Speaking Municipally Taproot Edmonton

We're joined by Christel Kjenner, director of the housing action team at the City of Edmonton, to get an overview of what the city is doing about the housing crisis.
Here are the relevant links for this episode:
Christel Kjenner
Christel Kjenner on LinkedInNovember 2021: The future of affordable housing according to our Christel ball (Episode 154)Housing at the city
Affordable Housing StrategyHousing Accelerator FundFeb. 21, 2024: Building more homes that Canadians can afford in EdmontonHousing context
Calgary population surges by staggering 6%, Edmonton by 4.2% in latest StatsCan estimatesLack of clarity in district plans could erode trust, councillors sayEdmonton mayor names 16-member task force to tackle housing and homelessnessHousing advocates say big money is transforming rental markets. And Alberta could be a poster childNew standard could help shift Edmonton's growth patternFifteen years after the original strategy, Edmonton has a new plan for homelessnessRapid fire
The 'Redmonton' party no more: Alberta NDP's base has shifted to CalgaryEdmonton Fringe raises $100,000 in donations, unveils 2024 themeTroy's tweetSee us in person!
May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot at the Foundry RoomThis episode is brought to you by Park Power, your friendly, local utilities provider (and title sponsor of Taproot's Regional Roundup). Park Power offers electricity, natural gas, and internet to homes, businesses, and farms throughout Alberta. Learn more at parkpower.ca.
Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!


★ Support this podcast ★

There's a new task force on housing and homelessness. Plus, everything is a district, recreation centres will soon be sponsored, and we discuss police accountability.
Here are the relevant links for this episode:
Housing task force
Edmonton mayor names 16-member task force to tackle housing and homelessnessState of the CityClean energy retrofit
Edmonton finalizes clean energy retrofit loans programLauren Boothby's threadPolice accountability
Edmonton mayor disturbed by images of police response to pro-Palestinian protestersMessage to the U of A community: Update on encampmentProtesters attend Edmonton city hall meeting after police teardown of U of A pro-Palestine campDisruptive meeting could trigger security changes at Edmonton city hallTweet about commission meetingDistricts
Rice Howard Way to become Edmonton's new entertainment districtDowntown Edmonton 'education district' could spur revitalization, school leaders sayExperience Edmonton's Arts District2015: Coffee Bureau and Lock Stock Coffee have revived Edmonton's coffee districtNaming rights
Edmonton's Terwillegar rec centre to get a new, sponsored name2022: Jumpstart Inclusive Playground now open in EdmontonRapid fire
PSA: Have fun in the sun in Edmonton's spray parks, opening this weekendNews Release: New EPark App launches todayCanada's 100 Best restaurants list snubs Edmonton; three bars crack top 50See us in person!
May 21: Don't let the pink slime get you: AI's role in a healthy media ecosystem at Work Nicer Beaver House.May 25: Edmonton International Cat Festival at the Robbins Health Learning Centre at MacEwan.May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot at the Foundry Room.Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!


★ Support this podcast ★

Summer is here, and it comes with the sale of a riverboat, scooters, and summer streets. Plus, council writes a very sternly worded letter to the province. It'll work this time, they promise!
Here are the relevant links for this episode:
Tim Querengesser
Tim's workLinkedIn profile@TimQuerengesserEdmonton Riverboat
Meet the new owners of the Edmonton RiverboatSummer streets and scooters
PSA: Summer Streets gives Edmontonians safer spaces for outdoor funWhere are Edmonton's e-scooters?Bill 18/20
Bill 20 offers power to accelerate housing through property tax breaksEdmonton city council asks Alberta to scrap Bill 18 and Bill 20 for consultationChanges to city charters, Municipal Government Act meant to bolster housing, cut costs: McIverEdmonton mayor, Alberta government meet to talk about Sohi's 6-page funding letterSohi sends 6-page letter to Smith detailing ways Alberta can help EdmontonFederal government and Boyle Street Community Services invest in vital community building in downtown EdmontonCalgary's single-use items bylaw repealed, businesses no longer required to charge bag feeEdge Fund
Edmonton grants $4.7M to 17 organizations through Edge FundEdmonton's biggest rec centres face name change in new sponsorship dealRapid fire
The City of Edmonton finally has a 'Nathan Fillion Civilian Pavilion' & it's here to stay (for now)Premier Danielle Smith's tweetEdmonton fire chief Joe Zatylny resigns effective May 10See us in person!
May 21: Don't let the pink slime get you: AI's role in a healthy media ecosystem at Work Nicer Beaver House. Taproot CEO Mack Male and Ethically Aligned AI founder Katrina Ingram will discuss the uses and abuses of AI in media. Generative AI is flooding the world with "pink slime journalism," but it's also helping responsible companies like Taproot carry out our work more deeply and efficiently. We'll explore those realities at this community event associated with Upper Bound, Edmonton's annual AI conference. Tickets to our event are free.May 25: Edmonton International Cat Festival at the Robbins Health Learning Centre at MacEwan. We're thrilled to be a media sponsor for this 10th annual celebration of all things feline. We've asked our friends at Zoe's Animal Rescue to share our booth, so come by to meet some members of the Taproot team, and give a kitty a skritch while you're there. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and kids get in free.May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot at the Foundry Room. Our civic affairs podcast is recording live during the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative's summer institute, and you're invited. Hosts Troy Pavlek and Mack Male will discuss how the City of Edmonton can help alleviate the housing crisis; their guests are Joshua Evans of the Affordable Housing Solutions Lab and writer/researcher Eric Rice, who is working on a project with Taproot to help us better understand the housing system. Tickets are free.This episode was brought to you by Inventures, the breakthrough innovation event from Alberta Innovates that is happening in Calgary from May 29 to 31. Inventures will bring more than 4,000 entrepreneurs, startups, scale-ups, academics, investors, and industry leaders together to cultivate relationships, showcase emerging technologies, and capitalize on Alberta's innovation advantage.
Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!



