Calgary Minute: Green Line, BMO Completion, and a Failed Plebiscite Motion

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

This Week In Calgary:

• Today, at 1:00 pm, there will be a Strategic Meeting of City Council. On the agenda is a discussion about changing the way Local Access Fees for energy are collected. Currently, the fees are tied to the Regulated Rate Option, meaning they fluctuate as the rate for energy fluctuates. Council will assess whether or not to adopt a Quantity Only model, which would keep the rates stable. Also on the agenda are potential metrics for measuring progress and impact in priority areas. These metrics include transit ridership and number of trips per service hour, percent of pavement in good or very good condition, and number of vehicle noise complaints in targeted areas, among others.
  
  
• There will be a Regular Meeting of City Council on Tuesday at 9:30 am. Council will discuss continuing with a Special Tax Bylaw that allows property owners to pay for enhanced landscaping services in their community - there are 12 communities currently using this bylaw who wish to continue doing so. Alberta Health Services will provide a confidential update to Council, after which Council will receive a briefing on inclusive hiring practices, as well as the process for full repeal of the single-use items bylaw. (We’ll have more info very soon about how to get involved in the repeal!)
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, the Community Development Committee will meet. On the agenda is the Calgary Police Service 2023 Annual Report and a verbal report on the Vehicle-for-Hire Transitional Strategy. Then, on Thursday, at 1:00 pm, the Calgary Planning Commission will meet to discuss several land use amendments.

Last Week In Calgary:

• Calgary's proposed blanket rezoning initiative won't be subjected to a plebiscite in the next municipal election, after Council voted 8-6 against the motion. The proposed change, aiming to increase housing density in single-family neighbourhoods, will now proceed to a public hearing next month as initially planned. Supporters of the plebiscite argued that it would ensure broader public input, while opponents emphasized the importance of the upcoming public hearing in allowing detailed discussions on the issue. (We'll have details on this public hearing for you soon, too).
  
  
• Councillors were briefed on the Green Line LRT project. It’s facing rising cost concerns, with estimates expected to be finalized in a few months. A recent report raised the project's risk status from “amber” to “red”, apparently due to higher-than-expected estimates from subcontractors. Project officials are considering options like revising the contracting strategy and adjusting the project's scope. Here we go again... Time to kill this Green Elephant.
  
  
• The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation celebrated the completion of the BMO Centre expansion by transitioning from construction helmets to cowboy hats during the handover of the building to the Calgary Stampede. The project has doubled the BMO Centre's size to over one million square feet, featuring unique elements like a 21-meter fireplace and leather doors with cowboy boot stitching. The upcoming Global Energy Show in June will mark the first event in the newly expanded facility.

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