Episodes

  • A 242M Capital Line Item Increase

    A 242M Capital Line Item Increase
    Jun 14 2024
    This week we discuss an updated capital budget, and a new train. Plus, the police commission declines to show up to a council meeting in this, the city of champions.Here are the relevant links for this episode:Police commissionCity councillors call relationship with Edmonton police commissioners 'unhealthy' and 'frustrating'Sean Amato's tweet threadCapital budgetEdmonton council approves increase to $10.4B capital budget to build housing, renew roads and fix facilitiesEdmonton adds $262 million in capital spending on buses, LRT vehicles, infrastructure repairs and housingCapital Line LRTNews Release: City awards Design-Build contract for Capital Line South LRT Extension projectEdmonton's Capital Line LRT to extend south as council approves bylaw to borrow $585MCost for Edmonton Capital Line LRT south extension balloons by $242 million, council approves in secretTransit ridershipNews Release: Transit ridership up 130 per centOpen Data CatalogueMore scootersNews Release: Third e-scooter and e-bike vendor coming to Edmonton's streetsBlatchfordEdmonton city councillor's idea to sell some undeveloped Blatchford land sputters outCity of ChampionsShould Edmonton bring back 'City of Champions' slogan?From the Taproot newsroomSustainable fashion house hosts runway experience to build city's sceneNew doc recreates Edmonton's norm-busting Flashback nightclubTaproot Edmonton roundupsRapid fireNews Release: City adds new water bottle-filling stationsYEG Departures Roadway construction to end this fall58 per cent of Canadians not following Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup final: surveyBusiness membershipIntroducing Taproot Edmonton's Business MembershipThis episode is brought to you by the Edmonton Public Library which is hosting another instalment in its Forward Thinking Speaker Series. Don't miss Dr. Marie Wilson in conversation with Chief Wilton Littlechild on June 19. The Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners will discuss what we can do to further reconciliation across Canada. Tickets are now available for this EPL fundraiser.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 ★
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    31 mins
  • The police's urban planning department

    The police's urban planning department
    Jun 7 2024
    Boyle Street has had the permit for its site revoked…again. Plus, the police have declined a public audit, and we'll talk about Sohi's polling numbers. Is it really that time already?Here are the relevant links for this episode:Guest: Jack Farrell@_jack_farrellJack Farrell at St. Albert GazetteBoyle Street / CPTEDBoyle Street denied permit to build south Edmonton overdose prevention sitePermit denied for Wolf Den overdose prevention site in EdmontonJack's tweet threadHow EPS got involved in city planning — The YEG YellerEPS CPTED trainingPolice auditEdmonton police commission refuses to release audit plan to city councilMichael Janz's tweet threadFrom the Taproot newsroomTim Querengesser, managing editorPadmanadi and Seoul Fried Chicken tackle Calgary expansions differentlyCouncil to decide if U of A's proposal to redevelop farmland into housing can start planningTaproot Edmonton's roundupsWhat are you curious about? Let us know at hello@taprootedmonton.caLRT musicNews Release: Travel to the tunes of Tchaikovsky and more in downtown LRT stationsStephanie's tweet2011: Mercury Opera's 104 Underground (an operascape)Sohi troubleEdmonton heading in 'wrong direction,' Sohi on the ropes: Leger pollPoll results show Edmonton city council faces a tough re-election roadCivic Matters: Downtown Edmonton during the Oilers' playoff runDistrict planningEdmonton district planning decision could be weeks away, signals plans may be sent back for changes'Citizens are abandoned and angry': Public speakers distrustful of Edmonton district planningRapid fireIncrease in Edmonton's paper, reusable bag fee takes effect July 1Taste of Edmonton announces presale tickets ahead of 40th anniversary'We are at risk of running out': Calgarians asked to use 25% less water than yesterdayThis episode is brought to you by the Edmonton Public Library which is hosting another instalment in its Forward Thinking Speaker Series. Don't miss Dr. Marie Wilson in conversation with Chief Wilton Littlechild on June 19. The Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners will discuss what we can do to further reconciliation across Canada. Tickets are now available for this EPL fundraiser.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 ★
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    46 mins
  • Untangling the housing knot (LIVE)

    Untangling the housing knot (LIVE)
    Jun 1 2024

    A conversation at the summer institute of the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative about what Edmonton can and should do to contribute to the alleviation of the housing crisis.

