We're joined by the no-longer-interim city manager, Eddie Robar, to discuss his role, the city's finances, the year ahead, and the upcoming municipal election.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Guest: Eddie Robar

• Eddie Robar on LinkedIn
• Episode 262: Eddie's still here, and he's driving the bus
• Eddie's post on LinkedIn about taking over the role
• Budget pressures top of mind for Edmonton's new city manager
• Keith Gerein: Edmonton's city manager the safe choice for a risky time

Workforce

• City of Edmonton planning to sell 2 downtown office buildings, relocate hundreds of staff

Carbon emissions

• Report suggests Edmonton's emissions are decreasing too slowly
• Edmonton fails to meet climate targets 2 years after launching carbon budget

From the Taproot newsroom

• Magpie, chickadee, and blue jay battle to be Edmonton's City Bird
• A comedy lab for clowns and street performers rises from pandemic ashes
• As province pushes data centres, Edmonton operator says challenges await
• 'The fundamentals are there' Stevenson says of Blatchford after 2024 progress

Rapid fire

• Edmonton transit to start testing tap credit and phone payments with new ARC reader rollout
• Edmonton council gets automatic 3% salary raise but mayor pledges to return portion to city

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, the most reliable source of intelligence about what's happening in the Edmonton region. Through curiosity-driven original stories, tailored and useful newsletters, a comprehensive and innovative events calendar, and thought-provoking podcasts, we inform, connect, and inspire a more vibrant, engaged, and resilient Edmonton region.

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This. Is. Speaking Municipally Jeopardy! Three branch managers from the City of Edmonton square off in our annual holiday trivia episode. Enjoy!

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Carrie Hotton-MacDonald

• Branch Manager, Edmonton Transit Service
• LinkedIn

Pascale Ladouceur

• Branch Manager, Infrastructure Planning & Design
• LinkedIn

Cate Watt

• Branch Manager, Assessment and Taxation
• LinkedIn

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, the most reliable source of intelligence about what's happening in the Edmonton region. Through curiosity-driven original stories, tailored and useful newsletters, a comprehensive and innovative events calendar, and thought-provoking podcasts, we inform, connect, and inspire a more vibrant, engaged, and resilient Edmonton region.

Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!

In our penultimate episode of 2024, we recap the 2025 budget and discuss how the process might change in the future. Plus, we wrap up the Housing Complex project and look at what's next as we head into municipal election season.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Budget recap

• News Release: City Council confirms fall budget adjustments
• Edmonton city council sets property tax increase at 6.1% for 2025
• Edmonton city council votes for 6.1% tax hike for 2025
• With all the amendments to the city budget tabled, Councillor Tim Cartmell has proposed zero total reductions
• Edmonton city councillors react to budget adjustment
• 2022: 'Gruelling' budget process ends with tax increase of 4.96% in 2023

Housing Complex

• Housing Complex
• What city council can — and can't — do to improve Edmonton's housing system

Rapid fire

• PSA: City Hall Parkade reopens in time for the holidays
• Yellowhead Trail freeway conversion project faces $105M shortfall

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, the most reliable source of intelligence about what's happening in the Edmonton region. Through curiosity-driven original stories, tailored and useful newsletters, a comprehensive and innovative events calendar, and thought-provoking podcasts, we inform, connect, and inspire a more vibrant, engaged, and resilient Edmonton region.

Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!