Mayor Don Iveson aims to keep future councils from cancelling neighbourhood renewal
Laura Osman | CBC News | Posted: April 15, 2016 8:21 PM | Last Updated: April 15, 2016
The program is expected to be fully funded by 2018
Mayor Don Iveson says he will consider proposing a bylaw that would tie the hands of future councils, to make sure neighbourhood renewal continues after this term is done.
The city's auditor reviewed the program, and concluded it is properly managed and funding is sustainable.
Iveson said he doesn't want to see that good work go to waste if future councils decided to spend the money differently.
The mayor said he is considering a bylaw that would prevent future councils from using money from the fund for anything other than what it was intended for.
"The idea being that it's not discretionary funds for council to either do a giant tax cut to win votes or spend on other priorities," he said.
A future council could overturn Iveson`s proposed bylaw, but not without first holding a formal public hearing.
"That might be reasonable protection," he said.
He said property owners have seen significant tax increases since 2009 to pay for the program, and that's where the money should continue to go.
"That implies a social contract, I think, between the city of Edmonton and citizens about what we're going to use that money for," he said.
"If a future council ever wanted to change that social contract, they shouldn't be able to do that without significant public engagement."
The program is expected to be fully funded by 2018. Iveson said the fund will always be needed to renew neighbourhoods as they age.