Edmontons top 40 under 40

Interesting to note that Salima's bio did not mention her years with the City Planning Department. Or Stantec for that matter.

Changes to blog

looks like there was some interest in my previus posts so ........

October 25, 1978

This is the date that I first started full time in the Planning Department, 35 years ago. I did work in summer temporary jobs in 1976 and 77 but this is the first day of permanent work with the city. I started as a planning assistant under Dave Morris and Terry Loat and worked with people like Dianne Nash, Tandy McGibbon, Leslie ? and Dennis Nowicki on the 7 th floor of City Hall, ( the 1953 version). Paul Scott started about the same time as I did. I worked for two planners, Bob Marshall and Kathy Cantle who later married Terry Loat and then divorced him. Willard worked with Mike Chan and Wes Candler on the 6 th floor at the zoning office. More on my history with Planning to follow.

Vue Weekly article about Molson redevelopment in Edmonton.

http://vueweekly.com/front/story/strange_brew/ I quote Leading up to the hearing, Campbell and Ward 6 Councillor Jane Batty had countless conversations. "There was never a time when she said she wouldn't support the community," he says. So he was stunned when the general business rezoning passed, 10 – 3. Not only did Batty vote in its favour, but she seemingly led First Capital with questions about its good reputation and willingness to hear out the community that painted it in a very positive light. Did you p[\eople think that an outgoing councilor would support a developer or the community? Give your head a shake! I quote Don Iveson is the only councillor running for mayor who voted against it. First he tried combining two zoning laws that wouldn't force the developers to get constant approval but assure a certain quality. A similar bylaw is in place in the Warehouse District. However, his mayoral opponent Councillor Karen Leibovici called it "blackmail." No wonder Karen lost and Don won handily. I quote Dismayed, insiders from the administration have opened up to Campbell and me over the past month to explain how something that contradicts sustainability, density and walkability—virtues espoused in the city's long-term vision documents—could pass through planning in the first place. By the time the internal-review file made it back to the 13th floor and landed on Current Planning manager Mackie's desk, it had several letters of nonsupport. The files are not available to the public, however a memo from Mary Ann McConnell-Boehm, Director of the Planning Initiatives section, which oversees transit-oriented development, was leaked to me through Campbell. Erik Backstrom (senior planner of Transit Oriented Development) and Travis Pawlyk (senior planner on the Molson-Crosstown file), declined to comment. McConnell-Boehm was on vacation. However, Peter Ohm, manager of Urban Planning and Environment Branch, explains that it's rare for these comments to make it into council's report. Affable as he is, Mackie has upset many within the administration. He has a reputation for pushing development through and critics also take issue with the fact that someone who's not a fully accredited planner is in such a senior position. Mackie, who was hired from Calgary's planning department in 2009, has an MBA, though he's done eight years of planning course work and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. You think! With Don Iveson as the new mayor, Lets watch and see if Molson gets built right a way

Staff engagement Fall 2013

Mackei spoke first and discussed the fact that on line permit application will finally arrive in spring 2014. Also noted that fees will go up 4% for rezonings etc.

Election for Mayor 2013

Roxanne Carr is the winner and Fiona Beland Quest will represent my ward. I voted for these two and they were successful. After Jason G sherades, I glad he is out. Also . Iveson got in as mayor of Edmonton and Leibivici did not win so she is out. No more calls to Tim about this and that and why are we doing what we are doing. If she actually read the report, then most of her questions were answered. You know that councilors do not read our reports. The reporta are generally a waste of time but that is what I get paid to do, over and over and over. The same logic the same report just different properties. BTW thanks for that pay every 2 weeks.

Pictometry

After 5 years they have finally added this to our system in Test mode only. Good on those involved. It was not Sustainable Development that did it. Of course Bing maps gave this ability 2 years ago using the birds eye view.

Serving the citizens of Edmonton.

For all of my 30 plus years I have served the citizens of Edmonton to make a better city to live in. All my direction came from a long time group of planners at the high end of Planning. With the advent of new management 2 years ago and the fact that we became a business unit, all has changed. As a business unit, the manager has indicated that we are fully supported by the fees we receive from our customers. As another planner said, in business, not government, who is the person that you work for? The answer is the customer. Ipso facto, it is not the citizens but the guys who pay the fees. This list includes the land developers, from the developer of 250 lot subdivisions to the guy who rezones his property to allow for re use and redevelopment with a new list of uses. Thus I no longer serve the citizens but now I serve the developers. It leaves me in an interesting quandry.

Arena Development August 2013

The new Rexall arena has started construction outside my window. Although I can see most of the site, the Bell tower hides the eastern portion where the casino will be removed. I will update this post regularly as construction occurs and I will post piks.