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City Council

Meeting Minutes1

December 18, 2001

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

Tuesday, December 18, 2001

PRESENTB. Smith; B. Anderson, J. Batty, A. Bolstad, T. Cavanagh, E. Gibbons,
R. Hayter, L. Langley, K. Leibovici, S. Mandel, J. Melnychuk, M. Phair.

ABSENT:D. Thiele.

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:

A.B. Maurer, City Manager.

D.H. Edey, City Clerk.

A.CALL TO ORDER AND RELATED BUSINESS

A.1.CALL TO ORDER

Mayor B. Smith called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.

Councillor D. Theile was absent.

OPENING PRAYER

Mr. Al Pierog, President & Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Social Services, led the assembly in prayer.

A.2.ADOPTION OF AGENDA

MOVED M Phair – T. Cavanagh:

That the City Council agenda for the December 18, 2001 meeting be adopted with the addition of the following items:

D.2.a.The Feasibility of Hosting an ITU Triathlon World Cup Event on July 14, 2002.

E.1.j.Rights of Way Consent and Access Agreement Between the City of Edmonton and Shaw Cablesystems Company. IN PRIVATE

carried

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; B. Anderson, J. Batty, A. Bolstad,
T. Cavanagh, E. Gibbons, R. Hayter, L. Langley,
K. Leibovici, S. Mandel, J. Melnychuk, M. Phair.

ABSENT:D. Thiele.

A.3.ADOPTION OF MINUTES

MOVED M. Phair – R. Hayter:

That the Minutes of the November 14, 2001 Special City Council Meeting; November 19, 2001 City Council Public Hearing Meeting; November 23/December 7, 2001 Special City Council Meeting; November 27, 2001 City Council Meeting; November 29, 2001 Special City Council Meeting; and December 6, 2001 City Council Public Hearing Meeting, be adopted.

carried

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; B. Anderson, J. Batty, A. Bolstad,
T. Cavanagh, E. Gibbons, R. Hayter, L. Langley,
K. Leibovici, S. Mandel, J. Melnychuk, M. Phair.

ABSENT:D. Thiele.

B.1.URGENT MATTERS - PROTOCOL ITEMS

B.1.a.Congratulations to Kevin Martin and the Ottewell Rink, and to Northlands for the Philippines Trade Show. (T. Cavanagh).

Councillor T. Cavanagh, on behalf of City Council, congratulated Kevin Martin and the Ottewell Rink for winning their way to represent Canada at the 2002 Olympics.

B.1.b.Philippines Trade Show at the 2002 Klondike Days (T. Cavanagh).

Councillor T. Cavanagh congratulated Edmonton Northlands for bringing the Phillipines trade show to Klondike Days in 2002 and commented on how exciting this is for the Filipino Community.

B.1.c.Gerhard Herzberg Gold Medal for Science and Engineering
(B. Smith).

Mayor B. Smith, on behalf of City Council, congratulated Dr. David Schindler of the University of Alberta, on his recent award of the Gerhard Herzberg Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, presented to him by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, in recognition of his work in ecology research. Mayor B. Smith presented Dr. Schindler with a City of Edmonton certificate and thanked him for his contributions to the University of Alberta and for bringing recognition to the City of Edmonton.

B.1.d.Welcome to the Lord Strathcona’s Royal Canadians (B. Smith).

Mayor B. Smith, on behalf of City Council, welcomed representatives from the Lord Strathcona’s Royal Canadians, a unit that has earned an outstanding reputation for their involvement in both World Wars, the Korean Conflict and numerous other United Nations initiatives. Warm congratulations were also extended to them for their recent success in “Exercise Cambrian Patrol” which took place last month in Wales, in which they brought home the silver medal. Mayor B. Smith presented Sergeant Darrell Peters with a City of Edmonton certificate.

B.2.EXEMPTIONS AND VOTE ON ALL OTHER ITEMS

MOVED T. Cavanagh – M. Phair:

That items D.2.a., E.1.a., E.1.c., E.1.g., E.1.h., F.1.b., G.1.e., H.1.a., and the in private items E.1.i., E.1.j., and H.1.c., be exempted for debate; and

E.REPORTS RELATED TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MATTERS

E.1.b.Provincial Government’s Future Summit.

  1. That the City of Edmonton present as the major issues facing urban areas in general and Edmonton in particular:
a)roles and responsibilities (policing, ambulance),
b)expanded revenue sources,
c)long term stable funding by Province,
d)infrastructure decline (transportation),
e)emergency services, and
f)educational services.
  1. That City Council use the Strategy outlined in Attachment 2 of the November 27, 2001 Office of the City Manager report to present Edmonton’s position to the Provincial government.
  2. That the Province be requested to ensure the Mayors of Edmonton and Calgary are participants at the February 2002 Summit Meeting in Red Deer.
/ City Manager
E.1.b. cont’d
City Manager
Mayor

E.1.d.Assessment Review Board Assignments for 2002.

