the number and type of temporary positions within the city are always discussed during budget discussions anyway.

On Monday, Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi Councilwoman Jennifer Rice called for adding the snow and ice control program to the city’s crowded list of topics to discuss.

“Is that for voting purposes or is it for questions?” Mayor Amarjeet Sohi asked.

“Questions,” Rice responded.

“Although we had a very healthy discussion in committee, do you have any more questions?” the Mayor noted on the issue, which received unanimous approval in committee the week before.

“Yes,” Rice said.

At that committee meeting, Ward pihêsiwin Councilman Tim Cartmell had to ask councilmembers to limit the number of reports they were asking for from management as they were dealing with a lengthy review of homeless shelters and supportive housing in the city.

“That’s one of the criticisms I would have about where we’ve come as a council,” Hamilton told reporters Wednesday about the number of reports requested.

“Since Election Day in October, we have generated a lot of work and someone has to pay for it.”

Brennan believes the council has focused too much on the wrong issues from the start.

“There are a lot of social crusaders on this new city council and a lot of people who have agendas that aren’t really city responsibilities,” Brennan explained.

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“Things like climate change, it’s certainly a serious problem, but there is very little that the city of Edmonton can do on its own about it.”

Brennan credited this council for approving an operating budget in the fall.

The previous council outlined much of the budget, but changes were made.

The analyst also says that the progress made on the Station Lands project was something to celebrate.

But he noted that councilmen canceled the aerial mosquito spraying program without a replacement.

They also canceled a promised funding increase for the police. The province later stepped in to force the city to develop a public safety plan.

“The idea of ​​not increasing the police budget at a time when social disorder and crime is such a big problem downtown, at the LRT stations, Chinatown. . . just the general clutter in the center of the city is a big problem,” Brennan said.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi argues that progress has been made.

He said he is proud of the steps the council has taken toward reconciliation. He is also happy that the snow removal this coming winter is better than the previous winter.

Sohi highlighted the 1.9% tax increase for 2022.

“We kept our lowest taxes in the region, I would say the lowest of any major urban center in Canada,” the mayor said.

“People enjoy their quality of life and think things are going well. So they continue to enjoy that without even realizing all these great services that are offered and provided to them,” he added.

The Council is breaking up with several unfinished business.

The city continues to lobby the province for financial help with affordable and supportive housing, as well as shelter operations. Those talks are ongoing, and the mayor says he will meet with some provincial officials during the Stampede.

An idea to create city-approved camps for the homeless in the summer won’t see significant progress before the snow returns.

Councilmembers were caught off guard by a previous council decision to cut public pool hours to save money. A move to expand those hours again will not be voted on until at least mid-August.

When councilmembers return, the biggest item on their to-do list will be approving the next four-year budget.

“Focus on your job, and your job is municipal business,” Brennan advised council members about the discussions.

“Their job is to make sure city services are delivered efficiently and cost-effectively.”

But finding that approach could be tricky. Hamilton noted that there have been more split votes in the past eight months than in his entire time on the council.

“I think we’re going to see a lot more disagreement and dissent,” Hamilton predicted. “And I’m willing to say probably less courtesy in the future.”

The next council meeting is scheduled for August 15.