Event park deal at Rogers Place sows division at Edmonton city hall over future of levy
According to city staff, the total cost to implement the projects ranges between $514 million and $624 million, and is expected to be rolled out in a phased approach from 2026 to 2041 with most projects beginning in the next budget cycle.
The rubbing point for councillors Knack, Janz and some residents, are the first two projects on the list. Despite growing calls to pursue a CRL extension that excludes those items, city staff indicated that not only would that pull provincial support for the extension, it would also cause significant delays.
'If council adds or removes projects, the review process with the province will revert to step one. This will require new approval from cabinet, and this is not guaranteed. The timeline for the review is unknown, and implementation of the CRL will be delayed,' said city staff.
With a Downtown Action Plan that 'hinges' on the CRL extension, Kim Petrin, deputy city manager for urban planning and economy, said city staff recommend council approve the extension of the CRL.
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