★ Support this podcast ★

We speak with Eddie Robar, the interim city manager at the City of Edmonton, about what he plans to do for the time he'll be in the role.
Since recording this episode, the Alberta government reversed its decision to cut its share of funding for low-income transit passes in Edmonton and Calgary following public backlash and discussions with the cities’ mayors.
Here are the relevant links for this episode:
Eddie Robar
Eddie Robar on LinkedIn2015: Halifax Transit Manager Eddie Robar latest city executive to leave for greener pastures2016: Back on track: Edmonton hires new transit managerNews Release: City Council names Eddie Robar as Interim City ManagerEddie Robar named interim City of Edmonton manager while permanent replacement soughtNew interim Edmonton city manager Eddie Robar focusing on improving work culture after tense labour disputeLow-income transit pass
Alberta government cuts funding for Edmonton, Calgary low-income transit pass, mayors sayProvince reverses decision to cut funding for low-income bus passes in Calgary and EdmontonRapid fire
News Release: Alberta's vision for passenger railNews Release: New EPark mobile payment in effect todayBrett Kissel curse? Radio host starts petition to stop singer from performing anthem at Oilers playoff gamesSpeaking Municipally Live
May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knotThis episode is brought to you by NAIT. Celebrating the impact of its grads on the community, NAIT announces this year's award recipients who are visionaries, community-builders, trailblazers and more. See their impact at nait.ca/celebrate.
Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!


★ Support this podcast ★

The spring budget adjustment has been finalized, and the final tax increase council arrived at was quite a bit higher than expected.
Here are the relevant links for this episode:
Spring SOBA
On the agenda: Potential tax increases, Windsor Park rezoning, supportive housingNews Release: City Council finalizes 2024 spring budget adjustmentsEdmonton sets 8.9 per cent property tax hike for 2024Edmonton city council needs to have a 'firmer backbone' over budget: Tim CartmellErin Rutherford: Financial stewardship is more than keeping taxes lowOpinion: Don't blame bike lanes for Edmonton's property tax hikeJoint Letter - Spring 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget AdjustmentPolice recruitment
Attrition is down. Recruitment is up.'On an upswing': Edmonton police seeing fewer officers leaving the force, more recruits2023: Edmonton Police Service sees jump in departing officers in 2022Keren Tang
Edmonton councillor at the centre of anonymous letter sent to province speaks outAlberta premier says 'anonymous letter' forwarded to Edmonton ethics commissionerBill 204
New bill allows Alberta government to set conditions for national urban park decisionsRegional Roundup: April 24, 2024Bill 20
Alberta bill gives cabinet power to remove municipal councillors, change or repeal bylawsRapid fire
Redevelopment plans in question after historic Edmonton air hangar gutted by fireEPSB: April 30 - Special Board MeetingHydrogen convention to bring world to regionSpeaking Municipally Live
May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knotEdmonton heritage
How Edmonton's first community archivist builds better recordsSpeaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!


★ Support this podcast ★

A new draft district policy has been released. Plus, Edmonton has added 100,000 people in the past two years, and some councillors are questioning if we can handle that growth.
Here are the relevant links for this episode:
Andre Corbould
Former Edmonton City Manager Joins Danchilla ConsultingDistrict Policy
News Release: City releases final draft of the District Policy and plans; offers information sessionsPopulation growth
Edmonton's population is booming and one city councillor wonders if we're readySigns of strain amid Alberta's population boomOpinion: How to build a better Edmonton in 2024Blatchford
Pace of building at Blatchford a concern for some on Edmonton city councilProgress on Blatchford development lacks clarity and targets, City of Edmonton audit report showsAudit reveals gaps in governance structure of Edmonton's climate goal delivery teamEdmonton Unlimited
Edmonton Unlimited hires new CEO from within city ecosystemRice Howard Way
Does Edmonton need a downtown entertainment district?Downtown Entertainment District | Engaged EdmontonRapid fire
Alberta's wildfire season has begun. Here's how its 500 new firefighters are preparing for itEdmonton transit union files 'bad faith' bargaining complaint with Alberta regulatorCKUA: Address To The CommunityUpcoming events
April 24: YEG Destination TechApril 24: The Climate Crisis is a Health CrisisApril 25: Machine Learning, Cults, and BirdsMay 2: YEG Startup Community AwardsSpeaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!


★ Support this podcast ★