    Here are the relevant links for this episode:


    Guests

    • Joshua Evans, associate professor of human geography at the University of Alberta and director of the Affordable Housing Solutions Lab
    • Eric Rice, a writer and researcher working with Taproot to better understand Edmonton's housing ecosystem

    Housing links

    • Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative
    • Episode 265: An Accelerated discussion on housing
    • Edmonton Affordable Housing Maintenance Fund
    • Protect, Enhance, Grow: Investing in Edmonton's Community Housing Sector
    • 'Damned If We Do, Damned If We Don't': Examining the Municipal Problematization of Homelessness in Edmonton, Canada During COVID-19

    Books

    • Homelessness is a Housing Problem
    • The Tenant Class

    Note: The series of Q&A interviews by Rice to be published in the fall by Taproot Edmonton is made possible through funding from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation.

    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 ★
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • An Accelerated discussion on housing

    An Accelerated discussion on housing
    May 24 2024

    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 LinkedIn
    • November 2021: The future of affordable housing according to our Christel ball (Episode 154)

    Housing at the city

    • Affordable Housing Strategy
    • Housing Accelerator Fund
    • Feb. 21, 2024: Building more homes that Canadians can afford in Edmonton

    Housing context

    • Calgary population surges by staggering 6%, Edmonton by 4.2% in latest StatsCan estimates
    • Lack of clarity in district plans could erode trust, councillors say
    • Edmonton mayor names 16-member task force to tackle housing and homelessness
    • Housing advocates say big money is transforming rental markets. And Alberta could be a poster child
    • New standard could help shift Edmonton's growth pattern
    • Fifteen years after the original strategy, Edmonton has a new plan for homelessness

    Rapid fire

    • The 'Redmonton' party no more: Alberta NDP's base has shifted to Calgary
    • Edmonton Fringe raises $100,000 in donations, unveils 2024 theme
    • Troy's tweet

    See us in person!

    • May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot at the Foundry Room

    This 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 ★
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • The Molson Canadian Tire Activity Plus® Recreation Centre Presented by Boston Pizza

    The Molson Canadian Tire Activity Plus® Recreation Centre Presented by Boston Pizza
    May 17 2024
    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 forceEdmonton mayor names 16-member task force to tackle housing and homelessnessState of the CityClean energy retrofitEdmonton finalizes clean energy retrofit loans programLauren Boothby's threadPolice accountabilityEdmonton 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 meetingDistrictsRice 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 rightsEdmonton's Terwillegar rec centre to get a new, sponsored name2022: Jumpstart Inclusive Playground now open in EdmontonRapid firePSA: 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 ★
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    43 mins
  • The Queen of Nexopia

    The Queen of Nexopia
    May 10 2024
    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 QuerengesserTim's workLinkedIn profile@TimQuerengesserEdmonton RiverboatMeet the new owners of the Edmonton RiverboatSummer streets and scootersPSA: Summer Streets gives Edmontonians safer spaces for outdoor funWhere are Edmonton's e-scooters?Bill 18/20Bill 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 FundEdmonton grants $4.7M to 17 organizations through Edge FundEdmonton's biggest rec centres face name change in new sponsorship dealRapid fireThe 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 ★
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    41 mins
  • Eddie's still here, and he's driving the bus

    Eddie's still here, and he's driving the bus
    May 3 2024

    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 LinkedIn
    • 2015: Halifax Transit Manager Eddie Robar latest city executive to leave for greener pastures
    • 2016: Back on track: Edmonton hires new transit manager
    • News Release: City Council names Eddie Robar as Interim City Manager
    • Eddie Robar named interim City of Edmonton manager while permanent replacement sought
    • New interim Edmonton city manager Eddie Robar focusing on improving work culture after tense labour dispute

    Low-income transit pass

    • Alberta government cuts funding for Edmonton, Calgary low-income transit pass, mayors say
    • Province reverses decision to cut funding for low-income bus passes in Calgary and Edmonton

    Rapid fire

    • News Release: Alberta's vision for passenger rail
    • News Release: New EPark mobile payment in effect today
    • Brett Kissel curse? Radio host starts petition to stop singer from performing anthem at Oilers playoff games

    Speaking Municipally Live

    • May 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knot

    This 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 ★
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    49 mins
  • Will Edmonton lower their taxes? (Eight point) Nein

    Will Edmonton lower their taxes? (Eight point) Nein
    Apr 26 2024
    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 SOBAOn 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 recruitmentAttrition 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 TangEdmonton councillor at the centre of anonymous letter sent to province speaks outAlberta premier says 'anonymous letter' forwarded to Edmonton ethics commissionerBill 204New bill allows Alberta government to set conditions for national urban park decisionsRegional Roundup: April 24, 2024Bill 20Alberta bill gives cabinet power to remove municipal councillors, change or repeal bylawsRapid fireRedevelopment plans in question after historic Edmonton air hangar gutted by fireEPSB: April 30 - Special Board MeetingHydrogen convention to bring world to regionSpeaking Municipally LiveMay 30: Speaking Municipally Live: Untangling the housing knotEdmonton heritageHow 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 ★
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    38 mins