That the appointments to the eight Assessment Review Boards for the 2002 term, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the December 6, 2001 Office of the City Manager report, be approved. / City Manager

E.1.e.2000 Annual Reports and Audited Financial Statements for Business Revitalization Zones. 

That the Business Revitalization Zones’ 2000 Annual Reports and Audited Financial Statements be received for information. / Corporate Svcs.

E.1.f.Special Community Services Committee Meeting – February 11, 2002.

That a Special Community Services Committee meeting be scheduled to conduct civic agency interviews on February 11, 2002, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Councillors Boardroom. / City Manager

F.REPORTS RELATED TO COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MATTERS

F.1.a.Edmonton Arts Council – 2001 Arts Travel Community Investment Program Grant Recommendations. 

That the Arts Travel Community Investment Grant Recommendations as outlined in Attachment 1 of the November 26, 2001 Edmonton Arts Council report, be approved. / Edmonton Arts Council

F.1.c.Effectiveness of the Cat Licensing Bylaw. 

  1. That the October 11, 2001 Planning and Development Department report be received for information.
  1. That the Administration prepare an integrated Animal Control Bylaw as described in Attachment 2 of the October 11, 2001 Planning and Development Department report.
  2. That the proposed changes for a new Animal Control Bylaw as shown in the section titled “Recommended Process and Timelines” in Attachment 2 of the October 11, 2001 Planning and Development Department report, be brought before the Community Services Committee and City Council for direction before drafting the new Bylaw.
/ Planning & Dev.
CS Committee
Due: Feb. 25, 2002

G.REPORTS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MATTERS

G.1.a.Expropriation of a Strata Utility Right-of-Way at 731 Riddell Street from Frank P. Layton and Carol A. Layton. 

That the Administration be authorized to take all steps required by the Expropriation Act in furtherance of the expropriation of a sub-surface blanket strata utility right-of-way from the property described as Lot 79, Block 51, Plan 8023232 excepting thereout all mines and minerals, standing in the names of Frank P. Layton and Carol A. Layton as the registered owners of an estate in fee simple in the Land Titles Office of the North Alberta Land Registration District under Certificate of Title Number 812 127 474, together with all rights, titles, and interest in and to the aforesaid land of all persons, including the registered interests as detailed in Attachment 5 of the November 7, 2001 Asset Management and Public Works Department report. / Asset Mgmt. & Public Works
G.1.a. cont’d
Asset Mgmt. & Public Works

G.1.b.Expropriation of a Strata Utility Right-of-Way at 4116 Whitemud Road from Kenneth L. Bowes and Ruth C. Bowes. 

That the Administration be authorized to take all steps required by the Expropriation Act in furtherance of the expropriation of a sub-surface blanket strata utility right-of-way from the property described as Lot 8, Block 1, Plan 8022038 excepting thereout all mines and minerals, standing in the names of Kenneth Lloyd Bowes and Ruth Carol Bowes as the registered owners of an estate in fee simple in the Land Titles Office of the North Alberta Land Registration District under Certificate of Title Number 842 121 723, together with all rights, titles, and interest in and to the aforesaid land of all persons, including the registered interests as detailed in Attachment 5 of the November 7, 2001 Asset Management and Public Works Department report. / Asset Mgmt. & Public Works

G.1.c.Expropriation of a Strata Utility Right-of-Way at 4112 Whitemud Road from Muriel Florence Bryant. 

That the Administration be authorized to take all steps required by the Expropriation Act in furtherance of the expropriation of a sub-surface blanket strata utility right-of-way from the property described as Lot 7, Block 1, Plan 8022038 excepting thereout all mines and minerals, standing in the name of Muriel Florence Bryant as the registered owner of an estate in fee simple in the Land Titles Office of the North Alberta Land Registration District under Certificate of Title Number 842 147 141, together with all rights, titles, and interest in and to the aforesaid land of all persons, including the registered interests as detailed in Attachment 5 of the November 7, 2001 Asset Management and Public Works Department report. / Asset Mgmt. & Public Works

G.1.d.Expropriation of a Strata Utility Right-of-Way at 4108 Whitemud Road from Constance M. Reid. 

