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.

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

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!

Another blow to regional collaboration as it appears the EMRB is dead after the provincial government pulled its funding. Plus, we talk budget, carbon emissions, police response times, and parking.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

EMRB

• Regional Roundup: Nov. 27, 2024
• 'Unexpected': Edmonton's regional board loses provincial funding, future uncertain

Budget

• City says participatory budgeting experiment was challenging but taught lessons
• Will Edmonton neighbourhood renewal be scaled back?
• Calgary council approves budget, 3.6% property tax increase

Carbon emissions

• Report suggests Edmonton's emissions are decreasing too slowly

Police response times

• Making Edmonton police response times public again: It's complicated

HotSpot Parking

• Zipstall parking app sent cease-and-desist letter by City of Edmonton's vendor HotSpot

DIP

• Puneeta McBryan's post

From the Taproot newsroom

• Conservatory of Music to leave MacEwan and become part of Winspear in 2025
• Building powerhouses look for new life at old RAM
• How Edmonton compares to cities finding success in tackling homelessness

Rapid fire

• Alberta's passenger rail master plan scheduled for summer 2025 release
• News Release: 30th Annual Stuff a Bus returns to support those in need
• Alberta mulls boosting U.S. border patrol in effort to prevent Trump's 25% tariff

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!

We have a third mayoral candidate as Coun. Tim Cartmell finally confirms he's running for mayor. And in a surprising announcement, Chief Dale McFee has announced his retirement from EPS, effective Feb. 21, 2025.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Cartmell running for mayor

• Is Tim Cartmell the Next Mayor of Edmonton?
• Edmonton Coun. Tim Cartmell running for mayor with new political party

McFee retiring

• Chief McFee retires from the EPS
• Province to appoint more members to Edmonton Police Commission

Old RAM

• Edmonton developer, architect push to save Old Royal Alberta Museum

Housing figures

• News Release: City exceeds housing supply targets in record-breaking year for new housing starts and building permits
• Why Edmonton may need to focus on renters as it stares down 'peak home ownership'

From the Taproot newsroom

• Housing Complex
• Taproot presents: A conversation about housing

Rapid fire

• Former Edmonton city councillor Tony Caterina running for mayor
• WestJet announces summer schedule, Edmonton to see 23% seat capacity increase
• Boissonnault out of cabinet after shifting claims about Indigenous heritage

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!

This week, budget season has begun. Troy and Stephanie guide you into the start of our year-end busy season, and explain how this will lead into next year's busy season, the election.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Budget

• Edmonton city council looks for cuts to lower 8.1 per cent tax hike eyed for 2025
• Edmonton city councillors question travel budgets and spending on Calgary Stampede

Election

• 9 candidates declare intention to run for Edmonton City Council

City manager

• Edmonton city council hires Eddie Robar as city manager
• Budget pressures top of mind for Edmonton's new city manager

Carbon budget

• Edmonton fails to meet climate targets 2 years after launching carbon budget
• Condo association calls green bin rollout 'rocky', while city says new habits take time

Single-use bylaw

• 500 days in, Edmonton has written 0 tickets under single-use bag, plastics bylaw

From the Taproot newsroom

• Edmonton Arts Council has a new funding strategy and leader
• Why the decline in public housing is 'the origins of Canada's housing crisis'
• Taproot presents: A conversation about housing

Canadian Podcast Awards

• Speaking Municipally is a finalist
• Karen's post on LinkedIn

Rapid fire

• City underlines successes and challenges as the Valley Line LRT turns one
• McDavid makes history with 1,000th NHL point

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!

Taproot Edmonton reporter Colin Gallant joins us to discuss making Edmonton's housing more financially accessible, the Valley Line LRT's first anniversary, and the future of retail downtown.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Updates

• News Release: Fifth case of Dutch elm disease confirmed in Edmonton
• News Release: City launches Assisted Snow Removal Program Pilot
• City of Edmonton proposes 8.1% tax hike in 2025 to cover higher costs

Housing

• How should Edmonton grow to make housing more accessible?
• Housing Complex

Valley Line LRT

• City underlines successes and challenges as the Valley Line LRT turns one

Downtown retail

• As Foosh debuts downtown, experts suggest retail needs focus to thrive

From the Taproot newsroom

• YEG hopes visitors will stay and play at the airport
• On the agenda: Garneau rezoning, utility rate changes, council office budget

Election update (no not that one)

• 2025 Edmonton General Election | Register of Candidates
• Troy's tweet

Rapid fire

• Hundreds attend Edmonton protest against Alberta government's trans legislation
• Downtown Edmonton residential tower could rise higher than planned
• Alberta enabling Halal mortgages, implementing promised electric vehicle tax

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!