BIG DECISIONS ON AGENDA

A bulky agenda awaits city politicians who will gather for the second-last council meeting before the August break on Monday. This is the third-last agenda city council will tackle before the October municipal vote. Annalise Klingbeil outlines five notabl

NOTICES OF MOTION GALORE

From creating an Indigenous relations office at city hall to spending $390,000 on an Olympic referendum, several city councillors will pitch their ideas to colleagues Monday via four different notices of motion. Ward 13 Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart wants an independent review that would explore changes to the existing rules surrounding council pay and benefits in light of the drama that surrounded a citizen committee that recently studied council pay. Ward 9 Coun. GianCarlo Carra has a gender equity and diversity-based notice of motion asking council to put in a formal request with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, asking that Calgary participate in a program designed to create more inclusive governments. Ward 11 Coun. Brian Pincott wants to see the city establish an Indigenous relations office, while Ward 4 Coun. Sean Chu is asking his colleagues to support a plebiscite at the October municipal election concerning an Olympic bid.

$ 150K TO STUDY GOLF

Council will consider if it’s worth spending up to $150,000 for consultants, and the equivalent of nearly two full-time city employees, to review the state of golf and the 23 active golf courses in Calgary. Earlier this month, a city committee approved the idea, with only Coun. Evan Woolley arguing the move would not be money well spent. The conversation comes as four contentious redevelopments have been approved on former golf courses across the city since 2011 — decisions that have spurred protests, petitions and outcry from neighbours. City bureaucrats believe the study would help inform future golf course redevelopment applications. If council approves giving the study the green light, funding would need to be secured as part of the 2018 budget process.

TO BID OR NOT TO BID

The group studying a potential Calgary bid for the 2026 Olympics is expected to reveal on Monday its recommendation to city council regarding whether or not the city should bid for the Winter Games. But a final decision on moving forward with a bid is up to council, who won’t be asked to say ‘yes bid’ or ‘no don’t,’ on Monday. Once city bureaucrats have had time to look over the bid exploration committee’s final recommendation and risk assessment, slated to be released Monday, they’ll report back to council with their suggested next steps. A recent shift in deadlines from the International Olympic Committee means council may not vote on moving ahead or giving a bid a pass until 2018. The bid exploration group, headed by former police chief Rick Hanson, has generated more than 5,400 pages of work and concluded a repeat Calgary Olympics would cost $4.6 billion.

MAKING IT EASIER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT COUNCIL

After tallying just 11 complaints from the public in his first year on the job, Calgary’s integrity commissioner Allen Sulatycky wants to make it easier for citizens to contact him about city council. Sulatycky, a retired judge, was hired last April as a part-time watchdog tasked with probing allegations against council members. A city report is asking that council approve allowing citizens to file complaints with Sulatycky directly through email, rather than via an existing Whistleblower program or snail mail. An annual report to council from the integrity and ethics office contains limited details on the 17 complaints watchdog Sulatycky received in his first year. It acknowledges the 11 complaints made by a citizen or citizens concerning the conduct of a council member were fewer than expected.

FEDERAL CASH FOR AIRPORT TRAIL EXPANSION

Council is being asked by city administration to apply for federal funds to complete Airport Trail under a newish Government of Canada program that funds “national trade corridors.” City bureaucrats are recommending council submit a proposal, under the federal fund, for the currently unfunded Airport Trail Phase 2 corridor project. The project would see two new interchanges, currently in preliminary design, built on Airport Trail, at Barlow Trail and at 19th Street N.E. As well, Airport Trail would be built from 36 Street to 60 Street N.E. and a ramp from southbound Stoney Trail to westbound Airport Trail would be constructed. The project is estimated to cost $95 million, with the Calgary Airport willing to pony up $37.5 million.