That the Administration be authorized to take all steps required by the Expropriation Act in furtherance of the expropriation of a sub-surface blanket strata utility right-of-way from the property described as Lot 6, Block 1, Plan 8022038 excepting thereout all mines and minerals, standing in the name of Constance M. Reid as the registered owner of an estate in fee simple in the Land Titles Office of the North Alberta Land Registration District under Certificate of Title Number 862 277 412 together with all rights, titles, and interest in and to the aforesaid land of all persons, including the registered interests as detailed in Attachment 5 of the November 7, 2001 Asset Management and Public Works Department report. / Asset Mgmt. & Public Works

G.1.f.Revision of City Policy C433C – Determination of Assessable Roadway-Related Local Improvements. 

That City Council adopt by resolution, Policy C433D-Determination of Assessable Roadway-Related Local Improvements (Attachment 1 of the November 16, 2001 Transportation and Streets Department report). / Transportation & Streets

G.1.g.Settlement of an Acquisition of Land at 12970 – 97 Street from Husky Oil Limited.

  1. That the settlement of the acquisition of a portion of Lots 5 and 6, Block 11, Plan 7249W containing 148 square metres, more or less, from Husky Oil Limited for the all-inclusive settlement price as outlined in the November 13, 2001 Asset Management and Public Works Department report, be approved.
  1. That this report be dealt with In Private and remain confidential as per Section 24(1)(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP).
/ City Manager

H.OTHER REPORTS

H.1.b.Civic Agencies – Appointment of External Representatives to Various Civic Agencies. 

  1. That Major Greg Carter be appointed to the Edmonton 2004 Celebration Committee as the Canadian Forces representative.
  2. That Ms. Andra Olsen be appointed to the Edmonton 2004 Celebration Committee as the Edmonton Youth Council representative.
  3. That Bob Dean be appointed to the Names Advisory Committee as the Edmonton Public Schools representative for the term ending December 31, 2002.
  4. That Debbie Cavaliere be appointed to the Names Advisory Committee as the Edmonton Catholic Schools representative for the term ending December 31, 2002.
  5. That Barry Breau be re-appointed to the Names Advisory Committee as the Edmonton Historical Board representative for the term ending December 31, 2002.
  6. That this report remains in private until approved by City Council. [Sections 16(1), 22(1)(b) and 23(1)(d) Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act].
/ City Manager

carried

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; B. Anderson, J. Batty, A. Bolstad,
T. Cavanagh, E. Gibbons, R. Hayter, L. Langley,
K. Leibovici, S. Mandel, J. Melnychuk, M. Phair.

ABSENT:D. Thiele.

D.ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES AND RESPONSES

D.1.ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES

D.1.a.Apartment Mill Rate (B. Anderson).

“The City of Edmonton has an apartment mill rate that is twenty percent higher than the single-family dwelling mill rate. It has come to my attention that our City may be the only major City in Alberta where this occurs.
Therefore, I would appreciate information on the following:
1)Calgary, and more recently Saskatoon, has reduced their apartment mill rate to equal that of single family dwellings.
a)Compare the apartment/single family mill rates prior to the reduction?
b)What was their rationale for reducing the apartment mill rate to equal the single-family rate? (Please include the appropriate parts of any administrative or committee reports that justified the decision.)
2)What other cities in Alberta have a differential residential mill rate; what are their rates in relatives terms?
3)What was the rationale for having a differential residential mill rate?
4)a)Does a multi-family residence receive more, less or the
same level of municipal service?
b)Does the service level to a multi-family residence cost
more, less or the same as a single-family dwelling?
5)Assuming that the property tax share between residential and non-residential taxpayers remains the same, if the multi-family mill rate was reduced to equal the single family mill rate, what increase in the single-family mill rate would have to occur to leave City property tax revenue at the same level?
6)Is there a connection between the rate of taxation on a rental apartment and the rental rate that a tenant would pay?
7)Is there a connection between the rate of taxation on a rental apartment and the number of rental apartment construction starts? (i.e. Is the split mill rate a dis-incentive to rental apartment construction starts?)
8)Does an accelerated rate of construction starts in the rental apartment industry have a positive effect on the availability of affordable rental accommodation?
For questions 7 and 8, I would appreciate a response from the industry as well. (i.e. Greater Edmonton Homebuilders, Urban Development Institute, and Landlord and Tenant Advisory Board).” / Planning & Dev.
Corporate Svcs.
Community Svcs.
Due: Feb. 12, 2002
D.1.a. cont’d
Planning & Dev.
Corporate Svcs.
Community Svcs.
Due: Feb. 12, 2002

D.1.b.Slow Down in Multi-Family Starts (B. Anderson).

“Does requiring the Permanent Area Contributions (PACs) to be paid up front rather than at the end, prior to receiving the Final Acceptance Certificate, have any negative effect on the number of multi-family starts in Edmonton?
I would also like an industry perspective on this issue.” / Planning & Dev.
Due: Feb. 12, 2002

D.1.c.EPCOR Dividends (J. Melnychuk).

“What are the actual dividends that the City has received from EPCOR, for 2000, 2001 and projected for 2002? What were the estimated dividends for each of those years as projected in the RBC Dominion review?
I would like a response to this inquiry at the January 15, 2002 City Council meeting, please.” / Corporate Svcs.
Due: Jan 15, 2002

D.1.d.Sanitary Sewage and Pollutants Draining into Mill Creek
(A. Bolstad).

“This inquiry has to do with problems the City has had with sanitary sewage and various pollutants draining into Mill Creek, which includes the most recent incident reported last week.
I would like to see a comprehensive report on steps that are being taken – or could be taken – to improve the quality of water in this creek.
For example, what can be done to eliminate or virtually eliminate any sanitary sewage from reaching this stream?
Similarly, what steps can be taken to prevent incidents of contamination like the one that occurred last week? For example, could some pipes, notably those coming from the industrial area, be re-routed altogether, or could they be channelled through tanks where foreign materials could be removed from the storm water? Could the City access funds from the federal or provincial government in this regard?
Furthermore, is there anything more that can be done to stop people or companies from dumping toxic substances into the storm drains? Can the City call on the provincial or federal government for help in this respect?
I would appreciate it if this report would come back to the Transportation and Public Works Committee.” / Asset Mgmt. & Public Works
D.1.d. cont’d
Asset Mgmt. & Public Works
TPW Committee
Due: Feb. 25, 2002

D.2.REPORTS ON ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES

D.2.a.The Feasibility of Hosting an ITU Triathlon World Cup Event on July 14, 2002 (B. Smith). 

Mayor B. Smith vacated the Chair and Deputy Mayor T. Cavanagh presided.

MOVED B. Smith – M. Phair:

That the December 13, 2001 Community Services Department report be referred to the January 7, 2002 Community Services Committee meeting. / Community Svcs.
CS Committee
Due: Jan 7, 2002

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; B. Anderson, J. Batty, A. Bolstad,
T. Cavanagh, E. Gibbons, R. Hayter, L. Langley,
K. Leibovici, S. Mandel, J. Melnychuk, M. Phair.

ABSENT:D. Thiele.

Deputy Mayor T. Cavanagh vacated the Chair and Mayor B. Smith presided.

E.REPORTS RELATED TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MATTERS

E.1.a.Recognition for Mr. Laurence Decore.

MOVED M. Phair – R. Hayter:

  1. That the Administration draft an amendment to Bylaw 3414, the Names Advisory Committee Bylaw to allow an ad hoc sub-committee of this civic agency to make such recommendations for former Mayors.
  1. That on completion of the amendment, the Names Advisory Committee be directed to strike an ad hoc sub-committee to make recommendations on recognition of Mr. Laurence Decore; and
  2. That Council Policy C480, Naming Development Areas, Road, Parks, and Municipal Facilities, be amended to set out the criteria which such a sub-committee would use in coming to a recommendation on recognition for former Mayors.
/ Planning & Dev.
Due: Feb. 12, 2002

carried

FOR THE MOTION:B. Smith; B. Anderson, J. Batty, A. Bolstad,
T. Cavanagh, E. Gibbons, R. Hayter, L. Langley,
K. Leibovici, S. Mandel, J. Melnychuk, M. Phair.

ABSENT:D. Thiele.

E.1.c.Provincial Urban Strategy.

MOVED R. Hayter – M. Phair (Made at the November 27, 2001 City Council meeting):

That City Council establish a special Urban Strategy Negotiating Committee, headed by the Mayor, to negotiate the City of Edmonton’s position on an urban strategy for the Edmonton Capital City Region which will recognize Edmonton’s unique financial responsibilities within the region and provide the tools for effective and orderly planning and development of the region.

WITHDRAWN

With the unanimous consent of Members of Council, Councillor R. Hayter withdrew his motion.

MOVED M. Phair – R. Hayter:

That the Administration bring forward to the Executive Committee an outline of the Corporation’s position with respect to an urban strategy for the Edmonton Capital Region and that the Executive Committee negotiate with the Province based on this report.

A.B. Maurer, City Manager, answered Council’s questions.

AMENDMENT MOVED J. Melnychuk – A. Bolstad:

That the words “to the Executive Committee” be replaced with the words “through Executive Committee to City Council”.

carried

FOR THE AMENDMENT:B. Smith; B. Anderson, J. Batty, A. Bolstad,
T. Cavanagh, E. Gibbons, R. Hayter, L. Langley,
K. Leibovici, S. Mandel, J. Melnychuk, M. Phair.

ABSENT:D. Thiele.